'0FRONTiERT AND FISH
and Alaska Evening Post_
Volume 11 Number 69 SEWARD, ALASKA, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1917_Ten Cents the Copy
ms
HOPE FOR PEAC ■ AT
THE TWO CAPITALS
FAST FADING AWAY
- i i -■
»WASHINGTON, Tuesday, Feb. o.—While the United
States stands before tire world court of public opinion in
an anxious waiting period which will determine peace or|
war with Germany, the president is determined that there;
shall be no word or deed to merit reproach even from
Germany.
Nothing is to be done which is not justified fully by
thi law of nations and humanity.
Hope that Germany might at the last moment modify j
her declaration of unrestricted warfare by submarines
has almost been dissipated by news from Berlin which
gave the word of high German officials that Germany
would never recede from her position.
And assador Berustorff and German consuls from all
parts el the country will sail from New York for Christi
ana, Norway, on Feb. Id. Reservations have been engag
ed for 200 on the Scandinavian liner Frederick \ II.
State, war and naval officials anxiously waited today
for real developments in Germany’s threat of unrestrict
ed warfare, Tlie five days granted in which neutral ves
sels could get out of the prohibited zone ended at midnight
'•tt night.
Today, if German intentions are carried out as plan
ned all vessels, no matter what their character, are subject
to instant destruction, unwarned, if found within the
waters about Great Britain, France and Italy, with the
exception of a very limited area near the neutral coasts.
President Wilson has directed that all rumors and re
ports of the infringement of American rights shall be re
ported to him at once.
Resolutions endorsing the president’s action in sever
ing relations with Germany were introduced in the senate
late yesterday by Sen. Stone.
AMERICAN SEAMAN KILLED
WASHINGTON, Tuesday, Feb. 6—Increased tension
resulted today over the sinking of the British Provisional
collier Eavestone, in which an American able seaman lost
his life.
U. S. Consul Frost at Queenstown reports the case as
follows: “Provisional collier Eavestone sunk by shell fire
from German submarine in vicinity of Fastnet yesterday.
American negro seaman, Richard Wallace of Baltimore,
killed during the shelling of life boats after they had just
left Eavestone.”
While the officials believe that the final report wilt
show that this was not an overt act sufficient to cause war,
full report is awaited with interest.
GERMANY DOES NOT EXPECT PEACE
BERLIN, Monday, Feb. G. — Hope for peaceful con
tinuance of German and American relations after the de
parture of the embassies from Washington and Berlin, in
the sense indicated by Pres. Wilson in his address to con
gress, appears to be very slight.
The Socialist newspaper Yorwaerts says that after
February first it saw little hope that friendly relations
with the' United States would be maintained.
The Kaiser today conferred the orders of the iron
cross with the white ribbon on Ambassador Bernstorff,
who is still in the United States.
It is announced that Ambassador Gerard who has
been handed his passports has practically decided to re
turn to the United States from a Spanish port.
The plan to have the United States represented by
Spain was dropped owing to Spain’s strong stand against
Germany and the alternate plan to have American inter
ests taken over by the Brazilian minister has been aban
doned for like reasons. It is not known here who will
represent America at Berlin after Gerard leaves.
SWITZERLAND REMAINS THE SAME
WASHINGTON, Tuesday, Feb. G.—Information that |
Switzerland will not adopt the president’s suggestion that ■
*11 neutral'powers break off relations with Germany was
received here today. This is the first response.
CARRANZA SENDS KAISER BEST WISHES
LONDON, Tuesday, Feb. 5. — A Reuters dispatch
from Amsterdam quotes the Telegraaf as stating that
General Carranza has sent his best wishes to the Ger-man
emperor from Cuertaro.
GUNS ORDERED EAST
QUINCY, 111., Monday, Feb. 6.—Orders have been re
-» ceived here by the Illinois naval reserve to rush its entire
gun equipment and ammunition supply east.
EXPECT WAR
WILL CAUSE
RUSHAN R. R.
Need of Naval Coal May
Cause Extra Fast
Construction
Officials at railroad headquarters
are going ahead with plans for the
coming season, regardless of the
threatened war with the exception
that preliminary plans have been con
sidered by which \york on the line to
the coal fields can be rushed.
When asked this morning what ef
fect* a war with Germany would have
on the work, a high official said:
“Either the road will be finished
through to the coal fields at top speed
in order to insure this fuel supply for
the navy or work will be shut down.”
It is evident that the local officials
expect the former alternative to be
put into effect, as orders are being
sent to the purchasing agent in Seat
tle for supplies and material needed ,
for reconstruction work contemplated]
this year.
Contracts are being let for piling to
replace trestles along the line and]
preparations are being made to open]
the road beyond Mile 40 at the earlr
est opportunity.
■ — — - * ■ ■■ ■■■ — —
Charles Smith of Ophir, is a visitor
in town.
THE WEATHER
I
Yesterday.
Maximum . 42
Minimum . 34
Current . 38
Weather . Cloudy
Wind . North
WEATHER TOMORROW
Clearing with slight squalls.
DOZEN 14-INCH
GUNS ON NEW
U. S.WARSHIP
Mississippi, Third of Her
Class Launched at
Newport News
■ ■ 1 ■
NEWPORT NEWS, Va.,—(Special)
I
—The dread naught Mississippi, which
will be one of the world’s most eftici-!
ent and powerful lighting machines,
was launched here Jan. 25th. She
was christened by Miss Camille Me-j
Breath, of Meredian, Miss., daughter |
of J. M. McBreath, member of the
National Democratic Committee.
