PRICE TEN CENTS
OUTLOOK IS GOOD
FOR RICH HARVEST
WASHINGTON, April 9.—-The department of agriculture
yesterday issued forecasts of the winter wheat crop, which il
estimated at 560,000,000 bushels. It is unofficially predicted
that if the spring wheat maintains the same ratio the next liar
vest will furnish sufficient wheat for this country and the allies
for the coming year.
The estimated increase is 142,000,000 bushels over las
year’s crop. Assuming that the spring wheat shows the same
ratio of increase, the total crop will be 850,000,0(H) bushels, oi
an increase of 200,000,000 bushels.
There will be an additional increase of 26,000,000 bushel.
of rye.
HNS OF FfKE TO Bf INBEIHFIEO
EBB PBOPERTY BIKE DONE B1 AMERICANS
W ASHINGTON, April 9.—A bill providing for the in
demnification of citizens of France for damage done by the
American army has been introduced in the senate.
This legislation was suggested by General Pershing, who
complained that as Great Britain made indemnification foi
property loss caused by her forces, the failure of the Americans
to reimburse the French for property damaged had created an
unfavorable imjiression.
RUSSIA LISES ARMED GERMAN PRISONERS
ON DEN FRIENDS AND FORMER BROTHERS IN ARMS
LONDON, April 9.—A Harbin dispatch says that sixty
thousand armed German prisoners have been mobilized at
Tomsk, Siberia, destined for the far Hast.
SOURCE OF GERMAN INFORMATION HAS BEEN HIM!)
___ \
EL PASO, fexas, April 1)—Telephone connections between
American border towns lias been suspended for the duration of
the war, to prevent information regarding American military
movements reaching Germans agents in Mexico.
The telephone company suspended the service voluntarily.
SPEEDING UP TRANSPORTATION OF TROOPS TO FRANCE
'W ASHINGTON, April 9.—Transportation of American
troops to France already is progressing at the rate contem
plated by the speeding-up measures taken after the battle of
Picardy began, said Acting Secretary of War Crowell vester
day.__
CONCRETE SHIPS ARE TO BE BUILT ON TWO COASTS
WASHINGTON, April 9.—-Chairman Hurley of tie*
United States shipping board will ask congress for an appro
priation of fifty million dollars for the development of concrete
shipbuilding plants. j
lie plans to establish three such shipyards along tlui Gulf
of Mexico and two at Pacific coast ports.
WASHINGTON, April 9.—Secretary Kedfield of the de
partment of commerce is considering tlie establishment of a
plant on the Pribiloff islands, off the coast of Alaska, to ex
tract the oil from seal carcasses, which heretofore have been
discarded.
Mr. Kedfield said he hoped to ship the machinery for the
plant from Seattle within a few weeks.
gf ---11 . ■ ——'— ----- -1-'- -*«»
GERMAN HIGH COMMAND OISAPPOINTED AT
OPPOSITION ENCOUNTERED ON DRIVE FOR PAHIS
WASHINGTON, April 9.—The statements of German
prisoners have convinced the French military critics th/t the
real objective of the great German drive was Paris. So far
from expecting checks which would keep them from their goal
and involve them in a series of bloody and indecisive battles,
the German high command sent forces forward prepared for
rapid advances and open warfare, according to an official dis
patch from France.
UNITED STATES AS BANKER
FINANCES THE GREAT WAR
WASHINGTON, April 9.—One year
of war finds America today the
banker of the allies.
In twelve months, the American
people have poured $10,000,000,000 into
the allied pool. Of this, nearly half
, has gone in outright loans to the vari
; ous allies. The international ledger
i balanced up about this way today: In
debtedness to the United States:
Great Britain, $2,500,000,000; France,
j $1,440,000,000; Italy, $550,000,000;
Russia, $325,000,000; Belgium, $93,400,
000; and Serbia, $6,000,000.
