--^VOL. 13. VALDEZ, ALASKA, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1915. N0. m ~
PRESIDENT FOR
1 BIGGER NRIIY
Will Ask Congress To Provide Better
Military Organization for Pro
tection Only.
WASHINGTON, April 21—The
president is expected to ask congress
at the next session to investigate the
condition of the United States for de
fense against foreign aggression and
to take such measures as may in
their judgment be necessary to pro
vide for the protection of the coun
try.
The president is convinced that at
this time the United States has no
adequate defense-neither in the army
or navy, both of which are below
what is necessary to protect the coun
try with its vast wealth from the
greed of European powers. While in
sisting that the United States has no
desires for extension of territory yet
the president is concerned as to the
ability of the United States to keep
its position in world affairs unless the
determination to hold our present
place is backed by the ability to do
so.
GERMANS FLEE FROM ITALY
REALIZE WAR IS INEVITARLE
ITALIAN NATION DEMANDING WAR AGAINST FORMER ALLY
ARMY HAS BEEN GREATLY INCREASED SINCE LAST AUGUST
AND SUPPLIES PURCHASED FROM ENGLAND, FRANCE AND THE
UNITED STATES—150,000 HORSES HAVE BEEN IMPORTED—HUGE
FORCE CONCENTRATED NEAR AUSTRIAN BORDER, WHERE AUS
TRIANS ARE READY TO MEET THEM.
ROME, April 21.—The break be
tween Italy and Austria is expected
now at any moment. The time limit
has expired upon the ultimatum giv
en Austria by Italy demanding the
TURKISH TfiOOPT
SAVE CHRISTIANS
Persian Situation la Improving Is Re
port Reaching State Department
At Washington.*
WASHINGTON, April 21.—Consular
»
dispatches reaching the State Depart
ment from Urumiah, northwest Per
sia, state that the Turkish troops now
reaching the scene have established
order and that the massacreing of
Christians has been stopped. Dr.
Harry P. Packard, of the American
mission at Urumiah, is safe, as are
all the other American missionaries.
The report indicates that thousands
of Persians, who had been converted
to Christianity by the mission work
ers, have been killed by the Kurds,
who have been rioting and massacre
ing since late in March.
“The term “Christian” In the dis
patches includes not only the Ameri
can missionaries and those of other
countries, but also numbers of Armen
ian and Assyrian Christians, and al
so a large proportion of Jews, all
these sects being, in the eyes of the
Mohammedans, infidels, and members
of the same faith, upon whom the
Holy War was declared by the "Je
had" or call of the Sheik-ul-Islam.
The Assyrian Christians ,who are
suffering from the bands of Kurds
(Turkish tribes of the mountains
•' across the Turkish border), are mem
bers of an ancient tribe who have
been Christian for centuries, and are
a separate group from the “Syrians,"
which is a word applied to those who
live in Palestine and the district
near Beirut
provinces on the Adriatic. German
and Austrian subjects are seeking
safety in flight and are returning to
their former homes via Switzerland.
In the past week thousands of Ger
man women and children have cross
ed the border, while the men remain
ed to close up their business affairs
and they, too, are now crowding to
the line panic-stricken by the evi
dence of popular feeling in Italy de
manding a war against Austria.
The greatest excitement prevails in
official circles and the war office is
busy day and night with officers of
the army and navy holding confer
ences and planning the moves to be
taken the moment the official declar
ation is made. The fleet has been
concentrated but the Navy Depart
ment refuse to allow the publication
of news regarding naval movements
or the points at which the army is
being concentrated.
The whole army of Italy, Including
the thousands of new recruits, have
been equipped with the latest and
best fire arms, the storehouses of the
country have been filled with war mu
nitions, which have been gathered
from all parts of the world, but most
ly from France, England and the Un
ited States.
It is estimated that fully 150,000
head of horses have reached here
from the United States, Canada and
Africa. Every ship coming from
America has brought large supplies
of arms and ammunition, the latter
of which has been greatly needed.