Only the shell of the great sea
lighter took to the water but even j
without armament and machinery it
represents an expenditure of nearly i
$8,000,000. When she is ready to take |
her place in the battle fleet the gov- *
ernment will have spent almost twice 1
that amount on her.
The Mississippi will be a duplicate
of the dreadnaught Pennsylvania and
Arizona, recently commissioned.
The new battleship will have s
maximum speed of 21 knots, will dis-|
place 32,000 tons on trial and 33,000
when fully loaded, and will have n
length over all of 642 feet. Its en
gines will be of the Curtis turbine |
type, productive of an estimated h.-p.
of 32.000. Like the other lat
est battlecraft, it will be equipped
with oil-burning boilers.
The main battery of the Mississip
pi will be twelve 14-inch 50 calibre
rifles placed three to the turret. In
addition, there will be twenty-two 5
inch, 51 calbre rapid-fire guns, four
3-inch anti-aircraft rifles, two 21-inch
torpedo tubes submerged, and the us
vyd saluting guns.
\V. S. Ferguson of Knik, arrived on
one of the last steamers from Seattle.
IETAIN GERMAN CREWS
OF SHIPS AT S VTTLE
SEATTLE, Tuesday, Feb. 6.—Fourteen officers and
crews of the German steamer Saxonian, and the German
ship Steinbek, interned at Eagle'harbor were removed
today and confined in the federal detention station, The
crew of the Saxonian damaged her engines and set her
afire but the flames were extinguished.
DAMAGE TO SHIPS $30,000,000?
NEW YORK, Tuesday, Feb. 6. — While the officials
have maintained a discreet silence as to the amount of
damage inflicted on the machinery of German liners in
terned here since the opening of the world war, it is
known that the crews did dismantle the machinery.
The New York Sun today declares that $30,000,000
worth of damage was inflicted upon the 31 German and
Austrian steamers in New York harbor._
JAPANESE BATTLESHIPS
PASS CAPE FLATTERY
SEATTLE, Tuesday, Feb. 6.—Three Japanese battle
ships passed in by Cape Flattery early this morning.
Exchanging greetings with the radio operators the
officers stated that they had been on a long cruise search
ing for German commerce raiders reported lurking in the
North Pacific. .
The destination of this squadron is believed to be
Esquimault or Victoria, B. C.
FLEET OF THREE AT HAWAII
HONOLULU, Tuesday, Feb. 6.—Three Japanese
warships arrived off the Hawaiian coast this morning and
reported their presence stating that they were seal clung
i for German commerce raiders.
WAR AND NAVY CHIEFS
ACTIVE; PLANS FOR
GENERAL MORILI ATION
WASHINGTON, Tuesday, Feb. G. — The war and
navy department continued today to formulate plans for
the mobilization of commercial and industrial forces of
j the nation as well as to rush military measures, so that
! these might be placed in operation under government di
rection on short orders.
The house this afternoon under stress of a national
emergency almost unanimously adopted the report of
Chairman Padgett on naval alfairs which appropriates
many millions of dollars additional for naval prepared*
I ness. The house acted as a committee of the whole on
I this measure which assures its passage of the item which
' carries:
For machine guns and anti-aircraft gun batteries $15,
I 000,000.
For merchant auxiliaries to the navy additional to
;he regular appropriation, $351,000,000.
The immediate purchase of reserve quartermaster
supplies for the army up to the limit of available appro
priations was ordered today by Sec. of War Baker.
Republican senators in conference today decided to
stand by Sen. Poindexter’s bill for the immediate con
st i action of 20 sea going and 80 coast submarines at the
cost of $40,000,000. '
NETS TO WARD OFF SUBMARINES
NEW H)Rk, Tuesday, Feb. G.—Plans and specifica
tions for steel wire nets to be used in protecting American
harbors against submarines were handed to the steel
•made today for bids.
Contracts for steel chains for the same purpose are
il ready let. ,
T. R., THE YOUNGER A MAJOR
WASHINGTON, Tuesday, Feb. 6.—President Wilson
appointed Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., a major of infantry in
the officers reserve corps today.
NEW YORK SENATE VOTES 81,000,000
ALBANY, N. Y., Tuesday, Feb. 6.—The senate today
unanimously passed a bill appropriating $1,000,000 for the
lational guard naval militia and other organizations
vvhich may be called into service in event of war with Ger
many.
RELEASE ALL GERMANS
NEWPORT NEWS, Tuesday, Feb. G. — All German
employees not naturalized citizens of the U. S. are being
laid off by the Newport News ship building and dry dock
companies.
GUARD OIL REFINERIES
RATON ROUGE, Tuesday, Feb. 6. — The Standard
Oil company of Louieana has dismissed from its service all
.mnaturalized German citizens employed in its refineries
and have established an armed guard around its plant.
PERSHING’S ARMY IS COMING HOME
COLUMBUS, N. M., Tuesday, Feb. 6.—General Per
shing’s army of occupation has resumed its return march
from Mexico to the border stations.
BOMB IN NEW YORK CUSTOMlUSE
NEW YORK, Tuesday, Feb. 6.—An attempt was made
yesterday to blow up a section of the New York custom
nouse and perhaps assassinate Dudley Field Malone, col
lector of the customs. .
A bomb full of explosives with the fuse still burning
was found by two employees just in time to prevent its go
ing off. This infernal machine was planted in the room
directly underneath that occupied by the collector, who
was at work at his desk. Malone has rigidly enforced
neutrality regulations concerning ships leaving the port
of New York, but this was the first intimation that he was
in personal danger.
HOUSE VOTES “DRY” AT OLYMPIA
OLYMPIA, Tuesday, Feb. 6.—By a vote of 75 to 18
with four absentees, the house passed the bone dry law
yesterday. ...