The Terminus of Alaska’s Thirty-five Million Dollar Government Owned Railroad System
BERLIN REFUSES TO ABANDON
WARFARE BY THE SUBMARINES
^e\v Government \\ ill Fake the
Reins in Britain W hose Peo
ple now Criliei/e Their For
mer Idol. Lord Kitehener.
Italian Parliament Gives Plenary
Powers to Cabinet Which Means
Ultimatum in 24 Hours.—Greatest
of All Battles of the World Now
Raging in Galicia.
GERMAN Y REJECTS U S. DEMANDS
WASHINGTON, May 20.—That Germany has reject
ed the demand of the United States to abandon submarine
warfare is the momentous statement received this after
noon by the state department from Gerard the American
ambassador t<> Berlin. Ambassador Gerard also advises
the state department that the answer of Germany to the j
American demands will he very specific, which is taken to
mean that there will be no beating about the bush and
that the kaiser s government will tell this government j
directly that while it regrets the loss of American lives it
cannot afford to relinquish what it regards as its most
effective method for protecting itself. Gerard announces,
positively that Germany unofficially accepts the principle
that American citizens should be protected but Berlin
is evidently prepared to go no further in making con
cessions.
BRITISH DIS SATISFACTION
LONDON, May 20.—The announcement by Prime
Minister Asquith that a new ministry will be formed to j
govern Great Britain has caused a tremendous political
sensation throughout the country. Most of the people
were surprised at the declaration as they had believed
the members of the cabinet to be proceeding most amic
ably and effectively although the newspapers and some
public men had been advocating a change for the good of
the empire. The cause of the dis-satisfaction and the im
pending change in the government is due to the lack of
results obtained in the fighting both in the east and the
west- The failure of Russia has been a bitter disappoint
ment to the British people for some time but now it is ad
mitted that the Allied armies in the west have not obtain
ed the results that had been expected and promised. An
other reason for the change of ministry is the friction
which has arisen between Winston Churchill, first lord of
the admiralty, and the permanent officals of the depart
ment. As head of the admiralty Churchill only holds of
fice during the life of the ministry while the professional
heads of the department remain permanently and are the
actual governors of naval matters proper. For some time
the permanent officials and, it is said, some of the fleet
commanders have been unable to see eye to eye with the
first lord. This friction first became public after the futile
rushing of marines to Antwerp by Churchill against the
advice of the navy heads.
Labor strikers have also added to the difficulties in
which the government finds itself as some of its support
comes from the labor party. Asquith himself still retains
the confidence of the country and will probably remain as
head of the new government. Sir Edward Grey, ministei
of Foreign Affairs, will also probably remain in office but
the fate of the others is not true. The crushing defeat of
the Russians in Galicia seems to have destroyed the hope
of an invasion of Hungary. Indeed, a most pessimistic j
feeling prevails with respect to the ability of Russia to
successfully oppose the Teutonic allies without the aid of
Italy and some other powers and Britain admits its dis
appointment for the first time since the war began.
CRITICIZE KITCHENER
LONDON, May 20.—The former idol of the British
nation, Earl Kitchener of Khartoum, minister of war, is
now being severely criticized by the press and public for
his failure to achieve any successess against the Germans.
Chiefly because of the Russian failure and the danger that
the Germans will be able to reinforce their western forces
to meet the British and French the feeling of dis-satisfac
tion is growing here and on Kitchener is falling the blame
The working people particularly are becoming dis-satis
fied and their tendency seems to be to place the responsi
bility on the rotten system prevailing in the army and
navy.
#
ITALIAN CABINET GIVEN POWER
ROME, May 20— Late this afternoon parliament de-l
cided to give the cabinet plenary powers to deal with the
situation between this country and Austria and this j
means nothing else except that an ultimatum will be dis-1
patched immediately to Vienna as the cabinet as now con
stituted favors war! The ultimatum will probably be dis
patched within twenty-four hours.
ITALIAN STUDENTS TO FIGHT
ROME, May 20.—It is reported that pardons will be
given this evening to all men who are in prison for partic
ipating in the great railroad strike of 1014. Every uni
versity in the kingdom announced today that all the stud
ents will enlist in the army as one body and go to the
front.
ITALY RUSHES DEFENCES
ROME, May 20.—The Italian war officials are now
rushing the preparations for the defence of the frontier
as fast as possible. The government took over all the rail
roads in the kingdom yesterday to prepare for the rush
ing of troops towards the Austrian border. It is believed
here, however, that Germany still hopes that peace will
be maintained with Italy but this belief is certainly not
shared by the Italians themselves. The prospect of war
has united all Italy as it was never united before. It is
assumed that the declaration of war will be followed im
mediately by a movement of Austrian legions towards
Italian territory. The mountainous nature of the country
between the two nations will make an olFensive movement
on a large scale difficult along the greater part of the
border but this is expected to be rather of aid to Austria
than otherwise should she decide to maintain a defensive
attitude while engaged with Russia. The action of
Roumania is awaited here anxiously. 4 he entry of that
country into the war on the side of Italy would expose the
whole southern border of Austria to invasion through
Roumania, Servia and Italy. Parliament meets today
and before evening Italy may be at war.
