Iditarod Pioneer_
TpITAROD. ALASKA.1XtURDA~Y~MORNING. APrIIs. 1917 25 cents ter copy
HARDEST EIGHT
OF GREAT WAR
Terrific Slaughter on French and
British Fronts in France—Ac
counts Conflict, but Allied
Gains Are Steady
PARIS. April 21 In the great battle on
the southern front the French have made
further progress north of the Aisne. in
Champaigne and in the Argonne forest.
Since Monday they have captured 19.000
Germans and a hundred guns.
South of Bouvincourt and east of ( otirey
the French troops have made further gains
in grenade fighting. The German attack
against Monthaut has failed, the war office
announces.
British Successes
LONDON. April 21. The British troops
last night captured the village of Connellieu.
on the front between St. Quentin and Cain
brai, it was officially announced today.
BRITISH HEADQUARTERS, France,
April 22. The British have captured Gar
voile, the last of Hittdenberg's lines of dis
patch north of the Scarpe riser.
Heaviest Fighting of War
LONDON, April 24.— The British armies
in France, after some of the heaviest tight
tng of the war. have captured an eight-mile
front from Yimv ridge to below Crotselles.
The Germans threw their full force into an
attempted rescue along the Scarpe, but lost
many positions, anti the British took more
than a thousand prisoners.
Genearl Haig reported this afternoon that
he had made further progress to the east
of Monchy. Leprux and Roeux and to the
south of the St. Quentin-Cambrai road, gain
ing ground on a wide front to the east of
Epsy, and reached the St. Quentin canal
in the neighborhood of Y’endhuile. He also
reported the capture of the villages of Vil
lers, Plouich and Beaucamp.
German Resistance Decreases
BRITISH HEADQUARTERS, France.
April 24.—The resistance of the German
armies seemed to decrease today with the
Briti.-h approach to Droucourt Queant, on
a switch line which is depended on by the
Hermans as the counecting link between ;
their lines north of St. Quentin and south '
of Lille.
Countless Thousands of Reserves
LONDON, April 25.—Correspondents at
the front wire that the hardest fighting of
the war continues east of Arras, and that
the Germans have brought up countless
thousands of reserves and are accepting
battle in the open. They report also that
the British have gained a good deal of
ground and lost nothing.
The general fighting of the last two days
is reflected in the aerial operations. The
British flying corps yesterday established a
new record, bringing down forty German
machines. Fights took place at an altitude
of 15,000 feet.
General Haig reported this morning that
he had captured 3,000 Germans since Mon
day.
What Might Have Been
BERLIN. April 25.—The war office as
serts that the British might have suffered a
heavy sanguinary defeat through the fore
sight of the general headquarters had it
not been for the tenacious desire of the
German troops for victory. Only on the
Cambrai-Arras road did the British gain
ground yesterday.
Eight Night Attacks
LONDON, Sept, 2G,—The war office an
nounced today that eight counter attacks
•by the Germans during the night against
Garvelle had failed.
General Haig reports a further slight
advance south of the Scarpe, and that thou
sands of dead Germans are lying on the
battlefield.
Germans Retain a Toe-Hold
BERLIN, April 26.—The war office an
nounced today that the Germans are hold
ing the eastern boundary of Garvelle. Sev
eral British attacks south of the Scarpe
have been repulsed with heavy losses.
WORK OF SUBMARINES
LONDON, April 23.—The British hospital
ships Donegal and La France, with many
wounded on board, were torpedoed without
warning. Nineteen British and fifteen Ger
mans are believed to have perished.
Reynolds’ Newspaper says that at Dover
twenty-eight German and twenty-two Brit
ish dead are lying in the market hall.
Calais Shelled
CALAIS, April 23.—German torpedo boat
destroyers today fired a hundred shells in
the region of Calais. Several civilians were
killed and twelve were wounded.
Many Vessels Sunk
LONDON, April 27.—The sinking of forty
vessels by submarines during the week end
ing on Tuesday has caused grave comment
in the newspapers.
