ONE dollar per month _1DITAR0D, ALASKA, SATURDAY MORNING, MARCH 25 1916___ r, cents per copy
LITTLE CRANCE FOR VILLA
TO ESCAPE JOIST FORCES
COLUMBUS, Texas, March 23.—General Her
rera, until recently military governor of Chihuahua,
has renounced his allegiance to Carranza and has
joined lorces with \ ilia, the outlaw, taking with him
into the field a force of two thousand men.
Apprehension at Washington
WASHINGTON, March 23.—Apprehension as tc
the outcome of the United States expedition into
Mexico was in evidence for the first time upon re
ceipt of the dispatch from General Funston teding
of the Herrera revolt.
Mobilization orders for the National Guard are
ready for instant d spatch in the event that t.ie.r
services are needed in Mexico. The Twenty-fourth
infantry, stationed at Fort Russell, Wyo.. has been
ordered to the bold ' -. General Funston has asked :
for more troops, and the Fifth cavalry will be or
dered forward at once. The military authorities be
lies e that the capture of Villa will be easy if he
comes out into the open. They expect him to dis
band His force if hard pressed and try to pass as a
peon.
Carranza has protested formally against the occu
pation of Casas Grandes or other cities in Mexico by
the United States troops.
Cabinet Takes Things Calmly
WASHINGTON, Mwch 24.—The question of call
ing out the National Guard for border service in or
der to relieve the regular troops for duty in Mexico,
was decided at the cabinet meeting today. It was
decided that there was no present need for such ac
tion.
A telegram from F'ouglas brings the information
that Mexican troops are massing along the border.
It points out that the fchimbus massacre easily could
be repeated, and asks that precautions be taken.
United States Troops in Action
EL PASO, March 24.—A courier arriving at
Juarez reports that ine American forces have en
gaged Villa in battle it Eloso. The joint attack of
Carranza’s forces and the United States troops was
expected to start at dawn today.
Funstan !s Advised of Danger
SAN ANTONIO, March 23.—General Funston has
been informed of the Herrera revolt, and has taken
precaut onary steps f; r the purpose of meeting ag
gression along the border.
Villa Surrounded and Battle Imminent
EL PASO. March 24.—General Garcia has re
ceded a tele-ram from General Bertam saying that
Villa is surrounded at Eloso, five miles south of
Namiqu’pa, by American and Mexican troops, and
that a decisive battle is imminent.
Looks Serious at El Paso
EL PASO. Texas. March 23.- Street cars between this city ,
ar.fl Juarez. Mexico, were ordered stopped last night. No explana- j
tion of the order was given. A reserve of three hundred infantry
men, equipped with machine guns, is held in readiness to augment
the police force in case of emergency. General Bell has applied a
censorship to news dispatches over the commercial wires, which
ore said to have been of an incendiary character. The troops in
Mexico are suffering greatly from swollen eyes, caused by the .
alkali, and from dysentery, as a result of the impure drinking J
water. i
Villa has been driven into a trap by the rapid advance of toe j
American troops, and his capture now depends only upon the |
-ability of the Carranza forces to hold their side of the mountains, j
Enrico Visconti, an Italian >ubject, and one of the best known
foreicn ranchers in Mexico, has been murdered by bandits at his
ranch at Encinillas. The foreign colony in El Paso, according to
the Express, have expressed great indignation, and will send a
protest to Secretary of State Lansing with reference to the crimes j
committed south of the border.
The American troops reached Casas Grandes at midnight on j
the 17th. General Gavira, under orders from Carranza, refused j
to permit the United States troops to enter the city. The fleeing j
bandits have burned the bridges in the path of their pursuers. j
A report is current that Colonel Cano engaged Villa in battle j
on the afternoon of Monday last at Namiquipa. The result of the }
fighting was not leej-ned.
Villa has established a base westward from Namiquipa, in j
order to reorganize his command and recruit new men.
Orders from Fort Sam Houston provide for rapid action at [
various points along the border, should new uprisings in Mexico |
make it necessary.
Members of Aerial Corps Lost in Desert
COLUMBUS, Texas, March 22—Wire communication between
General Pershing and the United States is stopped, the wires being i
cut in twenty-eight different places in eight miles, and the wires i
carried away. The wireless also has failed to work.
