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THEIEK’S HAPPENINGS ALONG THE FIK UNEIN EUROPE'S GREAT STRUGGLE FOR SUPREMACY I
LONDON, Dec. 8.—The French and British are sending
constantly additional troops and supplies to Saloniki, where
they are being rushed forward to the fighting line stretching
from the Vardar river up to Strumitza in Bulgaria. This con
stant and ever increasing stream of men and munitions which
is pouring into Serbia has reassured the British public that
the allies have no intention of abandoning the Balkan cam
paign, and that on the contrary they are preparing for further
and greater activity than heretofore. Nothing definite has
been heard concerning the great Russian army that has been
concentrated at Odessa, and along the Roumanian border. The
Germans have announced' the capture of the town of Ipek, in
eastern Montenegro, close to the Serbian frontier, yet the task
confronting the pursuing Austrian and Bulgarian armies here
is a difficult one, as the mountainous nature of the country
makes an ideal position for a defensive campaign, and the
Montenegrins are fighting spiritedly, with King Nicholas at
their head.
In Albania, the Serbians are still retiring and are being
compelled to abandon a large quantity of munitions, or be cap
tured, as they are so encumbered with prisoners, and civilian
refugees, who are fleeing along with the soldiers, that it has
been impossible for them to make any fast progress, and the
pursuing enemies, knowing this, have pushed their advantage.
The Serbian army at present seems incapable of organized re
sistance, and they are so encumbered with camp followers,
mostly old men, women and children, that they are put to it to
make an orderly retreat.
In southeastern Serbia, the situation is not unfavorable to
the allies, although they are being subjected to constant and
unremitting attacks by the Bulgarian forces. The French now
have seventy guns in action along the firing line, and are
briskly replying to the Bulgarian artillery, showing better
marksmanship and inflicting considerable damage. The in
fantry attacks of the Bulgarians have been severely repulsed,
and have ceased for the present. The right flank held by the
Franco-British contingent near Strumitza is apparently pr<?
gressing.
BERLIN, Dec. 9.—Chancellor Bethmann-Hollweg, after
holding a conference with the Kaiser, appeared in the Reich
stag today and replied for the government to the Socialist
question as to what would be the basis of peace proposals
which Germany would consider. The chancellor spoke for an
hour on the matter, and said that Germany felt that this war
had been thrust upon her, and was being continued without
any fault of the empire. He said, in part: “If our enemies
make peace proposals compatible with the dignity and great
ness of Germany, and the safety of our country, we will always
he ready to discuss them, fully conscious, however, of the con
tinuation of our unshaken military successes. We decline re
sponsibility for the continuance of the misery now filling Eu
rope and desolating the whole world. No one can say that
Germany and her brave allies are continuing the war, because
we still desire to conquer this or that country. ’ *
Chancellor Bethmann-Hollweg was interrupted several
times during the course of his remarks, and was loudly cheered
at the close. He said that Germany’s enemies had been
blinded at the beginning of the war because of the-false stories
about the Teutons, which excited their people to hatred. Now,
after almost eighteen months of fighting these same enemies,
after the complete and decisive failure of all their military
and diplomatic efforts, seemed only able to cling to the idea
that Germany must be annihilated.
The chancellor said that this war could be brought to an
end only by the assurance of peace which would give a certi-j
tude that war would not return again to devastate the fields
of Europe. Intelligent persons who had studied the situation
scoffed at the hallucination of the allies that Germany could
be starved into submission. He said there were sufficient
food supplies in the empire to last for years, and as for am
munition, they had immense stores of copper adequate to
supply their armies for years to come, and were developing
new sources of supply.
