VOL. 13. VALDEZ, ALA8KA, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1915. NO 29
GERMANY'S SUPPLY OF GRMN OF ALL
KINDS IS GETTING EXTREMELY 11
GRAIN SEIZED BY GOVERNMENT FROM CITIZENS AMOUNTED TO
ONE HUNDRED MILLION BUSHELS, WHICH IS LESS THAN TWO
BUSHELS PER CAPITA—GEN. HINDENBURG HAS STARTED A
TREMENDOUS OFFENSIVE MOVEMENT AGAINST THE RUSSIAN
CENTER NEAR WARSAW—GE RMAN OFFICE DENIES RUSSIANS
HAVE DRIVEN GERMANS BACK IN MLAWA DISTRICT—TURKS
REPORTED REPULSED NEAR'SUEZ CANAL.
BERLIN, Feb. 4.—The government
has announced that $50,000,000 worth
of pigs will be purchased for food as
a means of saving the grain, which
will be required for seed. The grain
which the government commandered
from the citizens totalled one hundred
million bushels.
NOTE—As the population of Ger
many, according to the census taken
in 1910, is more than 65,000,000, the
stock of grain seized by the govern
ment which would in all probability
be nearly the entire stock of grain
in the country, would be leas than
two bushels per person. If the flg
•|jj4s as given out are correct it will
be \pen that Germany will soon be
in dire straits to feed her citizens
and army, unless she can succeed in
getting supplies past the blockade
established by the Alllies.
Germans Gain In Argonne District.
BERLIN, Feb. 4.—The German
offensive movement has been resum
ed in the Argonne district, where a
mile of trenches held by French
troops were captured by the Ger
mans. The French positions had been
subjected to a terrific bombardment
before the trenches were taken at
the point of the bayonet. The French
losses were heavy and a number of
prisoners were captured.
Big Battle Starts.
BERLIN, Feb. 4.—Gen. Hindenburg
has started a tremendous offensive
movement against the Russian cen
ter near Warsaw and have made ad
vances at Bolimow, a point near
er Warsaw than any yet reached by
the Germans. Reinforcements have
been sent to Gen. Hindenburg and th$
capture of Warsaw is expected with
in a few days.
Says Russians Repulsed.
The war office denies the report
-.from Petrograd that the German
troops fighting near the boundary in
the Mlawa district, have met with
reverses and have been forced back
into East Prussia.
i
Aviators Destroy Trains.
PETROGRAD, Feb. 4.—Russian
aviators succeeded in dropping bombs
on the German reserve troops which
were mobilized in trains at three
different towns southwest of War
saw. The trains were filled with
German troops which had been with
drawn from *he front to permit of
their recuperating after the long bat
tle before Warsaw. The loss of life
must have been enormous as the
trains were completely destroyed.
Turks Repulsed Near Canal.
ROME, Feb. 4.—It is reported here
that the Turkish force sent against
the British guarding the Suez Canal
have been repulsed with heavy losses.
The reinforcements expected by the
Turkish officers failed to arrive and
they were forced to retreat before
the British.
Russians Begin Aggressive.
LONDON, Feb. 4.—Information
from Petrograd indicates that the
Russians have started a tremendous
offensive movement along the west
ern battle line. It is believed the
activities were begun with the hope
(Continued on page 2.)
01 RIVER AGAIN
ON THE RAMPAGE
Floods Have Driven Many From
Their Homes and Rendered Ten
Thousand Idle.
WHEELING, W. Va., Feb. 4.—Two
thousand persons are homeless as a
result of the Ohio river overflowing
its banks and inundating the coun
try. Many of the refugees have lost
everything and are being cared for
by the charity organizations.
The high water, which has flooded
many mills and factories, causing
them to be closed down, has caused
ten thousand persons to be thrown
out of employment. The river is still
rising and fears are entertained that
the havoc wrought by floods two
years ago are again to be repeated.
Vigilant wtach is being kept of the
dams along the river in order to warn
the people in the valleys should the
dams show signs of weakening.
