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MEMBER ASSOCIATED PRESS _PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY____LARGEST ALASKAN CIKCULATIOH
V„l. •». No. 75 SEWARD. THE GATEWAY TO ALASKA, THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, HH5.___len (»"!■ the Copy
TEUTONS NEARING WARSAW
ENGLAND AGREES TO U. S. BUYING GERMAN SHIPS
TOES ACCUSE EACH OTHER
OE ATROCIOUS PRACTICES
SAY GERMANS ARE BRUTES 6
PARIS, Jan. 7.—The French commission which was
appointed to investigate the accusations of savage and
inhuman conduct again the German soldiers has
reported that there never has been a war between civilized
nations so savage and ferocious as that waged on French
soil by “the implacable enemies of France.” The report
states that pillage, ravaging, burning and murder are
amongst the ordinary practises of the German troops.
The ravishing of women and girls is so frequent that the
cases fully proven are only a small proportion of the total)
number reported. The report mentions cases in detail and
contains the evidence secured to establish the stories.
So many are the stories thus said to be proven that the re
port fills twenty newspaper columns. Were the stories
not apparently fully proven it would be difficult to believe
that human beings could be guilty of some of the acts re
lated. There are tales of women young and old ravished
by whole squads of soldiers and either killed by the vio
lence of such attacks or murdered later to prevent them
from giving evidence. This report will be sent to the
governments of all neutral countries throughout the
world.
GERMANS NEAR WARSAW
LONDON, Jan. 7.—From the tone of the official
bulletin this morning it is apparent that the Germans have
reached a point very near Warsaw. This is also the
opinion of the military experts who are covering the war
for the London newspapers and the fact clearly seems to
indicate that in the fighting to the westward of that city
the invaders have been meeting with successes. However,
there is nothing positive stated and Petrograd has given
out no definite information so that the real facts must be
rather deduced from what is told than be seen clearly.
Any further success by the Germans in that direction is
expect to result in the investment of the Polish capital.
There is no news given out as to the progress of the Ger
mans descending on the right bank of the Vistula from
the East Prussian frontier and on those forces will prob
ably depend Warsaw’s fate as their success would mean
the* compulsory retirement of the Russians from the
Vistula river entirely.
BRITAIN WILL APPEASE U. S.
LONDON, Jan. 7.—The reply of the British govern
ment to the remonstrance by the United States govern
ment against British interference with American ship
ping will be altogether conciliatory according to authori
tative information given out today. It is believed now
that all danger of friction has been removed and that the
matter will be a thing of the past in a few days. Britain
is willing to make all concessions which will not directly
conflict with the interests of the allies. This government
will not object to the use of purchased German ships by
the United States provided the transfer is genuine and is
not shown to be a temporary arrangement to use the ships
and then turn them over to the Germans at the close of the
war.
FRENCH REPORT SUCCESS
PARS, Jan. 7.—The French military authorities of
ficially announce the capture of portion of the first line
of German trenches in the Woevre district. This indicates
that the French are making inroads into the German
triangular position whose apex rests on the right bank of
the river Meuse at St. Michel. Activities in Flanders and
other parts of France are still confined to artillery ex
changes, the French claiming the advantage in most of
such duels. They also claim to have successfully exploded
two mines which destroyed trenches of the enemy. The
Germans at Steinbach have not attacked again and the
French retain the positions won some days ago in that
quarter. The French have also advanced towards
Altkirche in Alsace and on the whole the enemy seems to
be getting very much the worst of it in the fighting in the
Alsatian theater.
BRITAIN GIVES BIG ORDER
KANSAS CITY, JAN. 7.—A lumber company here
has contracted to furnish the British goverment with fifty
million feet of lumber. This lumber is made up chiefly of
railroad ties and mine timbers. The big order is supposed
to be due to the war in some way or another but no one
seems to know the reason except that Britain may fear a
shortage of lumber supplies and is preparing to be able to
supply the demand.
HOPE TO BEAT
VILLAJORCES
VICTORY AT PUEBLA RAISES;
HIGH THE HEART OF CAR
RANZA PEOPLE.
VERA CRUZ, Jan. 7.—The Carran
za forces since the success of Obregon
at Puebla seem to believe that the J
ultimate victory of the Caranza army
is assured. He is declared to have at
his disposal at least fifty thousand
fighting men scattered over the re-1
public north and south. It is stated
today that the number of casualties
at Peubla was greater than in any (
other fight in Mexican history since
the war with the United States. More
than a thousand men are believed to
have lost their lives but this figure is
probably extreme. There are also (
rumors that the difference between
Villa and Zapata are becoming nfore
pronounced and that a breach may
occur at any moment.
COMMERCIAL CLUB ASKS
AID FOR THE TRAIL.
Road Coni mission Will Wire at Once
For Money to Fix the Had Places.
At a special meeting of the com
mercial club last evening it was de
cided to apply at once to the Alaska
Road Commission for sufficient money
to make improvements on the Iditarod
trail that are absolutely necessary.
