VOL. 13. VALDEZ, ALA3KA, FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 1915. NO. 105.
G™ewrules
Will Confiscate Conditional Contra
band of War Even When Shipped
To Neutral Country.
WASHINGTON, April 23—The Ger
man foreign office has advised the
State Department of the new revised
list of contraband and informed the
department that the conditional con
traband list shall include all goods
that may be of service to the enemy,
which are shipped in neutral coun
tries with which the enemy may trade.
The new rules include coal, coke,
pig iron, aeroplanes and many other
staples which heretofore have been
allowed to pass into the countries
with which Germany is at war.
The announcement that the German
nation would confiscate conditional
contraband, which includes almost
every article that can be of service
to the non-combatant, even when it
is on neutral ships and consigned to
a neutral country with which the bel
ligerent power may trade, will cer
tainly call for a protest by the Amer
ican State Department, as it would
mean the end of the export business
of the ilnited States.
Ship owners have urged the State
Department to impress upon the Ger
man government the fact that s ten
a rulj w ililii destroy Ame-ichii (om
nnerce and must not be enforced.
THAW TO GET
A JURY TRIAL
New York Supreme Court Grants
Trial By Jury To Slayer of
Stanford White.
NEW YORK, April 23.—The su
preme court of this state today grant
ed the demand for the attorneys for
Harry Thaw that he be given ..a trial
by jury to decide If he is insane at
this timfB, The trial will take place
in a few weeks and will probably set
tle the long drawn out legal battle
that started six years ago when Thaw
was acquitted of murder, but declar
ed insane and was sent to the Mat
.teawan : insane asylum.
The best experts of the country are
expected to testify for and against the
defendant. Hfs long list of attorneys
include the best array of legal talent
in the country. Special counsel will
aid the attorney-general in the fight
to retain Thaw in the asylum for the
criminal insane.
The state expects to have no dif
ficulty in proving the insanity of
Thaw and will call his wife to prove
that he has been Insane all his life,
and if turned loose would again be
come a menace to society.
The smallest child of Mr. and Mrs.
Robert McIntosh ran a scissor’s blade
in her face this morning. The injury,
though painful, is not serious.
Chief Deputy Marshal John H. D.
House, of the marshal’s office, receiv
ed a telegram at noon today from
Deputy Marshal Sam Bright well, at
bordova, to the effect that in a fight
at the cannery at Mile 55, on the Cop
per River & Northwestern railroad,
one man had been killed and many
others injured. The marshal was leav
ing for the scene to make an inves
tigation and, if necessary, arrests.
The names of the men engaged In
the fighting is not given In the dis
patch.
Large stock of odt glass and Paris
ian Ivory at Valdes Drag Co. tf
WARSHIPS AGAIN ENTER THE DARDANELLES
ATHENS, April 23.—Four British
battleships entered the Dardanelles
today and bombarded the forts along
the waterway. The entire fleet of
ships threw shells into the forts from
the Gulf of Saros and also from out
side the entrance to the straits. The
reply of the Turks to the warships
was very weak and none of the shells
did damage to the war vessels.
Combined Land and Sea Attacks.
The forces of infantry landed at
Enos, in the Aegean sea, are co-op
erating with the naval division and
are expected to push forward and
take the Turkish forts along the
Gallipoli peninsula, both on the side
of the sea and on the side towards
Asia.
Smyrna Also Bombarded.
The Turkish coast city of Smyrna
was bombarded by warships of the
Allies this morning The amount of
damage is not known.
Berlin Reports French Assaults
BERLIN, April 23.—The French at
tacks upon the German positions in
the Argonne and Alsace regions con
tinue in spite of the fact that the at
tacks of the past week have been
repulsed with heavy losses to the at
tacking force. The fighting also con
tinues along the Meuse and in the
Woevre district.
The campaign in the Woevre—that
stretch of wooded country between
the upper waters of the Meuse and
the Moselle—has two objectives, the
periodic attempts on the part of the
Germans to cut the lines of commun
ication extending south of Verdun and
similar attempts on the part of the
BOSSES m
FROM JAIL CELL
Mayor Roberts, Now In Leavenworth
Federal Pen, Telegraphs His Or
ders To City Officials.
