V0L 13 VALDEZ, ALASKA, FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 1915. NO. 12.
GERMANS AGAIN THREATEN PARIS
LONDON REPORTS STATE SOISSONS BREAK IS SERIOUS
FRENCH CAMPAIGN IN ALSACE MAY BE ABANDONED
PARIS REPORTS VICTORY OVER GERMANS NEAR ARRAS
ALASKA SALMON
FOB THE ARMIES
Agents of Belligerents Send To Seat
tle for Prices Upon Can
ned Salmon.
SEATTLE, Jan. 15.—Agents of Rus
sia, Prance and Austria have sent here
for quotation:, on canned salmon. The
request for bids indicate that the
several governments will buy several
million dollars worth of salmon and
that the export of salmon from this
city to Europe will start at once.
The salmon is for the use of the
armies. The packers have been ex
pecting that the big pack of last year
would largely find its way to Europe
for the use of the belligerents.
It is also possible that large orders
for 1916 will be placed, in which
event every cannery in Alaska will be
rushed to its capacity this coming
summer. Already preparations are
being made by the packers in Wash
ington, British Columbia and Alaska
to put up a record pack. The price
will be higher according to the brok
ers as the European demand will keep
up the price.
It is now assured that Nome will
have next year an aeroplane, to ar
rive on the first steamer from the
outside next spring. It will be used
as a means of transportation to all
Slnts on Seward peninsula, with a
rrying capacity of approximately
1,000 pounds andji motive power of
120-horse power.
Russian Victory Over Uhlans Near Thorn—Germans Report Officially That
Russians At Sochaczew and Skierniewice Have Been Overwhelmingly De
feated and Are Fleeing In Disorder—Turks Report Victory Over Russians
and Are Now Invading Persia—Heavy Fighting In Vosges Mountains.
LONDON, Jan. 15.—The break in
the French line at Soissons is more
serious than at first anticipated and
may result in the withdrawal of the
French offensive in Alsace in order
to protect Paris. The kaiser is di
recting his men, has been able to
break through every line of entrench
ments and has the French at his
mercy until they can bring up more
reinforcements and new lines of
trenches. While no official statement
can be secured from Paris or Lon
don war offices, it is rumored and
semi-officially reported that the loss
in men was heavy to both sides and
that the French lost a large amount
of stores, a hundred machine guns and
many field cannon besides several bat
teries of the new siege guns, which
loss will be seriously felt by the Al
lies.! These reports, however, are
believed to be exaggerated.
May Abandon Alsace Campaign.
It Is almost certain that the imme
diate effect of the German success
near Paris will be the abandonment
of the operations in Alsace, where
the French have met with decided
success. The troops will be with
drawn to protect Paris, which is the
first consideration of the French and
British field forces, as its fall would
give the Germans millions of dollars
for the continuation of the war.
French Gains North of Arras.
PARIS, Jan. 15.—North of Arras
the French Zouaves regiments have
captured the German trenches after
an assault with, the bayonet charge
upon the German positions. The
French massed a large number of
field guns at one point then threw
hundreds of shells into the German
trenches continuing the bombardment
for several hours and with the field
guns threw shells over the heads of
the charging Zouaves to prevent rein
forcements reaching the German ad
vance line and as a result the weak
ened force in the trenches were soon
overcome by the French.
Violent Artillery Engagements At
Reims.
At Reims and Craonne a violent
artillery' duel is now going on. The
Germans are using the big Krupp
siege guns and many field pieces to
shell the French trenches. It is be
lieved that a general assault will be
made by the Germans against the Al
lies’ line from Peronne to Verdun in
an effort to completely overwhelm the
Allies forces and push on to Paris.
This, however, will be impossible as
the strong reinforcements now going
forward will soon check the German
offensive movement which is being
made for the purpose of relieving the
pressure of the enemy’s line in Al
sace, where the gains of the French
troops threaten to break through the
first line of forts.
German Batteries Demolished.
Several German batteries have been
demolished in the Reims section. The
artillery fire was directed ,by air
scouts who signaled the position of
the Germans guns and directed the
fire.
German Defeat In the Vosges.
In the Vosges section south of Sen
nones, the Germans have been de
feated. The entanglements built by
them to protect the trenches were
cut down during the night and an
early morning charge resulted in the
capture of the trenches. Several hun
dred troops were made captives.