. . -- A_ „ .. ^ -..
DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS HOLD CAUCUS TODAY TO ORGANIZE
FORCES FOR NEW CONGRE8S SHOULD 8E88ION BE CALLED
MANY VACANCIES ON IMPORTANT COMMITTEES.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.—So con
vinced are many of the congression
al leaders that President Wilson will
find it necessary to call a special ses
sion that they are today holding a
caucus to plan the organization of
the House in the new congress.
The present session of congress
fends on March 4th and the Sixty
Mourth congress will then nominally
come into existence. The new con
gress will not convene until Decem
ber unless President Wilson calls a
special session. The party leaders
realize that the long drawn out de
bate on the shipping bill will in all
probability prevent the passage of
the necessary supply measures and
they deem it wise to perfect their
organization in anticipation of the ex
tra session which now seems inevita
ble.
The recent election caused many
changes in the personnel of the
House. Representative Underwood,
chairman of the Ways and Means
committee, will not be a member of
the next congress, having been elect
ed to the Senate. There are six va
cancies on the committee, which is
one of the most important, and ,the
precedent which has always prevailed
of appointing old members to vacan
cies will likely be followed in the
present instance.
It is regarded as certain that the
caucus will indorse Speaker Clark for
re-election to that position.
RAILROAD OFFICIALS
FILCHEDTHE FUNDS
NEW YORK, Feb. 4.—Stockholders
of the Chicago, Rock Island & Paci
fic railroad have started suit to recov
er $7,500,000 from Daniel G. Died
and his associates for money alleged
to have been taken from the treasury
of the road without the company hav
ing received any benefit from the
transaction.
VOTERS TO DECIDE
WOIMFFRAGE
ALBANY, Feb. 4.—The state sen
ate has passed the resolution sub
mitting woman’s suffrage to the vot
ers of the state at the next elec
tion. There was little opposition to
■the resolution and it is predicted that
■the measure will pass when submit
ted to the people.
SEATTLE AROUSED OVER THREATENED
LOSS OF ALASKA FRESH FISH BUSINESS
STRONG DELEGATION OF WESTERN MEN IN WASHINGTON TO SE
CURE ACTION FROM GOVERNMENT—WILL BE FIGHT BETWEEN
PACIFIC DEALERS AND NEW ENGLAND INTERESTS.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4—A delega
tion of citizens from the state of
Washington are in the capital trying
to get federal action to prevent Can
ada from capturing the halibut and
salmon fishing business of Alaska.
The delegation is headed by Senator
Wesley L. Jones, and Representative
William E. Humphrey, Judge Thom
as Burke, E. F. Blaine and Richard
A. Ballinger, former secretary of in
terior under President Taft, are the
other members of the committee.
The delegation represents the New
Seattle Chamber of Commerce which
has been endeavoring to secure a
restoration of the tariff of 1 per cent,
which was removed from imports on
fresh fish by the present adminis-'
tration. They also urge the rescind
ing of the bond privileges granted
to Canadian railroads permitting car
loads of fresh fish caught in Alas
kan waters to be sent through Can
ada to the eastern American markets
in bond.
The delegation declares that the
Canadian government and transpor
tation companies are offering special
inducements to capture the fish busi
ness of the north. Immense cold
storage plants have been erected at
frince Rupert apd the Grand Trunk
acific railroad has spent millions of
.dollars in providing facilities for the
rapid handling of fresh fish between
the Pacific coast and the New Eng
land states. Unless the tariff is re
stored and the bonding privileges re
scinded the American fish dealers can
not hope to retain the Alaskan busi
ness and will sustain a loss of sever
al million dollars in trade annually.
Those who are informed on the
situation believe that the delegation
■will fail in its mission to secure eith
er a restoration of the tariff or the
rescinding of the bonding privileges.
