PARIS Dec. 17._Finance Minister Ribot, of the French
cabinet, addressed the Chamber of Deputies today on the mat
ter of the financial situation m the republic. He toldI t
members that France was now expending for all purposes,
military and otherwise, 2,100,000,000 francs each month, with
the probabilities that as long as the war lasted this immense
sum would tend to incase rather than decrease. He said that
nt the besrinnimr of the conflict the government thought that
the fiehting "'ould not last longer than seventeen months, but
that now nobody could foresee the end of the war. Deputy
Roch* spoke on the matter after the minister, and declared that
the war had already cost France five billion two hundred mil
lion dollars, while the enemies of France had expended' nine
billion four million. All of the belligerent nations had spent
so far a grand total of thirty-eight billion nine hundred mil
lion dollars. , , . . A
WASHINGTON, Dec. 18.—The state department made
public this afternoon the official text of the Austrian reply to
the representations from this country concerning the attack on
the Ancona. The Vienna government denies the statement of
the affair set out by the United States in its note, and sa> s
further that even if this statement of the case was correct, it
would not warrant the placing of the blame for the disaster
upon the commander of the submarine, who in no way violated
international law in his attack on the Italian liner. In regaid
to the culpability of the Austrian government, the note asserts
that even the most rigorous legal construction of international
law would in no way place any quota of culpability upon it.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 18—President Wilson commenced
work today on the second' note to Austria on the sinking of the
Italian liner Ancona by n submarine, and the loss of American
lives on tlie ship. There is no longer any doubt but that the
crisis has been reached in the relations between this country
and Austria-Hungary, and that it will take but little more to
snap the tension. The continuance of amicable relations will
depend entirely on Austria’s reply to the note now being
framed by Wilson and his advisers. This note will clearly de
fine the alternative if Austria’s reply is not satisfactory. The
situation is looked upon as extremely grave, but it will not
prevent the President from starting on his wedding tour to
night. Lansing is fully acquainted with the President’s view
of the matter, and will be able to express the views of the ex
ecutive if any interpretation should be required.
SALONIKI, Dec. 18.—The work on the fortifications being
erected here by tlie allies is being pushed with great vigor, as
the French and British commanders feel that Germany will
leave no stone unturned to strike a vital blow before the allies
can protect themselves. The need of additional troops is grad
ually being supplied, as every day sees new transports coming
into the harbor with regiments of fresh troops, heavily armed
and well supplied with artillery. Complete control will be
taken of the railroad and terminals by next Sunday, as it is
expected that by that time all the Greek troops will have been
withdrawn. A report has been received here that eight batter
ies of big siege guns have arrived in Sofia from Germany, and
will be used in the Bulgarian and German attack on Saloniki.
BERLIN, Dec. 18.—The war office officially announces
i.iday that the Teutonic invasion of Montenegro is proceeding
according to schedule, and has met no check so far. The oper
ations to date have resulted in clearing a considerable portion
of the territory of eastern Montenegro, notably that section
northeast of the Ters river. In the past five days the Austrian
troops on the west and the Germans on the northwest have
taken in all thirteen hundred prisoners. The situation along
the Russian front has not changed. Very little activity is be
ing manifested by either side, and no engagements of any im
portance have taken place. The weather is severe in Russia,
and the troops on both sides are not anxious to engage in bat
tles, as the cold is particularly trying on the wounded, who
suffer greatly from frostbite.
NEW YORK, Dec. 18.—Detectives are gradually disclos
ing the trail of the plotters who have been making this city and
the surrounding country their headquarters for operations
tending to destroy ships carrying supplies to the allies, by plac
ing explosives on board. Several German residents were ar
rested yesterday accused’ of complicity in the plot, but the
police have not made known in what way they were connected.
Frederick Schleindel, a clerk, employed by the National City
Bank, was also taken into custody on a charge of larceny. The
police claim that he supplied valuable information to the band
who were seeking to destroy the ships, by purloining cables and
other messages on file in the bank relative to the transporta
tion of supplies for England and France. These messages were
also turned over to the German government, and were used' in
directing the German submarines in their campaign against
the British merchant marine.
CHRISTIANIA, Dec. 18.—The Oscar IT, bearing the peace
expedition from the United States, headed by Henry Ford, has
arrived here, and at present the members have ben put to some
discomfort, as they are unable to obtain hotel accommodations
in this city. The city is crowded with visitors from the coun
try. Most of the apostles of peace are still living on the ship,
which is tied up at the dock. Ford has so far made no definite
announcement of his plans, and will probably wait here until
the delegates from Spain and Switzerland arrive.
