-- ~ VALDEZ, ALASKA, THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 1916 NUMBER 23
VOLUME XIV. _ .
HOUSE COMMITTEE LEARNS
ABOUT MILITARY AFFAIRS
CHIEF OF ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT SAYS THAT CONCRETE DASE
NOT NECESSARY FOR FORTY-TWO CENTIMETER GUNS AS THEY
CAN BE BROUGHT INTO ACTION IN NINETY MINUTES—ADJU
TANT-GENERAL MAC CAIN ASSERTS THAT ARMY COULD NOT
BE KEPT UP TO STANDARD WITHOUT FORCED SERVICE OF
SOME SORT—ALASKA COAL SUITABLE FOR THE NAVY.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 27.—
General William Crozier, chief of the
Ordnance Department of the United
States army appeared before the
pionse committee on Military affairs
yesterday and explained some of his
plans for fortifying the coast of
America if the administration’s na
tional defense program is carried to
a successful issue.
General Crozier told the committee
that forty-two centimeter guns, simi
lar .to those used by the Germans j
'when Antwerp was reduced, need not
necessarily be mounted on concrete,
bases. He assured the committee that
under improvement^ originated by
his department that the big guns
eould be. placed and made ready for
action within ninety minutes.
General McCain, adjutant-general
of the army, testified before the com
mittee that it would be impossible to
secure recruits to keep the regular
army up to the standard of two hun
dred and twenty-five thousand men.
He favors a continental army in
which the men would be required 'to(
serve three months each year for
three years when they would be plac
ed on parole and subject to service at
any time. He is opposed to combin
ing the continentals with the state mi
litia, believing that it would work
against the militia. . i.
Admiral MacGowan told the com
mittee that it was expected that the
development of the high grade coal
deposits in the Matanuska coal fields
in Alaska would again make coal
cheaper than oil for fuel for the Pa
cific fleet. He said that the coal had
been submitted to actual test on a
warship and had been found to be
equal to that of the Pocohontas coal.
He believed that in building new war
ships for service in the waters of the
Pacific that this fact should be taken
into consideration. He had been as
sured that coal from the Matanuska
fields would be available for the use
of the navy within a year.
TURKS DEFEAT
BRITISH ARMY
War Office Has Announced that Ex
peditionary Force Has Met
With Serious Reverses.
LONDON, Jan. 27.—The war office
has issued a bulletin announcing that
the Turkish troops have severely de
feated the British expeditionary force
which was endeavoring to force a pas
sage to the relief of the British army
at Ku tela mare, in Mesopotamia.
The British expeditionary force is
under command of General Alymars,
and are reported to have reached a
point within seven miles of Kutela
mara when ho was overwhelmed by
the Turkish army.
The British force which retreated
from Bagdad where they suffered
heavy losses through the treachery
of the Arabs, are reported as entirely
surrounded by Turks but have bravely
held out awaiting the arrival of Gen
eral Aylmar’s army. It is feared
that.the entire army will be lost to
Britain and the news has caused Eu
gland to be shrouded in gloom.
FREIGHTER CORDOVA WAS
CAUGHT IN THE GALE
Passengers on the Admiral Farra
gnt last night report that the freight
er Cordova, of the Alaska Steamsihp
company fleet, had arrived in Cordova
covered with ice to a depth of sev
eral inches. As a deck load the
freighter carried a huge rotary en
gine and tender for the Copper River
& Northwestern railroad and It is re
ported that the deck load was cover
ed so heavily with ice that the nature
of the machinery could not be dis
tinguished. The officers reported that
the vessel had been caught in. a ter
rirfc gale between Juneau and Hinch
inbrook and that the waves repeatedly
cashed over her decks.
COLONEL HOUSE IS
* * IN GERMAN CAPITAL.
U- . * «{or • ■ --- ■ i ' t
, BERLIN, Jan. 27.—Colonel House,
tie special representative of Presi
dent Wilson, whose mission to Europe
has been veiled In secrecy, arrived
here yesterday and it is reported that
he will seek an audience with Emper
or William.
Fort Liscnm Dance Postponed.
The Fort Llscum Social Club which
postponed its dance from January 29
te January 29 on account of the cold
weather, has decided to ludpflpltely
postpone the affair until some future
date.
CORDOVA 18 TAKING
EVERY PRECAUTION
The Cordova Times states that in
order to protect property Mayor Sla
ter has iucressed the Are patrol to
four members under the charge of
Chief of Police Dooley. The Mwn
has been divided into districts, a;:d
men assigned so that every pait of
the town will be personally looked
after during the cold spell. The city
water works has been frozen up and
the precaution has bao’i taken to pre
vent Ares which might originate gain
ing headway and sweeping the town.
