TuTr^i I ^he Great
ALASKAN ALAJ*AN
DAILY _ I -
■-- t>iti>r icurn n\II Y lYfFI'T1 SUNDAY LARGEST ALASKAN CIRCULATION
ADVERTISEMENTS BRING RESULTS _ PUBLISHED DAILY LXCE11 SUM DAI _______
v<(, ,,, Nw ,,,,,_SEWARD, ALASKA, THURSDAY, DEC. 14, 1916__Ten Cents the Copy
GENERAL JOFFRE IS NO LONGER
FRENCH COMMANDER IN THE WEST
LONDON IGNORES PEACE TALK
LONDON, Dec. 12—In well informed circles it is de
clared that the peace proposals of Germany will be ignor
ed until the terms are plainly stated. Late editions of the
newspapers ileal with the offer of the German chancellor
in a sarcastic vein. The Evening News says that inas
much as the Germans have obtained the maximum
amount of the plunder she cannot be let escape and especi
ally as the new British government is about ready to in
dict punishment. Peace is desired, the papers say, but the
News declares the chancellor’s offer and speech to be
nothing short of blasphemous in the light ot the crush
ing of Roumania and the deportation of French and Bel
gians. After all this, the News continues, the kaiser has
the effrontery to try to place the blame for the continu
ance of the war on the allied nations.
Bonar Law secured the adjournment of the house of
commons until Thursday owing to the illness of Lloyd
George. Before adjournment John Dillon, Irish Nation
alist. said that while he was not quarrelling with the pres
ent dictatorship he believed a plain statement of the gov-;
eminent‘s policy is due.
JOFFRE POLITELY FIRED
PARIS. Dec. 13.—President Poincare lias tendered a
high post to General Joffre, commander in chief of the
armies, and in future he will be the technical counsellor
for the conduct of the war generally. This decree caused
some surprise. Another decree declares General Sarrail
and General Neville responsible for the directio of the
war in future, not Joffre. The chamber of deputies by a
\ote of three hundred fourteen to one hundred seventy
five adopted today a resolution of confidence in the new
ministry. The newspapers are what might be described
as mildly enthusiastic but they are frankly pleased with
the appointment of General Neville as the commander
in chief on the western front because of his work in de
fence of Verdun in the later stages of the great siege.
BRITISH THINK OVER PROPOSALS
LONDON, Dec. 13.—As the time goes un since the
German peace proposals became public the opinion of all
sorts of people in this country seems to be that a clear
statement of the allied demands would be the best policy
to adopt. Some high officials believe that Germany is
seeking to gain time but even then they believe matters
should not be pushed until the atmosphere is cleared.
The government is now consulting the governments of the
allied nations and an exchange of opinions will take place
before anything definite is given out officially. There is
no doubt, however, that Britain is not in favor of creat
ing independent Polish and Lithuanian kingdoms because
no compensation is offered to Russia. There is also no
light thrown on the German intentions with respect to
Poland and on the whole people think the only possible
outcome of Holweg's proposals at present would be an
inter-change of views regarding what the claims of each
alliance would be. It will probably be three weeks before
the allied nations have consulted each other and arrived
at some common ground for a reply to the German chan
cellor’s statement.
ENTENTE WILL REJECT
LONDON, Dec. 13.—It is a foregone conclusion today
that the Entente nations will summarily reject the peace
proposals of Germany. British officials say England is
not to be deceived by what they call a false otter. At the
same time the proposal is not taken as a sign of weaken
ing on the part of Germany and they say that Hindenburg
is now preparing for a more determined campaign than
ever. According to a high official Germany considers
that her proposal opens the door to more drastic meas
ures and her peace otter is nothing but a deep laid plot to
hoodwink neutral nations. The Express says the propos
al is a plot. The Times says it is a manifest sham and al
so says that the chancellor’s language was not like that
of a belligerent genuinely seeking peace but rather sug
gested loud boasting.
WICKERSHAM HITS
ALEXANDER BILL
:
WASHINGTON. Dec. HI.—l>olo-|
gate James Wickersharo in the floor'
of the house today declared the pas-j
sage of the fisheries bill means a j
present of ninety thousand dollars l
annually to the canneries through tax
relief.
KANSAS CITY. Dec. 13.—’Twenty
miners were killed today by an ex
plosion in the coal mines at Stone i
city. Thirty nine are entrapped in 1
the drifts but will be saved.
FINE UPHOLSTERED
ARMCHAIR AS PRIZE;
A beautiful $25 velvet upholstered J
armchair is being offered as a prize I
for Christmas by Brown & Hawkins
and the winner may consider himsell
or herself lucky. The contest will be
a novel and most interesting one.1
Kach purchaser of a dollar’s worth ol j
merchandise will receive a ticket |
giving them the privilege ol guessing
the number ol* nails in a glass jar,
each and every dollar purchase giving
one guess. The contest begins tomor
row morning and the decision will be
rendered on Christmas Eve.
