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VOLUME TWO. NUMBER 307. COKDOVA, ALASKA, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1!H5. URICE TEX CENTS.
FAVORS STRENGTHENING BOTH ARMY AND NAVY
\
fecial to The Times By Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 7.—The President read his message
to Congress this morning, the Houses being in joint session,
and Mr. Wilson being honored by a full attendance of the menr
bers. Tht' chief topic discussed by the executive is the subjtVt
of national preparedness, and the strengthening of the national
defences by increasing the resources of the army and navy m
both men and equipment. As a corollary to this increase in the
army and navy Mr. Wilson strongly urges Congress to enact
laws providing for government owned merchant ships, which
would be used as naval auxiliaries in time of war.
The formation of a more liberal and extensive system of
rural credits, to help the farmer move his crops is urged, and
instances cited where the lack of such a mobile credit system
has worked hardships on the big western producers of grains.
The law’s granting a greater measure of self government to the
Philippines and to Porto Rico, which failed of passage at the
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last session of Congress, are recommended again by the Presi^
dent, who made a strong plea for justice to these peoples.
The passage of legislation giving federal aid to further in - j
dustrial and vocational training is urged, and the necessity of
increasing the facilities for our youths along these lines dis
cussed fully and vigorously. Mr. Wilson brought forth a new
proposition in requesting Congress to pass a law creating a
commission to inquire into and cope with the transportation
problems of the nation, the necessity of which has been brought
home by the congestion of freight at present stored in the t-ast'
em terminals and yards, and an intimation conveyed, that our
transportation system should be laid out with some view to
military necessity.
The matter of sabotage in munition factories, and the vari"
ous attempts to cripple American business by fires and explo
sions are scathingly denounced by the President, who pays his
respects to those of our naturalized citizens who sympathize
with the belligerents in Europe, have plotted and conspired to
violate their own country’s neutrality. Mr. \\ ilson calls such
rnen traitors, and deplores the fact that the laws now on the
statute books are not stringent enough to properly punish such
offenders, and commends the matter to the earnest and immedi
ate consideration of Congress, recommending additional legis*
lation which will provide suitable penalties for infractions of
our neutrality.
The matter of revenue for the government is treated at
length. Additional internal revenue taxes are suggested for
the purpose of providing the necessary funds for creating the
increased army and' navy desired. The sources of revenue sug
gested by President Wilson are additional taxes on income, a
tax on gasoline, one on autos and all internal combustion en
gines. An impost on fabricated iron and steel is suggested, and
the revival of the war tax on bank checks, in force during the
Spanish war, is recommended. The re-enactment of the present
emergency revenue law is stated to be a necessity, and the con*
tinuation of the present tariff on sugar is also suggested.
A_2 fl mm
Attack Ales Along Grecian Border
LONDON, Dec. 7.—It is expected that the tactics of the I
Teuton invading armies in Serbia will next be directed against
the French and British expeditionary forces along the Greek:
border. While Maekensen lias advanced into Bulgaria with a
large body of Germans to prepare to resist the Russian invasion
of that country, General Gallwitz, at the head of both Austrian
and German forces, will proceed and' command the attack
against the French and British, it being hoped to crush these
soldiers before England and France can send sufficient rein
forcements to enable them to resist the superior numbers of,
the Teutons and their Bulgarian allies. It is also reported
that two divisions of German troops are operating with the
Bulgarians near Searurninza.
BERLIN, Dec. 7.—The war office issued a nofficial bulle-J
tin this morning, which for the first time in days, contained
some news of activity on the western battle front. The Ger
mans yesterday stormed and captured 250 metres of the iirst
line of French trendies in the Champagne district, east of Au
berive. Sixty French prisoners were taken. In Serbia the
French forces in the southwest were attacked by the Bulgar
ians and forced to retreat closer to the Grecian frontier, the
battle taking place along the Vard'ar river. The Teutons have
crossed the border into Montenegro in several places vester
day, capturing the city of Ipek, in southwestern Montenegro.
