!! n
AND COOK INLET PIONEER
VOL. 2. NO. 80.
ANCHORAGi , ALASKA, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1917.
PRICE TEN CE&Ttf .
_I* ‘1
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2.—While a break in diplomatic re
lations between the United States and Germany is almost in
evitable, an ultimatum or warning to the German government
may precede this action, is the view taken in wide official cir
cles in the national capital. Another view is that the United
States can let the German proclamation remain unchallenged
and take decisive action with the first breach of neutrality on
the part of the German submarines. President Wilson, up to
last night, had given no intimation of the trend of his thoughts,
since he expressed incredulous amazement when the German
note was received.
OFFICIAL INFORMATION WITHHELD.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2.—While all official information is
being withheld, late yesterday evening there were indications
in official circles that the administration had sent, or was about
to send, a note to Germany, in reply to the German note.
PRESS REGARDS BREAK AS CERTAIN.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2.—The press of the country regards
a break in diplomatic relations between the United States and
Germany as inevitable, growing out of the German note. In
many cases, the newspapers are urging the United States to
take the initiative and hand passports to the German ambassa
DESTROYERS IN ACTIVE SERVICE.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2.—The United States navy depart
ment yesterday ordered 22 destroyers in active service along
the Atlantic seaboard, cha^gpci vdtb the duty of preserving the
neutrality of the United States.
BIG SEA FIGHT EXPECTED.
LONDON, Feb. 2.—A finish fight at sea between the Brit
ish and German fleets is expected here as an inevitable conse
quence of Germany’s latest note to the United States with re
spect to indiscriminate submarine warfare and the establish
ment of barred zones. In anticipation of such a fight, the Brit
ish navy is hastily extending its mine fields to a new section
of the sea area.
SHIPS PERMITTED TO CLEAR.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2.—The treasury department today
announced that all ships will be permitted to clear in regular
order and proceed to and from any American port to any for
eign port, the same as before the German proclamation was is
sued. This means that the United States will wholly disregard
the German proclamtion with respect to indiscriminate subma
rine warfare and the establishment of prescribed barred zones.
BIG NEWSPAPER URGES WAR.
NEW YORK, Feb. 2.—The leading editorial in that pow
erful newspaper, the New York World, written by Editor Cobb,
recognized as perhaps the greatest editorial writer in the Unit
ed States, under the caption, “Germany Declares War,’ ’ asserts
that there can be but one answer to the German submarine
proclamation, and that is, that Count von Berastorff, German
ambassador to the United States, be given his passports before
this day is done.
800 SUBMARINES AT SEA.
AMSTERDAM, Feb. 2.—It is estimated in Amsterdam that
the German navy department has sent 800 submarines to sea, to
participate in the indiscriminate submarine warfare.
ANOTHER REPORT SAYS 1,200.
SEATTLE, Feb. 2.—A Third avenue, Seattle, German bus
iness man, whose name is not revealed for obvious reasons, has
received a letter stating that Germany has 1,200 submarines in
commission.
4,000,000 TONS SHIPPING DESTROYED.
BERLIN, Feb. 2.—(By wireless to Sayville)—The Over
seas News Agency says the entente allies have had 4,000,000
tons of shipping destroyed from the beginning of the world war
to date.
FIRST VICTIM OF BARRED ZONE.
LONDON, Feb. 2.—The Dutch steamer Epsilon was the
first vessel to be sunk in the new barred zone. It was torpe
doed yesterday afternoon, while en route to an English port.
AWAITING ACTION OF GOVERNMENT.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2.—All is quiet about the German
Cd Austro-Hungarian embassies today. The officers in charge
ry frankly stated that they were waiting action by this gov
ernment.
CABINET MEETS THIS AFTERNOON.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2.—Up to noon today there was no
change in the situation, save that instructions have been sent
to all customs collectors throughout the United States, Hawaii
and Porto Rico to exercise the utmost vigilance and see that
the neutrality regulations are enforced and to allow no armed
ships to leave port without a permit. The cabinet is in session
this afternoon, called in special session, and it is probable that
the administration’s policy will be defined and official an
nouncement made with respect thereto.
ALL EYES ON UNITED STATES.
LONDON, Feb. 2.—The eyes of t l Europe are focused on
I Washington, for it is felt that the o k stion of whether or not
! the United States will enter the war L now being decided.
NO REPLY SENT TO GERMANY.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2.—Secretary of State Lansing to
day noon made an authorised statement to the effect that no re
ply had been sent to the German note. He declined to say whe
ther or not instructions had been /sent American Ambassador
Gerard at Berlin and declined to ipake any statement as to the
reason for the delay in announcing the course of the United
States. He said he was not prepared to discuss whether or not
any announcement to this effect would be made today.
BREAK WILL SURELY COME.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2.—There is no doubt anywhere in
official circles today that a break in diplomatic relations, not
alone with Germany but with all her allies, is only a question of
days and possibly hours. President Wilson and Dr. Grayson
p’syed golf for a half hour this morning. The president has
A#eu at his desk almost unceasinglgppJince the German note was
received.
