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-- VALDEZ, ALASKA, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1914. NO. 378.
VOL. 10. _^_______
POLAND REPORTS CONFLICTING
GERMANS AND RUSSIANS EACH CLAIMING VICTORY
RUSSIANS APPROACHING CRACOW; BATTLE EXPECTED
PORTUGUESE PARLIAMENT VOTES TO JOIN THE ALLIES
PROHIBITION BEAT
Iff SMALL VOTE
Only Eight Votes Between Nation
wide Prohibition and Plenty
of Bonze.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 23.—Py a
vote of 197 to 189 national prohibition
was beaten today. The vote was so
close that for several moments the
result was in doubt. The debate that
preceded the vote was warm. The
advocates of nationa-wide prohibition
did not mince matters in telling the
supporters of the breweries and dis
tilleries that they were responsible
for the crime land misery of the
United States and that the jails were
filled with good men and women gone
wrong because of drink, while the sa
loon keeper waxed rich, fat and inso
lent.
All party lines were ignored in the
fight. Almost every representative
from states in which women vote
came forward with support for the
amendment. The southerners also
voted for the prevention of the sale
of booze, while the strength of the
opposition was from the big cities.
KILL NEGROES
IN RAGE RIOT
Stabbing of White Man Ends In
Death of Four Negroes and the
Wounding of Three Whites.
FAIRPLAINS, S. C., Dec. 23.—Fol
lowing the stabbing of a white man
by a negro a race riot started in
which four negroes were killed and
three white men injured. The riots
are still in progress and serious trou
ble is expected as both sides are
arming.
An effort has been made by the
sheriff to secure enough deputies to
stop the fighting, but he is powerless
against the public sentiment worked
up by the murders. He has telegraph
ed to the governor for troops in or
der to prevent further bloodshed.
WILSON OPPOSES
PATRONAGE FIGHT
WASHINGTON, Dec. 23—President
Wilson announced today that he
would not be drawn into any patron
age fights between leaders of the or
ganization. If the party leaders fail
to agree upon the same man and en
deavor to bring the fight to him for
settlement both sides will lose and an
outsider will secure the position.
John Johnson will leave this even
ing for Ellamar with the launch Tok
eh Lou.
French Parliament Passes War Appropriation of $1,700,000,000—Will Fight
To the End—Desperate Battle Now Being Fought Along Bzura—Russians
Say Germans Were Slaughtered By Thousands When Concealed Mines On
River Banks Were Exploded-Austrian Troop Train Wrecked Killing 1,000
Germans Rushing Million More Men Against Allies.
PETROGRAD, Dec. 23—Delayed re
ports received here from the front
tell of heavy German losses in the
battle of the Bzurk. The slaughter
was terrible. The Russian artillery
hidden along the river bank opened
Are when the Germans were in mid
stream. They lost heavily. The riv
er bank had also been heavily min
ed and when the Germans halted
along the west side of the river and
were crowded together the charges
of dynamite were discharged and the
men were killed by thousands. The
advance upon Warsaw has been stop
ped and the Germans must await re
inforcements before they can pro
ceed.
Flank Movement Threatens Germans.
The Russians have a large force of
troops operating from the north of
Poland and this army threatens to
strike the German flank.
Russians After Railroad
. The heavy German column which
was defeated ■ at Mlawa and driven
across the border has spread out and
is endeavoring to connect with the
German army at Allenstein and are
also working west as far as Thorn
in an effort to protect the frontier
railroad. The Russians will not make
any move into West Prussia until
the battle at Warsaw is decided.
Germans Moving Westward.
AMSTERDAM, Dec. 23—Heavy re
inforcements are being sent west
ward by the German general staff.
Reports reach here that 500,000 men
are en route to Belgium and that
as many more have been sent into
northern France. Military experts
here claim that the Germans will
again take the offensive in the west
ern fighting zone in spite of the con
tinued offensive in Poland. Reports
reaching this city indicate that the
Germans have 1,000,000 men under
arms in central Germany who have
not been sent to the front yet. The
German reserve strength is still enor
mous. All the railroads from central
Germany to the battle front have
been repaired and the troops can be
sent from border to border without
loss of time.
