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The Gateway to the
to the Kenai, Knik, Broad Pass
Great Coal Fields of Gold Fields
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SEWARD, THE GATEWAY TO ALASKA, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1914._ __Ion Cent» py
\ ol. 9 No.’ll _ _w——— ——■- —■* ... - — -• ——
AM IES BENT BUT NOT BROKEN
GENERAL DE WET DEFEATED IN SOUTH AFRICA
BRITISH AND JAP WARSHIPS
RUSHING TO MEET GERMANS
BRITISH LOST FIFTY SEVEN THOUSAND MEN—
LEIPZIG AND DRESDEN ENTER THE
HARBOR OF VALPARAISO
BRITISH LOST 57.000 MEN
LONDON, Nov. 13.—Prime Minister Herbert Henry
Asquith last night in the house of commons estimated the
losses of the British of all ranks up to October 31 in the
Euopean war as fifty seven thousand men.
These appalling figures caused a sensation among the
members of paliament and throughout the country. It is
estimated that the total number of British troops sent to
the front was not quite half a million men so that the num
ber of men lost exceeds one in ten. Using these estimates
as a basis it is apparent that the losses of the allied forces
must have reached several hundreds of thousands. These
frightful facts are coming home now vividly to the people
of Great Britain but it seems rather to increase the mar
tial spirit of the country’s youth.
GERMAN SHIPS GET READY
VALPARAISO, Chile, Nov. 13—The German cruisers
Leipzig and Dresden entered this harbor yesterday and
immediatly began taking on provisions. These two ves
sels took part with the Schnarnhorst and Gneisenau in the
big naval engagement ten days ago with the British ships.
The position of the two last named vessels is not known
but it is assumed that they are not far off and that they
will receive some of the supplies now being taken on by the
smaller vessels. It is accepted as an inevitable fact that
the four German cruisers will soon have to fight for their
existence against large forces of hostile ships. In some
quarters it is believed that the four Germans will separate
as the numbers of Japanese and British vessels now com
ing to engage them are too great. If they separate it will
be for the purpose of prolonging their disastrous careers
and destroying British merchant ships.
SHIPS GO TO MEET GERMANS
LONDON, Nov. 13.—A Japanese cruiser squadron of
eight ships was sighted off Eastern Island, two thousand
miles west of Chile, ten days ago steaming west. The
British battleship Canopus, the cruiser Defence and the
battle cruiser New Zealand have passed Cape Horn bound
for the Chilean coast to engage the German squadron and
to wipe out the blot of the defeat inflicted on the British
iast week. It is likely that the Japanese squadron and the
British will join forces to meet the German ships and that
the latter will be totally destroyed is certain unless they
can make their escape without giving battle. It is assumed
that the cause of the German naval victory was a super
iority in guns and this superiority may be felt again but
the people of England have demanded and are perfectly
confident that the Germans will be wiped off the face of
the Pacific ocean. The whole world may be said to be now
watching for the outcome of the great naval battle.
BOTHA DEFEATS DE WET
LONDON, Nov. 13.—News arrived last night that
General Botha, prime minister of South Africa, has in
fllict a severe defeat on the Boers under the leadership
of the famous De Wet. The names of the place where the
battle took place has not been published nor has any in
formation been given out as to the numbers engaged on
both sides. London has learned in the past not to under
estimate the military genius of De Wet but they aie also
confident that the former commander in chief of the Boers
who is opposed in person to De W et is a leader of real
greatness. The manner in which Botha has proven his
loyalty to the British government has created the great
est enthusiam whenever his name is mentioned. It is
said that the greater part of the Boer people of South
Africa remain loyal to Britain but it is also known that
under De Wet and Beyers seasoned fighters in large num
bers are ranged against the loyalists. Even conservatives
who were opposed to the granting of home rule to South
Africa now recognize the great statemanship that gave
home rule as this privilege has kept Botha and many
other famous Boers on the side of Great Britain.
N Y. EXCHANGE
TO OPEN SOON
EXPECTS TO RESUME REGULAR
BUSINESS ON FIRST
OF YEAR.
NEW YORK, Nov. 13.—The New
York stock exchange will probably
resume business with the first of the
new year according to the unanimous
opinions of the financial community.
Nearly all the difficulties in the
domestic situation have been over
come. The lecent decline in exchange
on London added to the easier dis
counts there are taken as indications
of great ed confidence in Great Bri
tain. This confidence is now being re
flected here and the end of the scare
is in sight.
HOW THE GATEWAY NEWS
GETS OVER THE WORLD
Foreign Pages IBooks Like Columns
From Seward’s Daily.
In the Mining and Engineering
Journal of Chicago for October 17
are several stories taken from the
Gateway. Among the local people
mentioned are Herron and French,
R. R. and E. J. Jacobs, James Mur
ray, Harry Ellsworth, The Skeen
Lechner and Judge Morford, the
Mathiesons, Gus SeitTert, A. T. Terry,
A. J. Paign, M. A. Ellis and Doc Hern
den. The only thing the Journal will
not take our word for is the spelling
of Knik. It insists on spelling it Knick.