Gale Drives Waters of Pacific Into
Bays and Twenty Blocks In San
Diego Are Flooded.
I
SAN DIEGO, Jan. 27.—A terrific
gale which swept in from the Pacific
ocean last night caused the ocean to
roll into the bay and raisins the wa
ter three feet above ail previous high
water msirks. Twenty .blocks along
the waterfront were flooded and many
of the buildings were damaged by
their foundations' being undermined.
Coronado Island, which is the mec
ca of thousands of tourists at all sea
sons of the year, suffered heavily by
a wide area of the famous grounds of
the Coronado hotel being washed
away by the heavy surf, which for a
time threatened the destruction of the
building.
Advices from points north and
south state that heavy damage result
ed from the gale and flood but as yet
no deaths have been reported. It is
feared however, that many small
boats, especially the fishing fleet off
the coast of Lower California, will
have suffered heavily, as no boat
could live in the storm.
*
JAPAN 18 AGAIN
, \ MENACING CHINA
“T-•
LONDON, Jan1. 27.—Official dis-i
patches from Shanghai state that
Japan is again taking advantage of
the rebellious movement in China to
press her demands for territorial' and
industrial concessions. The enprmousj
consumption of steel and iron by Jap
anese manufacturers who are supply
ing the Russian government with mu
nitions of war and railroad materials
has caused a serious shortage of met
als in Japan .and the government has
renewed its demands for concessions!
in the iron ore fields of China.
Addiston Mizner, Artist and Adven
turer, is Engaged to Divorced
Wife of N. Y. Millionaire.
NEW YORK, Jan. 27.—It is re
ported in telegraphic advices receiv
ed from New York that Mrs. O. P.
Belmont, divorced wife of O. P. Bel
mont the New York millionaire fin
ancier and club man, is engaged to
wed Addiston Mizner, the artist and
adventurer. He is a brother to Wil
son Mizner who married Mrs. Yerkes
of Chicago and was divorced by her
within three months after their mar
riage when she learned that he was
spending her money on other women
of his fancy.
Both qi the fllizner Dromers are
former Yukoners and Nomeltes and
their numerous exploits are still re
membered by old-timers of the north.
After leaving Alaska Addiston Miz
ner turned his attention to play writ
ing and some of his productions have
met with a degree of success.
Mizner is a member of one of the
oldest families in this state, his par
ents having settled in California in
the days of the great gold rush of
1849. There are three sons in the
family, each of whom were left one
million dollars when their father
died more than twenty years ago. The
fortunes have long since been squan
denerd. Wilson recouped hiB for
tune to the extent of sums variously
estimated up to $100,000 by marry
ing Mrs. Yerkes and it now appears
that Addistoa is to become the hus
band of a woman who has millions in
her own name. _.
THE PATROLMAN
lefused to Convict Margett on Testi
mony of Women of Underworld—
Evidence of Graft Lacking.
I
SEATTLE, Jan. 27.—Patrolman
Margett, who was dismissed from the
Seattle police force several months
ago by Chief Lang and was compelled
to stand trial on the charge of hav
ing received money from prostitutes
for protection, was acquitted by a
jury after a few minutes delibera
tion.
The evidence against the accused
was limited to that of four women of
the underworld. None of the women
had ever given Margett money but
they testified that they had left sums
ranging from five dollars upward at
a cigar store where the patrolman
had told them he would receive it.
The clerk at the cigar store has
disappeared and the proprietors knew
nothing of the arrangement between
the patrolman and the woman. De
tectives who had tried to trap the ac
cused admitted on the witness stand
that they had been unable to secure
direct evidence to sustain the charge
of graft.
PROGRESSIVES TO PUT
TICKET IN THE FIEUI)
OMAHA, Jan. 27.—That the Pro
gressive party In this state is far from
dead is indicated by the announce
ment of the leaders of the party who
met here yesterday that an entire
Progressive ticket would be put in
the field for the coming autumfi
ejection. _
STEAMSHIP COMPANIES
STOCKS ARE SOARING
" •
PREDICTION THAT ALASKA STEAMSHIP COMPANY WOULD DE
CLARE BIG DIVIDENDS SENDS SHARES UP TO $105, BUT MANY
ARE HOLDING FOR $125 PER SHARE—NEW FREIGHTERS, VAL
DEZ AND JUNEAU,' EXPECTED SOON TO EARN PURCHASE
PRICE—SHARES OF ADMIRAL LINE HAVE JUMPED FROM $75
TO $1)0 IN THREE WEEKS—GOOD BUSINESS IN SIGHT.
