'• ’ VALDEZ, ALASKA, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1914. NO. 372.
VOL. 10. _
GERMANS RAID BRITISH COAST
CRUISERS SHELLED SCARBOROUGH AND HARTLEPOOL
ALLIES REPORT GAINS ALONG FLANDERS-FRENCH LINE
AUSTRIANS DRIVEN FROM SERVIA WITH HEAVY LOSSES
ell ms
GRAIN MERCHANTS
For Seizures Made of Grain Ship
ments for German Merchants
—Prices Were High.
LONDON, Dec. 16—The grain car
goes confiscated by the British gov
ernment since the outbreak of the
war and which belonged to American
owners have all been sold and the
money has been turned over to the
American ambassador for the owners
of the grain. In many cases the own
ers were considerable gainer by rea
son of the seizure of the grain con
signed to German merchants at the
outbreak of the war when grain was
sold for much lower prices than since
last August.
The additional price is more than
enough to pay the owners for the
loss of time and interest.
All grain shipments destined for
German merchants were diverted by
the British warships to British ports
the grain sold but the proceeds given
to the shippers if they were from neu
tral countries and confiscated if Ger
man owned The shippers were com
pelled to appear in the prize court and
prove ownership and nationality.
For British Owned Mexican Oil
Wells, Which Are Threatened
By the Mexicans.
LONDON, Dec. 16.—In consequence
of information indicating peril to
British oil establishments, the gov
ernment has asked Washington to
protect British interests in the vicin
ity of Tampico. It is expected that
Washington will readily acquiesce in
this.
In the midst of greater troubles,
officials here find little time to wor
ry about Mexico, which only a short
time ago attracted universal atten
tion, but at the same time there is
considerable apprehension. Under
other circumstances it is probable
that England would be asking Wash
ington to take some action, but at
present there is no indication that
this government will go furher un
less there is some very untoward de
velopment which gravely threatens
British interests than to ask America
for protection.
The prime reason for this undoubt
edly is that England has no desire
to run the slightest risk of upset
ting friendly American relations
which now exist and which she so
greatly appreciates.
The Ladies Aid will meet in the
lecture room of the Congregational
church Thursday afternoon, Dec. 17.
As this will be the last meeting this
year would like all members to be
present.
German Cruisers Evaded British Mines and Passing British Patrol Fleet Appear
ed At Baybreak and Commenced Shelling Coast Cities—Dresden Leaves
Punta Arenas and Is Being Pursued By Five British Ships-British Warships
Bombard Belgian Coast Cities Held By Germans—Austrian Defeat Causes
Gloom In Berlin—England Now Fears German Invasion.
LONDON, Dec. 16.—The German
fleet shelled and set on fire the city
of Scarborough, on the North Sea
coast of England, and the city of
Hartlepool ten miles north of Scar
borough. The bombardment took
place this morning, a big fleet of Ger
man ships-appearing off the two cities
at daybreak. The British coast patrol
boats did not see the warships un
til they were off the city and had
started to open fire. How the Ger
man fleet could avoid the mine fields
laid by the admiralty is unknown and
it is believed that they had secured
maps showing the exact location of
the anchored mines. Considerable
damage was done to both ports and
the other nearby coast cities are ex
pecting similar treatment.
Naval Battle Expected.
The British fleet of ships stationed
in the Hull have started for the scene
and will try to prevent the Germans
reaching Kiel. A fleet is also rac
ing south from Edinburgh to engage
the enemy and a battle royal is cer
tain. The attack was as sudden as
unexpected. The loss of life has been
heavy, as few of the inhabitants had
an opportunity to seek shelter out of
range of the German guns.
England Terrorized By Bombardment.
LONDON, Dec. 16.—The failure of
the British fleet which patrols the
coast line to protect the city of Scar
borough and Hartlepool from bom
bardment by the German warships,
has filled the people with terror.
Many now fear that the fleet will not
be able to afford the protection not
only to the coast cities, but will be
unable to prevent an invasion.
Whitby Also Shelled.
DOVER, Dec. 16.—The city of
Whitby has been shelled by the Ger
man fleet. Reports here are to the
effect that four German ships passed
the patrol maintained along the coast
and that two of the ships were sunk.
The reports, however, lack confirma
tion. The German ships appeared out
of the fog at daybreak and started
shelling the towns.
English Report Success In France.
