Halte §ml£ $riiBjj?rtnr
" V0l_ ^3 . ' ~ VALDEZ, ALA8KA, FRIDAY, MAY 7, 1915. 1 NO. 117.
GERMANS SINK THE LUSITANIA
01 to sir
CHINA’S INTEGRITY
■»_
Secretary Bryan Issues Statement
Outlining Government’s Policy
In the Event of War.
.
WASHINGTON, May 7— Secretary
of State W. J. Bryan today issued
a statement regarding the situation
in the East, where China and Japan
are on the brink of war. The secre
tary intimates that the United States
is willing to act as mediator between
the two Asiatic powers.
"The Unitdd States stands for the
maintenance of the territorial integ
rity of the Chinese nation,” said Sec
retary Bryan, “and hopes nothing will
be done in the East to violate the
te»itorial rights of the republic nor
T&Ie the open door of the Chinese
nation to the trade of this country.”
Just bow far the administration is
willing to go in the matter of blocking
the efforts of the Japanese to secure
extra territorial rights in China and
complete control of the affairs of the
big empire with its vast resources of
undeveloped mines is not known here.
Few diplomats expect the United
States to become involved, pointing
out the fact that with the Mexican
situation unsettled and the trouble
with Germany and England regard
ing American rights on the high
seas, along with the well known fact
that the American navy is inferior to
that of the Japaneses with manytimeB
as much coast line to protect and the
admitted fact that the Philippines are
undefended, all tend the dipolmats
and officials to the opinion that this
government will make a formal pro
test and let it go at that, hoping that
in the peace conference following the
war in Europe that the Occidental na
tions will bring enough pressure to
bear upon Japan to prevent the com
plete closing of China to American
commercial enterprises.
Tokio Expects War.
,TOKIO, Japan, May 7.—The people
of this city expect that Japan and
, China will be engaged in war within
a. few days. The ultimatum sent to
Peking gives the Chinese nation un
til 6 p. m. next Sunday to agree to
the terms demanded by Japan. Noth
ing hut an eleventh hour acceptance
of the terms can prevent the Japan
ese armies from invading China and
taking what they want.
S. S. ALLIANCE
FOR Ml
Alaska Commercial Company Sending
Boat From Seattle On May 20th
—Use New Channel.
_ m
SEATTLE, May 7.—The steamer Al
liance, one of the boats secured by
the Alaska Commercial company for
operation in Alaska, will leave here
on May 20th for the Kuskokwim and
will use the new channel discovered
by the Geodetic Survey last summer.
The boat will take a capacity load
of freight and many passengers. No
insurance will be carried on the
,008}t after she enters the river delta
because of the fear of the under
writers that the vessel may bo wreck
ed in the uncharted waters or caught
on a sand bar In the river.
The steamer will go to Bethel,
where river steamers will take the
supplies on up the river to the differ
ent trading posts established on the
river banks.
LONDON, May 7.—The big Brit
ish liner Lusitania, which left New
York last Sunday, was sunk off the
coast of Ireland by an infernal ma
chine which was exploded in the hold
of the liner. Twenty boat were
launched before the big vessel went
to the bottom. Just how many per
sons lost their lives cannot be told at
this time, but the ship had a pas
senger list of 1,400 and carried a crew
of over 800 men, and with only twen
ty boats launched the death list must
be appalling.
Many Americans were on the ves
sel, including Alfred Vanderbilt, El
bert Hubbard, Charles Frohman,
Charles Klein and others equally as
well known.
A number of wealthy Canadians al
so went down with the ship, and
neutral nations lost many' people
when the great British ship was de
stroyed.
The admiralty today confirms the
first reports of the loss of the ship,
but denies that the ship went down
as a result of an attack by a Ger
man submarine. It is officially an
nounced that the big ship was blown
to pieces by a bomb placed in the
hold when the vessel was in New
York.
