ARTILLERY DUEL
. WESTERN FRONT
HERMAN POSITIONS DAMAGED
Paris Reports Effective Fire on Ger
man Defenses at Steenstrete—
Heavy Firing Along Meuse—Teu
tons Repulsed.
PARIS, Jan. 5.—A violent bom
bardment of the German positions at
Steenstrete on the Belgian front is *e
ported. The German defenses were
seriously damaged.
Germans Claim Successes.
BERLIN, Jan. 5.—A lively artil
lery duel is in progress along the
Meuse. German patrols are reported
to have gained some successes.
. Russians Successful.
PETROGRAD, Jan. 5.—By a well
directed fire the Russian troops rout
ed the Teutons who were attempting
,a drum fire bombardment of the Rus
j^sians and the use of asphyxiating
Vbombs along the railroad southwest
^^of Fakchany, In Rumania. A Rus
sian infantry regiment also captured
the town of Gulianka and two other
villages in the civinity of Rimntk.
The Teuton attack on the Matchin
bridge has been repulsed.
Evacuate Dobrudja.
LONDON, Jan. 5.—Advices receiv
ed here from Petrograd state that
General Maurice announces the Rus
sian forces have evacuated Dobrudja
without suffering any losses.
LODGE MS
DANGEROUS MOVE
A -
WARNS AGAINST ENDORSEMENT
Senator From Massachusetts Flays
President’s Policy—Senator Lewis
Takes L'p Fudgels in Behalf of the
Administration.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 5*-—
Before the Senate this afternooffT
Lodge of Massachusetts, charged that
the note of President Wilson to the
Entente Powers accompanying the
German peace proposal, was a dan
gerous interference in the affairs of
Europe, and warns America against
indorsing the President’s action un
less such endorsement is asked by
the administration. He bitterly ar
raigned the administration for the
secrecy maintained in its dealings
with European affairs. Senator James
Hamilton Lewis of Illinois took the
debate on behalf of the administra
tion. He held that the interpreta
tion of the senator from Massachu
setts of the President’s note was un
warranted and prejudiced. He de
clared that If the reply from the en
tente powers were unfavorable he felt
certain the President would soon
make another move toward promot
ing peace negotiations between the
belligerent nations, and that he was
wholly unconcerned with the attempts
to connect the note with the German
proposals.
Remember.
The Moose Dance Saturday night.
Everybody will be there, so do not
miss it. 2t
PUBLIC HEARINGS HELD
ALLEGED OFFICIAL LEAK
WASHINGTON, D. C.. Jan. 5.—
Public hearings were begun today by
a congressional committee on the al
leged leak of official information re
garding the German peace proposal,
V by which certain speculators are said
W to have reaped a harvest on the stock
exchanges. Thomas Lawson of Bos
ton, who made the sensational
charges regarding the leak, will be
one’ of the witnesses before the com
m'ittee.
Billy Gelineau returned from a vis
it to Latouche on the Admiral Wat
son last evening.
FRENCH ORPHANS ARE SOLDIERS’ MASCOTS
1—- — —.— ■—— — 1 1 .—....—
Photo by American Press Association. ^
Two little orphans who have been adopted by reglmenta along the Somme front. Many children like these who
are left parentless and homeli 38 become great favorites of the soldiers.
WAR DEBTS ARE
INCREASING FAST
EXCEEDS FORTY-NINE BILLIONS
From Best Official Sources Is 1.earn
ed War Has Cost Central Powers
Twenty Billions and Allies Nearly
Thirty Billions.
--
WASHINGTON, I). C„ Jan. 5.—
From figures compiled here from the
best official sources, it is estimated |
that the increase in the national debts
of the belligerent European nations
since the beginning of the war
amounts to the enormous sum of for
ty-nine billion, four hundred and
twenty millions of dollars. Of this
vast sum the Central Powers are es
timated to have increased their in
debtedness by twenty billions and the
Entente Powers by more than twenty
nine billions.
LODGE AGAIN TO ATTAC K
HITCHCOCK RESOLUTION
WASHINGTON, D. C„ Jan. 5.—
Senator Lodge of Massachusetts, an
nounced on the floor of the Senate to
day that he would make another
speech attacking the Hitchcock reso
lution approving the action of Pres
ident Wilson in regard to the Ger
man peace proposal.
ALAMEDA TO SAIL v . _
MORNING OK ELEVENTH
Advices received at the office of the
local steamship agency last evening
says the Alameda, which sailed south
from here last evening, will leave Se
attle on her return voyage at 9 a. m.
January 11.
WUBSES IN BALKANS.
English Red Cross Worker*
at Allies’ Base at 8alonikl.
Photo by American Press Association.
COUNTERFEIT COINS
CIRCULATING ANCHORAGE
Advices received today from Dep
uty Marshal A. F. Hoffman, at An
chorage to United States Marshal R.
