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The C( >rdova Daily Times
VoLLME ONE. NT.MBKR 231._CORDOVA, ALASKA TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1915. PRICE TEN CENTS.
CORDOVA HARBOR
MR. SMOOT
’ EXAMINED BK
Among the Cordova's distinguished
visitors while the steamer Mariposa
was in port Sunday was L. E. Smoot, a
close personal friend of Secretary of
Interior Lane, who is making an in
vestigation of Alaska harbors with a
l view to securing an outlet for our coal.
He was on his way east, after having
visited the Cook Inlet country. Mr.
Smoot is a representative business
man of the Atlantic coast and made
the trip north at the request of Mr.
Lane to gather all information avail
able as to harbor conditions, and this
he has done. The Secretary realized
that the people of the Pacific Coast are
prejudiced against one town or an
ther in Alaska and believed that he
could get the most unbiased opinion of
0 conditions in the northland by send
ing Mr. Smoot here.
Although this was his first trip to
Alaska Mr. Smoot was not unfamiliar
with our country. He had fortified
himself with maps, charts and other
data before coming to the territory
and during his visit interviewed a
large number of people. Realizing
that it was an easy matter to ac
quire false impressions he desired to
get his information first hand and it
did not take him long to modified some
of his views about the Cordova harbor
and Prince William Sound after he
had gone over the harbor situation
here with members of the local Cham
ber of Commerce. Mr. Smoot was fur
nished with a mass of reliable data
and will be in a position to make an
intelligent report on conditions as they
actually exist.
Unfortunately his time here was
limited and he was unable to avail
himself of the invitation to take a trip
over the Copper River & Northwestern
railway to the interior copper mines.
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TALENTED WRITER
VISITING CORDOVA
Miss Maud Vaughn, an attractive and
accomplished young lady representing
the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, was an
arrival from the westward on the
Admiral Evans and expects to spend
a week or ten days in Cordova and the
Copper River valley. She is making
a tour of the coast towns and being a
talented and pleasing writer will fur
nish her paper witty a number of
special articles dealing with affairs of
the territory, as the Seattle P.-I. is
devoting considerable space to Alaska
news, in the hope of assisting in the|
development of its resources. While |
in the north Miss Vaughn is looking
after greater support from our people
for the paper and will also take sub
scriptions for the Post-Intelligencer.
TEXAS RANGERS ARE
CAUSE OF TROUBLE
BROWNSVILLE, Septf. 7—It has
been learned that the recent attacks
on Americans near the border, follow
ed the incitment of the Mexicans by
the circulating of picture post post
cards showing the dragging by Texas
Rangers on horseback, of the bodies
of the Mexicans killpd at Norias.
MRS. M’DONALD ENTERTAINED
MISSES WARE AND BURROUGHS
The reception given by Mrs. W. J.
McDonald, on Saturday afternoon, in
honor of Miss Ware and Miss Bur
roughs, was largely attended and a de
cided social success. Practically all
the ladies of town attended to renew
their acquaintance with Miss Ware
and also to meet Miss Burroughs.
Dainty refreshments were served and
an enjoyable afternoon resulted.
PRESIDENT REFUSES TO DISCUSS MATTER
LONDON, Sept. 7—The Allan liner Hersperian 61000 tons,
was torpedoed off the Irish coast Saturday by a German
submarine. From advices so far received it is learned that the
attack on the Hesperian was made without warning, and' that
the ship floated 34 hours after the attack. All the passengers
and crew are reported to be saved. The boat was bound to
Montreal from Liverpool and had on board 350 passengers and
a crew of 300.
\\ ASHINGTON, Sept. 7—When the news of the torpedo
ing of the Hesperian was received at Washington, President
Wilson and Secretary Lansing were immediately notified of
the occurrence but declined' to discuss the matter for the press.
High officials in the government expressed their astonishment
at the attack, if as is reported it was made without wamiing,
and they say that such a thing is inconceivable. For a Gennan
submarine commander to torpedo a peaceful passenger liner
without warning in view of the recently expressed attitude of
the German government would be such a violation of good faith
on the part of the Berlin government, that officialdom in Wash
ington refuse to believe it until more authentic information is
secured. There were two Americans among the crew.
