Only Afternoon Newspaper In Alaska Member Of Associated Press
The Cordova Daily Times
VOLUME TWO. NUMBER 317. OORDOVA, ALASKA. MONDAY. DECEMBER 20, 1915. PRICE TEN CENTS.
LONDON, Dec. 20.—The Germans attempted to take the
British near Ypres by surprise yesterday, but the attack on the
trenches failed, the enemy being repulsed with heavy losses.
The attack centered on the positions northeast of the town,
great clouds of poisonous gases being directed at the British
trenches before the Teuton infantry charged. The charge was
^ met by a terrific hail of bullets from the English machine guns,
and failed completely, the German dead being piled in heaps in
that “no man’s land’’ between the opposing trenches. Later
the Germans directed a heavy artillery bombardment on the
British positions in this vicinity, and’ also shelled the French
trenches at Messines.
LONDON, Dec. 20.—Advices received from I’etrograd and
Kaloniki show that there has been no activity the last few days
i'll either the eastern or the Macedonian fronts. Tit Russia the
weather has been severe, practically prohibiting military oper
ations. The Anglo-French troops in Macedonia are entrench
ing themselves in their new positions just across tin* frontier
on the Greek side, while the unloading of troops and supplies
continues unabated at Saloniki. An early attack on the Bul
garian positions is not expected, as the allies have not yet gatli
cred sufficient forces to warrant them taking the offensive.
The advance will be left to the Teutons, and their Bulgarian
allies to initiate.
LONDON, Dec. 20.—The war office issued'an official an
nouncement this morning, stating that the British troops at
Nuvla Bay and in the Anzac district on the Gallipoli peninsula
have been withdrawn, and removed to other fields of opera
lions. All the cannon and ammunition have been taken along,
and the commander at the Dardanelles has abandoned the po
sitions taken with such a heavy loss of life last summer. The
positions held by the British were practically of no importance
and their insignificance required that they be given up for
other things.
LONDON, Dec. 20.- It is believed here that the troops
withdrawn from Suvla Bay and other portion* of the Gallipoli
peninsula have been transported to Saloniki to take part in
the coming campaign in the Balkans. The allies are vigorously
proceeding with their plans for taking the offensive in the near j
east, and Saloniki is a beehive of industry; The troops along
the border are entrenching themselves, and big guns are being
mounted at various points.
1 1 " .gg- *' . . ■ — ■
FAIRBANKS. Dec. 20. — A blaze
which at one time threatened to de
stroy the principal business buildings
of this city, wiped out the California
saloon last night, and is still burning.
The California saloon was the largest
saloon building in Alaska, and was
built by A1 White in 1904. At present
it was owned and operated by Andy
McKensie. The fire commenced at
3:30 this morning, and while the de
partment responded promptly, the
firemen were greatly hampered in
their work because of the extreme
cold. The thermometer being 25 be
low zero. The fire was caused by
defective operation of the gasoline
lighting system. The blaze was spec
tacular, the flames shooting high in
the air, and grave fears were felt for
the safety of the other houses in the
vicinity. The firemen directed sev
eral streams on the adjoining build
ings, and managed to prevent the fire
from spreading. McKensie had no
insurance, and the building and con
tents are a total loss.
FAIRBANKS, Dec. 20. — The fire
which destroyed the California saloon
was more serious than at first re
ported. The loss in that building alone
was $30,000, partially insured. The
flames spread to the Healy cash gro
cery, which adjoins the California,
and it was a complete loss. The Nor
thern hotel was also gutted by the
fire.
It has just been learned that Hasbe
Saloff, a Russian, aged 35 years, was
burned to death in the California.
-:o:
BRIDE AT IT
HOT SPRINGS. Ark., Dec. 20. —
Presiden Wilson and his bride arrived
here yesterday morning, coming di
rect from Washington, where they left
immediately after the wedding cere
mony on Saturday night. Their plans
contemplate the passing of their
honeymoon of two weeks in this town,
and they are quartered in the Home
stead Hotel. Yesterday they re
mained in the seclusion of their
rooms, but today they arose early and
breakfasted together in their apart
ments. After some time spent by both
in clearing up their correspondence,
they went to the golf links and played
a match game. President Wilson re
ceived congratulations from all the
monarehs of Europe and Asia on his
nuptials, nnd today he wired back re
sponses. The telegraph office has
been almost swamped with messages
for Mr. and Mrs. Wilson since they
arrived, and have been compelled to
put on an extra messenger.
