6 aaaMiN ' chitina, Alaska, Tuesday, December xs, 1914. number 8
SEATTLE, Dec. 10.—That Matanuska coal is well adapted
for naval purposes is the intimation given out by the Navy
Department at Washington, is the substance of a dispatch to
The Seattle Times from navy department officers, which paper
also claims it has received a number of telegrams from officers
of the Maryland confirming this report. The dispatch indi
cates a favorable report is now on its way to Washington as
a result of the recent severe test given the coal by the Mary
land during a run from Bremerton to Mare Island. This test
was on coal mined during the season of 1913 and Jack Dalton
and his party conveyed the coal from the mines to tidewater
in Cooks Inlet on sleds last winter. Some of it was later
shipped to Annapolis for chemical tests but nearly all of it
was held at Bremerton awaiting the return of the Maryland,
which had been in southern waters.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 8.—President Wilson read lib
his message before the joint session of the Senate and House
of Representatives today. He made a strong plea for a federal
merchant marine to build up foreign markets until such time
as the traffic shall attract private capital; depricated the
big increase in the army and navy; urged adequate appropria
tions for the surveying and charting of the Alaskan coast,
asserting that the government survey vessels used in Alaska
were not big enough cr strong enough and were so nearly
unseaworthy that our inspectors would not have allowed
private owners to send them to sea.
The President departed from the prepared text of lib
message, giving notice to the business world that the legis
lative program of the administration as it affects the regula
tion of business is completed. He said this program had
resulted in clearing the road for business to travel to
unclouded success. ,
(Special to the Cordova Daily Alaskan)
WASHINGTON, Dec. 14.—Secretary Daniels, testifying
before the House committee on naval affairs today respecting
tests of coal from the Matanuska coal fields, said:
“Unlike the tests made with the Bering* River coal, it
was not necessary to hand-pick the Matanuska coal for these
tests. This coal was used in the same condition as when
delivered, and the results are so satisfactory as to justify the
belief that the Matanuska coal is in all respects satisfactory
for naval use, provided that the coal tested is a fair indication
of the general character of the coal of that field.
“Official reports of the test state that the firemen
pronounced the forced draft trial the easiest twenty-knot run
the cruiser Maryland ever made; that the firing was easy and
steam pressure easily maintained. The coal is said to hay?
bume dlike pine knots. An unofficial report on evaporative
tests at the experiment station practically confirms the Mary
land’s tests. The general result is very gratifying to the
navy department and points the way to an adequate supply ol
coal on the Pacific coast for the navy as soon ag reasonable
facilities are available.”
LONDON, Dec. 15.—Servians are again in possession of
Belgrade, the capital, which the Austrians have occupied foi
the past two weeks, and preparations are being made foi
removal of the seat of government back from Uskub to which
place the records and offices were removed when Belgrade wa •
threatened with capture.
PETROGRAD, Dec. 15.—Systematic attempts on the pari
of Germany to force Sweden to join in the fight against the
allies has led the cabinet at Stockholm to consult with
Denmark and Norway regarding a joint formula for guaran
a teeing their neutral position and independence.
^ LONDON, Dec. 14.—An official report states that the
British submarine B-ll ran into a field of mines at the
Dardanelles today, topedoed the Turkish battleship Messudicli
land escaped unscathed.
BERNE, Switzerland, Dec. 14.—A report from authentic
sources has been received here stating that a son of Von
Bethmann-Holwegg, the German chancellor, has been captured
by the Russians after being seriously wounded in Poland. An
earlier report stated that the chancellor himself had been
captured.
. VIENNA, Nov. 1.—By mail to New York)—A new issue
of postage stamps of the value of five and ten “hellers” has
just been put in Circulation throughout the dual monarchy.
The stamps bear an increase of two “hellers” which will be
effective throughout the entire war. This increase will be
used exclusively in extending help to the widows and
^orphans of soldiers.
VIENNA, Dee. 14.—An official statement has been issued
here to the effect that the Austrians are continuously advanc
ing, driving the invading Russians before them, and have
captured two passes in the Carpathian mountains.
PARIS, Dec. 12.—Four hundred thousand young men
20 years of age in the class of 1915 went into training in the
military camps throughout France today for service in
I the war.
WASHINTGON, Dec. 12.—Secretary Bryan has ordered
an official investigation of Germany’s charges that dum dum
cartridges are being manufactured in the United States for
the British government.
^ LONDON, Dec. 12.—The British public is clamoring for
pa decisive allied victory over the Germans by Christmas,
either in the east, the west or at sea. The military and naval
authorities are believed to be doing their best to satisfy this
demand.
According to a dispatch from the Hague, the Kaiser ha*
ordered all his diplomatic agents who were in belligerent
countries to seek other employment.