Turks Invade Persia.
CONSTANTINOPLE, Jan. 15.—
Large forces of Turkish troops are
pushing into Persia and have driven
back all opposition. The Russians
sent to block the Sultan’s troops
have been overwhelmingly defeated.
Thousands of Russians have been tak
en captive, while many more thou
sands have been sl^ightered. The
loss to the Turkish army was slight.
Russians Routed In Transcaucasia.
In the Transcaucasia country the
Russians have been routed in several
places with heavy loss and have fled
leaving several batteries of guns and
considerable war material.
American Tobacco for French Sol
diers.
PARIS, Jan. 15.—Two and a half
tons of tobacco from America reach
ed here today for the use of the
French soldiers. The tobacco was
sent by welltwishers of France liv
ing in America and is a gift to the
soldiers.
Russia In Bad Condition.
BERLIN, Jan. 15.—Authentic re
ports reach here from all over Rus
sia indicating that the condition in
the czar’s empire is terrible and that
industrial ruin has followed the dec
laration of war and its continued clos
ing of the ports of Russia to the
commerce of the world. The loss of
exports and the inability to impoi t
has resulted in widespread ruin. Pro
ducing more foodstuffs than is nec
essary for consumption by the people,
the inability to export it and exchange
for manufactured products has upset
the customary business of Russia.
Expect a Revolution.
It is believed here that a revolt is
sure in Russia in a few months and
that already the police have been
forced to make many arersts includ
ing a number of the members of the
Duma.
Russians Report German Defeat.
PETROGRAD, Jan. 15.—A large
force of German cavalry which in
vaded Poland from Thorn was met
near the frontier by a superior force
of Cossacks and the Germans were
defeated with terrible loss. The fight
took place along the right bank of
the Vistula river between the border
and the Skrwa river. The Cossacks
had been gathered near Likno for sev
eral days but the Germans were not
aware of the fact and when they
invaded Poland a large force of Cos
sacks crept around between them and
the frontier while infantry were
rushed forward from Plock, resulting
in the invading force being almost
surrounded. The German Uhlans cut
their way back to the frontier but
left half of their force killed, wound
ed or captured.
Germans Report Russian Defeats.
' BERLIN, Jan. 15.—At Sochacew
and Skierniewice, in Poland, the Rus
sian offensive has been checked and
the czar’s troops rolled back with
terrible slaughter, states an official
bulletin issued late this evening by
(Continued on page 2.)
PAM SOUl
QUITS HIS JOB
Impeachment Proceedings Were
Threatened—Blease Pardoned
1,544 Prisoners.
COLUMBIA, S. C., Jan. 15.—Gover
nor Blease, whose term of office as
chief executive of this state expires
on Jan. 19, resigned his office today
because of the certainty that he
would be impeached if he did not do
so.
The governor has been the storm
center of the political life of the state
for the past two years and during the
political row has pardoned 1,544 pris
oners from the state penitentiaries.
Included in the list of the pardoned
were 28 granted to men convicted of
murder. He also pardoned a num
ber of dynamiters, negroes charga-.l
with assaulting white women and for
other felonies. Only 149 prisoners re
mained in all of the state penitentiar
ies and jails today as the governor
leaves the office.
On New Year’s eve Governor Blease
pardoned 55 prisoners, and among
them were three negroes who had
tried to dynamite the Spartanburg
jail. A mob tried to lynch them, but
the negroes hid and could not be
found.
Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Lathrop leave
on the Mariposa for La Jolla, Cal.,
to spend the winter and will return to
Valdez in the spring.
Subscribe for the Prospector.
REPORT OF COMMISSION
NOT REACHED PRESIDENT
BELIEVED ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE COAST TERMINUS WILL BE
MADE BEFORE FEBRUARY 1— ALASKANS IN CAPITAL PULL
ING WIRES FOR THEIR HOME TOWN8.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15.—It is an
nounced today that the report of the
Alaska Engineering Commission will
be made public in two weeks. The
engineers are now near the end of
•the work after which their report will
4 '.be printed and sent to the president.
It is doubtful if the .announcement of
■the selection of a route will be pub
lished until President Wilson makes
known his decision either in a special
message to congress or through some
congressman who will introduce a bill
for the appropriation needed to start
the work of building.