LEAVENWORTH, Kas., April 23.—
Mayor Roberts, of Terre Haute, Ind.,
who is now in a cell in the federal
penitentiary here, is directing the af
fairs of the city government by wire
from the prison and refuses to re
sign. As Roberts is legally mayor
of the city until impeached and re
moved the authorities here have al
lowed him considerable leeway.
The city qcuncll of Terre Haute has
started impeachment proceedings but
it will require several weeks to con
clude them, and in the meantime the
taxpayers will be compelled to pay
Roberts his salary, although he is in
jail.
GERMAN EMBASSY
MAKES INQUIRY
WASHINGTON, April 23.—The Ger
man ambassador had formally request
ed from the State Department a state
ment of the case against the German
Consul Mueller, who is charged by
the Seattle police authorities with
having attempted to bribe an em
ploye of the Seatle Construction and
Drydock company to secure evidence
that the shipbuilding company was
sending to Vancouver submarines for
the Allies in violation of the neu
trality laws prescribed by the nations
of the world.
The message from the German dip
lomat also reuests the department to
say what its plans are with regard
to Mueller.
W. H. Caswell is now in Seward
and may accept a position with the
government engineering commission.
Jeff Taylor, an oldtimer in this sec
tion, and who has spent some years
outside, is now In Valdez for a short
time.
FOUR BRITISH BATTLESHIPS PUS H FAR UP WATERWAY AND
SHELL TURKISH FORTS, WHI LE BIG FLEET AT ENTRANCE TO
STRAITS AND IN GULF OF SA ROS SHELL LAND POSTS—BRIT
ISH TROOPS LAND AT ENOS, IN TURKEY—RUSSIANS REPORT
SPRING THAW STOPS OPERATIONS FOR THEM, BUT ADMIT
THAT GERMANS AND AUSTRIANS CONTINUE ASSAULTS IN
EAST AND WEST GALICIA, IN THE CARPATHIAN PASSES AND
DOWN IN BUKOWINA—ENGLISH PEOPLE FEAR HEAVY LOSSES
AT YPRES.
French to press back the German
line beyond the frontier south of
Metz, cut the communications which
supply the line threatening Verdun
on the east, and, by enveloping this
line, leave the way open to the for
tifications of Metz. It is the latter
movement which is now being ac
tively pressed to an issue.
How the Germans have been able
to hold the St. Mihiel wedge, with
an occasional offensive. Is no longer
a military secret. In the autumn of
1912 a German company rented a
large plot of ground close to St. Mi
hiel for the manufacture of a chem
ical product. It was a big company
and had need oT big buildings with
stopped operations and closed the
plant. •
When, on September 20th, the army
of Metz arrived upon the scene, it de
stroyed the buildings, but found in
the concreted cellars perfect emplace
ments for heavy guns. For nearly
two years the plant had been a fort
in all but the armament. After Sep
tember 20th it had the 42-centimeter
howitzers so emplaced, made short
work of the French forts at Troyon
and the Roman camp, which were
armed only with 12-centimetre guns.
TEDDY ROOSEVELT SHOWN OP;
TELLS OF POLITICAL DEALS
ATTORNEYS FOR BARNES FORCE HIM TO ADMIT THAT HE BAR
GAINED FOR NOMINATION AS GOVERNOR WITH MAN WHOM HE
NOW DENOUNCES; ALSO THAT HE RAN AS GOVERNOR OF NEW
YORK WHEN HE WAS A CITIZEN OF WASHINGTON, WHERE HE
WENT TO AVOID THE PAYING OF STATE TAXES—PREDICTED
THAT EX-PRESIDENT MUST P AY DAMAGES
SYRACUSE, N. Y„ April 23—Ex
President Theodore Roosevelt lost his
good humor yesterday under cross
examination when he was forced to
answer questions regarding how he
had traded with Barnes to secure the
gubernatorial nomination of New
York in 1898. Roosevelt admitted
that he had promised Barnes patron
age power, and agreed to consult him
in all important political matters. In
•return Barnes had forced his nomina
tion from Boss Platt and had worked
to secure his election, spending thou
sands of dollars gathered from cor
pora ions and other sources unknown
to Roosevelt.
