SEWARD:—The Gateway to the Land of Opportunity—The Hunters’ Paradise—The Homesteaders’ Land of Promise
-______
The Gateway
to the
Kenai, Knik, Broad Pass
Gold Fields
MEMBER ASSOCI ATE!) PRESS PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAYLARGEST ALASKAN CIRCULATION
Vol. 9. No. 82 SEWARD. THE GATEWAY TO ALASKA, FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 1915. Ten Cents the Copy
ITALIAN HORROR CROWS GREATER DAY BY DAY
COMMISSION, PRESIDENT AND
LANE HOLD MANY CONFERENCES
' •
WASHINGTON. Jan. IN.—‘The In- ident Wilson and Secretary Lane will
tenor department says that the Alas- hold several more conferences. There
, ... ... has been a feeling abroad that the re
ka railroad engineering commissions
.... . . . port is actually ready but that the
report will be ready in two weeks. »
_ . . . .. administration is desirous of know-.
Secretary Lane s recommendations . I
, . . ... . i ing all phases of the question before
will be based entirely on that report * F
_ . *• „ i giving out the findings to the public. ;
These recommendations will be forth- * .... I
. „ . .. . Negotiatings have reached a prilimin-'
coming in about a week after the is- *
. , _ arv stage only with respect to pro-;
suance of the report. * .
posed deals for other lines. It is cer
WASHINGTON. Jan. If*.—It was tain that until the President and the
learned later that In the meantime secretary become fully conversant j
the members of the Commission, Pres- with all the facts as shown b^ the;
FRENCH ARE FORCED
ACROSS RIVER AISNE
DRIVE FRENCH ACROSS AISNE
LONDON. Jan. 15.—'V iolent German attacks north
of Soissons under the direction of General von Kluck,
coupled with the flooding of the river, have compelled the
French to fall back across the river Aisne. It is now.
known that the Germans have been gaining ground for
several days in that quarter but it is stated as some con
solation that they have not yet regained all the ground
lost by them at that point at the time of the retreat from
Paris.* Apparently Soissons have been selected by them
as the point where with first line troops they are plan
ning to display once more the Homeric tactics so familiar
in their warfare last autumn. The feeling amongst the
military experts here is that the Germans are now deter
mined to force the battle to a decision and to try to divide
the forces of the allies. The report some days ago that
all traffic on the German railroads had given way to the
transportation of troops and war material seems to beat
out the belief that the advance on Paris once again is
about to be attempted. Needless to say the success of the
enemy has been received with feelings of the greatest un
easiness here but reinforcements will at once be rushed
to the threatened center and these with the difficulty pre
sented by the crossing of the Aisne are hoped to be suffi
cient to check the advance. Some of the London papers
seem to fear that in the anxiety to defend the center too
many allied troops may be dispatched from the western
end of the line and weaken dangerously the defence of the
French coast.
Advices from Berlin state that the city is going wild
with enthusiasm and seems to see in the success of the
German movement at Soissons the beginning of the end of
the great battle which has been hanging fire for so many
months. The German troops are reported to have gone
forward to the charges with the same reckless disregard
for the consequences as they exhibited in the march on
Paris in August. Berlin reports that the French lost ter
ribly on their retreat across the river but the reports from
Paris and those issued from the British war office dis
count these reports considerably. The kaiser is said to
be still with his troops and urging them forward to the
assaults under his eye. Von Kluck still seems to have his
emperor’s confidence for a forward movement. The
greatest danger that might come immediately from the
success is that a further advance by the enemy might en
danger the communications of the east or west wings of
the allied armies with Paris and a retreat all along the line
might be found necessary. It is hoped, however, that the
natural defense afforded by the Aisne will enable the
French to check any further forward movement.
BRITISH MAY RELEASE SHIPS
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15—The British embassy stat
ed today that the British government will permti the re
lease of the United States ships detained by the British
prize courts if the judge of the court is willing. This stat
ement is not deemed to be satisfactory here as it would
place the fate of the American ships in charge of a foreign
judge although international questions are involved. An
exchange of notes is now going on constantly between
Washington and London but the questions arising from
the interference with American ships have been by no
means settled. Even if the judge of the prize courts
agrees to the release of the ships now detained, the British
embassy says, those ships would only be released on giv
ing bonds to the British government.
work of the commission they will not
enter into any definite arrangements.
