Iditarod Pioneer
ONE DOLLAR per month _IDITAROD. ALASKA, SATURDAY MORNING. FEBRUARY 17, 1917CEyTS rER co;>Y
GERMANY SR( S DESIRE
TO AVOID OSTILITIES
WASHINGTON. Feb. 10.—Germany is understood
here to have addressed to the United States a com
munication suggesting that the two governments dis
cuss ways and means of preventing actual warfare
between them. While information regarding the
channel through which the communication is ad
dressed is lacking, it is probable that it is being for
warded by the government of Switzerland. Germany
is understood to have made it clear that although
diplomatic relations have been broken off, she
greatly desires that peace be maintained.
An Effort to Place Blame on United States
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12.—Officials today are in
clined to regard the latest offer of Germany to dis
cuss means for preventing war, as presented through
the Swiss minister, only as an effort to cast on the
United States the appearance of being the belligerent.
The official attitude seems to be that the United
Slates and German governments can have no diplo
matic dealings untii Germany gives up ner program
of unrestricted submarine warfare, and that any
other advances in the meanwhile will serve only to
becloud the issue of American rights.
It is not certain whether any answer will be made
to the suggestion. Officials noted with interest to
day that the submarine toll of merchant ships yester
day fell to the lowest level since the new campaign
started.
German Boasts and Threats
BERNE, Feb. 14.-—Germany is prepared to send
submarines into American waters, especially in the
vicinity of the Panama canal. German officials ex
pect to have the entente allies at their mercy within
six months, regardless of American developments.
Thev are confident that the submarines will paralyze
the war industries of the allies, and assert that Ger
many is stronger today in a military sense than at
any time since the war began, because of the isola
tion of America. Germany does not believe that
American participation in the war will have any real
effect
WIM Arm Merchant Vessels
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12.—The arming of neutral
vessels for self-defense in no way constitutes a hos
tile act, and the United States will insist emphatically
upon the right to do so, whether its vessels are at
tacked on the high seas or not. This has been made
very plain by Secretary of State Uansing.
The government has virtually decided to place
guns at the disposal of owners of vessels in order
that they may resist attack.
Time Limit Has Expired
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13.—Berlin announced to
day that the time has expired within which restric
tions would be placed upon the operations of sub
marines.
The Submarine Campaign
BERLIN, Feb. 12. No German submarine ever fired at life
boats, nor will do so in future, declared an official in a press bu
reau statement today, denying the British versions of the sinking
of the Fave.stone.
LONDON', Feb. 10.--Two British anil one Norwegian vessels
were sunk today. Three Englishmen and one American, members
of the crew of the torpedoed steamship Dauntless, were picked up
from a small host at sea by a trawler. They had been without
food for five days.
LONDON, Feb. 12. -Two small vessels were bagged in Sunday’s
submarine operations.
LONDON, Feb. 13.—The White Star liner Afric has been sunk ;
bf a submarine. Seventeen of her crew are missing.
LONDON, Feb. 14.—The American schooner Lyman M. Law ;
was sunk by a submarine today, according to a dispatch from i
Rome. The crow, including eight Americans, were lauded.
PARIS, Feb. 14.—One hundred and twelve ocean vessels were j
interned in French ports Monday. The French government prob- I
ably will oiler a prize of half a million francs to the crew of the j
veeT.'l. regardless of nationality, which destroys an attacking sub- •
murine. I
LONDON, Feb. 17.—Four vessels with a tonnage of 5,000
V.. re reported to have been sunk up to noon today.
BRAND WHITLOCK HELD AS GERMAN PRISONER
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 5.—Official word has been
received here that Brand Whitlock, United States
minister to Belgium, has been ordered by the Ger
man authorities to lower the American flag over the
embassy at Brussels. Grave concern is felt over the
reports that Whitlock and all the American members
of the Belgian relief committee are being held prison
ers at Brussels. Inquiries as to the truth of the re
port have been addressed to Berlin through the Swiss
minister here and the Spanish ambassador in Berlin.
Later the state department was officially advised
that Whitlock was not ordered to lower the flag, but
was requested to do so.
The Returning Ambassadors
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.—United States Ambassador Gerard
will leave Berlin this evening for Zurich, Switzerland, with his
entire staff and fifty American citizens, according to a dispatch
received today at the Swiss legation,
PARIS, Feb. 15.—American Hags are displayed in this city in
honor of the arrival of Ambassador Gerard. He will sail for home
on a Spanish vessel from Barcelona, via Cuba.