LONDON, Dec. 16.—The general
offensive movement against the Ger
man positions in Flanders and France
has been successful at all points ex
cepting at Stelnback, where the Ger
mans held the French in spite of
the many determined attacks. In
Flanders the Germans have lost most
of the first line of trenches in the
Woevre district and the French have
pushed forward with considerable
success., In Alsace the advance has
been considerable.' The German line
in France has been weakened in or
der to send troops to Poland. All Ger
man reinforcements have been turn
ed east Instead of west and the al
lies Intend to take advantage of the
situation and break down the Ger
man line.
No Christmas Armistice.
PARIS, Dec 16.—The French gov
ernment has refused the request of
the Pope of Rome for an armistice
of three weeks at Christmas time.
The Germans have agreed to the
armistice but the Russians are op
posed to it and should France and
England make a three weeks peace
the full strength of the German army
would be launched against the Rus
sians in a supreme effort to break the
back of Russian resistance. It is ex
pected, however, that on Christmas
day little fighting will take place. Ar
rangements for an armed peace for
that day will be made by the local
commanders in contact with the en
emy.
British Bombard Belgian Towns.
PARIS, Dec. 16.—A fleet of British
warships bombarded the Belgian cit
ies on the coast which are held by
the Germans. Considerable damage
was done to the shore batteries erect
ed by the kaiser’s troops.
German Converted Cruiser Caught.
BOMBAY, Dec. 16.—The German
armored merchantman Oxford, a con
verted cruiser, was captured yester
day In the Indian ocean by one of the
British ships and brought here as
a prize. The ship uad on a large
number of German reservists who
will be interned.
Germans Ready To Fall Back.
ROTTERDAM. Dec. 16.—The Ger
mans are preparing to drop back from
the first line of entrenchments to the
second, which have been erected for
just such a need. The German line
is weak and is on the defensive. The
small German force along the Bel
gian and French line will delay the
superior forces of allies, which the
full strength of the kaiser’s military
system is directed towards crushing
the Russians.
Kaiser Has Diphtheria.
PARIS, Dec. 16—It is now report
ed that the kaiser has diphtheria.
Allies Advance Mile a Week.
The allies continue to push for
ward each day. The advance is slow.
The average gaifi is one mile a week.
The constant pounding at the Ger
man line is beginning to tell and if
the break can come while the kaiser's
force is concentrated in Poland the
loss to the enemy will be frightful.
Dresden Makes Getaway.
BUENOS AYRES, Dec. 16.—The
German cruiser Dresden has left Pun
ta Arenas and is endeavoring to
evade the big fleet of British war
ships. The Dresden is steaming
north with five British warships fol
lowing. It is believed she is headed
for Valparaiso. The German boat is
reported to be several knots faster
than any of the British ships, but a
fleet of British boats are reported
near Valparaiso.
Russian Left Defeated.
VIENNA, Dec. 16.—The Austrian
troops have recrossed the Carpath
ians, driven the Russian left back to
wards the San'river, relieved Cracow
PROSPERITY HITS
UNITED STATES
Bankers Say Conditions Are Improv
ing Rapidly—Business Soon
Be Normal.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 16.—The
bankers from all parts of the country
report improved financial conditions
in all parts of the United States.
The heavy sales of food stuffs has
aided the farmers, the shipments by
rail of wheat in order to insure
prompt delivery has aided the rail
roads, the purchase of horses and
cattle for use of the armies In Eu
rope helped the ranchers, the plac
ing of orders for large amounts of
war supplies has helped the manu
facturing plants and caused the re
turn to work of thousands of men
and women and in many ways the
improvement has aided other branch
es of trade not connected with the
sale to the belligerents of supplies.
While the conditions are not nor
mal they have Improved so much dur
ing the past month that a return of
great prosperity is predicted by the
bankers.
MORE SOLDIERS
EOR TRE BORDER
Many American Citizens Have Been
Hit By Bullets From Across
the Border.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 16.—Three
regiments h^ve been ordered to Naco
to protect Americans from being shot
by the Mexicans fighting across the
border. The threat of Provisional
President Carranza that the concen
tration of troops on the Mexican fron
tier by the United States would be
considered a hostile -act does not ef
fect the administration, which is de
termined to put a s‘op to the condi
tions at Naco, where 63 people have
been shot on the American side by
shots fired by the Villa-Maytorena
troops.
A Mexican boy and two Americans
were hit yesterday by stray bullets.
