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- THE ALASKA EVENING POST
.. ' SEWAKD, ALASKA, THURSDAY, JUNE 7,1917Ten Cents the Copy
Volume XI. Number 110.____—- -—=
MILLION POUNDS OF
EXPLOSIVE USED IN
VAST MINE ATTACK
(Bv United States Cable)
BRITISH HEADQUARTERS IN FRANCE, Thurs
day. June 7.—The British rush this morning on the Mes
sines-Wytschaete ridge on the Franco-Belgian sector took
them well over the crest of the ridge where they are now
entrenching.
A million pounds of high explosives were fired under
the German forward lines. This is the most gigantic min
ing operation in the history of the war and spread a panic
,among the German troops.
7 ; ..TMessines was taken early in the fight
ing and it is also reported that the villages of Lenfer and
Zareeba have fallen and that Wytschaete has been sur
rounded by storming parties of the British troops.
The British troops in this attack used 20 per cent more
cannon, especially those of heavy calibre, than were em
ployed in the battle on the Arras front. Many of the Eng
lish “tanks” were employed in the advance over mine crat
ers and thousands of Germans were taken prisoners early
in the engagement.
The fighting continues under the heat of a midsum
mer sun and so far the Germans have not rallied suffi
ciently for the expected counter attack.
The advance included the capture of important trench
positions all the way from “observation ridge” southeast
of Y pres to Ploegsteert wood, north of Armentiers.
VICTORY ON NINE-MILE FRONT
(B7 United States Cable)
'• LONDON. Thursday, June 7.—British forces in Bel
gium swept forward last night over a nine-mile front,
taking many positions, according to the war office bulle
tin today.
%
Many prisoners were taken and the newly occupied
trenches are being held against counter attack.
The allied front in Belgium, now about 30 miles long,
has been subjected to a continuous heavy fire from both
sea and land forces for several days and the prisoners tak
en are in a pitiable condition from lack of food.
British troops south of the Scarpe river have thrown
back the German foroes opposing them over a front a mile
vin length and hold the enemy’s former front line trenches.
SUB LOSSES LESS THIS WEEK
(Br United States Cable)
LONDON, Thursday, June 7.—For the week ending
Wednesday the total losses inflicted on the allies by the
enemy’s submarine campaign included 15 British vessels
over 1500 tons and three of less tonnage
MILITARY UNIT
SHOWS ABILITY
The local military unit engaged in
its first outdoor drill last evening and
paraded and maneuvered over the city
streets for about two hours.
The main purpose of the open air
drill was to learn some new movements
which were impossible of execution in
the small confines of the drill hall,
the desired results being accomplish
ed last night in very satisfactory man
ner.
Although the local military com
pany has been drilling but a short
time the commands were executed last
night with a precision not unlike the
work of veterans, which caused agree
able surprise and flattering comment
from many spectators who were wit
nessing the maneuvers of the local
soldiers for the first time.
Whenever weather conditions per
mit the drills will continue to be con
ducted out of doors.
-«
The U. S. A. T. Crook sailed direct
for Seattle outside at 10:30 p. m.
NORTHWESTERN USES
END OF DOCK
For the second time in the history
of Seward one of the big liners tied
up at the north end of the dock last
night.
The U. S. transport Crook occupied
| the whole face of the dock, so Capt.
Hunter edged the Northwestern up to
the berth formerly favored by the S.
S. Dora. Several years back the
Yucatan used this berth when the
] Dora was loading in front and refused
to move, and, strange to relate, it was
the Dora which on that date occupied
the main berth on the front of the
dock. The Yucatan was foiced to re
turn here by bad weather outside and
arrived in a swirl of snow. The Dora
was loading for westward at the time
and the skipper refused to delay by
moving so the Yucatan took the end.
Passengers sailing south included J.
Mayer and wife, Miss D. Sather, Miss
E. E. Boyle, K. Gulying, Fred Haynes,
Gus Gillis, C. Gronsit, Mrs. E. A. Mar
tin, Bessie March, J, A. O’Neil, Daisy
O’Neil and 14 steerage.
. i
[
BUSINESS MEN FORMING
EXCURSION TO ACCOMPANY
THEIBALL TEAM ON TOUR
At a meeting of the Seward Chamber of Commerce
today it was decided to send a large delegation to Cordova
with the ball team on the Fourth of July. Ten business
men have already agreed to go with their families and in
cluding the ball players it is probable that about 75 people
will make the journey.
A committee of the chamber has the arrangements in
hand and has set about to secure special steamship rates
for the junket. The affair is meeting with great enthus
iasm and it begins to look like there is a big time scheduled
for about Fourth of July time.
A cable was sent this morning to the Cordova Cham
ber of Commerce as follows:
“Cordova Chamber of Commerce, Cordova, Alaska.
The Seward Chamber of Commerce at an enthusiastic
meeting decided on business men’s excursion to Cordova
July Fourth to accompany the Seward ball team.
SEWARD TEAM
ACCEPTS, WILL
PLAY CORDOVA
The scheduled meeting of those in
terested in local baseball affairs took
place last night and the rather small
attendance was counteracted by the
spirit and enthusiasm of those who
were present. It was definitely de
cided to send our ball team to Cordova
on the Fourth of July, as we are under
obligations to return the compliment
with which we were favored by them
two years ago. Seward would enjoy
having Cordova as its guest on Inde
pendence day, but in view' of their pre
vious invitation, and that w’e owe thorn
a call, it w'ould not be becoming of
gentlemen and true sportsmen to do
otherwise than journey to the Copper
town. It is also very probable that a
large party of local business men will
y-.
make the trip and the arrangements
for this feature will be handled by
the Chamber of Commerce.
