VOL. 13. VALDEZ, ALA8KA, TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 1915. NO. 102.
BRI CLAIM GAIN AT YPRES
ARTILLERY DUEL ALONG MUESE
AUSTRIANS DELIVERING PERSISTENT ATTACKS ALONG SOUTH
ERN SLOPES OF BESKID MOU NTAINS, AND UPON RUSSIANS
HOLDING USZOK PASS—SPRIN G THAW SLACKENS MILITARY
OPERATIONS IN THE EAST, ESPECIALLY IN EAST PRUSSIA
AND POLAND—FRENCH ENDEAVORING TO FORCE GERMANS TO
EXHAUST SUPPLY OF AMMUN ITION BY CONSTANT ARTILLERY
DUELS IN NORTHERN FRANCE.
LONDON, April 20.—The announce
ment was made this morning by Lord
Kitchener, secretary of state for war,
that the British tToops in the Ypres
region had pushed back the German
line, capturing the line of trenches
and had inflicted heavy losses upon
the enemy. The fighting started yes
terday and lasted all through the
night. The assault that carried the
trenches was made in the morning
just at daybreak.
Fighting All Along Western Line.
The reports from all along the west
ern battle-line from Belgian, French
and British commanders indicate that
the battle has been general, although
the engagements have not indicated
an offensive movement by the Allies.
Most of the fighting has been minor
engagements, no effort being made
by either side to concentrate the
troops for a forward move.
Heavy Artillery Duels.
The cannon of both armies pitted
against each other along the Meuse
river and on the border of Lorraine
are constantly' belching forth shot
and shell upon the armies. The
French .supply of ammmunition
seems inexhaustible and Gen. Joftre
is draining the German supply in an
effort to exhaust the limited supply
they possess.
Turks Lose Two Destroyers.
PARIS, April 20.—Two Turkish de
stroyers were blown up by the Rus
sian ships in the Black sea. The
Turkish boats had left the Bosporus
to ra'd Russian coast cities and the
czar’s ships slilpped between them
and the entrance to the harbor, thus
cutting off retreat. .When the Turks
turned to make for the protection
of the forts they were subjected to
(Continued on page 2.)
GERMAN CRUISER
IS mocked
Survey of Ship To Be Made and Time
Limit Given Commander To
Leave Newport News.
•
NEWPORT NEWS, Va„ April 20.
—The German converted cruiser
Kronprinz Wilhelm, which reached
here a week ago for repairs, was tak
en to a shipyard this morning and
placed in drydock so that a careful
survey of the ship can be made.
Just how long a time the commander
of the German vessel will be allowed
in which to make repairs, coal and
provision and leave is not known at
this time, but the department will
make public the result of the survey
and the time limit given the com
mander for fear that it would give to
the ships of the Allies now oft this
harbor an unfair advantage.
It is generally believed that the
Kronprinz Wilhelm will be interned,
but that the commander of the con
verted cruiser will delay as long as
possible because he wants to keep the
British and French warships off this
harbor keeping watch, burning fuel
and waiting for the ship, which will
never go out.
Five warships remain on duty three
miles off shore watching day and
night.
OIL KING CASE
NOWON TRIAL
CLEVVELAND, O., April 20.—John
D. Rockefeller’s suit against the
Cuyahoga county to prevent the col
lection of taxes on $310,000,000 worth
of personal property was to be heard
in ‘he federal court today. The re
cent death of Mrs. Rockefeller, attor
neys said, would not prevent an im
mediate hearing.
Rockefeller contends that this coun
ty has no authority to tax millions of
dollars worth of stocks and bonds
which are listed in other states. At
the beginning of proceedings, to force
payment, Rockefeller abandoned his
Cleveland residence and moved to
Tarrytown, N. Y.
GWHS S10P
RED CROSS IRK
Military Governor of Belgium Issues
Drastic Order That Effects Non
combatants Seriously.
BRUSSELS, April 20.—General von
Bessing, military commander of the
German troops of oocuupation, today
Issued an order prohibiting the Red
Cross Association from operating in
Belgium because of the refusal of the
managers of the association, all of
whom are from neutral countries, to
accept the plans laid down by the
military authorities for the relief of
the Belgians.
The Red Cross Association insisted
that in as much as they had taken
off the hands of the German authori
ties the feeding of the civilian popula
tion of Belgium the manner of so do
ing should be left to them and not
to the military authorities so long
as It did not Interfere with military
operations.
A protest has been made to the
American ambassador by the Red
Cross Association and it is hoped that
the government at Berlin will order
General von Bessing to change his
order and allow the work of aiding
the Belgians to continue.
GERMANS SINK
BRITISH TRAWLER
LONDON, April 20.—A German
submarine torpedoed a British trawl
er in the North sea today and the
entire crew were drowned. The un
derwater fighting craft also fired up
on and drove away another trawler
which attempted to rescue the mem
bers of the crew of the first boat.
Pioneer* Dance May 1st.
Do not forget the dance to be giv
en by the Lady Pioneers on May 1st
at Eagle hall. Fine lunch, fine music.