All the reserves in foreign countries
have been recalled and are now with
the colors, while the army has been
mobilized at several points but the
greater force near the Austrian bor
der, where the Austrians have con
structed huge defenses along the
frontier.
Admiral Watson Reaches Seattle.
SEATTLE, April 21.—The steamer
Admiral Watson, of the Admiral Line,
reached here last night from South
western Alaska and will sail north
on the 25th with a full list of pas
sengers and all the freight the steam
er can carry.
Offices to rent over Valdes Drug Co.
AUSTRIANS CONTINUE TO BLOCK RUSSIANS
PETROGRAD, April 21.—The Rus
sians continue to attack the Austri
ans holding the strong positions
guarding the way into Hungary
through the Uszok pass. The troops
have been unable to shake the firm
hold the Austrians have upon the po
sitions and more artillery will be
needed to break through the pass.
No general offensive can be under
taken as long as the Austrians remain
in control of the pass and the rail
road which runs through it. The
campaign in Hungary isa t a stand
still until the pass is taken by the
Grand Duke, who is reported to be in
personal command of the troops now
operating in that section.
No Change In Poland.
In Poland the opposing armies oc
cupy much the same positions today
that they held for the past few weeks.
The same condition exists in east
Prussia. The spring thaw has put a
stop upon extensive military opera
tions.
Torpedo Boats Fail Enter Dardanelles
CONSTANTINOPLE, April 21.—Six
torpedo boats from the fleet now op
erating against the Turkish forts
guarding the Dardanelles, attempted
to push through the Dardanelles into
the Sea of Marmora Monday night
HOLD USZOK PASS AND CZAR’S TROOPS DARE NOT INVADE HUN
GARY UNTIL THEY DEFEAT AUSTRIAN FORCES—ALLIES LAND
20,000 TROOPS ON SHORE GULF OS SAR08, AND BIG BATTLE.
SHIPS COVER THE LANDING—GERMANS REPORT GAINS IN NOR
THERN FRANCE ON THE MEUSE AND IN LORRAINE—TORPEDO
BOATS REPULSED WHEN TRYING TO ENTER DARDANELLES—
RUSSIANS MINE ENTRANCE OF BOSPORUS AND HAVE TURKISH
FLEET IN BLACK SEA UNABLETO RETURN TO CONSTANTINOPLE
but were repulsed by the well-direct-appeared from the view of the Turk
ed fire from the forts. Several of ish observers.
the boats were hit and were forced -
to reduce speed, indicating that the German Gains In France,
injury was serious. One of the boats BERLIN, April 21.—The war office
was seen to be on fire when it dis- announced that the troops operating
WHIPPING RULES
FOR THE SGHOOLS
No More Lickings for Tacoma Schol
' ar$ Except By Permission of
the Principal.
TACOMA, April 21—The superin
tendent of schools for Tacoma has is
sued an order that hereafter no teach
er shall punish a scholar in the
schools except after first obtaining
permission from, the principal of the
school and then the punishment must
be given in the presence of a num
ber of witnesses.
The order has been made neces
sary by the constant complaints by
parents that children are harshly pun
ished for slight infractions of the
rules. The teachers, when asked to
explain, have insisted that only after
every means was exhausted to induce
the scholars to obey had they admin
istered corporal punishment, and then
had never been severe to the chil
dren.
It is expected that with witnesses
present at the whipping of the bad
boys and girls and after obtaining the
permission of the principal of the
school that the mothers and fathers
will have no cause to complain, while
the witnesses can be called upon to
testify regarding the harshness of the
punishment.
ROCK ISLAND R. R
HAS GONE BROKE
Federal Court Appoints Former Offi
cials Receivers for Line—Blame
Laid To the Government
CHICAGO, April 21.—The federal
court today appointed H. U. Mudge,
president of the Rock Island railroad,
and/Jacob Dicenson, former secretary
of the road, as receivers for the Rock
Island at the request of the creditors
and stockholders of the concern.