Last night two lieutenants in the aeroplane service squadron ;
were lost somewhere in the desert in the foothills of the Sierra
Madree mountains. They had rations for three days.
Wireless communication with the advanced base of the Amen- i
can force has been restored, and several code messages were re- I
ceived. There was no word in the messages as to the lieutenants ,
of the aeroplane corps. The search is being continued.
The lost aviators were part of the command of Captain I'ou
lers, who arrived here yesterday with six aeroplanes and left for
the front to scout for Villa.
Missing Aviator Found
COLUMBUS, Texas, March 24.—Lieutenant Correl, one of the
missing aviators, has been found, uninjured. He was delayed by
a leaking tank. Repairs were made and he resumed his journey
to Casas Grandes.
Pershing Reports
SAN ANTONIO. March 21.—General Pershing reports to Gen
eral Funston that Villa may be forced into a fight with the Ameri
can troops within the next thirty-six hours.
Villa Continues His Deviltry
GALVESTON March 22.—'The oil fields south of Tampico are
in the hands of Villa, who demands a ransom of two million pesos
to prevent their complete destruction. Rioting is in progress in
1 he city of Tuxram. which was taken by Vila’s forces ten days
The American gunboat Machias has been sent to Tuxpam.
Curran: a soldiers attempting to hold the oil fields were routed
by Villa,
DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES
TO BE HELD THIS EVENING
The Democratic primaries Tor the election
of delegates to attend the territorial con
vention at Juneau will be held this evening
at 8 o’clock. Iditarod Democrats will meet
at Ansley’s hall for the selection of one dele
gate. At Discovery, which is also entitled
to hut one delegate, the primaries will be
hold at the cigar store of John Rasmussen.
The Flat Democrats will elect three dele
gates, and will meet at Moose hall.
A communication front the “Wilson Dem
ocratic Club,” dated March 11, but which
was not received until Monday of this week,
has been received by The Pioneer. It con
tains “resolutions ratifying change of date
of Flat Democratic caucus,” and sets forth
that no official cell having arrived from the
Democratic territorial committee of Alaska
setting the date of a caucus for the election
of delegates to the Juneau convention, and
because of the inadequate mail service the
time limit had been reached, to avoid de
linquency of representation a caucus was
called for March 11 by the chairman of the
club. The preamble sets forth that “The
Iditarod Pioneer of March 1 asked informa
tion regarding the Democratic caucus of
the district without obtaining any satisfac
tory reply." The document continues:
“Whereas, The official call setting the
date of the Flat Democratic caucus for
March 25 was for the fir.-1 time made known
to the chairman of the Wilson Democratic
Club of Flat on March 9. through the United
States deputy marshal of Flat, to whom said
call was addressed for execution. It was
agreed that in view of the positive oncer
t inty of proxies reaching their destination
in time if mailed at a later date, the caucus
call should stand as announced- March 11
—and the caucus to ratify such change of
date.
“Therefore be it resolved by the Flat
Democrats in caucus assembled, That we
hereby acknowledge the official call of tn -
territori: 1 Democratic committee setting
March 25 as the date for such caucus, and
in view of the reasons sot out in the pro
amble we hereby ratify the change < f date
to March 11, 1916.”
A
MONEY ORDER BLANKS
RECEIVED AT FLAT OFFICE
Mrs. Chitlick, postmistress at Mat, an
nounces that she has received a new supply
of money order blanks. For some time
past the supply of these blanks has been
exhausted, and a.- the supply at the Idit
arod office was running low al-'O, it was
feared that business might be seriously in
terfered with.
4
ANCHORAGE DOG RACE
ON ST. PATRICK’S DAY
WON BY IDITAROD MAN
SEWARD, Alaska, March IS. The ft.
Patrick’s day event at Anchorage, a dog
race over a course of 108 miles, was won
by a team of bird dogs driven by Frank
Gleason, with a margin of thirty-four min
utes over his closest opponent. The time
was 12 hours 45 minutes and 55 seconds.
Spencer’s team was second, and Gustafson,
with a combination team, was third.
