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-- The Gateway
The Gateway to the
t0 Kenai, Knik, Broad Pass
Great Coal Fields of CoId Fje|ds
Matanuska L_ _
i*itiu I4HFI) daii Y KXl’FPT SUNDAY LARGESI ALASKAN CIRCLLA IION
MEMBER \SMH I \TKD PRESS _PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SU.-NILM___;
Vi>| M N ) gj SEWARD, THE PATHWAY TO ALASKA. TUESDAY, JANUARY 19. 1915._____u» C«nU ilu- <»>!»/
BRITAIN FORBIDS U. S. TO BUY GERMAN SHIPS
RUSSIANS BELIEVE
GERMANS MUSE QUIT
RUSSIA REVIEWS SITUATION
PETROGRAD, Jan. 19.—The Germans are continu
ing their efforts to advance in the west and southwest of
Warsaw although the German left is endangered by the
advance of the Russian troops along the right bank of the
Vistula west of Plock. It is generally believed that the
position of the German right is untenable. The forward
movement of the German center is undoubtedly unsuccess
ful and every sign points to the necessity of a German re
treat to the War ta river. All the trenches taken by the
Germans were circumvented by the Russian artillery
and aeroplanes and the trenches have been retaken by our
troops. There are only two alternatives now left to the
enemy. One is that he must force his way through the
Russian center where his present efforts are directed or
he must fall back on the Warta to a position which is only
twenty five miles from the German frontier.
BRITISH STOP U. S. SHIP
WASHINGTON, Jan. 19.—The British government!
has refused the steamer Dacia, recently transferred from
German to American registry, a permit to proceed to
Rotterdam under safe conduct with a cargo of cotton ior
Germany. The British seem to be reluctant to create a pre
cedent which they believe would be followed by many
similar purchases of German ships by American and their
operation on former German trdae routes. Government of
Britain intinates that the transfer of the Dacia from Ger
man to American registry was fraudulent and it tries to
prove this argument by stating that the name of the pre
sen captain of the steamer is Breitung which, they say,
is clearly a German name It is stated here, however, that
the ship will sail anyhow and take chances on being seized.
The cotton cargo is not seizable under the rules. The sail
ing of the vessel will mark a very important period in the
relations between the United States and Britain accord
ing to the best informed opinion here. Should Great Bri
tain insist that America cannot transfer German ships
to American registry it will open very serious questions.
The opinion is prevalent here that Great Britain and
France are determined if possible to prevent this country
from securing the trade lost to Germany by the war and
the case of the Dacia may be the supreme test case be
tween this country and those.
SINK TURKISH SHIPS
SEBASTOPOL, Jan. 19.—Russian torpedo boats en
tered the Turkish harbor of Sinope yesterday and suc
ceeded in sinking a Turkish steamer and three sailing
ships. Sinope is about in the center of the Turkish coast
line on the Black sea and the real significance of the raid
by the Russian ships is that it shows the Russians to have
command of the Black sea in spite of the Turkish navy.
No naval engagements of importance have been recorded
as having occurred in the Black sea for some time. The
former German cruiser, Goeben, is supposed to be having
repairs made of the damage inflicted in the earlier part of
the war.
AUSTRIANS CHECKED
PETROGRAD, Jan, 19.—The Austrian forces which
had been advancing further south have been checked by
the Russian artillery and the advance from that direction
has been brought to a standstill. While this check was be
ing administered the Russians continued their advance in
the extreme north towards the East Prussian frontier.
They are still moving steadily in that direction and every
thing looks most favorable. Russian troops have also en
tered the Hungarian plains once again and are reported
to be moving forward without serious opposition. How
ever, there is nothing further of really definite news to
tell. The Russian military authorities are confident that
the enemy can approach no nearer to the Polish capital.
All the time reinforcements are being rushed to our front
and our armies are now so strong in Poland and in the
Austrian theater that no doubt of a victorious result of
the present conflict in these quarters is entertained.