ITALIAN PARLIAMENT MEETS
ROME, May 20.—The Italian parliament convened
today under circumstances and amid scenes that have sel
dom been equalled. Some of the leading members ol the
senate and chamber of deputies were cheered and receiv
ed demonstrative welcomes when they were known to be
in favor of war. Signor Marcora, president of the cham
ber of deputies, who is in favor of peace and was called
to power by the king and forced to refuse by the people,
received courteous but cold welcome. Both houses are
now in session and engaged in discussing the war and a
declaration of war will probably follow the adjoin nment
today.
GALICIAN FIGHTING SAVAGE
BERLIN, May 20.—The fighting along a full two
hundred miles front in Galicia is proceeding savagely and
continuously. In the history of the world no battle has
ever taken place which, would not look small and petty
compared to the titanic struggle now raging for the mast
ery of that part of the European continent. The Russians
are rushing reinforcements feverishly in the effort to
check our advance. On our side are ten German and
twenty-four Austrian army corps, or four hundred thou
sand Germans and close to a million of Austrians. The
Russian forces are still more numerous. The battle is
really a series of three Olympic struggles. One section
of the battle is from Przemysl to the Carpathians, the
second is from Przemysl north to the Wisloka river, and
the third is from the Wisloka to Sandomir along the Vis
tula. On the result may depend the fate of Europe. Con
tinued victory for our side may mean the crushing of
Russian’s legions in the mountains and the loss of half
their available armies, as well as the freeing of great
Austrian armies to face the Italians. The enemy is mak
ing desperate attempts to stay his retreat. General Dimi
trieff is evidently depending on Przemysl to strengthen
his center while fortifying his lines to the south and north.
The purpose of our generals is to crush the enemy here
as quickly as possible and hasten to cut off the retreat of
the Russians in the Carpathian passes.
KAISER ESCAPES SHELL
GENEVA, Mav 20.—Advices from Buda Pest are to
the effect that the Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany had a nar
row escape from death last Sunday while watching the
battle of the San river in Galicia. A shell burst close to
his maiestv killing some members of his entourage and
causing himself to be struck by some flying debns. 1 he
' kaiser was not injured in the east, however
* WILSON SAYS NAVY
* IN GOOD CONDITION..*
* - *
WASHINGTON, May 20.—Presi
dent Wilson declared today after his
review of the fleet that the naval pow -
or of the United States was never in
better condition and never more cap
able of giving a good account itself.
The review was a most succeccful one
and afforded a splendid spectacle
which was enhanced in value by the
interest created in the public mind bj
the naval events in the great war.
TRIED FOR MURDER OF
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO.
GEORGETOWN, Texas, May 20.—
Theodore Armstrong is now on trial
for the murder of a sheriff of this
county which occurred in 1890. Two
governors have been summoned as
witnesses.
GETTING OUT THE STAKES
FOR ANCHORAGE TOWN SITE.
Rrosius and Noon have received the
contract from the government to get
out fifteen hundred stakes which will
be used in staking off the new town
site at Anchorage. The staking is to
be done by a man named Warren.
Cordova pays its city treasurer, H.
I. O’Neil, $1.00 a year.
The Juneau school board has re
tained ten of the thirteen teachers of
the staff of 1914-15.
LAUBNER ADDITION TO
HAVE MANY BUILDINGS.
Each of Two People to Build Fifteen
Nice Houses
There.
Building activities on quite a large
scale are now becoming apparent in
the Laubner addition and in the near
future will increase rapidly. IF L.
Rolling has finished one house in that
part of the city and will put up more
there immediately on Fourth avenue.
He will also at once put up three more
on the northwest corner of Third ave.
and Van Buren street. He has in con
templation the construction of fifteen
more houses in that division during
the summer.
James T. Harvey is putting up two
4-room cottages on Fourth avenue
and four more on lots 30, 31, 32 and
33. Five others will be erected by
him and he also has in contemplation
the erection of fifteen additional build
ings this summer in the same addition.
J. P. Dykorn is about to put up a
house on Third avenue and several
others are preparing to build.
SODA WORKS, AUTO AND
PHOTOGRAPH COMING.
The plant for the soda works, also
the Kelly auto truck and the photo
graphic plant that will be housed in
the studio built by Robert Ashland
will come up on the Alameda. The
three “innovations” will all be in the
same building which has recently
been erected at the rear of George the
Jeweller’s.
BALL GAME 7 SHARP.
The managers of the ball teams an
nounce that the game this evening
will begin at 7 o’clock sharp. If any
delay takes place beyond that time
the game cannot be finished in good
light.
ED. L. BELL WILL BE
BURIED IN SEWARD.
Ike Evans received a cable today
from J. A. Bell of East Liverpool,
Ohio, brother of E. L. Bell, asking
that the body be buried here in Se
ward. Mr. Bell also states in the
cable that he will meet all the ex
penses of the burial and will come to
Seward later. He is a retired officer
of the navy.