NEW YORK, Feb. 14.—Count Von Bernstorff, the German
ambassador, accompanied by a hundred secret service men, ar
rived here this morning. He will sail late this afternoon on board
the steamship Frederick VIII.
BREAK WITH AUSTRIA-HUNGARY REPORTED
LONDON, Feb. 1C.—Negotiations between the American am
bassador at Vienna and the Austro-Hungarian government have
been broken off, according to the Berliner Tageblatt.
PARIS, Feb. 16.—Americans in Austria have been warned
from Washington to leave that country.
DEATH CREATES VACANCY
IN TERRITORIAL HOUSE
JUNEAU, Feb. 10.—The Democrats of
the First division yesterday nominated
Isaac Sowerby of Juneau, an insurance man,
for representative in the territorial legisla
ture to fill the vacancy caused by the death
of John G. Heid. The election will be held
on March 6. As yet no candidate has been
named by the Republicans.
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ELECTION FRAUDS
INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 15. Federal war
rants charging loti men, Republicans and
Democrats, in this city, Gary, l'rankfort
and Evansville, with election frauds, are
being served.
-*
WILCOX SEES THE PRESIDENT
! WASHINGTON, Feb. 15. Chairman
j Wilcox of the Republican national com
! mittee had a conference with President Wit
j son this afternoon. Its nature was no di
! vulged.
♦ --
FORD PEACE BUREAU CLOSED
THE HAGUE, Feb. 10. The Ford peace
bureau here will be closed on March 1 be
cause of prospects of the United States be
coming involved in the war.
DOMESTIC TROUBLE IN RUSSIA
j PETROGRAD, Feb. 12. Eleven men
have been arrested charged with fomenting
labor troubles with a view to transforming
Russia into a social democratic republic.
VICTIM 0^BANDITS
SEATTLE, Feb. 14— On his way home
last night G. C. Harper, teller of the Seattle
National Bank, was shot in the hip and
hand by a bandit. He will recover.
WRIGHT WILL VOLUNTEER
NEW YORK, Feb. 12.—Orville Wright
announced today that in case of war he
will organize an aerial army.
DISASTROUS FIRE IN PIRAEUS
ATHENS. Fob. 13. l ire i> sweeping a
I.irpe section -;f Piraeus, find has cau-ea i\
heavy less of life*.
OLD-TIME NORTHERNER
DIES IN SAN FRANCISCO
Cyril Wood received word in the last mail
of the death at S..n Francisco recently of
Frank Grace, for many years a trusted em
ploye (if the Northern Commercial Company
in the North, but who recently has been
engaged in business pursuits in Fan Fran
cisco. Mr. Grace's death came after an ill
ness of but a few days, ami was great sur
prise to his friends here.
Mr. Grace was an old-timer in the North,
having gone to the Klondike with the eariy
rush, and was at Rampart in the early days
of that camp. For some years he was
cashier for the Northern Commercial Com
pany at Fairbanks, end later served os trav
eling auditor of the company. He also
served as agent of the company at Circle
and at Tanana.
Mr. Grace leaves a widow and two chil
dren.
SOCIAL DANCE* AT FLAT
ON WASHINGTON’S BIRTHDAY
Arrangements for the Washington’s
birthday dance next Thursday night at Flat
by the Moo.se are well under way, and the
event promises to be a splendid affair. Ivan
Wales is chairman of the committee on ar
rangements, and he Is attending to the de
tails with his usual energy, that leaves noth
ing undone in that regard.
DIGGS-CAMINETTI DECISION
UPHELD BY SUPREME COURT
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15.—The supreme
court today held that the white slave law
applies to non-commercial vice as well as
commercial vice. It also upheld the consti
tutionality of the Mann act. The decision
was rendered in the Diggs-Caminetti case,
wherein the defendants were convicted in
the lower courts.
BROTHER OF JOE SMITH
IS MAYOR OF FAIRBANKS
As he was to leave for the Outside today,
Mayor Myers handed in his resignation last
evening to the city council, which was ac
cepted. Immediately afterward, with Coun
cilman E. H. Mack in the chair, George M.
Smith was nominated for mayor and was
unanimously elected.
By the election of the new official the
Smith family has the distinction of having
had two members mayor. In the earlier
days of the town Joseph H. Smith, a brother
of the incumbent, was mayor of Fairbanks.
—News-Miner, Jan. 13.
It may be added that Joseph H. Smith, re
ferred to above, is now mayor of Iditarod.
