V0L 13 VALDEZ, ALASKA, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1915. N0. 40.
PRESIDENT WILL
OPEN EXPOSITION
Will Touch Button In White House
and Start Machinery of Fair
By Wireless.
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 17—Pres
ident Wilson, in his office in the
White House, will press the button
which will start the machinery of
the Panama-Pacific Exposition by
wireless next Saturday, February 20.
All is in readiness for the great
event and it is predicted that the at
tendance during the opening day will
eclipse that of any fair ever held
in America.
Secretary Franklin K. Lane, of the
Department of the Interior, has ar
rived here as the special representa
tive of President Wilson. He was
given a tremendous ovation upon his
arrival by old friends and neighbors
who welcomed him home as the rep
resentative of the nation’s chief ex
ecutive to the throwing open to the
public of America’s greatest exposi
tion.
x Hundreds of thousands of visitors
from every part of the world are
in* the city awaiting the opening of
the grounds to the public. Special
trains are arriving hourly adding to
the number of visitors.
Several thousand auto parties are
reported coming north from southern
California, where they have viewed
the San Diego exposition, to witness
the opening ceremonies of the Pan
ama-Pacific.
CANADA WANTS
BRIDGES GUARDED
Believed That Efforts Will Be Made
To Destroy Other Internation
al Bridges.
OTTAWA, Feb. 17.—The Cana
dian government has asked the Unit
ed States to place guards at all rail
road approaches to the International
X. line as a result of the destruction
ef the central span of the bridge
srossing the St. Croix river by Van
Horn, the German.
Guards have been placed at the
Canadian side of the bridges but In
vestigation has disclosed the fact that
Van Horn crossed the bridge from
Maine to the point where he placed
the dynamite. The attorneys repre
senting Van Horn declare that the
dynamite with which he destroyed the
bridge was furnished by a stranger
who met him on the bridge, and that
he is not amenable to the charge of
transporting explosives.
The British agents who are In
vestigating the supposed German of
ficer admit that the plea of Van
Horn’s counsel will be hard . to dis
prove but are loath to believe that
the dynamite was furnished by some
man from Canada when the stranger
could have destroyed the bridge him
self had he been so inclined.
N B
OUT OWN BRAINS
Prank Turner, an old-timer in the
Cache creek country and well known
here, is reported to have blown his
head off with a Colt’s 45-caliber re
v' volver. Mr. Turner was trapping and
had not been feeling very well for
some time past. As he failed to show
up for several days a Neighbor went
to his cabin and found him dead.
Judge Van Slyke, of Susltna, has gone
to the scene of the shooting and will
hold an inquest. No particulars have
been received other than that Turner
had. been found dead las stated.—
Knlk News. \
ALLIED ARMIES GAIN GROUND IN THE WEST
LONDON, Feb. 17—Advices from
the front in northern France and
Belgium indicate that the German of
fensive movement has exhausted it
self and that the German forces are
now on the defensive. Successful
moves have been reported by the Al
lies all along thg-Western line.
Ypres Trenches Recaptured.
The reinforcements sent to the
French troops driven from their
trenches at Ypres have regained their
lost ground and have driven the Ger
mans from their first line of trenches.
British Gain At LaBassee.
The British at LaBassee have al
so retaken the trenches from which
they were forced at the point of the
bayonet by superior numbers after
a desperate struggle. The German
loss in defending the trenches was
very heavy.
. Forced Back At Reims.
The German troops which had forc
ed the French from their positions
near Reims have in turn been forced
from their trenches by the reinforce
ments sent to the support of the
French troops from Paris.
Germans Checked In Vosges and
Alsace.
The German movements in the Vos
ges and in Alsace have been check
ed by the French and the Germans
are now on the defensive. The French
are reported to have started artillery
fire on the German positions to pre
vent wire fortifications being erected.
_
Building Railroads At Warsaw.