SOCIALISTS WANT PEACE
COPENHAGEN, Jan. 19.—Representives of the soci
alists of the neutral countries are now engaged in a con
ference in this city and they have already passed a reso
lution urging all the socialists of all nations to work for a
speedy termination of the war which is now devastating
Europe. The convention also went on record as favoring
disarmament of all powers to prevent war in future and
to aid in preventing the living in useless idleness of mil
lions of soldiers. The socialists of neutral countries were
urged to influence their governments to attempt medi
ation between the belligerents.
FOURTEEN SHOT
IN STRIKE RIOT
FIERCE BATTLE IN NEW JERSEY
BETW EEN STRIKERS AND
SHERIFFS.
ROOSEVELT, N. J., Jan. 19.—
Fourteen men were shot and four
were mortally wounded in a battle be
tween two hundred striking laborers
and fifty deputy sheriffs at the plant
of the American Agricultural Chemi
cal company yesterday. The laborers
on strike had gathered near the plant
and refused to disperse when ordered
to do so. The authorities declared
that the strikers were the first to
break the peace and that their action
forced the deputies to lire for the
protection of property and in self de
fense. Some of the sheriffs arc said
to have been se'-ously wounded but
the four fatalities occurred amongst
*1*0 strikers.
ROOSEVELT, Jan. 19.—The strik
ers who took part in the battle here
with the sheriffs are all foreigners and
unskilled laborers. They were re
ceiving two dollars a day but demand
ed two dollars and forty cents. One
of them has died of his wounds and
eighteen are in the hospital, some ol
them seriously wounded.
NEW POSTOFFICE.
A new post office has been estab
lished in the Matanuska roadhouse
and Mrs. Kisinger has been appoint
ed postmistress.
EARTH QUAKES
IN ITALY AGAIN
CALABRIA VISITED BY VIOLENT
SHOC K BI T NO LIVES
ARE LOST.
ROME, Jan. 19.—A violent earth
quake occurred last night in the pro
vince of Calabria and the inhabitants
became panic stricken for a time but
the disturbance passed away without
loss of life. The continueance of the
earth shaking has affected the people
of the whole country to such an extent
that even the blowing of a sudden
gust of wind causes a scare. The work
of recovering the bodies of the vic
tims of the great quake stilt proceeds.
The government continues to rush
provisions and other necessaries to
the stricken districts and gradually
the effects of the catastrophe are be
ing removed as far as possible.
ITALIANS AFRAID TO
ENTER THEIR HOUSES.
Snow Falling But Fear of Another
earthquake Keeps People out in
the Cold.
ROME, Jan. 19.—Throughout the
earthquake zone, even where the
buildings have remained uninjured
the people refuse to re-enter their
houses and prefer to remain out of
doors although the weather has turn
ed exceedingly cold. Snow is falling
in some places but this and the urg
ing of the authorities have failed to
get the houseless ones to take shelter.
From the towns south of Avezzano
come stories of enormous losses in
life. Two thousand are dead at Ortuc
chio and four thousand at San Bene
detto.
Job printing of every description at
The Gateway.
EXPECT SHIP
BILL TO PASS
IN SPITE OF OBJECTION OF
OTHER NATIONS RESIDENT
IS SANGUINE.
—
WASHINGTON, Jan. 19.—The
caucus of democratic senators has en
dorsed the rural credits bill. After the
caucus the President expressed the
belief that the ship purchase bill will
be passed during the present session
practically unchanged in spite of a
strong opposition in congress and
abroad. It is believed in some quarters
that the opposition by some of the bel
ligerent nations to the attempt by the
United States to improve its marine
commerce at the expense of some of
the nations engaged in war will rather
aid in the passage of the bill than
otherwise.
WHITE HOUSE DISTURBED
BY A C HRISTENING.
President Hates to Have Grandson
Called After Him and There
is the Deuce to Pay.
WASHINGTON, Jar^ 19.—A family
council is heinp hold in the white
house today to consider what name
will be piven to the new boy of the
Sayres. The mother of the kid is a
dauphter of the President but the
President himself balks at pivinp his
consent to have the baby named after
himself. No decision has yet been
reached and in the meantime the
papers all over the country are havinp
their fun.
