WASHINGTON, D. C., Aug. 2.—The State
Department lias received another note from the
Berlin foreign office, replying to the last American
missive on the sinking of the American vessel Wil
liam P. Frye by the German cruiser Eitel Friedrich
off the coast of South America. The latest German
communication reiterates their previous contention
that under the Prussian-American treaty, Germany
may continue destroying American ships, containing
contraband of war, if she pays for them. Germany
definitey declines to accept the American view, in
sisted upon by the administration, that the existing
treaty between the two countries protects the ship
from destruction. Germany holds that she has only
to pay damages after a prize court has determined
what would be just.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Aug. 2.—The last
American note on the Lusitania disaster, and the
general subject of submarine warfare, received its
first official response from Berlin today. Today’s
communication was not a reply to the notq but
simply a request from the German admiralty asking
to have American ships all decorated with large
American flags to be painted on both sides. The
request asks to have them painted large enough to be
easily recognized at a distance, and states that the
flags now painted on the ships are too small to be
easily identified. The officials of the government
gratified Germany’s latest request thereby showing
the sincere desire of the administration to avoid to
do anything reasonably consistent with a proper
firmness in insisting upon the legal rights of
neutrals. The officials at Washington are pleased
over this request, as they see in it a desire upon the
part of Germany to avoid attacks upon American
vessels.
LONDON, Aug. 2.—Warsaw is still in the
hands of the Russians but that it will be abandoned
within a short time is a practical certainty. Grand
Duke Nicholas, the commander in chief is gradually
withdrawing his forces from the doomed city, pre
paring to evacuate, if necessary, without suffering
the loss of his fighting machine. The civilian popu
lation is leaving in large numbers taking what per
sonal property they can carry, and driving all their
stock before them. It is becoming more apparent
that the city itself will not be destroyed when the
Russians leave, but that only the forts and the other
fortifications will be blown up and set fire to. All
war munitions will be taken along by the retreating
Russians who now feel safe in the belief that they
can get away without suffering a complete crushing
of their forces. Throughout the empire there is still
a strong feeling of hope that the allies on the western
front will initiate a strong offensive and force the
Teutons to slacken the heavy driving at the Russian
lines. The loss of Warsaw will be keenly felt by the
Russian people but they have already been prepared
for the disaster, and the government is assuring the
people of the ultimate success of the Muscovite arms.
LONDON, Aug. 2.—The Russian Duma opened
in Petrograd today before a brilliant assemblage.
Nearly all the cabinet ministers made speeches to
the body, and the prevailing note of the addresses
was fervid patriotism and unbounded faith in the
final victory of the Russians in the present conflict.
They were all agreed that Russia was far from
having reached the end of her resources, and that it
was vain for anyone to suppose that the termination
of the fight was even in sight as yet. * The minister
of war confidently predicted the success of the allies
and’ the realization of the aims of Russia before
peace was secured, and said that although it was
possible that Warsaw might be surrendered, it would
only be for the same reason that Moscow was yielded
to Napoleon in 1812, and for the’purpose of assuring
final victory.
BERLIN, Aug. 2.—The Berlin war office
officially announces that northwest of Lomza, capital
of the province of Lomza, and southwest of Suwalki,
the German soldiers have reached the Narew river.
The statement says that they are meeting with an
obstinate resistance, which is slowly but surely
being overcome. Before Warsaw, the situation is
unchanged, no important movements of either army
having bepn successful in repulsing or defeating the
enemy.
E LPASO, Aug. 2.—It is reported here that
General Villa has been lately showing signs of get
ting desperate due to the repeated defeats he has
suffered at the hands of the Carranza forces. Word
has reached here that Villa addressed a gathering of
foreign merchants in Chihuahua last Saturday and
said to them, “I am going to take over your business
and run it for the benefit of the state and for the good
of the people of Mexico* Your employees may
remain here, but they will be expected and com
pelled, if necessary, to conduct the business under
the direction of my agents, and for the good of the
cause for which I am fighting. The safety of Mexico
depend upon this and I am ready and willing to sac
rifice everything in order that the ideals of the
Mexican people can be realized. You Americans,
you Germans, you Frenchmen, may protest and
appeal to your governments if you like. As for me,
I am going ahead along the lines I have laid out for
myself despite all opposition. If the American gov
ernment does not like my action it can go to hell.”
The tirade continued in a similar vein, and ended
with a general order confiscating all the stores and
business houses in Chihuahua. Forty-two Mexican
merchants have been jailed for refusing voluntarily
to contribute to a forced loan, and' six others have
been executed.
