The Great , , * ^3 !^r6at
ALASKAN [ ALASKAN
^_I DAILY
ADVERTISEMENTS BRING RESULTS EXCEPT SUNDAY_LARGEST ALASKAN CIRCULATION
Vol. 10. No. ::n SEWARD, ALASKA, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29,1916_Ten Cents the Copy
CZAR TORMAELTdECEARES TIME
HAS NOT VET COME EOR PEACE
ATLANTIC SHIPS DISAPPEAR
\T.\Y YORK, Dec. 2P.—Consternation has been once
more created in shipping circles by the information that
at least half a dozen ships have disappeared in the Atlan
tic and may have been the victims ot a German raider.
The liner \ oltaire is one ot the vessels missing and in ad
dition are four big British freighters which are overdue
a considerable time and have not reported. The four
frieghters are the Georgie, the Bellerophon, the Belgrave
and the Bayreut. One Belgian ship, the Baron Baeyens.
is also missing and unreported and she has also probably
suffered the fate of the others. The leaders in shipping
circles here are convinced that a German raider is operat
ing in the Atlantic, somewhere in the middle of the ocean,
and that site is one of the type of the Moewe which sank
or captured so many vessels in the Atlantic last spring.
The raider is most likely the one seen off the coast Oi
Scotland and taken for a Dutch vessel of the same name.
The secrecy surrounding the sailing of British ships from
American ports has been made more close since the publi
action of the news that the ships named are missing ant.
some sailings will probably be cancelled until it is learn
ed that the raider has ceased her operations. The raiding
is not attributed to submarines at all and it is likely that
the crews were saved if the vessels were really sunk.
RUSSIA WILL HAVE NO PEACE
PETKOGKAD, Dec. 2d. — Vigorous declarations b\
the Russian foreign minister and a pronouncement by the
emperor himself are taken here to mean that so far as
Russia is concerned the discussion of the peace proposals
has been made impossible and the proposals rejected.
ONLY PEACE AFTER GERMAN DEFEAT
LONDON, Dec. 2d.—The official proclamation by the
czar of Russia that the time for peace has not arrived has
removed every suspicion that Russia might be inclined to
entertain any such proposal. The News and Standard to
day both sav that the Entente nations are positive that
they will soon indict a crushing defeat and will then con
sider oilers of peace, but such offers must include the re
stitution of Alsace and Lorraine to France, the relinquish
ment of ail German spoils, the loss of her colonies and
suitable indemnities.
SAY AUSTRIA MUST HAVE PEACE
LONDON, Dec. 2d.—Recent reports from Switzer
land are to the effect that internal conditions in Austria
will compel a policy of Germany and France treating with
each other directly for a peace that is bound to be humi
liating to the former but is necessary to escape inevitable
ruin. A correspondent partly confirms this information
and he says the new emperor of Austria is eager for
peace.
GREEK GOVERNMENT THREATENS
ATHENS, Dec. 29.—The Greek government has ad
dressed a note to the Entente powers pointing out the
growing resentment on the part of the Greek people be
cause of the allied blockade, and stating that if the wishes
of Greece are not respected by the allied nations Greece
will “seek counsel elsewhere."
SCANDINAVIANS BACK WILSON
LONDON', Dec. 29.—The Scandinavian governments
have sent a joint note to the belligerent nations support
» ing the request or suggestion of President Wilson for a
peace conference. The American ambassador, Page, paid
his first visit to the new premier, Lloyd George, this morn
ing but it was merely formal.
BOMBARDING GALLIPOLI
LONDON, Dec. 29. — Gallipoli peninsula was again
made the scene of warlike activities yesterday when
British naval aeroplanes bombarded Turkish positions
there. _ _^
quit struma campaign
VIENNA, Dec. 21).—The allied campaign on the
Struma, which is on tne right flank of the allied Macedon
ian lines, lias evidently been abandoned as a result of tne
teutonic success in Koumama and the French, British
and Serbs are now apparently concentrating all their of
iensive energies on tne Monastir campaign. The severity
of tne climate has all but nullified their efforts, the war of
oce says. The most recent news from Montenegro indi
cates tnat the people of that country have begun to settle
down contentedly under Austrian dominion.
GERMAN VICTOR* OVER FRENCH
BERLIN, Dec. -i>. — via Sayville—The first, second
and uurd line ireiicnes of Hie t rencn were penetrated b„\
our troops yesterday at tile lamous Headman's Hill m
.ne verauu region anti the victory as hailed as most im
portant. ne took two hundred and thirty prisoners am.
oy transferring reinforcements from tne Somme front wt
.iave Held our gains despite furious counter attacks, t lit
attack was made after an intense artillery bombardment.