\\ ASHINGTON, Sept. 7—The United States will take no
steps to question the good faith of Germany in its recent utter
ances on the submarine question, unless it is clearly shown that
the sinking of the Hesperian violated the promise communicated
to the State Department by Ambassador Von Berstorff. Both
the President and Secretary Lansing have accepted the as
surances of the Berlin Foreign Office at their face value and will
wait for more evidence on the question of whether or not the
Hesperian was warned before the torpedo was fired, or whether
she attempted to escape. The commanding officers of the Hes
perian have sent a joint affidavit to the State Department de
claring that fragments of steel which fell upon the deck of their
boats that shows that there can be no doubt but what the Hes
perian was sunk with a torpedo.
LONDON, Sept. 7—The London papers freely comment on
the submarine attack on the Allan lined Hesperian and take the
view that the German government has broken its faith with
America.
LIY ERPOOL, Sept. 7—Information has been received from
the Allan liner Hesperian that thirteen passengers and' four of
the crew perished as a result of the torpedoing of the vessel by a
German submarine.
\\ ASHINGTON, Sept. 7—The State Department, at the re
quest of President Wilson, is making diligent inquiry into the
tacts of the sinking of the Hesperin. Thei question has been
raised as to whether the ship was sunk by a torpedo or a mine,
and the American representatives in London and Berlin have
been notified to secure all evidence available on the matter.
TEUTONS NEED RIGA AS A BASE
Special to The Times By Associated Press.
LONDON, Sept. 7—The immediate objective of the Teu
tonic plan of campaign becomes clearer with tho growing indi
cations that the invaders in Russia need Riga as a base for
present operations in t lie direction of Petrograd and for winter
quarters, in cast* the advance on Petrograd must he postponed
to the spring. Hindenberg is experiencing great difficulty in
bridging portions of the Dvina headwaters as the currents is too
swift for the construction of uontoon bridges, and they are
constantly subjected to the Russian artillery fire. As the rainy
season arrives tin* difficulty of bringing supplies to his troops
will lx* increased for Hindenberg and the seizure of Riga is
therefore vital to his ultimate success, or the fruits of the long
hard campaign lie has just pass through will be lost.
LONDON, Sept. (>—The fighting on both wings of the east-1
eni front is proceeding with much greater vigor than the fight
ing in tin1 center where the invaders art* apparently having
great difficulty in crossing the trackless swamps, in the center
expeditious movement of troops is out of the question, and the
carrying ot heavy artillery is impossible in tin* soft muck of
the ground over which there are absolutely no roads. Along the
Galician front, the fighting veers from one side to the other, and
tin* advantage changes almost daily, without any perceptible
change being made in the lines of both armies. The main offen
sive of the Teutons is still with tin* north flank of the army at
tacking along the Dvina river under command of General Hin
denberg. The Teutons still hold the bridge head on (he Dvina
at Friedriehstadt, which was captured last week, but have lost
tlie Lennewada bridgehead further down tin* river in tho direc
tion of Riga. The battle is progressing vigorously but in
decisively.
Trade Union Congress Against Conscription.
BRISTOL, Sept. 7—The British Trade Union Congress be
gan its sessions in this city today, and they are being watched
with considerable interest as a forecasting of the attitude, of
British labor towards the present was is predicted. James
Seddon, the chairman of the Congress, opened the convention in
a notable speech wherein he urged trade unionists in England
to prepare for a resumption of a world wide oneness in the con
test between capital and labor.
BRISTOL, Sept. 7—The second of the sessions of the
British Trade Union Congress was marked by the passage of
a resolution, which was unanimously adopted protesting against
conscription. The passage of the measure was greeted with
great cheering, and the sentiment of the body is clearly ex
pressed' in the memorial which will be forwarded to the gov
ernment. The Congress also declared in favor of the govern
ment taking over all the railroads of tin* kingdom, and operat
ing them permanently, instead of as a war measure. They said
that the government’s experience in managing the roads during
the war justified the nationalization of the rail lines.
Another English Shipment of Gold Arrives.
VANCEBORO, Me., Sept. 7—A British battleship is due at
Halifax today with a large shipment of gold bound’ to New
York bankers for the purpose of relieving the exchange situa
tion, and liquidating some of the debts incurred by the British
government in this country for war supplies.
PORTLAND, Me., Sept. 7—Eighty million dollars in gold
and first class securities arrived in Halifax last night on the
British cruiser Argyle. The shipment was transferred to a
heavily guarded train which passed through Maine today bound
for New York to strengthen the British credit.