LONDON, Dec. 10.—Latest reports from the Anglo
French front in Serbia state that the Bulgarians attacking the
allied lines have been reinforced by a large body of German
troops, and the attack against the positions are being renewed’
with increased vigor. The allied forces are fairly well sup
plied with light artillery, and are using their guns to good ef
fect, the Bulgarians in particular having suffered heavily from
their many attacks on the French lines. The fighting now is
almost on the Greek border, and a very slight reverse would
force the allies to retreat into Grecian territory. If the allies
are compelled to reform their lines and give battle on Grecian
soil, it will put an end to the present uncertainty as to the at
titude of Greece towards the conflict. In any event, Greece
cannot postpone much longer a definite announcement of her
policy. The allies are constantly landing fresh troops at Sa
loniki, and preparations are under way which confirm the
general impression that the French and British have entered
the Balkan campaign to stay, as everything indicates that the
allies are going to make Saloniki a permanent base for their
soldiers. Extensive works are going on there, which can
mean only that. At the front the allies have shown that they
will retire before subjecting themselves to being smothered
by the numerically superior enemy, and it is felt that this re
treating movement will continue until the allies feel strong
enough to take the offensive, which at the present rate of de
livering the troops will not be long.
LONDON, Dec. 10.—The Bulgarians have been heavily
reinforced by further additional Teuton troops, and all points
of the fighting front in southern Serbia are now well sup
ported by both first line troops and reserves. The allies are
being vigorously attacked and are endeavoring to hold their
own against the enemy, who seem to have an inexhaustible
supply of men and munitions, giving the defenders little rest,
as the attack is kept up night and day. Most of the fighting
against the allies so far has been done by the Bulgarians, al
though it is believed that the Austrians and Germans are di
recting the artillery fire, but it seems assured that practically
the whole of the Bulgarian army has been concentrated for
the effort to force the allies onto Greece. Further west the
Montenegrins are valiantly resisting the Teuton forces, who
have been steadily advancing, although at a slower rate, as
the mountain passes have been reached, and the Montenegrins
are now fighting in a country where they are familiar with
every rock and’ precipice, and which is a most difficult coun
try to carry on an offensive warfare in. From Albania comes
reports which indicate that the fleeing Serbian army and the
.refugees accompanying it are in much better condition than
was supposed. The lines have been reformed, and a rear
guard action is being kept up, which sufficiently harasses the
pursuers as to make their progress slow enough to give the
refugees time to get away.
PARIS, Dec. 10.—Lord Kitchener and Foreign Minister
Grey arrived in this city yesterday unannounced, and immedi
ately went into conference with the French government.
BERLIN, Dec. 10.—It is officially announced that the
Bulgarians have defeated the Anglo-French troops in Serbia,
and have thoroughly cleared southern Serbia of allied soldiers.
The entire Franco-British contingent has been forced to retire
across the Greek frontier.
TEHERAN, Dec. 10.—The Russian troops in the Cau
casus have occupied the Sullar Bulak pass, where insurgent
gendarmes and German mercenaries have been fortifying
themselves under the command of German and Turkish offi
cers. The fight for the pass was brisk while it lasted, but the
enemy gave way before the determined attack of the Russian
troops and broke under a bayonet charge, fleeing in great
disorder, and leaving many dead upon the field. The Rus
sians are pursuing the Germans and Turks.
LONDON, Deo. 10.—The speech of Chancellor Bethmann
Hollweg before the Reichstag yesterday is being interpreted
by English publicists as showing that the sentiment in Ger
many is swiftly veering in the direction of peace. The argu
ment is made that Von Buelow has been working quietly on
this behalf for some time, and reference is made to the latter’s
interview with Cardinal Hartmann, and the connection with
the Vatican’s peace efforts. The matter is being watched
with considerable interest, but is meeting with very little
favor throughout Great Britain.
NATIONAL DEFENSE
MAIN ISSUE
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10.—A special national defence re
port has been prepared by the general staff of the army, and
will be presented to Congress in support of the administration
measures for an increased national defence. The report says
that a mobile army of a million and a half, consisting of
trained, or partially trained, men is necessary to secure the
United States from attack. An increase of the regular army
to a half million is strongly urged, without which it would be
impossible to satisfactorily meet the problems which would
arise in the event of an army of invasion attempting to cross
our borders.
