VOL. 13. VALDEZ, ALASKA, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1915. N0. 41.
DESTROYERS if
CONVOY VESSELS
Merchant Ships Will Be Met Outside
War Zone and Escorted To
Their Ports.
NEW YORK, Feb. 18—Shipping
companies in America have received
messages from England stating that
all neutral ships and those flying the
flags of friendly nations will be met
by English and French torpedo-boat
destroyers and convoyed to their
ports in the German military zone.
The agents of the shipping com
panies believe that shipping will not
be seriously interferred with by the
German blockade as the combined
forces of British and French torpedo
boat destroyers will make raids on
commerce by German submarines im
possible. The insurance rates, which
went into effect last night after the
beginning of the German blockade,
have been but slightly advanced but
are subject to increase at any time.
FARMERS TO PAY
THE INCOME TAX
Revenue Commissioner Decides That
If Income Is Derived Tax
Must Be Paid.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18.—Revenue
Commiss'oner Osborn has decided
that incomes derived from farm pro
ducts are subject to the income tax
the same as any mercantile, manufac
turing or banking business.
The decision of the commissioner
is expected to raise a commotion
among the extensive farming inter
ests of the country. The producers
have always held that they are in
a class by themselves and that any
tax imposed upon farm produce would
serve to check the activities of the
producer.
It is believed that the extension of
the income tax so as to Include the
farming interests under the new
Vchedule taxing all incomes over $1,
600 annually will result in greaUy de
creasing the deficit with which the
government Is threatened through loss
of revenue owing to the European
war.
GERMAN GOVERNMENT TO ORDER FIVE
MILLION WEALTHY PEOPLE FROM COUNTRY
COPENHAGEN, Feb. 18.—Late ar
rivals here from Berlin report that
the shortage of grain in Germany is
much more serious than was at first
Imagined by the government. The
assertion is made that the govern
ment is using every endeavor to keep
the actual conditions in the country
from the army and preventing the
plight of the people from becoming
known abroad, as the news would
have a serious • effect on military op
erations.
Why Government Seized Wireless.
It is asserted that the German gov
ernment seized all the wireless plants
of the country because the result of
the government’s seizure of grains
in the empire became known to the
world through the news being sent
out by wireless. The aggregate of
the grain seized by the government
showed that the supply was less than
one hundred pounds per capita.
To Order Rich From Country.
The German government is declar
ed to be considering the plan or order
ing five million wealthy persons to
leave the country until the war is
over in order to prevent the food
shortage from becoming oppressive
before the new crops are available.
Government officials are reported to
have admitted that the shortage is
more serious than at first imagined.
Send Warships With Vessels.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18.—The re
ply of the German government to
Secretary Bryan’s note, delivered this
morning by German Ambassador
Bernstorff, is very friendly in tone.
The United States is recommended to
send American warships to convoy
Amer'can vessels through the military
zone if the ships are not carrying war
supplies to nations hostile to Ger
many. It is explained at length that
the blockade on the part of Ger
many is absolutely necessary as Eng
MISSOURI BANK
LOSESJTS CASH
DUENWIG, Mo., Feb. 18.—Masked
men held up and robbed the Jasper
County bank here yesterday while
people were passing the doors of the
bank. The bandits covered the bank
officials and helped themselves to all
the cash in sight. They secured $2,
080. The sheriff has been unable to
secure any clue as to the identity of
the bandits.
NO THREATENED SHORTAGE OF GRAIN
REPORTS AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT
• \
SECRETARY HOUSTON DECLARES UNITED STATES CAN EXPORT
MILLION BUSHELS DAILY UNTIL NEW CROP IS AVAILABLE
WITHOUT SHORTAGE BEING FELT IN AMERICA.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18—Secretary
Houston, of the Agricultural Depart
ment, has issued a statement in which
he declares there is absolutely no
danger of a threatened shortage of
foodstuffs in America owing to tlie
heavy exports of grain to Europe.
The secretary states that his fig
ures are based on the actual yield of
last year’s crops, the average month
ly consumption of the nation and the
customs reports of the exports of
grain from the country. He declar
es that America can continue to ex:
girt one million bushels of grain dai
until the new crop is available
without any shortage being occasion
ed.
The report will serve to silence the
clamor for an embargo on wheat ex
ports from this country on the plea
of a threatened shortage. It also
serves *o place the blame for the in
crease in the prices of foodstuffs in
America upon the dealers who are
taking advantage of unusual condi
tions to gain a wider margin of profit.
The report of the department
states that there has been no mater
ial increase in the exports beyond or
dinary years except that England and
other European nations which look
to America for a large portion of
their grains have called for delivery
at an earlier date as a precautionary
war measure.
NEW YORK, Feb. 18.—The state
ment issued by the Department of
Agriculture has caused the quotations
on export wheat to drop a few points.
Rumors of an early breakup of the
ice in the Gulf of Archangel, White
Sea, which would permit Russian
wheat to be exported via Archangel
has also served to check any ten
dency to rapid advance in the quo
tations for future deliveries.