LONDON, Dec. 18.—Since Zeppelin raids have become
more the rule than the exception in London and environs, there
has been a marked increase in public interest in astronomy.
Just now the newspapers are filled with discussions anent this
or that star—discussions directly attributable to the fact that
Londoners have acquired the habit of star gazing in the hope
of sighting hostile air craft. Toward 11 o’clock at night the
usual “Zep. time,” perhaps a third of London looks skyward.
A few nights after the big raid the planet Jupiter, seeming
ly rising in an unaccustomed place, was mistaken for a Zeppe
lin searchlight. Perhaps a dozen persons made the discovery.
Since then several newspaper articles have appeared, giving
Jupiter a clean bill of health.
BASE BULL HR
NO LONGER
EXISTS
NEW YORK, Dec. 18. — The base
ball meeting which has held sway in
this city, adjourned today without
completing its labors, although all
details tor ending the war have been
agreed upon, and the dove of peace
will personally deliver a Christmas
present to each of the magnates, in
the shape of a signed agreement
which will end the ruinous competi
tion in baseball salaries. The meet
ing will reconvene next Tuesday at
the home of Garry Hermann in Cin
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
UNITED STATES LAND OFFICE.
Juneau, Alaska, December 7, 1915.
Notice is hereby given that John E.
Barrett, whose postoffice address is
McCarthy, Alaska, has filed his home
stead application, No. 02761, under
the provisions of the Act of May 14,
1898, as amended by the Act of March
3. 1903, together with his final five
year proof in support thereof, for the
land embraced in U. S. survey No.
699, located near the mouth of Mc
Carthy Creek, Chitlna District, Alas
ka, more particularly described as fol
lows, to-wit;
Beginning at corner No. 1, M. C., on
McCarthy Creek, W. C. bears due W.
43 chains, and U. S. L. M„ No. 699,
bears s. 73 degrees 14 minutes W.
4.97 chains, thence meandering N. 76
degrees 31 minutes W. 9.25 chains to
corner No. 2, M. c. W. C. bears due
N. 15 chains, thence due N. 37.84
chains to corner No. 3, thence due
W. 74.30 chains to corner No. 4,
thence due S. 40 chains to corner No.
5, thence due W. 65.25 chains to cor
ner No. 1, the place of beginning, con
taining in area 296.16 acres. Mag.
Var. 30 degrees 30 minutes E. Lat.
61 degrees 25 minutes N. Long. 143
degrees W.
During the period of publication of
this notice, or within thirty days af
ter the expiration thereof, adverse
claims may be filed in this office un
der the provisions of Sec. 10 of the
Act of March 3, 1903 (32 Stat. 1028).
C. B. WALKER, Registrar.
Date of first publication, December
21, 1916.
Date of last publication, February
23, 1916.
cinnati, where the papers will be
signed, and a jubilation held. As soon
as the transaction is consummated
the suit by the Federal league against
the older organizations, alleging vio
lations of the Sherman Anti-Ttrust
Law, which is pending in the federal
court in Chicago, will be dismissed.
President Gilmore, of the Feds, ad
mitted today that his organization lost
three million dollars in the war.
1 KILLED AND 10
SPOKANE, Dec. 18. — Seven per
sons were killed today and ten in
jured when an Astor Division street
car plunged into the Spokane river
through the total collapse of a bridge
which the car was crossing. The
dead and injured were compelled to
remain in the river among the debris
of the car for an hour before the
rescuers could get to them. The ac
cident happened early, the car being
crowded with people going to work,
the time being shortly before seven
this morning.
NftRRl' ESCAPE
SUE
Yeserday afternoon W. A. Hesse,
deputy mineral surveyor, and three
members of his party, had a narrow
escape from being buried in a snow
slide, while surveying for patent a
group of claims on Fleming’s Spit.
They were ascending the Katalla
Breakwater claim, and had reached a
height of 2,200 feet, when a big slide
occurred, hurling the men in all di
rections. They had been three hours
in wallowing through the snow to
reach that point and when the slide
came two of the men were completely
burled. Mr. Hesse and his transit
were also covered up, but he soon
succeeded in extricating himself and
went to the rescue of the three other
men. After working for some time
le succeeded in uncovering them, and
ortunateiy all escaped without In
ury, but were naturally badly scared.
MIS Mini
EL PASO, Dec. 18. — Everything
indicates that the Villa authorities are
preparing to evacuate Juarez, and
that the city will fall into the hands
of the approaching Carranzistas with
out a struggle. Today the household
goods of General Villa, as well as
those of his brother, Slpolito, were
brought across the river and stored
in this city. Slpolito Villa is the fin
ancial agent for the Villa government
and has heretofore had his headquar
ters in Juarez. The officers’ quarters
in Juarez are reported dismantled,
and a considerable movement of
trains, carrying troops and ammuni
tion in the direction of Chihuahua can
be noticed.
