SEWARD:— Gateway to the Land of Opportunity—The Hunters’ Paradise—The homesteaders’ Land of Promise
—-—-1 The Gateway
Th*.o°«ray |4l|l£¥1m Kenal, Knik^Broad Pass
Great Coal Fields of Gold Fields
Matanuska I . J l--*
- P1IBI.ISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY LARGEST ALASKAN CIRCULATION
MEMBER ASSOCIATED PRESS _ _ _ —"V_"-— --“ ---
“ # S i ~ SEWARD, THE GATEWAY TO ALASKA, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28. 1014._____Un Ccnia the Copy
BATTLE STILL RAGING IN RUSSIAN POLAND
RUSSIA REPORTS VICTORY
AND ARMENIAN MASSACRE
RUSSIAN STORIES VARY
LONDON. Nov. 28.—While the newspaper reports
from Petrograd claim that the Russian victory in north
ern Poland is comparable with the disaster which the Rus
sians inflicted on the great Napoleon the oft icial cummuni
cations are more moderate. The Grand Duke Nicholas,
commander in chief of the Russian armies, does not claim
that an overwhelming defeat has been inflicted on the
Germans. He says that the battle is progressing in favor
of the Russians over the entire front between the Warthe
and Vistula rivers but the very fact that he reports the
battle to be still going on rather takes from the value of
the reports that the Germans were decisively beaten.
However, the feeling of optimism created by the news of
the German repulse exists still and the greatest confidence
is felt that the Germans can never reach Warsaw. Mili
tary authorities are willing to grant that the Germans
have been able as they were on the Aisne to recover
quickly by splendid generalship but the general belief is
that their advance on Warsaw cannot be again threaten
ing his winter. London is now waiting eagerly the next
dispatches from the eastern theater as all are fully aware
of the tremendous importance of the battle in Poland.
ARMENIAN MASSACRE BEGINS
ODESSA, Nov. 28.—Following the posting of the
proclamation of the holy war in Erzerum, Armenia, the
Turkish inhabitants rose against the Christians and dem
olished Armenian Christian clubs, churches, schools and
various other sorts of buildings belonging to the Christian
population. Four Christians were murdered in the public
streets. The proclamation was posted throughout Turkish
territory simultaneously with the posting in Constanti
nople and the inhabitants of remote Turkish places like
Erzerum are expected to take the inauguration of the
holy war as a license to exterminate the hated people ot
the Christian faith.
MORE AUSTRIANS CAPTURED
PETROGRAD, Nov. 28.—It is officially announced
that our troops won important skirmishes in Galicia dur
ing the past few days. Southwest of Cracow on Novem
ber 26 the Russians routed the Austrian army taking
seven thousand prisoners, thirty cannon and twenty
machine guns. This battle was most important as the
winning of it enabled our forces to advance beyond the
line of the fortress whose investment is brought much
nearer by the success.
BOMBARDING GERMANS
LONDON, Nov. 28.—According to all the news re
ceived this morning from the western front quiet con
tinues over most of the battle line in France and Flanders.
The only report of any activity worth mentioning comes
in a dispatch from Holland which says that the British
fleet is again energetically bombarding the German posi
tions on the Belgian coast. No assaults have been report
ed and it is evidently the plan of the enemy to await the
outcome of the battle against the Russians before renew
ing the offensive movement towards the French coast.
ONLY ONE ASSAULT
PARIS, Nov. 28.—It is officially announced this morn
ing that in Belgium the artillery exchanges continued
yesterday but without any particular incident. The heavy
German artillery showed less activity so that for the
great body of both armies the day was one of compara
tive rest and security. Only one attack of infantry was
recorded for the day. This took place south of T pres but
was repulsed by our troops after some severe fighting.
The most remarkable occurrence noted was that our artil
lery brought down a German bilplane with three aviators.
One of the airmen was killed and two were captured after
an almost miraculous escape. The plane as usual was
taking observations and was flying at a great elevation
but the experience gained by the gunners in shooting air
ships has enabled them to acquire remarkable proficiency.
In Champagne, it is reported, our heavy artillery inflicted
serious losses on the artillery of the enemy and several of
their guns are reported to have been destroyed.
BRITISH POUR INTO FRANCE
HAVRE, France, Nov. 28.—Directly following the
speech of Lord Kitchener in London in which he stated
that he had a million and a quarter of men ready to land
in France there has been a steady stream of troops from
England to Havre. So great is the flow of British troops
into this country that as many as two hundred troop
ships of all sizes have been lying outside this harbor at
one time pouring forth thousands and thousands of men
in khaki. The men are being sent across the channel as
rapidly as berths can be found tor them in all kinds of
ships. The troops are mostly territorials but are well
seasoned after having been trained for some months in
the British camps. Landing from the ships they form on
the docks and then march through the streets and dis
appear to heaven knows where. All the men seem to be in
the highest spirits and whistle gaily as they march along.
