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FIFTH YEAR CHITINA, ALASKA, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 1915. NUMBER 13
NEW YORK, Jan. 9.—William Philip Sims, a corre
spondent at the front with the French army, writes as follows
under date of November 28:
I have the distinct impression that the French, English
and German armies will remain pretty much where they are
until well into next spring, and that but for occasional and
sometimes possibly bloody encounters in this, the Western
theater of the war, most of the action will come in the region
of the Russian frontier, until that time.
From what I have seen of the allies’ preparations back of
the actual fighting line for the Germans to make such headway
south seems to be impossible. Also, by reading between the
lines, I gather that the allies are quite satisfied with the
situation as it is. Officers are firmly convinced that Germany is
daily growing weaker while their own side is growing stronger
every day. They say they can afford to play a waiting game
and let Germany do the costly attacking. Germany, they insist,
yearns to strike a telling blow at the earliest possible moment
because she realizes that every moment lost leaves her that
much weaker in men, money, munitions and food.
Another thing which pleases the strategists here is the
extended battle line, hundreds of miles long. They claim tins
places the Germans at a capital disadvantage. Desirous of
forcing a decisive action the Kaiser’s forces apparently can
not do so because stretched out over such extended territory
the necessary concentration is out of the question. At the
same time to shorten the battle line would expose the flanks
Here every officer I meet is all smiles. At the beginning
of the war it must be confessed, there was more or less uneasi
ness among the military. This is all changed now and on all
sides one meets with the utmost confidence in the final outcome
of the war.
The impression here seems to be that the war will be
rather a long one. Everywhere I see preparations which lend
emphasis to this belief. Behind the lines the French organiza
tions has been perfecting itself until at the moment it is
running with the precision of a well-oiled piece of machinery.
The system of revictualing the army and keeping it supplied
with ammunition, the arrangement for evacuating the wounded
and generally the whole administration of the army is now
organized as though the war is a permanent institution
destined to last for all time.
In short, the allies are perfectly prepared to play a waiting
game if appearances count for anything. I feel sure they are
of the opinion that they can wear Germany down and sooner
or later, at a moment they judge opportune, strike the decisive
blow. Until that time I believe they will continue themselves
with blocking Germany’s blows, knowing that each blow use«
up that much power and makes by just that much easier to
master when the final hour arrives.
Germany, I am convinced, is playing into the allies hands
whether she wills it or no. Like a person caught in a quick
mire the more she struggles the deeper she sinks in the sands
and the quicker.
Germany may try to decide things this winter but she can
scarcely succeed. Perhaps along the Russian frontier some
where during the cold weather a telling action may be fought
but otherwise there promises to be a lull in the fighting, not a
complete cessation—until the sap rises. Then may commence
the beginning of the end.
Emperor Franz Josef, through Ambassador Penfield, has
I personally thanked sympathetic friends in this country who
sent gifts by the Santa Claus ship Jason.
It is estimated that fully $6,000,000 worth of trenching
tools, galvanized iron, wire and projectile steel have heen
' bought in Pittsburgh since the beginning of the war.
Proprietors of French cafes who will undertake to sell no
spirituous' liquors after January 1 will be exempted from
license dues from January 1. Permission is given to sell beer,
cider and wine.
The Greek premier, M. Venizelos, in a discussion of the
budget in the Grecian parliament, declared that Greece is
ready to mobilize at anv hour all of its contingents wherever
situated in its territories.
Karl Liebknecht, Socialist member of the German reieh
stag, sent a New Year’s greeting to British Socialists inviting
them to call upon the workers of the world to unite against
v, the war.
* Havre proposes to tax all Frenchmen who have not joined
the colors, the proceeds will be used for the benefit of the
wounded, widows and orphans.
Belgian refugees within France have been given Christmas
/presents by the French to the value of $1,400,000. Of this
amount $400,000 was raised by the sale of little Belgian flags.
According to Swiss statements rioting against the war is
occurring in six of the provinces of the dual monarchy of
Austria-Hungary. Reports to this effect have been received
from Vienna, Budapest, Prague, Agram, Serajevo and from
Transsylvanian and Dalmatian towns.
Berlin states that the American note of protest to Great
Britain as to the right of neutral shipping is indorsed in all
^ the northern countries. It argues that science can supply the
lack of food products and therefore British action is merely
injuring the neutrals.
X Petrograd, in answer to the Austrian claim of haying
200,000 prisoners captured from Russia, declares Austrian
prisoners in Russia number 221,400 men and 3,166 officers,
while German prisoners total 1,140 officers and 131,700 men.
Large orders for artillery harness have been placed ia
CMcago by British government agents.
