. ..
——— -7- The Great
The Great ALASKAN
DAILY I-————
|___! LARGEST ALASKAN CIRCULATION
ADVERTISEMENTS BRING RESULTS _PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY ----------
— - Ten Cent* the Copy
Vo, |0 Nl> „) SEWARD. THE GATEWAY TO ALASKA, TUESDAY, JAM.Ain I, 19lh.___ _---•-•
INTERNATIONAL SITUATION CREATED BY THE
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LOSS OF LINER PERSIA IS ADMITTEDLY CRITICAL
WILSON ARRIVES AT WASHINGTON
AND CONSULTS FOREIGN COMMITTEE
c
SITUATION CRITICAL
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4.—A cabinet meeting will not
be called today by the president to discuss the sinking of
the Persia but it is admitted that the situation is very
critical. Very little has developed, however, since morn-1
ing. The president reached the White House at 8 o’clock
this morning and has been mostly in conference with Lan
sing.
I. S. TO ACT AT ONCE
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4.—President Wilson arrived
at the Whitehouse from Hotsprings this morning and im
mediately declared that the very moment the fact connect
ed with the torpedoing on the Persia and Glengyle have
been established action will be taken. He has called
Chairman Stone and other members of the foreign rela
tions committee into conference and it is probable that the
relations between the Teutonic empires and this country
will be discussed from all sides with a view to preparing
public mind for whatever action might be deemed neces
sary. While President Wilson himself has made no direct
statement his secretary, J. P. Tumulty, has stated that
every means possible is being used to get at the facts of
the situation which he admitted to be very grave. Officials
believe that if it is proven that the Persian was sunk with
out warning just as Austria and Germany were declaring
their intention to abandon such a course the sinking of
the vessels can only be regarded as a direct act of defiance
against the United States.
CONGRESS EXPECTS ATTACKS
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4.—Sharp attacks are expect
ed in congress not only on the Teutonic powers for the
submarine attacks but also against Great Britain for its
order in council relating to the right of seizure of neutral
ships and cargoes. There is no effort made to stop
oratory.
ANOTHER BRITISH CRISIS
LONDON, Jan. 4.—The cabinet is facing another
crisis. Sir John Simon, secretary of state for home af
fairs, has resigned in spite of the pleadings of Prime
Minister Asquith who did everything in his power to re
tian his services. Nine million four hundred thousand
men are shown to be available as recruits under the plan
of Lord Derby but a modified conscription has been de
cided upon. This is the rock on which the government is
splitting again. The whole country seems to be on the
verge of a most serious difference of opinion over the
whole matter and the greatest difficulty is expected in
filling any further vacancies in the cabinet.
TORPEDOED WITHOUT WARNING
LONDON, Jan. 4.—Eleven survivors of the Persia
who have arrived at Malta have made affidavits that the
vessel was torpedoed without warning. There seems to
be full and sufficient proof that the vessel was sunk by a
torpedo and not by a mine although the only direct evi
dence so far is that of the second officer of the Persia who
says he saw the wake of the torpedo as it approached the
ship. The loss of life, according to the latest estimate,
will be slightly over two hundred and fifty.
MYSTERY OVERHANGS BALKANS
BUCHAREST, Jan. 4—The nuext move in the Bal
kans is being awaited with the greatest interest but for
the present mystery hangs over the whole situation.
With the exception of the Anglo-British army at Saloniki,
the Serbians and Italians in Albania and the Montene
grins no opposition to the Teutons is apparent but the
latter seem to be equally quiescent although probably pre
paring for something. The allies at Saloniki and the Rus
sians near Bukowina are expected to move simultaneously
if the Entente alliance finally decides to move north again.
BRITISH CALL TO COLORS
LONDON, Jan. 4.—The first call to the colors of re
cruits enlisted under the Derby plan has been made for
February 8. The call is issued to unmarried men between
the ages of twenty-three and twenty-six. Two and three
quarter million have enlisted under that plan altogether
and it is stated that five million eligible single men can be
secured by it
GERMANS TOOK TWO AND HALF MILLION
BERLIN, Jan. 4.—It was officially amiounced today
that the Central powers have taken two million four hun
dred thousand prisoners since the beginning of the war.
The total number of the allied losses is estimated at a far
greater number but no attempt is made to reach definite
figures.
I - —.-.