PETROGRAD, Feb. 17.—Reports
from Grand Duke Nicholas, chief of
■staff of the Russian army, states that
LONDON REPORTS GERMANS FORCED BACK ALL ALONG LINE
FROM ALSACE TO POINT NEAR THE COAST—BELIEVE GER
MAN OFFENSIVE MOVEMENT BROKEN — GERMANS REPORT
CAPTURE OF POLISH CITY OF PLOCK—BRITISH COLLIER SUNK
IN CHANNEL—BRITISH AND F'RENCH AVIATORS AGAIN RAID
GERMAN POSITIONS ON BELGIUM COAST—AUSTRIANS CLAIM
RUSSIAN ARMY SURROUNDED.
five railroads are being built from
Warsaw for i trategic purposes and
that upon completion of the roads
the Russian forces may be rapidly
transported from one section of Po
land to another with great rapidity.
The first of the railroads will be
in operation by March 1.
Submarine Sinks British Collier.
HAVRE, France, Feb. 17.—A Ger
man submarine last night attacked
and sunk a British collier in the Eng
lish Channel. The crew of the collier
were picked up by fishing boats which
continue to ply their calling in the
dangerous waters.
Russian Army Surrounded.
VIENNA, Feb. 17.—Advices from
Czernowitz state that the Russfra*
army which was driven from the pro
vince of Bukowina has been encircled
by the Austrians and that it is be
lieved the entire Russian force will
be captured or annihilated.
Allied Aircraft Raids Belgian Towns.
LONDON, Feb. 17.—British and
French aviators at daybreak this
morning performed a daring raid on
the German fortifications at Zee
brugge, Ostend, Middelkerke, Ghis
teller, and other Belgian coast towns.
Many bombs were dropped into the
German fortifications and are believ
ed to have resulted in great damage
to the fortifications.
Germans Capture Plock.
BERLIN, Feb. 17.-—Advices from
Gen. Hindenburg's headquarters state
that the German forces have recap
tured the Polish town of Plock, which
was evacuated by the Germans when
their forces were withdrawn for the
battle in East Prussia. Plock occu
pies an advantageous position for the
rapid assembling of troops near War
saw as it is a railway center for
roads from East Prussia, the German
fortress at Thom and southwest Po
land.
All Will Suffer Alike.
ROTTERDAM, Feb. 17.—An official
communication received here from
the German government states that
it is admitted by the admiralty that
German submarines will be unable
(
to distinguish British merchant ships
from the vessels of neutral nations
and that therefore the ships of neu
tral nations must keep out of the
military zone.
England Will Maintain Blockade.
LONDON, Feb. 17.—It is stated
here that the British government
has reached the decision to continue
the blockade of foodstuffs to Ger
many despite Germany’s declaration
of destroying all shipping in British
waters and the English Channel.
Says Italy Must Fight.
PARIS, Feb. 17.—Garibaldi, who
has just returned from Italy, express
es the belief that Italy must soon en
ter the war against Austria or the
country will be tom asunder by in
ternal revolution. He states that the
army which have been mobilized is
growing restless for war and will soon
turn upon the government if not sent
against their ancient foe.
King Albert Flies Over Trenches.
AMSTERDAM, Feb. 17—King Al
bert, of Belgium, was a passenger in
an aeroplane which flew over the
German trenches yesterday after
noon. to reconnoitre the German po
sitions. The machine was fired upon
by the Germans but escaped unhurt
beyond the German lines.
Exchanging Wounded Prisoners.
AMSTERDAM. Feb. 17.—The firs*
of the wounded British prisoners
which have been exchanged with Ger
many arrived here en route to Eng
land. The prisoners subject to ex
tContinued on page 2.)
SUFFRAGE IS
WINNING IN EAST
BOSTON, Feb. 17—The state legis
lature this afternoon adopted the res
olution providing for the submission
of the woman’s suffrage question to
the voters of the state next Novem
ber. There was' little opposition to
the amendment and it is believed the
electors of the state will favor suf
frage.
STATE PRISONS
California Board Urges Judges To
Suspend Sentences As Prisons
Are All Full.