So that the mayoralty business seems to
more than a habit with the Smith boys.
TWO HUNDRED SUBMARINES
CAPTURED BY BRITISH
ACCORDING TO BUTLER
PITTSBURGH, Feb. 10.—Nicholas Mur
ray Butler, the famous educator and presi
dent of Columbia university, declared in an
interview here today that the submarine
Deutschland had been captured by the
British. “1 have positive knowledge,” he
%nid, “that the Deutschland is one of the
eighty-five German submarines in one Brit
! irh port. I know that the British have
! captured not fewer than two hundred Ger
i man submarines.”
-+
NEW RULING OF BRITISH
RELIEVES FREIGHT SITUATION
NEW YORK, Feb. 16.—The British de
| cision to permit neutral vessels sailing front
| American ports for Europe to undergo ex
I animation at Halifax, instead of at Kirkwall
| or Falmouth, brought immediate relief to
j day to the congested cargo situation.
♦
CONSTANTINOPLE EMBASSY
ISOLATED FROM WASHINGTON
j WASHINGTON, Feb. 14.- Another in -
| quiry sent by the state department today to
the American ambassador at Constantinople
j develops the reason why he had not been
j able to report about the marooned Ameri
j cans detained in Asia Minor. Since the break
) with Germany no word had been allowed
| to reach this country either from Constan
i tinople or Sofia.
YAKIMA ALASKA COLONY
PLANNING BIG CELEBRATION
NORTH YAKIMA. Wash, Feb. 15 —
Former Alaskans now residents of the Yak
ima valley, at a banquet last night, set in
! motion plans for celebrating, cither at Seat
: tie or Portland, the fiftieth anniversary of
| 'tie purchase of Alaska, which occurs next
; October. George Thomas was elected presi
1 dent of the organization effected.
-A
FIELD'S PATRIOTIC GRANDSON
AND HIS WONDERFUL WEAPON
WILLISTON, N. D„ Feb. 12. A self
vnidiiv’ torpedo, based on magnetic control. !
•; srLiiisi which an enemy would have little !
chance for defense, lias been invented by
Charles J. Field, a grandson of Cyrus K. j
Held, and has been turned over to the ’
government.
-4
WASHINGTON BONE DRY BILL
TO BE EFFECTIVE IN JUNE
OLYMPIA, Feb. 15.—Should Governor
Lister sign it. which is regarded ns a cer
tainty, and if it weather the referendum
campaign likely to be waged against it, the :
"bone dry ’ bill will become effective on j
June 10 next. j
*
PORTLAND WOMAN CONVICTED
I
ATLANTA, Ga„ Feb. 1-1. Mrs. Victor I
Tnnes of Portland, Ore., has been sentenced 1
to three years’ imprisonment as a result .
af her conviction of larceny in connection j
with the disappearance and supposed mur- j
der of her sister, Beatrice Lois Neims.
BOY SCOUTsW SERVICE
NEW YORK, Feb. 16.—Six hundred j
thousand Boy Scouts throughout the coun- |
try are expected by the national council to ;
prepare for active service in the event of j
war.
--4
IDITAROD COMMERCIAL CLUB
TO HOLD ANNUAL MEETING
The executive committee of the Iditarod |
Commercial Club held a meeting on Wednes
day evening, February 14, at the M. & M.
Bank, at which it was decided that the de
ferred annual meeting for the election of
officers for the ensuing year, receiving re
ports, etc., would be held on March 11. All
members and others interested in the work
of the club are invited.
A committee v/as appointed to confer with
the business men of Flat and request them
to organize a commercial body to co-oper
ate with the Iditarod Commercial Club in
the effort to get an appropriation of $25,000
for roads in this district.
Communications have been addressed to
the Alaska road commission with a view7 to
securing funds to properly mark and tripod
the mail trail to Opbir, especially around
Fritz’s roadhouse, and the Dikeman-ToLstoi
trail.
HORSEFLY CREEK BOBS UP
Reports received during the week indi
cate that Horsefly creek, which created a
good deal of local excitement a year or so
ago, is likely yet to secure its place in the
sun. It is said that Neilson, who has been
prospecting there during the winter, has
received much encouragement, and Bob
Roberson, who ventured much work in
backing up his belief that pay existed there,
is on his way there from the Tolstoi with
a boiler to resume prospecting work. There
are also reports of good prospects having
been opened up on a creek in the vicinity
of Horsefly.