Anton Eide of the road commission
force attended the meeting as did also
some others who have been over the
trail and know what is wanted. J. E.
Riley who was present stated that
quite a large number of peopfb will
come from the outside and go over
the trail to the interior this Spring.
He places the number in the hun
dreds. Most of those people, he says,
went out by river but are sure to
come back this way. Colonel Richard
son is asked to make the necessary
allotment immediately as it is wanted
right away. A few months from now,
it was pointed out travel that way
will be stopped.
DORA OVERDUE.
The Dora left Kodiak on the morn
ing of the Third at 9:30 o’clock so
that she is now two days overdue.
The story that she passed by two
nights ago is not credited as she
would probably have sent word or
would have come to put off the mail*
The belief amongst those who are in
terested is that she had laid up dur
ing rough weather.
LOST 50,000 IN A WEEK
LONDON, Jan. 7.—It is estimated that the fighting
in the west during the past week has resulted in the loss
of more than fifty thousand men on both sides. Most severe
fighting occurred in Alsace where the French and the Gei -
mans in turn assaulted strong positions and where the los
ses to the attackers in both armies were consequently
high. Along the remainder of the front to Belgium mosi
of the fighting is being done with artillery. Each side now
knows the position of the other and can direct its ai tillei y
fire with great accuracy but the trenches are so construct
ed that the artillery fire has very little effect unless a shell
drops in a position from which the shrapnel can reach the
sheltered troops. General Joffre is said to be constantly
moving his headquarters to avoid any attempts that might
be made by aeroplanes on him and his stalf. Several mem
bers of the French government visit the front occasionally
from Paris but immediately return to their duties in the
capital.
SAYS WAR WILL LAST YEARS
LONDON, Jan. 7—Writing in the Daily Chronicle
today its military correspondent warns the British people
to be prepared for the continuation of the war for years.
He has recently returned from the continent and declares
that the defensive capacity of the Germans has by no
means been tried to the full. If the enemy, he says, are
forced to fall back on their own border and fortifications
even the task of driving them further back would be
enormous and could only be accomplished by appalling
loss of life. He exhorts the people to place their . chief
faith in being able to starve the enemy into submission.
He advocates even more stringent measures for prevent
ing the shipment of necessary food supplies and muni
tions of war into the countries of the enemy.
WHEAT GOES SOARING
CHICAGO, Jan. 7.—Wheat is still soaring in price
and the end is apparently not yet. Some carloads
of Durham wheat for Italy were sold on a basis that would
make the price landed at its destination one dollar and
ninety nine cents for a half bushel. This price breaks all
records for Durham. The purchase of a million and a
half bushels of wheat by France and Italy sent the price
soaring still higher today. The Rockefeller Foundation
has purchased the May option to insure the charity sup
ply for the Belgians so that further increase in price may
be looked for.
BIG DISCOUNT CHARGED
NEW YORK, Jan. 7.—Sight drafts in London are of
fered here for four eighty four which is the lowest quoted
since the panic of 1907. Bankers regard the decline in ex
changes as proving the country’s payment, of its foreign
obligations which were a quarter of a billion when the
■ war broke out.
NOTHING TO SAY
ABOUT RAILROAD
ENQUIRY ELICITS INFORMA
TION THAT NO ONE KNOWS
ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
—
There is nothing absolutely new
about the government railroad. This*
much has been learned by inquiries
sent out by this paper to the Associat
ed Press representative in the north
west. It is clear from the answer re
ceived that th matter is still in what
lawyers call statu quo.
The Gateway asked particularly
that every development and even
every rumor with any foundation be
telegraphed here and the only result
obtained is the following reply;
“There is absolutely nothing new
to be sent so far as news about the
Alaska government railroad is con
cerned. Thousands of people in Seat
tle, and probably many more thou
sands over the west, are waiting to
receive what might be regarded as
authentic infoimation but you may be
assured that as the report of the com
mission has not yet reached the hands
of the president he has given no
further attention to the matter. We
shall be only too glad to keep you
fully informed of every fact of which
the Associated Press has informa
tion.”
WORKED FORTY
DOLLAR ROCK
MARTIN MINE SHOWING UP
BETTER AND BETTER ALL
THE TIME.
That the operators of the Martin
mine in the Willow creek country
were working in forty dollar rock all
the summer is the statement made by
those who have arrived in the city
from that place within the past few
days Mr. Anderson who holds an
executive position in the operation of
the property is one of those who have
come to Seward. He declares that
the mine is looking better and better
all the time. An immense amount of
the ledge has been blocked out for
work next spring but at present oper
ations have ceased for the winter. He
brought some of the rock to town and
it can be seen to be exceedingly rich.
Gold is visible all over in it to the
naked eye.
ALAMEDA DUE AT FIVE
O’CLOCK THIS EVENING.
The Alameda left Valdez at 4
o’clock this morning and Agent Guptil
states that she is due to arrive at 5
o'clock this afternoon.
