The Gateway
The Gateway to th6
to . Kenai, Knik, Broad Pass
Great Coal Fields of CoId pje,ds
Matanuska _.
MFMBKH VSS(K 1 VTKI) PRESS __HHI.ISHKI) DAILY EXCEPT SI'NDAY ___LARGEST ALASKAN CIRCLLA I TON
w, ,, N() 7: SEWARD, THE GATEWAY TO ALASKA, SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, IMS.____l.-n Irnu ilia < <w
ROUMANIANS GETTING READY
FOUR THOUSAND BRITISH OFFICERS ARE LOST
GERMANS RENEW ATTACKS
AGAINST THE RUSSIANS
TO THE NORTH AND WEST
GERMANS START GOING
LONDON. Jan. 9.—The German forces have started
a new movement from the northward in Poland and
simultaneously their army to the west of Warsaw has re
opened its attacks on the Russian positions, so it may be
taken for granted that the great moment has arrived j
when the Russians must give way before the onslaught j
or Germany must suffer a disaster. The Germans in the
north are those which recently occupied Mlawa after ad
vancing from East Prussia. For some time Hindenburg
has been waiting for reinforcements and that he has now
received them is made evident by the fact that he has set:
his two great armies near Warsaw on the move again..
With the news of the German movement form the north j
came the attack on the west. This latter attack was and
continues to be most violent and it is clearly the object of
General Hindenburg to crush and burst his way forward.
He has succeeded already in hacking ahead at some points
literally through and over flesh and blood but the Russians
report that the Germans have been driven back at least
in places at the point of the bayonet. The genreal situa
tion in Poland has been unchanged for a fortnight but the
violent offensive of the Germans is sure to end in a few
da vs with some decisive result one way or the other.
ROUMANIA MOBILIZING
PARIS, Jan. 9.—The mobilization of the Roumanian
army will be begun during the last week of January. The
first mobilization will be accomplished by calling out three
classes of the armed forces which will make up one hun
dred and thirty five thousand men. Afterwards other
forces will be called out as the country prepares and
equips the previous troops until six hundred thousand
men are under arms and ready to take the field against
Austria and Germany. It is stated that an understanding
has been come to between Roumania and Bulgaria which
will remove all danger of Bulgaria’s attacking its neigh
bor while the latter is engaged It is stated that with the
aid of Russia and the other allies Roumania has come to
an agreement which involves the giving back to Bulgaria
of some at least of the territory which Roumania took
from Bulgaria while the Bulgarians were worn out by
their war against Turkey and against her former allies
of the Balkans
BRITISH LOST 4,000 OFFICERS
LONDON, Jan. 9.—The lists of the total officers lost
in the British army since the l>eginning of the war until
today, January 9, was published this afternoon and shows
that these losses in the commissioned ranks amount to
more than four thousand. Eleven hundred and seventy
four were killed, twenty three hundred were wounded and
six hundred and fifty are missing. It is supposed that the
missing list includes those who are prisoners in the hands
of the Germans. The total number of commissioned of
ficers in the British regular army at the outbreak of the
war was between ten thousand and eleven thousand.
There is now hardly a prominent family in the three
kingdoms that is not mourning the loss of one of its
members.
NOTHING IN WEST
LONDON, Jan. 9.—The news from the western front
this morning is very meager judging by the official bul
letins posted by the* British military authorities. There
is a feeling that the outcome of the tremendous struggle
in Poland is being awaited before the western battle
bursts into fury once again. It is regarded by military
experts more than likely that if the Germans are forced
to retreat by the Russians they will be compelled to give
up all hope of advancing in France. No one believes for a
minute that if the Germans are forced to retire again by
the Grand Duke Nicholas that they can hope to renew
their forward movement. On the other hand if Hinden
burg succeedes in taking Warsaw he can hold the strong
positions along the Vistula, relieve the pressure on the
Austrian and so be able to detach reinforcements to be us
.ed against the allies in Flanders and France. For these
reasons the fighting of the next few days is fraught with
momentous possibilities.
