f
VOL. 2.
V
J9,
AND COOK INLET #|ONEER
NO. 87. ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1917. PRICE TEN CENTS.
PRESIDENT FORMULATES PUN OF ACTION
■ FORMER PRES1DEKT TAFT SEES MENACE IN FAN EAST
PRESIDENT HAS FRAMED DEFINITE POLICY,
IN EVENT GERMANS COMMIT OVERT ACT
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.—President Wilson has framed
a definite coarse to be pursued, in the event Germany commits
an overt act against American life or property. As mentioned
in his address to a joint session of the congress, he will not ask
that body to make a declaration of war against Germany, but do
just what he promised to do in his speech to the solons—ask
that he be allowed to use whatever means and measures he may
deem necessary to protect American seamen and travelers.
» PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURAL TO BE OCCASION
« OF EXHIBITION OF PATRIOTIC FEELING
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10. —Formal announcement was
made today that in. spite of the acute foreign situation, the pub
lic presidential inaugural ceremonies on March 5 will be held as
planned. It is stated that the ceremonies will be made especi
ally impressive, “in order to afford an opportunity for a per
fectly spontaneous exhibition of the patriotic feeling throughout
the country.” s
PASSENGERS CHANGE FROM AMERICAN
LINERS TO ALLIED LINE STEAMERS
NEW YORK, Feb. 10.—A number of persons who engaged
passage tb'Etirope on JteSmels of American lines cancelled their
reservations today and booked passage on vessels flying flags of
belligerent nations. Some of them will take passage on the
French liner Espagne, which is scheduled to sail Sunday. The
advantage in taking passage on belligerent vessels is that the
steamers will be convoyed by belligerent warships, whereas
American liners have no protection.
* GUNFIRE FROM DECKS OF WARSHIPS MOST
EFFECTIVE AGAINST GERMAN SUBMARINES
NEW YORK, Feb. 10.—Although figures to show the num
ber of submarines destroyed by the entente allies are not avail
able, and the means employed in their destruction is likewise
withheld from the public, it is learned here from an authoritat
ive source that direct gunfire from the decks of warships and
^- auxiliary vessels has been the most effective method. Three
German submarines are known to have been sunk in one day,
by this method.
IN FOUR YEARS, AT PRESENT RATE,
COULD CLEAR THE SEAS OF SHIPS
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.—Llyod’s reports received in
Washington give eighty-five thousand as the tonnage destroyed
by German submarines during the 5th, 6th and 7th. At that
rate, if the submarine campaign is kept going for a period of
four years, it would clear the seas of the world of every vessel
afloat.
SCAND1MV1AN-AMER1CAN LINER DEMANDS
PROTECTION FOR ALL OF ITS PASSENGERS
Was v i't ■
' NEW YORK, Feb. 10.—The Scandinavian-American line,
through its agents, declared today that it would not allow its
steamship, Frederick Eighth, to sail with Count von Bernstorff,
his attaches and consular agents, unless Germany, as well as
< treat Britain and France, guaranteed the safety of the other
passengers of the vessel.
NAVY TO ENLIST 25,000 MEN IMMEDIATELY.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.—Recruiting agents of the United
States navy have been instructed to immediately enlist 25,000
men, to augment the present naval force.
<c SIX VESSELS DESTROYED YESTERDAY.
LONDON, Feb. 10.—Only six vessels, of an aggregate ton
nage of 10,000, were sunk by German submarines yesterday.
Four of the vessels flew the Norwegian flag. All but four of the
crews lost their lives.
FORMER PRESIDENT TAFT TELLS OF I
UNCLE SAM’S MENACE IN FAR EAST
- Vt ''
NEW YORK, Feb. 10.—“We are facing war now. We are i
on the brink of it.” This solemn declaration was made today 1
by former President Taft, in a speech in the Hotel Astor. The I
former president spoke ironically of the American people sit- ]
ting back in rocking chairs, at perfect ease, while the great <
European conflict is waging. Taft’s endorsement of the policy <
of compulsory military training evoked tremendous applause
from his auditors. “Call it conscription, if you will, but we 1
need it,” exclaimed the former president. “It is believed that 1
the American people have grave cans • to fear a menace from I
the Far East,” he said. “We owiM’k* Hawaiian islands and 1
the largest element in the population there is 70,000 Japanese,
who have served in the Japanese army. We have a force of
5,000 men in the islands. ” f j
In concluding, Taft said: “In the Philippine islands we i
have eight million people who owe their allegiance to the United
States and to whom we owe protection. They are under the
j eaves of Asia and they therefore make us an Asiatic power.
Next come our relations with China and Japan. We yearn for
Chinese and Japanese trade, but not for the peoples of those
nations. The Japanese don’t like that. President Wilson says
that in the next war we shall not be neutral. That is probably
true. In the next war the explosion will be world-wide and
there will be no room for neutrals. ”
GERMAN OFFICIAL GIVES REASON WHY
AMBASSADOR GERARD WAS HELD HOSTAGE
AMSTERDAM, Fob. 10.—The German under secretary
for foreign affairs is quoted as saying: “American Ambassa
dor Gerard was held up because the United States government
would not permit German Ambassador Bernstorff to cable his
government that he had received his passports.” Gerard will;
leave Berlin this evening for Zurich, Switzerland, accompanied
by his entire staff and 50 American residents of Germanv.
i _
GERARD TODEPART TODAY.