WASHINGTON, May 7.—The news
of the sinking of the big British liner
Lusitania has caused a sensation here
as it is realized that the bomb which
sunk the boat was placed in the ves
sel in American waters and that the
German ambassador, Count Bern
storff, knew of the violation of Amer
ican neutrality, because he issued a
warning to Americans to remain off
the ship, which, he stated, would be
sunk in mid-ocean. What action will
r
BIG BRITISH CUNARD LINER SENT TO BOTTOM OFF IRISH COAST
AS RESUL+ OF EXPLOSION OF AN INFERNAL MACHINE 'HID
• DEN IN HOLD—1,400 PASSENGERS ON SHIP INCLUDING MANY
AMERICANS—ONLY TWENTY BOATS LAUNCHED—DETAILS ARE
STILL LACKING—ALFRED VANDERBILT, ELBERT HUBBARD,
CHARLES FROHMAN AND CHARLES KLEIN WERE ABOARD—
AMERICANS HAD BEEN WARNED TO STAY OFF THE VESSEL BY
GERMAN AMBASSADOR, WHO MUST HAVE KNOWN OF I ►(TEND
ED DYNAMITING OF THE SHIP—HE MAY GET INTO TROUBLE
AS NEUTRALITY LAWS OF UNITED STATES WERE VIOLATED
—WASHINGTON, LONDON AND NEW YORK GREATLY EXCITED.
be taken by the United States can
not be known at this time but it is
generally expected that the German
ambassador will be called upon for
an explanation and may be given his
passports. President Wilson only a
few days ago informed the German
government that the loss of Ameri
cans traveling on unarmed ships
through the action of the German ad
miralty would be considered as a vio
lation of our rights and would be re
sented.
LONDON, May 7.—The big Cunard
er Lusitania, the $10,000,000 passen
ger ship operating between Liverpool
and New York, is reported by
Lloyds to have been sunk off the
coast of Ireland yesterday afternoon
by a German torpedo boat. The bul
letins posted by the big marine in
surance companies say that the Re
port lacks continuation.
Cunarder Warned Before Leaving
New York.
The Cunard Co. was warned before
leaving New York last Sunday that
the vessel would not reach Liverpool,
as the Germans had laid a trap to
catch the big liner. No attention was
paid to the warning. Count Bernstorff,
German ambassador to the United
States, even went as far as to issue
a warning to American citizens not
to travel on the big ship as the boat
would be sunk by the Germans, who
wished, however, not to send any
Americans to the bottom.
Great Excitement In London.
Great excitement followed the post
ing of the notice at Lloys and the
people are seeking Information re
garding the boat. Just how the Ger
mans had planned to send the boa:
to the bottom is, of course, unknown.
How a torpedo boat could approach
the fast liner, guarded by British de
stroyers, is a mystery to everybody.'
The only explanation is that a Ger
man boat using the British code
might be able to get within striking
distance. The report that British of
ficers have accepted a large sum of
money for the deed is not credited
here.
Officials of Cunard Line In New York
* Get News.
NEW YORK, May 7—The Cunard
officials in this city have received a
message from the.head office of the
company at London that the Llloyds
insurance underwriters has posted
the Lusitania as lost off the Irish
coast through the operations of a
German torpedo boat or submarine.
The ^report i*s understood here to
have lacked confirmation. The offi
cials of the line refuse to make any
statement and insist that the report
lacks confirmation and that friends
of passengers on the big liner should
not worry until official reports are
received.
It is said that the captain of the
boat, knowing of the German plot
to sink his ship had taken extra pre
cautions to guard against any acci
dent and that his boat would undoubt
edly be met off the coast of Ireland by
fast torpedo boats, which circle
■ around the ship to clear the way of
mines or submarines. A fast cruis
er also picked up the liner at var
ious points between the two conti
nents so that the ship was never out
of sight of British men-of-war from
the time she left here last Sunday
to the present time. It is admitted
that the boat is due in Liverpool at
this time, but her non-arrival does
not worry the officials, who claim the
ship might wait for darkness to
cross the Irish sea, where German
submarines have been active.
GIGANTIC GERMAN-AUSTRO OPERATIONS
REPORTED ALONG EASTERN BATTLE LINE
LONDON, May 7.—The Austro
German operations in the east are the
greatest military operations In the
history of the world. The Germans
have concentrated fully 3,000,000 men
on the Poland,* dast Prussian line,
while nearly 2,000,000 more troops are
operating in the Galician country and
in the Carpathian mountains.
