FIFTH YEAR
CHITINA, ALASKA, TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 1915.
NUMBER 12
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SIDELIGHTS ON THE WAR
Miss Kathleen Dunsmuir, youngest daughter of James
Dunsmuir, former lieutenant governor of British Columbia,
who sold his coal mines to Mackenzie & Mann for $11,000,000,
has decided to serve her country atrthe front. Miss Dunsmuir
has started for London, where she will take a course in ambu
lance work. She is an experienced motor car driver, and is
ambitious to drive a motor ambulance in France. She is about
20, pretty, and has often been heard in singing numbers in
amateur theatrical and vaudeville performances.
The British government has ordered all Danish importers
of foodstuffs from America or other points to deposit bills of
lading so as to prevent absolutely the export of food to
Germany.
The French minister of finance, M. Ribot, announces flat
France has advanced to Belgium $50,000,000. to Servia,
$18,000,000, to Greece $4,020,000, and to the Bank of Moite
negro $100,000. He asked for permission to borrow
$400,000,000.
The English court of criminal appeal has annulled the
conviction for high treason and sentence of death agaiist
Nicholas Alders. He is a naturalized Englishman, and as
German consul at Sunderland was accused of helping Genian
reservists to return to Germnay fro mEngland after the out
break of the war. This he denied.
Efforts of General von Bissing, governor of Genian
Belgiup, to induce the leading newspapers to resume publica
tion have proved futile, the editors saying that as long as Kins
Albert is absent from Brussels and the German censorship
continues the papers will not be published.
The steamer Orn has arrived in Belgium with 1,500 :oas
of food for starving Belgians.
Mistaking a flash light sign on fop of the Sumas News
building of Sumas, Wash., for a German signal station ai«ng
the border, war excited residents of British Columbia brought
special officers out of their way to investigate what proved a
harmless advertising affair. The flashes can be seen for
several miles.
Statistics of British unemployment show it to be less ban
in November last and less than in December, 1913.
St. Lotus is contributing liberally to the relief of Belgans.
Mourning is rapidly displacing color on London steets.
Many German prisoners are now being confined on p-ison
ships in the Thames.
The Kaiser is reported to be at the western fron', and
the Czar at Moscow.
German frontier regulations have forced the elimination
of all written messages accompanying Christmas presents sent
by this country to Belgian children by the Santa Claus ship
Jason.
A call for $150,000,000, an installment of the new British
war loan, was met yesterday in London without financial
disturbance.
One hundred and fifty cases of ptomaine ooisoning arc
reported among the troops drilling on Blackheath common,
London.
Paris reports that no fewer than 54 per -“ent of the
wounded returned to the firing line before December 12. Of
the remainder, 24 per cent have been given leave, 17 per cent
are still in the hospitals, one-lmlf per cent have been dis
charged from the army and 3l/j per cent have died. «
Upward of 50,000 cablegrame are reported to be daily
handled by the British censorship.
According to a dispatch from London to the San
Francisco Chamber of Commerce, many weeks ago the Leipzig
sank the British steamer Glenmoor, 3,075 tons, off the coast
of Uruguay.
A note of inquiry has been sent to Washington by the
British government as to the apparently harsh treatment of
certain British colliers in the Panama Canal under charge of
breaches of neutrality afterwards declared by Col. Goethals
to be without foundation.
German sailors to the number of about 100, saved from the
battle off the Falkland Islands, have sailed for England from
Montevideo.
TOKIO, Dec. 20.—(By mail to New York)—“We deeply
regret that we were forced to go to war with Germany,” says
Count Okuma, in an order to the local authorities throughout
Japan. “We harbor not the least hostile feelings against
German subjects. Germans who live in this country may
remain here in peace, while those who wish to leave may go
unmolested, nor will those who desire to enter this country be
refused admission, so long as they pursue their occupations
peacefully and according to law.”
BRUSSELS, Dec. 20.—(Via Ghent and by mail to New
York)—Here’s a list of things “verboten” in Brussels under
German military law:
The driving of automobiles, or the riding of motor or
ordinary cycles.
The ownership of pigeons. Orders have been given for
all pigeons to be destroyed.
The writing of letters in cafes.
The reading of newspapers. No person is allowed to have
newspapers in his possession.
BRAINERD, Minn., Dec. 20.—So numerous have illiterate
foreigners become since the outbreak of the war forced most
foreigners from Canada, that the school board is considering
night schools to teach them.
