AND COOK INLttT PIONEER
VOL. 2. NO. 86.
— ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9,1917
0
PRICE TEN CENTS
HASTEN ORDERS FOR FIELD ARTILLERY
6ERMIN PROPERTY IN UNITED STATES WILL BE SITE
MONEY AND PROPERTY GERMAN SUBJECTS
ABSOLUTELY SAFE, SAYS THE PRESIDENT
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9.—Because of the growing concern
:n some quarters over the safety of money and property of Ger
man subjects in the United States, in the event of hostilities
with Germany, President Wilson today gave his personal word
that such fears were entirely unfounded; that the money and
property of German subjects would not be confiscated or in
anywise molested. The president’s word was given, following
reports that large quantities of money had been consigned to
South America by Germans living in this country. The At ate
department today issued a reassuring statement, to st-if the
shipment. l„ vjl'
^FIFTY-NINE SHIPS SUNK BY GERMAN •
SUBMARINES SINCE BLOCKADE STARTED
NEW YORK, Feb. 9.—Fifty-nine ships have been sunk by
German submarines and mines since the blockade took e.feet,
according to compilations from cable reports from Europe.
Fourteen of these vessels, with an aggregate tonnage of 29,907,
were destroyed yesterday and last night. Reports from Eon
don say that the British fleet is destroying, on an average, two
German submarines a day, but the number appears almost in
exhaustible. There are hundreds of the undersea craft ji bout,
the English coast and danger to shipping daily increases.
BRITISH ANDfltENCH GOVERNMENTS ~
GRANT SAFE CONDUCT TO THE GERMANS
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9.—Yielding to the requests of the
American government, the British government has granted safe
conduct to the German ambassador to the United States, his at
taches and all German consular agents in the United States who
wish to return to Germany, stipulating, however, that the
steamer that carries them must call at Halifax, where their pa
pers* may he examined by British authorities. The French gov
ernment has informed the state department that it will grant
safe conduct to the Germans. This means that Ambassador
Gerard, his attaches and American consular agents in Germany
will be permitted to leave that country.
SWISS MINISTER DIRECTED TO TAKE OVER
$ GERMAN AFFAIRSIN THE UNITED STATES
WASHINGTON, Feb. 8.—Minister Ritter, who represents
Switzerland in the United States, with headquarters at Wash
ington, was notified by his government to take over the affairs
of the German embassy, beginning this day. He is likewise
•empowered to take over all German diplomatic interests in the
United States, including the 12 consulates located in various
parts of the country. So far as publicly known here, it has not
been revealed as to what nation’s accredited representative in
Berlin will take over the affairs of the United States.
SUBMARINE USED SEIZED VESSEL AS REFUGE
FOR CREWS OF DESTROYED VESSELS
LONDON, Feb. 9.—Statements by survivors of vessels that
were sunk by German submarines, show1 that in one case a sub
marine operating in the barred zone employed a steamer, which
it had seized, as a place of temporary refuge for the crews of
other vessels attacked and sunk. Survivors who told of this
procedure were from the Norwegian ship Songelves and the
British steamer Turnino.
BRITISH TROOPS ON SOMME FRONT REPORT
GAIN OF POSITIONS FROM THE GERMANS
LONDON, Feb. 9.—British troops on the Somme front
yesterday captured from the Germans positions at Sailly Sail
Usel, according to official advices received today from General
Haig, commanding the British forces in'France. The report
from field headquarters says that the village of Grandcourt is
now entirely in the possession of the British troops, which is
considered of vast importance in further operations against
the enemy. The British troops are now threatening the strong
German positons at Letracslow.
AMERICAN COLORED MAN LOST WHEN
BRITISH STEAMSHIP TURNINO SUNK
LONDON, Feb. 9.—When the British steamship Turino was
sunk by a German submarine, an American negro, George
Washington, by name, one of the firemen, was killed, according
to a report received today by United States Ambassador Page.
One of the survivors among the crelv was Calvin Day, an Ameri
can, who formerly resided at Filniore, Utah.
PRESIDENT SEEKS ALL INFORMATION.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9.—Presi.'.: at Wilson was in the ex
ecutive office when news of the subiua; ine attack on the British
steamship Turino reached him, idling of the killing
of the American negro George Washington. The presi
dent immediately directed that all tiie facts be gathered as
quickly as possible. Washington was one of three firemen killed,
according to information received by his wife, who is now in
Liverpool. An effort is yow being made by the American em
bassy to find her.
FORTY-ONE STILL MISSING.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9.—American Consul Frost, of
Queenstown, England, wires the state department today that
41 members of the crew and passengers on the British steamer
California, sunk by a German submarine, are still missing and
believed lost. Their nationality is not known, at this time.
ALLIED CARGO SHIPS BEING CONVOYED
TO EUROPEAN PORTS BY ALLIED WARSHIPS
NORFOLK, Fob. 9.—Loaded with war munitions, cotton
and genera] supplies for the allied powers, a fleet of twenty-five
British, French and Italian ships, sail and steam, sailed from
Virginia ports today. When twenty-five miles off shore, a fleol
of allied warships picked up the cargo vessels and will convoy
them to their respective destinations.
