VOL
NO. 23.
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA. THURSDAY, MAY 16, 1918.
PRICE TEN CENTO.
OVER PEACE
Germans Believe They Can Reach
English Coast and Force Peace Ne
gotiations, Say Teuton Statesmen—
German Loss 3,000,000 Men.
COPENHAGEN, May 15. — The
Germans still believe they will be able
to reach the English channel, bar
navigation and bombard the southern
coast of England, in which event they
figure it will be quite an easy matter
to enforce peace negotiations with the
alies, according to the statement of
high German officials and members of
the reichstag, who are visiting in
Copenhagen.
These statesmen say that the Ger
man offensive on the west front has
thus far failed on account of heavy
losses in men sustained. They say
the German high command is waiting
to obtain more artillery, when opera
tions will be resumed, even on a much
larger scale than heretofore. They de
clare that Germany has lost three mil
lion men, in killed, wounded and
captured, since the war began.
Water Is i*ight» Now That It Was
Following Break-Up Last Spring—
Knocked Out Some of the Piling
Along River Bank.
lee went out of the Tanana river
May 11, reports a message from S.
F. Ryus, tovnsite manager at Nenana,
to E. T. Lindner, acting head of the
land and industrial department, with
headquarters in Anchorage.
Mr. Ryus declares that the water in
the Tanana is higher now than it was
following the break-up last spring.
fThe movement of ice this year, he
says, knocked out some of the piling
along the bank of the river at Nenana
and occasioned some damage to the
Xanana wharf of the Alaskan En
gineering commission.
JUNEAU, May 14.—“Alaska is
making a record in the purchase of
War Savings stamps, and may lead
all the political divisions of the nation
when the returns are all in,” said Gov
I Thomas Riggs, jr. “When I was in
Seattle,” continued Mr. Riggs, “Dan
iei Kelleher, who has charge at that
place of the War Savings stamp pur
chasing campaign, told me that Alas
ka ranks second in the per capita pur
chases, being exceeded only by the
record of Nebraska. He said, further,
that the returns from Nebraska are a
% great deal nearer complete than those
from Alaska, and when the reports
from remote Alaskan communities
come in that territory might take
first place.”
Gov. Riggs is proud of the record
that Alaska is making in support of
the war, both as to the money being
subscribed for Liberty bonds and War
Savings stamps and in the number of
men she is furnishing for the war.
CONSTANTINE
OUT OF DANGER
ZURICH, Switzerland, May 10.—
* Former King Constantine of Greece,
has undergone an operation and is be
lieved to be out of danger. His con
valesence will be slow, however, due to
the nature of his affliction.
READING DENIES
AN OTTAWA REPORT
WASHINGTON, D. C., May 13.—
Lord Readmg, British ambassador to
the United States, today asserted that
yesterday’s announcement, coming by
way of Ottawa, to the effect that the
American army in France would not
be fully utilized until developed to its
entire strength, was directly opposite
to information he had received from
' the British war office.
INOUIRY INTO
- GERMAN PLOT
IS UNDER If
Reports That Thousands of Rifles
Have Been Secretly Imported from
Germany to Be Subject of Vigorous
Probe.
NEW YORK, May 15.—Merton E.
Lewis, states attorney of New York,
today began an investigation into re
ports that thousands of rifles have
been secretly imported from the
Krupp works at Essen, Germany, into
the United States, in an effort to Ger
manize this country. According to
: reports, one million Mauser rifles,
many machine guns and large stores
of ammunition have been imported.
The reports are credited to James
Crossley, who is said to have stated
that he has information which involves
two German steamship companies.
The munitions, it is stated, were land
ed from steamships on Hoboken docks
and thence take* to places of
concealment.
Sixty witnesses have been called to
give testimony at the inquiry. Lewis
, declared he will sift the matter to the
bottom.
j_
Grain Districts of C aucasus and Coal,
*
Oil and Iron Deposits Fall Into
Hands of Teutons by Loss of
Rostov.
j MOSCOW, May 15.—Through the
| capture of Rostov, the Germans have
gained the grain districts of the Cau
casus and coal, iron and oil fields in
the Don river valley. Northern Rus
sia is now cut off from the Caucasus,
except for a single railway system,
which the Germans threaten to take
i possession of within the next few
j days. Sebastopol has fallen into the
I hands of the Germans. The overthrow
' of the Ukranine rada and the estab
| bailment of a burgeoise government
under the dominion of Germany is
freely predicted in Moscow.
The capture of Rostov creates gi-eat
! uneasiness in Moscow and Petrograd.
’ A German advance on central Russia
is much feared. It is believed that the
Russian soviet must either submit to
the Germans, or remove the govern
ment to a point further eastward.
jSEEKS LOST BRIDE
AFTER FIFTY YEARS
URBANA, 111., May 14.—Although
150 years have elapsed since A. H.