Battle Expected on Lorranine Border.
PARIS, Sept. 7—Heavy artillery firing has marked the
progress of the fighting along the Lorranine border and in the
Yosges Mountains for the past two weeks. It is believed that
the heavy shelling going on, marks an effort about to be made
by one side or the other to make a big advance.
Ambassador Dumba To Confer With Lansing.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 7—Ambassador Dumba the Aus
trian representative in this country, admitted today that he
had taken part in the movement to curtail the production of war
materials in the United States by reminding Austro-Hungarian
subjects that they were violating the criminal code of Austria
Hungary7 by accepting employment in munition factories. It is
reported in official circles, and' was admitted by the ambassador
that he had an appointment with the Secretary of State to dis
cuss tin* matter.
German Submarines Is Missing.
BERLIN, Sept. 7—Submarine U-27 has not been reported
sinee August 10, and' is now considered as lost. Tin* submarine
had previously sunk a small British cruiser west of the
Bebrides.
Roumanians Ordered Report for uDty.
BERLIN, Sept. 7—Official information has been received
at the Foreign Office to the effect that the Roumanian govern
ment has notified all Roumanians residing in Switzerland, to
report at their regimental divisions.
Germans Sink British Tank Steamer.
LONDON, Sept. 7—The British tank steamer Cymbeline,
4500 tons, was torpedoed and sunk yesterday by a Gonna nsub
marine. The crew were saved.
Ausralia Appeals for More Soldiers.
MELBOURNE, Sept. 7—A message having been received
from the Imperoal authorities appealing anew for as many
Australian soldiers as possible, the Commonwealth is endeavor- 1
ing to respond to the call without delay.
A short time ago recruiting fell off seriously and the Minis
ter for Defense was obliged to make a personal plea for more
volunteers, but since then tin* recruiting has improved and, it
is believed, tin* required'number of reinforcements—about 5,000 !
monthly—will be obtained in the near future. The Govern- ■
ment is pledged to furnish the monthly quota of reinforcements ,
to make good the wastage in the Australian ranks in Turkey l
before it undertakes raising of fresh expeditionary forces. ‘
MEXICANS FIRE
AEROPLANE
WASHINGTON, Sept. 7—General
Funston reported to the State Depart
ment today that he had conferred with
General Nafarette, the Carranza com
mander at Matmoras, and that the
Mexican general had denied emphati
cally that the Carranza troops were
involved In the recent raids along the
border into American territory. Mat
amoras proposed to Funston that more
Mexican troops be brought to the bor
der to aid in suppressing these dis
orders. Funston also reported that an
American army aeroplane which was
flying near the border had crossed the
line in Mexican territory and had been
fired upon three seperate times, over
one hundred shots being fired In all.
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4
PROVIDENCE, R. I., Sept. 7—Jus
tice Willis Knowels of the Judicial
circuit, was assassinated early yester
day morning after leaving his bunga
low at North Scituate to take a trolley
car for this city. Several shots were
fired at the deceased from a revolver,
three of which took effect, death tak
ing place instantly. The judge recent
ly complained to the police about the
lawlessness of a saloon, much fre
quented by foreigners, which was lo
cated near his residence. Two Italian
laborers have been arrested on suspi
cion.
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LOS ANGELES, Sept. 7—In a
speech here Saturday night by Gov
ernor Hiram Johnson he violently at
tacked ex-president Taft for certain
remarks made by the latter while a
guest of the State at the San Francis
co exposition. Taft referred to some
of the recent reform statutes passed
by the California legislature in a sneer
ing way and condemned it in no un
certain terms a3 demagoguery. John
son said that Taft was guilty of the
rankest, discourtesy in so condemning
his neighbor's laws while a guest in
said neighbor's house.
UNCLE SUM CONTROLS
SEVEN 1TIEN PORTS
WASHINGTON, Sept. 7—The Amer
can control of the government and
Inancial resources of the Haitien re
oubllc has been extended so that now
Jnited States officials are in full
■harge of seven of the ten ports of en
ry
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School Term Begins.
The public schools opened this
norning, after the scholars had en
oyed three months of vacation. There
vere nine pupils enrolled in Miss
fare’s room and sixteen in Miss Bur
oughs’, and this number will shortly
te increased, as several ol' the regular
.ttendants are now out of town.