They were some distance from the
line which marks the boundary. Peel
ing in Arizona is running high and
the administration fears some overt
(Continued on page 2.)
and are now pushing ahead to effect
the relief of the garrison at Przemysl,
which has been standing off a super
ior Russian force. The Russian left
wing has been crushed and driven
back. The Austrians took the offen
sive as soon as the Grand Duke Nich
olas weakened his left to save his
center at Lowicz and Petrokow.
Austrians Claim Galician Victory.
VIENNA, Dec. 16.—The Austrian
troops have pursued the retreating
Russians as far as Allenthal in Gali
cia. The Austrians now control the
Carpathian passes formerly held by
the Russians and are sending strong
forces into Galicia to harass the
Russians, who are being concentrat
ed by the enemy to strike at the Ger
mans in Poland, who threaten the
line of railroads from Cracow to War
saw, which is the line upon which
the Russians depend for supplies. The
Austrians will now strike at the line
of road from Lemberg to Tarnow,
which is also used as a supply read
by the Russians.
Austrians Driven From Servia.
NISH, Dec. 16.—Servia is clear of
Austrians except at Shabatz. Against
this point the Servian army will now
direct its force and expects within
a few days to have all of Servia clear
ed. The losses to the Austrians have
been exceptionally heavy. As the
troops of the Dual Empire fell back
they left large numbers of wounded
to fall into the hands of the Ser
vians. Many of the men who were
unable to keep up with the forced
marches of the main army dropped
down in the snow and were found
toy the Servians or rrozen to death.
Great Joy In Belgrade.
The greatest joy was expressed by
the few Servians in Belgrade who
had remained in the city following
the capture of the Austrians. They
cheered the troops as they entered
and took up the positions along the
river from which they started shell-,
ing the Austrian monitors in the riv
er, which were covering the Austrian
retreat.
Anxiety In Berlin Over Servian Gains.
BERLIN, Dec. 16.—The people here
are anxious at the continued suc
cess of the Servians and fear that
the line in Poland and Galicia must
be weakened to prevent the invasion
of Bosnia, where the Slavs are ready
to join the Servians at the first op
portunity.
Bavarians Threaten Mutiny.
ANTWERP, Dec. 16.—Several regi
ments of Bavarians quartered here in
barracks threaten to mutiny. The
men are dissatisfied with the con
stant destruction of Catholic church
es, as the Bavarians are Catholics.
The regiments will be sent to the
front at once and will be replaced
by other troops.
Austrian Monitors Stop Raids.
VIENNA Dec. 16—The efforts of
the Servians to cross ihe Drina and
Save rivers and raid the Austrian
(Continued on page 2.)
CATHOLIC PRIEST
TESTS DRY LAW
Arizona Will Witness Legal Battle
Waged By Church To Test
Prohibition Law.
> PHOENIX, Ariz., Dec. 16.—Follow
ing the protest made by Bishop Henry
Granjon, of this state, against the
prohibition law recently passed by the
people of Arizona, claiming that it
interefered with the communion of
the church at which wines are used,
an action was started today by a
Catholic priest to enjoin the enforce
ment of the law which Governor Hunt
has proclaimed in force on January
1, 1915.
The legal battle will be followed
with keen interest. The prohibition
ists have offered the services of sev
eral of the big eastern attorneys to
aid the state in making the fight for
the enforcement of the law, while the
Catholic church will be represented
by several large firms of lawyers and
the brewery interests will intervene
and will send attorneys from Chica
go and New York to test the law.
The legal battle may take several
years. An injunction will be asked to
prevent the enforcement of the law.
ALASKA RAILROAD
SOON BE BUILT
Secretary Daniels Report Upon Value
of Matanuska Coal Insures
Early Building.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 16.—The re
port yesterday made by Secretary
Daniels of the Navy Department to
the effect that the Alaska coal min
ed by the government in the Mat
anuska section and tested on the
cruiser Maryland and at the labor
atory at Annapolis by the experts
of the department was up to the
standard required by the navy, is
certain to cause the early construc
tion of the railroad in Alaska as
■planned 'by congress.
It is expected an appropriation of
$5,000,000 will be made at the pres
ent session of congress to start the
work. The Engineering Commission
is at work upon its report to be
made to President Wilson, who will
select the route of the proposed rail
road and then ask congress for the
money to build it.
Very Rev. Father Cremont came to
Valdez on the Mariposa and will go
to Seward for Christmas services.
Don’t forget the Eagle Masque Ball
next Saturday. Many beautiful and
expensive presents for the winners of
the contests. The committee will re
quire all to raise masques and give
name before being admitted to the
hall. The Committee. adv.