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FIFTH YEAR
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CHITINA, ALASKA, TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 1915.
NUMBER 28
EUROPEAN
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LONDON, April 26.—The Germans are evidently prepar
ing for another big battle in western Belgium. They are now
pouring soldiers into the province of Flanders in greater
numbers than preceded the battle that raged there for two
weeks last October. -
MILAN. April 26.—Austria is to have the aid of 5,00*1
first line German troops in resisting the invasion of Italy
should that country determine to enter the war. This report
comes from good authority.
PETROGRAD, April’26.—Although he has returned it
was announced for the first time today that the Czar has
visited Przemvsl, located in the center of Galicia, and which
was captured by the Russians after a stubborn fight.
DILMAN, Persia, April 26.—There has been an exodus of
from 20,000 to 30.000 Armenians and Nestorian Christians
from the Azerbaijan province. More than 1,500 of those who
were unable .to flee have been massacred. Death from disease
has resulted to 2,000 in compounds of the American missions
at Urumiah, also possibly an equal number of refugees who
have been confined at Caucasus.
VIENNA, April 26.—Although thousands of men have
been sacrificed in the repeated attacks made on the Austrians
in their positions in the Carpathian mountains, but little
change has been made. In an official statement covering the
operations of several days it is declared that the Russian
offensive has completely failed. The war office states that no
appreciable progress has been made by the Russians against
Uszek pass, the main objective point against which their
efforts have been directed.
CONSTANTINOPLE. April 26.—The Russian Black Sea
fleet bombarded the forts on the Bosphorous Straits on Sunday
afternoon for half an hour. No damage, however, was done.
THE HAGUE, April 26.—Reliable information received
here is to the effect that the French are not hopeful of an early
ending of the war, neither are they hoping for obtaining
indemnitv.
CONSTANTINOPLE. April 24.—Six officers and nineteen
members of the crew of the British submarine E-15 were
brought here this afternoon.
LONDON, April 24.—The freighter Ruth was sunk by a
Gorman submarine in the North Sea. The crew was rescued
and landed at Leith.
THE HAGUE,' April 24.—It is rumored that the closing
of all traffic on the Belgian and Dutch frontiers is in connec
tion with important movements of German troops.
BERLIN, April 24.—The crew of the German warship
Aysha, composed of men who escaped when the cruiser Emden
was sunk by the Australian warships in the Indian Ocean, have
escaped again from the allied patrol ships. They are reported
to have been at the Arabian harbor of Lidd on March 27.
WASHINGTON, April 24.—The German embassy
. enounced that from reliable information received it is
believed that a British battleship was severely damaged jn the
last Zeppelin attack over Tyne.
LONDON, April 24.—The Finnish steamer Frank was
torpedoed and sunk in the Baltic Sea. A part of the crew was
saved. They became divided and one boat was lost. The
Frank carried a cargo of iren ore. on the way to Abe, Finland.
LONDON, April 24.—The bloodiest fighting since the big
battle of Neueve and Chapelle is now in ' progress between
Ypres and the North Sea. Reinforced by troops withdrawn
from the East Prussia front the Germans have evidently
renewed their attempt to hack their way through the allied
line to Calais and Dunkirk. This move has been anticipated
and preparations have been made to combat the advance.
PARIS, April 24.—Members of the crews in the Italian
fleet assembled at Taranta have been forbidden to mention
their point of location, where sent to, location or fleet
assembled, or where they are now going.
TOKIO. April 24.—An ultimatum, demanding a satisfac
tory answer within three days to the demands of Japan on
China, has been sent by the Japanese cabinet to Eki Hiotti,
the Japanese minister at Pekin, for delivery to representatives
of China at the negotiations now going on.
PARIS, April 24.—Aeroplanes of the allies are showing
great activity in Smyrna. A French aviator recently dropped
two bombs over Fort Kastro, killing several soldiers. Another
sank a German ship lying at port, while a third struck and
demolished a railroad station.
* WASHINGTON, April 23.—Dispatches this afternoon
from Berlin state that Germany has placed coal, coke, pig
iron and aeroplans on the contraband list. Cargoes consigned
to order or to neutral countries with which belligerents may
trade, together with the transporting vessel, are liable to
seizure. It is believed that this is Germany’s last act for
reprisal against the English blockade.
PARIS, April 23.—Dispatches from Athens say that the
Allies continue their bombardment of Gallipoli Peninsula
positions. Announcement has been received that certain
British ports may be closed to shipping without any further
notice.