FOODSTUFFS ARE REPORTED TO BE DANGEROUSLY SHORT AND
GOVERNMENT WOULD CONSERVE SUPPLY FOR ACTUAL PRO
DUCERS—GERMANY RECOMMENDS THAT AMERICAN SHIPS BE
CONVOYED BY WARSHIPS FOfl SAFETY—ONE HUNDRED SUB
MARINES REPORTED WAITING FOR VICTIMMS—ENGLAND IS
SWEEPING SEA FOR GERMAN MINES—FRENCH AND BRITISH
TORPEDO-BOAT DESTROYERS VyiLL ESCORT MERCHANTMEN IN
MILITARY ZONE.
land has attempted to starve Ger
many out by shutting off all impor
tations of foodstuffs by a method un
recognized by international law and
for which there is no precedent in
past history.
England Armed Merchantmen.
The German diplomatic note makes
the assertion that Britain has arm
ed most of her merchant ships and
placed naval officers in command of
the vessels, and has also instructed
them to use the flags of neutral na
tions in an effort to deceive German
submarines.
Hopes U. S. Will Prevail Upon Eng
land.
The hope is expressed that the
United States will be able to pre
vail upon England to abandon the
blockade of foodstuffs to Germany
in return for immunity to its com
merce from German submarines.
Germany Has 100 Submarines.
LONDON, Feb. 18.—It is reported
that Germany has more than one
hundred submarines which will be
sent to attempt the destruction oi
British commerce by enforcing the
blockade- declared by Germany.
England Sweeping Sea.
The British government has sent
out hundreds of armed merchantmen,
trawlers and mine sweepers to pa
trol the coast against German sub
marines and destroy floating mines
turned loose by the Germans.
Big Rewards Offered.
Rewards have been offered offi
cers of merchant and other ships,
whether neutral or British, for the
destruction of submarines. The de
struction of a submarine brings a
reward of $5,000 to the ship’s crew.
Dutch Shipowners Quitting.
Several of the Dutch steamship
lines have cancelled the sailing dates
of their vesesls but all others de
clare they will continue in business
with the national colors painted on
the ships.
Paint Flags On Ships.
LONDON, Feb. 18.—The decree of
BRITISH PROTEST AMERICA PAYING
OVER CUSH FOR INTERNED SHIPS
BELIEVE ACTION OF GERMAN LINES 13 TO SECURE AMERICAN
GOLD TO AID GERMAN GOVERNMENT TO CARRY ON WAR—ARE
READY TO REIMBURSE LO8SE8 OF SHIPOWNERS.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18.—The Brit
ish government’s second reply to
President Wilson’s note of December
28, protesting against the stopping of;
American ships and searching the
cargoes for contrabands of war be
lieved to be destined for Germany,
was delivered at the White House
yesterday by Sir Arthur Spring-Rice,
British ambassador to the United
States.
The British government denies that
the searching of the American ves
sels for contraband has served to in
jure commerce as the British gov
ernment has recognized the rights
of neutral shipowners to be reim
bursed for loss caused by the delay
in reaching their destination.
Germany is declared to have vio
lated the international law and Eng
land has been forced to adopt the
strictest watch for contrabands. It
is asserted that vessels which left
American ports with cargoes which
had been inspected and passed by cus
toms officers were found to have an
entirely different cargo on board when
seized by the British after crossing
the ocean.
The British government also pro
tests against former German ships
which may be purchased by the Unit
ed States government, or American
citisens, being used In the Bremen
trade, and gives warning that such
action will be considered a violation
of International law and that the
ships will be seized and made subject
to the ruling of the prize court.
The reply l|o President Wilson’s
note is couched in most diplomatic
terms and states that Great Britain,
while regretting that American com
merce may appear to have been made
to suffer from the war, that Eng
land must take all precautions to
safeguard the lives of her own sub
jects as well as those of the Euro
pean nations allied with her in the
struggle. The British government
will enter no protest against the pur
chase of German ships which were
interned in America when hostilities
began if the ship* are not to be used
to further the Interests of the Ger
man government and German ship
owners by supplying them with cash
for their interned and therefore use
less ships, by withholding the pur
chase price of the ships to be paid
after the close of the war.
CHICAGO BANDITS
GET MINI'S CASH
CHICAGO, Peb. 18.—Pour men en
tered a bank here yesterday and cov
ering the bank officials and patrons
with revolvers compelled the cashier
to hand out $2,000. The robbers en
tered an auto which had been left
at the front entrance of the bank
and disappeared.
Subscribe for the Prospector.