R. Brenneman announce that large
quantities of various conterfeit silver
coins are in circulation at that place.
The counterfeits have made their ap
pearance within the past two weeks,
and consist of silver dollars, halves
end quarters.
MANY KILLED
Bf TORNADO
i ■■ ■ ' —
REPORTED 20 SCHOLARS DEAD
* *
Terrific Tornado Sweeps Northern
Part of Pittsburg County, Oklaho
ma, Doing an Immense Amount of
Damage—Scores Killed.
BLOCKER, Oklahoma, Jan. 5.—
Advices received here this afternoon
state that a tornado swept the north
ern part of Pittsburg county this
morning, causing a vast amount of
damage and causing the loss of a
number of lives. One report states
that a school house containing twen
ty scholars was completely destroyed
and it is believed that all of the chil
dren were killed. Scores of others
are also said to Have perished. The
wires-from the stricken district are
down and little can be learned of the
details of the catastrophe.
REPORT RULERS
HOLD CONFERENCE
WILL MEET SOON IN VIENNA
Discuss Policy for Continuing Wrar—
Foreign Ministers and Presidents
Parliaments to Meet in German
Capital January 19.
LONDON, Jan. 6.—British news
papers are giving considerable prom
inence today to the report that con
ferences will be held in Vienna and
Berlin by representatives of the Cen
tral Powers in the near future. It is
said that Kaiser Wilhelm of Ger
many, Emperor Charles of Austria,
King Ferdinand of Bulgaria and the
Sultan of Turkey will meet in a few
days in Vienna for the purpose of dis
cussing the policy to be pursued in
the conduct of the war, and that the
foreign ministers and the presidents
of the r^epectlve parliaments will
meet in Bolin for the same purpose
on January 19.
THREE M&RE SUSPECTS
jtjklIE NOW IN CUSTODY
During the past twenty-four hours
the federal officials have taken into
custody three persons who are being
held under suspicion of being impli
cated in the starting of the recent
conflagration.
NS CASE
BEING BEARD
—i>-.
TESTIMONY IS BEING TAKEN
Plaintiff On Stand AH Yesterday Aft
k ernoon— Physicians Give E\|»ert
Testimony In Case This Morning—
X-Ray Plates in Evidence.
The case of Passus' vs. Ellaniar
Mining Company is now being tried
before the district court. Yesterday
morning from the special venire
drtvwn the following jury was drawn:
J. D. Jefferson, H. T. Whitley, C. H.
Kraemer, A. von Gunther, Rudolph
Schmidt. B. C. Wiltpe, K. E. Rudolph,
A. E. Rucker, S.'C. Wheeler, L. F.
Washburn, C. P. Topliff. and H. J.
Mitchell. The selection of the jury
occupied the entire morning session.
At the Opening of the afternoon ses
sion the-plaintiff was put on the
stand and his testimony occupied the
whole of the session. This morning
Dr. C. A. Winans and Dr. F. M. Boyle
we^e called to give expert testimony
in the case, and an X-ray plate of
the injured clavicle was placed in
evidence.
The action is for damages alleged
to have been sustained by the plain
tiff while in the employ of the Com
pany, and his first cause of action ’s
based on the territorial compensation
act, under which he claims damages
for the injuries received. The sec
ond cause is for alleged lack of pro
per medical treatment, whereby his
injuries were aggravated and for
which he asks additional damage.
VIENNA PAPERS
FAVOR FIGHTING
ENTENTE NOTE FLAT REFUSAL
Say Only Answer Must Be Made on
Battle Field—Struggle Must Be
Continued Until Defeated Enemy
Will Accept Any Terms.
VIENNA, Jan. 5.—Austrian news
papers commenting on the Entente
reply to the Teuton peace proposal,
are unanimous in their expression of
the opinion that the Entente note is
a flat refusal to consider the German
offer of peace and that the only an
swer that can be made must be on
the battle field. They urge that the
struggle be continued until Buch time
as the defeated enemy will gladly
welcome any terms that the victori
ous Teutons may offer.
Moose Dance.
Big Moose Dance Saturday night.
Splendid music and a good time. 2t
Ready for Business
Mrs. Winter announces that her
stock is now completely arranged and
ihe store is again in position to at
:end to the needs of patrons in her
line.
HTR| ADMIRAL. WATSON
RAILS FOR THK SOUTH
The steamship Admiral Watson ar
rived in port from the westward
shortly after 4 o’clock last evening,
and after a short stay sailed for Se
attle. Her passengers for Valdez
from the westward were O. P. Hub
bard, Dr. J. H. Silverman, Mrs. Sil
verman, J. P. Holman, Wm. Gelincau.
Charles E. Sealey, D. Bennett, W. R.
Millard and four steerage. Theie
were no passengers booked from here
for the States.