PETROGRAD, Jan, 12.—The German cruiser Bremen
has arrived at Wilhelmshaven, a port at the mouth of the
Weiser River in Oldenburg, badly damaged by a mine.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 12.—The President announced
today that he plans to study with Secretary Bryan the British
reply to the American note of protest against interference with
American commerce.
PETROGRAD, Jan. 12.—It is officially denied that Grand
Duke Michaelovich was killed, as was reported yesterday. The
origin of the report remains unexplained.
ATHENS, Jan. 12.—The Greek government is gravely
concerned over increase of the strained relations which have
existed between that country and Turkey since the outbreak
of the war, which strain the Turks are inclinde to increase
rather than decrease.
LONDON, Jan. 11.—The London Times asserts that Id
German aeroplanes were seen over the English Channel
Sunday, and that the long contemplated raid of England was
interrupted hv weather conditions. Because of fog and a
strong wind the pilots of the dreadnoughts of the air, con
cluded to postpone the attack and they returned to Dunkirk.
The presence ef this formidable fleet over the Channel has
caused great consternation in London and the coast cities.
LONDON, Jan. 11.—A dispatch from Bologne asserts that
the Germans have evacuated Lille, after a series of severe
engagements; that the British are in possession and that the
Germans made another aeroplane raid and dropped 30 bombs
on Dunkirk. The number of deaths and extent of damages
caused by the bombs are not stated.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 11.—It became known publicly
today that the United States government is not altogether
satisfied with Great Britain’s note replying to the protest
against interference of British war vessels with American
commerce. The preliminary reply concurs with the view of
the U. S. and concedes that the principles expressed in the
American note relative to interference is just.
BERLIN, Jan. 11.—The municipality has voted General
^ on Ilindenberg, leader of the German forces against the
Russians in Poland, a present of $40,000 in recognition of his
valor. *3 _
BERLIN, Jan. 11.—Grand Duke Michelovieh, brother-in
law of the Czar, was killed in a recent battle in Poland,
according to a bulletin issued by the war office.
BI CIIAREST, Jan. 9.—Roumania is mobilizing 750,000
men and will enter the war on the side of the allies and against
Germany and Austria even though Italy, her near neighbor
should decide to remain neutral.
ATHENS, Jan. 9.—The Greek government is gravely con
cerned over the strained relations which have existed between
that country and Turkey since the outbreak of the war, which
strain the Turks are inclined to increase rather than decrease.
PETROGRAD, Jan. 9.—The Russians have entered
Transylvania and the Austrians having evacuated the whole of
Bukowina, this opens a new line of roads over which Russian
troops are now moving into the Hungarian provinces and
forcing the Austrian forces steadily back.
MILAN, Italy, Jan. 9.—Austria has protested to Italy
against the latter’s occupation of Avlona and Albania.
Geneva, Jan. 9.—Austria has commenced fortifying the
line at Brizen, Merne, Bozen and Trene, strategic points facing
the Italian frontier.
SOFIA, Bulgaria, Jan. 8.—Official dispatches report an
alanning situation at Constantinople. Archives of the city
have been packed for removal and locomotives are ready with
steam up in readiness for removal of the treasury upon nearer
approach of the allied forces.
BERLIN, Jan. 8.—The war office has announced that ten
Russian aeroplanes were brought down at Lodz, in the
Lowicz district, by German aero gunners.
LONDON, Jan. 8.—Ambassador Page received from the
British government today the preliminary reply to the
American note protesting against British interferenee with
American shipping. The ambassador immediately forwarded
the document to the authorities at Washington and it is
expected there will be no further delay in shipments being
held up for investigation by the British authorities.
OTTAWA, Jan. 8.—The Canadian government has
forwarded to the authorities at Washington an expression of
deep regret because of the alleged accidential killing of
Walter Smith and the serious wounding of Charles Dorsch,
who were fired upon by Canadian militiamen when the
Americans were shooting ducks out of season on the Niagara
River last week. ,
LANE TALKS OF BAILWAT PLANS
WASHINGTON, Jan. 12.—Following the conference of
yesterday, Secretary Lane announced that AJaska railroad
construction would commence early in the spring, but it would
be several weeks before the commission’s report would be
completed. Secretary Lane said it might be desirable to pur
chase both of the Alaska railroads, but that no decision had
been reached—a fact which is regarded as significant.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 7.—The state department is prepar
ing a note to Great Britain asking reparation for the families
of Walter Smith and Charles Dorsch, the two American.
hunters who were fired on by Canadian militiamen while
hunting ducks out of season on the Canadian side of the
Niagara River, December 28. Smith was killed and Dorsch is
LONDON, Jan. 8.—Aside from the continued Russian
pursuit of Turkish forces, defeated in the Caucasus, and the
Russian advance through the passes of the Carpathian moun
tains, siege warfare with the customary intermittent artillery
duels prevail at almots every point in the entire zone of war.