BERLIN, Aug. 2.—Professor Simmel, one of the
leading academicians of the empire, in a long article
which appeared today in the Berliner Tageblatt,
declared that the United States was the Iieir of the
richest testators in the world, and that America was
now Avatching at the deathbed. Simmel asks the
belligerent nations of Europe If they intend' to con
tinue this suicidal strife they have entered upon,
and says if they do, they will only hasten the succes
sion of American to the Avorld throne.
PARIS, Aug. 2.—The commission which has
been investigating additional reports of German
atrocities made their official report to the govern
ment today. The most serious charge considered by
the board Avas the statements that have been made to
the effect that the Teutons have used military and
civilian prisoners as shields against the French fire.
Much SAvom evidence Avas included verbatim in the
report detailing such occurrences, although the
board did not comment on them. The employment
by the German troops of reversed, split and other
forbidden bullets Avas investigated, and much testi
mony taken, including samples of-the missiles. The
report cites the order of General Stenger, commander
of the 58th German Brigade, directing his soldiers
to kill all of the enemy’s Avounded, and ordering
them to take no more wounded prisoners. Several
massacres of French soldiers followed the issuance
of this order.
ROTTERDAM, Aug. 2.—From the German
newspapers received here it is evident that the gov
ernment is taking over entire control of all the cot
ton industry of the empire. The supply of cotton is
gradually decreasing owing to the immense quanti
ties of it used in the manufacture of war munitions,
and the steps taken by the government are essential
to a proper conservation of the supply already on
hand'. The cotton will he equitably distributed
among all the factories, the management of which
will be conducted under the direction of the state.
The move to control the cotton, is in line with the
recent order decreeing that all copper, nickel and
brass utensils of whatever nature, including cooking
utensils, were the property of the government.
BERLIN, Aug. 2.—The German official state
ment issued this morning says that the Teutons have
captured Mitau, the capital of the Baltic province
of Command. Mitau, is one of the imporant cities
of this section of Russia and is but 25 miles south
east of Riga. The German forces entered the city
this morning, the Russians having abandoned it as
they advanced.
LONDON, Aug. 2.—The toll of the German
submarines for today has run to three steamers. For
the first time in several days none of Britain’s fish
ing fleet of trawlers were attacked.
The first loss reported was the steamer Clintonia
of 3800 tons. The crew of this vessel were given
time to take to their small boats, and were towed
a considerable distance by the submarine. The next
victim was the 2500 ton steamer Fulgens. The boat
was dynamited ahd sunk, after the crew left her. The
officers and men were all saved. The last to fall into
the clutches of the German under water craft was
the steamer Benvorlich. This shop was torpedoed
off the Scilly Islands, without any loss of the crew.
ROME, Aug. 2.—The heavy flighting along the
frontier in the direction of Trieste continues with
out any appreciable diminution. The fight is on a
tremendous scale considering the nature of the
country, mountainous, with few available military
roads, and the heavy artillery of both sides is play
ing a prominent part in the final outcome. The
advance of the Italians is being stubbornly contested
but despite the furious efforts of the Austrians, who
are fighting with the greatest bravery and skill, the
Italians are slowly but steadily forging ahead. For
the past few days, the war office officially announced
this morning, the Italian soldiers had taken 17,000
prisoners. Of this number 380 were officers.
NEW YORK, Aug. 2.—The final chapter in the
Rosenthal murder case was written to<Tay, when
Lieutenant Charles Becker of the New York police
force, who was executed in Sing Sing early Saturday
morning, was buried. Immense throngs watched the
funeral procession with interest and the services in
the church were listened to by an overflow crowd.
Conspicuous among the mourners were many mem
bers of the police department. The casket contain
ing the body bore only a simple plate bearing the
name of the deceased and the date of his death. The
plate originally on the casket alleged besides the
name and the date of death, that Becker had been
murdered by Governor Charles Whitman, who was
prosecuting attorney at the time of the trial. This
plate was removed after the police had refused to
allow the funeral to proceed unless it was taken off
the casket. Many floral pieces were accompanying
the body, and were taken into Woodlawn Cemetery,
where the burial was made. One huge floral offering
bore the inscription, “Sacrificed to Politics.” The
officials of the cemetery refused to allow the cortege
to enter the grounds until this piece was removed.