An American Victim
WASHINGTON, April 26—The American
steamship Birdsall has been torpedoed. Her
crew was rescued by a British patrol boat.
Germans Shoot and Run
SEATTLE, April 26.—A dispatch states
that a German destroyer flotilla bombarded
| Dunkirk for ten minutes yesterday and
■ then fled toward Ostend at great speed, pur
sued by the British and French patrol ships.
A French torpedo boat was sunk during
| the engagement.
LONDON. April 27.—German destroyers
j raided Ramsgate, a North sea health resort,
| during last night, killing a man, a woman
I and a horse, and injuring three persons,
j Twenty-one dwellings were damaged.
i Successes Great and Losses Small
BERLIN, April 27.—Admiral Von Ca
| polio, minister of the navy, reported to the
j reiehstag main committee today that the
success of the submarine campaign contin
j ued great and the losses small.
BRITISH IN MESOPOTAMIA
LONDON, April 23.—-The British have
swept the valley of the Tigris for a distance
of eighty miles north of Bagdad.
ATTEMPT TO CUT OFF PETROGRAD
LONDON, April 24.- The presence of a
German transport fleet in the Baltic, and
| activity today along the Dvina riser, in
■ the Riga section, indicate that Germany has
j launched a land and sea attack to cut off
i Petrograd from the Russian armies.
j A dispatch to the Express says that an j
I exodus of Russians from Petrograd to Mos- j
; cow is in progress, owing to fears of a Ger
| man advance.
LLOYD GEORGE OPTIMISTIC
ON OUTCOME OF STRUGGLE
DESPITE SUBMARINES’ WORK
LONDON, April 27, In a speech at the j
Guildhall today Premier Lloyd George said
that the munitions question was being han- j
died in ,-uch a manner that the men now !
have a chance to fight. He stated that j
the British had taken four hundred Ger- !
j man guns without losing one. The advan- i
! tage is now with the allies, with victory in
! creasingly nearer, he declared.
Life of Empire Threatened
j LONDON, April 27.—Albert Stanley, pres
ident of the British board of trade, admitted
!'today that the submarine campaign was
I threatening the life of the empire, but de
1 dared that success was bound to come, as
| the United States would build vessels as fast
i as Germany could sink them.
i
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EX-SENATOR ELIHU B. ROOT
HEADS RUSSIAN COMMISSION
WASHINGTON. April 21. A group of
distinguished Americans, headed by mem
bers of the cabinet or by ex-Senator Root, j
will be, named by the President to go to j
Russia to advise the provisional govern
ment.
WASHINGTON. April 26.—Following an j
hour's conference between President Wilson |
and ex-Senator Hfoot today it was admitted
that the latter has accepted the chairman
ship of the commission which will go to i
Russia. Mr. Root said the announcement j
must come from the President.
RUSSIAN ARMY AND NAVY
WILL FIGHT TO THE END
HELSINGFORS, April 25.—A council of
! army and navy delegates at Sveaborg has
\ decided to send wireless messages to the
! allied fleets saying that the Baltic fleet and |
i the army defending its base are in complete |
: readiness to fight to the last in defense of
Russia.
! WASHINGTON, April 24. The state de
partment received a report from Petrograd
today to the effect that Russia is no more
likely to abandon the war than is the
. United States.
SEATTLE COMMERCIAL BODY
WANTS ALASKA DEFENDED
| SEATTLE, April 25.—The trustees of
' the Seattle Chamber of Commerce today j
| adopted a resolution urging that provision
j lie made for the defense of Alaska by the
| establishment of a naval base there, because
| of its immense resources. The building of |
] wagon roads in Alaska and a closed season
i for halibut fishing in the Pacific were also
! urged.
GERMAN RAIDER REPORTED
_
NEW' YORK, April 24. -An unnamed j
foreign steamship arriving here reports that
she was chased off the coast of Brazil for
five miles by a German raider. The raider
had Norwegian flags painter! on her sides.