According to the plan the army would have 121,000 first
class soldiers in the ranks at the end of an eight year enlist
ment period. The further plans of the general staff call for
the creation of a reserve of partially trained men in continen
tal United States, totalling a million and a half. These men
would be under training for three months a year for three
years, the other nine months being on furlough, subject to
being called for an additional three months prior to the regu
lar three months period. This additional three months would
be training which would not require the troops to do field
service, but could be given in armories at their homes.
The board' recommends an appropriation of seven million
dollars to further the work now being done by the state mi
litia regiments. The plans of the staff call for an expenditure
for the coming year of five hundred and four millions. This
will be divided as follows: The new army and reserve plan
will necessitate $353,000,000. A reserve of ammunition will
be gathered, which will cost $132,000,000. The plans for addi
tional coast and harbor defences call for $20,000,000.
WASHINGTON, Deo. 10.—National defence and the
means of providing money to carry out the administration’s
plans, admittedly, are the chief problems which faces the
sixty-fonrth Congress.
Democratic leaders who had hoped to make military pre
paredness a non-partisan question, are not confident of suc
cess, notwithstanding the widespread endorsement given
President Wilson’s program by prominent members and or
ganizations affiliated with minority parties. The .chief
stumbling block is the method of raising the enormous reve
nues which will be needed.
Certain Republican leaders have indicated they are ready
to make political capital of the Democratic dilemma should
the party in power find itself compelled to resort to a bond is
sue or any of the tariff measures hitherto condemned by them.
With leaders of both parties looking toward the national cam
paign next fall the session promises to be of unusual interest.
President Wilson outlined the salient needs of the country
in a personally delivered address to Congress Tuesday noon,
after which committees were organized and actual legislative
grinding initiated. In his opening address the President did
not present in detailed form all of the legislation the adminis
tration has in mind, but as Congress proceeds he plans to send
messages on special subjects.
The President’8 first communication concerned chiefly
the needs of the army and navy, giving special attention to
revelations and responsibilities growing out of the European
war and what may be done to finance a plan of preparedness
to assure continuing safety of the nation.
The new Congress is still Democratic, but not so over
whelming as it has been on previous occasions when President
Wilson addressed it In the Senate the party has a slightly
increased majority, but political fortunes have reduced the
almost unwieldly force in the House that came in on the
Democratic landslide that elected Mr. Wilson, so that now the
party will have only a majority over all of 24 votes. This is
regarded as a narrow margin in a body composed of 435 mem
bers, requiring a party deflection of only thirteen votes to de
feat a measure.
The new House as officially classified consists of 229
Democrats, 197 Republicans, 6 Progressives, 1 Independent, 1
Socialist, 1 vacant. In the Senate there are 56 Democrats and
40 Republicans.
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UNITED STATES WANTS COMMANDER PUNISHED.
WASHINGTON, Deo. 10.—The United States has sent a
note to Austria-Hungary, asking that nation to disavow the
attack on the Italian liner Ancona by one of her submarines.
me note also requests tne Austrian government to iumisn as
surances that such an occurrence will not be repeated, and
asks that the commander of the submarine be punished for
his inhumane attack on the liner, and firing on the small boats
after the passengers and crew had commenced to leave the
ship. Formal demand is also made that reparation be fur
nished to the families of the American citizens who lost their
lives on the boat.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10.—The State Department has re
ceived notice from the British foreign office that the vigorous
protest delivered by Ambassador Page against the requisition
ing of the ships of the American Transatlantic Company, had
been acted upon favorably. The ships have been released, as
the State Department took the position that they could not be
used by the British until condemned by prize court pro
ceedings.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 7.—The President read his message
to Congress this morning, the Houses being in joint session,
and Mr. Wilson being honored by a full attendance of the mem*
bers. The chief topic discussed by the executive is the subject
of national preparedness, and the strengthening of the national
defences by increasing the resources of the army and navy in
both men and equipment. As a corollary to this increase in the
army and navy Mr. Wilson strongly urges Congress to enact
laws providing for government owned merchant ships, which
would be used as naval auxiliaries in time of war.
The formation of a more liberal and extensive system of
rural credits, to help the farmer move his crops is urged, and
instances cited where the lack of such a mobile credit system
has worked hardships on the big western producers of grains.
