"" VOL. fl3. VALDEZ, ALA8KA, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1915. NO. 38.
CHUN PORTS
HIVE BEEN CLOSED
All Vessel# Must Receive Permis
sion From Naval Authorities
Before Entrance.
QUEBEC, Feb. 15.—Notice has been
served on foreign nations that all Ca
nadian ports have been closed and
that no ships will be allowed to enter
her harbors except those which have
been inspected by customs and na
val authorities and permission grant
ed.
The order applies to all Canadian
ports but special warning is given
foreign shipping that Quebec, Halifax
and Esquimalt harbors are dangerous
to approach unless guided by Cana
dian naval officers.
It is believed that the order clos
ing the ports to foreign shipping re
sults from the threatened activities
of the German admiralty in retalia
tion for the British embargo against
foodstuffs to Germany. The recent
destruction of the international bridge
by a German officer has caused the
government to fear that German sym
pathizers in America will attempt to
enter the Canadian ports on dlsguis
• * ed vessels for the purpose of destroy
ing the harbors with explosives.
CAPTURED AFTER
A LONG SEARCH
Missing Man In Great California Dy
namite Trial Arrested In
New York City.
NEW YORK, Feb. 16.—M. A.
Schmidt, for whom the police and
detectives of every city in America
■have been searching for years, was
located in New York yesterday and
•Immediately placed under arerst. He
is charged with complicity in dynamit
ing the Los ^ngeles Times in 1910
when the newspaper plant was de
stroyed and more than a score of its
employees killed.
The trial of the dynamiters result
ed in the conviction of the McNamara
^rothers through the confession of Or
tie McManigal, the companion in
crime. McManigal also implicated
Schmidt, declaring that he had been
the source from which the bombs
used in the destruction of the Times
and other property had come.
Schmidt disappeared from his
haunts in San Francisco when there
ported confession of McManigal
reached him and despite the efforts
of the federal authorities and Burns
detectives has been able to keep un
der Ccver for nearly five years. He
refuses to give any information as
to his movements during the time the
authorities have been searching for
him.
TIBER THREATENS
TO FLOOD HOME
ROME, Feb. 15.—The rapid rise of
the River Tiber threatens to sub
merge this city and surrounding dis
tricts. The river, owing to heavy
rains in the Appenines range, has
raised fifty feet and is sweeping all
before it into the Mediterranean.
The troops have been called to the
assistance of the citizens in the at
tempt to curb the work of devastation
by the river.
—
Joe Plant and Matt Reich, recently
of Valdez, have joined forces and
are reported to have gone to Califor
nia with the intention of establish
ing themselves in the chicken raising
business.
GERMANS BEGIN MOVEMENT AGAINST RUSSIANS
BERLIN, Feb. 15—Two big battles
have been started by the German of
fensive movements in Poland and the
southern Austrian province of Buko
wina. The Austrian and German arm
ies are being sent against the Rus
sians with force, planning to strike
while Russia is suffering from her
defeat in East Prussia.
Tilsit Is Recaptured.
The German army sent against the
Russian forces in northern East Prus
sia have defeated the invaders and
have recaptured the city of Tilsit.
Report Gains At Vistula.
The German troops facing the Rus
sian trenches along the Vistula river
near the Polish border have made a
number of gains by capturing the first
line of Russian trenches.
Gains On Western Battle Line.
BERLIN, Feb. 15.—It is officially
reported that the German troops at
Ypres have advanced their lines and
driven the Allies back from the po
sitions held for more than six weeks.
British Attacks Repulsed.