Come and enjoy yourself. km 2
$
Our first spring shipment of Stet
son hats in the latest models arrived
on last boat. Your inspection solicit
ed. S. Blum & Co. tf
THE F-4 IS IH
SHALLOW WATER
Divers Fastened Cables to Sunken
Craft and Tow Her Into Bet
ter Position.
HONOLULU, April 20.—The divers
have succeeded In fastening a num
ber of cables to the sunken subma
rine F-4, which has been lifted and
towed into more shallow water, where
the work of raising her can be ac
complished with less danger. The
divers have not made any examina
tion of the interior of the boat as
it is still in deep water, but they
expect to drag it slowly into shal
low water where the boat can be
easily lifted to the surface.
Twenty-one men were lost when
the vessel went to the bottom and
failed to reappear. Just how the ac
cident happened is unkno,wn but the
official inquiry will be started just as
soon as the boat is taken to the navy
yard.
JURY SECURED TO
TRY BARES CASE
Three Progressives Still Found In
New York State and They Get
On the Jury.
SYRACUSE, N Y., April 20.—The
jury to try the ?50,000 damage suit
against ex-President Theodore Roose
velt by Republican State Chairman
VY. Barnes was completed today and
the evidence will be given at once.
The jury is composed of seven Re
publicans, three Progressives and two
Democrats.
Barnes will introduce statements
made by Roosevelt, make a formal
denial of the truth of them and then
demand damages, asserting that they
are malicious and false. Roosevelt
will then be forced to prove his
charges or pay such damage as as
the jury may decide upon.
The case has brought a large num
ber of the best newspapermen in the
country to cover it.
PERSISTENT REPORT FROM
ROME SAYS PEACE IS NEAR
DIPLOMATS INSIST THAT END OF BIG WAR IS IN SIGHT AND THAT
GERMANY WILL ATTEMPT TO MAKE PEACE WITHIN isHORT
TIME, WHILE HER ARMIES ARE STILL ON FOREIGN SOIL AND
GERMAN HOMES ARE UNTOUCHED BY HORRORS OF WAR—
RUSSIA MAY ATTEMPT TO CHECK BRITISH NAVALISM, FEAR
ING TO ALLOW HER PRESENT ALLY TO BECOME TOO STRONG.
ROME, April 20.—The rumors of
peace between the nations of the
world now at war persist and it is
believed that within a few days the
first move will be made towards that
end. That Germany will not con
tinue the fight against the terrible
odds now arrayed against her is ex
pected. With the failure of the cam
paign in the Carpathians and the
tertainty that the huge Russian army
will crush its way through the pass
es into the fertile Hungary country
and strike at the very heart of htat
country, peace overtures are looked
for from the Germanic allies.
Diplomats here even intimate that
the first overtures have been made
and that the German foreign office
has seml-offlcially asked for an ex
pression of the terms of peace that
will be granted her. Peace now with
the German armies holding the Rus
sians from the border along the east
and still occupying almost all of Bel
gium and parts of northern France
might be made with an advantage to
that power that could not be secured
if the war continues and the invasion
of Germany follows.
Just what terms will be granted is
a matter of keen speculation. That
England will demand the destruction
of the German sea power is certain.
That Russia would prefer to see a
continental European power in posi
tion to check Great Britain is equal
ly certain and it is thought that if
Russia and Germany can come to
an understanding that will give to
Russia the territory she desires, that
an effort will be made to curb British
navalism at the time that German
militarism is forever destroyed.
Says Riggs, Who Is Now In Wash
ington—Predicts Much Mineral
Development Near Seward.
WASHINGTON, April 20.—Thomas
Higgs, one of the members of the
Alaska engineering commission, stat
ed today that the first work of the
commission would be the building of
forty miles of road from Ship Creek
towards the Matanuska coal fields.
Riggs states that the extension of the
Alaska Northern railroad will result
in much mining development in the
Kenai peninsula section and all along
the line from Ship Creek to Seward.
Riggs also states that a survey
would be made from Mile 38 on the
Copper River railroad to the, Bering
River coal fields in order that the coal
from the Bering River section could
be brought to tide water.
For pure drugs see window of Val
dez Drug Co. tf
NO MORE MHO
IN IRE NORTH
Alaska Senate Stands Committed To
Abolish Capital Punishment In
the Territory.
JUNEAU, April 20.—The Alaska
senate stands committed to abolish
capital punishment in Alaska. The
majority of the members are in favor
of repealing the present law which
allows the juries to designate the
punishment as capital punisment or
not according to the evidence at the
trial of each case.
Some opposition is manifested
against the law by citizens of this
city, who feel that the Juries which
hear all the evidence against a mur
derer are better qualified to decide
the puunlshment necessary than the
legislature by a law tyblcb covers all
cases.
Men’s negligee and dress shirts—
new patterns and styles—at Blum’s.
