AND COOK INLET PIONEER
VOL. 2. NO. 137.
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 1017.
©imps
PRICE TEN CENTS.
BRAZIL DECLARES WAR AGAINST GERMANY
President Encourages Roosevelt to Organize Foreign Division
■»
IMMEDIATE NEED OF THE ALLIES
IS WHEAT, AND CARGOES WILL BE
SENT AT ONCE IN AMERICAN SHIPS
WASHINGTON", April 11.—According to official reports
reaching the administration from the allied powers in Europe,
in response to inquiries as to what the I'nited States could do
to aid them in the war against the Teutons, the allied powers
are well supplied with men and with munitions of war. The
urgent need, according to reports, is money and food supplies.
The immediate need, and the one that the 1 nited States will
undertake to supply without delay is wheat for making bread.
All of the allied powers are short of wheat. Large cargoes will
be dispatched immediately in American bottoms and I'nited
States warships will convoy tin* food product so as to insure
safe arrival at its destination. The matter of financial aid to
the allies has already been undertaken.
HUNDRED KILLED AND TWO HUNDRED
INJURED IN MUNITION PLANT WRECK
CHESTER, Pa., April 11.—One hundred employes vere
killed and two hundred received in juries, many of them of a se
rious nature, in the explosion which destroyed the Aetna mu
nition works in Chester early yesterday morning. Most of the
f dead and injured are girls, who compose most of the employes
of the plant. The works was owned and operated by the Rus
sian government, under the name of the Aetna Munition works.
BRITISH TROOPS ON WEST FRONT
CONTINUE ADVANCE AGAINST TEUTONS
LONDON, April 11.—The British troops have pushed
their lines as far as Monchy and Leprex, five miles east ot
Arras, and have made further gains at Vimy ridge, according to
the latest advices received today from the British forces on
the western front. The report says that 11,000 German prison
ers have been taken, among whom are L'db ofiicers. One hun
dred and seventy big guns were captured.
GERMANS SLACKING UP.
* BRITISH ARMIES IN T1IE FIELD, April 11. The
speed and power of the British assaults in the battle raging in
tin* Arras sector seem to have thoroughly surprised the Ger
mans. So much so, in fact, that their usual retaliatory artil
lery fire has been absolutely negligible in the last two days.
GENERAL HAIG REPORTS CAPTURE OF
10,000 GERMANS PAST FEW DAYS
LONDON, April 11.—General Haig, commanding the Brit
ish. forces in France, reports that within the past few days,
the British troops have taken captive over 10,000 German pris
'• oners, and that the Germans are still on the retreat to escape
the savage attacks of the allied anniey.
HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES PLAN
FOR A FIVE BILLION BOND ISSUE
WASHINGTON, April 11.—The house committee on ways
and means have approved of the five billion dollar bond issue
proposed by Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo. A bill author
izing the bond issue will be presented to the house today. The
money thus derived will be loaned to allies of the United
States.
‘ SIX HUNDRED SIXTY-EIGHT NEUTRAL
SHIPS SUNK SINCE BEGINNING OF WAR
WASHINGTON, April 11.—Since the beginning of the
world war, says a report issued by the state department today,
'(>88 neutral vessels have been sunk. Most of the vessels were
destroyed by Teuton submarines and mini's.
CONGRESSMAN HELGESEN DIES.
WASHINGTON, April 11.—Congressman Ilelgesen, of
North Dakota, passed away yesterday afternoon, following an
operation for appendicitis.
BRAZIL DECLARES WAR AGAINST
GERMANY, GROWING OUT OF SINKING
OF BRAZILIAN STEAMER PARANA
KIO l)K .IANKIHO. Brazil, April 11. Brazil lias officially
declared war on Germany. The text of the government's dec
laration will lie given out some time today. The action follow
ed the sinking of the Brazilian steamer Parana by a (Jarman
submarine. Passports have been issued to the (Jarman minis
ter and to (Jarman consular agents throughout Brazil. They
will depart immediately, an route, via Spain, to Germany. It
is expeetad that the government will toda> seize some -Hi
(Jarman vessels of all kinds, which have been interned in Bra
zilian ports since the war started.
REPORT NOT CONFIRMED.
\\ ASIIIXGTOX. April 11.—The report that Brazil has de
clared war on Germany, although not confirmed, is given cre
dence in Washington official circles. Indications in Washing
ton are that Brazil, Guatemala, Peru, Cuba and Panama will
side with the United States, all making declarations of war
against the Teutonic powers.
CHILE TO REMAIN NEUTRAL.
SANTIAGO, Chile, April 11.—Chile will maintain a strict
neutrality so long as she is not made tin* object of a direct at
tack. according to assurances given by the government au
thorities today.
MAJORITY WILL DECLARE WAR.
WASHINGTON', April 11.—Notwithstanding conflicting
reports, the administration expects that the majority of the
South and Central American republics will in the course of time
line up with tin* United States as against Germany. The ad
ministration has grounds for taking this view.
SUPPORTS UNCLE SAM’S POSITION.
MUMNOS AYRKS, April II.—The government today is
sued a proclamation to the effect that it supported the position
«if the United States with reference to Germany.
STEAMER ADMIRAL WATSON, WITH BIG
PASSENGER LIST, IS ON WAY HERE
SEATTLE, April 11. The steamer Admiral Watson sail
ed at 10 o’clock Monday ni^ht. tm route to Anchorage and way
ports. Passengers for Anchorage are as follows:
Wm. Morrison, O. W. Callahan, Dan
Daniels, W. M. Morse, Gertrude Joffe,
Minnie and Jeannette Feldman, Her
man Klosh, Mrs. Esther Miller, Sam
uel McCullough, J. H. Collier, I!. Neu
men, A. Swanson, N. Jaffe and wife,
K. W. Peck, G. Johnson, Edwin Engle
son, A. Knutsen, H. P. Fowler, Bar
bara Hedlund, Carrie Olson, George
! Osborn, Arthur Seney, Samuel Beck,
Eric Hedlund, E. Switzer, T. VV.