Strong Opposition
To Administration
■ 1 .
Big Fight Due in Congress on Pre
paredness and Other Plans.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4.—Opposi
tion to the administration plans seems
to be growing not o"!y with respect to
preparedness but also in relation to
the revenue proposals of President
Wilson and his advisors and a most
heated session of congress is looked
for. Kitchin, the democratic leader,
is by no means the only democrat op
posed to the proposals but they will
probably not be made party issues at
all. The majority is believed to be in
favor of the plans yet.
MOHAN MAY BE MAN
TO MEET WILLARD
NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 4.—It is now
about certain that if he beats Coffey,
Moran will meet Willard on March
4. He is easily a favorite as he has
beaten Coffey before.
IT WILL BE LANE
or McCullough
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4.—The gen
eral openion now is that the place of
Justice Lamar on the supreme court
bench will be filled either by Secre
tary Lane or by F. A. McCullough, a
member of the supreme court of the
state of Arkansas.
HUERTA UNDERGOES
ANOTHER OPERATION
EL PASO, Jan. 4.—Huerta under
went a second operation today and
will soon have to submit to third one.
His condition remains very serious.
—
EARTHQUAKE GETS
BREMERTON CHURCH
BREMERTON, Wash., Jan. 4.—A
church was destroyed by fire here to
day and it is believed that the fire
was due to the cracking of the chim
ney by the earthquake last Saturday.
MAHARAJA LOST HIS
JEWELS ON THE PERSIA
Four Million Dollars Goes to Bottom
and Indian Prince is
Mourning.
LONDON, Jan. 4.—The Maharaja
of Kapturtola, India, lost his jewels,
worth four million dollars, and the
members of his suite when the Persia
sunk near Alexandria last Thursday.
The Maharaja himself was not aboard
at the time.
NEW CLAM FACTORY FOR
CORDOVA NEARLY READY
CORDOVA, Jan. 4.—The Light
house Packing Company is now in
stalling machinery for its new clam
factory. It will employ eighty men.
EDES WILL COME
WITH THE MONEY
OLD FUND ALL PELUK AND NO
ONE KNOWS ABOUT
WHAT’S COMING.
From R. J. Weir, the engineer in
charge, down no one at the railroad
headquarters seems to know the least
thing about what is likely to occur in
connection with the granting of new
money to carry on the work. This is
merely said to satisfy curiosity on the
matter. Everyone really knows as
much as anyone else about it and the
only little item of information that
could be secured this morning at the
headquarters building is that Chair
man Edes will not be likely to come
back until the money is secured. In
the meantime only enough money re
mains to pay the permanent force and
unless more money comes soon even
that force can hardly be retained.
There is a fear, indeed, that many of
the present staff hold their positions
under a most precarious tenure at
present. That emergency appropria
tion MUST come and come soon.
Whatever hearings are going on be
fore the appropriations committees in
Washington with respect to the mat
ter must bo mighty little. It is clear,
anyhow, that no one has attempted
yet to oppose the appropriation or we
should have heard of it. The oppon
ents, indeed, are probably only the
offsprings of a diseased mind. The
Gateway has received letters from
two of the most prominent men con
nected with Alaska affairs. They are
amongst those who have been charged
with being opponents of any appro
priation the railroad might ask for
but each seems to be most warmly
anxious to have the appropri
ation given. The letters would be
gladly published but they might give
the Gateway the appearance of enter
ing into a controversy with idiots,
which is next door to being actually
an idiot oneself. However, from those
letters there is evidently not the
slightest antagonism to the appropri
ation unless it is created by a local
individual who might be described as
| “His Majesty, Rex Asinorum.”
ALAMEDA UNLOADING
CORDOVA, Jan. 4.—The Alameda
will be here tonight and will remain
twenty-four hours unloading six hun
dred tons of freight and twenty-three
horses.
PROMINENT SEATTLE
BANKER PASSES AWAY
SEATTLE, Jan. 4.—R. R. Spencer,
president and founder of the National
Bank of Commerce, died here this
morning.
EXCHANGE GEETINGS
PARIS, Jan. 4.—The different rulers of the allied na
tions exchanged greetings at New Years and each spoke
confidently of ultimate success in the war. A word of
good cheer was also sent to the armies by the heads of the
governments.