SACRAMENTO, Cal., Feb. 17—A re
markable condition of affairs are re
ported to exist in the prisons of this
state according to a statement is
sued today by the prison board.
The board has requested judges of
the state to give suspended senten
ces to convicted prisoners when such
action is possible under the law as
the prisons are crowded to their ut
most capacity, leaving room for no
new ones. The suggestion has been
made to the judges that prisoner?
convicted of petty offenses be permit
ted their liberty on promise of good
behavior and reporting to the auth
orities at stated periods.
Prom every section of the state
come reports that men have deliber
ately transgressed the law to receive
sentences in order that they might
secure food. The wardens of the
prisons state that many of the latter
class of men are not criminals and
show their willingness to perform
any work, given theim both Inside
and outside the prison walls without
attempting to escape.
Nat C. Goodwin in a four-reel pro
duction of "Oliver Twist,” also vaude
ville and songs by the Robertson-Gil
lles company atf the Orpheum to
night.
Robert Smith returned from Port
age bay yesterday.
COMPROMISE SHIP PURCHASING BILL
WILL BE READY FOR PRESIDENT’S SIGNATURE BEFORE CLOSE
OF WEEK—GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP LIMITED.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 17—The Dem
ocratic compromise Ship Purchasing
bill pasesd the House at 1:30 o'clock
this morning after one of the hard
est fights ever made against a meas
ure. The vote on the measure was
215 for and 121 against.
The administration supporters be
lieve the bill will pass the Senate as
an emergency measure. The bill was
sent to the Senate at noon today and
they anticipate that it will be ready
for the signature of Preslden Wil
son before the close of the week.
It Is hinted that the Democratic
members are basing their expecta
tions of a speedy passage by the Sen
ate of the bill on an agreement which
is believed to have been made to
break the deadlock on the measure
in its original form. In the Senate
the opponents of the measure held
the whip-hand and were prepared to
continue the light against it coming
to a vote through to the end of the
session rather than let it become law.
The compromise measure passed by
the House provides for the appoint
ment of a shipping board and ap
propriation of $40,000,000 with which
to purchase or build ships to engage
in foreign trade. The bill also pro
vides that the government’s activities
in the shipping business will cease
within two years after the close of
the European war when the govern
ment ships will be turned over to
the Navy Department.
PORTUGUESE ARMY
MUST RAVE WAR
Army Party Placed Government In
Power for That Purpose and
Will Not Be Denied.
LISBON, Feb. 17.—It is believed
that the Portugues government will
be forced into the war as the only
means of saving the republic from in
ternal strife which will result in the
overthrow of the government.
The government, which owes its
existence to the military party, has
been unable to meet the demands of
the party which placed it in power
and is threatened with intrigue which
may cause the ministry to resign.
That the army has asserted itself
so strongly is taken as a Dad omen
for the republic. The army Is de
manding that Portugal join the Al
lies but the government has been
unable to arrange for funds with
which to finance the campaign.
STARVED PATIENT
FOR SIXTY DAYS
Cured Stomach Trouble But Man
Died As Result of Treatment
By Diet Doctor.
PALO ALTO, Cal., Feb. 17.—The
police are investigating the circum
stances surrounding the death of
Louis Roth, who is declared to have
died from the effects of a starvation
cure. Roth had been a sufferer from
stomach trouble and sought the aid
of a diet doctor, who is reported to
have Kept his patient without food for
sixty days.
When the doctor pronounced Roth
cured of his stomach trouble it was
found that he had become so weak
ened by the cure that he was un
able to digest any food. Other phy
sicians were called In but were un
able to save the patient.
The Prospector office for job work.
DEADLOCK BROKEN
SPEAKERJS NAMED
SPRINGFIELD, 111., Feb. 17.—The
deadlock which has existed in the
state legislature for nine weeks over
the election of a speaker of the house
has been broken by the election of
David Shannon, Republican, to the
speakership. Party feeling has been
intensified in the state through the
long struggle and it is predicted that
the lines will be sharply drawn.
