The Cordova Daily Times
VOLUME TWO. NUMBER 308._ CORDOVA, ALASKA, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1915._PRICE TEN CENTS.
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STEADILY POUNDING FRENCH AND BRITISH LINES
LONDON, Doc. 8.—The French and British are sending
constantly additional troops and supplies to Saloniki, where
thav are being rushed forward to the fighting line stretching
from the Vardar liver up to Strumitza in Bulgaria. This con
stant and ever increasing stream of men and munitions which
is pouring into Serbia has reassured the British public that
the allies have no intention of abandoning the Balkan cam
paign, and that on the contrary they are preparing for further
and greater activity than heretofore. Nothing definite has
been heard concerning the great Russian army that has been
concentrated at Odessa, and along the Roumanian border. Tin*
Germans have announced' the capture of the town of Ipek, in
eastern Montenegro, close to the Serbian frontier, yet the task
confronting the pursuing Austrian and Bulgarian armies here
isW difficult one, as the mountainous nature of tin* country
makes an ideal position for a defensive campaign, and the
Montenegrins are fighting spiritedly, with King Nicholas at
their head.
In Albania, the Serbians are still retiring and are being
compelled to abandon a large quantity of munitions, or he cap
tured, as they are so encumbered with prisoners, and civilian
refugees, who are fleeing along with the soldiers, that it has
neen impossible for them to make any fast progress, and the
pursuing enemies, knowing this, have pushed their advantage.
The Serbian army at present seems incapable of organized re
sistance, and they are so encumbered with camp followers,
mostly old men, women and children, that they are put to it to
make an orderly retreat.
In southeastern Serbia, the situation is not unfavorable to
the allies, although they are being subjected to constant and
unremitting attacks by the Bulgarian forces. The French now
have seventy guns in action along the firing line, and are
brisklv replving to tin* Bulgarian artillery, showing better!
Marksmanship and inflicting considerable damage. The in
fantry attacks of the Bulgarians have been severely repulsed,
md have ceased for the present. The right flank held by the
Branco British contingent near Strumitza is apparently pro
gressing.
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SERBIANS RETREATING BEFORE AUSTRO GERMANS
LONDON, Dec. 8.—With the northern and southern Ser"
biau armies still retreating before the Bulgars and the Austro
[rermans, and their scattered forces running to cover behind
the mountain barriers of Montenegro and Albania, the Central
Bowers are turning hack a large number of their troops, pre
paratory to making a strong attack against the Anglo-French
expeditionary force holding the extreme southeastern corner of
Serbia, all that now remains in the hands of the allies. Heavy
fighting is in progress along the entire line, hut so far the al*
lied troops have more than held their own, repulsing all at
tacks, and being strongly entrenched, have suffered but little
themselves. The fall of Monastir, and the southwesterly ad
vance of the main Teuton force, have subjected the French
troops holding the left think of the allied line, to tremendous
pressure, as they are facing seasoned troops, who greatly out
number them. Thus the northern wing of the French forces
is in a precarious situation, and while they are still holding
nut, it is more than likely that they will be forced to withdraw
from the angle formed by the \ ardar and Cerna rivers. I' rom
unofficial sources it is reported that this retiring movement
has already commenced.
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STRONG ATTACK BY BULGARIANS AGAINST FRENCH
PARIS, Dec. 8.—The war office issued an official com
inunique this morning, reciting a strong attack made by the
Bulgarians against the French positions in Southeastern Ser
bia. The French are holding the left flank of the allied line,
stretching away in tin* direction of Strumitza, and they are
receiving the first effect of the reinforcements sent to the Bul
garians, from the Teutonic allies who took Monastir. 1 he
latest attack against the French positions took place at De
mirkapou Sunday morning, being preceded by a strong artil
lery fire on the French trenches. The French repulsed the
infantry attack, inflicting considerable loss on the enemy.
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BULGARS SUBJECT BRITISH TO HOT BOMBARDMENT.