Invasion of Russia Continues.
The German invasion of the Rus
sian Baltic" provinces continues. They
have pushed far into the province
of Suwalki and are now near Grodno,
which is undefended by the Russians,
although a city of much importance to
them as the railroad line from War
saw passes through the city and it
is a junction for the road to Augus
towa.
Military Experts Worried.
The outlook in north Poland wor
ries the military experts of this city,
who fail to understand the object of
Grand Duke Nicholas in allowing the
Germans to make an invasion of Rus
sia without interposing any defense at
all.
Germans Want Channel Ports.
BEltLIN, May 7.—'The German
troops operating in Flanders have re
newed the assaults. upon the Allies
lines and are pushing forward look
ing to the occupation of the Channel
ports, which are to be used for naval
and aerial attacks against the Brit
ish towns. The offensive is being
pushed with energy and thousands
of troops are engaged in the battle
now progressing. The gains today have
been bigger than expected, but lit
tle of Belgium now remains in con
trol of the Belgian, French or Eng
lish troops.
British Hit the Hardest.
The animosity of th». German troops
against the British nation Is frequent
ly shown In the determination to cap
ture positions held by the British.
The loss of .the English during the
past, week’s fighting will keep the
secretary of state for war busy ex
plaining to the people how It all hap
HUGE FORCES BEING USED IN R U8SIA, POLAND AND GALICIA—
GERMANIC ALLIES HAVE 5,00 0,000 MEN ON EXTERN BATTLE
LINE WHILE CONTINUING WESTERN OFFENSIVE, WHERE VIC
TORIES HAVE BEEN REPORTE D FROM THE YPRES AND AR
GONNE REGIONS AND A NEW OFFENSIVE TO REACH THE CHAN
NEL STARTED—FRENCH LOST 2,000 MEN IN ARGONNE BATTLE
—THIRD RU88IAN POLAND ARMY DEFEATED SAY8 VIENNA RE
PORTS—RU88IAN CARPATHIAN CAMPAIGN HA8 COLLAPSED—
GERMANS NEAR GRODNO.
pened.
Russians Lose Lupkow Pass.
VIENNA, May 7—TJ»e Russian
troops have been driven from Lupkow
pass, in the Carpathian mountains,
by the Austrian troops. The Rus
sians have been forced back follow
ing their defekt in western Galicia.
Russian Carpathian Offensive Ends.
The Russian troops have stopped all
offensive movements in the Carpath
ian mountains. The Russians cannot I
«»
continue an offensive in the moun
tains while their right flank is brok
en and defeated and threatened with
destruction by the victorious Austro
German forces in western Galicia.
Third Russian Army Defeated.
The third Russian army sent
against the Austin-German forces in
Poland has been beaten and forced
to fall back towards Warsaw. The
defeat prevents reinforcements reach
ing the Russians at Tarnow from Po
land.
BOATS LEAVE
LAKEJ.ABABGE
WHITEHORSE, May 7—The first
boat for Dawson left Lake Lebarge
yesterday with a cargo of fresh .vege
tables, eggs and other perishables,
which bad been rushed across the ice
to the landing and wore ready the
moment the river was clear of ice.
The boat will follow the ice -down
to Dawson.
: We are just In receipt of a com
plete line of up-to-date neckwear.
Your Inspection Invited. S. Blum
Sc Co. tf
ROOSEVELT STILL
TALKING GRAFT
SYRACUSE, N. Y., May 7.—Theo
dore Roosevelt was stopped by the
trial judge yesterday when he at
tempted to expose graft in Albany,
but which he admitted he could not
connect with any act of Boss Barnes.
The trial continues today and may
be continued over the week.
Mrs. F. M. Brown, wife of the dis
trict judge, returned to Valdes this
morning after spending several
months in California for her health,
which has greatly improved.
British Satisfied With Dardanelles Op
erations.
