VOL. 13. " VALDEZ, ALA8KA, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1915. < NO. 36.
GRAND TRUNK R. B.
FEARS FOR BRIDGES
--
Property Along Eastern Coast Close
ly Guarded By Special Police
and Watchmen.
PORTLAND, Me., Feb. 12.—A large
force of special police and watchmen
are guarding the property of the
Grand Trunk railroad here as a re
sult of a reported plot to destroy the
bridges on the railroad between the
United States and Canada.
It is reported that the investiga
tion which followed the arrest and
conviction of Werener Van Horn for
dynamiting the bridge spanning the
St. Croix river has disclosed the fact
that an organization of German-Aifer
Icans exists in New York for the
purpose of working destruction to Ca
nadian railroads. Van Horn is believ
ed to have been the agent of the
New York organization and to have
had no direct connection with the
German government, as claimed by
V his attorneys at his trial.
N , i - -- — . . —
PRISONERS TO
WORK IN MINES
<German Government Will Turn Prig
oners of War Over To Owners
of Coal Mines.
ESSEN, Germany, Feb. 12.—The
owners of the coal mines in Germany
have announced that the German gov
ernment has given them permission
to work the prisoners of war in the
coal mines in order to relieve the
government of the cost of keeping the
men.
It is stated that thousands of the
Belgian prisoners were coal miners
before the war and have grown tired
of the enforced idleness since becom
ing inmates of the detention camps,
and have professed a willingness to
work In the mines.
The government has stipulated that
the coal mine owners must properly
house and provide for the prison
ers engaged in the mines and that
the price of coal to the citizens of
the country must be educed to the
lowest possible price.
HUMPHREY SCORES
THE GOVERNMENT
Declares Loss of Life and Shipping
On Alaskan Coast Is Disgrace
To the Nation.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12—Represen
tative Humphrey severely criticised
the government in the House yester
day for failure to provide appropria
tions with which to properly chart
and light the waters of the coast of
Alaska. He declared that the con
stantly growing list of ships lost and
the heavy toll of human life should
convince the legislators that merely
as a business proposition It would be
cheaper to povide safety to commerce
by having the waters properly chart
I ed and lighted.
He declared conditions on the Alas
kan coast when compared with the
British Columbia government’s efforts
to protect shipping was a national dis
grace which called for immediate ac
tion.
The Washington state representa
tive was sincerely congratulated by
Alaskans in the city for his able
speech in behalf of the neglected ship
ping interests of the territory.
TWO BIG BATTLES BAGING IN EAST PBUSSIA
LONDON, Feb. 12.—Interest is
now centered in the great battle
which is being fought in East Prus
sia, where the Russian armies are now
defending the positions won earlier
in the campaign. Gen. Hindenburg’s
failure to take Warsaw has evidently
determined the German general staff
to exert a supreme effort to prevent
•the Russians from devastating the
rich German province.
Hindenburg Withdrawing.
Gen. Hindenburg’s army, which fail
ed to break through the Russian cen
ter near Warsaw is now but a skele
ton of its former strength and is be
ing withdrawn from the positions oc
cupied during the great battle. The
troops have been sent to East Prus
sia to check the Russian invasion of
that province.
Moving Troops From Carpathians.
The Austrian-German offensive
movements in Galicia and the Carpa
thians have been checked and the
German troops and hundreds of can
non are being sent to East Prussia.
It is believed that the Germans have
realized the uselessness of further at
tempt to protect the Austrian prov
ince of Galicia and have abandoned
the campaign there in their anxiety to
drive the Russian invaders from East
Prussia.
German Aggressive Along Border.
The Germans have assumed an ag
gressive movement along the East
Prussian border extending from the
right bank of the Vistula river. Thou
sands of men have been rushed into
the district from Posen, having been
withdrawn from Gen Hindenburg’s
command near Warsaw.
Russians Aggressive In Lake District.
The Russian aggressive movement
Admiral Evans In Seattle.
SEATTLE, Feb. 12.—The steamer
Admiral Evans, from Alaska, docked
here late Wednesday night after an
uneventful voyage. The officers re
port missing the storm encountered
by other ships along the coast.
tidaiTwavTcame
AFTER HURRICANE
» HONOLULU, Feb. 12.—The hurri
cane which swept the Samoa Is
lands was followed by a tidal wave
which completed the work of destruc
tion and wiped out whole villages.
The people are reported to have lost
everything and are in a starving con
dition. American gunboats are be
ing rushed to the scene of the disas
ter carrying medical relief and provis
ions.
Admiral Watson Here At 5 O’clock.
The Admiral Wlatson left Seward
early this morning and is due to ar
rive in Valdez at 5 o’clock this even
ing.
THROUGH RATES
GRANTED ROADS
Reductions On Certain Commodities
To Pacific Allowed By Inter
state Commission.
' \
WASHINGTON, Febi 12.—The In
terstate Commerce Commission has
granted the transcontinental rail
roads the right to establisK', lower
freight rates from the east to Pacific
coast points than those charged to
inter-mountain points. The ruling
applies only to certain commodities
to enable the railroads to compete
with coastwise shipping passing
through the Panama canal.