-:o:
One-fourth off on all cut glass at
the Blum, O’Neill Co.
-:o.
Nifty Job printing at the Times.
X
PARIS, Dec. 20. — The answer of Paul Leroy Beaulieu,
the French economist, to the question, “Will Europe he
plunged into bankruptcy because of tin* war,” is “No, not even
Germany.”
Concerning the result of the present enormous spending
of money bv all the nations and the conditions following the
war, he forecasts the end of the war a year hence, and after its
end a remarkable industrial activity, with an international
commercial rivalry leading to high tariffs in all the nations
now at war, including free trade England, and yet higher tar
iffs in the Fnitcd States, lie said:
“While a situation has never before presented itself in
history, and while therefore all opinions must be given with
some reserve, 1 am confident that no fear need be felt for a
universal collapse of world finances. The destruction in this
war, save possibly in the lives lost, has been exaggerated in the
public mind. Not a single nation involved will be irretrievably
ruined. Tin* enduring power of accumulated wealth has been
underestimated. It will take not more than ten or twelve
years for the^world’ to recover from its losses.
“1 estimate that the war will have come to a close by next
autumn. Then there will set in a period of manufacturing
activity the like of which we have never known. This period
has been made necessary by the physical damage done, by the
diversion to war supplies of factories once engaged in making
cloth and what not. During this reconstruction period we will
work harder than formerly. There will not be the stagnation
which paralyzed the Southern states after the Civil war.”
_- -n ». .- — -
ALLIED MONITORS SHELL GERMAN POSITIONS.
BERLIN, Deo. 20.—The war office officially announced
today that a fleet of French and British monitors had sailed
in close to the Belgian shore and shelled tin* German positions
along the western front in Flanders. The monitors were re'*
plied to by the German land batteries, who succeeded in forc
ing the warships to retire without having accomplished much
damage.
-:o:
BREAK BETWEEN GREEKS AND BULGARIANS.
BRINDISI, Dec. 20.—11 is reported here that the expected
clash between tin* Greek and Bulgarian forces along the Greek
frontier has broken out. Fighting is believed to have occurred
between small detachments of Greeks and' Bulgarians in the
region of Fipilus. Several officers are said to have been
killed and many wounded. The Greeks are hurrying forward
reinforcements to the scene of the trouble.
-:o:-r—
UNCLE SAM OBJECTS INTERFERENCE OUR MAILS.
LONDON, Dec. 20.—The war office today announced that
the British losses in Serbia has been slight, and denied the
stories from Berlin, telling of the destruction of two British
divisions. The British forces have not been holding that
section of tin* front which bore the brunt of the fighting. The
Bulgarians after taking Monastir, concentrating their forces
against the French under General Sarrail, who were on the
left flank of the allied line, the British holding the right. The
heavy attack of the enemy compelled the French to retreat,
necessitating a similar movement on the part of the British
to preserve the alignment. The total British casualties in
Serbia to date are 1391, including both officers and men. Of
this but eighty-five have been killed.
-—— :o:
NATIONALIST PARTY ORGANIZED IN ITALY.
ROME, Dec. 20.—This policy of seizing the present mo
ment, when all Europe is at war, for realizing Italy’s aspira
tions, has swept aside old parties and leaders and brought new
ones on the stage. It has given a name to a new party, the Na
tionalist, which is an extreme section of this policy of realizing
Italy’s national aspirations, and it has founded a newspaper
in Rome, the Idea Nazionnle, whose name again proclaims this
fundamental idea of Italian policy, the realization of national
aspirations. None of the. entente powers had any distinct
national aspirations leading them to enter the war, and they
were moved considerably by humanitarian and altruistic ends.
And that is where Italy’s policy differs from all the others* as
she is in this war chiefly to realize her national aspirations.
LOCAL JOTTING8.
The city council will meet in regu
lar session tonight.
—:o:—
Gust Rust, of McCarthy, is spend
lng a few days in town.
— :o:—•
Sid Wolff, of Seward, is spending
a few days in town on business.
—:o:—
R. E. Lewis left yesterday for Se
attle to spend Christmas with his
folks.
Mrs. M. A. Snyder was a passenger
• for Seattle on the steamer Alameda
| yesterday.