Reach, Norway, N. Y., married and
“lost” his bride of ten minutes, he
has written the county attorney ask
ing him to locate her.
Reach described his wife as a
“banker’s daughter,” having forgotten
her name. She was 17 years old at
: the time of her marriage, at the de
pot here in 1868, while waiting for a
train to New York.
He became separated from her in
the crowd and has not seen her since,
Reach writes.
GERMANS PREPAREMETHBDIGALLY
FOR RESUMPTION OF HOSTILITIES
ALLIES MITJIJH CONFIDENCE
INDICATIONS ARE THAT ENEMY WILL START ATTACK
BETWEEN LABASSE AND ON FRONT SOUTH OF
AMIENS, AND LIKEWISE ATTACK BRITISH LINES
IN FLANDERS, NEAR MONTDIDIER.
PARIS, May 15.—The Germans are methodically prepar
ing for the resumption of the big offensive against the allied
positions on the west front, according to the belief of French
military experts. It is indicated that the enemy will attack
at a point between Labassee and the front south of Amiens, and
it is probable that they will execute secondary operations si
multaneously in Flanders, between Montdidier and Noyon.
But wherever the Germans attack, say the military experts,
they will find facing them British, French and American troops,
eager to give battle and prepared to make vigorous resistance.
ENEMY SURPRISE ATTACK FAILS.
PARIS, May 15.—An official French communique this
morning says: Intermittent bombardments by the enemy are
occurring in the Grivesnes sector. During the night French
batteries dispersed enemy troop concentrations and convoys!
in the neighborhood of Montdidier. An enemy surprise attack !
in the Champagne sector failed completely.
FRENCH CAPTURE IMPORTANT POINT.
I PARIS, May 15.—The French forces attacked the Germans j
i near Halleo, below Amiens, and captured a wood on the west,
| bank of the Avre river. A German counter attack, in an effort
I to re-take the position, was repulsed, with severe losses to the [
enemy. During the night, the Bermans kept up a heavy bom-;
bardment north of Montdidier and also between Montdidier
and Noyon. This is the substance of an official communique ;
issued today.
ARTILLERY FIRE IS INCREASED.
LONDON, May 15.—An official British report today says:
The German artillery fire is perceptibly increasing today on
the front near Morlancourt, south of Albert, and near Kemiuel,
in Flanders.
SELECT BUNCH OF RULERS.
LONDON, May 15.—The German and Austrian emperors,
at a recent meeting held at the German great headquarters, se
lected monarchs for Courland, Esthonia, Poland and Lithonia.
! The names of the newlv-made monarchs are not revealed.
_
GERMAN GAIN BUT TEMPORARY.
LONDON, May 15.—General Haig today reports a German!
attack along a mile front near Morlancourt yesterday. The en- j
| emy penetrated the British positons at one point, but Australian j
troops later recaptured the position. At all other points on the
line of attack, the Germans were repulsed with heavy losses.
GERMANS CLAIM REPULSE OF BRITISH.
BERLIN, May 15.—An official German report today says:
Strong British attacks against the German positons north and
I south of Givinchy were repulsed last night, the British suffer
ing heavy losses.
HIGH EXPECTATIONS OF SHIPPING BOARD MAY BE
FULFILLED, DUE TO LARGELY INCREASED NUM
BER OF VESSELS BEING TURNED OUT—EIGHT
SHIPS COMPLETED IN SEVEN DAYS.
WASHINGTON, I). C., May 15.—T'lie shipbuilding pro
gram is now on in full blast in the United States, and splendid
results are being achieved in all of the great shipyards of the I
country. Since the first of tin* year, the campaign lias met with j
the high expectations of those in charge of ship construction,1
and the hope is expressed that the estimated tonnage for the j
year will reach a fulfillment. The first million tons of shipping I
has been completed and delivered to the government and is al
ready on the seas to help defeat the Germans, employed chiefly
in transporting U. S. troops to France and conveying food sup
plies to our allies.
Since January 1, according to a statement of the shipping
board today, 159 ships, aggregating 1,180,621 tons, had been
completed up to May 1. The result shows a steady increase in
ship construction.
Most of the ships delivered last year, and which go to make
up the first million tons of shipping, were requisitioned on the
ways in contract form, when America entered the war. These
are nearly all big steel vessels.
EIGHT SHIPS IN SEVEN DAYS.
WASHINGTON, D. C., May 15.—Eight steel ships, aggre
gating 48,000 tons, were completed during the seven days end
ing May 11, according to a report of the shipping board. Dur
ing this period, 14 vessels, with an aggregate tonnage of 57,
000, were launched from the ways and are nearing completion.
ORDNANCE PLANT
ON OHIO RIVER
WASHINGTON, D. C., May 15.—
The war department today announced
the selection of a site on Neville isl
and, in the Ohio river, near Pittsburg,
on which to erect a great government
plant for the manufacture of ordnance
supplies. The site was selected in the
interior of the country, so that it
would be immune from attack by a
foreign foe.