HOLLAND HOLDS BLANKETS
THE HAGUE, Jan. 9.—The government of Holland
has issued a decree prohibiting the exportation of blankets,
and preserves owing to the fear that a supply of those
articles may run short. This country is now severely feel
ing the effect of the great war in many ways but is care
fully avoiding anything that might be construed as un
friendly to anv of the powers engaged.
AGREE ON THE
LITERACY TEST
CONGRESS MAKES SETTLEMENT
BI T PRESIDENT MAY
VETO MEASURE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. i).—The con
ferees on the immigration bill have
agreed to eliminate the senate provi
sion barring negroes and exempting
Belgians from the literacy and other
tests. All other differences have
been compromised and the bill goes
to both houses for final passage. The
president, however, has decided to
hold a public hearing to get the views
of the people on the question of the
literacy test before he makes up his
mind finally whether to sign the
measure or veto it. Personally he
seems to be convinced that literacy
is positively no test of a man's fitness
to be let into the country. He con
tinues to maintain that some of the
honestest folks are those who have
never learned to read or write.
- —- i
PRESIDENT TO PRESS
SHIP PURCHASE BILL.
Returns to Washington to Take up
the Fight to Have Measure Passed
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9.—The pres
ident has returned to Washington
prepared to press the ship purchase
through congress. In his Indianapolis
speech yesterday he served notice
that he would do everything possible
to overcome opposition to the bill.
SEATTLE PRIZEFIGHTER
DIES AFTER A BOUT.
Jack Newton Dead as Result of Beat
ing Delivered by Ike Cohen.
SEATTLE, Jan. 9.—I. Anderson,
better known as Jack Newton, died
today as a result of a bealing he re
ceived last night in a prizefight with
Ike Cohen. He received a severe
punishment in the fight and collapsed
afterwards. Lonnie Austin, Dan Salt
and ether promoters of the b A are
in jail having been arrested even be
fore Newton died. Anderson look the
count of nine after a smash in the
jaw. He then rose groggy and the
referee stopped the fight and gave
Cohen the decision. While he was
dressing NewTon eol’apsed and gradu
ally sank until he passed away.
BATTLE AT SALTILLO
IS STILL RAGING.
Carranza Troops Making Determined
Efforts But Villa’s Men
Hold Them off.
LAREDO, Jan. 9.—The battle be
tween the Carranza and Villa forces
is still raging at Saltillo without re
sult according to the advices received
here this morning. The Carranza
troops are declared to be making
strenuous efforts to break down the
opposition of their opponents but Vil
la’s troops are fighting with remark
able courage and are said to be con
fident that they can repel any assault.
VILLA PROMISES SCOTT
TO PREVENT FIGHTING.
ELPASO, Jan. 9.—General Villa
has given his promise to General
Scott of the United States army to
prevent fighting between the two
Mexican factions near the American
border. The promise was given when
General Scott reminded the Mexican
leader that the United States could
no longer remain quiet while Mexi
can bullets were being fired across
the frontier.
WHEAT GAMBLING
CAUSES DEATH
MEMBER OF RIG STOCK EX
CHANGE FIRM COMMITS
SUICIDE.
NEW YORK, Jan. 9.—G. F.
Stringer jr. a member of the big stock
exchange firm of Stringer and Com
pany, shot and killed himself today
immediately after the failure of the
firm was announced in the stock ex
change. The firm was ruined by
Stringer’s speculations in wheat with
the money of the firm and of the
customers. The smash has caused
something of a sensation in financial
circles but no further bad effect is ex
pected to come from it.
BREAD EXPECTED TO
RISE IN PRICE NOW.
Farmers Will Not Benefit As Nearly
All the Wheat Has Been
Sold by Them.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9.—Smaller
loaves of bread or an increase in price
is believed to be certain now as a re
sult of the tremendous rise in the
price of wheat. This is expected to
cause some sufferiilg amongst the
very poor especially in the large cities.