COPENHAGEN, April 27.—Scandinavian ships en route
from England to Swedish ports on the Baltic have been ordered
to make the nearest harbor, pending further instructions.
GLASGOW, April 22.—Most of the men who have been
prrforming duty as street car conductors have enlisted in the
British army and today a large force of women were put on
•
In a letter just received from Seattle, written on April 14,
there is strong encouragement for the belief that Cordova will
certainly be the terminus of a coal road to the Bering Biver
fields. From a source, close to the national administration
and from which we have heretofore received news in connec
| tion with the location of the government railroad, that has
proved entirely reliable and accurate, we gather some inside
: facts with reference to this locality. The letter referred to
closes with this significant statement:
“It would not be a bad gamble to wager that the first ton
of coal to be hauled from the coal fields of Alaska will be
routed from the Bering River section over a branch govern
ment railroad running from Mile 38, and thence out over the
Copper River & Northwestern railroad to Cordova, where the
coal would be discharged.”
Capt. Frederick Mears, member of the Alaska Engineering!
Commission, was in Cordova a few hours this afternoon en
route to Ship Creek. On the steamer Mariposa there were also |
a number of surveyors and other employees of the commission,
to the number of nearly fifty. Capt. Mears stated, in answer
to an inquiry, that he had no late information to give out
concerning the rialroad plans of the government. He has been
busy looking after his particular work and has not been
consulted about other matters.
Capt. Mears states that he had read the report sent out by
Commissioner Riggs concerning the permanent survey to be\
made from Mile 38 on the Copper River road to the Bering
coal fields and the probability of the government constructing
a line between those points. But he had no other information
to give. He says that Chairman hides is still in Washington,
in consultation with the President and Secretary Lane on just
such matters as the Bering extension. Commissioner Riggs
was also detained there longer than was at first expected he
would be but is now on his way to Seattle, expecting to leave
very soon for Fairbanks. With reference to the work contem
plated to the westward and the men needed Commissioner j
Mears makes the following statement:
‘‘There will be very few positions to offer to men on a
salary or daily wage basis on the construction work at Ship!
Creek. A limited number of railroad station men, experienced
in the work of clearing right-of-way, culvert building, and
railroad grading may find work at or near Ship Creek. Knik
Arm, on the terms usually offered by railroad contractors.
“Gangs will commence clearing about May 1st, and
grading about May 15th or .June 1st. There will be work at
Ship Creek for a limited number of experienced carpenters and
carpenter helpers (having their own tools) in the erection of
j docksheds, buildings, living quarters and storehouses, as soon
; as the necessary material has been assembled.
“The carpenters and carpenter helpers will be paid on an
! hourly basis and charged for. their board at the rate of $1.00
per day. The Commission will not engage large numbers of
i men on a force account basis, and those going to Ship Creek,
with the idea of finding readv employment on the new work
will be largely disappointed.”
..—
The big radio station which the government has decided
to build on the Copper River flats at Mile 15, will not be
entirely constructed this year. This is one of six powerful
stations for which an appropriation has been made by Congress
but it has been found impossible to get the necessary material
and machinery to put in all the stations this year. As a conse
quence it has been decided to defer the building of the Cordova
station until next summer.
Although this announcement will be somewhat of a disap
pointment to the people of Cordova, as it was expected that a
government cruiser would be stationed here this summer with
a large complement of men at work at Mile 15, there will be
some compensation in the knowledge that some work will be
done at Mile 15 and also it has been decided to enlarge the
Whitshed station. This will likely mean that a cruiser will
be here this summer bringing 50 or 60 civilians and navy men
to do the work at Whitshed and out the line. It has not yet
been definitely decided how these men and the necessary
material shall be brought north. But thev are expected the
middle of June and will be employed here for three months.
The buildings at Mile 15 will be of concrete construction
but they will not be erected this year. However, the ground
will be properly cleared and two 600-foot high towers will be
! erected. To do this work will require from 6 to 8 weeks time
and possibly 20 of the Whitshed crew will be employed on part
of it. while the other part of the work may be given out by
contract.
The improvements to be made at Whitshed will include a
new Dower house, a pier and concrete bulkhead, and two new
; buildings for rearing overhead wires. This work will be done
| with a view to accomplishing a direct communication with
! Mare Island during the day time. At present most of the wire
less is done at night.
ROME, April 21.—The Austrians are heavily massed on
the Italian frontier, fearing an immediate invasion of their
country in the event of war being declared.
GRIMSBY, April 23.—A trawler in the St. Lawrence
river has been sunk by a German submarine. The crew was
saved.