,To secure the relief asked the dele
gation will have to pit its strength
against strong New England interests
Which have invested their capital in
^Prince Rupert and special cars to
handle their fish over the Canadian
line. 5hese New England interests
are strong and their representatives
have generally been able to secure
•what they want in the way of leg
islation. They have been given cred
it of being responsible for having
the bonding privileges extended to
the Grand Trunk so the fight resolv
es itself into a contest of strength
between the fishing interests of the
Pacific coast and the New England
capitalists.
The firsh dealers at Prince Rupert
pay 5 cents per pound for all fresh
halibut bTought to them. The fisher
men of Southeastern Alaska, disgust
ed with their treatment at the hands
of the Seattle dealers, have been
taking their catches to Prince Ru
pert in preference to taking chances
In Seattle.
tit PRESIDENT
Has Proclaimed Himself Provisional
President and Will March
Against Vera Cruz.
EL PASO, Feb. 4.—General Villa
has proclaimed himself provisional
president of Mexico and has already
created three departments of his gov
ernment. He says that the withdraw
al of President Garza from Mexico
City has left the counutry without
a recognized executive and that he
will remain at the head of affairs un
til a president can be elected by the
people of Mexico.
.The officials of President Carran
za’s government have removed all the
records of his government to Vera
Cruz, which he has designated as
the capital of Mexico. The affairs
of the country are in a deplorable
condition and are constantly growing
Worse as a result of the kaleidoscop
ic entrance and departure of provis
ional presidents.
President Villa has announced that
he will start for Mexico City with
his .army and that after firmly es
tablishing his rule in the capital he
w^ll march against Vera Cruz, the
capital of the Carranza government.
L. F. Shaw, of Seward, has been
appointed a notary public by Gov
ernor J. F. A. Strong.
tMEBS TRYING
TO SAVE JAPANESE
Cruiser Asama, With 500 Men On
Board, 8truck Rock and Is Re
ported To Be Sinking.
SAN DIEGO, Feb. 4.—Three Amer
ican warships are racing southward
to the coast of Lower California in an
effort to save tne lives of five hundred
Japanese sailors, the crew of the Ja
tpanese cruiser Asama.
. The Asama, which has been pa
trolling the California coast' in hopes
of picking up German cruisers, struck
a rock during a storm and is report
ed to be fast breaking up. - She car
ries a crew of five hundred men who
are without means of reaching shore
as the cruiser has no life boats, hav
ing been stripped for action before
leaving on her cruise.
When the Asama struck wireless
calls for assistance were sent out
and three American warships which
were at anchor in San Diego bay
were immediately dispatched under
hurried orders to the rescue of the
Japanese boat.
The smoker which was to have
been given tonight to Alaska Pioneers
and their friends by Dr. Von Gunther
has been postponed until next Wed
nesday evening as a mark of respect
to the late Wm. H. Blackwell.
GERMANS WARN WEB SHIPPING
AWAY FROM NORTHWEST FRENCH COAST
f
• ■— ■ ■ — -
BELIEVED COAST HAS BEEN MINED BY GERMANS IN EFFORT TO
KEEP BRITISH MONITORS FROM SHELLING GERMAN POSI
TIONS IN BELGIUM—GERMAN CRUISER REPORTED SUNK OFF
COAST OF PATAGONIA—GERMAN LOSSES DURING FIGHTING
BEFORE WARSAW ARE REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN ENORMOUS
—BELGIANS REPULSE GERMAN ATTACKS NEAR WESTENDE—
LITTLE ACTIVITY IN WESTERN ZONE.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.—The State
Department has received a note from
the German government warning
American shipping to keep off the
northwest coast of France. It is be
lieved that the Germans have suc
ceeded in placing mines along the
coast to keep the British fleet from
approaching sufficiently close to
bombard the German positions and
if possible prevent the transportation
of troops and supplies from England
to France.
German Cruiser Reported Sunk.
BUENOS AYRES, Feb. 4.—Officials
of an American vessel which arrived
here today brings news of a sea bat
tle which took place off the coast
of Patagonia on January 7th. One
Oerman cruiser is reported to have
been sunk in the engagement but
PRESIDENT SPEAKS
IN NEW YORK
Tells United States Chamber of Com
merce Business Men Should
Help Frame Laws.