The federal bureau of markets says
that the farmer will not profit by the
rise in the price of wheat as the
greater portion of the wheat crop has
already been sold to elevator men and
grain dealers.
BLEASE GIVES
MANY LIBERTY
FIFTEEN HUNDRED CONVICTS
IN SOUTH CAROLINA
RELEASED.
COLUMBIA, Jan. 9.—Full pardons
for fifteen hundred convicts were is
sued today by Governor Blease of
South Carolina. The men pardoned
had been convicted of various crimes
and many of them had been out on
parole since various dates since 1911.
Blease states that the men should be
given a chance to get into the world
absolutely free just to show that
society has nothing against them if
they decide to turn over new leaves.
SCHOONER CREW REFUSES
TO PROCEED FURTHER.
While Entering Uyak the Ship has
Sails Carried Away and She
Hits Rocks.
The schooner Harold Blekum, bound
from Seattle to Uyak and the Shuma
gin islands had such a rough time
while trying to get into the former
place that her crew quit her and she
is now laid up wating for instructions
from the outside. According to the
news brought down by the Dora the(
Haiold Blekum had all her sails car-;
ried away near Uyak. She hit the*
rocks twice and had such a very nar
row escape and received such rough!
and weakening handling that the crew j
thought prudenec the better part of
valoi*
PASSENGERS ON DORA.
The following passengers arrived^
last night on the Dora; Mrs. Ham
mond, Mrs. Sjoberg, S. 0. Castler, Jno ^
McLean, Walter Linn, B. D. Blakeslee
Mrs. Blakeslee and J. E. Reid.
MEXICO AGAIN
SEEKS PEACE
—
NEGOTIATIONS HAVE BEEN PRO-!
( EEDING WHICH PROMISE
SUCCESSFUL RESULTS.
—
WASHINGTON, Jan. X—It was
learned this afternoon by dispatches
from Mexico City that negotiations
are proceeding and are making
favorable progress which promises
peace between the warring factions.
It is stated that the problem of
pacifying the republic has been pract
ically solved. An announcement to
that effect was made today by Provi
sional President Gutierrez to the con
vention which was called in Mexico
City for the purpose of going into
the matter once more. Gutierrez is de
clared to be fully confident that all
the trouble can be settled unless one
of the factions proves the desire to
continue the war in any event.
DISPATCH SAYS WICK.
WAS NOT FOR SPENCE.
Declares it Was Imagination to Say
That Spence Was For the Dele
gate in the Election.
The Daily Dispatch of Juneau is a
strong Wickersham paper but, it
must be said, it received the news of
the appointment of Bunnell to the
bench very nicely. It complimented
Bunnell and wished him well which
was very nice. But it goes on to say
that there was nothing to the rumor
that Wickersham was for the appoint
ment of Spence. Just at the moment
that statement may pass unchalleng
ed but in the same paragraph it states
that it was “imagined that District
Attorney Spence favored the delegate
during the election.” The mind plays
funny tricks and it may be that the
whole Third division might have suf
fered from some optical illusion when
it “imagined” it saw Mr. Spence re
fuse to contribute to the democratic
funds, appear and speak at a Wicker
sham meeting and saw his lips frame
words such as these in substance; “I
cannot see how any man in Alaska can
refuse to support Mr. Wickersham.”
Here is a paragraph from the Dis
patch which, by the way, would never
imagine things such as that the mov
ing picture show’ at Seward might
have been closed by Spence because
they were not nice;
“There is absolutely nothing to tne
rumor that Delegate Wickersnnr
posed the appointment of Bunnell, or
desired the appointment of District
Attorney Spence of the Third divi
sion. The rumor was started by a
Valdez paper because, through its
6ver-zealous desire to attack the dele
gate, it imagined District Attorney
Spence favored the delegate during
the election. It is of such “stuff" that
his enemies have been trying to man
ufacture opposition to him. Any time
the delegate opposes a candidate he
does it in a manner that leaves no
doubt in the minds of the public
where he stands.