SPANISH GOVERNMENT DECLARES GERMAN
POLICY OPPOSED TO LAW OF NATIONS
MADRID, Feb. 9.—The Spanish government’s protest to
the German government with respect to the submarine cam
paign is a firm and dignified document. It declares that Ger
many’s decision to close completely sea routes is outside the
legal principle of international law, and adds, “If Germany
hopes to have Spanish help to avoid more loss of life, it must
be understood that Spain cannot accept the legality of excep
tional methods of war.”
BRAZIL SENDS SPUNKY REPLY TO GERMANY:
WILL HOLD HER RESPONSIBLE FOR LOSS
RIO JANEIRO, Feb. 9.—Brazil’s reply to the German
note announcing the promulgation of the new submarine policy
is polite, but firm. The Brazilian note declares that Brazil will
hold Germany responsible for the consequences which may re
sult from the inauguration of the indiscriminate submarine pol
icy and the establishment of barred zones around Great Britain,
France and Italy.
NORWAY AND SWEDEN PROTEST
AGAINST GERMAN SUBMARINE WARFARE
STOCKHOLM, Feb. 9.—Norway and Sweden will enter
strong protests against the German submarine policy, accord
ing to official advices received by the state department today.
While diplomatic relations will not be broken off at once, the
protest will be the initiatory step in this direction. Should the
Tinted States declare war on Germany, growing out of the in
discriminate submarine campaign, it now seems probable that
Norway, Sweden, Denmark and even Holland will likewise de
clare war. These nations are awaiting action by the United
States and will probably follow its lead.
ORDERS RELEASE OF GERMAN CREWS.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9.—Secretary of Labor Wilson has
ordered the release of the crewsnef the German steamer Sax
onia and the ship Steinbek, which are interned at Eagle Har
bor, and the men will be returned to their respective vessels.
They will be kept under surveillance, however, to keep them
from destroying the vessels.
i
WAR SECRETARY ORDERS THE IMMEDIATE
CONSTRUCTION OF BATTERIES FOR U. S.ARMY
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9.—Secretary of War Baker today
sent; direct orders to the Bethlehem Steel plant to cease all work
on minor orders from the war department and concentrate all
the available men immediately on the production of 39 batteries
of 4-inch guns and 13 batteries of (i-incli guns for use by the
United States field artillery. These guns will be built from de
signs: completed as a result of observations of U. S. military
officers in Europe. The Bethlehem plant will also immediate
ly begin to turn out a 9.2-inch gun for the United States army,
which it is declared will prove an excellent weapon, more ef
feetive than the 42-c0ntimeter guns used by the German army.
Vast orders for munitions of war have been placed by the
war department with the munitions plants of the nation. All
plants are now working day and night on orders from the de
partment, laying aside all private contracts.
SIX-INCH SIEGE GUNS SHIPPED
TO NEW YORK CITY FOR DEFENSE
NEW YORK, Feb. 9.—All available six-inch siege guns at
West Point, the military academy, have been ordered sent to
New York forthwith, where they will be employed in the de
fense of the metropolis, in the event of war. Efforts are being
put forth to guard New York, as it is figured that it will be a
likely point of attack, should hostilities ensue. Wire netting
and steel chain will be placed at the entrance of the harbor, as
a protection against tbe depredations of eneni^j^ubmarines.
GOVERNMENT IN MARKET FOR 500
ENGINES TO EQUIP AERIAL FLEET
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9.—The government is in the mar
bet for .">00 engines to equip that number of aeroplanes that
•vi!| soon be ready for use, according to an announcement of
the war department today. It is the purpose of the war de
partment to have a powerful aerial fleet, to be chiefly employ
ed in scout duty along the Atlantic seaboard, acting in com
pany with the naval fleets. Some of them will be employed in
the defense of the big eastern coast cities, in the event of war.
ARMORED CRUISERS AT BREMERTON
TAKING ON STORES FOR NINE MONTHS
SEATTLE, Feb. 9.—United States armored cruisers at the
Puget Sound navy yard were today ordered by the navy depart
ment to take on stores and provisions for full commission for a
period of nine months and to be prepared to sail at a moment’s
notice, at the direction of the department. There is great ac
tivity at Bremerton, due to the threatened hostilities. The
navy yard is taking on a war-like attitude. Visitors are ex
cluded and extra guards have been placed on duty.
» -
NAVAL BASES TO BE ESTABLISHED AT SAN
FRANCISCO AND AT BREMERTON, WASH’N.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9.—The establishment of a naval
base on San Francisco bay and the development of the Puget
Sound navy yard as another naval base are the recommenda
tions contained in a report by a special board of naval officers,
who have been making a study of the situation. Congress has
appropriated $60,000,000 for the establishment of naval bases
and other defense measures, and a large part of these funds will
be employed in the development of the Pacific coast naval
bases.
SWEDISH GOVERNMENT DOES NOT AGREE
WITH THE POLICY OF UNITED STATES
STOCKHOLM, Feb. 9..—The Swedish government’s reply
to the American note telling of the breaking off of diplomatic
relations with Germany was handed to the American minister
today, and reads as follows: “The government of the United
States has chosen as a means of arriving at the realization of
peace, a method absolutely contrary to the principles which
have guided the Swedish government in its policy up to the
present time.”