BIG CONTRACT FOR RAILS
FOR ALASKA’S RAILROAD
SEATTLE, Feb. 10. —A contract for 1,200
tons of fifty-pound rails for the Nenana
F air banks division of the Alaska govern
ment railroad was let today on a basis of
$38 at the mills in Chicago.
The steamship Turret Crown will begin
loading a full cargo of equipment for the
Alaska railroad tomorrow.
-♦
LARGE SHIPBUILDING PROJECT
SEATTLE, Feb. 14. — British agents are
discussing with the managers of local ship- ,
building yards the placing of contracts for
the construction of twenty large steel ;
freighters.
--—♦
AMERICANS LIBERATED
BERLIN, Feb. 16.—The Americans ;
brought to a German port on board the ;
Yarrowlale, whose release was demanded
by the United States government, were lib
erated today.
♦
DICK DAWSON DEAD
SEATTLE, Feb. 15—Dick Dawson, a
former Nome saloon man and a pioneer of
other camps in Alaska, died today in this
city of cancer. Lately he had been inter
ested in mining in the Cook inlet region.
---» —
NOTED BANDIT DEAD
PORTLAND, Feb. 10.—Chris Evans, of
the former bandit team of Evans and Son
tag, who terrorized Southern California a
quarter of 3 century ago, died here today.
BOOTLEGGER HAS MONEY
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 16.—Logan Bil
lingsley, the indicted Seattle bootlegger, who
was supposd to be “busted,” withdrew $85,
000 from the Union Trust Company today.
—*
PORTLAND TO ALASKA LINE
PORTLAND, Feb. 16. -C. A. Burkhardt
and others are endeavoring to establish a
direct steamship service between this port
and Alaska.
..—.—a-—
FATAL FIRE IN MINNEAPOLIS
MINNEAPOLIS, Eeb. 12.—Thirteen per
sons perished in the burning of the Kenwood '
hotel last night.
-+—
GOOD PROSPECTS ON MIDWAY
REPORTED FROM TOLSTOI
,T. W. Wiliison arrived from the Tolstoi |
on Wednesday lust. He is here for llv pur
pose of negotiating the sale of some mining i
round in that district upon which some
cry' good prospects were uncovered re- j
cently.
Mr. Wiliison will he remembered by old J
K'.nndikrrs as the government timber agent j
in the early days of that camp. He is on >
Ids way Outside. j
The ground owned by Mr. Wiliison is on j
Midway creek, a tributary of Madison, below I
Esperanto. Reports say that dirt taken J
from a hole sunk to bedrock on the property j
shows values of 50 to GO cents to the foot. ;
Considerable interest has been aroused by 1
the new find at Tolstoi and vicinity.
Yesterday it was stated that George j
Blanusha of this city had bought the inter- j
ests of Mr. Wiliison on Midway creek, but j
the price was not made public.
“HUMBOLDT” GATES DEAD j
“Humboldt” Gates, one of the famous j
Klondike millionaires, who owned No. 28 i
Eldorado and a half interest in No. 7, died
on December 1, after a short illness, accord
ing to word received by Cal Brosius from
the Outside, says the Seward Post of
January 10.
Gates was an eccentric though a shrewd
miner. He is reported to have climbed a
telephone pole for fun on a main street in
San Francisco, after going out with his pile,
and once at Atlantic City he ran an old
man of money, who was taking a morning
out in a wheeled chair, into the surf, just
for sport.
PREPARING FOR BIG TIME
The committee on arrangements for the
big ball and entertainment to be given at
A. B. hall, Iditarod, on March 17, by the
local igloo of Pioneers, held an enthusiastic
meeting last Saturday night and outlined
quite a number of the details. Percy
Charles was appointed a committee of one
on advertising, and all will expect some
interesting matter from that source.
As an added attraction to the celebration
of St. Patrick’s day the committee is con
sidering plans for a dog race from Discovery
to Flat and Iditarod, and dog fanciers are
on the alert to learn the details of the pro
posed contest.
PIONEErT mEET WEDNESDAY
A regular meeting of the Pioneers will be
held next Wednesday evening at Moose hall,
Flat.
CONGRESS WILL DISCUSS
SUBMARINE WAR PROBLEM
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13.—A bill directed against
the ruthless submarine warfare, and proposing to
open the ports, harbors and waters of the United
States in time of war to warships or other vessels of
belligerents against whom such warfare is being
waged, was introduced today by Senator Saulsbury.
At his request it was referred to the committee on
foreign relations, of which he is a member.