The right of the railroads to es
tablish through freight rates to Paci
fic coast points has been before the
commission for several years and has
been fought through the courts with
varying success by the railroads and
shippers located in the inter-mountain
district.
GERMANS HAVE WITHDRAWN TROOPS FROM ALL OTHER POINTS
ALONG EASTERN LINE TO REINFORCE GERMANS ATTACKING
RUSSIAN FORCES IN EASTERN PROVINCE—RUSSIANS REPORT
VICTORY IN GALICIA AND STATE GERMANS ARE LEAVING THE
DISTRICT—TWO BIG BATTLES RAGING IN EAST PRUSSIA WHICH
MAY DETERMINE FATES OF EASTERN ARMIES—GERMANS ARE
STILL ADVANCING IN ARQONNE DISTRICT—BRITISH WIN AT
LA BASSEE—HEAVY FIGHTING REPORTED IN ALSACE.
in the Mauer lake district began sev
eral days ago and still continues de
spite the efforts of the German forces
to check the czar’s forces. The Ger
mans admit that the Russians occupy
strongly fortified positions from which
it will be difficult to dislodge them.
Germans Gaining In Argonne.
LONDON, Feb. 12.—The constant
artillery fire of the German forces in
the Argonne district has driven the
French troops from their trenches,
which are now occupied by the Ger
mans. The French lost one mile of
fortifications during the engagement
yesterday.
Yser Again Attacked.
Desperate but brief fighting is re
ported from the Yser district, where
German forces again made a desper
ate attempt to break the deadlock in
their march to the French coast.
The engagement resulted in no
change of the positions.
British Gain At LaBassee.
British troops which attacked the
German trenches at LaBassee at dawn
are reported to have driven the Ger
mans from their positions. The fight
ing was desperate as the trenches
were only a few yards apart and were
taken by the British at the point of
the bayonet.
Heavy Fighting In Upper Alsace.
PARIS, Feb. 12.—Advices from Bel
fort report a desperate artillery bat
tle being fought in upper Alsace
which it is believed precedes a gener
al German offensive movement along
the Vosges. No news as to the out
come of the battle has been gained.
Berlin Repots Russians In Retreat.
BERLIN, Feb. 12.—The tremendous
German offensive in the Mazur lake
district has checked the Russian ad
vance through the province of East
Prussia. The Russian forces near
Fort Lyck, in East Prussia, are re
ported to have been defeated and are
in retreat to the border.
Galician Army 8ent North.
It Is admitted by Germany that the
situation in East Prussia is serious
and that troops which have been fight
ing in Galicia and before Warsaw
SECRETARY BRYAN’S NOTES TO ENGUUID
AND GERMANY WERE VERY POINTED
NOTIFIED THAT UNITED STATES WILL HOLD THEM STRICTLY RE
SPONSIBLE IF LIVES OF CITIZENS ON VESSELS ARE ENDAN
GERED—TAKE STEPS TO SAFEGUARD INTERESTS.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12—The text
of the notes sent to the governments
of Germany and England yesterday
by Secretary of State Bryan have been
made public by the department and
indicate that the secretary has rescu
ed the limit of his patience In deal
ing with the warring nations of Eu
rope. The notes are regarded by dip
lomats as extremely sharp and sure
\o bring prompt responses from tne
nations whose actions have been pro
tested against.
The note to the German govern
ment warned Germany that the Unit
ed States would hold that govern
ment strictly accountable for all acts
■of the German admiralty which might
result in the loss of American vessels
and lives. The note also made it
plain that America would Immediate
ly take steps necessary to safeguard
the lives and property of her citizens
on th© seas regardless of the decrees
of foreign admiralties.
The se'cetary’s note to England
warned the government against the
continued fraudulent use of American
flags by captains of British ships.
The actions of the captains in sail
ing under the flag of the United
States would result in endangering
American ships and the lives of their
•crews and passengers. Secretary Bry
an notified the British government
that the United States would hold
England responsible if any American
•vessels were lost by German subma
rines in the waters included in the
extended war zone of the German ad
miralty.
PRESIDENT WILSON WILL INSIST ON
SRIP BILL IN ITS ORIGINAL FORM
DEMOCRATS BELIEVE BILL COULO BE PASSED AS EMERGGENCY
MEASURE IF AMENDED TO PROVIDE FOR GOVERNMENT’S AC
TIVITIES CEASING AT CLOSE OF EUROPEAN WAR.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12.—Owing to
the failure of President Wilson’s ship
purchasing bill to come to a vote in
■the Senate the measure Is now re
garded as being side-tracked during
the life of the present congress.
Democratic members of the lower
House who believe that the fight in
the Senate resulted through fear of
the government ownership feature of
the bill have submitted a proposi
tion to so amend the measure as to
provide that while the government
may purchase and operate ships dur
ing the European war that the gov
ernment’s activities in the shipping
line will cease with the declaration
of peace in Europe.
It is understood that an agreement
reached between the Republican and
Democratic senators that the bill
should be permitted to pass if shorn
of its features to which the Repub
licans objected. Many of the Demo
cratic senators have been lukewarm
in their support of the measure, fear
ing that once the government enter
*
have been sent north to drive the
Russian invaders from that province.