ANCHORAGE MONEY ORDERS
The money order business of the
Anchorage post ollice averages
around $55,000 per month. About
S1..100 goes to foreign countries.
BELIEVE IT MASTER STROKE
WASHINGTON, Dec. 13. — Neutral diplomats here
express today the belief that the peace proposal was a
master stroke on the part of Germany. They call it a
hard bid for neutral sympathy which will be hard to off
set. All consider acceptance improbable and th'ey think
Russia would be the first to refuse it. President Wilsor.
remains silent regarding the proposal.
WHAT WASHINGTON SAYS
WASHINGTON, Dec. 12. — Officialdom hero is non
committal on the subject of the German peace proposals
and is awaiting all the facts. Officials of the German em
bassy are reported as saying that Germany desires only
about the same geographical boundaries in Europe as
those before the war with the exception of an independ
ent kingdom of Poland and an independent Lithuania.
They refuse to comment on the likelihood of Germany de
siring to retain Antwerp and military control in Belgium
while giving Belgium her own political independence.
Allied "diplomats here express the belief that Germany
will not hestitate to shove Turkey’s interests into the dis
card.
NEW FRENCH CABINET
PARIS, Dec. 12.—The French have captured five
small Bulgar posts on the right bank of the Vardar but
snow impedes operations to the north of Monastir. Pre
mier Briand has reconstructed the cabinet and the names
will be published officially on Wednesday. The unofficial
list is: Minister for War, General Yautey: Finance, Alex
ander Ribot; Marine, Admiral Lacase; Transportation
and munitions, Albert Thomas; Public Instruction, Paul
Painleve; The last named will also serve as counsel for
defense.
RUSSIAN ATTACKS FRUITLESS
BERLIN, Dec. 12.—Vienna reports that in spite of
thirty thousand losses last week the Russian Grand Duke
Joseph continues his fruitless attacks. Each attack is re
pulsed with terrible loss to the enemy. Heavy Russian
attacks are also reported from the Moldavian front but
the Teutons have captured Mizil which lies between
Ploesti and the Buzeu.
CONFIRM GREEK MOBILIZATION
COPENHAGEN, Dec. 12. — Advices from Switzer
land confirm the news that King Constantine has ordered
a general mobilization of the Greek army.
GERMANS TRANSFER TROOPS
PETROGRAD, Dec. 12.—The Germans are now
transferring large numbers of troops from Roumania to
other fronts andt his promises to relieve the pressure on
the Roumanians.
GREY IS DOWN AND OUT
LONDON, Dec. 12.—Viscount Grey, who as Sir Ed
ward Grey was believed to be the greatest foreign mini
ster in Europe, has not been selected by Lloyd George as
foreign minister in the new cabinet and he is supeiseded
by Arthur J. Balfour who has recently been first lord of
the admiralty and was formerly prime minister.
SAYS AMERICANS
DESECRATE MEXICO
Conference for Settling
Border Differences May
Come to End.
EL PASO, Dec. 13.—General Ar
nulfo Gonzales, the provisional gov
ernor of Chihuahua, issued his first
proclamation to the people on Decem
ber. He declared in the procla
mation that the government of Mexi
co will soon remove the necessity for
the retention of the American troops
in Mexico. He describes the presence
of Pershing’s expedition as a dese
cration of the sacred Mexican soil and
altogether unjustifiable.
COMMISSION MAY END
WASHINGTON, Dec. 12. — The
Mexican commission is waiting til]
the eighteneeth for a report from
Commissioner i’ani who has gone to
interview Carranza. Officials believe
that instead of signing the report
Carranza will make further sugges
tions and this would mean the aband
onment of the conferences, at least
for a time.
In speaking of the performance last
Saturday night in A. II. hall mention
>f Krnie Allen was overlooked al
though his whistling was one of the
most remarkable items on the pro
gram.
CLYDE ALEXANDER
FOUND DEAD IN HOME
Well Known Local Photo
grapher Meets a Sud
den End.
Clyde Alexander, the well known
local photographer was found dead in
his home this morning between the (
hours of 7 and 8. At the time he was
found he was in a half kneeling and
reclining posture at the bedside.
Death ws due to heart failure, the
doctors say. Dr. Romig who was
called to the house says that Mr.
Alexander had apparently taken a
dose of bromide and chloral in a
quantity large enough to cause de
pression of the heart action. He had
been taking it for some days and it
is known that he had just ordered
three ounces in a bottle and the bot
tle was empty when Mr. Alexander
died.
Mr. Alexander was well and favor
ably known and the news of his death
caused a shock. He was born in
Scotland and was a brother-in-law of
Robert Ashland by marriage. His
daughter who was here some time
ago is married and Mr. Alexander
leaves many other relatives.
