FIFTH YEAR ' CHITINA, ALASKA, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1915. NUMBER 16
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EUROPEAN WAR
PARIS, Feb. 1.—The British steamship Toko Icaria,
bound from New Zealand to England, and containing some
clothing, food and money for the Belgians, was torpedoed off
Havre. The steamer sank but the crew was saved. The sub
marine U-21 also sunk three vessels in the Irish Sea, although
the crews were saved. The submarine also chased five passen
ger steamers, including the Atlantic liner Scandinavian with
500 aboard, into Queenstown.
LONDON, Feb. 1.—Germany’s submarine blockade of
British ports is effective, at least temporarily. In the case of
Belfast and other ports sailings have been suspended. Great
Britain hopes to soon be able to raise the blockade.
LIVERPOOL, Feb. 1.—During the past day German
submarines have raided the shipping on the west coast of
England. At least ten merchantmen have been sunk and it;
is possible that the number is larger. There is much conster
nation among shippers.
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 1.—A letter from a shipping
master states that a German warship sunk the American
steamer Drummuir off the Falkland Islands. Few particulars
are given. '
CONSTANTINOPLE, Feb. 1.—Word was received this
afternoon that the Tuikish fieri successfully shelled the
Russian military post on the west coast of the Black Sea.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.—Secretary of State Bryan has
been exchanging views with Germany on various cjuestions at
issue. In a note sent today the secretary contends that aero
planes are not war vessels. He objects to the use of these!
implements of death and the consequent killing of many
innocent women and children.
PETROGRAD. Feb. 1.—Russians believe that General
Von Hindenberg is on the verge of making another thrust at
Warsaw. Preparation has been made in anticipation of this
move and it is expected that the fierce resistence to be met by
the Germans will soon drive them back.
GALVESTON, Feb. 1.—The American steamship Dacia,
laden with cotton and consigned to Bremen, sailed this morn
ing. This is the steamer which Gi'eat Britain intimated she
would seize if possible.
LONDON, Jan. 30.—A wireless message from Berlin says
that seven English aeroplanes bombarded Os tend and
Zeebruggee. Three of the machines were surrounded by
German aeroplanes and pursued out to the open sea.
DUNKIRK, Jan. 30.—This city was again bombarded by
German aeroplanes today, six of them dropping fifty bombs.
Several houses were wrecked, but the property loss was slight.
BERLIN, Jan. 30.—German troops captured 745 French
soldiers and 12 machine guns in the western Argonne Forest
today, after a severe engagement in which the former out
numbered the latter almost two to one. according to an
official announcement from the war office.
PETROGRAD, Jan. 30.—Both Russians and Austrians
are entrenching in the snow in and near the passes of the
Carpathian mountains recently captured by the former. The
frozen condition of the ground makes it impossible to dig sub
stantial excavations for protection of the troops. The snow
Jj embankments merely act as insecure protection by preventing
the enemy from getting" accurate range.
ROME, Jan. 30.—A royal decree issued today calls to
the colors the first and third reserve troops, and adds strength
to rumors which have been in circulation for the past two
months that Italy intends taking part in the war and on the
sicie oi me aines.
PETROGRAD, Jan. 30.—Russians have occupied Pill
kalen, a town of 6,000 population in East Prussia about 90
miles from Koenigsberg. After shelling the place for a day,
only 300 women and children remained, the men and others
who were better able to travel having fled to the westward.
The fatalities are not given.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 27.—It is authoritively stated that
Phesident Wilson will veto the immigration bill because of
the literacy test. Rumors to this effect have drifted out of the
, White House for weeks through Secretary Tumulty and others;
& but nothing really authoritative came from from the President
until today, following a conference between him and
committees from both houses which had the measure in
charge.
, The strongest opposition to the measure, it is claimed by
its friends—among which are the labor organizations—comes
from the steamship companies whose agents have been selling
tickets in Europe on the instalment plan, and from the
hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church. " The fact was
brought out during the debate in the House that these agents
have sold tickets good from ports in southern Europe to
Pacific coast points through the canal for the sum of $34 each,
payable in instalments of $1 a week, and out of that the agent
u receives a total commission of $15.
™ WASHINGTON, Jan. 27.—Chairman Tillman of the naval
committee of the Senate, in a speech today, urged Congress to
* go slow on battleship construction until the government can
build more effectively by taking advantage of the lessons
which are being taught during the European war. He showed
that construction of immense and expensive floating fortress,
such as are the lattest battleships of the dreadnauglit class, is
impractical in view of the ease by which they can be destroyed
by cheap submarines and torpedoes.