OF ALASKA
The following article from the New
York Journal of Commerce of July 13
will be of general interest to Alaska
amUpiroughout the Pacific Northwest:
“Wall street believes that J. P.
Morgan & Co., the Guggenheims and
other capitalists are planning com
prehensive plans for the development
work in Alaska.
“What has prompted steps to this
end it is said, are conditions brought
about by the European war. Accord
ing to rumor, these plans will call for
an increased output of copper and
other metals, railroad development to
be worked in conjunction with the
United States government lines and
additional steamship facilities from
the tidewater terminals of those rail
roads to the metal smelters of Ta
coma and the great metal consuming
districts of the Atlantic coast of the
United States and Europe through the
Panama canal.
"These interests have already taken
over large colpper properties, Includ
ing the Beatson Copper company, and
are expected to acquire others. The
purchase of the copper properties is
being effected through the Kennecott
Copper Corporation, controlled by the
Morgan-Guggenhelm interests.”
Kennecott Mines
Here follows a short rescrlption of
the Kennecott company, which was
told of at length in the Monday Morn
ing Financial Section of July j. The
Journal then continues:
“The Kennecott mines are among
the largest properties in the world,
their output alone, It is said, having
more than supported ttv Copper River
& Northwestern railway, which was
built some years ago from Cordova to
Chitina with a branch line from there
to Kennecott, at a total cost of
114,000,000. From Chitina there is a
military wagon road to Fairbanks, 300
miles away, the metropolis of Interior
Alaska, and it is known that for years
the Copper River & Northwestern
railroad considered the extension of
its railroad along that road, but was
halted by the attacks made on
Alaskan railway promoters in connec
tion with the political fight for the
national conservation of coal re
sources.
Want to Avoid Friction
“Meantime the United States gov
ernment plans for greater railroad de
velopment in Alaska are moving fast
to successful conclusion. It is the in
tention of the American capitalists
who are entering the Alaska field on
such a large scale to work their plans
in entire harmony with the plans of
the government, doing everything
possible to prevent any recurrence of
the friction between government and
private interest which have held back
the growth of Alaska to this date.
“With the building of these rail
roads those familiar with Alaskan con
ditions predict that the Interior of the
vast northern territory will be trans
formed into a region In which smelt
ers, manufacturing companies and
various industries will abound and in
1 which there will be cities similar to
those in the United States, with
houses and schools, Instead of the
mining camps existing at present, and
in which agricultural resources will
be developed on a great scale.
“Unlike the coast region, the in
terior of Alaska, instead of being
bleak and dismal, is a great agricul
tural stretch similar to the agricul
tural districts of Norway and Sweden,
which are inhabited by so large a
population.
Transportation Facilities
"To meet this great development
steamship lines from the tidewater
terminals of the railroads will be
necessary. It is these steamship faci
lities which are provided for in the
Morgan line running between Alaska
and the Pacific Coast states. This is
the Alaska steamship line, and from
the Pacific coast states the Morgan
interests have recently established the
Panama & Pacific line, through the
Panama canal to New York, while the
Morgan lines across the Atlantic are
too well known to need description.
“It is thus seen that the Morgan in
terests already have steamship lines
in connection with Alaska to Europe.
In recent weeks steamship owners and
certain shipyards have received in
quiries regarding vessels suitable for
the Pacific States-Alaska coast routes.
“President Eccles of the Alaska
steamship line, said yesterday that his
line has not put out such Inquiries, de
spite the reports crediting the in
quiries to his company. That the in
quiries are being made in behalf of
the Morgan interests is the belief of
steamship officials who have followed
the Alaskan development.
“It was suggested that possibly this
may mean a line for the Morgan in
terests, which will be additional to the
Alaskan steamship line. The vessels
wanted are of a type adaptable to the
carrying of tonnage of ore.
“It is interesting to note in connec
tion with the Alaska Steamship Com
pany that its management is virtually
the same as that of the Kennecott
Copper Corporaton and as well as the
management of the Copper River &
Northwestern Railway Company.”
-:o:
Send in your subscription now.
TRAVEL
A governor who travels thousands
of miles in making an annual tour of
his territory, and one who travels
farther on his single annual trip than
others do in years, is the proud dis
tinction held by Governor J. P. A.
Strong of the Territory of Alaska.
Governor Strong makes an annual
pilgrimage from Juneau to Skagway,
crossing to Dawson by railroad and
steamer, entering Alaska again at
Eagle, and continuing down the Yukon
to its mouth, returning to Juneau
either by way of Seattle and the
southern end of the territory, or by
way of Seward, Valdez and Cordova.