—«—
ENORMOUS MARINE LOSSES
OF BELLIGERENT NATIONS
WASHINGTON, "March 22. According
to figure? given out by the department of
commerce, more than two thousand ships
have been swept off the seas since the war
began, with a total of four million in ton
nage. Germany heat is the list, with six
hundred sunk, captured and detained.
The statement that one hundred and
twenty German submarines have been sunk
or captured since the war began was pub
lished in this city today.
-4
MINIATURE WAR VESSELS
ENGAGE IN RUNNING COMBAT
LONDON, March 21.—Four British tor
pedo boat destroyers have been engaged
with three German destroyers off the coast
of Belgium. The German vessels were put
to flight and two of them were hit. The
British had four men wounded.
-4—
FORMER CABINET OFFICER
WILL SUPPORT PRESIDENT
LINCOLN, Neb., March 21.— Wil iam J.
Bryan, in the opening speech of the cam
paign for state-wide prohibition, insisted
that he would stand by President Wilson
in the forthcoming national campaign.
-A
SWEDISH EDITORS ARRESTED
ON CHARGE OF TREASON
STOCKHOLM, March 24.—Three Social
ist editors have been arrested on a charge
of high treason because of their advocacy of
strikes and revolution in case Sweden enters
the war.
—---♦
CONSPIRACY AND FRAUD
CHICAGO. March 24.—Indictments have
been returned by the federal grand jury
charging the big meat packing establish
ments and certain railroad officials with
conspiracy in connection with fraudulent
claims and discriminations.
-«
DR. BUTLER MAY BE CHAIRMAN
CHICAGO, March 21—Dr. Butler, presi
dent of Columbia university, may be chosen
as temporary chairman of the Republican
national convention, which meets in Chi
cago in June.
GERMAN CONSUL TO BE TRIED
SAN FRANCISCO, March 24.—German
Consul General Bopp and others, charged
with bomb plots, were given a preliminary
hearing today, and were held for trial.
MASS MEETING AT FLAT
TO DISCUSS LEGISLATION
OF INTEREST TO ALASKA
1 A mass meeting, called to “initiate Alaska
support for the Alaska development meas
ure/' now before congress, was held at the
j Moose hall. Flat, on Thursday last. The
| meeting was called at the instance of Charles
I Fstmere, who had been in communication
! with Delegate Wiokersham with reference
. to the proposed legislation which has been
' the special hobby of Secretary of the In
! terior Lane for the past two years.
The meeting was called to order at 8:30
by Mr. Fstmere, who briefly stated the ob
' ject of the meeting, which was to arouse
; public interest in a measure that was or
; dained to do away with the red tape meth
j ods of handling the federal business in the
! territory. The meeting was organized by
the election of Mr. Fstmere its chairman and
F. M. Stanton as secretary. The following
communication was then read by the secre
tary :
“Washington, D. C., Feb. 3. 1916.
“Charles Fstmere, Mat. Alaska.
“Dear Sir: I have your letter of Decem
ber 18, calling attention to the fact that I
have introduced a bill for the formation of
an Alaska development board, and express
ing your interest in the matter, and offering
to boost for it as hard as you can. I send
you herewith a copy of the bill which 1 in
troduced, but I very greatly fear that it will
not be passed by congress.
“The difficulty lies with the secretary of
commerce and secretary of agriculture, both ;
of whom strongly object to having the bu
reaus under their control placed under the :
control of this development'board, although :
Secretary of the Interior Lane strongly ap
proves it. It has made quite a disturbance !
between the different departments, some of
whom strongly oppose the development
board idea, and their influence probably will
be sufficient to defeat it.
“Nothing has been done in this session of
congress in its support, and I understand i
Secretary Lane is weakening in his support 1
of the bi 1 If I learn anything further
about ir 1 will inform you. I was greatly !
in favor of the bill, and am disappointed at i
the opposition < f the secretary of commerce !
and >eeretarv of agriculture.
“JAMES WICKERS HAM/’
Mr. Stanton also read Mr. Wickershands
hill creating the “Alaska development
board. ’ a synopsis of which recently was
pub i.-hed in The Pioneer.