BRITISH SPY SHOT
READING, England, Nov. 28—A lance corporal in
the Hants regiment of Kitchener’s new army was sum
marily shot yesterday as a spy. He was caught with let
ters in his possession dealing with the movements of
British troops and it was clearly shown that he was in
the employ of the German general staff. This man was
stationed at Codford and had shown such diligence in drill
that he was promoted from a private quickly. This is the
second man shot as a spy in England within a few weeks.
The last one was a former German lieutenant named Lody
who had lived in the United States for years. He was
tried in London and, having been found guilty, was shot
in the tower of London. He refused to the last to give in
formation but it is becoming more and more evident that
the Gentians are inaintaing a most complicated and
thorough spy system in this country and no mercy need
be expected by those caught from this time forward.
TEUTONS LOSE HEAVILY
LEMBERG, Galicia, Nov. 28—A semi-official an
nouncement made today contains the assertion that in
three days fighting around the places called Strykow and
1'ushin the Germans lost seventeen thousand men and a
heavy battery of artillery as well as twenty eight machine
guns. In the same fighting the Austrians lost sixteen
thousand men and twenty machine guns. On the whole the
German operations in those localities have been a total
failure and Russian observers say that the Teutons have
only a very slight chance of escaping further disaster,
and a disaster that will be complete and overwhelming.
There is no doubt here that the Germans have received
a most serious repulse which undoubtedly promises to
bring about the total collapse of the attempt to march on
Warsaw
STEAMING TO THE BATTLE
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay, Nov. 28.—A squadron of
ten British warships has been sighted three hundred
miles off this city and it is assumed that they are on the
way around Cape Horn to the Pacific to engage the Ger
man squadron of Admiral von S^ee which is still supposed
to be waiting off the coast of Chile.
IQUIQUE, Chile, Nov. 28—Four warships, nationality
unknown, have been sighted off the North Chilean coast.
These vessels may belong to the German squadron or may
be British or Japanese vessels that are engaged in the
search for them. Which ever they are it is plain that a
big naval encounter may be looked for somewhere in the
neighborhood of Chilean waters. The British cruiser
Glasgow and the transport Otranto which were engaged
in the battle against the Germans are reported to be safe
but there is a fear that the British battleship Canopus
which was on the way to reinforce the British squadron at
the time of the battle has been lost. Not a word has ever
again been heard about the Monmouth or the Good Hope
I and it is now assumed that not a member of the crew of
either was saved
SEVEN TOWNS DESTROYED
OSTEND Nov. 28.—Seven towns and one hundred
and fifty farms near this city have been destroyed in the
fighting which has been raging for some weeks. Hundreds
' of wounded Belgians and French soldiers are constantly
i being brought into Ostend by the Germans and those who
can stand the journey are being sent to Germany .The
number of wounded Germans who die daily in the hospi
tals in Ostend is about twelve. The wounded allies are
well cared for by the Germans.
RAILROAD REPORT NOT
READY BETORE JANUARY
WASHINGTON, Nov. 28.—That the
report of the Alaska railroad en
gineering commission will not be
j ready oefore January is now well 1
I known here. The commission has
opened its winter offices in the
liureau of Mines building and the
preparations for the issuing oi the
report are progressing as fast as
possible. Secretary of the Interior
liune will make his annual report next
week and it is expected that he will
deal with matters relating to the con-.
struction of the government railroad
in Alaska but it is known thoroughly
that in that report he will not make
any definite recommendation as to the
proposed route as the report of the
commission will not have been in the
hands of the president or the secre
tary and a recommendation would be
prenature.
Much interest in being manifested in
the coming report of Mr. Lane by
Alaskans as it is surmised he will
deal rather exhaustively with the
railroad question and may outline
what the government's intentions
really are, now that ho has had a
chance to discuss the whole matter
with the members of the commission.
SAYS WOMAN SUFFRAGE
IS A STATE ISSUE.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 28.—Presi
dent Wilson reiterated the opinion to
day that the question of Womans suf
frage is a state issue entirely and is
not one that could properly be made a
federal issue. This is taken as an
answer to the deputations of women
who have been trying to prevail on
the president to include some state
ment regarding the matter in his
message to congress.
FAMOUS ITALIAN MAN
OF AFFAIRS IS DEAL.
HOME, Nov. 28.—Visconti Venosi,
a famous statesman and formerly
minister of foreign affairs, died here
last night. It is not anticipated that
his death will have any effect on the
attitude of the government in relation
to the war.
MARIPOSA COMING.
The Mariposa left Juneau at 6
o’clock this morning.
VILLA'S FORCES ENTER
IKE CITY OF MEXICO
ELPASO. Nov. 27.—Part of
Villa’s troops entered Mexico City this
evening. This news was received late
today after it had been pretty well
understood that they were approach
ing the capital. Villa himself is still
at Tula, forty miles from the city and
the troops that entered the capital
were probably intended as an advance
guard to make sure that the way was
clear. Kail and wire communication
with the capital was restored today.