The trip covers approximately 6,000'
miles of travel, nearly all of which is
by water and consumes from 36 to 60
days in time. This year the trip was
6,000 miles in length and took exactly
36 days, which is a record for time.
Governor Strong says that if he had
made any of his usual side trips the
mileage would have been considerably
extended. The trip this year was made
as short as possible in order that the
party might connect with the Victoria
at Nome and return by way of the
westward.
Among the towns visited were
Haines, Skagway, Whitehorse and
Dawson in Canada, Eagle, Port Yukon,
Tanana, Fairbanks, St. Michaels,
Nome, Anchorage, Valdez, Cordova
and Juneau. Sitka, Petersburg,
Wrangell and Ketchikan were not
visited this year, as J.t was not neces
1 sary to go to Seattle on the return
from Nome.
Governors of other states and terri
tories, with the possible exception of
Texas, can travel from end to end of
their states in a day, and can make a
tour visiting all the principal cities
in each state in a weeks time, but
Governor Strong sets a record when
he arrives in Juneau 36 days after his
departure.
Legislators who travel two and
three thousand miles by dog team to
attend sessions of the Alaska legisla
ture are not uncommon, one senator
having crossed from Nome to Cordova
in the dead of last winter, a distance
of a thousand miles, by dog team in
record breaking time to attend the last
session.
Governors and other officials in the
states who think they travel great dis
tances should come to Alaska and f<4
low Governor Strong on his annual
trip and they would change their opin
ion very materially.
COPPER ACTIVITY IS
BOON TO ALASKA
"Alaska never looked brighter,” re
marked Kenneth C. Kerr, editor of the
Railway & Marine News, upon his re
turn to Seattle from a three weeks’
voyage, covering Southeastern and
Southwestern Alaska.
“Many things contribute to the ex
cellent showing in the territory, chief
| of which might be mentioned the truly
remarkable output of Alaska copper
ore. These shipments are from Skag
way, Latouche, Ellamar and Cordova,
the latter point being the gateway to
the great Copper river district, which
Is now shipping high grade copper to
a valuation of about $2,000,000
monthly. The mines at Latouche and
Ellamar are working regularly and
making a splendid showing. Each
steafliship southbound from Skagway
will carry 200 or 300 tons from the
Atlas mine and at Ketchikan I was
personally informed by former gov
ernor Sulzer, of New York, that his
copper mine, located at Sulzer, about
40 miles from Ketchikan, was soon
going to be a regular and additional
producer for the northern territory.
-:o:
PHYSICIAN LAUDS
ALASKA’S BEAUTIES
Enthusiastically praising the re
sources and natural beauties of
Alaska, Dr. Walter Lindley of the
California hospital returned to Los.
Angeles after a 7,000-mile vacation
trip to the great northwest. The well
known physician visited almost every
Important port in Alaska, and when
ever opportunity afforded went ashore
'to see the inland country and its de
velopment. Dr. Lindley considers
Alaska one of the most picturesque
spots in the world and believes it an
ideal place for a vacation.—Los
Angeles Examiper.
ALASKA
:o:
The Times is in receipt of an attrac
tive and intreesting booklet, entitled,
“The Pacific Northwest and Alaska;
An Empire of Matchless Pleasure
lands.” issued by the Chicago, Mil
waukee & St. Paul railroad.
It is one of the neatest and most hand
somely printed of the many advertis
ing schemes to bring the great North
west and its wonderful possibilities in
a thousand different avenues into the
prominence which they deserve. The
booklet, is filled with descriptive mat
ter and beautiful views of the Pacific
coast states, British Columbia and
Alaska.
medicaTboardfor
THE ENSUING YEAR
Governor Strong has named the
following as members of the Alaska
Medical Board:
First Division—Dr. H. C. DeVighne,
reappointed and Hr. E. M. Bevis, of
Juneau.
Second Division—Dr. J. H. Mustard
of Nome and Dr. Curtis M. Welch of
Candle, who takes the place of Dr. J.
M. Sloane, recently removed to
Seward.
Third Division—Dr. J. H. Romlg, of
Seward and Dr. Charles A. Winans of
Valdez.
Fourth Division—Dr. J. A. Suther
land, re-appointed, and Mrs. Aline B.