At the conclusion of the reading Mr. Est- 1
mere made a few remarks, and \va> followed
bv Messrs. Kilgore and Peck. All spoke in
support of the general idea of a federal ad
mini.-trative board, to be composed of re-i
denta of Alaska.
Resolutions were adopted to the effect
that “it was the sense of the meeting that j
the functions of the federal executive de- !
partments sh u.ld be placed in the hands of
a federal administrative board resident in ;
Alaska.”
The chair appointed a committee, con
.isting (>f himself. C. R Peck and David
Brown, to communicate to the department !
heads, to Delegate Wickershcm, and to the :
newspapers of Alaska, the sentiment of this
community with reference to such a board, i
Adjournment was then taken.
-^
IDiTARCD MIMING KAN
IS MADE DEFENDANT
IN SENSATIONAL SUIT
Peat do newspapers of February 24 last,
ju.-t received, contain news of a sen-atiom 1
suit hr; light a<rain.-t R. S. McMiU.m, the
well known Iditarod mining man. The
; lain tiff i- O.ivia D. Larson, “a pretty
laundry girl ” who .alleges that she was;
made the victim of a mock marriage per
fi rmed in Iditarod in September. 1911 She
asks damages in the sum of $50,000.
The charges are of a most sensational
character.
❖
ALLIES’ RAID ON ZEEBRUGGE
CAUSES GREAT DESTRUCTION
LONDON. March 22. -Sixty-five uihed
aeroplanes on Monday last bombarded Zee
brugge, the German seaplane base and sub
marine station, and inflicted serious damage.
The raid, according to official reports, was
made in conjunction with a bombardment
by cruisers and monitors.
Results of the Raid
AMSTERDAM, March 22—Two hundred |
persons were killed and three hundred and
fifty injured during the raid on Zeebrugge !
last Monday. A great fire was observed 1
to be raging in Zeebrugge efter the raid.
GOMPERS MUCH CONCERNED
OVER GARY’S INDICTMENT
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio, March 18.—Sam- j
ud Gompers of the American Federation of
Labor has issued an address in which he
denounces the recent indictment of Judge \
E. II. Gary, head of the United States Steel
Corporation, who was charged with con
spiracy in restraint of trade in connection j
with wage agreements with other employ
ers. Mr. Gompers condemns the Ohio law
which seeks to classify labor as a com
modity.
ST. PATRICK’S DAY EVENTS
Shamils O'Brien Defeated
NEW YORK. March 17—Barry Leonard
today knocked out Shamus O’Brien in the
seventh round.
Bia Advance Sale for Willard-Moran Fight
The sale of tickets for the Willard-Moran
fiaht has reached a total of more than
$100,000.
Jim Flynn Receives Quietus
MILWAUKEE, March 17.—Fred Fulton
tonight knocked out Jim Flynn in the sec
ond round.
Mike Gibbons Wins
ST. PAUL, March 17.—Mike Gibbons to
night outpointed Jess Smith in a boxing
contest of ten rounds.
-«
DISASTROUS FIRE
_
AUGUSTA, Ga., March 23—Fire caused
a loss estimated at $8,000,000 to the busi
ness and residence sections of this city last
night.
MANY PERSONS ON TRAIL
FROM SEWARD TO IDITAROD
_
The arrivals over the (rail from Reward
during the past few days have been nu
merous. Many miners and laborers are on
the trail, most of them on foot, and these
usually leave for (he creeks after a short
stop in the city.
Among those who are expected hourly
are J. K. Riley, Dan McKinzie and K. M
Goebel. At the Halfway roadhouse last
night, on their way here, were Henry Shep
pard. Sam Hanawald and Nick Peterson.
Fred Peterson and brother were with the
Riley party
W. M. Bristol, a well known Otter creek
miner, was among the arrivals yesterday.
He made the trip f»om Reward in fifteen
days. He reports that in one party bound
for this district there are forty men.
With reference to the strike on the gov
ernment railway at Anchorage, Mr. Bristol
says that there is now a most hopeful out
1 >ok, and that the residents of that city are
looking forward to a prosperous summer.