MONTENEGRO IN DEATH FIGHT
ROME, Jan. 4.—A desperate battle is now raging be
tween the Austrians and the Montenegrins near Cattaro,
the port on the Adriatic which is regarded as Monte
negro’s only possible outlet to the sea. It is close to the
Montenegro capital, Cettinje, and the battle is probably
the last great stand of the little nation against the invad
ers. No information as to the probable outcome has been
received. , .....
SIGHTLESS, THEY AID IN
MAKING NATION’S LAWS.
SENATOR GORE (upper)
REPRESENTATIVE SChALL
(Two blind men help to make the laws of
the United States, one in the senate and
one In the house of representatives. The
senator Is Thomas P. Gore of Oklahoma;
the representative Is Thomas D. Schall
of Minnesota. Senator Gore Is a Demo
crat, and Mr Schall Is one of the six
Progressive sietnbers of the new con
gress. The latter lost his eyesight In 1907
as the result of an electric shock, while
Senator Gore at the age of eight lost his
left sye by being accidentally struck
with a stick, and the sight of the other
•ye was destroyed when he wae eleven
bjr an arrow from a toy bow.J
TUANS-ATLANTIC CABLE
CRIPPLED BY STORMS
NEW YORK, Jan. 4.—The trans
Atlantic cable service has been crip
pled by severe storms.
FRANK CLAYTON
CROSSES TRAIL
SAX FRANCISCO, Dec. 24.
Frank Clayton, a pioneer of Alaska
and an extensive holder of Washing
ton and California property, died yes
terday after an operation.
He participated in the Klondike
boom and was also in the Nome rush
and is well known in the northland.
Mike Kelly Found
Frozen To Death
SEATTLE, Jan. 4.—Mike Kelly
who had been for thirty years a
deputy sheriff in Seattle was found
frozen to death yesterday in a snow
drift in the heart of the Olympic
mountains in Clallam county. He
was engaged in a prospecting tour
when he met his death.
PIONEERS MEET
There will be an important meet
ing of the Pioneers tonight at the
Pioneer Hall, and all members are
requested to attend. The officers for
the coming year will be installed.
GIRL BORN TO WELL
KNOWN COUPLE HERE
A fine baby girl was bom to Mr.
and Mrs. F. A. Honcock last night.
Both mother and child are doing well.
Dr. Romig is the attending physician.
FINED $100 AND COSTS
Ray Walsh was fined $100 and costs
this morning by Commissioner Con
roy for assault and battery on the
person of Allen McIntosh last Satur
day night. The fine was paid.
ST. PETER’S GUILD
The St. Peter’s Guild will meet to
morrow afternoon at 2:30 at the
temporary rectory, south of the
Episcopal church.
EPIDEMIC MOST
AWFUUNOWN
NOTED DOCTOR SAYS DISEASE
ENDS FATALLY WITH
PNEUMONIA
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4.—Surgeon
j General Blue of the Army reports
that the influenza epidemic now
spreading is the most serious epi
demic ever known in America. It
still continues to spread alarmingly,
! he declares, and in some cities such as
| Cleveland and Detroit hundreds of
thousands of people are prostrated
with it. Blue declares that whenever
# I
the attack terminates in pneumonia it
proves almost certainly fatal and lie
arns the people most solemnly to
! be careful against letting it develop*
to that stage. So widespread is the
epidemic now all over the country
that it is having a serious economic
efTect owing to the fact that it has
incapacitated hundreds of thousands
of workers of all walks. He believes
federal aid is out of the question and
that local regulations alone can be
used to combat it.
❖ WHAT THEY SAY *
❖ ABOUT LA GRIPPE *
❖ O
Local doctors say the present
epidemic travels from one community
to the other through the air. Each
person getting La Grippe sometimes
has a sort of traveling companion
thrown in for good measure. One per
son gets grippe and bronchitis, an
other grippe and pneumonia, another
grippe and tonsilitis and so on. The
two worst companions of the disease
have not, however, shown up here.
They are bladder and bowel trouble.
GEORGE CARPENTIER
IS NOW AN AVIATOR
NEW YORK, Dec. 30.—Georges
Carpentier, the sensational young
French boxer who before the war was
looked on as the most logical man to
uncrown Jack Johnson, lost his first
“bout” in the world war. Carpentier
is now a Sergeant Aviator in the
French Flying Corps, and has seen
extensive service in the air.