The receivers announced that they
would make every effort to continue
the road and arrange for long time
payments to the creditors. President
Mudge stated that the attitude of the
government towards common carriers
was responsible for the financial con
dition of the road and that no stock
jobbing had been resorted to by the
insiders of the system in an effort to
make money from the public. He as
serts that the rates allowed by the
government precluded the possibility
of paying operating expenses and fix
ed charges for money borrowed and
that unless a different attitude was
taken by the government towards
railroads almpst all of them would be
forced into the hands of receivers.
With an improvement in business
conditions the Rock Island Is expect
ed to pull Itself out of debt.
BRITISH PROTEST TO BRYAN
REGARDING GERMAN CRUISER
SIR EDWARD GREY 8AYS ALLOWING GERMAN CONVERTED CRUIS
ER TO HAVE BOTTOM 8CRAPED OF BARNACLE8, THUS IN
CREASING HER SPEED IS VIOLATION OF NEUTRALITY SAME
AS IF THE STEAMER WERE ALLOWED TO PUT IN NEW EN
GINES—WANTS GERMAN SHIPS SENT TO SEA WITH ONLY NEC
ESSARY REPAIRS—ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS SAY CRUISER
ONLY BEING INSPECTED AND NOT CLEANED.
LONDON, April 21.—Sir Edward
Grey has made a protest to the
American government against the act
of the naval authorities at Newport
News in allowing the German con
verted cruiser Kronprinz Wilhelm to
have her bottom cleaned in drydock,
claiming that to do so Is to give
the German ship the advantage of
several knots in speed, which the boat
should not be allowed to secure in
neutral ports, but should be allowed
only such repairs as are needed to
make the boat seaworthy and then
she should be compelled to leave port.
The British foreign office insists
that to allow the boat to be cleaned
is as much a violation of the neu
trality of the United States as if an
additional boiler or engine were in
stalled giving the converted cruiser
several knots additional spee<.
WASHINGTON, April 21.—The
protest of the British government
against the granting of permission to
the German converted cruiser Kron
prinz Wilhelm to have her bottom
cleaned and painted caused a sensa
tion here, as diplomats fear that naval
officers at Newport News may have
allowed the work to start and they
fear that the British contention is
correct. High naval officials refuse
to make any statement, but friends
of the administration insist that the
Germans have never been granted per
mission to clean the Bhlp’s bottom
and that the boat was drydocked in
order that a proper survey might be
made. ,
against the French in the Meuse dis
trict and also in Lorraine hare made
continued attacks the past week and
now occupy positions far in advance
of the line of a week ago. The fight
ing has been constant and has been
carried on day and night. The ar
tillery bombardment has been inces
sant and the big Krupp siege guns
have demolished several French field
forts. The aviators of the Germans
have been able to locate all the forts
and trenches. Several of the aerial
scouts have been decorated with the
iron cross for daring work in flying
low over the enemies’ lines in order
to report upon the positions of the
batteries and the numbers and dis
position of the men.
Allies Land In Turkey.
ATHENS, April 21.—The battle
ships of the Allies covered the land
ing today in the Gulf of Saros with
20,000 British and French troops
which are to operate against the Turk
ish forts on the Gallipoli peninsula.
The Turkish forts opened a terrific
fire upon the Allies transports and
ships but were silenced by the big
guns of the British superdreadnoughts
which ran in close to the shore and
sent a constant fire from the lone
(Continued on page 2.)
CANAL NOT READY
FOR BIO PARADE
Goethals Unable To Deepen Big Wa
terway By July 4th—Ships To
Remain On the Atlantic.
WASHINGTON, April 21.—It is now
announced that the big naval parade
through the ranania canal may not
be carried out on July 4th as expect
ed because of the inability of the
canal authorities to have the canal
ready to accommodate the big naval
warships. Dredges have been work
ing day and night to deepen the canal
and make possible the use of the big
waterway by the big dreadnoughts,
but they have failed to deepen the
canal as fast as expected.
