AND COOK INLET PIONEER
VOL. NO. 89.
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1917.
£
PRICE TEN CENTS
GERMANS SEE UTTLE HOPE FOR PEACE
• TWO IMPORTANT INVENTIONS, IN CASE OF HOSTILITIES
' -———1 1 ) ' -( — ' ■ . " " '
GOVERNMENT CIRCLES IN BERLIN
SEE LITHE HOPE FOR AVOIDING
HOSTILITIES WITH UNITED STATES
COPENHAGEN, Feb. 13.—According to newspaper cor
respondents’ reports from Berlin, there is little hope or expec
tation in government circles that war can be avoided with the
United States, or that a modus vivendi can be found that will
reconcile the respective policies of the two countries. The
German government will not modify its recently inaugurated
Submarine^' jnpaign, as it deems it imperative to save itself
from defeat^ \he world war.
KAISER L ^CONFERENCE
TO i»*dJSS SUBMARINE QUESTION
BERLIN, Feb. 13.—An important conference has been
called at the field headquarters of the German army by Kaiser
Wilhelm, presumably for the purpose of discussing the subma
rine question, says the correspondent of the Exchange Tele
graph company, in his report today.
1 AUSTRIA-HUNGARY WILL MAKE EFFORT
TO AVOID TROUBLE WITH UNCLE SAM
VIENNA, Feb. 13.—In an effort to prevent the breaking
oft' of diplomatic* relations between the United States and Aus
tria-Hungary, upon the initiative of the United States, the
Austro-Hungarian government is negotiating with American
Ambassador Penfield, at Vienna, over the question of allow
ing Americans to travel on the Mediterranean sea, unmolested
^ by Austrian submarines. The government hopes to be able
to amicably settle the trouble and prevent a break with the
United States.
GERMANY WILL HOLD AS HOSTAGE, THE
AMERICAN SAILORS ON SHIP YARROWDALE
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13.—Formal notification of the re
tention in Germany of 72 American sailors, brought as prison
ers on the prize ship Yarrowdale, taken captive in South At
lantic waters, was given to the state department today by the
Swiss minister, acting for'the German government. Dr. Lit
ter, the Swiss minister, said the German government had de
cided to hold the Americans until it had definite assurances
tint German crews in American harbors will.not be held or
imprisoned. This development is amazing to the American
government.
GOVERNMENT TO PLACE GUNS AT THE
DISPOSAL OF AMERICAN MERCHANTMEN
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13.—The government has virtual
ly decided to place guns at the disposal of American mer
chantmen, plying between American and European ports, in
order that they may have means of protection, in the event of
submarine attacks.
CHINA BREAKS OFF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS
WITH GERMANY, BECAUSE OF SUBMARINES
LONDON, Feb. 13.—China has broken off diplomatic re
lations with Germany, following the lead of the United States,
growing out of the indiscriminate submarine policy, according
to authoritative information that reaches London today. The
Chinese cabinet heartily endorsed President Wilson’s action
in severing diplomatic relations with Germany and immed
iately notified the German ambassador to China that his pass
ports would be accepted.
‘ip DIVERS GET BUT TWO VESSELS SUNDAY.
LONDON, Feb. 13.—Sunday was a light day for the Ger
Iman submarines. But two small vessels were sunk, as a re
sult of their activities.
■'t
SECRETARY OF STATE LANSING, IN
SPEECH LAST NIGHT, ADMITS THE
NATION STANDS ON VERGE OF WAR
WASHINGTON,*Feb. 13.—Germany’s delay before per
mitting- the departure of American Ambassador Gerard and
other Americans officials from German soil has aroused the
deepest resentment in Washington, especially in view of the
steps made by the American government to arrange for all
possible conveniences for the homeward trip of Count von
Bernstorff and other German official; in the United States.
Secretary of State Lansing, in speaking last night at a banquet
of the Amherst alumni, said, in part: “It is undeniable that
the United States is on the verge of war with Germany, but
on the other hand, there is always the hope that our country
may be spared the terrible calamity of being forced into the
conflict. But we cannot close our eyes to the fact that we arc
standing on the verge of a war which has for two and a half
years wasted the great empires of Europe and brought untold
woes to mankind.”
UNITED STATES DECLINES TO NEGOTIATE
WITH GERMANY, WHILE DIVER WARFARE ON
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13.—The United States govern
replying to the German note,, coming through the Swiss
government, and asking for a discussion of the submarine ques
tion, with a view to avoiding hostilities, states it will decline
to enter into a discussion of the subject, or any negotiations
whatsoever, while the unrestricted German submarine cam
paign remains in effect and until Germany- restores its pledges
made in the Sussex case.