WILL INTRODUCE
NEW STRIKE BILL
ADAMSON CONFERS PRESIDENT
Fattier of Adamson Eight-Hoar Bill
Announces Will Introduce Bill For
bidding Strikes Without Sixty Days
Notice—Urges Military Control.
WASHINGTON. D. C„ Jan. 5.
Congressman Adamson, of Georgia,
Chairman of the House Committee
on Interstate and Foreign Commerce
and father of the Adamson Eight
hour bill, held a long conference with
the President, following wihch he an
nounced he would introduce in the
House a bill to prevent strikes on
railroads without first giving 60
days notice of the intention so to do.
Under the terms of the measure the
President will be empowered to place
the railroads under military control
if necessary.
WANTS COMMISSION CONTINUED
Legal Representative of Mexican
Presidents Seeks Further Negotia
tions—Is Re|w>rted to Have Made
< 'onsiderable Concessions.
WASHINGTON, D. C„ Jan. 5.—
Considerable surprise was manifested
here today when the legal representa
tive of President Carranza made a
plea for the continuance of the nego
tiations of the Mexican commission
which it was practically agreed
should be dissolved. It is under
stood the representative agreed to a
number of concessions, even to the
withdrawal of the demand for the
American troops to leave Mexican
soil.
QUEEN OF ROUMANIA.
Maria, Whoso Country la
Gatting Savara Tasta of War.
MEETING HELD
—
TAXES CAPACITY' OF CITY HALIj ]
_
Adjourns to Court House Wliere Ac
tion Was Taken to Raise Funds for j
Detecting Firebug—Iju-ge Amount
Pledged for Purpose.
—
How great the interest taken by
th6 people of Valdez in the r>-cer t
fire and the attempt to apprehend tho
firebug was manifested last night at
the mass meeting called by Mayor
Patterson to consider ways and mt-u is
of apprehending the criminal.
Promptly at the appointed hour
the citizens began to gather at the
city hall, and within a few minutes
that building was filled to overflow
ing and a motion was made that the
meeting adjourn to the court house,
which was placed at the d'rposal of
the meeting. This was carried and
by the time the meeting Wd< called to
order again the seating capacity of
that place had been filled and stand
ing room only Was available for the
late comers.
In opening the meeting Mayor Pat
terson stated briefly the reasons for
the gathering and called upon those
prosent for an expresslrn of opinion
as to what action should be taken.
Attorney T. J Donoho-; called
upon by the Mayor and stated that
there was no doubt in his mind, and
he was confident that a in ij .i'ty of
those present held similar views, that
the fire was not accidental but a de
liberate attempt to burn up the town.
He believed that a reward should be
offered in sufficient amount to attract
skilled detectives to ferret out the
guilty party or parties. He be’ieved
that $1,500 would be none too large
a sum to offer. He said that Marshal
Brenneman had informed him mat he
had the situation well ir hand and
believed that in two or three days
more he would have the guilty party
or parties. He believed it would be
well to give the Marshal the time he
asked for before taking at:v action,
and then if Marshal Brenner.ian was
not as successful as he hoped to be
the people should then he prepared
to take immediate action He sug
gested that the Mayor appoint a com
mittee of five members to solicit sub
scriptions. Mayor Palter so • stated
that he believed this plan would meet
general approval and that he would
name the committee later.
Dr. S. W. Merritt suggested that to
save the committee work a colledtion
be taken up then and there.
Harry E. F. King suggested that
if there were any persons in the town
who was in the possession of any in
formation which might lead to the
arrest and conviction of the firebug
or firebugs, they should be impressed
with their duty to impart such infor
mation to the proper authorities.
John Biggs made a motion that a
reward of $500 be ofTered at once for
information leading to the conviction
of the guilty parties. This motion
was seconded and carried.
Mr. Donohoe stated that he did not
think the reward sufficient to secure
proper talent to run down the crimi
nal or criminals, he believed that no
reward of less than $1,000 should be
ofTered and was prepared to contri
bute one-tenth of that amount him
self; though not less than $1,500
should be offered.
J. C. Martin suggested that it
would be a good plan to combine the
two and raise a fund of $ <,000, of
which sum $500 should be applied as
per the motion of Mr. Biggs and if
this was not productive of results
within a few days to offer a reward
of $1,500 for the apprehension of the
criminals. He was confident there
would be no difficulty in raising the
whole amount.
Mr. Biggs and Mr. Donohoe ex
pressed their approval of this plan,
and it was suggested that the offer
of a reward of $500 be made as n
as possible. Thlp suggestion mot
with the approval ot the meeting and
the Mayor named j- O- Snyder as a
member of the committee to solicit
subscriptions. Mr. Snyder decliued,
as did H. M. Saling. The Mayor then
called for volunteers. Peter Leigh
ton, Dr. Merritt, Arthur Pinkus, Por
ter King and H. M. Conrad res^ >nd
ed to the call.
Meyer Blum suggested that the of
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