Only Afternoon Newspaper In Alaska Member Of Associated Press
The Cordo ;a Daily Times
VOLUME TWO. NUMBER 314. CORDOVA, ALASKA, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1915 PRICE TEN CENTS.
Retreated With Ammnuition And
. Arms---But Little Loss of Life
Special to The Times By Associated Press.
SALONIKI, Doc. 15.—All the French and British troops
have successfully retreated from Serbian territory, and have
crossed into Greece. The retiring movement was orderly, and
despite tin* terrific attacks of the Bulgarians, the allies lost but
few men, and saved practically all of their ammunition and
guns. The retreat was considered wonderfully well conducted
in view of the overwhelming superiority of the enemy in men
and guns. The morale of the allied troops is excellent, and
A they are not dispirited or discouraged.
SALONIKI, Dec. 15.—The harbor here is crowded with
huge transports loaded to the gunwales with arriving French
and British troops. Huge quantities of arms and ammunition,
including many big guns, are also being landed, and a big
force of workmen is busily engaged erecting barracks and new
hospital buildings. The Greek troops are leaving here, and
the town is gradually assuming the appearance of a fortified
city. Allied troops are everywhere, and the Greek soldiers,
who were so prominent here a week ago, are hardly ever seen,
those that are here doing nothing but police duty.
SALONIKI, Dec. 15.—The retirement of the French troops
under General Sarrail from Serbian territory across the Greek
frontier was conducted with great skill. All the French woun
ded were brought in with the exception of a few who could not
be moved. The French guns were saved, as they were piled
on long freight trains, and brought along ahead of the main
body of tlu> army. Considering the constant nature of the
fighting and tin1 tremendous pressure to which the French sol
diers were subjected, they suffered but little in the retreat,
most of the wounded being only slightly injured, and the mini
her of killed being remarkably low. Most of the sick and woun
ded, who are being brought to the base hospitals here are suf
fering from frozen feet, the number of bullet and’ shrapnel
wounds being negligible.
ATHENS, Dec. 15.— The Greek government today official
ly denied the report that Bulgarian troops had entered Gr-ek
territory, and in their pursuit of the Anglo-French troops had
crossed tin* frontier. The newspapers state, with pjbsitiveness,
that neither Germany or Bulgaria will invade Greek territory.
Despite the newspaper assurances that there is no danger,
there is an undercurrent of restlessness apparent among tin*
officials, which can only be accounted for on the ground that
they fear that Germany or Bidgaria will cross the frontier, and
the consequences of such an act would be grave, probably re
sulting in forcing Greece to enter the war.
FRENCH AND BULGARS IN BLOODY CONFLICT.
PARIS, Dec. 15.-—The war office in an official communi
que this morning announced that the Bulgarians had been de
feated' in a big battle at Cerna. The Bulgurs lost four thou
sand men in killed, wounded and captured. The enemy hurled
themselves repeatedly at the French lines, but were mowed
down by the terrible machine gun fire of the French soldiers,
who, although outnumbered, made up for their weakness in
men by superior marksmanship with their artillery. The
French were finally compelled to retire to avoid a useless
slaughter of their own troops, as the Bulgars returned to the
attack in such numbers that the French were threatened’ with
being overwhelmed.
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TEUTONS STILL PURSUING THE SERBIANS.
BERLIN, Dec. 15.—The war office issued an official bul
letin today, stating that the retreating Serbians were being
pursued still further into the mountain recesses of Montenegro
by the Teuton soldiers. Southeast of Plevje, in northern Mon
tenegro, the Serbians have been driven across the river Tara,
and farther to the east they have been forced to retreat beyond
the Grab Borderovo line. Several hundred additional prison
ers were taken yesterday. The German troops are suffering
practically no losses, as the Serbians now seem incapable of
organized resistance, and' are doing no more than fighting in
scattering bands, occasionally attempting to ambush a German
scouting party or advance detachment.
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ITALY SENDING BIG ARMY INTO BALKANS.
NEW YORK, Dec. 15.—Travelers who arrived here today
from Italy bring the report that about two hundred transports
were seen in Taranto Bay, loaded with troops, apparently
bound for Albania. The troop ships were so numerous and so
large that it is said they carried a big army, including guns
V and ammunition of over a hundred thousand men. Nothing
definite could be learned about the destination of the ships,
but it is freely thought in Italy that the men were going to
Albania to take an active part in the Balkan campaign.
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GERMAN SUBMARINE, TURKISH DESTROYER SUNK.
ATHENS, Dec. 15.—It is reported here that a German
submarine was sunk yesterday outside the Black Sea harbor
of Varna, in Bulgaria, by shell fire from Russian destroyers.
It has also been reported that British submarines have re
newed their activity in the Sea of Marmora, and that a Turkish
torpedo boat has been torpedoed and sunk. The British sub
marine returned' to its base in safety.
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ENGLAND NOT IN SYMPATHY WITH FORD’S PLAN.