BASEBALL SEASON OPENS
SEATTLE, April 24 — The Northwestern
j Baseball League season opened here this
! afternoon, the first game being between
j Seattle and Great Falla.
TELEGRAPHIC BREVITIES
| SEATTLE, April 27.—G. F. White, a
I prominent lumberman and banker of this ,
I city, died this morning.
ROME, April 27.—Many persons are re
ported to have been killed in an earthquake
in Tuscany and Umbria provinces.
BERNE, April 27.—An unknown aviator
has dropped bombs on the town of Porren
truin, injuring many persons.
SEATTLE, April 24—W. C. Dawson is
negotiating for the Border Line Transporta
tion Company.
SEATTLE, April 23.—David Kellogg,
who opened the first drug store in Seattle,
died today, aged 53.
FIRST AMERICAN GIN FIRED
ANNIHILATES ENEMY SUBMARINE
LONDON, April 25.—Captain Rice of the American steamship Mon
golian, which arrived at a British port today, announced that the Mon- |
golian had fired the first gun of the war for the United States, and had
sunk a German submarine. The naval gunners on board made a clean
hit at one thousand yards. The periscope of the undersea craft was |
shattered. The submarine. Captain Rice said, was about to attack a
great liner in British waters on April 19. He declared that there was
absolutely no doubt that the U-boat was hit, and that there was every
reason to believe that she was destroyed.
Describing the incident, the captain said a periscope was sighted
dead ahead late in the afternoon. He gave orders for full speed ahead,
with the intention of ramming the submarine. The periscope disap
peared, and a few minutes later reappeared on the ship’s broadside.
The gunners fired, hitting the periscope squarely and throwing up a .
fountain of water. An even more pertinent fact regarding the ultimate
fate of the submarine was that the shell disappeared immediately after
the hit was made. The captain states that a shell always ricochettes
in the water, and can be seen again unless it find a mark. Oil also was
seen on the water after the submarine disappeared.
BRITISH AH! BREACH COMMISSIONS
ARRIVE AT NATIONAL CAPITAL
WASHINGTON, April 24.—A. J. Balfour and his party of British
commissioners to the United States arrived here Sunday afternoon.
They were received by Secretary Lansing at the railroad station, where
a brief ceremony befitting such a grave event in American history took
place. Mr. Balfour was received by the President last night, and touch
ing the conference the British foreign secretary said that the meeting
alone had justified his trip.
The British commissioners are unanimous in their belief that the end ;
of the war is a long way off. The Germans, these experts say, are not
yet defeated, are not in immediate danger of starvation, and are not j
at this time contemplating revolution.
Explodes Theory of Short and Bloodless War
NEW YORK, April 23.—A. J. Balfour’s first message upon landing at an unnamed j
American port was intended to explode the theory that this country faces a short and
bloodless w'ar. Summed up, it was: “Realize, people of America, that you face a real
fight, and should be prepared for great individual sacrifice, for it will be demanded. We
have come to help America to turn the first page in a new chapter in the history of man- j
kind. I appreciate that it will be quite a little time before the people of the United States, |
to borrow an .American phrase, thoroughly realize what they are ‘up against.’ And I am
quite sure that when Germany forced the United States into war with her she did not |
realize what she w as ‘up against.’ ”
Must Have Compulsory Service to Win
WASHINGTON, April 24 Major General Bridges, a member of the British commis- J
sion, said today: "War and compulsory military service must go hand in hand:
in order to win. If you have one you must have the other. Had England known this
at the start of the war she would have saved millions in treasure and thousands of lives."
Membershio of French Commission
WASHINGTON, April 24. -The department of state was advised of the safe arrive!
of the French commission today. The commission includes Generals Joffe and Viviani;
Vice Admiral Chocheprat. dean of the French admiralty, and an expert on submarine
problems; the Marquis de Chambroun, a member of the chamber of deputies, and aj
student of international affairs; M. Simon, inspector of finances; M. Rovelacque, inspector
general of public instruction, and Surgeon Major Dreyfus.