PERFORM OPERATION
ON MONDAY NEXT
BORDEAUX, France, Feb. 18.—The
surgeons who will amputate Madam
Sarah Bernhardt’s leg owing to a dis
eased knee, which mreatens to cause
her death unless removed, state that
the operation will be performed next
Monday. The aged actress is declar
ed to have wonderful vitality which
it is believed will withstand the Bhock
of the operation.
the German admiralty extending the
military zone to embrace the waters
of the British Isles and English Chan
nel became effective at midnight last
night. The agents of the majority
of neutral shipping lines announce
that they will continue their sail
ings. They, however, will take the
precaution of having the names of the
vessels and the national colors of the
country to which they belong paint
ed prominently on both sides of their
ships before venturing past the Ger
man blockade.
Many Steamers Now En Route.
The shipping register showed that
at midnight there were twenty-eight
steamers en route from New York to
English ports which will reach the
danger zone after the German block
ade went Into effect.
Steamer Lost In North Sea
LONDON, Feb. 18.—News reached
here today that another British mer
chant steamer had been sunk in the
North Sea by striking a German mine.
The details of the disaster are lack
ing and it is believed that the in
formation refers to, the sinking of a
ship several days ago, the crew of
which was saved by Dutch fishermen.
Dulwich Blown Up.
LONDON, Feb. 18.—The British
collier which was sunk by a German
submarine in the English channel has
proved to be the steamer Dulwich.
The crew were taken off and have
reached England.
_
Land Survivers At Buenos Ayres.
BUENOS AYRES, Feb. 18.—Wire
less messages from a steamer which
recently sailed from this port state
that the German steamer Holger was
sighted heading for this port. The
Holger reported having on board the
crews anj. passengers of a number of
(Continued on page 4.)
NAVAL MILITIA “
BEJNCREASED
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18—Secretary
of the Navy paniels today stated
that the United States naval militia
would be 25,000 strong before the
end of two years. The secretary de
clares that no trouble has been ex
perienced in attracting a high class
of young men to the service and that
the standard of men is higher than
ever before.
JOSH WANTS JO
Joins Forces With Seattle Capital
ist to Secure Contract To Build
Alaska Road.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18—Falcon
Joslyn, president of the Tanana
Mines railroad from Fairbanks to the
creeks of that district, is here with
C. L. Morris, of Seattle, seeking a
contract from the government for the
construction of the Alaska railroad.
Joslyn expresses the belief that the
government will And it greatly to its
advantage to contract for the work
in preference to undertaking the act
ual work of construction itself. He
has had considerable practical exper
ience in railroad building in the north
and is familiar with conditions un
der which the work must be per
formed.
C. L. Morris is a wealthy resident
of Seattle who has accumulated a for
tune in railroad building in Wash
ington and other western states.
GRAIN CARRIER
LEAVES TACOMA
Captain Believes He Can Run Ger
man Blockade With Cargo of
Wheat and Oats.
TACOMA, Feb. 18.—In spite of the
German blockade against shipping to
the British Isles the steamer Lucer
ic sailed from Tacoma yesterday
bound for England with a cargo of
five hundred thousand bushels of
wheat and oats.
The captain stated that he antici
pated no trouble in taking his ves
sel safely into port when he reach
ed the military zone. He believes the
British torpedo boats will keep a
sharp lookout for mine sowers and
that Germany will have difficulty in
controlling the English Channel.
The “Petit Parislen" declares that
the Germans have removed the Wa
terloo collection from Mont St. Jean,
eleven miles southeast of Brussels,
and have also confiscated other Wa
terloo relics.
Subscribe for the Prospector.
SENATOR JONES ASKS $75,000 FOB
MEDICAL CARE OF ALASKA NATIVES
BELIEVE8 FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD PROVIDE FOR MEDI
CAL CARE OF WARDS WHICH ARE IN DANGER OF BEING
WIPED OUT BY DISEASE WHILE BEING EDUCATED.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18—Senator
Wesley L. Jones, of Washington, has
introduced an amendment to the
Sundry Civil bill Tor the appropria
tion of $75,000 for medical relief of
the natives of Alaska. When the list
of Alaskan appropriations were in
serted . in the bill the item for the
medical care of the natives was left
out although $200,000 was appropri
ated for the educational department
having jurisdiction over the natives.
Senator Jones declared that while
it was important that the govern
ment should not neglect the educa
tion of its wards in Alaska that it
was of vastly more importance that
medical, relief should be provided to
keep the natives from being wiped out
by disease while being educated.
Expert medical testimony, secured by
physicians sent to Alaska by the fed
eral government to investigate the
health conditions of the natives, had
showed that over fifty per cent of the
natives were suffering from diseases
of a hereditary nature.
The diseasesd natives were also a
menace to the health of the white
residents of Alaska, as many, espec
ially in the canneries, were to be
found working with whites, eating
at the same tablet* and sleeping In
the same quarters. He believed the
federal government should make a
vigorous effort to stamp out disease
among the natives while it was
spending large sums of money on
their education and providing for
their protection from the liquor traf
fic.
Thirty thousand Germans are wait
ing at Buenos Ayres. There are sev
eral German ships In port, but they
will not sail owing to their fear of
being captured by British vessels.