One member of the mediation board ap
pointed by the secretary of labor to adjust
the difficulties of the laborers and the engi
neering commission had arrived on the
scene, and had advised the men ‘o return
to work at the ( Id scale of 37 hT cents per
hour pending the settlement of the con
troversy, and that the in n had agreed to
do this. The member of the mediation
board practically assured the strikers and
the business n en of Anchorage that the
demands of the men for 50 cents an hour
would in all probability be granted. Trains
had resumed operation mi the railroil in
consequence of this assurance.
Arthur Rhonbock, the Anchorage bus:
ness man. formerly of this district, left for
the Outside to purchase goods on March F;.
He had started a branch store at the town
of Matanuska, and the goods for the new
enterprise already had arrived.
The trail is in first-class condition with
:he exception of at the coast end. and
‘he weather at present is excellent for tryv
cling.
-A
LEM IS SOME WALKER
Lem (ironer of Discovery arrived from
tlie Outside on Monday ia-i. coming over the i
Seward trail, lie left Seward on foot on
March 6. and possibly has established a rec ■
ord for the journey. He made more than 1
forty-five miles the last day. He reports that
at least seventy-five persons are on the trad,
heading for this district.
FREIGHT AND PASSENGERS
ON ALASKA STEAMSHIPS
TO PAY INCREASED TARIFFS
SEATTLE, March 21. Effective April 1,
the freight rates cn all steamship lines en
caged in the Alaska trade will be advanced
from $3 to $5 per ton. First-class passenger
fares will be raised So. The increase is the
result of the great demand for tonnage
POSTMASTER WM. ANSLEY
WILL TAKE CHARGE APRIL 1
On Saturday. April 1. William Ansley.
who was appointed postmaster of Iditarod
on September 11 last, will assume charge
of the local postoffice, succeeding Albert
Wile, resigned. On that date Claud Baker,
who has been acting postmaster for the
past several months, will turn the office
over to the new postmaster.
For the present the office will remain in
its present location, and Miss Lucille Taylor
will be retained as clrck.
The campaign which was inaugurated to
sw'e’l the receipts of tlie office so that it
would again be placed in the third class
now' seems destined to failure unless there
be an extra effort made during the few re
maining days of the official quarter.
FRAUD IN REVENUE SERVICE
RESULTS IN MANY ARRESTS
NEW YORK. March 22.—Charges of col
lusion between the international revenue
agents and cigar and cigarette manufactur
ers have resulted in the arrest of forty
seven persons. Ninety warrants have been
issued.
LOSS OF DUTCH STEAMSHIP
GREATLY STIRS COUNTRY
THE HAGUE, March 18. The loss of
one of Holland’s finest steamships, the Tu
bantia, has stirred the country deeply. The
press announces ih.at it must be the last of
a series of mistakes.
. +
TEXAS CITY RAVAGED BY FIRE
PARIS, Texas, March 22.- More than half
of ths city has been destroyed by fire which
raged for six hours. Thirty resdiences and
many business blocks were consumed. There
was no loss of life, but the property dam
age is enormous.
BLOWN FROM TRACK
MARION, Ind.. March 22. Three pass
enger coaches of the Cleveland limited, on
the Clover Leaf line, were blown from the
track last night, and a number of the pas
sengers were injured.
CHARGED WITH MURDER
NEW YORK, March 24.— -Dr. Arthur
Warren Waite has been arrested here for
the murder of his millionaire father-in-law,
J, E. Peck.
FIRE AT NASHVILLE
NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 23.—Thirty
five residence blocks in this city were de
stroyed by fire last night, and three thou
sand persons have been rendered homeless.
JUNEAU’S NEW POSTMASTER
WASHINGTON, March 20.—President
Wilson today sent to the senate for con
firmation the name of Z. M. Bradford to
be postmaster at Juneau, Alaska.
WASHINGTON, March 24.—The house has
passed the Hay army bill, with only two dissenting
votes. Under its provisions the peace strength of
the United States army will consist of 100,000 men.
Although Republican Leader Mann pleaded earn
estly for the passage of the amendment to the army
bill to increase the peace strength of the army to
250,000 men, it was defeated on Monday last.
WASHINGTON, March 22.—Senator Tillman’s
bill providing for the erection or purchase by the
government of an armor plate factory on the Pacific
coast, at a cost not to exceed $1 1.000,000, passed
the senate yesterday by a vote of 48 to 23. It is
likely to pass the house.