To raise this stupendous outlay, the
j United States floated two immense'
i Liberty loans, yielding well over
$6,000,000,000; and imposed special war
j taxes, chief among which was raising ’
] the postal rate from two to three'
cents. The close of this strenuous
year finds the country well launched
1 on a war savings movement which
promises a large steady income; and
marks the opening of a third great
Liberty loan.
Throughout the extraordinary money
drain, every effort has been exerted
I to prevent disruption of the finance
market. The solid basis afforded by!
• i
the recently-created federal reserve
banking system is admitted by finan
cial men to have been chiefly re
sponsible for the country’s remarkable!
success in absorbing the shock. While
the unprecedented flotation of secur
ities has reacted in the normal wav to
*
produce a general inflatation of
prices, there has been no panic, no
extended stringency, and big funds of
inveBtible money are still available.
The treasury, by a policy of recur-!
rent issues of short-time certificates,!
has kept money flowing freely, and
prepared the way for absorption of!
the long-time loans.
More than $2,500,000,000 of these
short-period treasury certificates were
Issued and retired, or converted into
Liberty bonds.
Larlv upon tj,e nation-s entrance in
the war, the need for soldier and
sailor insurance on a vast scale be
came apparent. The government, de
spite the pressure of war financing,
at once undertook the work, and
evolved a system of war risk insur
ance which has brought protection to
the families of 93 per cent of all men
In the armed services of the nation,
at an average of $7,000 per man.
Russia's credit of $325,000,000 was
never entirely taken up. When the
Kerensky government collapsed, it
had drawn $187,000,OOn of the credit.
The rest was being spent for sup
plies in this country which never left
American shores, and which have
since been taken over by this govern
ment. ,
LONDON, April 9.—The British
government has authorized the Brit
ish Zionist Organization to appoint a
commission to investigate the present
conditions of the Jewish colonies in
Palestine. Among its objects will be
the repatriation of the Jewish inhabi
tants who have been compelled by the
enemy to leave Palestine, the organ
ization of relief work, the reopening
of Jewish institutions in the Holy
Land which have been closed through
action, and the restoration of
which the enemy has inflicted
mi fl> Jewish colonies.
Th<- commission will he instructed
o Investigate the feasibility of the
schem* for founding a Jewish univers.
ity in Palestine.
PREMIER LLOYD GEORGE
EMPHASIZES SERIOUSNESS
OF SITUATION AT FRONT
LONDON, April 9.—Premier Lloyd George today told the
house of commons that when the Somme battle commenced the
total combat strength of the Germans on the western front ap
proximately equaled the total strength of the allies. He said
that a measure would be placed before parliament increasing
the draft age to include men born after a fixed date in 1867.
This would involve extra sacrifice by a part of England’s pop
ulation.
The premier said that the most critical period of the war
had now been entered upon. There was a lull at present, but
the hurricane was not over, and the fate of the empire, of
Europe and of liberty may depend upon the success with which
this last German attack is resisted and countered.
POSSIBILITY OF LONG DRAWN OUT FIGHT
The British premier said that the American fighting
strength would be brought to bear immediately, although it
was impossible for the United States to send as many trained
men as had been expected. The Americans would be brigaded
with the allied troops.
Mr. Lloyd George said the fight might continue for seven
or eight months.
TWENTY MILLIONS OF
LOAN SUBSCRIBERS!
W ASHINGTON, April 9.—The first official intimation
that tlie government hopes to raise more than three billions of
dollars from the third Liberty loan came in a treasury state
ment today asking the country to subscribe three or four times
the amount originally asked, and to furnish twenty million
subscribers, double the number who subscribed to the second
loan.
ROAR OF ARTILLERY
FORETELLS BATTLE
DATELESS.—In properation for another heavy infantry
attack in the attempt to reach Amiens, German guns of all cali
bers are roaring along a hundred-mile front from north of Ar
ras to north of Soissons, the entire country side echoing with
the heavy detonations.
The bombardment is believed to be a forerunner of heavy
German infantry attacks, probably all the way from Arras to
Noyon.