WASHINGTON, April 25.~ The French commission crossed the Atlantic on a French <
liner convoyed by a warship. American destroyers met the vessels far out at sea and
escorted them to a port. Representatives of the state department boarded the liner j
and extended a welcome to the distinguished guests, who were conveyed up the Potomac ]
on the Presdent’s yacht Mayflower, arriving here today.
SELECTIVE CONSCRIPTION IS FLAMED |
WASHINGTON, April 21. After certain
modifications, the senate today voted to
retain the press censorship clause of the
espionage bill. The debate on the adminis
tration army bill, providing for selective j
conscription, began in the senate today, j
with friends and opponents of the measure j
lining up for the fight on the question of j
whether volunteers shall be relied upon or
drafting be resorted to.
German Ships to Be Used
The government plans to have nine of |
the seized German ships repaired and in j
commission within thirty days, and has
also empowered the shipping board to seize
and pay for vessels totalling 1,200,000 ton
nage now being built in American shipyards
for foreign interests, largely Norwegian.
Forecasts Passage of War Army Bill
WASHINGTON, April 24—The passage
of the war army bill by the end of the week
is forecasted today by prominent members
of congress. The President has signed the
$7,000,000,000 war loan bill.
Many of the larger vessels engaged in the
coastwise trade are to be diverted at once
to the transatlantic service.
Looking After Agriculture
WASHINGTON. April 25.—Plans for
supplying 2,000,000 workers for the coun
try’s farms were announced by Secretary !
of Labor Wilson today.
The house and senate today resumed the !
debate on the war army bill.
America’s first loan to Great Britain was !
consummated this morning, Secretary of
1 the Treasury McAdoo handing to British
Ambassador Spring-Rice a warrant for $200,- >
000,000.
Speaker Clark Opposes Conscription
Speaker Cb.rk announced today that he j
is opposed to conscription, and that- he is !
in favor of letting the flower of the youth
of the country volunteer rather than force ;
a direct draft upon them.
To Rid the World of the Despot
Senator McKellar, author of the amend
ment to the army bill proposing to call for
f>00,000 volunteers before conscription is re
sorted to, denied that conscription would
equalize the burden of military service, “I
believe the German kaiser is the greatest
criminal on the face of the earth today,”
said Senator McKellar. “I want this war
in the quickest way to rid the world of this
despot. It may be September or October
before arrangements for the operation of
this draft measure are completed, then an
other ten to twelve months in which to
train our troops.”
Champ Clark Attacks Conscription
WASHINGTON, April 27.—Speaker
Clark made a bitter attack from the floor
of the house upon the President’s conscrip
tion bill. He assured the house that Mis
sourians class conscription with the word
"convict.”
Selective Conscription Will Pass
The selective conscription advocates claim
they have a majority of six votes in the
house.
Advocates of an increasing volunteer sys
tem today admitted that defeat awaits their
efforts to block the President’s plans for
an army raised by selective conscription
only.
CHILDREN MEET DEATH
SEATTLE, April 24.—Bailey Williams,
aged 6; Raymond Mills, 9, and John Izzend,
11, were asphyxiated today by the opening
of a valve on a lake launch on which they
were playing. The bodies were found hud
dled in the pilot house.
DENVER BEAUTY’S SAD END
NEW YORK, April 21.—Mrs. John W.
Springer, the beautiful divorced wife of
a Denver banker, over whom Harold F.
Henwood killed Sylvester Von Pusland and
George F. Copeland, also of Denver, died
in a paupers’ hospital here today.
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE
FOR CITY OF FAIRBANKS
JUNEAU, April 27. The house of rep
resentativcs passed the bill providing for
an agricultural college at Fairbanks on
Thursday last. Sixty thousand dollars is
appropriated for the institution. It now
goes to the governor for his signature, hav
ing already passed the senate.
The bill allowing the mining companies
credit for the federal tax paid on the num
ber of stamps in their mills in computing
the territorial license tax due was killed in
Uie house on a reconsideration of the vote.