The Russians are reported to occupy
strongly fortified positions in the Ma
zur district
British Steamer Escapes Submarine.
LONDON. Feb. 12.—A British mer
chant steamer flying a Dutch flag
was attacked in the North Sea by a
German submarine. The submarine
fired two shots at the vessel but was
unable to hit the mark. The steam
er out-distanced the submarine in the
race.
Portugal Ise Ready for War
LISBON, Feb. 12.—The government
has decided to put an army of 100,
000 men in the field at once to aid
the Allies. The army has been mob
ilized and is now in barracks await
ing transports to any point designat
ed by England.
Bryan Protests To Germany.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12.—An offi
cial inquiry has been sent to the Ger
man government by Secretary Bryan
regarding the complaint of Henry Van
Dyke, American envoy extraordinary
and plenipotentiary to the Nether
lands and Luxemburg at The Hague,
that the Germans had interferred
with the American diplomatic com
munications with the rulers of that
country. The State Department has
asked for an explanation, wishing to
know if the Interference was author
ized by the German government or
usurped by officers of the military.
German experiments have indicated
that drainage waters do not take any
more plant food away from fertilized
soils than from unfertilized.
ed the shipping industry that all pri
vate interests would be forced from
the field.
Democratic members of the House
have asserted that the bill if amend
ed to provide for the government’s
activities ceasing after the close of
the war that the bill could yet be
passed as an emergency measure,
thereby avoiding the necessity of an
extra session of the new congress.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12.—President
Wilson has declared that he will in
sist upon the enactment of his ship
purchasing bill in its original form.
He will not even consider the prop
osition from the Democrats of the
lower House to amend the bill to pro
vide for the cessation of government
activities at the close of the European
war. President Wilson has declared
that the measure is not intended as a
temporary make-shift to provide for
the shipping of American goods to
Europe during the war but that it is
intended to build up the merchant
marine industry of the country. The
.president’s declaration is regarded as
the forerunner of a call for a special
session of the new congress to con
vene on March 5.
IN LOWER HOUSE
Iowa Representative Declares That
President Used Influence To
Benefit Railroads.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 12 —A wran
gel which held the attention of the
House for several hours yesterday re
sulted from the declaration of Rep
resentative Good, of Iowa, that Pres
ident Wilson had used his influence
upon the members of the Interstate
Commerce Commission to grant the
increased rates to the eastern rail
roads.
At times the debate grew heated
and necessitated the members being
Bharply called to order. The Demo
crats demanded proof of the asser
tion and characterized Good’s state
ments as a cheap attempt on the part
of the Republican member from Iowa
to cast reflection on the president.
SUITE DEPARTMENT
MAY PROTEST
Secretary Bryan Promises Owners of
Cargo That America Will Pro
tect Interests.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12.—The own
ers of the American steamer Wilhel
mina, which was seized by the Brit
ish customs state that Secretary
Bryan has promised to protest to the
British government if the finding of
the British prize court does not seem
just.
The British government has an
nounced that the cargo of the Wilhel
mina, consisting of foodstuffs, will be
sold to the highest bidder but that
the vessel will be permitted to depart
from the British port. The owners
of the cargo refused to dispose of the
shipment to the British Belgian relief
fund and assert they will stand on
their rights to fill their contract with
the Amsterdam merchants, to whom
the foodstuffs were consigned.
BRITAIN MAY STOP
ALL GERMAN MAIL
Reported That She le Soon To Adopt
Drastic Measures To Destroy
Commerce.
LONDON. Feb. 12.—While speaking
before the House of Lords yesterday
Premier Asquith stated that the gov
ernment was considering the inaugu
ration of drastic measures which
would result in complete paralysis of
German commerce. He declared that
the government was watching devel
opments in connection with the ex
tension of the war zone by the Ger
man admiralty so as to include the
waters of the English Channel.
Premier Asquith, nor any member
of the cabinet would give the slight
est intimation of the proposed meas
ures of the government. It is believ
ed, however, that the plan embraces
•a declaration of a complete blockade
of German commerce which would tn
elude the stoppage of all shipping to
and from German ports and the com
plete Isolation of the country by in
terception of the malls.
REPORT PRIBILOF
NATIVES STARVING
Government Charters Schooner Ben
der Brothers To Make Trip With
Relief Supplies.
A
SEATTLE, Feb. 12.—The natives
on the Pribilof islands are reported
to be in desperate straits and starv
ing owing to failure in securing seal
and fish last summer.
The federal government has chart
ered the schooner Bender Brothers
to carry relief to the natives. Sup
plies are now being loaded on the
schooner and she will sail north as
soon as her cargo is complete. The
officers of the schooner believe that
no difficulty will be experienced in
reaching the islands as the season has
been exceptionally mild, preventing
the formation of heavy ice.
The committee of the Women’s
Guild, who are arranging for the
dance next Saturday evening, an
nounce that refreshments will bo
served during the evening and that
everything possible to provide for the
pleasure of the guests will be done.
Pete Cashman returned home to
Wortman’s this afternoon.