"----- VALDEZ, ALA8KA, THUR8DAY, DECEMBER 31, 1911. NO 385.
VOL. 10. _^
DEFEAT ON THE PILICA
RUSSIANS REPORT CHARGE AFTER CHARGE REPULSED
BLOODIEST BATTLE OF THE WAR HAS BEEN FOUGHT
BUILDINd FLEET OF AEROPLANES TO RAID GERMANY
MILITARY Nil
CABLE CONTROL
Transfer of Line To the Postoffice
Department Not Likely To Pass
i This Congress.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2.—The Unit
ed States military telegraph and ca
ble line in Alaska will not be turn
ed over to the Postoffice Department
is the belief of many Alaskans now
in the city and interested in north
ern affairs.
The pos«office appropriation bill
does not provide for the maintenance
of the line for the next year, as
would have been done had the ad
ministration leaders expected the
recommendation of Postmaster Gen
eral Burleson to be accepted by con
gress. The needs of the system will
be provided for in a separate bill,
possibly added to the civil sundries
bill, as was done last year.
It requires an act of congress to
transfer the cable and telegraph sys
tem from the War to the Postoffice
Department.
NO REPLY FROM
BRITISH CABINET
Will Take Time To Consider
Wilson's Note—Amicable Settle
ment Is Expected.
LONDON, Dec. 31.—An amicable
settlement is expected between the
British government ana the American
Department of State regarding the
note sent by President Wilson pro
testing and objecting to the detention
of the American ships in the trade
between neutral countries and espec
ially the ships operating between the
United States, Holland, Denmark,
Norway, Sweden and Italy.
The cabinet will’not make a hasty
reply, as was at first intended but
will take some time to answer the
note.
Foreign Secretary Grey is confident
that a peaceful settlement of the dif
ferences will be made, but Insists that
the sight of search ^nd the prevent
ing of contraband of. war reaching the
enemies of Great Britain is well With
in the rights of the nation.
An effort will be made to have the
Up«ed States guarantee the bills of
•WUPlS tor freight tm American ships.
British admiralty,, reports that
fprifg Cargoes oontain contrahand of
I %ar'Which Is .--wrongly Wiled. Copper
fi often hidden under cotton and not
billed at all. Rubber, which the Ger
mans heed, is billed as gum and in
several cases whrimuhitioiu have been
found. Unless the United States will'
guarantee the British government
that the articles HBite^ Anv tbel'man^
fest are as listed the sWch #lll be
(Continued «u page *> *
Turks Report a Russian Defeat in Trans-Caucasia—Also Report British Blocked
From Landing Troops in Arabia—Allies Capture St. George Near Os tend,
an Important Point if They Can Hold It—Austrians Make Several At
tempts To Stop Russian Advance Towards the Carpathians.
PETROGRAD, Dec. 31.—The Ger
mans operating along the Pilica river
have made many savage and desper
ate attacks upon the. Russian line.
They have, however, failed to break
through the line and have been roll
ed back after each assault with ter
rific losses. The Germans still re
tain the mass formation in assaulting
Russian positions. The loss has there
fore been appalling. Reports reach
ing here from the Russian command
er at the Pilica state that the loss
of life will the greatest of any bat
tle in the present war. The report
admits that the Russian losses have
been heavy.
Russians Resort To Bayonet Attacks.
The Russian troops resorted time
and again to bayonet charges to drive
the Germans back. The close fight
ing naturally resulted in heavy loss
es. The* Russian artillery has again
demonstrated its value over the Ger
mans as the enemy are trying to use
heavy field pieces and the roads be
ing in frightful condition they can
bring but few guns forward nor can
they meet changing positions of the
Russians.
Austrians Make Counter Attacks.
The Austrian army being driven to
the Carpathians have made several
determined attempts to stop the Rus
sian march southward. The Austri
an stands, however, have been short
lived although several new German
army corps have reached them from
Breslau. All of Western Galicia east
of the Raba river is now in the hands
of the Russians who are moving to
wards Cracow again.
Allies Take St. George.
BERLIN, Dec. 31—The loss of St.