! in a precarious condition.
ROME, Jan. 7.—The funeral of Lieut. Garibaldi, who wa*
recently killed in France while fighting witli the allies, wa>
attended by at least 300,000 people, among who were the
French. British, Russia, Servian, Bulgarian and Montenegrin
ministers. At the grave Rieciotti Garibaldi, the father, sai 1
BERLIN, Jan. 7.—German reports claim that further
advances have been made by the Germans in the western part
of the forest of Argonne and that desperate lighting is going
on to the north of Arras.
two of his sons had fallen for France and that in a few days
he might be the third to fall for that land.
BERLIN, dan. 0.—The “Iron Ring” of Austria is becom
ing rapidly more diffused throughout the dual monarchy and
is coming rapidly to be more highly prized and coveted than
the famous “Iron Cross” of the Kaiser. Already the little
iron band is to be seen, to the exclusion of all other jewelry,
on the hands of people in every walk of Vienna life. It is as
common on the finger of the washer woman as it is on the
dainty hands of the members of the highest aristocracy,
nobility and even of the royal house itself. There is not an
archduke nor an archduchess of the House of Ilapsburg who
has not already won one and is proud to wear it.
The “Iron ring of Austria” was established by the
Society of the Silver Cross, organized for the purpose of
raising funds for the care of families whose fathers, brothers
and husbands have been killed in the war. Up to the present
time over one million and a half crowns have been raised. Of
this amount only a small per cent was given in ready money,
the great bulk being contributed by those, even from the
usually wealthiest circles, who were obliged to give, instead,
their rings, royal decorations, diamonds, watches, chains and
l’ewelrv of every description. It is to those who contributed in
this_ ipajimer that the Society of the Silver Cross gives its
“ring of iron.” On the little iron band, which the contributor's
never fail to wear are inscribed the six words: “I have given
gold for iron.” On an average, 2,000 rings are finding wearers
daily.
PARIS, Jan. 6.—A German treneli nearly half a mile long
in the Argonne regiou was blown up by the allies, according to
mi official statement issued today. The French then made an
infantry attack and captured half the trench. During this
charge another grandson of General Garibaldi was killed.
LONDON, Jan. 6.—Today’s dispatches from Petrograd
tell of marked Russian gains and victories over Turks,
Austrians and Germans. The Austrians are reported to be in
full retreat through the Uzok pass in the Carpathian mountains,
in a blinding snowstorm, with the Russians attacking their
flank and crowding them through the pass.
The Russians have gained control of the most valuable coal
mines in the Austrian empire, are holding the line between
Mazurain Lake and East Prussia, are successfully resisting the
ROME, Jan. 5.—The death on the French battlefield of
Bruno Garibaldi, a grandson of the famous Italian patriot and
friend of the northern states during the Civil war, has caused
a revival of public sentiment throughout Italy in favor of war.
A million men will be under arms by the last of the present
month and another million are being formed into reserves ready
to be called at a moment’s notice.
LONDON, Jan. 5.—Official statements from both Paris and
Berlin show that the Germans are losing ground in Alsace.
LONDON, Jan. 6.—Friendly relations have been estab
lished between the Russian soldiers and the frontier guards in
Roumania, which joins the province of Bukowina, and it is
believed In Petrograd that Roumania is likely to enter the war
in the west if the deadlock continues.
LONDON, Jan. 6.—France is apparently making progress
in the invasion of Alsace, but elsewhere there is little activity.
German offensive in the north of Poland, have advanced
towards Cracow and are now practically in possession of the
province of Bukowina. They have also successfully resisted
three Turkish columns from Russian Caucasus.
Pracitcally, since the beginning of the war, it has just
developed, Austrian business houses have been indirectly but
certainly consciously supplying Servia with many of the
necessities which has enabled her to put up the war she has
against the dual monarchy.
Austria’s sudden declaration of war against Servia found
the latter, especially after her two previous Balkan wars,
utterly unprepared both as to provisions and as to equipment
for her troops. Entirely cut off from all commercial connec
tion with the rest of the world, except through the port of
Salonika which she won through her last war with Bulgaria,
Servia at once placed immense orders with all of the importing
houses in that city.
She offered the highest possible prices and the Salonika
concerns rapidly emptied their warehouses. The Servian
orders continuing, the importers began shipping in goods from
Austria, all of which it now develops have found their way
into the Austrian commissariat. Some of the largest commer
cial houses of Austria are involved.