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FIFTH YEAR CHITINA, ALASKA, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1915. ‘ NUMBER 17
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PETROGRAD, Feb. 9.—The German army has been
reinforced in East Prussia, with troops that have been sent
there to stay. The Russian advance has undertaken the
offensive and even a greater battle than any yet fought is
expected soon to develop. Reports received here indicate
Russian victories in East Prussia and on the Vistula river. In
the Carpathians the battle is still undecided and the list of,
wounded and dead is large on both sides.
LONDON, Feb. 8.—The great struggle for supremacy in.
Poland goes bloodily on. A report from Petrograd this after- j
noon states that the Germans failed to make a gap in the
Russian lines which might open the way to Warsaw. Each dayj
the fighting continues and the loss of life is becoming;
tremendous. The feeling and interest is intense on both sides,:
as is evidenced by the presence on the battlefield of the Czar
of Russia and the Emperor of Germany. They are personally
directing the orders of their generals. It is also reported that
an equally great battle is developing in the Carpathians. Both
the Austrians and Germans have received heavy reinforce-,
ments. They are struggling for mastery of the passes in the
Carpathian mountains, which give access to northern Hungary.
PETROGRAD, Feb. 6.—The fierce battle continues and the j
fighters on both sides are being mowed down like grass, with
out any decisive victory being won by either side. General
Von Hindenberg with his large army of German forces, is
continuing his costly lunges to break through the Russian ranks
that are protecting Warsaw. They have made little headway
during the past 24 hours in the effort to put to flight the
Russians to the north. Meanwhile the Russians have crossed;
the Bzura and are proving a menace to Von Hindenberg "by an
outflanking movement. Already the greatest loss of lifej
experienced since the war commenced is admitted to have
taken place in the present fierce engagement. No figures, how- j
ever, have been given out by either side, and any estimate as -
to killed and wounded is only a guess.
BERLIN, Feb. 4.—Big fighting is again on. It was
announced this afternoon that the German army had resumed
the attack along the western front. Troops have been!
marshaled from various sections and a desperate and offensive;
fight will soon be in progress with the allies. It was also stated
by the war office that a great battle was now in progress west
of Warsaw. It is expected that the death list will be large
for the Germans will make a desperate effort to move on to
Warsaw.
CHICAGO, Feb. 8.—A great excitement was caused in
this city yesterday as a result of a big mass meeting held
under the auspices of the American Neutrality League. An
incendiary speech was delivered by J. J. O’Leary, president
of the American Truth Society, lie denounced England and
pleaded for fair play for Germany, lie ridiculed what he
called the hypocritical methods of the United States in its
efforts to preserve neutrality in the war issue. He referred to
the celebrated cross of gold speech delivered by William;
Jennings Bryan before the Democratic National convention ini
1896. He then charged that Bryan was now trying to crucify -
Germany on the cross of British gold. Following this speech j
there was a general uproar and a number of riots followed,
resulting in the injury of many although no lives were lost.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9.—It is the opinion of the admin
istration that no protest can be made in connection with the
English flying the American flag from the steamer Lusitania.
ROME, Feb. 8.—Yesterday surrounded by 21 cardinals
the Pope intoned a prayer for peace to be restored among the
warring nations.
LONDON, Feb. 8.—The British steamship Lusitania, on
her way from New York, fearing submarines, hoisted the
American flag while crossing the Irish Sea. In explanation of
this action it was announced today that tbe Admiralty had
ordered the commander of tbe Lusitania to hoist the American
flag. Ambassador Page lias cabled the state department at
Washington the details of the Lusitania episode.
PEKIN, Feb. 8.—The Chinese minister at Tokio has
cabled here that Japan is taking military action to enforce her
demands on China. As a consequence there is the greatest
excitement and everywhere the matter is being discussed. The
public men and newspapers are advising the President to let
Japan seize what she wishes, as China is powerless.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9.—The German Ambassador,
Count von Bernstorff, lias requested the President to pardon
Edwin R. Scott, of Raymond, Washington. The man is serving
a term in tbe federal penitentiary for threatening the life of
the ambassador.
ROME, Feb. 8.—All foreigners now residing in Italy are
being subjected to the most rigid surveillance on the part of
the public authorities. When the time comes for Italy to
carry out its present plans of intervening in the war for the
purpose of retaking the two provinces of Trieste and Trent as
well as a portion of the Dalmatian coast she does not propose
to have her efforts handicapped by the presence of any
inoccuous looking strangers who might in reality be spies. All
Germans now in Italy are being watched with especial care
and every effort made to ascertain whether or not their alleged
reasons for being here are the actual ones. In addition to this
surveillance the Minister of Foreign Affairs is also preparing
X a list of the foreigners whom Italy deems it will be desirable
to expel the moment that hostilities become certain.