SALONIKI, Dec. 8.—The Bulgars subjected the British
lines in Serbia to an artillery bombardment lasting all day on
Monday, and followed the same up with a heavy infantry at
tack, the men charging across the fields at the British trenches
with fixed bayonets. The British are holding the right flank
of the allied line, their troops being entrenched almost up to
the Bulgarian city of Strumitza. Despite the fury of the Bui'
garian attack, the British easily repulsed the charge, and
scored heavily on the enemy by the accuracy of their machine
gun fire. The fighting along the entire front continues, the
Bulgarians returning to tin* attack with fresh vigor, but so far
have been able to make no serious progress. The British losses
have been slight, as they have had’ possession of their trenches
long enough to make them practically immune from tin* big
guns of the Bulgars.
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EIGHTY CANNONS CAPTURED AT TOWN OF IPEK.
BEKI.IN’, Dec. 8.- The war office officially announced this
afternoon that eighty cannon had been captured when the
Germans took tin* Montenegrin town of Ipek. The Montene
grins were forced to hurriedly evacuate the city to avoid cap
ture, as the Teuton attack overwhelmed the outer defences,
and they swept into the city almost on the first charge.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 8.—Congress made no effort toj
transact business yesterday, adjourning at once after being!
called to order, so that Speaker Clark would have time to se
lect his committees, and the committees have time to organize j
and prepare for business. I
BULGARIANS DESERT SOONER THAN FIGHT RUSSIA.
LONDON, Dec. 7.—Bulgarian deserters arrived in such
numbers in Roumania after Bulgaria’s entry in the war that
the Roumanian government was considerably embarrassed as|
to what to do with them, says the Bucharest correspondent of
the Near East. At Calafat no less than 800 Bulgarians in full
equipment crossed the river, and large and small parties ar-j
rived at other points in Roumania. Their excuse for deserting
was that they did not wish to fight Russia.
Bulgarian reservists in Roumania left the country at the
call for mobilization with apparent reluctance, while the
Greeks responded enthusiastically to their own call. Proces
sions composed both of Greeks and Roumanians accompanied
iho Greek reservists to the train, with patriotic songs and
cheers for each other’s country.
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ARGENTINE RAILWAY EMPLOYES’ PENSION FUND.
BUENOS AYRES, Dec. 7.—The Argentine Congress lmsi
advanced to a new stage the so-called Project Law, establish-,
ing pensions for railroad employes. The law ,as framed, is I
retroactive, which means that if it is passed a new and severe
strain will be brought upon the Argentine railway companies.
No fund's have been appropriated to meet this initial strain,
TT.nd it is said there cannot be, so the expense will be met, it is
declared, by subjecting the employes to a three per cent dis
count on wages, which sums will be turned into a pension fund.
This phase of the scheme makes it objectionable to the enr
ployes generally, and the railway companies themselves are not
professing sympathy with tin1 scheme. Incidentally, however,
the companies have anticipated further burdens by increasing
certain freight rates as much as ten per cent.
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A CHANCELLOR HOLD CONFERENCE WITH EMPEROR
BERLIN, Dec. 8.—Chancellor Bethmann-Hollweg left
yesterday for a visit to the army headquarters at the French
front for the purpose of holding a conference with the Emperor
relative to the outlines of his forthcoming speech before the
Reichstag, which is expected to outline the German position
on peace, and indicate on what basis negotiations might be ,
favorably considered by Germany. The Socialists in the
Reichstag have requested the chancellor to discuss the peace
matter before the house, and also to set forth the government’s
position in regard to the Balkans.
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FIGHTING CONTINUING IN CHAMPAGNE DISTRICT.
BERLIN, Dec. 8.—The war department announced of
ficially today that the fighting in the Champagne district of
France was being continued, and further advances are record
ed for the German troops. Yesterday a group of French
trenches were captured on Hill No. 193, north of Souain. 1 he
captured trenches were five hundred yards long. The Teutons
have retained their positions despite the desperate counter at
tacks of the French.