ALAMEDA TOMORROW
The Alameda was scheduled to
leave Cordova at 11 o’clock this morn
ing. *
AUSTRIAN PEACE STATEMENT
LONDON, Dec. 12.—The Austrian peace statement
has been officially published and in its essentials is similai
to that offered by Germany. In addition it states that the
patience of Austria had been exhausted in the summer ol
15)14 by a series of systematic and continuous and ever
increasing provocation which menaced the monarchy
after fifty years of unbroken peace. After this hall cent
ury, the statement goes on, Austria was forced to draw
the sword in defense of its existence and to safeguard its
future. The statement reiterates the story of the victor
ies of the Central powers and asks if the enemy can ever
hope to conquer or shatter this alliance.
DUKE BECOMES HEROIC
MONTREAL, Dec. 13. — The Duke of Devonshire,
governor general of Canada, talking at the Canadian
Ciuh today on the peace subject declared that England
would fight on until she gains a peace of her own making
and choosing. His remarks were loudly applauded.
ALBANIANS DEFEAT ITALIANS
BERLIN, Dec. 13—Six thousand Albanians have de
feated the Italians at Epirus. The Italians fled.
REPORT GREEK REGULARS FIGHTING
BERLIN, Dec. 13. — Fighting is reported between
Greek regular soldiers and the French north of Katherina
about sixty miles from Saloniki. While nothing official
has been given out on the subject the general belief is that
Greece will soon be aligned on the side of the Central
powers.
REGENT FOR POLAND
WARSAW, Dec. 13—The Archduke Charles Stephen
of Austria ,a cousin of the late emperor, has been chosen
as regent of Poland and there is a good prospect that he
will be elected k5ng later. He is fifty-six years of age.
FRENCH PAPERS DERISIVE
PARIS, Dec. 12.—The newspapers here are sending
up a chorus of derision in speaking of the peace proposal
which they regard as an effort on the part of Germany to
gain sympathy. The Matin declares the proposal is mere
talk and contains no conditions relating to territorial ar
rangements or political conditions as a basis for discus
sion. The device is too obvious, says this apparently in
spired journal. __* . C _ -
INDOOR (JAMES TAKE
HOLD IN FINE SHAPE
First (James ol Baseball and
Basketball Last
Evening.
The indoor games season opened
iast night in A. II. Hall in tin* most
promising manner and some good
contests are now sure to be on the
program for the winter. Two men »
teams played a game of baseball and
two teams also faced each other for
a game of basket ball. One of tin*
baseball teams was captained by
Heinie Haasch and won a victory over
a team captained by Joe Badger.
The Haasch team was: Reed, p, Otto
Roehlmann c, Haasch lb, Kacerosky
2b, Rothfus lib, drier and Charley
Marin inlielders.
Badger team: Badger p, M4tx
Poohlmann c, Carlson lb, Frazer 2*>.
Hinton 2b, and two others whose
names were not learned.
In the basket ball the team captain
ed by Grant Carlson beat a team cap
tained by Roy Fonda by 20 to 12.
The teams were Carlson, Reed, Rich.
Rothfus, Kaeerosky; Fonda. Jensen.
Frazer, Hinton and A. X. Other. Jul
ian Reed was the star of the basket
throwers and Hinton also showed
great promise. The greatest interest
was manifested by the players.
PASSES AMENDMENT
TO BAR ASIATICS
WASHINGTON. Dec. 13.—The
senate by forty-two to fourteen to
day adopted the amendment barring
Hindus and other Asiatics from the
United States. No other nationality
than the Hindus is mentioned in the
amendment. During the discussion
Senators Phelan and Lodge had a
lively tilt, Phelan leading in the tight
for the exclusion. In the course ot
the argument Phelan also said that
busy bodies are trying to make trouble
in Tokio over the measure.
INCOMING OFFICERS
ARE BANQIETKO
George W. Allen ,retiring president
of the Arctic Club, last night was
host at an attractive banquet to Pres
ident Lyman H. Wool folk and the
other incoming officers, the outgoing
executives and the past presidents ot
the club. The banquet hall was bril
liantly decorated with chrysanthe
mums in the form of the club’s crest.
The speechmaking was informal.
The outgoing officers presented Mr.
Allen with a beautiful wat<> fob,
made of Alaska gold, bearing the em
blem of the club and the seal of the
Tilicum Potlatch, in recognition of
the large part he played in the Pot
latch events. The presentation was
made by B. W. Robinson, retiring
secretary.
Judge Kenneth Mackintosh admin
isteied the oath of olfice to President
elect Wool folk.
Besides Mr. Allen and Mr. Robin
son, outgoing officers present were
Herman Goetz, first vice president;
R. G. Stevenson, second vice presi
dent; J. C. Seifsnider and W. F.
Richardson, trustees. In addition to
President Wool folk, incoming officers
included Charles F. Frye, firs* vice
president; Fred C. Johnstone, second
vice president; William M. Calhoun,
re-elected treasurer; Burdette R.
Myers, secretary; A. B. Golloway and
A. J. Hamilton, new trustees; D. W.
Branch, George A. Sample and Moritz
Thomsen, holdover trustees. R. L.
Sparger and Edgar L. Webster repre
sented the past presidents.
The banquet is an annual event.—
Ex.