HUGHES MAKES PATRIOTIC SPEECH.
NEW YORK, Feb. 2.—In a speech to a vast throng in New
York last night, Chas. E. Hughes, who was the republican can
didate for president, said, in part: “We are all Americans to
night, standing behind our president, upon whom this great
responsibility rests. It is no time to embarrass him in an hour
of test that will show what America is made of. ’ ’
OWNERS REQUEST A RULING.
NEW YORK, Feb. 2.—Owners of American vessels plying
between New York and foreign ports have requested a ruling as
to instructions and movements from Secretary of State Lan
sing. Unless forbidden, the vessels will continue to operate.
NOTE WILL BE ANSWERED.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2.—It is regarded as certain today
that the German submarine note will not go unchallenged,
though President Wilson continues silent. It is known that he
is giving his whole time to a study of the German note and does
not wish to take any precipitate action.
DISCONTINUE SAILINGS.
LONDON, Feb. 2.—As a result of Kaiser Wilhelm’s subma
rine threat, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Holland have dis
continued all sailings from those countries.
VESSELS DEPART, AS USUAL.
NEW YORK, Feb. 2.—Vessels en route to European ports
were permitted to pass out last night, each being inspected by
torpedo boat destroyers.
SINKING TWO SUBMARINES DAILY.
LONDON, Feb. 2.—England is sinking German submarines
at the rate of two each day, according to reliable information
emanating from the navy department.
HUNDRED SUBMARINES MAY BE, BUILT.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2.—Senator Miles Poindexter, of
Washington, introduced a bill for the immediate construction of
100 submarines.
TEN VESSELS ARE DESTROYED.
LONDON, Feb. 2.—German submarines have sunk ten ves
sels, four large and six small ones, as a resnlt of the first day’s
activities in the newly announced submarine campaign. Eight
lives were lost.
PRICE OF HOGS INCREASES.
CHICAGO, Feb. 2.—Hogs are today quoted at $13.20 the
hundred pounds, the highest price since the civil war.
BREAK IN COTTON PRICE.
NEW YORK, Feb. 2.—The price of cotton, which has been
the highest since the civil war, broke today and is now selling
at $25 the bale.
I
SEATTLE, Feb. 2.—The official announcement yesterday
ol the Seattle clearing house that it would guarantee payment
of all deposits of all the banks in Seattle, whether or not they
were members of the clearing house, had the effect of stopping
all runs on local banns, save on the Scandinavian-American
bank. The withdrawals yesterday from this institution, which
is regarded as one of the strongest in Seattle, were much less
than the day preceding. The situation is fast returning to
normal conditions. Confidence is restored. No runs are ex
pected on any of the banks today.
SEATTLE, Feb. 2.—Col. R. W. L. Stevenson, of Skagway,
and associates yesterday took over the control of the smelter
at Ladysmith, British Columbia, and the Alaska Corporation,
which owns lode mines in the Rainy Hollow and Porcupine re
gious in Alaska and British Columbia. The combined deals
involved over a million dollars. The corporation formed by
Col. Stevenson and his associates has ample backing and in
tend to do vast development work on the lode properties, which
are chiefly copper, this coming season. The smelter and the
lode properties will be separate companies and Col. Stevenson
will be president and general manager of both. Maurice Me
Micken, a well-known Seattle attorney, will be vice-president
of both corporations, and G. E. Louttit will be secretary.
JUNEAU, Feb. 2.—The official canvassing board resumed
its sessions yesterday, counting the votes that had been received
since the adjournment of the first session. In the votes count
ed to date, Delegate Wickersham is 23 votes ahead of Sulzer.
It develops that the Bristol bay returns, which have been can
vassed, insure the election of Joe Murray, republican, of McCar
thy, over Holland, democrat, of Chitina, by a majority of eight
votes. It is conceded that with the Utica vote, which has not
been canvassed, Corrigan, democrat, will win over Reed, repub
lican, by a slight majority.
The political standing of the Alaska legislatice assembly
will be: Senate, five republicans and three democrats; house,
seven republicans, seven democrats, one independent and one
vacant seat, due to the resignation of Representative Heid, re
cently elected, in the First division. A special election will be
held to fill the vacancy.
In the delegate election, the First division is complete and
gives Wickersham 1,906 and Sulzer 2,395.
The Second division, without the Utica precinct where the
delegate leads by nine votes, Wickersham 886, Sulzer 673.
The Third division, complete, gives Wickersham 2,007;
Sulzer 1,698.
The Fourth division, with Flat, Kantishna, Dikeman and
Olnes precincts missing, gives Wickersham 1.600; Sulzer, 1,595.
It is unofficially stated that Sulzer, in the missing precincts in
this division, has 94 votes and Wickersham 74.
Assuming that Sulzer gains a lead of 20 votes in the miss
ing precincts in the Fourth division, Delegate Wickersham,
having a lead of 23 votes in the canvass already completed, and
with an unofficial lead of nine votes in the Utica precinct in
the Second division, jjas won the election T>y the narrow margin
of 12 votes.