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.—A stenographic report of Secre
tary Lane’s testimony before the appropriations abmmittee of
the House has been made public. It contains this siginficant
clause, which is taken to have direct bearing on the intention to
purchase by the government of the Copper River & North
western Railway:
“What we want to do is to be in position to begin opera
tions in June, wherever we are going, and we want to have some '
leeway so that whatever railroad we determine to purchase, if |
we determine to purchase any, we will have some kind of a
deposit to make on it.”
This remark was brought out when the Secretary was
urging a liberal appropriation and the friends of Alaska no'w
here regard it as having considerable significance on the inten- i
cion of the government to take over the Cordova c^ad.
It was fully expected that the report of the Alaska Engi-!
neering Commission would be made public today, but up to ai
late hour this afternoon it was not admitted that it had as yet
been submitted to President Wilson.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5.—The sundry civil service bill was
reported in the House this afternoon. It provides a larger
appropriation for Alaska than at any time since the purchase
of the territory. This is due, however, to the $2,000,000 asked (
for the construction of railroads. In addition to that there is!
$908,000 asked for various other purposes. The various items
carry appropriations for Alaska as follows:
Construction of two vessels for the coast service, $289,000.!
Additional wire drags to be used in locating obstacles to
navigation in the inland waters, $35,000.
For the care and protection of the fisheries, $29,000.
Maintenance of the seal rookeries and expenses incident
thereto, $65,000.
Additional sum necessary to continue the construction of
the public building at Juneau, $75,000.
Education of the natives, $200,000.
Maintaining the reindeer and for game and liquor regula
tion, $40,000.
Construction of railroads, $3,000,000.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.—It was announced this morning!
that the finishing touches were being made to the report of the
Alaska Railroad Commission, which would be handed to
Secretary of the Interior Laue and passed on to President
Wilson before the dose of the week. The friends of Alaska
are looking forward to this report with much interest, j
although other than being replete with information concerning j
the various railroad routes in Alaska it is not expected to |
contain recommendations as to where railroads should be built!
to best serve the development of the territory. The real
interest will be in the announcement, expected about the
middle of the month, as to the President’s decision on the
question of routes. Then Alaskans will know what to expect
and can lay their plans accordingly.
It is stated that it was the intention of the administration
to ask for a larger appropriation than $2,000,000 but when it j
was reailzed that there would be serious opposition to granting
$5,000,000,. the President and Secretary Lane decided on the j
lower amount because they felt that they could get no more
from this Congress, unless through a hard fight.
It is generally conceded that the first and only construc
tion work this year will be on the line from Ship Creek, on
Cook’s Inlet, to the Matanuska coal fields. Two seasons will
likely be required to complete this line. An application has!
been received from Alexander Pearson, of Seattle, seeking a
contract on the road to be built this year. He is manager of
the Pearson Construction Company, with offices in the New
York block, Seattle. While the work will be done under the
direction of the Department of the Interior the Secretary has
not stated whether he will favor giving sections of the work
to private contractors.
LONDON, Feb. 9.—With snow deep in the Carpathian
mountains fierce engagements are now the daily order as the
opposition forces come into contact. Instead of digging
trenches in the ground both sides are now entrenching them
selves in snow. And in this last desperate move Austria has
sent all that remains of her army except the forces on the
Servian frontier, on the Nida river (Southern Russian Poland)
and in Bukowina. It may be seen clearly how valuable was
the rapid Russian movement through Bukowina, since it gave
the Austrians no time to rest and recruit their armies. This
fresh Austrian advance was prepared hastily, before the forces
were ready, and could not have been made at all but for the
assistance of German troops.
LONDON, Feb. 9.—In the House of Commons tomorrow
Lord Beresford will demand that Great Britain treat German
raiders who have desecrated undefended places, as pirates. He
will urge that they be hanged in public because of their murder
of women and children.
LONDON, Feb. 8.—Premier Asquith, in addressing the
House of Commons this afternoon gave the number as 104,000
of British killed, wounded and missing, in the western war
since the beginning of hostilities up to February 4.
EVENTS OF THE BIG
manders invariably preserve discipline.