ANOTHER PUCE IS
TAKEN AT PIE
WASHINGTON. Dec. 18.—E. Axel
son, of Yakutat, Alaska, has been
appointed postmaster to succeed Ed
ward Rasmussen, who resigned. It is
understood that several applications
have been received for other offices
in Alaska from which postmasters
resigned following the action of In
spector Neil in reducing the clerical
forces in compliance with the general
1 order of retrenchment enforced by the
postal department.
j :0:
t WILL SERVE LIBELANT PAPERS
ON ALAMEDA.
It is understood that when the
steamer Alameda reached Valdez to
day she was met by a representative
of the United States marshal’s office
who will serve papers on the captain,
starting the suit in admiralty of the
United States government vs. Alaska
Steamship Company for damages al
leged to have been caused by the
Alameda’s anchor breaking the gov
ernment cables on December 17, 1913.
The service of the papers will be
a mere formality which is necessary
to bring the case into court. The
government claims $8,000 damages for
the break in the cable, and additional
$4,000 for the loss of six days’ busi
ness. Bonds will be furnished guar
anteeing the appearance of the* de
fendant company when the case
comes up in court.
-:o:
THE JESTERS AND FRIENDS WILL
DANCE CHRISTMAS NIGHT.
The dance to be given by The Jest
ers at the Eagle Hall on Christmas
night promises to be largely attended,
as all the young people are looking
forward to this event with much
pleasure. There will be no special
invitations issued, and all who so de
sire are invited to attend.
-:o:
The Cordova Co-operative Trading
Company today started suit in the
commissioner's court against the Cor
dova Mining & Development Company
to recover $248, balance alleged due,
and attached part of their equipment
to protect this claim.
-:o:
ADVISES MINERS DEVELOP
ALASKA’S QUARTZ MINES
Dr. Alfred Brooks is advising all
quartz miners in the Fairbanks dis
trict to keep up the assessment work
on their claims and not to let them
go back to the government. He be
lieves the quartz possibilities of the
Fairbanks district will have been un
derestimated by the miners, and says
that as soon as cheaper fuel is avail
able the mines will flourish.
Regarding the antimony mining,
Dr. Brooks said that neither he nor
anyone else in the country had paid
a great deal of attention to it here
tofore, as the demand for the ore was
not great, but now the industry is in
teresting many people. At the pres
ent time it is being mined in a num
ber ot places In the United States,
but there are only a few places where
the ore is as free from lead as it is
in the Fairbanks district, and for that
reason ,it is particularly valuable.
Just -what the antimony Industry
will amount to after the close of the
war. the geologist is not willing to
hazard a guess, as he thinks it will
depend upon the attitude of the world
powers toward disarmament. If the
nations now engaged in the mighty
struggle in Europe wear themselves
out, with neither winning a decisive
victory, it is probable, he thinks, that
there will be a demand for antimony
which will, be used to replenish the
ammunition stores. The whole in
dustry is so uncertain, however, that
Dr. Brooks does not know what ad
vice to give the people contemplating
entering the business.
The one thing the geologist feels
certain of, however, is that the quartz
industry of the interior will amount
to a good deal after cheaper fuel is
landed.
riiilro¥Tommission IS
OUT OF FUNDS
The appropriation for railroad con
struction is now what the Eskimos
cnll peluk. and the Gateway today re
ceived information that the employes
of the commission at Anchorage have
been reduced to what might be called
the operating staff. Reductions In
the force, both there and Jaere have
been going on for some time, and at
least' one or two of the clerical force
in the Seward offices were tempor
arily laid off in the past few days. It
is feared that other reductions may
be found necessary unless an emer
gency appropriation is put through.
Mr. Weir, the engineer in charge,
stated today that he knows no more
about an emergency appropriation
than any of the rest of us, but he
knew Mr. Edes was due in Washing
ton this week, and from this remark
it was gathered that he believed the
arrival of the chairman of the com
mission will be awaited at the na
tional capital before anything can be
done, although Mr. Weir did not say
so in so many words.