WAHINGTON, Feb. 4—In his
speech yesterday before the United
States Chamber of Commerce meet
ing in New York President Wilson
urged closer co-operation between the
business men of the country and the
government, through its representa
tives, in the framing of laws.
The chamber is composed of busi
ness men from all sections of the
United States, several hundred being
in attendance. The appearance of
President Wilson was greeted with
tremendous enthusiasm. The presi
dent opened his remarks by stating
that he believed all men were hon
est where the welfare of their coun
try was concerned and there was no
reason why business men should
hesitate in expressing their views
on laws which they deemed neces
sary to the best interests of the
country.
the name of the vessel could not be
learned.
German Losses Enormous.
LONDON, Feb. 4.—The losses sus
tained by Gen. Hindenburg’s forces
in their attacks upon the Russian
positions near Warsaw are 'reported
to have been very heavy. The fight
ing was the most desperate of any
engagement since the war started.
Bayonet charges were resorted to
time after time but the advancing
Germans were literally mowed down
by machine guns before they could
reach the Russian trenches.
Big Battle Pending.
It is believed that Gen. Hindenburg
plans a supreme effort to break the
Rusisan center near Warsaw. Troop
trains have been carrying reinforce
ments from Germany for the past two
days and it Is thought that the final
effort of Gen. Hindenburg to capture
Warsaw is soon to begin. The Rus
sians have succeeded in forcing the
German left wing, operating in the
Mlawa district, back to a point which
renders the position of Hindenburg’s
army at Warsaw precarious should
the Russians gain a decisive victory
over the Germans at Mlawa. They
would then be in position to turn
southward and strike at the German
line of communication through Po
land.
Russian Count'r Attacks.
The aggressive movements on the
part of the Russians against the Ger
man forces both northwest and south
west of Warsaw are believed to be
counter movements to break the force
of the German attacks against War
saw' as should either wings of the
Russian forces gain ground they will
threaten Hindenburg’s army from the
rear by cutting his line of commun
ication.
Belgians Repulse Germans.
AMSTERDAM. Feb. 4.—German
forces are reported to have delivered
a series of fierce bayonet charges
against the Belgian troops near West
ende. The Belgian troops met the
charges w'th a withering rifle fire
which forced the Germans to seek
the shelter of their own trenches.
Little Activity In West.
PARIS, Feb. 4.—The activity along
the western battle line was confined
^Continued on page 2.)
CHICAGO WHEAT ITT WAS SCENE
OF WILD CONFUSION YESTERDAY
RUMOR THAT ALLIES HAD FORCED THE DARDANELLES AND RUS
SIAN WHEAT WAS TO BE ON MARKET CAUSED PRICE TO
DROP FROM $1.65 PER B USHEL TO $1.59.
CHICAGO, Feb. 4.—The wheat pit
was the scene of the wildest confu
sion yesterday ever witnessed in the
memory of the oldest member. The
market opened with wheat at $1.65
.per bushel. Shortly after the open
ing a rumor was circulated that a
cable had been received from the
American ambassador at Rome stat
ing that the Allies had succeeded in
forcing the Dardanelles and that Rus
sian wheat would soon be exported
via the Meditterranean.
The circulation of the rumor caused
the price to break and in the scram
ble to unload the price dropped to
$1.56%. Fortunes were swept away
in the rapid drop in price and many
brokers who were rated as wealthy
will be forced into liquidation.
A denial of the rumor, which was
apparently circulated with the object
of upsetting the market, caused the
quotations to jump back to $1.66.
Many dealers, believing that the de
nial of the rumor of the Russian ex
port wheat being thrown on the mar
ket shortly was a ruse and continued
to dispose of their holdings, causing
the market to drop back to $1.59*4
when the pit closed. .
The natives at Sinrock are having
considerable trouble with their dogs,
which are attacking the herds of rein
deer in that vlcini'y.