A bill making eight hours a legal day’s
work for women has passed the house, and
also a bill regulating the practice of op
tometry.
The bill requiring the payment of insur
ance risks by agents resident in the terri
tory has been withdrawn.
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COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 27. The D arcy -
Chip fight has been forbidden by the gov
ernor.
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SPAIN, ARGENTINE AND CHINA
MAY UNITE WITH ALLIES
TO MAKE WAR ON GERMANY
LONDON, April 25,—Spain, in a note to
Germany regarding the submarine warfare,
warns the kaiser’s government that if Ger
many continues in its determination to sink
all vessels “in order to defend its life,’’ Spain
must take like steps in order to defend her
own life.
May Declare War
BUENOS AYRES, April 21. Argentina
has made a demand upon Germany for sat
isfaction for the sinking of the steamer
Monte Protegidola. The Nacion, Argentine’s
leading newspaper, declares that it under
stands that if Germany’s reply is unsatis
factory President Iroygen will not only
break off diplomatic relations but will de
clare war.
Chinese Parliament Favors War
PEKIN, April 26.—'A conference of the
provisional military governors, with the pre
mier and president, has voted unanimously
that China enter the war against Germany.
Parliament overwhelmingly favors declaring
war, though the president is still undecided.
-«—
NOTED SEATTLE PRISONER
MAKES ESCAPE FROM JAIL
SEATTLE, April 23.- Logan Billingsley,
who recently received a penitentiary sen
tence in connection with the bootlegging
conspiracy, sawed his way out of the deten
tion station last night and escaped. He was
to have been taken to McNeil’s Island peni
tentiary tomorrow. Fred and Ora Billings
ley began serving their sentences in the
Whatcom county jail last night.
SEATTLE, April 27.—Logan Billingsley,
in a letter purporting to have been written
in Portland, saj's he is not going to give j
himself up. but will seek employment in
the East. Later he will make public the
names of those who "double-crossed” him.
-♦
ATTACK ON CITY OF VENICE
FRUSTRATED BY ITALIANS
ROME. April 21.—A sea and air battle
near Venice is reported by the war office.
A number of aeroplanes, aided by torpedo
boats, approached Venice on April 17 in
order to effect a reconnoisance in force. A
rapid counter-attack by Italian and French
aeroplanes and shore batteries prevented the
enemy machines from flying over the city.
In a series of aerial duels an enemy plane
was shot down, and two Italian hydroaero
planes failed to return to their base.
NOTED RUSSIAN*REPATRIATES
VICTIMS OF SUBMARINE
PETROGRAD, April 24 - -Russian So
cialists are greatly exercised over the sink
ing by German submarines of the steamship
2ara, which was taking home a number of
Russian refugees, among whom were some
of the most prominent among those who
had been banished.
- ^
SOCIALIST SENATOR EXPELLED
MADISON, Wis,, April 27.—Frank
Raguse, a Socialist from Milwaukee, was
expelled from membership in the state sen
ate today because of statements made on
the floor of that body.
-—
A WONDERFUL DISCOVERY
WASHINGTON, April 23.—That the
Standard Oil Company substantially domi
nates the gasoline industry was the finding
of the federal trade commission, transmitted
in its report to the senate today.
-♦
BOB BRIDGES IS PATRIOTIC
—
SEATTLE, April 24.—President Robert
Bridges of the port of Seattle commission
has resigned, to take effect at once. He has
tendered his services to the government in
i
I any capacity.
REVOLUTIONARY
I MOVEMENTS DUE
Reports from Central Eorape Indi
cate That Overthrow of Au
tocracies Is Imminent—Ad
vise Kaiser to Abdicate
NEW YORK, April 21.—Despite the
[ rigid censorship and the shackled condition
of the German press, enough has leaked
j through to indicate that the German ein
| pire is facing a great economic and political
! crisis. Demands have been made by lead
[ ers of the Berlin strike of such a revolu
l tionary character that com] liance would
I mean the prompt ending of the militarist
I regime in the German empiie.