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 2.—The report of the Alaska
Engineering Commission has not yet been formally filed with
the President. But the views of the administration on the
subject of Alaska railroad building for this year were made
public this afternoon through a presentation by Secretary of
the Interior Lane. This gentleman appeared before the Sundry
Civil Committee and formally asked that $2,000,000 be provided
in the bill for this year’s quota of railroad construction in the
northland. The amount will undoubtedly be granted and
considerable surprise was expressed that the sum was not
greater, as it was fully expected that the request would be for
$3,000,000 or $5,000,000. The sundry civil bill will likely be
reported to the House this week.
Friends of the administration state that the small amount
asked at this time is not to be taken as an indication that
existing railroad lines are not to be acquired. They point out
that no money would be needed for such a purpose before next
winter at the earliest. Valuation and negotiations may require
a year yet and any money needed for that purpose could be
included in the amount asked for in the 1916 estimate. While
no definite announcement has been made as to the work likely
to be done this year it is generally accepted that the only
construction will be building the line from Ship Creek to the
Matanuska coal fields.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.—The report of the Alaska
Engineering Commission was not presented to the President
this morning as was generally expected that it would be. It is
promised the fore part of the week. It is expected that immedi
ately after the report is presented that President Wilson will
send to the House a request for an appropriation of money
sufficient to do a year’s work on the government railroad
projects in Alaska. It is a question whether the sum he will
ask for will be $3,000,000 or $5,000,000, but friends of Alaska
are hoping that it will be the latter sum.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29.—President Wilson today issued
an executive order that will set clear various rumors as to how
the proposed Alaska railway construction is to be made. Ho
directs that the surveying and railroad building be done
under the supervision of the Interior Department. Various
reports had been circulated that the work was to be done by
private contract after receiving bids. The President’s order
dispels any illusion on that score and practically gives into
the hands of Secretary Franklin K. Lane the construction of
the government railway project in the territory. It is under
stood that the report of the Alaska Engineering Commission
is about completed and that it will be formally presented to
the President early next week. While it is believed generallv
that the administration has practically decided its plan for
railroad construction this year it is not expected that definite
announcement of routes will be made for a couple of weeks yet.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 30.—It now seems improbable that
President Wilson will go with the fleet of battleships through
the Panama Canal in March. It was announced today that j
he would leave by train for San Francisco soon after Congress
adjourns. It is expected that going, he will take the northern
route via Seattle, and return via the central or southern route.
To a suggestion that he might find time to take a flying trip
from Seattle to Alaska, the President smiled and replied that
he would very much like to. But he gave no assurance that
lie would do so.
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On the train coming from McCarthy on Friday afternoon
were five cars of high-grade copper ore from the property of
the Mother Lode Copper Mines Company, located across the
hills from the Bonanza mine at Kennecott. This ore was this
morning loaded on the steamer Mariposa, which later sailed for
Puget Sound, the ore to be discharged at the Tacoma smelter.
On January 26 a similar shipment of ore was made to the
smelter, making ten cars or about 500 tons within two weeks.
The value of the Mother Lode ore will run from $150 to $160
per ton as it runs from 50 to 60 per cent in copper.
Reports from the Mother Lode mine indicate that Presi
dent Godfrey is taking every possible advantage of the sledding
season to get as much of his ore as possible from the foot of
the tram to the railroad at McCarthy. Unless the weather
interferes he calculates to have an additional 1,000 tons out to
Cordova before the spring thaw makes the present wagon
road of 14 miles impassable.
All the machinery is working very satisfactory at the mine
and if a spur from the railroad were built it would not be long
before the Mother Lode was established as one of the best
producers in this section of high grade copper ore. Regular
shipment would then follow and the number of employes would
be largely increased* The frequent shipments of ore from this
mine to the smelter has been very gratifying to the officers of
the Mother Lode Company. The values have demonstrated
all that has been claimed for the property, which has available
an immense body of valuable ore.
WEN KILLEOJHIPS SUNK
PLTROGRAD, Jan. 29.—The official announcement has
been made here that two Russian armies are approaching
Koenigsburg, one from the north and one from the east, the
former having reached Tilset. Koenigsberg is the chief city
in East Prussia and is noted for its great university which
was founded in 1544. During severe fighting in the Carpathian
mountains the Russians captured Vreka pass.