-
THIRTY MILLION DOLLAR
COMPANY GONE BROKE.
Application For Receiver Made For
Great Indianapolis Machinery Firm.
INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 19.—A peti
tion for a receiver for the M. Rumery
company of this city has been applied
for. The company is capitalized at
thirty millions and is an agricultural
machinery manufacturing concern.
Rumors of the granting of the re
ceivership and the reorganization of
the company are current. The failure
of the firm is supposed to be due to
some extent to the dullness of the
times. It s stated that the loss of ex
port trade due to the war is one of the
particular causes of the crash.
BURNED TO DEATH IN
A CABIN NEAR DAWSON.
Enghteen Below on Sulphur Becomes
Scene of a Horrible Fatality.
DAWSON, Jan. 19.—Albert Robert
Wise was burned to death in his cabin
Sunday night opposite Meklehurst’s
claim eighteen below Sulphur creek.
Nothing can be told about the occur
rence except that the cabin took fire
from some cause or another and Wise
was either suffocated by smoke and
rendered unable to save himself or he
was cut off from escape by the flames.
He was well known in the district.
COUNCIL INSURES THE
NEW SCHOOL BUILDING.
At its regular meeting last night
the city council decided to insure the
new school building for $2,000. It also
let a contract to the Alaska Transfer^
company to repair the road near the
saw mill where it has been washed
out by the tide. The work costs one
hundred dollars. The ordinance pro
viding for the employment of a night
watchman passed its second reading.
A payment was also made on the lots
for the schoolhouse.
PRESIDENT WILL DECIDE R. R.
ROUTE MIDDLE OE EEBRUARY
WASHINGTON, Jan. 19.—John
Pierpont Morgan supplied Secretary
Lane yesterday with the figures show
ing the cost of operation and main
tenance and other facts relating to
i
the Copper River and Northwestern
I railroad. The two men engaged in
some sort of a talk or conference on
the matter but the facts about this
conversation can only be surmised as
nothing has been given out with the
exception of the statement that the
figures were supplier!. Afterwards,
however, Secretary Lane gave out a
statement of a general nature regard
ing the selection of the route. He de
clared that the dctermi nation of all
WICK ERSH A M OBJ EC TS
ABOUT FUR ANIMALS.
Opposes Giving Secretary of Com
merce Increased Authority
in Matter.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 19.—Before
the house ways and means committee
yesterday Delegate Wickersham op
posed the proposed Palmer bill which
is intended to give Secretary of the
Interior Redfield increased authority
over the Alaska fur bearing animals.
The passage of the bill is advocated
by Jones, the deputy commissioner of
fisheries so that quite a merry light
is proceeding between them.
CORDOVA GIVES
LOTS TO GOVT.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT AC
CEPTS DEED THROUGH
HAZELET.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 19.—The
Treasury department yesterday ac
cepted deeds to twelve lots in Cordova
for a site for the government building
for which congress has already ap
propriated one hundred thousand dol
lars. The deeds were offered through
George Hazelet, president of the Cor
dova chamber of commerce, who is
now here representing Cordova in tne
effort to prove that Cordova is the
best site for a government railroad. It
has not yet been announced when the
erection of the government building
will be commenced.
PRESIDENT CANNOT PLACE
AN EMBARGO ON WHEAT.
All He Has Power to do is to Have
Men Prosecuted For Illegal
Rise in Price.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 19.—Presi
dent Wilson stated today that he has
no power to place an embargo on the
exportation of wheat. That power
rests with congress alone, he declares.
Nothing can be done by the govern
ment, according to the President, to
wards regulating the prices of wheat
and other food stuffs unless illegal
practices among merchants are dis
closed by the investigations now pro
gressing. Such disclosures may leadj
to prosecutions and to a resultant fall
in the price of food stuffs to their nor
mal level.