BUB LIN, Feb. 10.—Now that the German ambassador and
his attaches have been guaranteed safe conduct from the United
States to Germany, American Ambassador Gerard, his attaches
and other Americans in Germany are free to depart at their
pleasure. Gerard will probably leave here today. . ;
DOES NOT BELIEVE GERARD DETAINED.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.—In an authorized statement is-1
sued today, Secretary of State Lansing said: “I am loathe to
believe that the German government was instrumental in de
taining Ambassador Gerard in Berlin on any excuse whatso
ever.”
BRITISH TORPEDO BOAT HITS MINE.
LONDON, Feb. 10.—It is officially announced by the admi
ralty today that a British torpedo boat destroyer hit a mine in
the English channel and sank yesterday. The entire crew, 40
in number, went down with the destroyer.
COLORED MAN IS A CANADIAN.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.—U. S. Consul Frost, of Queens
town, England, reports to the state department today that an
investigation reveals that the colored fireman, George Washing
ton, who lost his life in the sinking of the British steamer Tor
nino, is not an American citizen, as first supposed. He was born
in Alberta, Canada.
BALTIC ARRIVES AT LIVERPOOL.
LONDON, Feb. 10.—The American liner Baltic arrived
safely at Liverpool today. No effort was made by German sub
marines to molest the big passenger ship.
BRITISH MAKE THREE SEPARATE ATTACKS
ON SOMME FRONT, GAINING SOME GROUND
BERLIN, Feb. 10.—The British troops made three separ
ate attacks on the Somme front last night, says an official :
German report today. The report admits that the British troops i
gained some ground, but says the gain is not important. i
§
:OUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE HOLDS
AN IMPORTANT MEETING YESTERDAY
WASHINGTON, Feb* 10.—The council on national de
ense, which includes a majority of the members of the cabinet,
leld an important meeting in Secretary of War Baker’s office
resterday, for the purpose of speeding up in the matter of in
lustrial mobilization. The civilian advisory commission, head
'd by Daniel Willard, president of the Baltimore and Ohio rail
vay system, was called to meet Monday and will press plans
'or the co-ordination of all commercial and industrial resour
ces ol the nation, in anticipation of a war with Germany.
UNIVERSAL MILITARY TRAINING BILL
FAVORABLY REPORTED BY COMMITTEE
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.—The bill calling for universal
nilitary training was reported favorably by the senate com
nittee on military affairs yesterday afternoon. While there is
some opposition to the measure, it is believed that in the circum
stances, it will pass both houses. The administration is said to
ne backing the measure.
IN CASE OF WAR, 10,000 INDIANS
WILL GO TO THE FRONT, SAYS A REPORT
SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 10.—In case of war with Ger
many, 10,000 Navajo Indians will take to the warpath on behalf
>f the government, according to a message received today by
Governor Bamberger, from the Indian chief at Monticello,
Utah.
OUT OF 78 ARMED MERCHANTMEN, GERMAN
SUBMARINES ONLY ABLE TO SINK SIX
MONTREAL, Canada, Feb. 10.—Out of seventy-eight ade
inatelv armed merchantmen which passed through the subma
rine zone up to Wednesday night, the German submarines were
ible to sink only six, according to William Hodge, minister of
labor in the British cabinet, a special to the Montreal Star today
ieelares.
HOLLAND-AMERICAN LINER TURNS BACK
WHEN WARNED BY GERMAN SUBMARINE
NKW YORK, Feb. 10.—The Hoi land-American line steam
ship Rvndam, which sailed from New York for Rotterdam Jan
uary 29, with the American consular agent at Luxemburg and
nearly one hundred cabin passengers, and which was reported
to be returning to this port, was warned by a German submarine
to turn ba**k when about to enter the barred zone. This infor
mation is contained in a wireless message from one of the pas
sengers.
NATIONAL PARTY TO MAKE FIGHT FOR ■
HOME RULE. CITING ALLIED POLICY
LONDON, Feb. 10.—The. nationalist party has formally
•greed that its parliamenta£\jl£ader, John Redmond, should ask
the government to grant an early day for the discussion of the
following motion:
“That with the view of strengthening the hands of the al
lies and to receiving recognition of equal rights of small nations
)f the principle of nationalities against and opposed to the Ger
man military domination of government without the consent of
;he governed, it is essential without further delay, to confer on
Ireland free institutions long promised her.” , 1
* RECENT ORDffi IS MODIFIED.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.—The order respecting wireless
•eports has been modified so as to permit the reporting of mer
•hant vessels only.
AMERICA TO BUILD BRITISH BOTTOMS.
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 10.—British firms have ordered
he construction of three 10,000-ton freighters, to be built as
loon as possible. This is the first tiipe in 50 years that British
■rs have found it necessary to send orders for vessels abroad.