Russians Deny German Gains.
PETROGRAD. Dec. 23.—The Ger
man attacks along the Bzurk river
have been repulsed. The efforts of
the kaiser’s men to draw nearer to
Warsaw have been effectually block
ed. The Germans are fighting north
west and southeast and are about 30
miles distant from Warsaw. The
main attack, however, is being made
from Lodz to Lowicz and along the
Bzurk to the Vistula.
Portuguese Join British.
LISBON, Dec. 23.—The Portuguese
parliament today passed a resolution
that Portugal join with England in
the present conflict against Germany
and Austria. Portugal has been
bound by an old treaty to join Eng
land when asked to. The British have
never made any effort to have the
republic enter the fight, but the lead
ers of the government are anxious to
help England so that the little re
public may always have the backing
of England in case of aggression by
a foreign power. Two full army
corps have been ready to be sent
aboard the British transports now in
the harbor. It is understood that the
men will not be sent to France but
will go direct to Africa and will start
the campaign for the capture of Ger
man Southwest and German South
east Africa.
Artillery Duels In West.
PARIS, Dec. 23.—-The field artillery
and the warships have continued the
bombardment of the German trenches
in Belgium and France. No battles
have been reported. In minor as
saults the losses have been light.
Austrian Troop Train Wrecked.
LONDON, Dec. 23.—An Austrian
troop train was wrecked near Kalisz,
in Russian Poland. Two trains col
lided and the heavy freight train
wrecked the train on which the Aus
trians were being taken to the front.
The loss is stated at 1,000 men kill
ed and many Injured as the train was
crowded with men.
Turks Invading Egypt.
CONSTANTINOPLE, Dec. 23.—A
strong Turkish force is now invading
Egypt. The troops have been trans
ported across the Red Sea. Turks in
Egypt and the Egyptians are also aid
ing the troops and a march will be
made upon the Suez canal.
Russians Near Cracow.
PETROGRAD, Dec. 23.—The Rus
sian troops have resumed the offen
sive against the German-Austrian
forces at Cracow. The success of
the Russians at Mlawa and along the
Bzurk has allowed the grand duke
to send the southernn Poland army
against Cracow. A big battle is ex
pected in that region within a few
days. The Austrians have been
strongly reinforced. If successful in
the battle near Cracow the wedge be
tween the Teutons and Allies will be
driven into Germany and will prevent
the co-operation of the German-Aus
trian troops. It will also lay open
(Continues on page 2.)
DECKLOADS FREE
IHROUGR CANAL
WASHINGTON, Dec. 23—The cabi
net officials today decided that deck
loads passing through the canal
could not be charged and must be
allowed to go free. This is to aid
the lumber industry of the west,
which was forced to pay a heavy ca
nal toll to go from the Pacific to the
Atlantic. The tolls have been found
to be heavy and the cabinet has re
duced it by taking off deck loads.
EEC WASTE IS
VERY HEAVY
NEW YORK, Dec. 23.—The attor
ney for the New York Central rail
road, who has been making a study
of the waste in eggs, announced to
day that the annual waste in the
United States is 200,000,000 eggs, and
further that the loss could be pre
vented if the proper care were used
in packing the eggs and better ar
rangements made to handle them.
Firemen Meet Thia Evening.
The members of the Fire Depart
ment are requested to meet tonight
at the Fire Hall, as business of im
portance will be considered. All mem
bers are urged to attend.
Subscribe for tne Prospector
GERMANS PLANNED
DESTROY LINER
Police Arrest Four Germans With 70
Pounds of Dynamite To Destroy
S. S. Rochambeau.
NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 23.—Govern
ment secret service men here arrest
ed four Germans who are charged
with planning to destroy the French
liner Rochambeau by setting off 70
pounds of dynamite in her hold. The
dynamite was found, also the clock
work to attach to the time bomb.
The men had it stored in their rooms.
Since the burning of a French
steamer with 700 horses aboard the
authorities have been very busy
watching for spies. The steamship
agents, the French, British and Rus
sian secret agents in the United
States and the American secret ser
vice agents have all been on the look
out.