SEATTLE, Jan 27.—The past few
weeks have witnessed a phenomenal
increase in the price of the stocks of
the two big steamship companies
serving Southwestern Alaska and
knowing ones are holding for still
further increases.
'f he shares of the Alaska Steamship
company are now Quoted at $10r> per
share and many have disposed of
their holdings. Other stockholders
believe that ,the shares are due for
a rapid Increase in value and are
holding in anticipation of receiving
$125 per share.
The rapid increase in the value of
stocks of the company are <}ue in part
to the prediction that the company
will declare a dividend of six hun
dred thousand dollars at the coming
annual meeting and to the fact thnt
the business outlook for the coming
year is exceedingly bright.
The two big freighters which were
recently purchased by the Alaska
Steamship company on the Atlantic
coast, and which have been christen
ed the Valdez and Juneau, are expect
ed to earn seventy-five per cent of
their value within six months after
they enter the Alaskan service. The
officials of the company here say that
owing to the shortage of vessels qn
the Atlantic coast that the freighters
could be Immediately resold dt a fig
ure which1 would net a handsome re
turn. The company has. been offer
ed an advance of twenty-five per cent
on the price paid for the steamers two
months ago but hav-j declined the of
fer as the ve&bels are required for the
Alaska business.
The Pacific Alaska Navigation com
pany’s Admiral line has also enjoyed
a prosperous year and the price of the
shares of the company have Jumped
from $75 to $90 within three.weeks.
No announcement as' to-a probable
dividend being declared at the annual
meet has been made but It is believed
that It will not be passed.
•' ' 1 ' !
The officials here state that their
steamer the Admiral Watson which
was rammed and sunk last fall will
be back in service early In March and
that three passenger steamers will
give Southwestern Alaskan ports a
weekly service, the vessels leaving Se
attle each Supday morning.
. Twq large steamers, both of which
have enormous freight*carrying ca
pacity, were purchased by tho com
pany last fall and will reach Puget
Sound early in March from the At
lantic. They are now a: New York
where they are undergoing alterations
and improvements which will make
them specially adapted for handling
ore shipments from the Alaska mines.
The freighters have been renamed ttje
Admiral Clark and the Admiral Se
bree.
•1he officials of noth companies
agree that the outlook tor business >u
■he *,orth is evcept'onui'y bright and
state that they are prepared to aid in
cvcy way. to haston the development
of ths terrlthry.
CAMERON-JOHNSON MINE
TRAM AND MILL DAMAGED
—
E. E. McDonald, watchman at the
Cameron-Johnson mine at Shoup'Bay
came up to Valdez last night on the
launch Elvira and reports that the
wind last week did considerable dam
age to the property of the company.
Two of the towers of the aerial tram,
which extends from the upper work
ings of the mine to the pqdll, were
blown down and that the roof of the
stamp mill was carried away. The
giving quarters for the miners, whfch
are located near the mill escaped
damage.
flats Cleaned and Blocked.
Hats cleaned and blocked; salt*
cleaned and pressed.
tf . OUT F. CAMERON
' i
ALL EUROPE INTERESTED
IN TURKISH DIPLOMATS
BELIEVED IN PARIS THAT GERMANY CANNOT SUSTAIN BURDEN
OF FINANCING TURKISH CAMPAIGNS AND WILL ALLOW HER
TO MAKE PEACE WITH ALLIES ON BEST TERMS POSSIBLE—
PARIS PRESS CONNECTS VISIT OF COLONEL HOUSE TO EU
ROPE WITH PEACE RUMORS AND STATE HE WILL GO TO
SWITZERLAND — PEACE WOULD BE WELCOMED BY NATIONS.
PARIS. Jan. -i.—The news from
Switzerland that Turkish diplomats
have reached Zurich to seek terms
upon which peace would be granted
the Ottoman empire by the Allies has
created a sensation. It is believed
that Germany has realized that the
task of financing Turkey is too heavy
a burden on her resources and that
(he has cast off the responsibility and
will allow the Turkish government to
mane the best terms possible in deal
ing with the Allies.
Rumors of all sorts regarding the
diplomats visit to Switzerland are in
circulation in the capitals of Europe,
but as yet no developments have oc
curred which offer a satisfactory ex
planation of the visit.
Members of the French cabinet
profess ignorance of any peace plans
and have declined to conjecture as to
the probable outcome of the Turkish
negotiations or with whom the Turk
ish diplomats will confer in Switzer
land.
The announcement from Berlin
that Col. House, the personal repre
sentative of President Wilson, has ar
rived in the German capital is being
need by the Paris press to connect his
mission with that of the Turkish dip
lomats as Zurich is also believed to be
the destination of the president's rep
resentative.