The Admiral Watson is due to ar
rive this afternoon but was not in
sight at press time.
the questions concerning the route of
' the government railroad will be arriv
! ed at in the middle of February. This
! leaves the impression that the secre
' tary believes the time given by him
a few days ago is believed now to be
too short for coming to a careful de
cision. He also announced that the
engineers will not make a formal re
commendation. They will simply sup
ply all the facts and surveys to Presi
dent Wilson who alone will decide
what he wants and what he believes
to be best. Secretary Pane is now de
voting a large amount of his time to
this question and is being constantly
pestered with requests for statements
about it. Nothing can really be guess
LONDON ADMITS GERMANS
STARTED C HRISTMAS TREES.
Big Falling Off in Sale of Trees as
Consequence of war.
LONDON, Jan. 19.—London mar
ketmen have realized this year more
forcibly than ever the fact that the
Christmas tree is distinctly a German
institution. With the German men of
military age either out of England or
interned, the homes of the Germans
who formerly lived in London have
been disrupted with the result that
there has been a marked decline in the
demand for Christmas trees.
Germans originated the Christmas
tree idea and have always been the
best customers for trees.
Norway has ordinarily supplied
London with the trees, but trade be
tween this country and Norway is now
so badly disorganized because of na
val operations and mine dangers that
few trees have been received. Most
of them are being cut in Sussex and
Yorkshire this year.
e<i at present as to the probable route.
The President and Lane have said not
a word that could be construed as
showing favor towards any one parti
cular route. They have received pro
posals and requests from various
sources and they have received them
all without any comment but that
which is only to be expected under
such circumstances. The statement by
| the Secretary that the engineering
commission will make no formal re
commendations is taken to mean that
the report of the commission will be
given privately to President Wilson
and Mr. Lane and may never be
known until the President has given
his decision.
SEWARD COMMERCIAL ( LI B
INVITES PRES. WILSON.
Follows Example of Juneau and Asks
Him to Come and See Where
Alaska is at its Best.
At a special meeting of the Com
mercial club yesterday it was decided
to follow the example of Juneau by
inviting President Wilson to visit the
territory during his coming trip to
the west. Although the President will
likely not be able to accept the invita
tion it was thought that Seward
should at least express the wish that
Alaska’s great friend might be able
to see the place where Alaska is at
its best.
The full account of the test of the
Matanuska coal as contained in t i «*
Seattle Post Intelligencer shows that
it was 98 per cent efficient. With the
exception that there was moie ash it
showed itself to be the equal of Po
ihontas.
WILSON SEES LONG WAR
WASHINGTON, Jan. 19.—President Wilson stated
to callers today that he sees no likelihood of the termina
tion of the European war in spring. He seemed, indeed,
to feel that the bloody conflict will last for a considerably
longer time and it is assumed that he has only said so
after having carfully looked into the situation and aitei
conversations with the representatives of the various
nations engaged.
FRENCH REPORT PROGRESS
PARIS, Jan. 1!).—It is announced this afternoon that
the French are attacking the Germans at St. Mihiel and
are making progress. Nothing is said as to the develop
ments around Soissons since the admitted retreat of the
French troops across the Aisne but it is assumed that the
Germans have been checked and have made no further
advance. The news today from all parts is very limited but
there is no reason to believe that there is anything be
ing hidden. The official announcements continue to be
most optimistic in spite of Jthe reverse at Soissons. 1 he
new German reinforcements have apparently not been
put to use yet in any great attempt at a forward move
ment The opposing lines evidently are holding with
amazing tenacity and many military experts seem to be
at a loss to understand how either side can drive the
other from its positions without a loss of life to the at
tackers that would be truly appalling.
QUIET THIS MORNING
LONDON, Jan. 19.—The news received from the bat
tle fronts this morning is so emager that none is worth
relating. A short bulletin announces that nothing oi im
portance is reported from either the eastern of western
fronts. The really cold weather is now setting in on the
eastern battle ground and its effect may be a fierce renew
al of the effort to reach Warsaw or an offensive move
ment on the part of the Russians to drive back the invad
ers. The progress, if there is any, in the center of the
French battle line is not touched upon in this morning’s
dispatches but the afternoon announcements may contain
something new about it.