FRENCH WITHDRAW ON OISE
PARIS, April 9.—Violent German artillery fire was con
tinued during the night north of Montdidier, says the official
statement. No infantry action has yet developed. The French
advanced troops south of the Oise have withdrawn to prepared
positions southwest of the lower forest of Coucy and south of
Coucy Lechateau.
GERMAN ATTACK IN NORTH
LONDON, April 9.—German artillery activity has de
veloped on the British front from the Labasse canal to south
of Armentieres, according to an official statement.
SAMMIES HAVE A BRUSH
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY, April 9.—American out
posts in Lorraine were attacked by a German patrol yesterday.
One German was killed and his body was dragged into the
American trenches for identification.
There were no American casualties.
WEATHER CONDITIONS UNFAVORABLE
WITH THE BRITISH ARMY, April 9.—There has been
no change in the situation. The sky is heavily overcast with
lowhanging clouds and rain is falling occasionally, making the
battle ground an undesirable terrain for military operations.
John Brower, of Nome, who has
been awarded the contract for carry
ing the mail from Chitina to Fair
banks for a period of four years, be
ginning October 1 next, is in town.
Mr. Brower is an old-timer in Alaska,
having resided at Nome for the past
seventeen years, where he has had
considerable experience in trail blaz
ing. He will leave on the next ‘rain
for Chitina to make arrangements for
his new work. It is his intention to
put auto trucks, with the Webb
chain wheel, on the trail and also to
have horses in readiness for an
emergency. Mr. Brower says that as
soon as the war is over and aviators
are available he will put a fleet of
airplanes in service and thus be en
abled to deliver the mail from Chitina
to Fairbanks in less than four hours.
PDPliHR MS COUPLE
UNITED III MimiMI
On Saturday evening last Charles K. ;
Richmond and Miss Grace M Smith
were united in marriage by Commis-!
sioner Medley, the ceremony being at
tended by only a few intimate friends
of the contracting parties. Both Mr.
and Mrs. Richmond are well known
among the younger set and they start
upon life’s journey with the well
wishes of their friends.
NEW COUNCIL MEETS
NEXT MONDAY EVENING
The city council met last night and
canvassed the vote of the recent mun
icipal election, and declared A. J.
Adams, M. Brock, Will Clayson, W.
R. Hillery, A. J. McConnell, C'. M.
Rosswog and J. B. Sapiro elected
councilmen. The new legislative
body will take office next Monday
evening.
-»
CAPT. MURRAY RESIGNS
Capt. J. J. Murray has resigned as
chief of police and will leave on the
Admiral Farragut for Seattle to bring
up a new power boat Tor the Canoe
Pass Packing Company, which he will
command during the coming season.
MRS. THATCHER COMING
Mrs. Thatcher, president of the
Women’s Christian Temperance Un
ion, is expected in Cordova on the
Admiral Watson and will deliver a
political address here.
-«
CHANGE WATER SERVICE
On Wednesday, April 10, water will
be turned on between 7 and 8 o'clock
in the morning and between 4 and 5
o’clock in the afternoon. On Thura-i
day if conditions do not improve water
will be turned on one hour each day,
from 4 to 5 o’clock in the afternoon.
CORDOVA POWER CO.
ADMINISTRATION MEASURE TO FIX STANDARD PRICE
AND STIMULATE PRODUCTION DF WHITE METAL
WASHINGTON, April 9.—Senator Pittman of Nevada
has introduced an administration bill proposing the melting
into bullion of not more than two hundred and fifty million
silver dollars now in the United States treasury. The bill also
proposes the repurchase of silver at $1 per ounce, which would
allow the withdrawal of silver certificates from circulation, as
soon as the dollars were taken from the treasury, and federal
reserve bank notes would be substituted.
The silver measure, Which would fix the standard price
of silver at $1 an ounce, would stimulate the production of sil
ver. The government probably would absorb the nation’s sil
ver output and sell to jewelers, manufacturers and to other
countries.