The attacks on the German trench
es at LaBassee by the British troops
under cover of darkness are reported
to have been repulsed with heavy loss
to the attacking force as the Ger
PLANNING TO CRUSH RUSSIAN ARMIES IN POLAND AND BUKO
WINA BEFORE REINFORCEMENTS CAN JOIN DEFEATED RUS
SIAN ARMY DRIVEN FROM EAST PRUSSIA—GERMAN WAR OF
FICE REPORTS GAINS ALL ALONG EASTERN AND WESTERN
BATTLE LINES—AEROPLANES BATTLE WITH ZEPPELIN OVER
LAKE CONSTANCE—AUSTRIAN AVIATORS BOMBARD MONTE
NEGRO ROYAL PALACE—GER MANY WILL MAINTAIN POSITION.
mans are strongly fortified by wire
entanglements.
Are Winning In Alsace.
The war office states there is no
truth in the report sent out from
Paris concerning the success of the
French army in Alsace. The French
army is reported to have suffered
heavy flosses (and is declared to be
retreating from Alsace.
Germany Artillery Active.
PARIS, Feb. 15.—The Germans
have began an aggressive artilelry
fire all along the battle front through
Belgium as well as IntheArgonne
district, which is believed to be pre
ceded by an attempt to force the in
fantry through the deadlock in their
way to the French coast.
_ "■■■' . .. ’
French Positions Captured.
BERLIN, Feb. 15.—Further advices
received by the war office state that
two important French positions in
Lorraine have been captured by the
German forces and that the Alsace
attacks are succeeding.
Germany Will Maintain Position.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 15.—The Ger
man governmen*, through Count von
Bernstorff, German ambassador to
America, has expressed willingness to
recede from her threatened blockade
of neutral commerce in the English
channel if America can induce Eng
land to withdraw her efforts to pre
vent imports of foodstuffs to Ger
many. It is believed the British gov
ernment will refuse to entertain the
proposition of the German govern
ment.
Aeroplanes Attack Zeppelin.
GENEVA, Switzerland, Feb. 15.—
An exciting air battle took place ov
er Lake Constance yesterday when
three aeroplanes gave battle to a
new German Zeppelin. The big
Zeppelin had just been completed at
the factory and was taking its trial
spin when attacked by the aeroplan
es. The fight lasted for several min
utes as the smaller machines attempt
ed to drop bombs on the giant. The
Zeppelin rose to a great height and
escaped into German, where the avi
ators evidently feared to follow.
Austrians Bombard Antivari.
CETTINJE. Montenegro, Feb. 15.—
The Austrian fleet in the Adriatic Sea
yesterday threw shells into the city
of Antivari, Montenegro, but no
damage resulted from the bombard
ment as the shells fell short of
the business district of the city.
Austrian Aviators Busy.
Austrian aviators also accompanied
the fleet and dropped bombs near the
royal palace while the royal family
were inside. The Austrian aviators
were attacked by Servian aviators
here to guard the palace, and driven
back to the fleet.
SECRETARY’S REPORT TO COMMITTEE PUBLIC
Y\ AS111NGT0N, Feb. 15—Owing to
portions of the stenographic copy of
Secretary Franklin K. Lane's report
to the Appropriation committee, when
he appeared before that body to urge
the placing of the $2,000,000 item for
Alaska railroads in the Sundry Givi
Appropriations bill, having become
public the department has given the
full text of the report to the press.
The attention of the department
has been called to the fact that por
tions of the secretary’s report are be
ing used to create impressions that
Secretary Lane favored certain
routes, eliminating all others. The
department has been flooded with let
ters and messages asking If the sec
retary was correctly reported.
The full text of the report has been
given to the press for the purpose
of correcting false impressions which
might be used by private persons for
their own gain. Secretary Lane has
suspended the rule of secrecy con
TOLD APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTTEE THAT ROAD FROM CHITINA
TO FAIRBANKS COULD BE CHEAPLY CONSTRUCTED BUT LACK
ED AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES—PORTAGE BAY ROUTE BEING
CONSIDERED AS WELL AS USING PORTIONS OF ALASKA NORTH
ERN FROM SEWARD VIA SUSITNA VALLEY AND BROAD PASS
TO TANANA VALLEY—CONTEMPLATE BUILDING OF LINE FROM
CONTROLLER BAY TO BERING COAL FIELDS.
ceming the Alaska railroad affairs by
giving the complete report to the
press.