EUROPEAN WAR
— .. ' ■—"■■■* ■ - 1
VALPARAISO, Dec. 12.—The fugitive cruiser Dresden,
which has been pursued by members of the British fleet since
the engagement of the past week when its colleague, the
Nurnberg, was sunk, has taken refuge in a small inlet on the
coast of Patagonia. Close watch of the fugitive will be kepi
by one or more superior vessels of the allies, to either keej;
her bottled up in the inlet or to destroy her should she attempt
to escape.
LONDON, Dec. 12.—The great Gottorp Barracks of the
Germans at Kiel have been burned by a fire of mysterious
origin, accordin gto a message from Copenhagen.
CONSTANTINOPLE, Dec. 12.—The Turkish fleet has
bombarded environs of the Russians in the Black Sea at tin
port cf Batum. killing 100 of the Russians, according to a
report received here.
AMSTERDAM, Dec. 12.—The Frankfurter Zeitung pub
lislied a report today stating that the Servians have been
reinforced by five regiments of Rus-iaus and are pressing tii?
Austrians back.
LONDON, Dee. 12.—The converging of German columns
lias failed to effect a junction because of the active opposition
1 of the Russians, with the result that the latter, under Genera]
j Dimitnef, have cheeked the advance for the relief cf Kraeow,
VICTORIA, B. C., Dee. 12.—The Russian steamship
j Nocord, sailing for Vladivostok today, took 22 carloads ot
j c-r.non and ~ie<re guns manufactured in the United States,
j The vessel will take an indirect course for her destination in
i order to avoid the unidentified German cruisers reported by
Oriental liners last week to be in the vicinity of the Aleutian
Islands.
BOULONG, France, Dee. 11.—The British have driven
the Germans out of Armentiers, a city of 29,000 population, in
the northeastern part of France on the Belgian border,
according to official advices, and the allied forces have taken
R oulers.
PARIS, Dec. 11.—Some cities and towns of seven depart
aients of France that were occupied l>y the Germans in 1870-71
are still under the burden of debt incurred to satisfy the
reepiisitions of the Germans. The same departments and many
of the same towns occupied by' Germans during the presenl
war have incurred further burdens since commencement ol
• tibia war.
NEW YORK, Dec. 11.—William Philip Sims, with the
French army at the front, writes as follows, under elate oi
November 24, to the United Press:
Caught, like a giant in a trap, largely of its own making.
Germany is slowly bleeding to death, without apparent means
of extrication.
After thi-ee weeks’ observation at the western battle
front, this, it appears to me, is the situation at present. I am
convinced that the allies are highly satisfied with the situation
and perfectly content to let Germany wear itself out. From a
notable and trustworthy source I gather that Germany' is very
much dissatisfied, but is unable now either to force the issue
or to withdraw.
The only remedy for Germany would be a decisive battle,
which it cannot compel, owing to its extended lines and the
consequent impossibility of concentration.
In an endeavor to force matters, the kaiser’s lines were
extended to the sea. This left him worse off than ever. The
necessity for shortening his front is imperative, yet if he
shortens it he will create a bad impression in Germany. Such
a move would be taken as a sign of failure. The realignment
also would expose the German flanks to powerful smashes by
the allies.
The Germans, therefore, are condemned to hold on, despite
the urgency of turning loose and the realization that they are
growing weaker daily, while the allies are growing stronger,
The allies have nothing to gain by immediate action;
Germany has every thing.
One foreign neutral observer likened the allies and tin1
Germans to two heavyweight boxers, each blocking the other’s
onslaughts until one is weakened by* bis own exertions, and
the stronger lands a knockout.
ROME, Dee. 11.—A semi-official state organ says Von
Beulow, the new German ambassador, comes to Italy
authorized to negotiate a transfer of the Austrian province of
Trent to Italy' in return for the latter’s neutrality.
BERLIN, Dec. 1.—Germany lias sent an affirmative reply
to the Vatican’s proposal for a truce of the warring nations
during the Christmas holidays, conditional upon the
acquiescence of the other belligerents.
LONDON, Dee. 11.—It is admitted unofficially at Petro
grad, according to ad rices received here today*, that the
Germans are sweeping across Russian Poland and are now
only 15 miles from Wrasaw, the capital.
TOKIO, Dec. 11.—A squadron of Japanese battleships is
seeking the German converted cruiser Prinz Eitel Frederick
which escaped fro mthe allies vessels during the engagement
of two weeks ago off the coast of Chili.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 11.—Senator John D. Works of
California introduced a bill today* to prohibit the export of
supplies of any* nature to all warring nations.
PETROGRAD, Dec. 9.—The war office announces that
in the region of Kraeow the Germans were put to rout and are
still being pursued by the Russians. Their losses are reported
to be enormous.
NEW YORK, Dec. 10.—A letter by mail from William (3.