Roosevelt was also forced to admit
that he was elected Governor of New
York when as a matter of fact he was
a resident of Washington, having
sworn off his taxes in New York by
claiming residence in the capital.
The ex-president tried hard to
save himself from being forced to
answer the questions, but the trial
judge insisted that they must be an
swered. For a time it was thought
that Roosevelt would take his
chances with the judge and refuse to
answer but finally he replied to
Barnes’ counsel, although in a sullen
and defiant manner.
Barnes and his attorneys feel con
fident that they will win a judgment,
as Roosevelt has failed to substantiate
his libelous statements made during
the campaign. The defendant insists
that it was common report and gen
erally known. He als doamits that
detectives were hired by him after
the suit was filed to secure the nec
essary coroboration of the statements
made when he had no personal
knowledge that what he charged was
true.
It is believed that the judge will in
struct the jury that even If the evi
dence secured after the libelous state
ments substantiates them, if Roose
velt did not know they were true
when he uttered them and gave pub
licity to the slander with malice, then
damages should be given the plain
tiff.
PLANNED KIDNAP
HARRY THAW
NEW YORK, April 23.—The auth
orities have secured information rc
Raiding the plan to kidnap Harry
Thaw from this state and take hint
to Norfolk, Va. The details of the
attempted kidnaping have been secur
ed from a Norfolk man who was to
receive $1,000 for his work.
It is possible that indictments will
be found against the men implicated,
charging them writh conspiracy to kid
<nap.
Ernest King will leave for Ship
Creek, where he will build a bunk
house. He will take his lumber from
Valdez.
Ted Lindsay is in town from Ga
lena bay.
Paul Keabler arrived on the last
boat from Juneau.
SCHOOL BOARD
HOLD MEETING
The Valdez school board met last
night in the city hall and passed the
bills contracted by the board. Treas
urer Mrs. Albert White made a de
tailed report of the income and ex
penses of the board, which shows that
the cost of maintaining the Valdez
schools, including a four-year high
school course for the year 1914-T5,
was a little less than $8,000. This is
considered an exceptionally good rec
ord as the standard of the schools
has been exceptionally high—equal to
that of any city in Alaska and ex
celled by none.
In the last thirty-eight years Eng
land has lost 6,650 acres of land by
sea erosion and has reclaimed 48,000
acres, mainly through material
brought down by rivers.
Office^ to rent over Valdes Drag Co.
solid foundations and .deep concreted
cellars. In July, 1914, the company
There are no railways feeding the
German angle beyond the line leav
ing the junction at Ardaville, which
runs southwest as far as Thiaucourt.
along the banks of the Rupt de Mad.
for the line which runs from Metz
parallel with the Moselle has already
been cut by the French west of Pont
a-Mousson. Beyond Ailly, Apremont.
and Flirey, however, which appear
to be the scene of the greatest French
Activity, there are several important
highways, five of which form a junc
tion at Apremont, St. Mihiel and the
Roman Camp are fed by one of these
and also by one from Vigneuilles,
where there is also a junction of four
highways. For the most part forests
cover the territory between the towns
and the highways in the Woevre.
Eastern Campaign Delayed.
PETROGRAD, April 23.—In spite
of the great desire on the part of
the Russian general staff to push
through the Carpathians and into
East Prussia the spring thaw has
made It impossible at this time to
continue a general offensive all along
the line.
Russians Being Attacked
The Austrian forces in west Galicia
are making desperate attacks upon
the Russian line, but have failed to
break down the Russian defensive
which protects the flank of the forces
operating in the Carpathian moun
tains.
Battle In Sanok Pass.
In the Sanok pass region the Aus
(Contlnuea on page 2.)
LIVES ABE LOST
IN TEXAS FLOODS
Property Loss Estimated At $1,000,
000—Storms Cause Rivers and
Streams To Overflow.