The report shows that when Secre
tary Lane appeared before the Ap
propriations committee in answer to
a question if he favored buying one
of the existing railroads he said that
the location of the route must be de
termined before the commission
could decide if it would be advantag
eous to buy any road.
Secretary Lane told the committee
that engineers who had made the pre
liminary survey between Chitina and
Fairbanks had estimated that the roa
would cost from $40,000 to $50,000
per mile. He considered the cost of
construction very cheap but that route
had one drawback as the lands along
the route available for agricultural
purposes are limited, between Chitina
and Fairbanks.
He stated that the commission was
considering the building of a road
without buying the existing road.
The secretary stated that the route
from Portage bay around Turnagain
Arm, up Susitna valley and cross
ing the divide at Broad pass, thence
through to Fairbanks on the Tanana
river would be four hundred and
eighteen miles.
Another route which could be se
lected by the commission could start
at Seward, and using a part of the
Alaska Northern .railroad to Turnagain
Arm, and thence on to Fairbanks over
the route as outlined from Portage
bay.
Secretary Lane also informed the
Appropriations committee that the
commission was considering the con
struction of a short line from Con
troller bay to tap the Bering river
coal Helds, and expressed the belief
that in time a system of roads would
be constructed which would connect
all the roads.
AEROPLANES SEEN
OVER RESERVATION
•
Authorities Are Investigating Report
That Germans Preparing To
Raid Canada.
MISSOULA, Mont., Feb. 15—TUe
authorities of the state are investi
gating the reported appearance of
strange aeroplanes over the Flathead
Indian reservation which has arous
ed the natives to an Intense pitch of
excitement. The authorities are in
clined to believe that the aeroplanes
are a hoax perpetrated by some jok
er to deceive the residents of the
reservation.
The areoplanes when they passed
over the reservation were reported
to be traveling at a great altitude
but that the lights of the machines
and the noise of the motors were
plainly discernible by hundreds of
people.
The news Immediately spread ov
er the country that the aeroplanes
were operated by Germans and that
they were planning a raid on the
Canadian cities in retaliation for Can
ada’s activities in support of the Brit
ish empirt against Germany.
Senator B. F. Millard left on a trip
of Inspection to the Granite mine at
Hobo bay this morning.
DOUBLE MURDER
IN SAN FRANCISCO
Spokane Business Man Shot By Wife
Who Then 8enda Bullet
Through Her Heart.
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 15.—A
double murder occurred here this
morning when Margaret Binnard shot
and killed her husband and then
turned the revolver upon herself,
sending a bullet through her heart,
causing instant death. The couple
were occupying apartments in a down
town hotel, having come to the coast
in anticipation of the opening of the
exposition.
Abraham Binnard, the dead man,
was a well known business man of
Spokane and a pioneer resident of
that city. The police have been un
able to learn any cause of the double
tragedy as the couple always ap
peared to be happy in each other’s
company. They express the belief
that Mrs. Binnard committed the
deeds while laboring under tempo
rary insanity.
Judge'C. M. Frazier, of Cordova,
arrived on the Mariposa this morn
ing to attend ^o legal matters before
the court, which convened in Valdez
today.
OTTAWA FEARS AN
AEROPLANE RAID
City Plunged Into Darkness By Re
ported Approach of Bomb Drop
ping Aviator.
OTTAWA, Feb. 15.—This city was
thrown into a state of wild excite
ment last night when a report reach
ed the authorities that an aeroplane
was approaching the city for the pur
pose of dropping bombs on the cap
ital buildings. The message stated
that the aviator had been observed
coming from the south and that he
had attempted to destroy other cit
ies.