—:o:—
Henry I-ogan, who is employed at
Mile 78, is spending a couple of days
in town.
— :o: —
Gust Heimbrish and C. F. Wylde,
of Fairbanks, are in town awaiting
a steamer for Seattle.
—:o: —
Louis l>ahl came in from Mile H7
on yesterday’s train, and will remain
here over the holidays.
—:o:—
Attorney R. E. Capers left on the
Alameda Sunday morning to spend
the holidays witii friends in Los An
geles.
—:o: —
Judge John A. McGlnty, of Seward,
was a passenger on the Alameda
Saturday night, en route to I^os An
geles.
— :o: —
It started to snow last night, and
there has been one of the heaviest
falls of the ’’beautiful” we have had
this winter.
— :o:—
The cooperation of Seward is asked
by the Anchorage Kennel and Sport
Club in planning for an “Anchorage
Seward dog race.”
—:o:—
Fred Mayer, night clerk at the
Windsor Hotel, is laid up with an at
tack of the grip, and L. G. Belter is
on duty during his absence.
Alex McDonald, agent for the Alas
ka Steamship Company at Seward,
spent Saturday evening with Cordo
vans on his way to Seattle.
—:o:—
Attorney Walter D. Peters, of
Bremerton, Wash., is stopping at the
Windsor Hotel, and will make a trip
out the line on the next train.
Mine Inspector Wm. Maloney re
turned on yesterday’s steamer to
Juneau after having made an investi
I gation of the mines in this section.
— o:
I Mrs. Craemer and daughter. Miss
Marion, and Mrs. I.ouis Golden, were
among the Fairbanksans who arrived
on Sunday’s train, en route to the
States.
—:o: —
E. R. McFarland, formerly of the
signal corps at Valdez, has taken a
position with the Alaskan engineer
ing commission as superintendent of
telephone and telegraph construction.
—: o: —
Seward has organized a Republican
Club, the membership of which in
eludes every business man of t,he
railroad town. Dr. J. M. Sloan was
elected president, and L. L. James
secretary.
— •*: —
Wm. Crawford, first assistant en
gineer on the steamer Alameda, well
known by his friends in Alaskan
coast towns as "Big Bill,” has been
transferred to the same position on
the steatper Cordova.
NEW YORK, Dec. 20.—Frederick Metzler, a German, who
was one of the six arrested here last week on a charge of con
spiracy to injure shipping and destroy munitions plants, has
made a full confession to the federal authorities. He gave the
secret service men a detailed report of the operations of Paul
Koenig of the Hamburg American Line, which accuses Koenig
of having twenty-five secret agents in this city alone, whose
business it was to get information concerning the shipment of
supplies to the allies, and make plans and carry them out for
the destruction of munition factories. Koenig made regular
reports of his operations'and observations 1<* Captain \ on
Pa pen, the German military attache at Washington. Metzler
said that Koenig was tin* man who sent George Fuchs to de
stroy the Welland Canal. Fuchs went to the canal but reported
that it was impossible for him t«» accomplish his design at that
particular time. The authorities also claim to have evidence
connecting Koenig with the fire on the steamer Minnehaha.
UNITED STATES MAY BREAK WITH AUSTRIA.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20.—The new note to the Vienna
government on the Ancona matter, was dispatched to Ambas
sador Penfield by Secretary Lansing last night. It is expected
that the message will not arrive in Vienna until Wednesday
evening. The text has not yet been made public, and will not
be until delivered to the Austrian foreign office. That the
note will create a breach in the friendly relations between tin*
two countries, if the demands of the l nited States are ignored
or refused, is practically certain.
__ —_— . — Avrm nr T~1 A m T AIT
KKJLimlJiiK, uuuxNArtio wuio v/ux x« iuiduhuh.
LONDON, Dec. 20.—The elections held yesterday in
Greece resulted in Premier Gounaris, the present head of the
cabinet, being successful. The result is partly accounted for
because of the refusal of the opposition party, led by ex
Premier Venizelos, to participate in the election. This condi
tion resulted in a very light vote being cast.