However, from other sources it is
learned that the funds in the posses
sion of the commission now can hard
ly be called more than a few colors
in the bottom of the pan.—Seward
Gateway.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 18. — In view
of the peculiar opportunities afforded
at the present time for the develop
ment of American trade in other
countries, a referendum has just been
sent out by the Chamber of Com
merce of the United States, it was
announced last night, which gives the
members of the national organization
an opportunity to endorse a report
of its department of commerce com
mittee. This recommends an in
crease in congressional appropriations
for the general broadening and Im
proving of the government’s foreign
commercial service. These questions
are being submitted to the various
commercial bodies throughout the
country — nearly 700 affiliated or
ganizations, representing every state,
the territorial possessions and the
principal American chambers of com
merce abroad.
Increased Appropriations Needed
Everywhere.
In considering increases that in its
opinion should be made for the con
sular service — under the depart
ment of state — and the bureau of
foreign and domestic commerce —
under the department of commerce—
the committee, of which A. W. Shaw,
of Chicago, is chairman, makes many
specific suggestions. The commit
tee’s report says that although in
creased appropriations were made in
1914 for the foreign and field service,
when the work of the commercial at
taches of the department of com
merce was begun, no increases in
appropriation was made for “clear
ing” this information, and the cleri
cal force at Washington was cur
tailed instead of increased. “The re
sult has been over-work, delay and
a failure to take full advantage of
the new opportunities provided for
in the increased appropriations.”
Needs of the Consular Service.
In the opinion of the chamber’s
committee, the most pressing needs
of the consular service, of which Wil
bur J. Carr is the director, are:
1. Americanization.
2. Adequate clerical assistance.
3. Promotion of certain consular
agencies to the rank of consulates.
4. The establishment of new con- '
sulates.
5. Adequate inspection of the ser- ]
vice. i
The report gives a list of the cities I
in which the United States govern
ment maintains consular agencies, i
where In the committee’s opinion''
there should be consulates. It recom
mends the establishment of consul
ates in fifteen new cities, and urges
more adequate provision for inspect
ors and more frequent inspection.
Finally, a fuller publication of statis
tics of internal commerce relative to
the movements of trade is urged. The
committee recommends the resump
tion of the publication of such statis
tics. initiated several years ago and
suspended, owing to the failure of
Congress to continue the appropria
tion.
Expert Study of Banking and Tariffs.
The committee recommends the In
vestigation in foreign countries, par
ticularly of investment possibilities
and of railroad rates and other means
of inland transportation. It recom
-iends also expert study of banking
and tariffs. In this field It also urges
an appropriation for the collection
and exploitation of samples, the ap
pointment of geographical experts at
Washington, who shall Inform busi
ness men regarding climate, living
conditions and similar information in
addition to data strictly commercial;
the distribution of American litera
lure abroad, and a radical change in
he attitude of the government to
'vard the traveling and living ex
penses of its consuls, commercial
agents and commercial attaches.
Higher Consular Salaries.
A list of salaries paid to lower
grade consuls at posts where the
cost of living is very high shows
some startling things. In cities
where the United States is one of
the strongest competitors of Great
Britain and Germany for the world's
markets the following figures of sal
ary show how handicapped the Am
erican consul Is:
Britain Ger. U 9.
Vladivostok .. •.$4000 $5783 $3500
Rosaria. 4865 3500
Tunis (and house) 4379 6093 2500
Petrogrnd. 5459 8151 3500
Batum. 3893 4392 2500
With regard to salaries of commer
cial attaches and consuls, the com
mittee’s recommendation is:
"The salary should be commensur
ate with the importance of the po
sition. and a special fund provided,
or some other method adopted, for
adjusting the difference In living ex -
penses among officers of the United
States of equal rank, to meet cases
in which living expenses are mater
ially in excess of the average.”
Not Enough for Latin America.
Special consideration is given to the
bureau of foreign and domestic com
merce, of which Ur. Edward Pratt
is the chief, in the committee's re-#
port to the matter ‘of promotion of
commerce in Latin America. During
the present year a congressional ap
propriation of $50,000 is available for
this purpose. Next year the amount
will be $75,000. It is generally be
lieved that with the close of the Eu
ropean war we may be able to hold
against European competitors a
goodly proportion of the markets for
American products which we have
now gained in Latin American coun
tries. The committee believes that
the appropriation of $75,000 for 1916
should be increased.
HIE TELEGRAPHIC NEWS NOTES
A Record of the Principal Happenings of the World
WASHINGTON, Dec. 13. — Francis
Marion Cockrell, who for many years
was a United States senator from
Missouri, died here today at the age
of 81. During the Civil War Mr.
Cockrell served as a brigadier-gen
eral in the Confederate army, was
severely wounded during Hood’s in
vasion of Tennessee, and commanded
a division in the operations around
Mobile, Alabama. He was first elec
ted to the Senate in 1875, and served
over thirty years in that body. The
Senate adjourned today as a mark of
respect to its former member.