It is rumored that the reason for
the announcement is not the fail
ure of the canal authorities to deep
en the canal but the intention of the
administration to keep the battleship
fleet on the Atlantic coast because
of the desire to have it ready in case
of trouble with Mexico or should for
eign complications arise between this
government and the European pow
ers now at war.
FAIRBANKS TO GET A SPUR
FROM GOVERNMENT RAILROAD
ANNOUNCEMENT THAT ROAD BE BUILT TO NENANA NOT PLEAS
ING TO PEOPLE OF THE INTE RIOR—COM MISSION WILL MAKE
SURVEYS THIS SUMMER TO DETERMINE BEST WAY TO CON
NECT FAIRBANKS WITH MAIN LINE—TANANA VALLEY RAIL
ROAD NOT TO BE ADDED TO THE GOVERNMENT SYSTEM—
FAIRBANKS PEOPLE INSIST MINERAL RESOURCES JUSTIFY
TERMINAL. 1 i
WASHINGTON, April 21.—The
people of Fairbanks have been pro
testing to the government against the
proposed building of the government
railroad from Seward to Nenana, in
sisting that the road should be built
direct from the coast to Fairbanks,
which is the only city in the Interior
and from which the roads and trails
lead to all the placer mining camps
of the Fourth udiclal division. The
commission has announced that the
Reason for the failure to include Fair
banks in the present line has been the
fact that a number of routes are
available from Nenana to Fairbanks,
and further surveys will be made this
coming summer to determine the best
route by which to connect Fairbanks
and Nenana.
The Fairbanks people in this city,
however, object to having the inter
ior city made the end of a spur from
the main line of railroad and insist
that the road should go through Fair
banks and on to Nenana, and not
through Nenana and on to Fairbanks.
The commission intends to make
surveys during the summer and sub
mit an additional report to the presi
dent next fall showing the best route
to Fairbanks. The purchase of the
Tanana Valley railroad is not being
I considered and it is doubtful if it will
be included in the government sys
1 tem.
The announcement made yesterday
from t' e ffoice of the engineering
commission is to the effect that no
surveys will be made at present for
the extens'on to Nome. The matter
of extending the line will be for fu
ture consideration, while the efforts
of the commission at present will be
directed towards the completion of
the line as outlined by the president
when the selection of the route was
made.
The commission is inclined to be
lieve that the building of the road will
result in great development of the
mineral resources about Seward and
from that point on into the interior.
The vast farming lands of Alaska are
also to be opened and it is expected
that thousands of settlers will go
north and establish homes along the
railroad and send their produce to
all parts of Alaska, besides in time
supplying Pacific coast cities in the
states.
SURVEY BOAT
FOR ALASKA
Secretary Redfield Authorize* Con
struction On Pacific Coast—
Ship To Carry Guns.
_
I
!
WASHINGTON, April 21.—The De
partment of Commerce has had drawn
the plans for the new coast survey
boat which was authorized by con
gress at its last session and the Pa
cific coast boat builders are to be
given an opportunity to bid on the
vessel and will be allowed a discount
over the price that would be paid for
the same ship to eastern builders be
cause of the expense of sending the
boat from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
The new ship will be equipped to
carry several small guns and will be
used in connection with the work
of the coast patrol if it' is at any
time necessary to use her for patrol
work.
Captain Lathrop left for Cordova on
the Northwestern but expected to re
turn to Valdez on the Mariposa to
close a deal for a site for his new
moving picture house which he plans
to erect in Valdez as part of a cir
cuit which he will operate in South
western Alaska
Our first spring shipment of Stet
son hats in the latest models arrived
cn last boat. Your inspection solicit
ed. S. Blum & Co. tt
Suits pressed for 11.00 at Silver
man's the tailor. Telephone 198.
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