Similar demands have not been voiced
i publicly in Germany since the imprisonment
| of Dr. Karl Liebnecht, convicted of treason,
i It, is significant that these demands include
I a requisition for the release of all political
' prisoners, which would include several noted
I Socialists.
The exact status of the fight is unknown,
but it is certain that a very considerable por
tion of the munitions workers have been
; affected.
Reports of a new strike at Essen, where
the Krupp works are located, and at Magde
burg, which is the site of n important
branch of the groat Krupp works, are cur
rent.
Hungary Also in Ferment
Rome, April 21. A revolul'.on is immi
| nent in Hungary, according tr. Vatican ad
vices today, as the result of various disturb
j ances. Information received here asserts
i that Buda-Pest and twenty-five other cities
; end towns have been proclaimed to be in a
! state of siege.
Soldiers Fire on Rioters
LONDON, April 21. A dispatch from
Oldengaal. Holland says that the munitions
works strikers tried to burn t'e town hall
j at Magdeburg, Germany, a nil that soldiers
fired on the rioters, killing and wounding
i many. The town is now in a : tate of siege.
Pressure Being Used on Kaiser
ROME, April 24. The Corr'ere de Italia,
the clerical organ, declares that it is able
! to confirm the report published in Spanish
newspapers to the effect that the immediate
following of the German emperor is exer
[ cising pressure on him to induce him to
! abdicate.
Swiss Germans Advocate revolution
WASHINGTON, April 27. - According to
i a message to Secretary of State Lansing from
\ Minister Stovall, at Berne, an open move
ment is on in Switzerland by a committee
; of Germans to spread the propaganda of
republicanism and democracy.
Reports to the state department through
j official channels tell of a strike of 250,000
1 laborers in Berlin. The department officials
j say there is a growing desire for peace
, shown on the part of the workmen.
"Mutterings Drowned in Thunder of Battle”
NEW YORK, April 27.—“The fourth day
I of the terrible struggle on the British and
| French fronts opened with both sides still
striving in vain for a decision,” says today's
I Associated Press summary. “It would seem
as if the revolutionary mutterings which
: were ominously swelling through Europe
; prior to the inception of the great battle
were drowned in the thunders from the
i battle field. But indications are not lacking
j that momentous events are about to occur
behind the fighting lines.”
Fearful of May Day
COPENHAGEN, April 27.—German
[ newspapers today show indications of wide
j spread apprehension of a May day strike.
-A-■
ALASKA RAILROAD WORK
EVIDENTLY WILL GO ON
SEATTLE, April 28. The Alaska engi
J neering commission has placed orders for
i $100,000 worth of groceries and supplies
j for the Nenana division of the Alaska gov
ernment railroad.
Material for Anchorage
SEATTLE, April 27—The tug Daniel
Kern, towing the barge Columbia, with
eight hundred tons of dynamite, lumber,
flat cars and powder, sailed for Anchorage
last night. A regular barge service to An
chortge will be maintained throughout the
I summer.
--♦—-—
SECRETARY OF COMMERCE
INTERESTED IN OUR FISHERIES
J SEATTLE. April 25.—Secretary of Com
| merce Redfield, in a private letter received
in Seattle, saye that it is imperative that
j Alaska mobilize her fisheries, and that aside
| from the service so rendered to the country,
the market thus established at this time
would be maintained when peace came,
LAST MAIL ON WINTER TRAIL
TO LEAVE NEXT MONDAY
The last mail over the Seward-Iditarod
trail for the season of 1916-17 will leave
Iditarod on Monday next, April 30. The
registry window wdll close at 5 p. m. on
that day, and ordinary letter mail will be
received until 8 p. m. The last mail for
Fairbanks and Tanana and Yukon river
points left Ophir last week; therefore no
mail can be dispatched for those points.
The first mail by water is scheduled ta
leave Iditarod on June 1