Welch and wife, Wong Wan, Mar
Than, Mrs. Sally Tyler, Miss Leo
Hale, C. W. Dickson, E. O. Kuklinski,
Joseph Friedman, Karl and J. E.
Schumacher, W. A. Rogers, Norman
and J. K. Johnson, C. Newell Fowler,
land 43 steerage, including 23 Japs for
the Goose bay cannery. Eighteen
j horses for the commission are aboard.
GOVERNOR COMPLIMENTS ANCHORAGE IN
MATTER OF ORGANIZING MILITIAMEN
In response to a telegram sent by
i the executive committee in charge of
j local military affairs, Governor Strong
has sent the following answer to
: Chairman McFarland:
Juneau, Alaska, April 10, 1917.
McFarland, Chairman Executive Com
mittee, Anchorage.
Replying to your telegram this date,
I congratulate you and men of An
chorage for their patriotic endorse
ment of administrative action, and on
behalf of the government I wish to
acknowledge this evidence of loyalty
and devotion to the country’s cause.
I have not yet received any instruc
tions as to volunteer military orgarv
; izationa for Alaska except the foilc-w
mg received recently from the war d< -
partment, through the secretary of the
| interior:
j “No ^military organizations can be
! recognized under the present status
| except the army, navy, marine and mi
tional guards. The president and con
gress have not as yet announced their
policy with regard to volunteers. My
advice would be that you gather and
train men as well as you can now, and
before they are far advanced there
(doubtless will be the machinery cre
ated by which they can be brought
into some formal service.”
The territorial legislature has made
an appropriation of $10,000 for emerg
ency and war purposes and any neces
sary expenses incurred by your organ
ization will be defrayed from that
fund upon presentation of vouchers
duly certified by proper authorities.
I assure Vou of my desire to co-op
erate with you in every way.
STRONG, Governor.
E. R. McFarld, chairman of the ex
ecutive committee in charge of the
local military organization, has called
a meeting of the board for 7:30 o’clock
tonight at the T. and T. building.
COL. ROOSEVELT LAYS PLANS TO
ORGANIZE FOREIGN DIVISION BEFORE
WILLING EARS OF PRESIDENT WILSON
WASHINGTON, April II. Former President Roosevelt
laid Ins plans tor raising a division of American troops for for
• if?!) service before President Wilson yesterday. Following
tlii“ conference, which lasted a couple of hours, tlie colonel
was approached hy a throng of waiting newspaper correspond
cuts and told them that lie was received bv President Wilson
with the utmost courtesy and consideration, and that his plan
has been well received. The necessary authority will he given
him to raise the division. Roosevelt said, further: "I am
heart and soul in favor of universal military training in the
' nited States. I would favor it. if its aim were to raise an
army of three million men. I am for both universal and obliga
tory training and service, ('all it conscription and I will sav
Wes.’ ’ton cannot frighten me by any name.”
MILLION DOLLARS’ WORTH OF SUPPLIES
ORDERED FOR ENGINEERING COMMISSION
SEATTLE, April 11. Contracts Tor supplies for the Alas
ka railway project, ranging- from lumber to shovels, and ag
gregating in value a round million dollars, were awarded by
Purchasing Agent Dole today. The largest contract awarded
was for live million feet of lumber for the Anchorage division
of the railway work, which went to the Weyerhauser company
mills at Everett. Hids for additional supplies, aggregating
$160,1 •_'<), were opened today, and will be awarded in tin* course
of a few days.
THREE ATTEMPTS TO FIRE GREAT
WHEAT WAREHOUSES IN M1NNEAP0ILS
MINNEAPOLIS. April II. 'Three tires of incendiary orig
in within a period of 12 hour> were put out by the tire depart
ment before any particular damage was done. 'The police au
thorities say that the tires were started by German subjects
and sympathizers for the purpose of destroying vast quanti
ties of wheat stored in Minneapolis warehouses. Extra guards
have been placed on duty about the storage warehouses.
LAUNCH LADEN WITH GASOLINE IS
SEIZED OFF THE COAST OF GEORGIA
ATLANTA. <la.. April 11. A launch manned by a llmimi!
crew aid carrying aim callous of gasoline, was captured by
United Stales patrol boats off the coast of Georgia yesterdaj.
The launch was seized and tin* crew placed under arrest and
will be taken to an internment camp. While the members of
the crew decline to talk, it is surmised that the gasoline was
for a Herman submarine.
GENERAL EIGHT-HOUR DAY BILL
PASSES THE LEGISLATURE YESTERDAY
.IUNEAU, April 11.—The senate yesterday passed the gen
eral eight-hour day law, the wolf bounty bill and (iaustad’s bill
to punish the owners of animals found trespassing on the prop
erty of another.
Senate committees reported on 18 bills. Seven of them
| were recommended for passage and the remainder met with
adverse reports.
IN THE HOUSE.
The senate amendment to the underground eight-hour bill,
making the penalty for the first offense GO instead of 90 days,
j was passed by the house. The bill only awaits the governor’s
I signature* to become a law effective May 1, 1917.
The Snow memorial, asking congress to waive the annual
'assessment on unpatented mineral claims, where the owners are
engaged in tin* service of the national government’s military
forces in the defense of the country was passed by the house.
A memorial urging the congress to establish a quarantine
station in southeastern Alaska was passed.
A bill regarding insurance companies, in which the senate
has concurred, was passed by the house.
The house passed the remainder of yesterday’s session in
iconsidering the uniform school system bill.