Recent dispatches from the near
East have told of German troops be
ing concentrated at Constantinople to
be sent to attack the British force*
threatening Bagdad, and of Teuton!*
preparations for the invasion of
Egypt, has caused the peace rumors
to be discredited }n official circles
here. All Europe is anxiously await
ing news concerning the movements
cf the diplomats as it is believed that
should Turkey, for whom Germany
has done so much, seek separate peace
that Bulgaria would be compelled to
lake like action and that the begin
ning of the end of the war would be
hastened.
AUSTRIAN EMPEROR IS
REPORTED TO BE DYING
LONDON, Jan. 27.—Francis Jos
eph, the aged emperor of Austrlu
Hungary, is again reported to be near
ing the end. , He is reported to have
been confined to his bed with tl\e
court physicians in constant at:end
ance and all officials have been de
nied audiences. Dispatches from Aus
tria say secrecy prevails regarding
the emperor’s condition as the Aus
trian officials fear the result of the
announcement of his approaching
death.
FOUR ME LIVES
LOSE Oil BORDER
Mexican Bandits Captnre American
Troopers and Four Drown in
Going to Their Rescue.
BROWNSVILLE, Texas, Jan. 27.-rr
A band of Mexicans surprised two
American soldiers yesterday after
noon while they were bathing in the
Rio Grande river near this place and
took them prisoners Ifato Mexico.
Other American soldiers who had wit
nessed the capture attempted to cross
the river under Are of the Mexicans
to the rescue of their companions.
Four of the rescuers were lost in the
attempt to cross.
The kidnapping and fatalities to
the American troops created intense1
excitement and hundreds of Texans
were arming to go to the rescue of
the captives when news reached here
from Mexico that the bandits had
been captured by Carranzaistas and
the Americans released.
Conditions along the Texas border
are becoming intolerable to Ameri
cans as scarcely twenty-four hours
are allowed to pass without some dep
redations being committed by the
bandits. It is with difficulty that the
people of this state are being re
strained from crossing over the bor
der to administer punishment to the
Maxlcans. (
Young People's Society. •
The regular literary meeting of the
Young People’s Literary Society of
Valdes will be held at the Every
man's Club rooms tomorrow evening.
All the members are requested to be
there end each one Is asked to bring
some topic on current events. The
committee have worked hard to furn
ish some amusement as well as liter
ary work and it is hoped tha^ the
members will be there in full force.
Prospector Ads bring results.
PROTEST REPEAL
OF ORGANIC HOT
SewSrd Chamber of Commerce la
sis ts Alaskans Should Handle
Affairs of Territory.
i
SEWARD, Jau. 27.—The Seward
Chamber of Commerce at a meeting
last night passed resolutions protest
ing against the measure introduced
in Congress by Representative Alex
ander of Missouri, which would have
the effect of changing the Alaska or
ganic act.
The resolution introduced in con
gress provides that the Alaska legis
lature shall be prohibited from im
posing taxes on the products of the
waters of Alaska and will place the
entire control of the fisheries In the
hands of a bureau to be established
under the Department of Commerce.
The resolution would also repeal the
laws passed by the Alaska legislature
during the session of 1915, when a
special tax was imposed on the fish
ing Industry of the territory.
The Seward chamber will insist
that Alaskans are better able to earn
for the affairs of the territory than
any department, bureau, board or
commission now existing or might b«
created or named. It is the purpose
of the chamber to secure the co-oper
ation of the other commercial bodies
in Alaska in order that a vigorous
protest may be sent to Washington
to enable the friends of the territory
to secure the defeat of the measure
when it comes before the house for
action.
It is reported here that the resolu
tion introduced by Representative
Alexander will have the support of
Secretary Red Held of the Department
of Commerce, as he has been desirous
of securing complete control of tha
fisheries of the north with a view of
extending the scope of his department
in Alaska.
NEW CASHIER FOR _
SIGNAL CORPS OFFICR
Sergt. H. W. Kirby, of the.U. R
Signal Corps, accompanied by Mrq.
Kirby, arrived in Valdez on the Ad*
mlral Farragut last nlgbt, and will
make their home in Valdez. 8ergC
Kirby was formerly stationed at Con*
dova and they have just returned
from a trip to the States. He will re
lieve Sergt Pittman as cashier in the
local oRoe pfjthe Signal Corps. Mr.
and Mrs, KJtfcy were both popular te
musical and social circles in Cordova.,
and will be equally so among the peo
ple of Valdes.
. _ -..run..v.,,«,*»