ROAD APPROPRIATIONS
WILL SOON BE READY.
It was pointed out to the Gateway
today that the appropriations for
road work in Alaska will soon be
ready and that much work may be
possible on the Seward-Iditarod trail
yet this winter. The amount recom
mended for road work in the territory
this year was $125,000. A telegram
to this paper some days ago said that
the appropriation bills are now up in
congress so that the money will prob
ab’y be ready very soon. What is
asked at present however, for the mail
route from this town is only a very
small sum which is likely to have been
left over from last year’s appropria
tion.
PRESIDENT WILSON TO
MAKE A LONG TOUR.
' Will Visit Panama Canal, San Fran
cisco, San Diego and, Maybe
the Northwest.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 7.—The presi
dent expects his coming trip to last
from March 5 to the first of May. He
will visit the Panama canal, the San
Francisco exposition the San Diego
Fair and he has also received an in
vitation to the northwest by the sen
ators from Oregon, Washington and
Idaho. He promised to visit these
states if he finds it possible to do so.
Ha will make many wpocchos on tour
TAKING OUT ORE.
Charles Harper has arrived in the
city from the Grant Lake mine where
he has been taking out more ore to be
crushed in the Ellsworth mill. The ore
taken out in high grade. The inten-j
tion was to send it to town by dog
team but the ice on the lake is such J
that it is too thin to bear a load and
too thick to permit rowing a boat.
The ore will probably be got in later.
ANTI-ALIEN ACT
IS KNOCKED OUT
SPECIAL COURT SAYS THE LAW
VIOLATES GUARANTEE
OF LIBERTY.
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 7.—The
Arizona anti-alien employment act
adopted by the people of the state in
the election in November has been
declared unconstitutional and null and
void by a special court of three feder
al judges. The court holds that the
state violated the guarantees of life,
liberty and the freedom to possess
property by the act. It held that these
privileg 3 were extended to all by
the constitution whether they were
aliens or not. If the state of Arizona,
said the court, could forbid an em
ployer to hire more than twenty per
cent aliens it could with equal justice
forbid him to hire one per cent or
even a single alien.
BRYAN ANSWERS BERNSTORF
WASHINGTON, Jan. 7.—Secretary of State Bryan
informed the German ambassador to the United States,
Count Bernstorf, that as this government is maintaing a
strict neutrality it must refrain from investigating or
commentine upon his charees that dum dum bullets are
being furnished from this country to the allies. The Ger
man sympathizers declare that this statement shows the
secretary to be inclined to lean towards the allied side in
the war as, they point out, if this country is committing
a breach of neutrality by furnishing forbidden bullets to
Germany's enemies it could not be a breach of neutrality
to investigate the matter. Some of the German news
papers are now stating openly that the prejudiced posi
tion taken up by American papers and by many of the
people will prevent this country from being allowed to
take any part in the settlement when the war comes to an
end.
BRYAN’S ANSWER TO BERNSTORFF
WASHINGTON, Jan. 7.—The full reply of Secretary
of State Bryan to German Ambassador Bernstorf! was
published this afternoon. In it he cites denials made by
the arms manufacturing companies of the statements
made by the ambassador and he declares that if Bern
storff will furnish the state department with evidence
that the companies are shipping unlawful bullets to the
contending armies President Wilson will take steps to
prevent such sales regardless as to whether it is the duty
of the government to act in such a matter or not. Ambas
sador Bernstorff is now expected to give all the evidence
in his possession and the matter will be carefully investi
gated. The Germans have been constantly accusing the
allies of using bullets which are against the rule laid down
for civilized warfare and which mutilate the bodies of
their victims terribly. One letter has been produced by
the Germans which they say was written by a British
colonel named Gordon who is a prisoner in Germany and
in which the colonel declares that the British army did
really use dum dum bullets similar to those which they
used in the Boer war The Germans in the United States
recently declared that these bullets are being manufactur
ed in this country. The full truth is expected to be known
within a few days.
LITTLE CHANGE ELSEWHERE
LONDON, Jan. 7.—Whatever might be going on
directly west of Warsaw it seems that there is very little
alteration in the relative positions on the other parts of
the eastern battle front. The Russians are still concen
trating their main efforts in the Carpathian passes and
are also continuing a vigorous offensive in the province of
Bukowina. It is admitted that the task before the Rus
sians of forcing the passage of the mountains in mid
j winter is one of stupendous difficulfties but the defeats
! inflicted on the Austrians are expected to have exercised
1 so severe a moral effect on the defenders that the Russians
may succeed. It is supposed that for the present Russia
has given up the attempt to reduce the fortress of Cracow.
CARDINAL NOT ARRESTED
HAVRE, Jan. 7.—The military government of Bel
' gium has officially denied the report of the arrest of Car
dinal Merrier by the Germans. He is the head of the cath
olic church in Belgium and much bad feeling was created
by the belief that the invaders had made him prisoner,