Mr. Bunnell is still a young man
with his life before him and the op
portunity offered him does not fall
often to the lot of men. He has his
career in his own hands.—Juneau
Dispatch.
MAY APPRAISE R. R.
It is stated in recent Seattle papers
that the Interstate Commerce com
mission has received the privilege of
appraising the railroads in Alaska if
it so desires and the commission may
take up the work.
SERVIANS RESUME I HEIR
OFFENSIVE ON THE BORDER
GERMANS BLOW UP FRENCH
SERVIANS ATTACKING
LONDON, Jan. 1).—The Servians with a rehabilitated
army have begun an attack on the Austrians near the
border of the two countries. In the south they are attack
ing with renewed vigor. The position of Austria-Hungary
is now a most critical one. She is threatened from the
east, south and west. The threat from the west comes
from Italy which is certainly getting more and more in
favor of war on the side of the allies. Roumania is pre
paring to join the allies. The war has now been brought
to her front door and she will have nothing to do but step
over the border, join the Russians who are now along her
frontiers and invade Austrian territory. The entry of
Roumania is admittedly hoped for here as it would be oi
immense help to the Russians and Servians.
GERMANS HOODWINK FRENCH
LONDON, Jan. 9.—The news this afternoon also re
cords that violent fighting is again progressing in the
region of the Argonne and the story of a serious disaster
to the French in that part of the field is included in the
dispatches. This loss was caused by a clever ruse on the
part of the enemy. In one charge the French lost fully a
thousand men as a result of the German trap. The Ger
mans permitted the attackers to occupy a line of trenches
and then exploded a mine which they had laid under them.
The slaughter inflicted by the explosion is admitted to
have been awful and the Germans had no difficulty in re
occupying the position as there were no defenders left.
GERMANS GAIN VICTORIES
LONDON, Jan. 9.—From the news received this
afternoon it is apparent that the Germans have checked
the advance of the French in Alsace. Both I rench and
German official statements record the recapture of Burn
haupt Lehaut, a town south of Steinbach, after very
severe fighting in which the losses on both sides were
numerous. The Germans have not yet apparently taken
Steinbach itself but the fall of Burnshaupt Lehaut shows
that they have come forward in strength to retrieve their
losses if possble
RUSSIANS ENTER TRANSYLVANIA
PETROGRAD, Jan. 9—The Russians have entered
Transylvania and the Austrians have hastily evacuated
the whole of Bukowina province leaving open new roads
by which the Russians may enter Hungary. The roads
particularly opened are those which lead in the direction
of Maros and Szigeth which are only two hundred and
fifteen miles from Budapest, the Hungarian capital.
These towns were occupied by the Russians at the begin
ning of the war but they were forced to retreat when the
Germans made their first advance across Poland. Russia
now has such immense forces in the field around \\ arsaw
that the Germans can hardly hope to force them back
ward and as long as the Russian line holds in that part of
the field the Russians operating to the southward will lie
able to press forward further into Hungarian territory
without being threatened from the flank.
ALLIES CLAIM SUCCESS
LONDON, Jan. 9.—Fighting has been resumed in
the region of the river Aisne and in that quarter the al
lies claim to have gained considerable successes. 1 hey
captured three lines of German trenches covering six hun
dred meters of front. The fighting there still proceeds and
was evidently started by an offensive movement project
ed by the allied troops. The fighting in Flanders seems to
have resolved itself entirely into artillery duels.
BELGIANS TO TEACH FARMING
LONDON, Jan. 9.—The Belgian queen makes a sug
gestion today that the Belgian farmers exiled to England
should repay the kindness of the British people by in
structing the Engish farmers in the Belgian system of
intensive fanning. The Belgians are able to grow five
crops a year and thus are enabled to more than supply
seven millions of people on ground that is only equal in
size to a few English counties combined. While it is believ
ed that most of those Belgian farmers could have stayed
at home and continued their farming they seem to have
such a holy horror of the Germans that they would rather
starve than go back.