KIRKWALL, Eng., Dec. 15.—The ship King Oscar II,
carrying Henry Ford, the millionaire American automobile
manufacturer, and his party of peace propagandists, has ar
rived at the Orkney Islands. Ford has not yet announced
what his immediate plans are, but it is felt that ii he expects
to gain converts in England he will be disappointed. The tem
per of the English people is against peace, and the remarkable
enthusiasm of the men of the nation shown by the enlistment
of two million men within the past few months, is evidence
that the British will fight until they have been victorious on
the battlefield.
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STR. MINNESOTA NOT VICTIM OF A PLOT.
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 15.—The disabled steamer Min
nesota arrived' here today in tow of two ocean going tugs. The
officers state that the sole trouble with the ship was defective
boilers. No spies have been found on board, and no arrests
will be made. The wild rumors which have been current that
the ship was disabled by German spies, who put chemicals
into the water and disabled the boilers, are denied by the
officers.
BUILT NEXT
FAIRBANKS, Dec. 15. — Delegate
Wickersham today wired to this citj
that he had talked with Secretarj
Lane concerning the government'!
plans for railroad building in Alasks
next year, and that Lane had assurer
him that the construction of the roar
would be commenced to Nenana nexl
summer.
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CHAMPION JESS
ILL FIGHT
CHICAGO, Dec. 15. — Another big
heavyweight battle has been arranged
for and articles were signed here to
day by Jess Willard and Fred Ful
ton, agreeing to fight for twenty
rounds on March 4 next. Willard is
now the holder of the world's cham
pionship heavyweight title, and whih
the fight is not to a finish the title
will be at stake. Willard is to gel
$32 ,000, win, lose or draw, and Ful
ton is to get $7,500 whether victor oi
vanquished.
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FARMER SHARES
IN WAVE OF
WASHINGTON. Dec. 15. — The
department of agriculture made pub
lic today its official estimates of the
value of the farm crops for the year
1915. The total products of Ameri
can farms were valued at six billion
two hundred and seventy millions on
December 1 last. The most valuable
product of the farms Is corn, the
value of which for this year Is set at
a billion seven hundred and flfty-stx
million dollars.
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Ed. Lindlg came down from Mc
Carthy on yesterday's train.
0
ASKS PATENT TO HIS HOME-.
STEAD.
John E. Barrett has filed in the
Juneau office an application for pat
ent to a homestead claim comprising
29C acres in the vicinity of McCarthy.
Barrett located upon "thfs land in
1906, and since that time has had
it under cultivation, raising crops
each year. Several photos of the
farm which accompanied the applica
tion indicate that the tract is high
1 ly productive.
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LABOR LEADER
WASHINGTON. Dec. 15. — Presi
dent Gompers, of the American Fed
eration of Gabor, held a conference
with President Wilson today relative
to the attitude which organized labor
would take in regard to the adminis
tration’s program for national pre
paredness. Gompers told Mr. Wilson
that his organization was ready and
willing to support the President and
his defence plans, and he asked Wil
son to appoint a representative of
labor on the committee which is t6
be appointed to confer with the army
f and navy' officers relative to the
mobilization of the nation's resour
I ces. Wilson promised to consider
Gompers’ request carefully, and said
that while he did not care to decide
the matter at once, the idea appealed
to him.
BUILDING TRAIL
FAIRBANKS. Oec. 15. — The citl
zens of Fairbanks and the miners of
the Tolovana have started the build
ing of a new trail from this city to
the new camp In the Tolovana. The
new trail will follow the Happy Creek
level, as the old trail has been
found to be too steep, making the
cost of freighting supplies too heavy.
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JUST ARRIVED.
Excellent assortment of Nugget
Jewlery for Christmas trade. Come In
and look It over.
CLAYSON, The Ciothelr.
FAIRBANKS, Dec. 15. — The poo
pie of Fairbanks are so anxious to re
ceive their parcel post mail this year
that they have raised sufficient
money by private subscription to take
all of it over the trail from Cordova.
A wire was sent to the postmaster at
Cordova today, asking him as to how
many sacks of mall was held up there
addressed to Fairbanks, so that an
estimate could be made as to how
much it would cost to bring in the
surplus mail.
UlSr TAX
TO BE LEVIED
ON PEOPLE
WASHINGTON. Dec. 15. — The
ways and means committee of the
House today reported to that body
asking that the present emergency
revenue law be extended. They also
many sacks of mail were held up there
It. such as a stamp tax on checks, as
they estimate that under the present
revenue law the receipts for next year
will fail by eighty two million dollars
to meet the disbursements of the
government. The government deficit
under the present law would Include
I a ten million dollar deficit in the
postoffice. The internal revenue
from distilled spirits, fermented li
(juors and tobacco decreased twenty
five million dollars during the last
fiscal year, and a further decrease is
expected the coming year, as the pro
hibition area of the country lias been
extended.
I
DEAD .
LONDON, Dec. 15. — Sir Richard
Everard Webster, known as Viscount
Alverstone. and Lord chief justice of
England, died here today, after a lin
gering illness. Alverstone was al
most 73 years old, and has had a
distinguished career as a jurist. He
is known to Americans as one of the
arbitrators in the Bering Sea contro
versy, and five years after that was
settled he performed the same func
tion in the matter of the boundary
between British Guiana and Vene
zuela. In 1899 he succeeded Sir Na
thaniel Lindley as master of the
rolls, at the same time being raised
to the peerage as Baron Alverstone.