The purchase of any road, it is as
sumed from the announcement of the
department this morning, will depend
entirely on the findings of the com
mission. It is also assumed that any
rumors coming within three weeks
will not be founded on fact. At the
end of that time, and probably not be
fore, will the secretary of the inter
ior be able to make the recommenda
tions.
CABINET WILL
MEET AT NIGHT
PRESIDENT WILSON TO BREAK
PRECEDENT LONG
EXISTING.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15.—Presi
f
dent Wilson has announced that he
will hold night cabinet meetings anu
so will be broken a precedent which
has been recognized for a long time.
The night meetings will take place
every Friday regularly in the Presi
dent’s study and the Tuesday morn
ing meetings will be continued. The
extra regular meetings are initiated
for the purpose of handling the un
usual amount of business that will
come up for settlement between this
anti the end of the session. The idea
that a special session will be called
of the new congress has been almost
entirely abandoned unless something
very extraordinary should crop up to
make it unavoidable. There is a pos
sibility that the Philippine bill will
be postponed until the regular ses
sion next December. The President
has been unfavorably impressed, it is
declared, by the attempt at insurrec
tion in the islands at a time when the
administration was fighting hard to
secure independence for them.
GEORGE BIJTZER OF JUNEAU
DIES OF HIS INJURIES.
Well Known Broker Succumbs to
Hurts Received in Auto Ac
cident in Seattle.
SEATTLE, Jan. 15.—George But
zer, a well known broker of Juneau,
died last night from the injuries re
ceived here last August in an autom
obile accident. He will be buried in
Portland.
LEFT ON MARIPOSA.
The following are outgoing passen
gers on the Mariposa: B. D. Blakeslee
and wife, A. E. and Mrs. Maltby, Mrs.
C. W. Hammond, Jessie Walton, Mrs.
Gus Sjober, B. Wilcox, W. Root, Roy
Houghman and S. 0. Casler.
MORE LOTS PURCHASED.,
The news about the railroad seems
to be satisfactory to people here
judging by the brisk sale of town
property in the past few days. Mrs.
Hammond bought lot 11 in block 32 to
day through Guy Whitehead. The
same purchaser also bought two lots
in the TIallaine property. In addition
to these sales the two lots bought by
Mr. Jerry and the leasing of the
Gordon Hettel store have all occurred
in twenty four hours, while there are
some other deals rumored that have
not yet been consummated.
BRITISH NOTE
ABOUT MEXICO
-
I DRAW * ATTENTION OF U. S.
GOVERNMENT TO DESTURC
TION OF OIL FIELDS.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15.—The Bri
tish ambassador made urgent repre
sentations to the U. S. state depart
ment today against the embargo plac
ed on Tampico oil exports by Carranza
whose forces are now in control in
that quarter. The ambassador states
that the British fleet depends to a
large extent for fuel on the output of
the Mexican oil fields, and the embar
go is a menace to Great Britain. The
ambassador also called attention to
the great destruction of property in
the Tampico oil fields and seemed to
suggest that the United States should
take some measures for the security
of the owners of the oil fields and the
output. The state department has not
answered these representations yet
and some time will probably be let
elapse until such answer is presented.
The action of the‘British government
has caused a slight feeling of irrita
tion as it seems to mean that this
country should take on itself the
burden of protecting the oil supply
for the British fleet. And this at a
time when the British fleet is seizing
American ships and cargoes.
MAY WHEAT GOES TO
DOLLAR FORTY FIVE.
All Other Cereals Increase Accord
ingly and Export Business
is Immense.
CHICAGO, Jan. 15.—May wheat
went today to one dollar and forty
five cents .All other cereals have
risen in price accordingly and the ex
port trade in them is enormous. Even
a further rise is not considered at all
unlikely but more injury than good
will result as the cereals are about
all bought up by capitalists while the
high prices will have to be met by the
consumers in this country.
____ ...I—.
buys lots.