GARRISUN SAYS
WE MUST ARM
WE Ml ST FACE POSSIBILITY OF
WAR SAYS F. S. WAR
SECRETARY.
LAKE MOTIONK. New York, May
20.—That the United States must arm
itself and prepare for the possibility
of war is the statement made by Sec
retary of War Garrison in an address
delivered here today at the Interna
tional Arbitration congress. He de
clared that by arming we can best se
cure the peace of the world and retain
our self respect as a nation. In his
opinion the day has gone by when the
United States can boast of its free
dom from entangling circumstances.
We are a world power now, he de
clared, our commerce with other na
tions connect us with all the rest of
the earth and we must be prepared to
hold our positions amongst nations
and protect our citizens and com
merce.
<:• •> v •>
* TRYING PRESIDENT OF *
* UNION FOR MURDER. ❖
* - ❖
TRINIDAD, May 20.—Robert
Ulich, former president of the local
union of United Mine Workers, was
placed on trial today on the charge
of murder in connection with the Lud
low battle between strikers and
deputies.
FORMER COMPANY MAN
IN FAVOR OF STRIKES.
Is Also Preacher but Blames Brutal
ity of Minor Officials for
Most Troubles.
WASHINGTON, May 20.—Rev.
Gaddis, formerly at the head of the
sociological department of the Colo
rado Fuel and Iron company, told the
Industrial Relations commission today
that strikes are more than justifiable
because of brutality and corruption
of minor officials of the large comp
anies. Rockefeller, jr., will testify to
day before the commission.
•> ALLEGED GERMAN ❖
❖ SPY HANGS SELF. *
•> — <•
LONDON, May 20. Antone Kuep
forle, tin* alleged German spy who
was on trial here, hanged himself in
his prison cell la.->L night. Kuepferle
put forth the* claim that h«* wa an
American citizen when he v a. arrest
ed and had made an effort to secure
the interference of the American gov
ernment hut he evidently gave up
hope. The evidence wa* so strong
against him that he probably saw
only one alternative to being shot ana
that was to take his own lit'**.
FLOODS AND SNOW
IN POOR OLD 1*. S.
KANSAS CITY, May 20. Great
floods are now raging in Kansas.
Oklahoma and Missouri and a foot of
snow lies over a great part of Nebras
ka. The weather conditions in other
states is almost equally bad.
SEATTLE si \K FEATl RES
STORY OF JOHN BALLAINE.
SEATTLE, May 20.—The Seattle
Star of this afternoon contains a two
column story of John Ballaine, the
man who is given more credit than
any other Alaskan for the building of
the government railroad. The story
gives a comprehensive sketch of his
life ami achievements and is accomp
anied by his photograph.
DENOCNCES METHODS
OF THE RIGGS BANK.
Says Suit Brought Against Me \doo
Because He Stopped Bank's
Little Graft.
WASH INGTON, May 20.—At
torney Untermeyer who represents
the defense in the case of the Higgs
bank against Secretary of the Treas
ury McAdoo and Comptroller Wil
liams argued all day yesterday for
his clients and made a strong case
against the bank whose methods he
denounced severely. Ho declared that
the bank had a “pipeline" to the treas
ury by which it secured large des
posits of the government funds. He
further charged that the suit brought
by the bank was caused by the fact
that the illicit favors enjoyed by the
bank had been put a stop to.
U. S. PROTESTS TO ALLIES.
WASHINGTON, May 20.—It is now well known in
official circles that this government will enter a strong
protest against the interference by the Allies with Ameri
can shipping. This protest will be sent to Great Britain,
France and Russia after the receipt of the answer from
Germany to the American demands so that complications
might be avoided. There is a strong sentiment here in
favor of adopting a more determined attitude in compel
ling respect for American commerce and some unmistak
able steps will be taken to show that the United States
will no longer countenance contempt for its rights.
RUSSIAN SITUATION GRAVE
LONDON, May 20—The British military experts
agree that the situation for Russia is now exceedingly
grave. Along the whole east, they believe, the Germans
have clearly outwitted the Muscovites and have placed the
armies of the czar in a predicament from which only a
miracle can save them. The news that the Germans and
Austrians have driven back the Russians far enough to
lay siege to Przemysl is taken by military men to mean
nothing less than that the Russian armies in the Carpath
ians are in serious danger of having their communica
tions cut and themselves surrounded. Similar conditions
are believed to have been brought about by the advance
of the Germans in the Baltic provinces.
ALLIED FLEET REPELLED
CONSTANTINOPLE, May 20—Hidden Turkish bat
teries repelled the Allied fleet yesterday when the war
ships attempted to steam into the Dardanelles. The Allied
admirals had evidently come to the conclusion that the
Turkish batteries had been put out of action and they or
dered an advance. Quietly, however, the Turks had mass
ed guns secretly in well concealed positions and when
these guns were brought into action the ships for safety
■ were compelled to go back. No damage to any ship is re
ported.