In October of the same year he was
elevated to the office of lord chief
justice upon the death of Lord Rus
sel of Killowen.
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ALAMEDA DUE TOMORROW.
Agent Tallent received a message
from Juneau, stating that the Ala
meda left there last night, but it did
not give her sailing time. It is be
lieved, however, that the vessel will
reach here by noon tomorrow.
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FUNERAL NOTICE.
The funeral of Brother W. H. Lear
will take place from Eagle Hall Fri
day afternoon at 1 o'clock. Members
and visiting brothers and friends In
vited. GEO. DOOLEY. Sec.
The Bteamer Farragut is due from
the westward tomorrow night at 8
^ o'clock.
ITALY WANTS COAL
FROM UNCLE SAM
ROME, Nov. 15.—Goal is $40 a ton in Italy, and continues
to soar. It went up $10 a ton in one week. This has become a
serious, and might become a decisive, war factor, so far as
Italy is concerned, for coal is the fundamental element of Ital
ian industry and commerce, moving the railways, running the
factories, and keeping up such public utilities as electric light
and' power plants, gas and water works, street railways and
tramways, as well as for household heating and cooking, not
only in Rome, but all over Italy.
People no longer buy coal by the ton, but by the bag, and
a bag of coal which can be swung over the shoulder costs $7.
This means, of course, that poor people can no longer buy coal
and can no longer keep warm, except as the mild Italian cli
mate may help them. But the climate does dot help the rail
ways and factories, and industrial Italy is the worst sufferer
from coal shortage and excessive prices. There has even
been talk, since Italy is not at war with Germany, of getting
coal from Germany, and for the possible exchange of some
other articles of mutual need. Importing coal from Japan is
also being considered', but the transportation cost is so great
that Japanese coal would probably not bring the price down
much in Italy.
x American coal shippers have been urged to enter the Ital
ian field. But the scarcity of ships and the high cost of trans
portation- due to the dangers of coal as contraband of war—
are said to stand in the way of relief from that quarter. So
that one of the effects of the European war is to make high
price coal a vital question for Italy, and the absence of any
apparent remedy is even a more serious question.
--*n •
BRITISH ARMY AUGMENTED BY 2,000,000 RECRUITS.
LONDON, Dec, 15.—Over two million men have enlisted
in the British army under Lord Derby’s plan. The time for
enlistment, which was to have expired last Saturday at mid
night, was extended to yesterday at midnight, and for the last
few days the recruiting offices have been stormed with men
ager to escape the odium of not wishing to do their bit for
their country.
.— - -:n:- — ■ ■
GERMANY CUTS OFF SWITZERLANDS COAL SUPPLY.
BASLK, Switzerland, Dec. 15. Swiss industries have to
grapple with increased difficulties arising for the most part
from the want of raw material and the cessation of coal im
ports from Germany.
In northern and eastern Switzerland a number of works,
notably weaving sheds, are idle in spite of ample orders. On
the other hand, the St. Gall lace industry, the largest and most
important of its kind, is doing very well.
Over fifty Swiss manufacturing firms receive no coal
from Germany, that country having put them on her black list
because of real or imaginary delivery of war material to her
enemies.
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GREAT DEMAND FOR LABOR THROUGHOUT ENGLAND
LONDON, Dec. 15.- Owing to active recruiting, the short
age of men in the labor market has become more acute and has
greatly increased the demand for women and young girls ns
substitutes. Practically everyone capable of working, says the
Board of trade Labor Gazette, has an opportunity of being em
ployed, and it is evident that still larger numbers of women
and girls not previously employed in trade and industry are
required in many occupations.
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TURKEY ASSURED OF FOOD SUPPLY FOR WINTER.
CONSTANTINOPLE, Dec. 15.—The crops in Anatolia
have been successfully harvested, notwithstanding the short
age of help. The yield is reported'a good average crop every
where. Anatolia is the granary of Turkey, and the report that
its harvest is under cover assures the capital its food supply
for the winter months. The chief difficulties in the provision
ing of the city are connected with transportation. The Ana
tolian Railway Company had been compelled even before the
war to reduce its service somewhat, and military demands
have still further reduced the available freight capacity.
The city prefecture has, however, succeeded in reaching
an agreement with the war department by which regular grain
shipments from Anatolia will be made. It is also hoped to se
cure some foreign grain in the near future, and there are no
fears that a sufficient supply of grain will not be available for
the capital.
ENGLAND FEELS SHORTAGE OF INDIGO.
LONDON, Dec. 15.—The absence of the usual supplies of
German synthetic indigo from the leading markets of the world
has led to an eager demand for the natural product, and record
prices are being paid for the small quantities of this indespen
sable blue dye, which comes from India. India is the principal
producing country, but the expanding demand* for indigo has
led to a revival of the industry in China, where interesting de
velopments are expected.
An estimate from the Punjab district of India states that
the area under indigo represents over 14 per cent of the total
area planted in British India, but the condition of the standing
crops is said to be below average, and the yield from all the
standing crops will probably be small
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