BOB 1) THE LEBISUM
LONDON, April 27.—The severe fighting in the western
part of Belgium continues, and is northeast of Ypres. East of
Ypres the allies have borne the brunt of the fighting. The
Germans after a sensational attEick in the effort to capture
St. .Tulien have retreated, although the losses have been heavy
on both sides.
LONDON, April 27.—After a rain of shells from heavy
guns, also German asphyxiating bombs, the fighting in
Belgimn Flanders continues at terrific speed. Both sides are
feeling the effects. The losses to King Albert’s soldiers in
defending Lizerne were particularly heavy.
GENEY A, April 27.—The Rxissians have begun another
strong offensive movement around the heights of Uszok Pass
in the Carpathians. During the past few days the Austro
German casualties there have been 20,000 men.
ATHENS, April “27.—Troops from the allied forces are
successfully landing at the Dardanelles. Russia is lending
earnest co-operation in the bombardment of the forts of the
Straits of Bosphorus. Soon it is expected to make a joint and
continuous attack by the land and sea forces on the Dar
danelles and the Russian forces on the Bosphorous.
PARTS, April 27.—A diabolical plot to destroy the cabinet
ministry in Constantinople was discovered this morning in
time to prevent any injur}'. A powerful clockwork bomb was
hidden in the office of the minister of war. timed to explode
when the cabinet should meet in council. It was discovered a
half hour before the time for the meeting.
ROME. April 27.—There is a hope that a declaration of
war upon the part of Italy may be averted until the meeting of
Parliament on May 12. It is stated that with the idea of
gaining time the negotiations with Vienna have again been
taken up. But the general belief is that war with Austria will
occur before the convening of the Italian parliament.
ROME, April 27.—The war situation is becoming tense.
This afternoon the Italian ambassadors at Paris, London,
Vienna and Berlin were summoned home for a conference.
PEKIN, April 27.—The Japanese draft of the demands upon
China has been received. The 24 articles are said to be the
Mikado’s irreducible minimum. It will probably be a week
| before China can reply.
PARIS, April 23.—For three hours today the French an 1
British warships kept up a continuous bombardment of the
Dardanelles, after which they retreated to places of safety.
PETROGRAD. April 23.—It is reported that Russian
airships have been busy today in dropping bombs on Plock.
Several German boats on the Vistula river were struck and
badly damaged.
LONDON, April 23.—Two Zeppelins were sighted off the
Northumberland coast this afternoon and much anxiety has
since existed. No reports have yet been received of bombs
being dropped. It is hoped that the airmen are from cruisers
which are merely on another reconnoitering expedition. This
morning aeroplanes in the eastern part of the North Sea
showed signs of great activity.
ROME, April 23.—The relations today between Italy and
Austria are more amicable and negotiations have been
resumed. Austrian Ambassador Machie had a long conference
with Baron Sidney Lounino, Italy’s minister of foreign
affairs.
WASHINGTON, April 22.—The state department, under
instructions from President Wilson, ha> written a letter to the
German ambassador politely informing him that there is no
violation of neutrality in selling arms to the Allies. The note
j further refers to a spirit of friendship that America has always
, shown for Germany.
ROME, April 21.—It is expected that war may be declared
almost any hour. An open rupture between Italy and Austria
is imminent. Negotiations are at a stand-still and the most
intense feeling is evident everywhere. Both the army and
navy are ready to strike and it is now generally accepted that
hostilities cannot much longer be delayed.
BERLIN, April 22.—It is stated on good authority that
Germany has a sufficient supply of potatoes to last until the
next harvest.
GENEVA, April 22.—All subjects of Germany an l
Austria who are now in Switzerland have been immediately
recalled. '
LONDON, April 22.—Reports received from, Bukowinu
; state that the soldiers have practically all left that section.
ROME, April 22.—The deadlock that has existed in the
negotiations between Austria and Italy was broken this
morning. It is announced this afternoon that there is now a
hope of settlement without the use of arms, although every
thing is maintained in readiness to declare war at any mement.
BERLIN, April 22.—Several successful mining operations
have occurred in the western arena south of LeBasse canal.
The French forces advanced last night to near Lepetre, but
were repulsed with heavy losses.
LONDON, April 22.—In bombarding Arhava the Russian
fleet destroyed ten Turkish supply vessels. They were mostly
loaded with food stuffs.
BERLIN, April 22.—Official announcement is made that
a British submarine was sent to the bottom of Helgoland bay
on April 17.
STOCKHOLM, April 22.—A Dutch steamer was stopped
this morning at German Bothnia by a German submarine. Her
papers were examined, after which she was allowed to proceed.