LONDON, May 7.—Prime Minister
Asquith today informed parliament
that the operations along the Darda
nelles were progressing very favorab-,
ly for the Allies and that many of |
the forts had been occupied by the
land forces. It is expected that Con
stantinople will fall within a month
and that the long felt, want of the
Russians for ammunition could then
be supplied from France and Eng
land with the aid of neutral coun
tries. '
French Losses In Argonne Heavy.
PARIS, May 7.—The losses to the
French troops operating in the Ar
gonne region have been terrific. The
war office admits that the operations
against the strongly entrenched Ger
man forces have not netted any
gains. The report also denies ru
mors of a serious reverse in the
Argonne.
Germans Claim Victory In Argonne.
BERLIN, May 7.—The war office
today issued a statement telling the
people of great gains made against
the French troops in the Argonne sec
tion. The French met serious rever- j
ses andl ost 2,000 prisoners besides
many killed and wounded. Several
field pieces were captured and also a
number of machine guns. The French
trenches are now occupied by the,Ger
man troops.
Canadian Losses Heavy.
VANCOUVER. B. C., May 7.—It is
officially reported that one out of ev
ery three men enlisted for the Brit
ish army from this city has been
killed in battle. The Canadian troops
have been in the thickest of the fight
ing and have suffered heavy losses.
Germans Near Ypres.
.LONDON, May 7.—The war office
admits that the Germans now occupy
positions within three miles of Ypres,
as the British line has been forced
(Continued on page 3.)
ITALIAN TROOPS
GET NO FURLOUGH
Minister of War Recalls All Leave of
Absence Soldiers—Italy Has 1,
250,000 Men Ready.
ROME, May 7.—Gen. Zupelli, min
ister of war, today ordered that all
men on leave of absence from bar
racks be recalled and issued instruc
tions to the commanders not to grant
any further furloughs. This is taken
here as indicating that the country
will soon be in the conflict. Diplo
mats here express surprise at the
sudden order intimating that with the <
recent German successes the Italian
government would not care to en
ter the conflict against the Germanic
allies. A few, however, insist that
the very need of the Allies has forced
them to agree to the terms demand
ed by the Italian government for the
aid of Italy.
Fully 1,250,000 troops between the
ages of 20 and 26 years are now in
the camps along the frontier of the
country. They are perfectly armed
and equipped and are ready “to the
last button.”
Prince von Buelow, the German am
bassador to tlaly, is indefatigable in
his efforts to bring about an under
standing diplomatically between Italy
and Austria. His task is recognized
here to be most difficult, yet those
who have seen him lately declare
that he seems to be more satisfied
with the way things are going. From
this and other indications it is be
ing argued by close observers that
Austria is slowly beginning to realize
that her future existence may in large
measure depend upon reaching some
understanding with Italy.
Prince von Buelow's course is be
lieved to be just now devoted largely
to conveying to Austria that to satisfy
Italy is not a measure of the mo
ment, but would be a far-sighted step
for the future, his argument being
that a close Austro-Italian union
would give the Triple Alliance new
vigor, a wider scope and greater pow
er.
A number of Milanese associations
favorable to Italy’s intervention In
the war requested recently an audi
ence of Premier Salandra to explain
to him their point of view and to pre
sent to him personally a resolution
in favor of war. The premier re
(Contlnued on page 3.)
SHORT ROUTE TO
ANCHORAGE CITY
Quick Time Can Be Made Across
Portage From Prince William
Sound To Cook Inlet.
The shortest route from Valdez to
Anchorage, the new town on Cook In
let, is via Portage bay on the launch
Brighton, across the eight-mile port
age from Prince William Sound to
Cook Inlet waters, three miles to the
Kern creek roadhouse, where boat*
are In operation from that point to
the new town at Anchorage.
Roadhouses have been built at both
sides of the portage, which is an
easy grade over the government road
built last summer. The trip can be
made In less time than via Seward
and Into the Inlet on the large steam
er besides saving in the cost of the
journey.
The Brighton leaves Valdez every
Saturday morning but extra trips can
be arranged for and Capt. Stamey will
Increase the service If the demand
for it is apparent.