N. Jerry has purchased from
Charles Christensen lots T59 and 40 in
Block 1 in the town of Seward.
IMMIGRATION
BILL PASSED
INCLUDES LITERACY TEST AND
PRESIDENT WILL PROBABLY
VETO IT.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15.—The
house passed the immigration bill this
afternoon and as the senate has al
ready put the measure through it will
now go to the President who will
probably veto it as the bill as passed
contains the literacy test in spite of
the President’s objections. Those who
are close to Mr. Wilson are positive
that the measure will be vetoed as he
is entirely opposed to the idea of re
j quiring a test of the nature proposed.
PASSENGERS ON MARIPOSA.
The following were the first class
passengers on the Mariposa from
Seattle: J. J. Johnston, E. L. Morse,
Mrs. L. Richardson, J. Gitpatrick, H.
G. Seller, Mrs. S. B. Shaw, Mrs. A.
Berglund, Mrs. S. J. Fisher, M. P.
Respbeck, Dan Rae, J. W. Johnston
and S. K. Gudmundson.
BRYAN WARNS
GEN. CARRANZA
FOLLOWING BRITISH NOTE
SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES
THREATENED.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15.—Secre
tary of State Bryan announced this
afternoon that the state department
has warned Carranza that serious con
sequences will follow the threatened
confiscation by him of foreign oil wells
at Tampico. This threat is evidently
the result of the representations made
by the British ambassador last nitfht
in relation to those oil fields. The
threat is of such a nature that it
leaves no room to doubt that this
country will adopt the most extreme
measures if Carranza does not take
heed.
WAR IS WELL
CARRIED OUT
CRITICISMS OF BRITISH PEOPLE
HAVE NOW ALMOST EN
TIRELY DIED OUT.
(By The Associated Press.)
LONDON, Jan. 14.—-Criticism of
the government’s war preparations
which was rampart during early
stages of the war has largely ceased.
Indicating that the general public has
either settled down to the belief that
everything is being done about as well
as possible, or has tired of writing let
ters to the press.
The war office has now enlisted the
sendees of business men with exper
ience in carrying out the big enter- j
prises to take part in the work of sup
plying the army, and the labor unions
have volunteered to watch the exei u
tion of government contracts, not only
to see that proper equipment and ra
tions are supplied to the soldiers, but
to prevent sweating.
Arnold White, a prominent writer
and former colonial official has been
making a thorough inspection of the
training camps for the purpose of de
tecting any scandals and mismanage
ment. Having been a bitter enemy of
the Liberal government his point of
view was not prejudiced in its favor.
He writes:
“Having visited thirty-six camps in
various parts of the country, I am
thoroughly cheered. In the majority
of cases business men are handling
the difficult problems of war. Dwel
lers inland have no conception of the
thoroughness, efficiency and silence
with which the War Offcc and the Ad
miralty have cooperated for the busi
ness of preventing a German raid or
invasion.
“The alarm that is still felt in some
parts of these islands is wholly un
justified, because, firstly, the business
efficiency of the Fleet under Jellicoe
has increased since war began; and,
' secondly, because the practical meas
1 ures adopted by our military engin
eers, if generally known, would enable
I the timid to sleep quietly in their beds.
If I were out to pick holes in our Ad
ministration it would not be done m
the general management of the war.
MARIPOSA ARRIVES.
The Mariposa arrived this after
noon. She was delayed by the weather
J or she would have arrived last night
1 on time. She brought supplies for the
Dora some passengers whose names
were published before.
TWENTY THOUSAND
ARE DEAD IN ITALY
ROME, Jan. 15.—It is estimated
this morning that the number of peo
ple killed outright in Italy by the
earthquake is between twenty thou
^ sand and twenty five thousand people.