The Tropic Topics of Honolulu, no
less, came yesterday on the North
western with a column of Gateway
stufT. Other exchanges to hand with
a Gateway atmosphere hail from
Ottawa, Petaluma, Portland and other
places not so w’ell known. The Pacific
Fisherman of last month pays this
paper a similar compliment.
RAILROAD
WILL SOON
BE BUILT
* - <*
❖ SAYS GOVERNMENT WILL ❖
❖ REQUIRE 200,000 TONS OF ❖
❖ COAL A MONTH *
.> - •>
*> That the government railroad
•> will be built just as quickly as <*
❖ men can be secured after the do- ♦
•t* cision on the plans and that the
«J» coal vill be operate<l a’ni that
•> fifteen thousand men will be re- •>
❖ quired to oporate the coal fields ^
❖ in the manner in which the •>
•> governmcn wants them operated *5*
are the statements of Captain ❖
❖ Charles L. Peabody, the noted •>
•I* steamship owner of the Yukon, •>
❖ who has come to Seward after •>
•J» having spent the whole time
❖ since last May in Washington *>
❖ 1). C. taking a hand in Alaskan ❖
❖ affairs and studying the situa- $
❖ tion relating to Alaska generally. •>
❖ The captain is known by every •>
❖ sourdough that ever travelled on •>
•> the Yukon river in the good old
❖ days and even in recent years. •>
❖ He has been one of the most sue- *
•> cessful owners of steamships on <*
•> that stream and knows every
❖ kink in Alaskan affairs, com- *
mercial, mining, political and &
•> otherwise. He was the man who •>
❖ brought the first great outfit ^
<5* of supplies up the Tanana in *2*
❖ 1901. He took the steamer •>
❖ Schwatka around to St. Micheal ❖
❖ and was the man who took over •
•> the famous steamer, The Mon- ♦
•> arch, and made her pay well. *
❖ Knowing Alaska as ho does •>
❖ and the steps taken in Washing- *
❖ ton as well as the opinions of *
^ people on whom the future of
❖ of Alaska depends his opinions •>
❖ are more than worth taking into •>
❖ account. . ^
•> In addition to saying that the •>
government will build the road
•> and open the coal fields he also
❖ states that Seward is generally *
❖ accepted as the town in which ♦
❖ the chief government terminal •>
❖ will be. This belief is accepted •>
❖ by all kinds of people and he sees ❖
•> a big future ahead for us.
❖ Continued on page 4.
* * •> *
THREE TURK TOREPDO BOATS
S BY THE RUSSIANS
GENERAL SCOTT
TOBE CHIEF
WITHERSPOON RETIRES AND
FUNSTON WILL BECOME
MAJOR GENERAL
WASHINGTON, Nov. 13.—Briga
dier General Hugh Scott will be nom
inated chief of staff of the United
States army when Major General
Witherspoon retires next Monday.,
General Funston who is now in com
mand of the United States troops in J
Vera Cruz will be named major gener
al and many see in his promotion a
sign that he will be next chief of
staff. General Witherspoon retires
because of the age limit. He succeed
ed Leonard Wood some time ago.
There is every reason to believe that
Wood's elevation to that position is
the last that will ever bo made from
the ranks of what might be called
civilian soldiers.
EMPLOYEES OF PANAMA
CANAL ARE HONORED
PANAMA, Nov. 12.—Following the
the suggestion of the Society of the
Chagres that a register of former
employes of the Isthmian Canal Com
mission and The Panama Canal,
and of the Panama Railroad Co on the
Isthmus, be kept at the Panama
Pacific Exposition in connection with
the canal exhibit, the Governor has
directed the Washington office to ar
range for the manufacture of a regis
ter with space for approximately
5,000 entries. Visting employes will
register chronologically, and *he
pages will be ruled with spaces for
the employe’s name, period of resi
dence on the isthmus, and department
or division in whirh emploved.
We can do it Job printing of c\ ery
description.
EXPECT GREATEST WAR THAT
MEXICO HAS EVER SEEN
WASHINGTON, Nov. 13.—Gener
al Villa has taken the city of Tampico
and has been received with the great
est enthusiasm. The city received
him without firing a snot. Earlier in
the day it was reported that he was
marching on the city and had taken
possession of the railroads leading
thereto but later the news came of his
entry.
The reason for taking Tampico is
to give him a better opportunity for
securing supplies and ammunition.
The American troops are now evident
ly further off than ever from the day
of departure from Vera Cruz. To
withdraw the American troops now
would mean that the city would fall
into the hands of General Aguilat
who is friendly to General Carranza.
From Tampica Villa can rush am
munition and supplies overland
through Central Mexico to his other
columns. If civil war results from
the present state of affairs the
greatest struggle in the history of
Mexico will have to be recorded. Both
sides have between them one hundred
thousand men well equipped and
trained from their former campaigns
so that the lighting will be unusually
extensive.
There is still a hope here that the
war can be averted.