In letters to friends here, Carpen
tier describes his adventures and
mournfully depicts the loss of his
first brush with the enemy, but he
; says there will be another battle and
when it comes it will be a death deci
sion—no throwing in the towel, nor
faking.
Carpentier relates that he got his
pilot’s license after only two months
apprenticeship. He w’as given a new
Maurice Farman 130-horse power bi
plane and was employed in recon
noitering over Alsace.
One day he was assigned to patrol
duty, and while he paced his “beat”
high in the clouds a German aviator,
or “aviatik” came into view'.
“I immediately gave chase,” he
writes, but the Boche's machine was
much fleeter than mine and—rue the
day!—he outdistanced me. I can only
describe the feeling by saying it was
like going into a ring against a man
many stones heavier than yourself.
1 have fought and whipped many ad
versaries under similar hanlicaps, but,
alas! I could do nothing.”
During the chase, Carpentier’s
machine was hit tw'ice by the German,
who fired over a hundred shots at him
but he himself w'as untouched.
Georges has had many narrow
escapes during the w'ar but w'ith one
exception has, come through un
scathed.
SELLS INTEREST IN LOT
Joe Laubner has sold the east half
of lot 21 in block 11 to T. Talleson for
the consideration of $1,000.
CONGRESS HAS
RE-CONVENEO
GREATEST INTEREST CENTERS
IN INTERNATIONAL SITUA
TION WHICH IS GRAVE
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4. -Congress
re-convened today. The session i.-> re
garded with greater interest than any
session foi years past owing to th.»
grave nature of the international
situation, particularly since the tor
podoing of tin* British liner Persia
and the loss of the life of an Amen
can consul. Opinion amongst mem
bers of both houses .>cems to be that
the United States will now be forced
to act. The more extreme believe war
can hardly be avoided but the others
think that the severance of relations
will he found sufficient.
<• <» ❖ ❖ •> <• <• •> •> <• <• *>
❖ ADJOURNS FOR ❖
❖ JUSTICE LAMAR ❖
❖ - •>
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4. — The
senate adjourn^ immediately after
reconvening today in memory of
Justice Lamar.
4* •> 4' 4* *> ❖ 4* 4* %*<*•>*>
❖ FAIRBANKS COUPLE *
❖ SOON TO MARRY *
❖ - *
FAIRBANKS, Jan. 4.—Mrs. Lillian
Martin and Reed Heilig have an
nounced their engagement. The lady
was formerly the wife of Fred Martin
who now resides at Anchorage and
who was formerly the owner of the
California saloon. Heilig the as
sistant prosecuting attorno;. Both
are very popular.
SENDING TUNGSTEN
BY PARCEL POST
Fairbanks Expected to he Raised t<
Second Class Post Office
A g a i n.
FAIRBANKS, Jan. 4.—Approxi
mately twelve thousand dollars will
be added to the postal receipts of the
Fairbanks office making it an office of
the second class by the shipment of
fifty tons of tungsten ore to the out
side by parcel post. The shippers are
Johnson and Ewers whose mine is
looking extremely good. The lead
has been traced for many hundreds
of feet and a shaft has been sunk for
fifty feet.
EXPECT ELECTRIC LIGHT
PLANT FOR ANCHORAGE
Anchorage expects that one of the
first uses to which an emergency ap
propriation would be put by the Rail
road Commission would be the instal
lation of an electric lighting plant for
that city. At least this is what J. J.
Grady, Seward’s ball player, says and
believes. Mr. Grady came over the
night before last after a rough trip
and will go down the coast to cover
some other towns for his house. The
only lighting plant in Anchorage now
is the Brown and Hawkins one.
BUNDESRATH HAS
SOME MORE ORATORY
The members of the city council
indulged again last night in oratorical
flights over the proposed new dock
approach, the electric light arrange
ments and some other questions.
Permission to let the work go on in
connection with the First avenue ap
proach to the proposed dock was post
poned. Mr. Winstadt again deliver
ed a speech. Mr. J. J. Finnegan and
Mr. Whittemore appeared and spoke
in behalf of those seeking the permis
sion ot erect the new wharf. A couple
of the boy orators of the august body
itself, watchdogs of the treasury,
spoke several times, but no one seems
to remember what they said, and the
dramatic critic was absent