REFUSESCONTRACT
FOR BRITISH SHELLS
Pittsburg Company Turns Down Con
tract From Europe for Human
itarian Reasons.
PITTSBURG, Pa., Feb. 17.—The
Electro-Steel company, which oper
ates one of the largest plants in this
state, has refused a contract from
•the British government for the manu
facture of $500,000 worth of shells.
The management of the company
states that the contract was submit
ted to the board of directors and that
the board had refused to manufac
ture the death-dealing shells although
the contract price offered guaranteed
a wide margin. The company believ
es that conditions in the United States
will soon be such that the plants and
factories will be able to give employ
ment to the idle men of this coun
try without employing them in mak
ing shells which will be used to work
destruction among their brothers
across the ocean.
This is the first instance during
the present war in which an Ameri
can firm has been known to refuse a
contract from humanitarian reasons.
The club house library Is only open
from 3 to 4 on windy days, as it is
impossible to keep the place warm.
Oliver Morris and Rev. C. S. Price
were granted their final papers in
the district court this afternoon.
Officers shot a horse in Fairbanks
which they believed had the glanders.
ARE SUSPICIOUS
OF YOUNG TURKS
Vienna Hears Rumor That They Are
Preparing To Make Separate
Peace With Allies.
ROME, Feb. 17.—Advices from
Vienna state that the suspicion is
growing in Austria and Germany that
the Turks are not acting in good
faith with their allies and are be
lieved to be preparing to conclude a
separate peace without consulting
Austria or Germany.
It is known that the leader of the
Young Turks, the party responsible
for the country becoming involved
in the war, has consulted with the
deposed Sultan, who advised making
peace on the best terms possible be
fore the Franco-British fleet had been
able to force the Dardanelles. The
aged Sultan declared that once the
Dardanelles were lost to Tukey the
country would be at the mercy of
her enemies and must accept any
terms offered.
The dispatches from the east in
dicate that while little news has been
allowed to pass the censors, there
has been a number of battles fougbt
in the Black Sea between the Russian
and Turkish fleets. The Russian
fleet is now reported to be in com
mand of the Black Sea as the Go
ben, to which the Turks pinned their
faith for victory, was so badly dam
aged tha* months will be required to
complete the repairs.
HUNTERS TO WAIT
Judge Bunnell Selects Chief Deputy
Marshal To Act As Temporary
Clerk of Court.
FAIRBANKS, Feb. 17.—It now ap
pears that Judge Bunnell will be in
no hurry to make his selection from
among the applicants for the -position
of clerk of the court. He has asked
J. E. Clark, chief deputy United
States marshal under Marshal Erwin,
to act as clerk of the court for the
term beginning April 1. The tempo
rary selection of Clark is a great
disappointment to the other appli
cants, as it is believed he will eventu
ally receive the permanent appoint
ment. Clark has the endorsement ol
Marshal Erwin for the position.
Judge Bunnell has also announced
that he will appoint Guy G. Geraghty,
formerly of Valdez, to be commission
er and deputy clerk of the court at
Iditarod, to succeed George W. Al
brechlt, who resigned. Geraghty is
a prospector and has resided on Gar
den Island.
Commissioner Coke Hill, of Ruby,
has also resigned but Judge Bunnell
has stated that the permanent ap
pointment will not be made until he
has had an opportunity of learning
the qualifications of the applicants
for the office.
DEVINE SARAH TO
LOSE ONE LIMB
BORDEAUX, France, Feb. 17.
Sarah Bernhardt, the celebrated act
ress, known the world over, Is In a
hospital here being prepared for the
amputation of a leg as a result of
chronic knee trouble. The aged act
ress expresses the belief that she will
survive the operation and live to en
joy many more years of life. Madam
Bernhardt was born In Paris on Octo
ber 22, 1845.
Chas. Koppus Is improving and will
be able to get around in a few days.