Hearings have been commenced before the com
mittee on merchant marine and fisheries on the bill
of Representative Carlin of Virginia, which seeks to
restrict the control of the territory of Alaska over the
fisheries.
The senate has passed the Chamberlain bill, which
doubles the number of cadets to be appointed to the
West Point militar yacaaemy.
Reports to congress show that the exports from
the Philippines have increased to the amount of
five million dollars during the past year.
Would Force Prohibition on Alaska
VASH’NGTCN, March 24.—Representative
Smith of Idaho has introduced a bill prohibiting the
sale of alcoholic liquors in Alaska. Hawaii, the Dis
trict of Columbia, Porto Rico and the Canal Zone,
effective one year from its approval.
-4k
FIERCE FIGHTING IN PROGRESS ON EAST FRONT
LONDON, March 21.—The Austrian forces on
the Dneister have been forced to evacuate their
bridgehead fortifications and abandon their trans
ports by the Russians.
Nine thousand Russians have been killed m an
unsuccessful offensive against the Ge rmans at
Dvmsk.
The northern portion of the Russian front has met
with heavy losses, but the changes in positions have
been unimportant.
Hard Fighting Reported
BERLIN, March 24.—Dispatches tell of hard
fighting along the northern section of the Russian
lines. The Russian shells are battering the German
wedge.
GERMANS STORM AND CAPTURE TRENCHES
BERLIN, March 24.—lire war .office declares
that Verdun is still under attack, and that the prog
ress made is fully up to expectations.
PARIS, March 23.—The German army yesterday
afternoon stormed and captured French positions at
Verdun, and made gams of a square mile of front.
No infantry attack was made on Verdun during
Tuesday, but the Germans bombarded Malincourt.
French officials claim that the German forces now
are on the defensive. Only intermittent bombard
ments were undertaken in the Verdun region early
in the week. The Germans made five unsuccessful
attacks on Vaux.
LONDON, March 23.— the Germans have gained
ground in the Verdun district. Heavy battles have
been in progress northwest of Verdun.
.At
BRIEF NEWS NOTES FROM VARIOUS FRONTS
LONDON, March 23.- The Norwegian bark Lindfield has been
sunk. Her crew were taken aboard the steamship Silas, and have
arrived at Queenstown.
LONDON, March 24. The Hamburg-American liners Prinz
Adelbert and Kron Princessen Geeelie have been condemned as
prizes.
PETROGRAD, March 24. -General Soukhomlinoff, former
minister of war. has been removed from the council of the empire.
BERLIN, March 24. The German reichstag has taken definite
action upon the question of the submarine warfare in a secret
meeting.
LONDON, March 24.—Russian submarines in the Black sea
have destroyed many Turkish and German merchant vessels.
BUCHAREST, March 22.—Russian warships have sunk the
steamship Esperanza, flying the German flag, in the Black sea.
LONDON, March 23.—The Galloper, a lightship at the mouth
of the Thames, has been torpedoed and sunk.
PARIS, March 20.—The French torpedo boat Renaudin has
been sunk in the Adriatic by a German submarine.
LONDON, March 20.—Nineteen hostile ships have been sunk
this month by vessels of the entente allies.
ATHENS. March 19.—Greece may be brought to such a pass
by the food shortage that she may be compelled to enter the war.
The prices of foodstuffs have greatly increased.
LONDON, March 21.—King George has signed a proclamation
prohibiting the importation of automobiles, motorcycles and mu
sical instruments.
LONDON, March 18.—Three British aviators have been killed
during experimental flights.
LONDON, March 19.—Nine persons were killed and twenty
nine injured during recent raids by German aeroplanes upon the
Kent coast.
MEXICAN SOLDIERS KILLED IN TRAIN WRECK
MEXICO CITY, March 22. -Fifty Mexican troopers have been
killed and a hundred wounded in an accident on the Mexican Cen
tral railway.
WOMEN AND CHILDREN LEAVING TORREQN
TORREON, March 22. Thomas O’Shea, the British vice con
sul here, engaged box cars last night to carry the foreign "nmrii
and children to the border.