The laws granting a greater measure of self government to the
Philippines and to Porto Rico, which failed of passage at the
last session of Congress, are recommended again by the Presi
dent, who made a strong plea for justice to these peoples.
The passage of legislation giving federal aid to further in
dustrial and vocational training is urged, and the necessity of
increasing the facilities for our youths along these lines dis
cussed fully and vigorously. Mr. Wilson brought forth a new
proposition in requesting Congress to pass a law* creating a
commission to inquire into and cope with the transportation
problems of the nation, the necessity of which has been brought
home by the congestion of freight at present stored in the east*
em terminals and yards, and an intimation conveyed, that our
transportation system should be laid out with some view to
military necessity. •
The matter of sabotage in munition factories, and the vari*
ous attempts to cripple American business by fires and explo
sions are scathingly denounced by the President, who pays liis
respects to those of our naturalized citizens who sympathize
with the belligerents in Europe, have plotted and conspired to
violate their own country’s neutrality. Mr. Wilson calls such
men traitors, and deplores the fact that the laws now on the
statute books are not stringent enough to properly punish such
offenders, and commends the matter to the earnest and immedi
ate consideration of Congress, recommending additional legis*
lation which will provide suitable penalties for infractions of
our neutrality.
The matter of revenue for the government is treated at
length. Additional internal revenue taxes are suggested for
the purpose of providing the necessary funds for creating the
increased army and navy desired. The sources of revenue sug
gested by President Wilson are additional taxes on income, a
tax on gasoline, one on autos and all internal combustion en
gines. An impost on fabricated iron and steel is suggested, and
the revival of the war tax on bank checks, in force during the
Spanish war, is recommended. The re-enactment of the present
emergency revenue law is stated to be a necessity, and the con*
tinuation of the present tariff on sugar is also suggested.
BIG APPROPRIATIONS
FOR ALASKA
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10.—In the budget submitted to
Congress were the following items for Alaska: Railway
works, $2,247,000; post road, $150,000; roads, bridges and
trails from Alaska fund, $170,000; investigation of mineral re
sources, $100,000; bureau of education, $250,000; to encourage
trade and industry among the natives, $25,000; medical relief
of natives, $50,000; war department, $50,000 for cable mainten
ance; lighthouse service, $60,000; for aids to navigation* $50,
000; to establish lighthouse at Cape Spencer, $100,000; Coast
geodetic survey, $508,000; to replace Patterson and Gedney,
$225,000; Pacific surveys, including Alaska fisheries, $50,000;
for new vessel, $20,000; for four tenders, $25,000; for new
buildings on Pribilof Island, $15,000; fur seal service, $1,000;
for caring for Sitka national monument and boundary survey,
$115,000.
Postmaster Burleson asks for special legislation, giving
him $300,000 for granting the postoffice a monopoly on all
telephone, cable and telegraph lines in Alaska.__
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A Record of the Principal Happenings of the World
W *.
DENVER, Dec. 6. — The state su
preme court today handed down a de
cision which kills all hopes which the
liquor Interests had of defeating the
recent prohibition legislation In this
Btate. The court upholds the right
of the legislature to enact a prohibi
tory law, and to enforce the same, re
jecting the plea of the liquor interests
that their property was being taken
from them without due process and
without just compensation.
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 6. — Infor
mation has been received here by
wireless from the Bteamer Minne
sota, which Is on her way back to
this port disabled, that the trouble
Is with the boilers. The ship reports
that from what examination was pos
sible at sea, it would seem that
chemicals had been placed in the
water before sailing which put the
boilers out of commission. The boat
will be here by tomorrow.
SEATTLE, Dec. 8. — The steamer
Alameda, of the Alaska Steamship
Company, will sail north Friday, her
regular scheduled date.
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 8. — The
disabled steamer Minnesota will not
reach here for some time yet, as it is
unable to use its own steam, and la
being propelled forward by two tugs
at the rate of three knots an hour.
The huge ship has had her boilers
completely pat oat of business by »
chemical substance placed in the
water. The ship at present Is a short
distance south of San Dleto.