George near Nieuport is admitted by
the war office, which, however, states
that the German troops are fighting
desperately to recover the lost
ground because the position at Os
tend cannot be long held after the
Allies become firmly entrenched at
St. George, as they would threaten
the coast garrison. Heavy reinforce
ments have been sent to Ostend from
Brussels and Antwerp.
Storms Stop Fighting.
The storms now sweeping over the
western battlefield has caused a tem
porary lull in the fighting along the
Aisne river. The French attacks in
the Argonne district have been re
pulsed. Artillery duels continue along
the battle line and minor attacks are
made by both forces but no general
engagement has been reported today.
No material changes have been effect
ed by the Allies, who are vastly su
perior in numbers to the Germans,
who are leaving only a containing
force sufficient to man the trenches
and delay the Allies, and yet this
force has more than held its own
against the combined armies of
France, England and Belgium, and
have made several important gains,
giving ground when necessary, but re
covering it in a few days until the
line today is almost the same as it
was a month ago.
Constantinople Reports Victory.
CONSTANTINOPLE, Dec. 31.—The
Turkish troops in the trans-Cauca
sian country report a decided victory
over the Russians. The details of the
battle are not made public as re
ports from the eastern fighting line
are slow in reaching here.
British Balked in Arabia.
The British attempt to land troops
In Arabia has been balked. The Turks
have driven back all landing parties.
The British gunboats have shelled
several Arabian towns in an effort
to effect a landing but have failed.
Two Airmen Burned Alive.
PARIS, Dec. 31.—France suffered a
serious loss today through an aero
plane accident within the Paris for
tifications which caused the death of
Louis Rugere, head pilot of the Voi
sin factory, recently recommened for
a military medal as a reward for his
services, and Commandant Destou
che, appointed by the war office to
test new machines. While testing a
| new biplane they were compelled to
• - —
fSjappg Npm fear 3Mks.
The Prospector wishes all the people of Valdez, of this divis
ion, and of all Alaska, a Happy New Year. Our wish is that you
shall receive an abundant share of the best things of life—com
fort, good cheer, and the ability to enjoy them. We wish you suc
cess in your chosen task—a success not measured by financial re
turns alone, but by the satisfaction which comes In accomplishing
desired results and the achievement of lofty purposes.
descend abruptly near the Vaugirard
slaughter-house on the outskirts of
the city by reason of a faulty motor.
The gasoline reservoir was smashed
by the fall and exploded, both airmen
being burned up.
Lieut. Garibaldi Killed.
PARIS, Dec. 31.—The list of dead
given out today contains the name
of Lieut. Bruno Garibaldi, a grand
son of the Great Italian patriot. The
lieutenant was killed in the heavy
fighting in the Argonne district. The
body will be brought here and sent
to Italy for burial.
Many Italians Fighting for France.
An entire corps of 40,000 men, all
Italian volunteers, is with the French
army. The corps has distinguished
itself on several occasions.
German Aeroplanes Attack Dunkirk
LONDON, Dec. 31.—The Germans
sent a fleet of aeroplanes yesterday
to Dunkirk and succeeded in killing
20 people and injuring 30 others.
The Germans remained over the city
for a half hour dropping shells and
were finally driven off by the vol
leying of the infantry in the trench
es.
Japs Anxious To Go To France.
TOKIO, Dec. 31.—The largest mass
meeting ever held in this city was
held last night by the people of To
kio and resolutions urging and de
manding that the government send
troops to France to aid the Allies
were passed.
Government Reluctant To Enter War.
The people are anxious to have
the army sent to France to demon
strate that the Japanese nation can
fight with the best of the Occidental
armies. The government is reluctant
to enter the war although the ex
(Contlnuea on page 2.)
SENATORS MAKE
CAMPAIGN^ REPORT
WASHINGTON, Dec. 31.—Under
the law passed by congress for the
filing of expense accounts of 'candi
dates for senators and representa
tives the senators have all filed the
reports which show that the Republi
cans spent an average of $2,800 to
he Elected and the ^Democrats an
average of $3,000.