AUSTRIA MUST SOON DECIDE
UN PEACE DR WAR WITH ITALY
PARIS REPORT HAS IT THAT ULTIMATUM GIVEN SOME TIME AGO
REQUIRED AN ANSWER BY 6 TONIGHT—ITALY DEMANDS THAT
ADRIATIC PROVINCES BE CEDED TO HER AT ONCE OR THEY
WILL BE TAKEN BY FORCE—IF ITALY JOINS IN THE WAR
OTHER BALKAN STATES CERTAIN TO JOIN IN SCRAMBLE FOR
SPOILS—GREECE READY TO FIGHT FOR MORE TURKISH PROV
INCES. ,
PARIS, April 20.—The time limit
allowed by Italy to Austria to accept
the demands made by the Italian gov
ernment upon the Austrian govern
ment for the occasion of the provin
ces of Trentino and Trieste, expires
today and the long expected declara
tion of war from Rome against Em
peror Joseph Is expected within a
few hours.
Italian diplomats had hoped and
expected that Italy would reap all the
benefits of a successful war without
any of the sorrows and destruction
that other nations pay. It was for
this reason only that Italy has held
off and remained neutral. The gov
ernment is determined to secure the
rich protinces of the Austrian em
pire which lie on the Adriatic sea,
Avar or no war. The government ex
pected to get them without resorting
to a war, but will fight for them if
necessary.
When Italy tumbles off the fence
of neutrality and takes sides in the
fight with the Allies, Greece, Ruman
ia and even Bulgaria are expected
to turn upon the Austrians and go
land grabbing.
Bulgaria has already asked of the
Allies what will be given her in com
pensation for declaring war against
Austria and Turkey.
It is known that Greece is anxious
to enter the war and that former
Premier Venizelos is constantly urg
ing the king to take advantage of
the opportunity to secure more pro
visions now held by Turkey, but
which the Greeks would like to have.
“The quicker the decision is made,”
says Venizelos, “the greater will the
advantages to Greece’s interests be.
In the king’s military genius and the
army’s devotion the nation has un
bounded confidence.”
HERRON PREDICTS
REPUBLICANS WIN
Says G .0. P. Be Returned To Power
At Next Election—Wants Republi
cans In Alaska Organized.
Charles E. Herron, chairman of the
Territorial Republican committee,
passe'd through Valdez this morning
on the steamer Northwestern. He is
headed for Sunrise to start the sum
mer’s work on his mining property.
Mr. Herron held a conference with
Albert White regarding the organiz
ation of Republican clubs in the ter
ritory. The intention is to organize
a Republican club in every precinct
in the territory and have the party
organization ready for the battle of
1916. Mr. White has been actively at
work as organizer for the National
Republican League and has started
the ball a rolling in the territory.
The Republican chairman states
that the outlook for the success of
the G. O. P. at the next presidential
election is exceptionally good and he
predicts that the next president will
be a Republican.
WILHEMINA CASE
NOWJ TRIAL
LONDON, April 20.—Trial in the
British prize court of the case of the
steamer Wilhelmina, the American
food ship detained under the British
anti-German food embargo was sched
uled today.
Counsel for the St. Louis owner of
the Wilhelmina’s food cargo today
outlined the United States’ case, which
was the subject of sharp protest from
the State Department. It will be con
tended that the food cargo was con
signed to the American owner at
Bremen and, therefore, was not sub
ject to confiscation by the German
government for military purposes.
Great Britain, on the other hand, will
contend that the German military au
thorities could have seized the food
and thus evade's England’s “starva
tion” policy against Germany. The
Wilhelmina itself is not seized and,
If her cargo is confiscated, England
will pay-her owners for the foot seiz
ed.
GENERAL VILLA
BADLY LICKED
Report Reaches Washington That
He Lost 6,000 Men In Battle
At Celaya.
WASHINGTON, April 20.—Dis
patches received here by the State
Department from its consular agents
.In Mexico confirm the reports given
out by Carranza agents of the defeat
of General Villa and his forces ai
Celaya. The Villa forces lost 6,00C
men killed and wounded and taker
prisoner. Many of the officers cap
tured by the Carranza forces hav<
been executed. The men are allow
ed to enlist in the army of the firs
chief.
Just what effect the defeat of ^i
la will have on the Mexican situ;
tion is hard to state at this tim
Villa still has more than 25,000 we!
armed troops at his disposal and 1
holds most of north central Mexic
inculding border towns through whii
he is constantly receiving ammut
tion and war equipment.
The relations between Carran
and the administration are ve
strained and his victory is apt
make the first chief more insole
than heretofore, which may result |
Intervention unless the rights ,
American and foreign residents a*
their property is protected.
—
SOLONS REI
LIQUOR MEASUE:
JUNEAU, April 20.—Declaring g
the house bill providing that all
quor shipped to consignees in JS
ka must be shipped to consigned
ly, and not to any fictitious pern
would kill the wholesale trades
Alaska, the measure was reconj
ted to conference for further anl
ments. 2
The object of Representative S|'
In drafting the law was to pr|
bootleggers getting liquor in any
name or labelled as soda wat«
merchandise. I ■
Ladies, see the new arrival
Kayser’g silk hose at Blum's, jf