State of Siege Declared in Suburb of
Prague on Account of Demonstra
tions in Favor of Ending of World
War.
LONDON, May 15.—A state of
siege was declared in Smirehow,. a
suburb of Prague, yesterday, accord
ing to reliable advices received in
London this morning, growing out of
demonstrations in favor of a restora
tion of peace. It is reported that 150
women, who took the initiative in the
demonstrations, have been taken into
custody, at the instance of the author
ities. The burgomaster, who is said
to be in sympathy with the revolters,
has tendered his resignation.
In other parts of Bohemia, similar
peace demonstrations are going on.
The conditions in this part of the Ger
man empire are said to be appalling
in the extreme. Food sf^plies are
limited and prices charged are extor
tionate.
It is reported that the German gov- j
eminent is sending troops to quell the
revolts, in the fear that they will de
velop into a revolution.
Wilson Is Opposed to Chamberlain
Measure Which Provides for Inves
tigation of War Conditions Gen
erally.
WASHINGTON, D. C., May 15.—
In a letter to United States Senator
Martin, of Virginia, who is among
the democratic leaders in the senate,
President Wilson declares he will re
gard the passage of the Chamberlain
resolution, which calls for an investi
gation of aircraft and other war ac-1
tivities, as a direct vote of want of j
confidence in the administration and
as an effort on the part of congress to
take over the conduct of the war.
The president says he does not ob
ject to an inquiry into the aircraft
production matter, but he does very
seriously object to any investigation
on the part of the senate into general
war conditions.
JUNEAU, May 15.—Gov. Thomas
Riggs jr., today announced that G. F.
Cramer, of Nenana, will be appointed
as his secretary and will some to Ju
neau as soon as possible. Mr. Cramer,
will succeed W. W. Shorthill, who ex- I
pects to leave for Tacoma on the
Princess Sophia Thursday morning.
Governor Riggs said that Mr. Cra
mer is a competent man and has been
disbursing agent on the interior end of
the Alaska railroad since the work
first started in Nenana. He had also
been confidential clex-k to Mr. Riggs
for a number of years.
Disastrous Fire at Knik Destroys
Stores and Structures Belonging to
Pioneer Merchant of Cook Inlet
Country.
One hundred thousand dollars worth
of property was destroyed at an early
hour this morning at Knik, when
eleven buildings and their contents,
owned by George Palmer were de
stroyed by fire.
The flames were first noticed by him
at 3 o’clock this morning. So rapidly
did the flames spread that there was
no opportunity of saving the contents
of the buildings. The property de
stroyed consists of one big store roont
which is used as a salesroom and a
number of small connecting store
houses. All of the buildings consumed
by fire either adjoined or were con
nected by passage ways with the main
storeroom. The flames originated in
one of the storerooms and spread
quickly to the other warehouses and
the main store.
The cause of the fire is a mystery
to Mr. Palmer. He was awakened
about 3 o’clock this morning by the
flames which were then flaring from
the roof of one of the warehouses. The
stock of merchandise destroyed con
sisted of groceries, hardware and dry
goods.
Two other big warehouses near
those destroyed but not connected
were saved as well as the home of Mr.
Palmer.
The loss which is approximately one
hundred thousand dollars is partially
covered by insurance.
Immediate steps will be taken by
Mr. Palmer to replace the destroyed
buildings and the work of reconstruc
tion will begin as soon as materials
can be secured and placed on the
ground. The stock will be replenished
and Mr. Palmer will leave in the near
future for the outside where he will
purchase the stock direct from the
wholesalers.
There was a dead calm prevailing in
Ivnik at the time of the fire or the
damage would have been considerably
gi eater and perhaps the whole town
wiped out.
Mr. Palmer came over from Knik
this afternoon and brought the news
of the disaster himself. In speaking
of the loss Mr. Palmer smiled and
said: “Well, I must look after the de
tails of rebuilding.”
LEAVES SCAR
WASHINGTON, D. C., May 15.—
President Wilson today removed the
bandages which encased his left hand
since he suffered a severe burn four
weeks ago, when he took hold of a hot
pipe on a British tank. The hand is
healed, but the burn left an ugly
scar which covers the entire palm.
FOUR VANCOUVER
FIREMEN KILLED
VANCOUVER, B. C., May 11.—
Four members of the city fire depart
ment were instantly killed and another
seriously injured last night, when a
hose wagon, traveling at a high rate
of speed en route to quell a fire, struck
a passing street car.
GERMANS IMPROVE ON TANKS.
COPENHAGEN, May 15. — The
Germans are said to have introduced
certain improvements in tank con
struction, designed to give heavier
protection against artillery. The crewrs
are also able to close the machines
hermetically wrhen passing through
eras clouds.