Against Arming of Merchant Ships
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12.—Senator LaFoilette of
fered a joint resolution today to make unlawful the
arming of American merchant ships while the United
States is not at war. He asked that the resolution
lay on the table, to be called up later for further con
sideration.
Congress Will Adjourn March 5
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16.—Congressman Claud
Kitchin, Democratic floor leader, predicts that con
gress will adjourn March 5. He said: We will
finish all appropriation bills and any other necessary
measures, including the Webb bill. If there is war
the President does not want us here.”
Drastic “Dry” Provision
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16.—The postoffice appro
priation bill, carrying $330,000,000, passed the sen
ate today. It carries an amendment adopted yes
terday which provides that it shall be a crime for
persons in dry states to order, purchase or cause to
be transported any intoxicating liquors into such
states.
Alaska Oil and Gas Lands
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13.—A bill authorizing
homestead entries on public lands in Alaska contain
ing oil or gas, with limited patent to cntrymcn, re
serving coil, oil or gas found thereon to the United
States, was passed by the senate last night.
To Impeach Federal Reserve Board
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12.—Articles of impeach
ment, charging Commissioners Harding, War
burg, Delano, Miller and Hamlin of the federal re
serve board with administering the federal reserve
act with intent to co-ordinate big business and spec
ulation, were made before the house of representa
tives today by Congressman Lindburgh (Repub
lican) of Minnesota. They were referred to the ju
diciary committee.
Universal Military Training
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.—The universal military
training bill was favorably reported to the senate to
day by the military affairs committee.
Wilson Elected President
WASHINGTON, Feb. 14.—The electoral votes
for President and Vice President were counted today
in the presence of both houses of congress. Wilson
received 277 and Hughes 254,
ACTION TAKEN BY OTHER NEUTRAL NATIONS
MEXICO CITY, Feb. 13. -General Carranza, head of the do.
facto Mexican government, has issued sn identical note to fill
neutral nations proposing to end the European war by cutting off
the supplies of the belligerents.
LONDON. Feb. 11. Norway, Sweden and Denmark have fin *
ult an to us ly protested to Berlin against the new bubmanne cam
paign.
China hes broken off diplomatic relations with Germany, ac*
cording to an authoritative report issued Monday.
OPERATIONS IN THE*GREAT WORLD WAR
BERLIN, Feb. 16.—The German forces have made an attack
in the Champagne district and captured ground half a mile deep
over a front of a mile and a half. They took 856 prisoners.
British aviators dropped bombs on a children’s skating party
near Bruges, killing sixteen.
LONDON, Feb. 13.—Official announcement is made today
that the British forces on the Tigris have established a line across
the Tigris bend west of Kut-el-Amani, completely hemming in the
Turks.
BERNE, Feb. 13—Ten thousand officials of trade unions and
Socialist organizations in Germauy, heretofore exempt from mili
tary service, have been called to the colors.
AMSTERDAM, Feb. 13.—In compliance with orders from the
German authorities, the American commission for relief work in
Belgium is withdrawing from Belgium and northern France.
WORKMEN PROTEST AGAINST HIGH FOOD COST
THE HAGUE, Feb. 16 "The food situation in Holland has
become acute. Serious rioting, in which the crowds were only
Jisperscd by repeated charges of the police and hussars, has taken
place. The rioters were mostly workmen, who stated that tho
demonstration was a protest against the high cost of food. Th^y
ccupied the space in front of the queen’s palace and the minis
erial buildings. ^_
REVOLUTION IN REPUBLIC OF CUBA
IS FROWNED UPON BY SECRETARY LANSING
WASHINGTON, Feb. 14.—Secretary of State Lansing today
tent warning to the Cuban people that any government estab
lished by revolt would not be recognized.
HAVANA, Feb. 14.—It is reported that Colonel Baldomer
Acosta, one of the revolutionary chiefs who led the rebels in the
fighting with the rural guards forty Tildes from Havana, has been
tilled. The revolutionary movement is confined to Camaguey
and Oriente provinces.
It was announced yesterlay that the United States govern
ment had offered 5,000 rifles and 5,000,000 cartridges to the
Suban government. An encounter hue occurred in Matanzs.s
irovinee between the government troopa and the rebels.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 15.—British reports charge that German
agents have fomented the revolt in Cuba, whose waters are sought,
is a submarine base.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.—The entire eastern end of Cuba
threatens to join in the revolt, according to a report to Minister
jonzales from Havana this morning. Heavy fighting occurred la«
light between the rebels and government troops seventeen miles
west of Havana. Several rebels were killed.