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AGREEMENT FOR A CONFERENCE IS REACHED.
ATHENS, Dec. 8.—-It is officially announced by the Greek
premier that an agreement has been reached for a conference,
to be held immediately, between the Greek military authori
ties and the military representatives of the allies. The con
ference will examine into the situation and make a report on
the necessities of the case, recommending certain definite ac
tion to be taken by Greece and the other nations participating.
Pending the holding of the conference and its decision on the
important questions to be considered, it is agreed that the de
mands made upon Greece by the allies regarding the safety of
the allied troops in Serbia will be respected, and preliminary
steps have been taken by the government, guaranteeing tin*
security of the soldiers.
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FRENCH SUBMARINE DESTROYED BY BATTLESHIP.
PARIS, Dec. 8.—It is officially announced by the admir
alty that an Austrian battleship attacked and destroyed the
French submarine Fresnel in the Adriatic sea. The two offi
cers and' crew of twenty-four on the French boat were taken
prisoners.
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KING FERDINAND MUCH TALKED OF MAN.
BUDAPEST, Hungary, Dec. 8.—King Ferdinand' of Bul
garia has been by all odds the most-talked-of figure in the pub
ic eye of Hungary since he took the step which arrayed his
country on the side of the Germanic allies. Many columns of
newspaper space have been devoted to descriptions and anec
lotes of the popular monarch, who appeals especially to the
Hungarian heart because of his long and close connection with
Hungarian affairs.
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HEAVY SNOWFALLS RETARD TROOP OPERATIONS.
GENEVA, Switzerland, Dec. 8.—In the semi-circle from
Front to Trieste, where Austro-Gennans and Italians are
lighting for supremacy, military operations will be seriously
effected by snow. Neither side dares to advance large guns,
vhicli may be lost in a night owing to a heavy snowfall.
On the Austro-Italian frontier, where fighting is taking
>lace at ten thousand feet above sea level, over several miles
)f mountains where every little pass means a small battle,
WASHINGTON, Dec. 8.—The national committee of the
Democratic party has decided to hold the Democratic national
convention in St. Louis. The opening day will lx* June 14. The
committee also adopted a resolution calling for the renomina
tion and election of President Woodrow Wilson. The meeting
also considered other important matters relative to the con'
duct of tin* campaign, and a strong finance committee was
selected.
I I ... I . . -J-_ ... —
weather conditions are important factors. On these moun
tains ordinary regiments, however brave, are practically use'
less, as they cannot stand the climate, anti only Alpine troops
on both sides are being used.
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TAXES INCREASED AGAINST DUTCH SINCE WAR.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands, Dec. 8.—The Dutch people
are to be called upon to pay nearly five dollars per head more
taxes every year into the national exechequer as a direct re'
suit of the war. Hitherto the annual taxation of the country
has usually amounted to something over $80,000,000 in round
figures, or about $16.20 per capita; but the new bill just laid
before parliament brings the annual total up to approximately
$105,000,000, or $21 per capita.
Besides increasing the ratio of already existing taxes, the
government has decided to impose ones which directly affect
capitalists, holders of stocks and bonds, pensioners, persons
not belonging to the army or navy, railroad and street car
travellers, smokers, card players and possessors of more than
one front name.
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JAPAN MAY ADOPT SING SING REFORMS.
TOKIO, Dec. 7.—The experiments in prison reform con
ducted by Thomas Mott Osborne, warden of Sing Sing prison,
New York, have attracted attention in Japan, not only because
the Japanese are always keenly interested in the social move
ments of the"west, but for the special reason that a fvstem for
self-government similar to that which is being tried at Sing
Sing was followed in the prisons of Tokio as far back as ttie
year 1650.
It is intimated that if Warden Osborne’s Sing Sing ex'
periment succeeds, there is a possibility that the self-govern
ment scheme may be inaugurated, or rather revived, in Japan
ese prisons.