DE FACTO GENERAL IS ENGAGING
MAIN ARMY OF GENERAL VILLA TODAY
EL PASO, Feb. 13.—While General Marguea, de facto
commander, is engaging the main body of General Villa’s ar
my near Santa Rosalia, Mexico, today, his brother. General
Jose Marguea, is rapidly gathering a force of 1,500 men at
Juarez, with a view to going after the rebels in the territory
recently vacated by the American expedition.
BRITISH TROOPS ON SOMME FRONT
CAPTURE MILE OF GERMAN TRENCHES
LONDON, Feb. 13.—The British troops last night cap
tured German trenches on a front three-quarters of a mile in
width, lying north of Beaumont and Hamel, in the Somme sec
tor. The British met with but slight resistance.
ELEVEN PERSONS IN PETROGRAD ARRESTED
FOR PLOT TO OVERTHROW GOVERNMENT
PETROGRAD, Feb. 13.—Eleven persons were taken into
custody in Petrograd last night by officers of the government
secret service, on the charge of fomenting a labor movement
in Russia, having for its purpose the overthrow of the mon
archy and the establishment of a social domestic republic.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13.—Articles
of impeachment presented to the house
yesterday by Congressman Lindbergh,
charge that Charles Harding Warburg
and Delano Miller Hamlin, who are
adtnjj^ppring the federal reserve
banking act, have entered a conspir
acy with the intention of co-ordinating
tbe-<big business of the nation for the
purposes of speculation. The impeach
ment articles were referred to the
house committee on judiciary.
METHOD OF DETECTING PRESENCE
OF SUBMARINES HAS BEEN DISCOVERED
BUT SECRET KEPT CLOSELY GUARDED
XEW \ ORK, Feb. 13.—A method of detecting1 the pres
ence of submarines lias been discovered, hut details of the
great discovery, and the question of whether the United States
or one ot the entente allies possesses the secret, is being care
j fully guarded, it was learned here today, following a special
meeting of the naval consulting board. It is believed, however,
i that the United States alone posseses the secret and is about to
employ it for the protection of American shipping interests.
SELF-GUIDING TORPEDO, BASED ON
MAGNETIC CONTROL, IS INVENTED
W1LLISTOX, X. C., Feb. 13.—A self-guiding torpedo,
based on magnetic control, against which an enemy would have
little chance for defense, has been invented by Charles J. Gran
son and Cyrus K. Field, and turned over to the navy depart
ment. The invention is regarded as a most important one, in
the event of war with Germany.
GERMAN SUBMARINE FIRES 47 SHELLS
AND SINKS BRITISH-INDIA LINER
WANI1IXGTOX, Feb. 13.—American Consul Frost, of
| Queenstown, England, wires the state department today that
the British-India liner Mantola was torpedoed and sunk by a
1 German submarine off the Irish coast February 8. The vessel
' was sunk without warning. All on board were saved, with
! the exception of seven Lascars, who were killed by the explo
sion. After being torpedoed, the ship began sending wireless
calls for assistance, which aroused the ire of the submarine
commander, who shelled the liner 47 times. Among those who
i escaped in the ship’s boats was Earl Rice, formerly of Port
land, Oregon, ship’s surgeon.
AMBASSADOR GERARD AND PARTY REACH
SWITZERLAND, EN ROUTE TO UNITED STATES
BERLIN, Feb. 13.—American Ambassador Gerard and
his staff, accompanied by 100 American residents of Germany,
departed Sunday night, en route to Switzerland. Members of
the foreign office saw the American party off and extended
cordial farewell greetings.
GERARD PARTY AT ZURICH.
ZURICH, Feb. 13.—The Gerard party arrived at Zurich.
Switzerland, yesterday afternoon, and will proceed to a Span
ish port for embarkation to the United States.
ORVILLE WRIGHT, IN EVENT OF WAR,
WILL ORGANIZE AN AERIAL ARMY
NEW YORK, Feb. 13.—Orville Wright, inventor of the
Wright aerial machine and. pne of the foremost aviators in the
country, announced today that in the event of war with Ger
many, lie would organize an aerial army, financing the propo
sition himself.
MASSIVE PITTSBURG PLANT DESTROYED,
BELIEVED THE WORK OF INCENDIARIES
PITTSBURG, Feb. 13.—The massive plant of the Union
Switch and Signal company in Pittsburg, which was employed
in manufacturing munitions for the allied powers, was almost
entirely consumed by the flames last night, entailing a loss of
$4,000,000. The fire is believed to have been of incendiary
origin.
BERNSTORFF TO DEPART TONIGHT.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13.—Count von Bemstorff, former
German ambassador to the United States, his attaches and
German consuls and consular agents throughout the country,
will take their departure tonight, sailing from New York.