As far as the authorities in this neigh
borhood have been informed the entry
of the soldiers of the famous chieftain
into the city was most peaceful and
orderly and was marked by not the
slightest attempt by the population to
make a hostile exhibition. The
chances are good on the contrary, that
a tremendous demonstration of wel
come will be vouchsafed the conqueror
when ho makes his personal entry.
____________________
BRISTOL BAY CAST
NEARLY 200 VOTES.
Bristol Bay ciist 192 votes accord
ing to A. H. Bradford who passed by
on the Evans. He says that Bunnell
probably got a majority there but he
did not know the exact figures given
1 for any of the candidates.
---
ABOUT 1200 POUNDS MAIL
WAITING FOR THE TRAIL.
j The amount of mail now in the Sew
I ard post office for Iditarod, Susitna,
I Knik and other places on the trail is
! about twelve hundred pounds. The
! amount to be taken each trip is 475
pounds and this amount will go next
; Monday.
PRESIDENT IN WHITEHOUSE.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 28.—Presi
dent Wilson has returned from Massa
' chusetts after his Thanksgiving holi
1 day.
NEW SCHOOL HOUSE NOT
READY TILL NEW YEARS
Oversight in Heating Arrangements
Causes Delay as Stoves
Must be Used.
The new school building will not be
ready for use by the children until
New* Years. This is due chiefly to the
fact that the installation of a heating
apparatus was overlooked and no
chimney was provided. It is found
necessary to put in stoves but the
school board is said to be insisting on
having the building properly dried be
fore the children are placed in the
building. The stoves must also be
tested with a view to discovering if
they can sufficiently heat it. The
school committee decided yesterday to
take the blackboards out of the prim
ary school to place them in the new
building but the school board objected
to their removal until the new place is
ready as the use of the boards is
necessary where they are . The school
holidays will begin in about three
weeks and as that time is believed to
be necessary for the drying of the
tructure it will be after New \cars
before it is occupied.
GUY WHITEHEAD PURCHASES
DUNCAN STEWART LOTS.
G. B. Whitehead has purchased the
lots of Duncan Stewart in block one,
six and twelve. Mr. Whitehead is also
about to build a fine residence in
Seward.
■ ■"■■■■ ■ ■ ..—
CATHOLIC SERVICES
SUNDAY NOV. 29.
8:30 a. m. confession and commun
ion. 9:30 and not 10:30 Mass and
#
First Communion. 7:30 p. m. Rosary,
Instruction and Benediction.
HOW THE SPIES
WORK IN WAR
EXTRAORDINARY MEANS EM
PLOYED BY GERMANS TO
WATC H THE ENEMY.
(By The Associated Press.)
PARIS, Nov. 25.—“On coming out
of a dirt road, descending from Ver
dun," says an officer who is quoted in
the Paris Midi, “I crossed a miserable
creature leaning heavily on an oak
stalf. lie limped along painfully as if
ne were wounded and doffed a greasy
nut in humble salute. I responded ab
sentmindedly ami went on my way.
“An hour later, a dull rattling as of
the cracking of branches, ami bursting
of a shell in a thicket beside the road,
Drought us back to the realities of
war, and at the same time to the w an
dering vagabond.—the oniy creature
who could have so soon and so accur
ately posted the enemy on the position
of my little detachment. We turned
aside from this dangerous route ami
oy a cross road reached the main road
.eading to X-.
“i continued to think of the vaga
bond, who now' clearly appeared to my
mind as one of those soft-mannered
spies of whom we have seen so many
in this war, who follow their tortuous
way, seeking information as the men
dicant seeks alms, faltering, insinua
ting, scenting, listening, watching,
then disappearing into some secret un
derground route by which he bears
his fruitful harvest to his chiefs, then
coming back in the role of the con
queror, serving as a guide to the in
vader.
“Suddenly, there before me appear
ed the man, gliding out of the thicket^
He also had taken the roundabout
way and after posting the German
battery, had at once started on a new
hunt for information.
“I rushed upon him and he gave a
start of surprise, then his greasy hand
went to his eyes in the gesture of wip
ing away tears.
“ ‘Your papers/ I demanded. He
produced a greasy bunch with here
and there an illegible traco of writing
on them, and with hero and there the
clever imitation of an official vise. No
safe conduct, no passport.
“If he had no papers it was because
the mayor had been shot, or the no
tables of the town had fled. The vil
lage existed no more; the children
even had been shot.
“ ‘Take him in charge.’ Two men on
either side executed the order, then
the spring of steel hidden beneath the
rags of the vagabond shows itself.
The man is upright, tall, robust, ag
gressive, the eye flashing and tho
voice defiant.
“ ‘If you want to take me, you’ll
have to bring a vehicle, for I’ll never
walk/ Then he sees his mistake, his
form bends again, his voice becomes
humble and supplicating. Til go
wherever you like, my good sir.'
“Too late! No more doubt possible.
The vehicle is despensed with—a stone
wall at the entrance to a village is
sufficient.”
The funeral of Miss Miller has been
postponed until the arrival of her
brother who is coming on the Mari
posa.