SEATTLE, Dec. 8. — The steamer
Admiral Farragut left here last night
for Cordova and other Alaska ports.
The passengers for Cordova were
Mrs. M. A. Goodrich and E. L. Booth;
for Katalla, J. A. Hagen and Murray
McNair
OLYMPIA, Dec. 10.—'The last
hopes of the liquor interest in this
state were blasted today when the
State Supreme Court handed down a
decision upholding the prohibitory
law passed by the people at the last
election. The court held the law to
be valid In air particulars, and denied
the contention of the liquor dealers
that their property was being taken
from them without due process of
law. The law will go into effect on
January 1 next
ERIE, Pa., Dec. 10.—Two Pennsyl
vania railroad grain elevators, filled
with grain, waiting shipment to the
allies, were destroyed by fire here
today. A third elevator was saved
only by the prompt and heroic work
of the fire department. The loss
Is 1760,000. The rfiatter Is being In
vestigated, as the circumstances tend
strongly to show that the blaze was
Incendiary In origin.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 9. — Eliseo
Arredondo, who has been the confi
dential representative of Carranza In
this city during all the troublous
times in Mexico. Is slated for the ap
pointment as Mexican minister to
this country. Arredondo is well
known In official quarters here, and
will be very acceptable to the Wilson
administration. The matter of select
ing the United States ambassador to
Mexico has been considered by the
President, and tt can authoritatively
stated, although not yet officially an
nounced, that Henry Fletcher, at
present ambassador to Chile, will be
sent to Mexico City.
PETERSBURG, Va., Dec. 10.—The
town of Hopewell, near here, was
visited by a destructive fire this
morning, which swept through the
principal business blocks and prac
tically wrecked the city. Hopewell
has a population of 2,600 and was
founded by the Dupont Powder Com
pany for Its employes. The company
maintains a big powder mill here,
which was not damaged by the flrw.
It is charged that the fire was an
other of a series of demonstrations
being made against the company by
pro-German sympathizers. The fire
was incendiary, but no clues to the
perpetrators have been discovered.
The loss is set at well over a million
dollars.
COLUMBU9, Ohio, Dec. 10.—Presi
dent Wilson spoke twice In this city
today. He addressed the members
of the Chamber of Commerce at noon
at an Informal luncheon in his honor,
discussing the business conditions of
the country, and telling what the ad
ministration’s plans were tor assist
ing prosperity the coming year. This
afternoon Mr. Wilson spoke before
the Country Life Conference, strong
ly endorsing the work of the organi
zation. and saying that the safety of
the republic depended upon the move
ment to bring the native Americans
back to the land, and restrict the
growing wave of immigration to the
cities.
ASSEMBLY ACT REDUCING FEES
UPHELD BY COURT.
That the Territorial Legislature has
the right to regulate the filing fees
charged by Record's for entering
documents such as proofs of labor
for assessment work, and that the
law passed by the last legislature la
valid, was the decision of Judge Rob
ert Jennings.
The legislature, It will be remem
bered, materially reduced the fees to
be received for recording documents,
especially those charged for proofs
of labor on association mining claims.
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8TUDENT8 LEARN HOW TO RES
CUE DROWNING MEN.
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON,
Dec. 4. — Foresters and engineers
enrolled In the class In first aid at
the University of Washington are
spending a lot of energy these days
rescuing a dummy from a swtmmln*
tank. They are being taught the
saving of drowning persona; and
aside from learning how to avoid a
death grip, they find out the latest
methods of resuscitation from Dr. D.
C. Hall, director of physical educa
tion. The use of the lung motor Is
also taught the students.
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MAIL CLERK THWAITES MEETS
WITH ACCIDENT.
I. B. Thwaltes, mall clerk on the
steamer Northwestern, (met with a
painful accident as the boat was
pulling Into Juneau. He walked into
an open hatch and was badly shaken
up. As the vessel remained there
thirty-six hours Mr. Thwaltes was
taken to the hospital for treatment.
He continued On the run, although he
still suffers from the affects of the
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