The preparedness of the city au
thorities to meet any emergency was
shown by the city being plunged In
to immediate darkness by shutting
off both the electric and gas lighting
work and the manning of machine
guns, which have been mounted
on high buildings as a precaution
against aeroplanes.
The aviator was not seen near the
city but confirmation of his having
crossed the border from the United
States has been received from the
residents of several towns over which
the machine passed.
The launch B. P. M. left for Port
| Wells this morning.
CARRANZA WOULD
FORGE RECORNIDON
— -.
Notifies Powers of World That He Is
Head of Diplomatic Affairs of
the Republic.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 15—Provision
al President Carranza, of Mexico, has
served notice on the nations of the
world that diplomatic messages to the
Mexican government must be sent to
him personally in order to receive
recognition.
President Carranza frankly states
what Is already known to the world
that a state of insurrection prevails
in the republic, but that he is tfee
duly elected president of Mexico and
is taking steps for the suppression
of the rebellious element.
The note from Carranza to the
State Department was enclosed with
a sharp reply to Secretary Bryan’s
protest and request for information
concerning the banishment of Jose
Caro, Spanish minister to Mexico,
from that country by Carranza. •
J. Bjorn left this morning for Port
Wells.
•
Jim Hagen returned to Valdez on
the Mariposa this morning looking
fine after his extended trip to the
states.
BAVARIANS EAGER
TO MEET BRITISH
Kaiser Said To Have Expressed Hope
They Would Again Clash With
British Troops.
COPENHAGEN, Feb. 15.—A Berlin
report states that the kaiser recen*
ly visited the Doeberitz concentration
camp, and all the prisoners were
mustered while the kaiser held a re
ligious service. The kaiser also sent
Chancellor Bethmann-Hollweg to the
camp at Rupprecht, Bavaria. He had
a long conversation with the gener
als, and stayed two days.
Later he visited the headquarters
staff of the Bavarian army and in
spected the artillery positions. He
is reported to have brought a mes
sage from the kaiser, who hoped
that the Bavarians would meet the
English just once more.
- The kaiser was reported in Octo
ber to have said to the commander
of the Bavarian army corps:
“I should like to have the English
meet the Bavarians just once."
Soon afterward he had his wish
during the British occupation of Lef
finghe and Raverzyke, Belgium. A
report of the encounter stated that
ja Bavarian battalion refused to fight
and surrendered.
COMMISSION URGES
WHEAT EMBARGO
Declared That Visible Supply of
Wheat Is Rapidly Disappear
ing To Europe.
NEW YORK, Feb. 15.—The com
mission appointed by Mayor Mitchel.
of this city, to investigate the in
creased cost of the price of food
stuffs have filed their reports. The
commission recommends urging Pres
ident Wilson to take steps to place
an embargo on the exportation of
wheat as there is a threatened short
age in America which will cause un
told suffering among the working
classes of the country. The commis
sion reports that the price of flour
has advanced fully 30 per cent, nec
essitating the bakers raising their
price and that all classes of food
stuffs which are being exported to
Europe have advanced enormously.
Figures have been submitted show
ing that more than one million bushels
of wheat are being sent from the
country daily and that the supply will
soon be exhausted.
GEO. GOSHAW IS
NOW POSTMASTER
George R. Goshaw, who undertook
the duties of postmaster at Chisana
last fall when the department threat
ened to discontinue the office owing
to failure of the postmaster to make
proper reports, has received his
permanent appointment. Immediate
ly upon Mr. Goshaw assuming the du
ties of the office the residents of the
district sent a petition to the depart -
men urging his confirniaion. Before
going to the Chisana George was U.
S. deputy marshal in Valdez and at
the last election he was an independ
ent candidate for the territorial sen
ate.
Alfred B. lies was a returning pas
senger on the Mariposa from Seat
tle this morning.
Deputy United States Marshal Kes
sler, of Unga, was a passenger on
the Mariposa this morning en route
home after taking a prisoner to the
states.