BERLIN W AR REPORTS
BERLIN, Dec. 29. — The Ninth German army con
tinues gaming m . .aliachia, 11 is oiticially announced tms
morning, out no important details have been made Known,
un the Macedonian trout, tno oincial bulletin states, con
aitions remain unchanged, in the Garpatnians uerman
riilemeh have retired strong tCussian patrols, in isoiaieu
sectors oi the Bomme temporary but strong artillery en
gagements are reported. The liveliest aeropianmg is
proceeding ail over the French front and several aerun
engagements are taking place. Eight enemy planes have
been downed. __
GERMANS SEE NO PEACE
BERLIN, Dec. 29.—It is admitted on all hands now
that in German oilicial and unotiicial circles the feeling
that peace will come is anything but optimistic. Indeed,
most people believe the proposals have already been
practically rejected. _
RUSSIANS RESIST STUBBORNLY
PETROGRAD, Dec. 29.—The Russians are now stub
bornly resisting expulsion from Dobrudja and the Teu
tons were repulsed yesterday south of the Danube with
great losses. British armored cars have been brought in
to service on that front and in the past couple of days
nave beaten back Teuton attacks west of Slaveno. The
Germans are actively bombarding in Galicia but no
changes have taken place there.
GREEKS MAY AID GERMANS
LONDON, Dec. 29.—Reports from Saloniki indicate
that King Constantine has ordered the Greek army di
vision interned by the Germans at Goerlit, Germany, to go
to Macedonia and light against the Entente alliance.
WILSON REMAINS SILENT
WASHINGTON, Dec. 29. — President Wilson and
Secretary of State Lansing have adopted an attitude of
absolute silence regarding the proposed negotiations.
Not a word can be secured from them.
EMBARGO MEASURE POSTPONED
WASHINGTON, Dec. 29—The bill placing an em
bargo on foodstuffs has been postponed pending the in
vestigation into the cause of high food prices and also,'it
is believed, until the fate of President Wilson’s peace
proposals has been learned. It is rumored in legislative
circles that Fitzgerald was asked as a favor not to intro
duce the bill for a time and Fitzgerald consented. Well
informed people say that if the Allies refuse the Wilson
request the position of those favoring the embargo will
be strengthened.
VILLA COMPELS TORREON TO PAY
A HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS
WHAT SETH MANN SAID
ABOUT ALASKA R. R.
In a speech recently before the Al
aska Bureau of the Seattle chamber
of commerce Seth Mann, President
Wilson's representative in the big
tour to Alaska some years ago said
Alaska should have a more geneimis
form of self government and it is
made evident in many ways that his
suggestions were followed by the ad
ministration. The following is an ae
lount of his most redent statement in
the Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Mr. Mann, who was President Wil
son’s personal representative on the
Seattle Chamber of Commerce’s trio
Alaska three years ago, said that
crip served to emphasize the import
tnce of Alaska to the nation at large,
•( that Alaska and its development is
omething to which we can give our
•tiehtion.
“In my report to President Wilson
made after that trip,” said Mr. Mann,
I said that Alaska could not be de
/eloped without a railroad, and that
10 such road could be built by priv
ate capital, and that there was a pre
cedent for the government undertak
ing the building of such a road in its
building of a railroad alross the
Isthmus of Panama.
“That project having been launched
the question which now remains to
be determined is: What is the best
method by which to develope its coal
iields, and you here are better capable
.»f advising as to that than anybouy
else.
“We may expect a great commerce
with that territory as a result of the
development of that great territory's
resources, so I regard it as a day of
congratulation for the people of Al
aska and Seattle, and in fact of the
entire world that Alaska’s commerce
has already increased upward ot MO
per cent., and that 40 per cent, would
be a better measure of the commerce
between Seattle and Alaska in the
short time since the national govern
ment has evinced an interest in land
whose treasures have been too long
;ept locked up.
The activity of the federal govern
ment is a demonstration of the gov
ernment’s interest in the territory and
its people, and the confidence its ac
tion has inspired throughout the
country, and on the coast as well as
in the interior of Alaska has vouch
safed and guaranteed its future.
“The congratulations we feel that
the development of Alaska is assured
have become mutual. The problems
of details are now in your hands as
to schools, fisheries and land laws,
and the responsibility concerning I
these is now largely yours.”
Mr. Mann then said that the idea
had already been advanced by Secre
tary of the Interior Franklin Lane for
a local administration of Alaska
through a branch government located
in the territory and which would
make unnecessary the delays in the
settlement of questions now required
because they must be referred to the
various bureaus in Washington.
“In the old days of the Russian j
government of Alaska the cry used to
be ‘St. Petersburg and heaven are a
long way apart/ ” said Mr. Mann,
smilingly, “but in our day it has been
and is ‘Washington and Alaska are
a long way apart, and with but little
of heaven until recently.’ ”
—
Miss Hudson arrived last night on
the Watson to be assistant to Dr.