The towns of Avezzano and Sora are
the chief sufferers but no less than
sixtv towns and villages suffered
either total destruction or were i
frightfully damaged. The shock was
felt as far away as the Swiss fron-!
tier and the Alps were shaken so
violently that mighty avalanches in;
great number thundered down their
sides. The Italian government has as
signed thousands of troops to the
work of rescue and supplies are being
rushed by train and automobiles to the;
stricken settlements. The soldiers are,
excavating in the ruins of the build
. . 1
ings and huts for the survivors and
are also transporting the injured and
guarding property. The king per
sonally visited the ruins and is now
engaged encouraging the workers in
their labor of rescue and relief. Pope
Benedict visited the injured in the
hospital of Santa Maria without leav
ing Papal soil and spoke comfortingly
to the unfortunates separately. It is
learned that many people who were
covered in the ruins are being recov
ered alive after terrorizing exper
iences that have driven several into
a state of dementia. It would be im
possible by words to picture the awful
destruction wrought over the great
area visited by the catastrophe. Those
who were not killed have lost near and ;
dear relatives while nearly all havej
lost their homes and belongings.
The catastrophe is probably the,
most extensive of its kind in the his-;
tory of the world. For hundreds of ;
miles north and south and east and!
west villages and towns have crumbl
ed as earthly artillery could never
cause them to crumble. Hundreds of
thousands of people have been ren
dered homeless and are stricken with
a terror which has completely ren
dered them incapable of doing any
thing. Women and children are suf-j
fering more than words can tell and
all Italy may be said to have received
a blow from which it will take a long
time to recover. All thought of war
and preparations for war seems to
have been abandoned but it is worthy
of remark that from the heads of the
nation now engaged in deathly war
fare have been received by the*
government of Italy expressions of
sympathy.
ROME, Jan. 15.—(Later)—The lat
est estimate of the number of people
killed by the earthquake is twenty
thousand. The seriously injured are
estimated at thirty five thousand. The
Pope gave the use of the Santa Maria
hospital to the mayor of Rome for
the use of the injured and the mayor
accepted the offer. 1 on thousand
people, it is now knoun, were killed
outright in Avezzano and four thou
sand were killed at Sora. Most of tin*
bodies are still buried under the ruins
but the soldiers are working hard and
bodies are being recovered as rapidly
as possible. The scenes in the de
vastated towns are most moving. The
relatives of the lost ones are coming
from all parts of the country to aid
in the search and as the bodies are
taken out from the debris the grief of
the survivors is heartrending. The
Casualties in the Magliano district
number thirteen hundred out of a pop
ulation of fifteen hundred. At Pescini
four thousand were killed and at San
Benedetto three thousand are dead.
In addition to the dead at those place.-*
there are hundreds injured. In man)
places not so severely visited there
are other frightful lists of killed and
injured and the awful nature of the
catastrophe seems to grow as the in
vestigations proceed.
ROME, Jan. 15.—The very latest
reports today are .that eleven thou
sand people are buried under the ruins
of the town of Avezzano. The latest
report from Sora is still worse and
the horror is growing with every dis
patch from the most sorely stricken
districts. Only a few hundred people
out of a population of seventeen thou
sand in the town of Sora have been
saved so that the loss of life in that
one place alone must be more than
fifteen thousand.
BRITISH SUCCESSFUL
IN HEAVY FIGHTING
LONDON, Jan. 15.-The British claim a marked suc
cess yesterday over the Germans at La Bassee. T ey
drove the Germans from a strong position, gaining a mile
of ground and inflicting severe losses on the enemy. 1 ms
news was received this morning with the greatest pleas
ure after the report of the German success at Soissons
and it has raised new hopes. The British people still be
lieve confidently that Italy will yet join the allies against
Germany but the catastrophe which has just visited that
country has certainlly distracted the thoughts of the Ital
ians from war. The earthquake is considered by the Bi lt
ish people to be a stroke of bad-luck for the allies, lea\ mg
out of account the frightful damage inflicted on the Ita -
ian people themselves.
QUIET ELSEWHERE
LONDON, Jan. 15.—Snow in the Vosges mountains
and floods in Flanders are preventing extensive opera
: tions in the eastern and western wings so that matters are
' comparatively quiet in those parts of the great line a
present. The Times military export points out that the
advance of the enemy at the Aisne near Soissons is chiefly
dangerous because it may compel a retirement of e
French line to the eastward of that place and so leave \ er
dun fortress open to investment by the closing in of tho
German forces around St. Mihiel.