AUSTIN, Tex., April 23.—Twenty
eight lives were lost here today as a
result of the heavy floods which fol
lowed a cloudburst. The constant
rains and the sudden downpour ,
which was added to the .already over-!
flowing rivers sent the water all over
the low districts and many people
were caught and drowned. Many were
picked up by boatmen, who are still
at work rescuing the unfortunates.
Reports reaching here from, other
parts of the state are to the effect
that the electrical sorms were gen
eral all over he state and that the
property loss is fully $1,000,000. In
this section $500,000 worth of dam
age has resulted.
FRENCH TO CARE
FOR ORPHAN KIDS
PARIS, April 23.—The French cab
inet today decided that tlie govern
ment must provide for tlie children
who are made orphans by the death
of their fathers who serve in the
army. Just how the government will
care for the children is not known
at this time, hut it is hoped to keep
all the orphans in homes lit govern
ment expense rather than to gather
them in large orphan asylums.
So that shoes can be made to look
new as long as possible metal guards
have been patented to protect the
stitching in their extension soles
while they are being blackened.
Chile claims that the island of
Chiloe, off its west coast, is the orig
inal home of the potato, having been
cultivated there since early in the fif
teenth century.
G. O. Reinke. the watchmaker and
jeweler, is at the Valdez Drug Co.
all work guaranteed.
ALL STEAMERS TO
USE THE CANAL
Gregory Says Canal Authorities Must
Wait for Convictions Before
Barring Boats.
WASHINGTON, April 23.—Attorney
General Gregory today ruled that all
ships are to be allowed the use of
the Panama canal until it is proven
that they have violated the Sherman
anti-trust law, and th<?h, if the courts
order the company dissolved, they
are not to be allowed to pass through
the canal.
The attorney-general insists that the
law as passed by congress says that
"ships belonging to corporations vio
lating the Sherman anti-trust law
shall not be allowed to use the ca
nal.” The head of the Deoarttnent
of Justice insists that the conviction
of the violation of the Sherman lav;
must be had before the canal authoii
ties can refuse to allow the boats of
the corporation to pass from ocean to
ocean.
As no trust company can exist af
ter the order of dissolution is up' eld
the effect of the law is valueless as
all boats can use the canal at all
times up to the time of the dissolu
tion of any company, after which it
no longer exists and its boats w.il be
purchased by individuals or another
company.
Congress may be asked to euange
the law.
UNION HATTERS
ARE IN TROUBLE
Must Pay Judgment of $300,000 or
Homes Will Be Taken From
Them Next Month.
DANBURY, Conn., April 23.—The
members of the Hatters Union of this
city have been notified by the attor
neys for the Danbury Hat company
and the National Manufacturers As
sociation that unless the judgment for
1300,000 damages for the boycott
against the company duripg a strike
in 1902 was provided for by the con
vention of hatters to be held in May,
that the homes of the workers would
be levied upon.
The individual members of the
Danbury Hatters Union insist that
they made the fight at the request of
the American Federation of Labor and
that the federation should, therefore,
pay the judgment. The Federation
of Labor denies this Just what the
outcome will fce is unknown.
The manufacturers have spent more
than $100,000 in making the fight
against the boycott, claiming it was
a violation of the Sherman anti-trust
law and they won the case after many
years of fighting through the courts.
They insist that they be paid the
judgment granted by the supreme
court, which is now effective and
leaves them no appeal.
BRITISH TRAWLER
GOES TO BOTTOM
—— sira
GRIMSBY, Eng., April 23.—Another
British trawler went to the bottom
of the North sea today. All but two
of the crew of twelve were saved. The
fishing boat was. sunk by a submarine
or by striking a mine.
A cubic mile of river water weighs
approximately 4,205,650,000 tons and
carries in solution, on the average,
about 420,000 tons of foreign matter.
In all, about 2,735,000,000 tons of sol
id substances are thus carried annu
ally to the ocean.
New spring coats direct from New
Tork at B. Winter’s. tf