LONDON, Jan. 29.—Dispatcher from Tiflis, Transcaucasia,
says that 50 Greek villages around Kars, in Southern Trans
caucasia, have been laid in rains by the Turks. The flight of
the Greek inhabitants was precipitate, and women and children
i suffered intensely from the cold. Many of the men among the
Greeks were made prisoners and some were killed without
ceremony although they offered no armed resistance to the
Turks.
GENEVA, Jan. 29.—The German crown prince has
authorized a statement issued from the battlefield near Verdun
saying that every Austrian and German is confident that they
will win. The statement adds: “We are convinced the day
will come when the people of Russia and France will find out
that they are only doing dirty work for England.”
LONDON, Jan. 29.—The Daily Telegraph says that the
German sailors of the battle cruiser Bluecher, which was sunk
in the North Sea during last Sunday’s engagement, lined up
along the rail and doffed their hats as the vessel went down
with them. The bravery of the Germans is highly commended
by the English press.
PARIS. Jan. 29.—Fighting on the (Taonne plateau con
tinues without apparent decrease in vigor with the Germans
attacking repeatedly. The French assert that 10,000 Germans
have been lost since celebration of the Kaiser’s birthday,
commenced early on the morning of the 27th inst.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.—Announcement has been made
at the state department that the report was untrue that Great
Britain had protested against this government purchasing
German vessels.
i->AbL£i. jan. Zo.—Private advices from Vienna state that
Emperor Francis Joseph and Baron Von Rajecz, the Austrian
minister to Germany, have arranged for an immediate canfer
ence with the Kaiser, with the object of bringing the war to an
end as soon as possible without further sacrifice of life.
GENEVA, Jan. 28.—An order of the Austro-Hungarian
government for mobilization of the last line of reserves, the men
who have thus far been exempt from military service in the
present war because of old age, has brought about a serious
uprising among the southern Slavs, who say that they do not
propose to sacrifice themselves or make bipod atonement for
mistakes of Germany and Austria. The clergy are leading the
movement for resistance, which began last Sunday at Laibach,
where crowds are shouting: “Down with war! Down with the
Germans!”
LONDON, Jan. 28.—A great battle has developed between
the Austrians and Russians in Galicia, along a front of 10!)
miles skirting the Carpathian mountains, through the passes
of which the Russians have been pouring their forces for almost
two weeks. This struggle will mark the turning point of the
campaign in the East as both Russians and Teutons attach the
highest importance to the outcome.
LONDON. Jan. 28.—Admiral Beatty, who was in command
of the fleet which frustrated the raid of German war vessels
on English coast cities last Sunday, in-a technical report of the
naval battle says: “The Germans were badly hammered.”
PARIS, Jan. 27.—Heaps of dead victims of reckless
charges against the allies were the German army’s birthday
present to the Kaiser on the battlefields of Northern France
last night. Inspired by the presence of the great war lord
himself, and with the blind zeal of religious fanatics who in
the middle ages shed their blood in holy wars on the same
ground, the German troops hurled themselves against the
positions of the French and English in a series of night attacks
along the entire battle line from the North Sea to Rheims, a
distance of almost 200 miles. Save the winning of a few
trenches at Craonne, the Germans made no progress.
LONDON, Jan. 27.—Dispatches from Cairo state {hat
great military activity prevails along the Suez canal. Troops
and warships are being assembled there, all civilians are
leaving the vicinity of the great artery of commerce and
important reconnaisances are being made.
ATHENS, Jan. 27.—Three Turkish army corps number
ing 120,000 men are marching on Egypt under command of
Djemal Pasha, who is reported to have a number of German
officers on his staff.
GAIKO, Jan. 27.—An engagement occurred today between
Turkish and British troops to the eastward of Elkantara in
Egypt. No details have been received here.
LONDON, Jan. 27.—A German bluejacket survivor of the
armored cruiser Bluecher, which was sunk during a running
battle in the North Sea on the 24th inst., when an attempted
raid of German vessels was frustrated by British scouts, said
that while the vessel was full of holes and could not have
remained afloat long, her end was hastened by a torpedo
directed at her from one of the English vessels. The sailor
said that during the battle the sea about him was full of dead
men and others with shattered limbs who were able to keep
afloat. Some of these latter were rescued by the British, but
most of them perished.
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