When arrested the men admitted
they were German citizens and con
nected with the naval reserve. All
had formerly worked on German mer
chant vessels. They confessed to
the government agents that they In
tended to destroy the French ship.
The men are held without bail.
Yakima netted Gem spuds, 17 lbs.
for 60c at Yakima Fruit Co. tf
EUROPE HIKES
ALL OUR GOLD
Efforts of Banks and Government Are
Powerless To Prevent Drain
From Europe.
. WASHINGTON, Dec. 23.—During
the month of November $14,000,000
worth of gold was shipped from the
Unnited States to Europe, most of
the metal being shipped via Canada.
The banks, aided by the government,
have tried in vain to prevent ship
ments of gold without issuing an em
bargo upon exporting gold which
would upset all financial arrange
ments between European countries
and the United States. The increase
of November, 1914, over the same
month a year previous Is $8,000,000.
The drain upon the metal supply of
the banks was also very heavy dur
ing July and early August when the
war scare started and after hostili
ties had actually commenced.
The United States owes in Eng
land alone $200,000,000. It is to pre:
vent the payment of* this money, un
til we can do it with manufactured
goods and not gold, that the banks
and the treasury department are
working. The British government is
also willing to aid and will endeavor
to prevent financial disarrangements
in America.
SMUGGLED OPIUM
SEIZED BY CUSTOMS
NEW YORK, Dec. 23.—Custom ag
ents of the government today seized
opium worth $10,000, which was being
brought into the country. Several
arrests have been made and more are
expected to follow. The state and
federal authorities have known for
months that large amounts of opium
was being smuggled into New York,
but have been unable to locate the
men in the conspiracy.
NOVEMBER IMPORTS
TOOK BIG SLUMP
WASHINGTON, Dec. 23.—The cus
toms department has issued a state
ment showing that the November im
ports into the United States are $40,
000,000 less than for November, 1913.
The loss is caused by the war, which
prevents free business transfers from
many of the countries to the United
States. The exports have also fallen
behind but are taking a spurt again
and it is expected that for December
the exports will be larger than in
1913.
The Valdez Volunteer Fire Depart
ment dance will be held in Eagle
Hall on New Year’s eve, Dec. 31.
Reinke orchestra. Tickets $1. tf
BURGLAR KILLS
10 MAKE ESCAPE
Wm. Alexander, Texas Millionaire,
Shot In Los Angeles Home,
and Son Wounded.
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 23.—William
Alexander, a Texas millionaire, was
shot and killed and his son wounded
by a burglar last night. The house
breaker escaped although the daugh
ter of the millionaire held him for
some time screaming for help.
The police have started an investi
gation. The family of the dead man
have offered a large reward and the
best city and private detectives are
at work and hope to apprehend the
criminal.
The Alexander’s had leased a resi
dence here and expected to spend the
winter in this city. The burglar en
tered the building early in the even
ing while the occupants were at the
theatre and upon their return he was
caught and opened fire, killing Alex
ander the first shot. The son was
also wounded and then the girl tried
to hold the burglar until the police
could arrive.
NEUTRAL ZONE
ALONG BORDER
Gen. Scott Trying To Arrange for
One At Naco and All Along
the Boundary.
NACO, Dec. 23.—Gen. Scott, who is
here to endeavor to arrange for the
protection of Americans from the bul
lets of the Mexicans, is negotiating
with the commanders of the two
Mexican forces to allow a neutral
strip along the border, half the strip
to be on the American side and half
on the Mexican side. It is hoped
thus to save not only Naco, but all
the other border towns which are di
vided by the boundary.
VERA CRUZ, Dec. 23.—The rebels
today sent a wild engine down the
track expecting to wreck a train in
which a large detachment of Carranza
troops were traveling. The engine
was seen coming and was derailed
without doing any great amount of
damage. The attempt to derail the
Carranza train occurred near Sole
dad.
Ml HIS BUY
Win MATERIAL
TOLEDO,' Dec. 23—Agents for the
Balkan states today placed orders
here for $500,000 worth of tents and
tent poles and the shipment must be
made within 60 days.