EUROPEAN WAR
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LONDON, Jan. 2.—The British battleship Formidable
was sunk in the English Channel today, but whether by a
German submarine or by accidental contact with a drifting
mine is not yet known. Only 70 out of her crew of 750 >are
known to have been saved. The Formidable had a displace
ment of 15,000 tons and a draught of 27 feet. Her engines were
of 15,000 indicated horse power; her keel was laid in 1901, she
was completed in 1904 and her cost was $5,115,525. She had a
speed of 18 knots, was equipped with four torpedo tubes and
her armament consisted of four 12-inch and 12 6-inch guns; 18
12-pounders and four 3-ppunders. »
LONDON, Jan. 5.—The right wing of the French army is
today less than 30 miles from the River Rhine and is holding
Steinbach and the heights to the southwest of that village
after one of the most stubborn tights of the war. At no other
point on the western front has there been any noteworthy
change in the situation. The Germans continue on the
defensive.
BERLIN, Jan. o.—Tire Russians are conducting a series
of frontal attacks on positions of the Austrians along the
Dunojec River and seeking to take fortresses which have been
their goal for the past two months.
BERLIN, Jan. 5.—German airmen today dropped several
bombs on British ammunition stores on the outskirts of
Rosendale and Goudskerzne, near Dunkirk, in France. The
explosions killed or injured one hundred persons, most of them
noncombatants, and set one village on lire.
PA Rib, Jan. o.—Official reports state that the Russians
have occupied eight Hungarian townships and that several
divisions of the Austrian army are surrounded in the
Carpathian mountains, where extreme cold weather and snow
hamper the movements of both armies.
PETROGRAD, Jan. 4.—An official statement this after
noon says the Germans, after capturing Belmow, attempted
to push on to the northwest towards Warsaw. The battle
became so desperate that hand-to-hand fighting was resorted
to, the Germans being repulsed. The German force was per
mitted to cross the Bzura river in the night, when the Russians
attacked them with bayonets, killing or capturing all.
VIENNA, Jan. 2.—Led by the crack Eighth Corps, four
enormous Russian columns are today driving their way
through the Carpathian passes from Nyskowsky, Turka and
Groolice into Hungary.
LONDON, Jan. 4.—Survivors of the battleship Formid
able, which was sunk in the English channel last Saturday,
my that Captain Arthur Lexlev went down smoking a
cigarette.
AMSTERDAM, Jan. 4.—A French aviator dropped bombs
in the vicinity of Brussels today, killing and wounding several
German soldiers and destroying a Zeppelin shed.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4.—Of the six United States army
officers now on their way to join the German armies as
observers two are experts in the artillery branches of the
service. Major Dwight E. Aultman, of the 6th field artillery,
and Captain Samuel G. Shartle, of the coast artillery, will
observe the tactics at the permanent fortifications.
CHICAGO, Jan. 4.—A Berlin cable to the Daily News says
that peace terms were being discussed by the powers three
weeks ago, but negotiations were broken off when the German
chancelor learned that to end hostilities now would cause a
revolution in Germanv.
PETROGRAD, Dec. 20.—(By mail to New York)—A
Russian sister of mercy, named Yevgheneya Korkeenah, has
been decorated with the band of St. George and a medal in
recognition of her remarkable bravery and devotion in moving,
single-handed, a field hospital under fire.
Mile. Korkeenah was working in a Russian hospital in the
neighborhood of Soldau, East Prussia. When the Germans
attacked the Russian position she remained all alone in the
hospital attending to the wounds of officers and privates. The
hospital wa? quickly in the zone of the enemy’s fire, and the
brave nurse seeing that her patients must be moved, went out
side and procured a number of horses,'harnessed them, found
several vehicles and drove them away to a place of safety. The
hardships and dangers which Nurse Korkeenah experienced
have greatly affected her health, and she has come to Petro
grad with a view to taking a short vacation before returning
to the front. The minister of war personally presented the
medal and decoration, and thanked her for her heroic services.
VIENNA, Dec. 20.—(Bv mail to New York)—In order to
provide her son with winter underclothing, the 50-year-old
mother of a young volunteer serving with the Austrian army
tramped in the rain for three days from her home at Szegedin,
Hungary, to field headquarters.
LONDON, Jan. 2.—The discovery of a German male spy
in the person of a supposed Belgian Sister of Mercy is reported
from Boston, Lincolnshire. The “Sister,” who arrived with a
number of Belgian refugees who were to be distributed among
the hospitable folk of the town, was assigned to the home of
one of the leading citizens. She was intelligent and accom
plished and was made thoroughly welcome by her host and
hostess. The next night, happening to leave her bedroom, the
hostess saw her guest’s door ajar, and glancing in was
astonished to see “her” shaving! Without giving any indica
tion of the startling discovery, she promptly informed her
husband, who immediately communicated with the police. The
“Sister” was arrested and turned over to the military
authorities. That was a week ago. Nothing has since been
heard of “her” fate. v
ATHENS, Jan. 2.—Everything indicates that Constanti
nople will be the first of the enemy’s capitals to fall into the
hands of the allies. Holy relics are being removed from all
the mosques to points in Asia Minor. ,
ROME, Jan. 2.—A dispatch from Budapesth says the
Russians are invading Hungary at four different points.