BRITISH LOSSES IN SERBIA ARE SLIGHT.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20.—The state department an-:
' non need officially today that the I'nited States had strongly
protested to Great Britain against the latter country’s inter
ference with the parcel post mails between America and
Sweden. Great Britain alleges thijt the Germans are taking
advantage of the parcel post to avoid' the effects of the block
ade, and that a large amount of rubber has been shipped into
Sweden in parcel post packages, which has later been re
shipped to Germany, where the need of rubber for auto tires
lias been acute. The state department is prepared to vigorous
ly assert the doctrine that England has no right to interfere
with neutral mails, and will insist that the practice be dis
continued.
LONDON, Dec. 20.—A goat that was selected to test a new
type of gas bomb at an experimental station back of the firing
line in France, writes a correspondent, escaped the ordeal and
has now been nursed back to health.
Men often volunteer for experiments of this kind, but they
go into the gas pits muzzled. They do not test the deadliness
of the bomb, as did the goat, but try out the latest inventions
*“ .
STEAMER ALAMEDA LEAVES FOF
THE STATES.
The steamer Alameda arrived fron
the westward lute Saturday afternoor
and remained In port until 9 o'clock
Sunday morning, taking aboard i
cargo of copper ore for the Taconu
smelter. As the crew of the Alamedf
is anxious to get home for Christmas
it is expected that the vessel wil
reach Seattle Friday morning.
The outgoing passengers from Cor
.'.ova were. Mrs. M. A. Snyder, Chas
j Peterson, A. Hagen. John Christen
aen, Max Webber, R. E. Lewis, M
Jajuck, Chas. Hedstrom, Ben Rich
ardson and Heine Berger for Seattle
Wm. Maloney, J. D. Armstrong ant
Fred Clausen for Juneau.
I
NORTHWESTERN DAY LATE
LEAVING SEATTLE
SEATTLE, Lee. 20. — The steamer
Northwestern arrived here yesterday
and her next sailing north has been
postponed until Tuesday evening.
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NEW ENGINE FOR RAILROAD.
The freighter Cordova is due with
one of the new- engines for the Cop
per River & Northwestern railroad,
as well as a cargo of dynamite and
other explosives.
-;o-.
A train left this morning for
Chitlna,
MM HHK
—
EL PASO, Dec. 20. — It is reported
on good authority that a treaty of
peace has been drawn up between the
Villa forces ami the Carranza govern
ment in Mexico. The meeting be
tween the representatives of the op
posing factions was held in the office
of the Mexican consulate in this city,
aruf the papers defining the terms of
the agreement have been signed by
representatives of both sides. While '
the terms of the agreement have not
been made public, it is reported In
Juarez that Villa has promised to eli
minate himself from all participation
in Mexican affairs.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20. — Gen
eral Villa will be given protection by
the United States if he should fleCx.
across the border to escape the ap
proaching Carranza troops. Villa
would be considered as a political re
fugee, and as such would be given
asylum In this country. A special
messenger was dispatched to Villa to
appraise him of this by General Kun
ston yesterday.
-,<$,
TUFT WILL AW
i
LACROSSE. Wis.. Dec. 20. — Ex
President William Howard Taft is
confined to bed here from an attack
of chills, contracted while on the
train coming west. Taft, was to make
an address here, but while his con
dition is not critical, he is too ill to
allow of him appearing in public for
at least a week, and the address has
been indefinitely postponed. The ex
president is the guest of a former
class mate of Yale University while
in this city. The attending physicians
say that their patient is quite ill but
is in no danger.
LACROSSE. WIS., Dec. 20. — The
first reports sent out from here con
cerning the condition of ex-President
Taft have proved to be grossly exag
gerated. Mr. Taft is not confined to
his bed, and while he is not feeling
very fit, he is In good shape, and will
keep his speaking engagement here,
which Is scheduled for tonight.
COPPER LEAPS TO
25 CENTS 5
—
NEW YORK, Dee. 20. — Copper
took a sudden rise today and amid
scenes of the wildest excitement rose
to 25 cents. The effect on the stock
market was electric, and the volume
of metal shares traded In was exces
sive. All the prominent shares re
acted sympathetically with the in
crease of the price of the metal, an^
registered raises of one point and
more.
-:o.
DANCE AND LECTURE WEDNES
DAY
*
At Eagle Hall on Wednesday Mrs.
Lena Morrow Lewi i will deliver a lec
ture at 8 o'clock, to be followed by a
dance at 10 o'clock. The former 1b
free and the admission to the dance
will be 11.
_^ —vv-vr®