A finance committee consisting of
Dr. J. H. Komig, E. L. Whittemore
and A. H. McDonald was appointed
last night and their principal duty
i will be “to get the money” in order to
meet the necessary preliminary ex
penses attached to organizing the ball
club and putting the grounds in fit
condition for baseball maneuvers. It
is possible that this committee may
overlook some one when canvassing
for funds, but not very probable. It
is thought that the investigators in
search of conscription shirkers will not
be more thorough.
The first call for baseball practice
will be made in a few days, and we
will soon be off at the crack of the
bat on another victorious baseball
campaign.
CALIFORNIA TANKER
BAGG ENEMY SUB
PARIS, Thursday, June 7—The minister of marines
announced that the California owned tanker Silver Shell,
Capt. Thomas Charlton, battled with a German submarine
on May 30 in the Mediterranean. Sixty shots in all were
exchanged, with the result that the diver disappeared sud
denly.
(This is the steamer mentioned in Wednesday’s dis“
patches, the name of which was withheld temporarily by
the American censor.)
GUN COMMANDER DUE FOR ADVANCE
WASHINGTON, Thursday, June 7.—William J. Clark
of New York, a former warrant officer on the battleship
Arkansas, was in command of the gunners aboard the
tanker Silver Shell, which sank a German submarine in
the Mediterranean.
“It was a splendid piece of work,” Secretary Daniels
said today,” and we are now considering a promotion for
Clark who well deserves it.”
_
RETURNS on registration slow
WASHINGTON, Thursday, June 7.—Only six states
reported a total conscription registration this morning,
but it is expected that reports will be almost complete by
the close of the day.
wets holdTpone boneIry law
OLYMPIA, Thursday, June 7—The secretary of state
has announced that a check of the referendum petitions
against the bone-dry law shows 533 names more than nec
essary so the attorney general has ruled that the bone
dry measure is now held up until the 1918 election.
i 1
U. S. WARSHI >S AN
| SUPPLIES FOR FIRST
| ARMY REACH FRANCE
(fly United State* Cable)
PARIS, Thursday, June 7.—Ameri
can warships have arrived off the
French coast.
Le Matin today prints a statement that the quarter
master’s department of the United States army
has the provisioning for operations in France by the
first division under Gen. Pershirrg well under way.
The American collier Jupiter is now discharging
wheat at a French port for use of the army soon to arrive
from “our sister republic.”
_•••
LAUNCH ANOTHER SEATTLE FREIGHTER
—
SEATTLE, Thursday, June 7.—The 7500-ton Norweg
ian steel freighter Storviken was launched last evening
at the yards cf the Seattle Construction Company.
FIRST AID BY
RED CROSS TO
BE TAKEN DP
All men and women in Seward in
terested in forming a class on ‘ First
Aid to the Injured and Accident Pre
vention,” under auspices of the Red
Cross will meet at Pioneer hall at 3:30
o’clock Friday afternoon. The invita
tion to attend has been extended to
all.
This course of instruction has been
outlined by the bureau of medical ser
vice of the American Red Cross and
consists of 15 lectures of one hour
duration. It is open to both men and
women over the age of 16 years.
Dr. J. H. Romig has kindly volun
teered for service as local instructor
and the Pioneers offered the use of
their hall for the meetings* The cost
of the course will be about $2.50 for
each person, covering the cost ol the
Red Cross text books, charts and in
struction outfits, and in addition a
small charge to cover any loca1 ex
pense.
This course is of the greatest value
in treatment of injured people and
one that might well be taken by all
who may find themselves with an in
jured person to care for and no doctor
in reach.
-A
VALLEY STATES
HIT BY WIND™
118 CASUALTIES
(By United State* Cable)
TOPEKA, Wednesday, June 6.—
Eighteen have been killed and 100 in
jured as a result of tornadoes which
occurred yesterday and today in *Mis
souri and Kansas.
BATTLE CREEK HIT
(Bjr United State* Cable)
DETROIT, Wednesday, June 6.—A
tornado swept Battle Creek this after
noon and three are known to be dead.
Great property damage resulted.
KETCHIKAN FISH
FLEET AWAITS
MARKET HERE
Fishermen at Ketchikan are mak
ing inquiry as to how soon H. 0. Rob
erts, manager of the local plant of
the San Juan Fishing & Packing com
pany will be able to receive fish, in
dicating their desire to take advantage
of a market near the big banks off
I Middleton island and Cape Clear.
The advantage of eliminating the
long haul between the banks and the
market, which increases the time
which can be spent on the banks is
appreciated by those who have been
catching fish writhin 100 miles of Sew
ard and taking them 500 to COO miles
or even farther to a market.
S. S. ALASKA~ON~
WAY AGAIN
(Bf United Stair* Cable)
SEATTLE, Thursday, June 7—The
S. S. Alaska sailed north last night
with the following passengers for
Seward: Mrs* E. Miller, Mrs. H.
Heckel, Mrs. W. Flynn and two babies,
Mrs. H. Dickey, Mrs. J. Ostrander,
Miss Anna Weston and two babies, F.
Fox, A. Pollack, L. Levensaler and
wife and one steerage.
-~ —
BOATS AND TRAINS
The Northwestern sailed south at
8:30 o'clock last night.
The S. S. Alameda is due at Cor
dova.
The Alaska sailed from Seattle yes
terday.
The Admiral Watson is due from
westward about Saturday morning.
-0
THE WEATHER
Yesterday.
Maximum .49
Minimum .34
Current . 45
Weather .I.... Clear
Wind. South
WEATHER TOMORROW
Cloudy, southerly winds.