Keating. .
... —t ■* — -• ■
VILLA EVACUATES TORREOX
EL PASO, Dec. 29. — The officials of the Carranza
government announced today that Villa has evacuated
i'orreon but before the evacuation he exacted a tribute
m the sum of a hundred thousand pesos from the citi
zens. He is now reported to be marching on Saltillo but
he Carranza officials say that the people of that place
have dynamited the town and ieft it. The same officials
my that the Carranza government has large forces at its
disposal and will attack Villa before long but from all
other sources of information the news is by no means so
hopeful.
WATSON MUST
COME ACROSS
CHAIRMAN OF HOI SK COMMIT
TEK TELLS HIM TO ITT
Cl* OR SHI T IT.
NEW YORK, Dec. 21).—Congress
man Henry, chairman of the commit
toe of rules of the house, lias wired
Tom Watson in <diarp terms to “pul
tip or shut up.” lie tells the (manner!
ti come to Washington and delivci
the goods about lit** alleged tips given
from the White* House that caused
'he flurry in tie* stock exchange, ac
cording to the s ory told by Wa -on
Henry says if Watson cannot give
proofs of what he says he ought to
stop besmirching the good name of
the officials.
FIRE AT VALDEZ
Prospector, Dec. 22. — Eire broke
nit this morning shortly after 2
o'clock in the Arctic Hotel on the
•ornor of Keystone anil Hobart street,
and owned by Mrs. Herman Syring.
The fire had gained considerable
headway when first discovered so
that the entire interior of the house
was filled with a dense smoke when
the inmates were aroused by the
alarm. Several of the lodgers, un
able to get out by the regular means
leaped from their windows. Latei
some of them went back and secured
their clothing, but two were unabb
to reach their rooms and were com
pelled to seek sufficient attire to covei
themselves from their friends.
The fire started in the rear of the
building and had broken through and
was burning briskly when the alarm
sounded. The fire department re
sponded promptly and soon had two
streams on the burning building. The
fire was a difficult one to subdue, ttu
flames having got in between the par
titions and spread in all directions
In the effort to extinguish them the
1 uilding was thoroughly flooded will
water, and the most serious damage
to the contents of the building is due
to the water.
WATSON DUE SUNDAY
The Watson arrived just after 1
a. m. today and proceeded to the
westward. She did not leave off her
incoming passenger list. She took
away R. D. Miller and J. D. Fuerer
She is due back on Sunday.
THREE HUNDRED LOST
ON THE SANKAKU MARU
TOKIO, Dec. 29. — Three hundred
people, mostly Chinese laborers, are
reported to have perished in the sink
ing of the Sankaku Maru.
R. R. STRIKE
i AGAIN LOOMS
I --
M \Y COMIC ON J ANT \RY I BIT
LABOR IS KYIDKNTLY
IMVIDKIL
NICW YORK. l>cc. 2!>.—A joint con
fere nee of tin* railroad Brotherhoods
ended abruptly last night and the
sessions have been suspended until
the ruling on the Adamson eight
hour law comes or until the railroad.-*
refuse the eight hour day on January
1 when, the Brotherhoods assert, the
aw becomes effective. Chairman Lee
jf the Brotherhoods says that he ha'
agreed with the department of justice
to keep a record of the wages if tin*
Adamson law is upheld by them.
MORRISON AGAINST LAW
WASHINGTON, Dec. 29.—Secre
arv Morrison, the noted labor leader,
ays in an interview in the New York
Sun that Labor did not ask for the
Adamson law and that it would prob
ibly have been better if it had not
passed. “Our position has always
been better,” he said, “if we secure
betterments through strikes and
economic pressure and not by legisla
tion.”
n\'0 MEN ARRIVE ALL
THE WAY FROM MARSHALL
H. W. Parmerlee and “Curly”
Smith have arrived by the overland
trail from Marshall City which they
.eft in the middle of November. The
distance to Iditarod from Marshall is
only about 175 miles. Nothing new
has transpired in the mining line in
Marshall except what has been learn
ed before, Mr. Parmerlee says. The
result of the election there was no
surprise to the Marshall people them
selves. Frank Waskey was out all
right for Sulzer but others with in
fluence were out just as strong for
Wickersham.
COMMISSIONER IS CANNED
U. S. Commissioner Lee Van Slyke
of Susitna station, has been relieved
from the duties of his office.. Mr. Nan
Siyke was supposedly a Democrat,
and there is nothing on the records to
show that he was ill or otherwise
detained from voting on election day,
but the returns from his precinct
show a solid NVickershara vote. This
may or may not have had something
to do with his enforced resignation.
It is also rumored that some other
officials in this division holding office
under a democratic administration, as
democrats, may share a similar fate
in the near future.—Prospector.