PETROGRAD, Dec. 7.—The plans for the coming session
of the Duma, which have been hailed with so much enthusiasm
throughout Russia, have received a setback, for the Czar is
sued a rescript today, postponing the opening of the Duma in
definitely. The meeting of the council of the empire is also
forbidden indefinitely. The Czar in his decree gives as his
reason for this act that the government l;jis not yet prepared
the budget, which the Duma must consider, as its primary duty,
and until the budget is prepared for its consideration, there is
no necessity for the body being in session. The chief reason is
probably that the bureaucrats in this city have influenced the
Czar to take this action, as they have always been opposed to
the Duma, which has been growing in strength with the people,
and influence in affairs of government.
FURTHER DISCLOSURES MADE IN LABOR STRIKES.
NEW YORK, Dec. 7.—Further disclosures relative to the
attempt of German agents to foment strikes in American mu
nition factories were made public today by Federal Prosecutor
Snowden, the man who has just aided in convicting the four
officials of the Hamburg-American line. Snowden asserts that
a man named Rintelen was the head of the German conspiracy
for promoting labor disturbances, and that Rintelen expended
in all about four hundred thousand dollars in his efforts. A
peace council of labor was organized as a by product by Rinte
len, but obtained little influence, and has so far had an inocu
ous existence. Rintelen’s money for spreading disaffection
among the workers was accepted by the smaller leaders among
the labor unions, according to Snowden, but the real leaders
among the workers, being aware of Rintelen’s designs, quietly
but effectively checkmated all his efforts, so that his money
was generally spent without any returns,
of Ketchikan need a square deal.”
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HUNGARIAN SOCIALISTS ARE GRANTED AMNESTY.
BUDAPEST, Hungary, Dec. 7.—At the instance of the
Minister of Justice, an amnesty decree has been granted to all
those who have been accused of political crimes, or who have
already been convicted of such offenses. The decree is signed
by the*Emperor Francis Joseph. A very large number of per
sons are affected, most of whom have been accused or con
victed of excitation against the state, of less majeste and simi
lar offenses. Members of the Social Democratic party par
ticularly benefit by the decree.
} GERMAN PROFESSOR TAKES CHAIR OF UNIVERSITY.
BERLIN, Dec. 7.—Professor Wilhelm Paszliowski. the
head of the so-called Academic Bureau of Information of the
Berlin University, has received six months’ leave to permit
him to take over the chair for German language and' literature
in the University of Warsaw. He wil lalso act as adviser to
the general government in university matters. Professor
Paszkowski is well known to all Americans who have studied
in the Berlin University.
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AGED FRENCH CORPORAL RECEIVED WAR CROSS.
PARTS, Dec. 7.—One of the soldiers who recently received
the war cross, is Corporal Charles Suraguo, former mayor of
‘ Auxerre, a 76-year old volunteer, who has been at the front
from the beginning of the war. A citation in the orders of the
day says that the aged volunteer ‘‘has participated as sapper
and miner in all the work of the trenches, night and day under
the enemy’s fire without once weakening.”
Monsieur Surugue is a veteran of the war of 1870; lie had
received the red rosette of the Legion of Honor before the war.
GERMAN FIELD MARSHAL WITH TURKISH TROOPS.
GENEVA, Dec. 7.—It is reported here that the Germans
were responsible for the recent defeat of the British forces in
Mesopotamia, when they had reached the gates of Bagdad.
The same report lias it that the Teutons are preparing for an
extensive campaign in that region, and that a large force of
Germans will be sent to the aid of the Turks, accompanied by
big guns, and immense quantities of ammunition. Field Mar
shal Von Der Goltz has gone to Bagdad, and will be in supreme
command of tin* allied German and rI urkish troops.
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POPE CALLS UPON BELLIGERENTS FOR PEACE.