NEW STAMPMILL COMING
FOR THE INDEPENDENCE
A new stampmill will be established
on the Independence mine first thing
next spring. The size of the mill has
not yet been decided upon but it will
probably be a Lane mill. The pro
perty showed up exceedingly well this
year and is expected to make even a
far better showing from this time
forward.
According to reports from the in
terior trails are getting into good
shape and travel from the Iditarod,
Ruby and other places will probably
set in soon.
Joe Martindale who has returned
j after a long absence in the interior
will remain here indefinitely.
Mrs. Colwell is an incoming pas
! senger on the Mariposa which is due
tomorrow.
moke than seventy hours
OUT IN AN OPEN BOAT
Leonti Siftsoff, who is now here,
was one of the unfortunates who were
aboard the cutter Tahoma when she
struck the uncharted reef. At the
time of striking the cutter was out
of sight of land. Mr. Siftsoff with
others took to a surf boat and in it
they spent more than seventy hours.
They first sighted land on the morning
of the day when they landed. Among
the whole bunch they had for pro
visions only two sea gulls a day. These
gulls were shot by one of the officers
who had fortunately held on to his
revolver. So much accustomed had
the men become to the movement of
the small boat that when they got
out to walk they all keeled over. Mr.
Siftsoff is an assistant priest cf the
Russian church at Unalaska.
A cold storage plant will be es
tablished at Knik soon. All the ar
rangements have been made but the
names of the people establishing it
are not given for publication.
THE GERMANS ONCE MORE CROSS YSER RIVER—
j FRANCE REPORTS ENEMY’S ATTACKS
REPULSED ALONG LINE
GERMANS CROSS YSER
LONDON, Nov. 13.—The Germans have again cross
ed the Yser river and matters begin once more to look a
little serious although the invaders occupy yet only a few
hundred yards on the left bank. The allies cannot, how
ever afford to overlook the advantages gained there by the
Germans and the general opinion here is that tremendous
efforts must be put forth to drive them back. The news
from the front this morning indicates that desperate
efforts towards this end are being prepared for by General
Joffre but that losses will be frightful in making the effort
is conceded on all hands. As the Germans now stand they
have unquestionably driven a slight wedge into the left
allied line and their continued advanced would be a matter
of great seriousness. The British still occupy Ypres and
are about to face the fiercest struggle of the war. The
enemy is sure to make almost superhuman efforts to drive
the troops of this country out of Ypres because if they
fail their victory at Dixmude will prove a barren one. The
only means by which the Germans can drive the British
from that position is by a flank attack from Dixmude.
Ypres, still bars the way to the approach to Dunkirk from
the south and on the British depends the holding of the
key to the French coast cities. Needless to say, the people
of England are now consequently watching Ypres with
feverish anxiety. That our troops can hold the place only
with terrific losses at best is perfectly understood.
FRENCH HOLD THEIR OWN
PARIS, Nov. 13.—Official; From Lys to the sea
fighting went on yesterday but in less violent intensity
than in the preceeding days.
Several efforts by the Germans to cross the Yser have
been checked and no further advantage by the invaders
has ben announced. Genrally speaking the French posi
tions have been maintained . The German attacks around
has been announced. Generally speaking the French posi
tions are surrounded with barbed wire fences of the most
intricate kind. These fences are as high as a tall man and
make formidable defenses against the charges of infantry
or cavalry. French progress in other parts of the battle
front is reported in the dispatches this morning but both
sides are so carefully entrenched in the center that not
much of a change is likely until the fighting in the west
has come to a decisive conclusion.
ALLIES LINE BENT
PARIS, Nov. 13—It is officially announced this after
noon that while the violent efforts of the Germans at
Ypres have succeeded in bending the line of the allies this
line is not broken. It is bent only in places as a matter of
fact and the allied forces still hold strong positions in the
neighborhood. It seems impossible that the attempt will
be repeated as the Germans have evidently done their
best and have failed in their main object, so that a similar
attempt under similar circumstances could hardly be ex
pected to succeed. Although the artillery of the Germans
has proved formidable the guns of the allies are still more
so and have caused frightful carnage in the enemy’s
trenches. The battle has now resolved itself into an artil
lery duel. The infantry remains in its trenches and the
assaults have apparently ceased for the present The
military authorities now declare that the war is entering
its third stage. They do not clearly explain what this
means. The first phase was the rush of the Germans to
wards Paris and the second was the retirement of the in
vaders to the line of the Aisne. Whether they mean that
the movemnt of the Germans on the coast is about to be
successful and that it will begin the third phase is not
known but it is suspected.
JAPS TOOK 5,000 PRISONERS
TOKIO, Nov. 13.—The Japanese government of
ficially announced today that the number of prisoners
taken after the surrender of Tsingtau was five thousand.
The formal entry of the Japanese army will take place
on the sixteenth of this month. Nothing has been given
out as to the class of the German vessels caught in the
harbor but it is assumed that with the exception of the
torpedo boat which attempted to escape they were small
vessels.