Shepard, a noted American war correspondent, now stationed
at Vienna, states that Roman Catholic circles there have been
aghast ever since the fall of Lemberg concerning the fate of
the old bishop of Lemberg. The earliest rumors to reach tlm
Catholic diplomatic circles there were that the bishop had been
Imprisoned by the Russians. These rumors were vague and
could not be confirmed. But within the past few days an
Austrian business man from Lemberg liasr succeeded in
reaching Vienna with the postive information that the aged
Roman Catholic bishop of Lemberg is to be executed by the
Russians.
1 happened to be at the American embassy here when
two priests from the Catholic diplomatic circles here, were
received,” writes Mr. Shepard. They asked Frederick Pen
field, the American ambassador, who, through the tangle of
war represents the Russian government in Austria-Hungary,
to save the life of the Lemberg churchman.
“Whether Mr. Penfield will succeed in his efforts is a
question. I wanted to know why the Russians wanted to kill
a Roman Catholie'bishop and Austria-Hungary is in certain
sections a holy v u*. It is the Greek against the Roman church.
I,cannot find that the statesmen of either country divide their
issues on this line but the Russian soldier in the field fights
for his true cross, the cross of the Greek Catholic church and
the Austrian soldier fights back for the cros- of Rome.
“It is only on the border between the two countries that
severe fighting has taken place and it is among the border
peoples of both, countries, that the religious feeling is para
mount to patriotic sentiments. If the Russians penetrate
farther into Austria-Hungary the chances are that the
religions aspect of the present conflict will disappear. The
Russian charge against the priests in each town they have
taken is that they are acting as spies. The border towns in
Austria-Hungary contain many Slavic inhabitants who always
wildly welcome the coming ef Russian soldiers, and it is these
Slav town folks who are Greek Catholics and who usually
accuse the Roman Catholic priests in their town of acting as
spies. The Russian soldiers and officers hear these charges
eagerly and though definite information is lacking 1 am told
that no less than fifty Romish priests have been executed as
the Russians advance into Austria-Hungary.”
LONDON, Dec. 10.—Vice Admiral Sturdee has cabled that
he had sunk the German cruiser Nurnberg, last heard from in
the South Pacific when she and several other members of the
German fleet bested the British in a naval dual two weeks ago.
The vjfe Admiral is now searching fpr the Dresden.
LONDON, Dec. 10.—Estimates based on reports received
, here by wireless from the British fleet which engaged and
sank the cruisers Schanrhorst, Gneisau and Leipzig near the
Falkland Islands yesterday, are that 2,000 Germans perished.
BERLIN, Dec. 10.—The Tagblatt states that the Pope
lias appealed to the warring powers for a truce of three weeks
during the Christmas season. The paper also states that
Germany will not object.
PETROGRAD, Dec. 10.—A telegram from Lowitz to the
war office describes the fortnight of ceaseless bombardment
from all sides of the city as a veritable inferno. Private homes
in great numbers have been destroyed and thousands of non
combatants killed and wounded.
LONDON, Dec. 10.—A correspondent of the Belgium
Daily News telegraphs that Ypres and Furnes are again being
subjected to heavy bombardment by the Germans. Sixteen
women and children have been killed in Ypres since this
bombardment began.
LONDON, Dec. 0.—Having occupied Lodz after severe
fighting and great loss of men, the Germans continue to pusu
eastward after the retiring Russians, according .to an official
announcement made in Berlin.
STOCKHOLM, Dee. 9.—The Swedish press has assumed
a belligerent tone as a result of many Swedish vessels being
sunk by German mines in the North Sea.
LONDON, Dec. 9.—The Westminster Gazette announced
today that Lady Deeies, one of the Gould girls of New York,
while .engaged in Red Cross work with the army of the
allies at Dunkirk, was seriously wounded by a German
aviator’s bomb. She has been doing strenuous work at the
front for several weeks, at the head of a large corps of
assistants.
LONDON, Dec. 9.—The allies shelled the Germans from
their divisional headquarters at Roulers, following recapture
of the pass at Cliendaele by the British. The latter are making
a distinct advance in the Ypres region, with the Germans
resisting stubbornly.
BERLIN, Dec, 9.—The announcement has been made by
physicians in attendance that the Kaiser has pneumonia,
resulting from exposure when lie was receutly at the front,
and that his condition is serious. His inherited constitutional
weakness, manifested in the form of scrofula, adds to the
danger of the disease ending fatally.
BERLIN, Dec. 9.—Sanitary conditions throughout the
empire are reported to be growing worse, with the possibility
of an epidemic of cholera adding to the terrors of war. Thirty
six cases of cholera are now reported.
LONDON, Dec. 9.—It is officially announced here that the
German cruisers Gneisenau, Leipzig and Scharnhort, have beeu
sunk off the Falkland Islands, a short distance north of Cape
Horn, in an engagement with a portion of the British fleet. No
further details are given. The Leipzig is a fast cruiser which
has been the terror of British shipping in South Pacific waters,
the other two being smaller and used more for scouting
purposes.