LONDON, Dec. 7.—A further impetus has been given to
the growing talk of peace by the papal consistory, now being
held in Rome. It is accepted that Cardinal Hartman of
Cologne, who is attending the consistory, has the official views
of the German government on the matter, and has presented
I them to Pope Benedict, who is renewing his activities to have
| both sides at least declare an armistice during the Christmas
I season. The pope has issued an open letter, calling upon all
it he belligerents to make a just and immediate peace.
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GERMAN AND RUSSIAN PRISONERS BE EXCHANGED.
STOCKHOLM, Dec. 7.—I ’reparations have been com'
ipleted for the resumption of the exchanges of wounded prison
ers between Russia and Germany. The transfer will be carried
on as before, without any modification of the original plan,
but several innovations have been introduced which will make
the long journey more comfortable for the wounded, and ad-1
ditional sanitary precautions have been taken.
JAPAN WANTS MORE BATTLESHIPS AND CRUISERS.
TOKIO, Dec. 7.—Premier Okuma addressed the Japanese
Diet today, and said that tin* chief need of the nation at present
was an increase in its preparedness for war. He strongly urged
the passage of legislation which would place the navy on a
more powerful basis by increasing the number of first line I
battleships and the construction of battle cruisers.
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BANK STOCK SUFFERS AS RESULT OF WAR.
LONDON, Dec. 7.—Among English stocks which have
suffered as regards price quotations during the past tew
months must be included the shares of all the big London
banks. These stocks have always been considered investments
of the most conservative nature, and the quotations tor the
important banks were frequently four or five times their par
value, showing a net return to the investor of between four
and five per cent. On a basis of present stock exchange prices,
however, the average yield of stocks of the ten biggest English
banks is 6.75 per cent.
SECRETARY LANSING TAKES DECIDED STAND.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 7.—Secretary Lansing today replied
to the request received from Ambassador Von Bernstorff as
to the particulars for asking the recall of the military and naval
attaches at the German embassy. The secretary of state noti
fied the German ambassador that the United States wished’
Von Papen and Captain Boy-Ed withdrawn, because of their
pernicious naval and military activity, which had tended to
disturb the peace of this country and endanger its neutrality*
President Wilson is fully informed as to the evidence against
the German attaches, and Secretary Lansing has his full up'
proval in requesting their withdrawal. The administration
will stand pat on the matter regardless of what Germany says
or does.
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KRUPP ENGINEERS BUILD CRUISER FOR HOLLAND.
AMSTERDAM, Dec. 7.~Twenty-seven engineers from the
Krupp works at Essen have arrived at Flushing to suporin'
tend the construction of a new cruiser for the Dutch navy.
Krupp’s plans for the new cruisers were accepted by Holland
last summer, one to be constructed at Flushing and the other
at Amsterdam.
Several foreign companies were invited' to submit plans,
but the others all replied that they were unable to comply’with
the invitation in view of the existing war conditions.
The Dutch government is also preparing to construct three
large submarines, but these will be constructed strictly under
Dutch supervision. The dockyard where they are to be laid
out is, however, connected with an English shipbuilding firm
which has offices at Tin* Hague.
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ENGLISH PROFESSOR CONSCRIPTED WITH TEUTONS.
LONDON, Dec. 7.—The English newspapers are aroused
over the case of Dr. W. H. Wells, a former lecturer in the
University of Munich, who has been conscripted for service in
the German army. Dr. Wells is a graduate of Oxford, and an
Englishman by birth, but it appears that under the German
law he accepted “complimentary” German citizenship when
he accepted in 1909 a pension from the University of Munich.
He is 38 years old.
JAPAN TO FURNISH RUSSIA 3,000,000 SHET T S.
TOKTO, Dec. 7.—An order for 3,000,000 shells h- - b n
placed by Russia in Japan through the Japanese army authori
ties. It will be distributed .among various private facbwms of
the Empire, as well as among the national arsenals. Tr addi
tion to the ammunition the Russian government has placed
another huge order for woolen cloth.