The general impression is that $5,
000,000 will be asked of congress for
the wprk.
Alalkans here have endeavored to
Secure an inkling of the recommenda
tions that the commission will make
but have been unable to do so. The
agents of the Cordova railroad are
here watching every move, while
Seward is also well represented by
the Bellaine Interests and the Alaska
Northern railroad attorneys.
That a fight will be made against
any point selected for the terminus
is certain. The friends of the Cor
dova road insist that the government
should not build a parallel line to one
already built and in operation, espec
ially as that road is offered to the
government at any price it will place
on the system. The friends of the
Seward road insist that it should be
purchased for the same reason as a
road from Ship creek or Portage bay
would put the Seward road out of
commission. The agents of both in
sist that their respective towns are
on 'the best harbors, tap the best
country, and will open up more of
Alaska than if the road is built from
any other city.
Mr. and Mrs. A. B. 116s will leave
on the Mariposa this evening for the
states. Mr. lies will remain in Seat
tle to purchase a large outfit for the
development of the McCarthy prop
erty on the Kuskallna river, while
Mrs. lies will go to Washington, D.
C., to spend the winter, returning to
Valdez in the spring.
BARRETT TO TALK
Director General of Pan-American
Bureau Reaches Seattle To Talk
To the Businessmen.
SEATTLE, Jan. 15.—John Barrett,
director-general of the Pan-American
bureau, reached here today and will
speak tonight to the merchants and
businessmen of the city on the sub
ject, "Pan-American Commerce.”
Barrett has for years been urging
American merchants to wake up and
enter the South American trade which
was being taken by the German and
English merchants. He has been
preaching the doctrine of better com
mercial relations between the Latln
American countries and will urge the
businessmen of this city to send rep
resentatives to South America .with
samples of American manufactured
goods.
The Prospector office for job work.
BRYAN REPUES
TO THE BRITISH
Says He Is Waiting for a More Com
plete Reply To President’s Note
By the British.
• .
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15.—Secretary
of State W. J. Bryan has replied to
the answer made by Earl Grey re
garding the protest to the British
government against the unnecessary
seizure of American ships in- the car
rying trade between neutral countries.
In this reply the secretary simply
states that the government was wait
ing for a fuller explanation on the
part of the British, to the note sent
a few days ago in answer to the pres
ident’s note.
The secretary also told the British
ambassador that the American gov
ernment had no more to add to the
note sent the foreign office but be
lieved that the British should make
more clear the position the English
take in the matter.
EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS IN
ITALY NOW NUMBER 25,000
HORRORS OF DESTRUCTION OF LIFE AND PROPERTY INCREASE
AS PARTICULARS ARE GAINED—SOLDIERS WORKING DES
PERATELY TO SAVE VICTIMS IN THE FALLEN RUINS.
ROME, Jan. 15.—The reports now
being received from the Avezzano dis
trict are that the earthquake caused
far more loss of life and damage than
at first thought. Twenty-five thou
sand people have been killed, almost
as many have been seriously crip
pled, 4,000 are believed to be buried
alive in the ruins of Avezzano, and
soldiers are working day and night to
reach the entombed people—men,
women and children, who hj their
cries are directing the workers where
to dig.
The city of Sora was completely
destroyed, and six more towns have
been added to the list published yes
terday of small towns that have been
razed by the terrible earthquake
which shook the earth for many min
utes, tumbling the houses about the
heads of the inhabitants.
Special trains are arriving here with
the wounded. The hospitals are fllle.1
with Injured men, women and chil
dren. The Pope has visited one of
the hospitals and has taken an active
part in sending relief to the stricken
district.
While the loss of life in Rome was
slight the property loss will run into
many millions. Priceless old ruins
have been crumbled and demolished
by the shock.
In Avezzano hardly a building has
been left standing. The cries of the
entombed people are pitiable to hear.
Fifty thousand troops are in the dis
trict working in short shifts to reach
all who are alive but imprisoned in
the wreckage. Dozens of priests are
in the city to administer the last sac
raments to those who cannot recover.
King Victor is in personal charge of
the troops and is directing the work
of mercy.
American Aid Desired.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15—The Inter
national Red Cross Association has re
quested the American Red Cross As
sociation to aid the people of Italy
who are in need because of the earth
quake. The American Red Cross As
(Contlnuea on page 2.)