FiiiTsiu
THISMHG
The annual ball of the Valdez Vol
unteer Fire Department will be held
tat Eagle hall tonight The proceeds
of./tfce ball will be used for better
Are ftgfctittg apparatus. the citizens
of Valdez shiould give the dance the
hearty support It deserves.
. ' ' ■ • :v..
.. ■ t
MORGAN SICK OF
CORDOVA ROAD
Tells Secretary of Interior Lane That
He Can Have the Line At His
Own Appraisement.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 31.—J. P.
Morgan, the banker, owning the con
trol of the Copper River and North
western railroad, which operates out
of Cordova into the interior of Alas
ka for a distance of 196 miles, called
upon Secretary of Interior Lane
yesterday and again offered the Cor
dova railroad to the government to
be incorporated in the government
railroad system which was authorized
by congress for Alaska.
It is understood that the banker
offered the road at its appraised val
ue.
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The Prospector office for job work.
LOCK CASHIER IN !
BIG BANK VAULT
Holdup Man Gets Away With $1,809,
But Is Captured When Cashier
Gets Out of Vault.
BINGHAM, Dec. 31.—The cdshisr
and two of his clerks in the National
Bank in this city were held up by a
lone robber and forced to go Into the
bank vault, where the robber locked
them In. The bandit then secured
$1,800 and left the building. The
cashier had started work Immediate
ly to release himself and his com
panions and was able to get out of
the vault, reach the telephone and
secure police aid to capture the rob
ber before he had a chance to leave
town. j
The $1,800 was found on the | ban
dit when he was surrounded ami cap
tured at the railroad station.
i
ALIMONY SAFE
FROMIjNCOME UK
WASHINGTON, Dec. 31.—The Su
preme Court today decided that the
income tax need not be paid by the
person receiving the alimony as the
judgment of the court is that the per
son paying alimony must pay a speci
fied sum and so the tax must be
paid the government before the ali
mony is paid the person holding the
judgment.
INSURANCE FOR
FRUIT GROWERS
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 31.—The
California Fruit Growers Association
have taken out a blanket insurance
policy which will protect their em
ployees at any point. The policy is
for $260,000.
Sutscilbe for the Prospector.
PHONY MONEY
MADE IN PEN
Prisoners In Jefferson City Peniten
tiary Have Bad Money Plant and
Receive Outside Aid.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., Dec. 31.—
A complete plant to counterfeit Unit
ed States money was found today in
the penitentiary here. Several con
victs are charged with having operat
ed the plant in jail and sent the
money to confederates outside who
passed the coin.
A great many coins were found in
a convict's cell and this led to the
search for and the discovery of the
hidden plant, which had been placed
in a hole in the wall of a coal room,
into which the men were allowed, to
go as trusties.
|How much of the money has been
put out is not known. Several ar
rests are expected of the men and
women on the outside who passed the
coin and brought the necessary ma
terial to the penitentiary for its
manufacture.
CONFERENCE OF
AMERICAN NATIONS
Bryan Wants Central and South
American Countries To Confer
Regarding War Problems.
%
WASHINGTON, Dec. 31.—Through
the American State Department invi
tations have been sent to the South
American republics asking them to
send delegates to Washington, where
a conference will be held by the rep
resentatives of the American repub
lics to discuss the problems result
ing from the present war. The dele
gates will be the guests of the Unit
ed States government.
It is hoped to arrange for a code
of proceedure for all the nations of
Central and South America and to
prevent any possible trouble with the
belligerent powers of Europe.
Several of the South American
countries have been charged with
aiding one side or the other and with
having failed in maintaining the neu
trality of the government and tli?
people. This condition has led to
some friction with the American
State Department and the warring
nations, which look to the United
States to prevent the violations of
neutrality so long as the Monroe Doc
trine is part of the foreign policy
of the nation.
The members of the Tlllikum Club
and ladles will see the Old Year out
and the New Year in at the club
rooms tonight. The club will hold
open house tomorrow.
No Issue of the Prospector Tomorrow.
There will be no Issue of the Dally
Prospector tomorrow.