BERLIN, Ieb. !).-—German, Austrian and Hungarian
bankers today advanced a loan of $30,000,000 to Bulgaria.
PARTS, Feb. 0.—By reason of a tip received by wireless a
plot lias been frustrated to blow up the steamship LeCham
paign. 1 his vessel is bound from Mexico to Spain and when
the captain was apprised that his ship was in danger he made
an instant and thorough investigation. Events proved that the
warning had been timely. Five bombs were found aboard in
the possession of a German. He was immediately placed under
arrest but would give no explanation as to what he intended to
do with the bombs.
WASHINGTON, Feb. (i.—When it became evident that
the United States government was very much concerned over
the announcement by Germany that the war zone would be
extended to the English Channel, the German embassy here
took the question up with their home government. This morn
ing announcement was made by Ambassador Von BernstorlT
that in the matter of the new zone proclamation it had not been
the intention of Germany to seize any of the American ships.
The President and his cabinet were in session last night consid
ering what they considered was a serious menace to our
commerce. But since Germany’s explanation today they are
feeling in better spirits.
AMSTERDAM, Feb. 5.—The Austrian war office announces
that the Austro-German army had evacuated the town of
Tarnow, in Galicia. This action was taken after a prolonged
bombardment with heavy Russian mortars, which resulted in
the death and injury of many, while considerable property was
destroyed.
SAN DIEGO, Feb. 5.—The Japanese.cruiser, which was
wrecked in Lower California waters will likely prove a total
loss. The assistance rendered by passing vessels resulted in
the saving of the entire crew and all who were aboard the
cruiser. It is expected that soon the angry waters of the ocean
will pound the cruiser Asama to pieces.
LONDON, Feb. 5.—The greatest possible interest is evi
denced in the fierce fight that is now going on in Poland. Verv
few facts are given out, but enough is known to convince ail
that death struggle is on between the Russians and Germans.
The battle that is now waging west of Warsaw is probably the
greatest since the beginning of the war. The fatalities will
undoubtedly be large and the contest may be continued for days
or weeks, unless a decisive victory is soon won by the Russians.
BERLIN, Feb. 5.—Today Germany officially declared that
the waters around England and France are all in the English
Channel war zone.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5.—Germany’s declaration of the
war zone around Great Britain and Ireland is regarded here as
one of the most serious developments of the war. It is regarded
as a menace to the shipping interests that will prove a serious
obstacle to commerce in which the interests of the United States
will be affected.
SEATTLE, Feb. 4.—The lumbering interests of Puget
Sound are very jubilant over the prospect of receiving the
contract for a big order of lumber to be shipped abroad. It
was made known this morning that the French government
had called for bids for 500,000,000 feet of lumber. It is
explained that this lumber is to be used to rebuild the homes
destroyed by the German armies. There is every confidence
expressed by the lumber interests here that a large part if not
all of this contract will be secured by the mills around Seattle
and on the Sound.
PETROGRA1), Feb. 4.—Russian aviators indulged in
some of the tactics of the enemy today and dropped bombs on
the German reserves, who were in trains southwest of Warsaw.
Hundreds were killed although the exact number has not been
reported.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.—British Ambassador Sir Cecil
Arthur Spring-Rice asked of the state department for the
extradition of Werener Van Horn, who dynamited a bridge
establishing the international line between the United States
and Canada. The perpetrator admitted that he had committed
the deed in the interest of Germany.
PETROGRAI), Feb. 3.—The Russians and the Germans
are fighting a fierce battle in the Carpathian mountains, during
which there is considerable loss of life and many wounded.
Details are not available but today the war office announced
that a German battalion had been annihilated. In this fight
the enemy has been sadly repulsed. The Germans are now
concentrating their armies southeast of Beskid Pass and are
preparing to make a last resistance.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3.—It now seems evident that
American shippers are to have difficulty in transporting food
stuffs to European shores. This afternoon Ambassador Page
cabled from London that the British fleet had been ordered to
seize and treat as a subject for confiscation grain and flour
festined for Germany or Austria. It is feared tlmt this action
will make shippers timid of taking chances in the future.
BAGDAD, Feb. 3.—The English lost a number of men last
aiglit at Euphrates, on the Tigris River in Persia. Surprised
by a night attack upon the part of the Turks two English
battalions began to fire on each other, inflicting severe losses
before their error was discovered. English gunboats drove off
the Turks. The episode has caused the English commanders
to feel much humiliation.