Bradley, M. D., both of Fairbanks.
bhItioez
CLOSES ITS
VALDEZ, Aug. 2.—The Valdez
Bank & Trust Company suspended
business on Saturday. It owes de
positors $16,000, together with a
liability on the part of the stock
holders for the full amount of the
capital stock, which is $25,000. The
assets amount to $50,000.
The closing of the bank's doors was
decided upon by the directors on ac
count of the limited field of activity
and the general business depression
throughout the territory. This plan
was being followed out when the fire
caused a sudden drain for cash, and
made collections difficult because of
the lack of cash in town. The bank
ing board of the territory has been
notified and the winding up of the
bank’s affairs will he in its hands.
-:o:
Case Has Been Settled
Oscar Breedman has settled the Van
Schuyler case and the appeal has boen
withdrawn. Judge Brown held that
the liquor company could not sue in
Alaska because of the failure to
secure a license in Alaska.
-:or
NEW SUBWAY
FOR PHILADELPHIA
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 2. — Bids
were asked for the new subway from
Callowhill to Unity Streets. They will
be received up to August 23rd. The
specifications call for the section of
the steel work to be commenced De
cember 1, to be completed within a
year. j
FIRE DESTROYS
AT MILE 160
The large frame trestle at Mile 160,
which spans the Gilhlna river, has
been destroyed by forest fires, which
have been raging extensively in the
interior for several weeks past The
openings of six or seven culverts were
also burned.
The trestle was 800 feet long and 65
feet high, and contained a half million
board feet of lumber. The loss is
estimated at $18,000. Its destruction
cuts off through railroad traffic to
Kennecott and no shipments of ore
can be made until the structure has
been rebuilt This, It is estimated,
will take about ten days after com
munication has again been established
so as to permit of the shipment of
lumber to that point.
:o:
KM VOLCANO
IS AGAIN SAAOKING
W. J. Erskine, of Kodiak, expresses
the belief that the vocanic eruption of
a few years ago has aided the vegeta
tion on that island. He says that all
over the island, even where the vol
canic dust deposit was the greatest
and the vegetation killed, now every
thing is blooming and growing luxuri
antly.
Mr. Erskine states that while mak
ing a trip oround the island he could
see Katmai volcano smoking and that
all over that country volcanic dust was
In the air.
-;o:
FORMER CORDOVAN
DIES IN CALIFORNIA
The news of the death of Mrs.
Grace Butler Breitenstein, at her home
In Pasadena, Cal., has been received
in Cordova. She was the wife of
Thomas C. Breitenstein, a civil engi
neer. They spent some time at Cor
dova during the construction of the
Copper River & Northwestern rail
road, and later moved to Pasadena,
where they took up their permanent
abode.
-:o:
NO TRUTH TO RUMORS
ABOUT THE R. R. GRAFT
District Attorney Spence, who
passed by on the Watson stated in
answer to a question that there is no
truth to the rumors about any graft
or anything like it In connection with
work on the government railroad. The
grand jury and the law officers looked
into the rumors and found they were
nothing but street talk.—Seward
Gateway.
-:o:
NEW MEMBER OF ROAD
COMMISSION ARRIVES
Lieutenant J. S. Hehoffery, U. S. A.,
passed through Cordova Saturday
evening on his way to Valdez, to re
lieve Capt. Glen Edgerton, of the
Alaska Road Commission, who is soon
to be transferred.
-:o:
VALDEZ GLACIER
RAPIDLY RECEDING
During the past few weeks the big
glacier behind Valdez has been reced
ing at a fast rate. The men working
on mining properties near the glacier
report that it has dropped from 50 to
100 feet since spring and that it has
melted faster this year than ever be
fore. The horse owned by Jim Wilson
which jumped down a crevasse fifteen
feet deep is now to be seen on a
pinnacle of ice. The volume of water
flowing from the pothole is Immense
and represents a large amount of
melted ice.—Valdez Miner.
LAWSUIT TIES~UP
CAPE NOME ROAD
Among the various other develop
ment projects which will be retarded
this year by the suit against the Ter
ritory In regard to the disbursement
of forestry funds Is the road recently
surveyed around Cape Nome, which
was to have been put In condition for
travel this summer. Tresurer Smith
has cabled to Nome of the impending
suit and although bids have been
called for in connection with the new
road no contracts will be let until the
suit Is decided.
--:o:
ORR STAGE LINE
TO USE AUTOS
The Orr Stage Company have or
dered a number of automobile trucks
for service on the Chitina-Falrbanks
road. The trucks will be used to
carry mail and passengers to and from
the coast. The trucks will be used
summer and winter.