CHICAGO, Dec. 14. — John Bor
den. the millionaire sportsman of
this city, is planning to make a trip
to the Arctic next year along with
Captain Louis Lane, on a whaling and
trading trip. Borden wishes to get
a shot at a polar-bear, and has been
much interested in the published ac
counts of Captain Lane's meeting
with Stefannson, and his story of
the experiences of his party. Bor
den and Lane are planning to leave
Seattle for the north in April, and
Lane is already making preparations
for a boat to replace the one he sold
to Stefannson.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 14. — The
sub-committee of the Republican na
tional committee has completed its
labors and adjourned. The body de
cided to hold the convention in Chi
cago after a prolonged, protracted
fight against that city, led by the
adherents of SL Louis and San Fran- j
cisco.
SEATTLE, Dec. 14. — The Pacific!
Coast Steamship Company in pub
lishing a review of the Alaska busi- j
ness for the past year, states that
the tourist travel to the territory
has been greater in 1915 than in any
previous year, and that all indica
tions pointed to an even more suc
cessful season in 1916.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 15. — The
British ambassador has assured the
state department that his country
will see that Captains Von Papen and
Boy-Ed, the German naval and mili
tary attaches, whom this country has
asked to have withdrawn, will be fur
nished safe conduct through the al
lied lines. Arrangements will be
made for the departure of the at
taches at the earliest opportunity.
ALBANY, N. Y„ Dec. 14. — The
snowstorm which swept over this
state last night has turned into the
worst blizzard that his section of
the country has experienced for 20
years. The storm shows no signs of
abating in northern New York, and
tremendous damage has already been
done. Telegraph communication is
hourly becoming more difficult,
while trains are stalled all the way
between here and Buffalo. Thirty
inches of snow have already fallen
In this city, causing the street car
lines to practically suspend traffic,
lone cars being stalled at various
places throughout the city, and the
entire force of the company putting
’orth its efforts on the snow plows.
NEW YORK, Dec. 14. — A heavy
snowstorm swept over the north
sastern and middle states yesterday,
which caused traffic on the railroad
and street car lines to be greatly in
convenienced, in many cases trains
coming into the depots from two or
three hours late. The snow was wet
and heavy, and raised havoc with the
telegraph wires, the lines breaking
down in scores of places. In this city
six inches of snow fell, while in other
places throughout the state as high
as fifteen inches fell. Several in
stances have been reported in the
middle west of trains being stalled
and unable to proceed.
NEW YORK, Dec. 16. — Negotia
tions to end the baseball war which
has been waged for the past two sea
sons between organized baseball on
one hand, as represented by the Na
tional and American leagues, and the
Federal league on the other, are ex
pected to be completed tomorrow.
The plan contemplates for an aban
donment of the Federal league, and
the Federal league magnates are to
be compensated by being allowed to
buy certain clubs in the two older
organizations.
LANSING, Dec. 16. — The name
of Woodrow Wilson has been placed
on the Michigan primary ballot as a
candidate for the presidential nami
nation by the Democratic party. The
name was placed on the ballot by
petition.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 17. — The
House today passed a bill extending
the provisions of last year's emer
gency revenue bill until the end of
1916. The bill will go to the Senate
at once, as it is desired by the ad
ministration that the matter be at
tended to before the end of the year,
so as not to disturb business condi
tions by leaving a hiatus.
GALVESTON, Dec. 17. — In an ef
fort to stop the spread of typhus,
which is epidemic to an alarming ex
tent, the sale of alcoholic liquors in
Mexico City has been forbidden for
ninety days. The sale of liquor has
been permanently forbidden in the
state of Yucatan.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 17. — Secre
tary of the Treasury McAdoo has
asked Congress for a deficiency ap
propriation of $2,000,000, which Secre
tary Lane says is needed at the ear
liest possible moment to enable a con
tinuance of the construction of the
government railroad in Alaska.
WASHunu i. ON, Dec. 17. — It is
officially announced that next year’s
winter wheat crop will be 540,000,000
bushels. This will be 115,000,000
bushels less than the wheat harvest
for this season. The present winter
wheat acreage shows a decrease of
11 per cent.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 17. — Henry
Fletcher, who is now United States
ambassador to Chile, has been nomin
ated by President Wilson as •ambas
sador to Mexico, thus restoring diplo
matic relations with Mexico after a
severance of two years.
FARRAGUT SAILS SOUTH.
The steamer Admiral Farragut ar
rived from the westward this morn
ing and after remaining in port an
hour sailed for Seattle. The only
outgoing passenger was Mrs. M. E,
Goodrich.