BERLIN, Jan .2.—Germany held at the end of the old
year 8,138 officers and 577,875 men as prisoners of war,
including 19,000 British.
LONDON, Dec. 20.—(By mail to New York)—Two weeks
ago Miss Dorothy Thompson, a wealthy young woman of
Blvth, offered to give $500 to the War Relief Fund if an addi
tional 100 of the unmarried young men of her town would
enlist in Kitchener’s new army. The desired number of.
recruits was obtained in 10 days and today tlie Prince of Wales
received Miss Thompson’s check for the promised amount.
PARIS, Dee. 31.—An official announcement this after
noon relates a continuance of artillery exchanges with the
enemy and further advances measured by yards. French
soldiers at various points along the line'bf battle near the
Belgian border made counter attacks in which the enemy were
driven back, and in Alsace certain villages are held half by
German and half by the French troops. Fighting in Alsace
lias been from house to house and continues today.
lJUJNivlKK, Jbrance, Dec. 31.—hour German aeroplanes
flew over this city and dropped bombs which killed 13 persons
and wounded 32. Many buildings were wrecked. Dunkirk
has a population of about 40,000.
BT FFALO, N. Y., Dec. 31.—A coroner’s jury at Port Eric,
Ont., today returned a verdict that Walter Smith, one of the
two Americans shot by members of the Canadian militia on
December 28, while hunting ducks out of season, “was acci
dentally killed by discharge of the rifles of three militiamen.”
I he shooting is being investigated by higher authorities of
the United States as well as of Canada.
TOKIO, Dec. 31.—The foreign office denies reports that
Japanese troops have been landed at Vladivostok enroute to
Europe and includes in that statement anoth r to the effect
that Japan has not been approached by Great Britain or any
other country to send an army to Europe.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 31.—Thirty-one ships bearing
lf),o5Q tons of copper worth $5,500,000, destiiied for ports of
neutral nations, have been delayed and their cargoes seized
as contraband since the opening of the European war. This
information was given in the Senate today by Senator Walsh
of Montana, in a speech reviewing interruptions to American
commerce and highly endorsing this government’s recent note
to England.
LONDON, Dec. 31.—The official information was given
out this afternoon that an answer to the American note
referring to interference with American shipping, will he
drawn up as soon as possible and will be in the same friendlv
spirit in which the American note was written.
LONDON, Dec. 30.—Nothing of its kind since President
01e\ eland s \ enezuela message has caused such a sensation in
both official and commercial circles as President Wilson’s note
of protest against the harrassing of United States commerce
by the British navy.
LONDON, Dec. 30.—Sir Edward Grey, foreign secretary,
hastily returned today from the country and his arrival was
followed by a full meeting of the cabinet to consider the
protest of the United States regarding interference with its
shipping. The American ambassador to England, Walter II.
I aige, will be invited to go over the whole situation with
Secretary Grey.
SEATILE, Dec. 30.—A cable advice to a German news
paper in Seattle today declared that 20 Zeppelin airships have
been assembled at Ostend and indications are that a German
air raid on the British coast is contemplated.
BERLIN, Dec. 30.—An official announcement states that
Russian cavalry invading East Prussia has been driven back
tour miles beyond the border of Poland. It also admits the
allies have captured the Belgian town of St. George.
BERLIN, Dec. 30.—An official report issued today recog
nizes no reverse in either the east or the west, although the
allies in the west and the Russians in the east are claiminsr
victories.
PETROGRAI), Dec. 30.—An official dispatch says an
eighth of the total German forces perished making the frontal
attack on Warsaw, that the Russian lines stood as solid as the
rocks of the hills and that the entire Russian defense still
stands.
_ PARIS, Dec. 30.—The French claim slight gains near
Nieuport, in an official announcement made this afternoon.
VIENNA, Dec. 30.—The Montenegrin army is showing great
activity and is carrying the fighting ont Austrian soil of
the province of Ilerzogovina.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20.—All Central and South Ameri
can nations have been invited by this government to send their
ministers of finance and leading bankers to Washington for a
conference with treasury department officials on the financial
and commercial problems confronting the two Americas as a
resutl of the European war.
PARIS, Dec. 30.—The “thinking” horses of Elberfield,
which it was claimed could spell, add, multiply up to 12 times
1-, and even extract square roots and were requisitioned by
the Prussian military authorities for an artillery bntterv, have
been killed in battle.