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niioi icucn niti V i.'vrKl'T SUNDAY LARGEST ALASKAN ( IltCL’LA I ION
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Vo] 9 No. 52 SEWARD. THE GATEWAY TO ALASKA, WEDNESDAY DECEMBER H, lull._( ,nl* lllr 1 <>I’T
FRENCH GOVERNMENT RETURNS TO CITY OF PARIS
THREE FAMOUS GERMAN SHIPS
SUNK BY BRITISH IN PACIFIC
GERMAN FLEET SUNK
LONDON, Dec. D.—It was officially announced this
afternoon that the German cruisers Scharnhorst, Gnei
senau and Leipzig have been sunk in the Pacific. No
further details have arrived up to the time this dispatch
was sent but already the city has gone wild with rejoic
ing at the fate of the ships that sank the British cruisers
Monmouth and Good Hope off’ the coast of Chile.
All the accounts of recent date had stated that those
ships were in the Atlantic having sailed around the pacific
but the official news of their destruction shows that the
former information was faked, possibly by the Germans
themselves . The most intense curiosity is manifested by
the people for the full account of the engagement in which
they were lost. It is assumed that they were sunk in an
engagement with a combined force of British and Jap
anese vessels. Since the battle off the coast of Chile the
British people have desired nothing more than the des
truction of the vessels that had destroyed the British
squadron and all London is celebrating the news at this
moment, just a few minutes after the arrival of the mere!
news that they were sunk.
LATEST ABOUT NAVAL BATTLE
LONDON, Dec. 9.—Since the first account of the sink
ing of the German cruiser in the Pacific a further account |
has been received which is also not full but which tells
that the battle was fought near the Falkland islands. The
Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, Nurnberg, Leipzig and Dresden
were sighted yesterday morning near the Falkland islands
by the British squadron under Vice Admiral Sir Freder
ick Sturdee and an action followed. The Scharnhorst,;
which was the flagship of Admiral von Spee, the Gnei
senau, the Leipzig were sunk. The Dresden and the Nurn-j
berg fled during the action but are being pursued. In ad
dition to the loss of the three German ships two German
colliers were captured. The British casualties were very
few. Some of the survivors of the Gneisenau and the j
Leipzig were rescued.
GERMANS SCORNED DEATH
PETROGRAD, Dec. 9.—The German attack at
Lowicz west of W arsaw was continued yesterday with an
absolute disregard of the consequences notwithstanding
the frightful slaughter that must have taken place in their
ranks. Column followed column in close ranks, the men
marching shoulder to shoulder despite the murderous fire
of the Russians. The German infantry lay in shallow
trenches which had been dug with bayonets and bare
hands at a distance of only two hundred paces from the!
Russian entrenchments. While this was taking place the
Germans brought up their artillery within eight hundred
paces of the Russians and never in all war has such
another instance been seen of fierce determination. Lowicz
is closer to Warsaw than Lodz and the intention of the en
emy apparently is to reach Warsaw at any cost.
FIGHTING IN CARPATHIANS
PETROGRAD, De. 9.—The Russian movement for the
envelopment of Cracow continues in spite of the retire
ment of the Russian army in Russian Poland. The center
of the operations has, however, been shifted southward to
the foothills of the Carpathian mountains on the left wing
of the Russian front. At this point the Austrian and Ger
man right is trying a flanking movement on a wide scale
in the effort to compel the Russians at Cracow to fall back.
In that part of the field the allied enemies have been
heavily reinforced by German troops from Belgium.
GENERAL BEYERS KILLED
LONDON, Dec. 9.—General Beyers, the last of the
important leaders of the Boer rebellion in South Africa,1
has been killed according to the official report issued to
day. The details of the manner in which he met his end1
have not been published but it is assumed that he was kill
ed in battle some place in the northern part of the Trans- ■
vaal. Reports as to the progress of the rebellion are very
meager but the loss to the rebels of De Wet and Beyers :
is supposed to mean the greatest disaster that could occur
to them. The rebels are said to be without an adequate
supply of ammunition and this fact, added to the loss of
their principal leaders, is expected soon to put an end to
the uprising. 1
FRENCH GOVT. IN PARIS
PARIS, Dec. 9.—Once more this city is the actual as
well as the nominal capital of the French republic, Presi
dent Poincare,the member of the cabinet and the diplo
mats accredited to the French government having return
ed to Paris today. They were received with tremendous
demonstrations of welcome and the beautiful city pre
sented the appearance of one that was celebrating a
great triumph instead of being the capital of a nation with
I the enemy within its borders. As the president moved
through the streets accompanied by the other members
of the government bands played and regiments of soldiers
from the front were lined along the route. The news of
the return is sure to have a splendid effect on the morale
of the people and the army and this fact is regarded as
most welcome as a counteraction against the result of
the German victory in the battle of Lodz.
_
FRANCE CLAIMS SUCCESSES |
PARIS, Dec. 9.—It is officially announced that all the
positions won by us within the past few days have been
1 organized and consolidated. During Tuesday fighting oc-1
curred from the sea coast to Lys. In the Aisne region
much fighting also took place, including some infantry en-,
! gagements, and resulted in appreciable gains for our
| troops. Several German trenches were occupied and we
| made progress along the entire front except at one point
where the Germans succeeded in blowing up our trenches
with a mine. This mine was laid by the tunnelling method
and caused some severe losses amongst our troops. On the
heights of the Meuse our artillery proved itself to be dis
tinctly master of tne v.v-n. ... u..o aiiu some good results
| were secured. The allies are now assuming the offensive |
at several points. This movement may eventually become
a general offensive with the intention of driving out the j
enemy completely. The German attempt to reach the coast
is declared to have been practically postponed although
there is still some severe fighting going on along the Yser
and all the way to Nieuport and there is a feeling that the
retirement of the Russians in Poland will be immediately
followed by the sending back of large German reinforce
ments to the western front for another great effort to
reach Calais and Dunkirk.
GERMANS PURSUE RUSSIANS
BERLIN, Dec. 8.—'The government officially an
nounced this afternoon that the German army in Russian
Poland is now pursuing the retreating Russians to the
east and south of Lodz after the great victory which Ger
many has achieved in the Lodz battle. The battle is re
garded here as a most disastrous one for Russia and a
glorious triumph for German arms so that the rejoicings
in Berlin are immense and tremendous results are expect
ed from the successful termination of the great fight.
LONDON’S OPINION OF BATTLE
LONDON, Dec. 9.—The Germans report that having
occupied the city of Lodz they are pushing eastward in
pursuit of the retreating Russians. It is believed, however
that the troops on both sides in Poland have been subject
ed to a frightful strain and that both armies may find it
necessary to rest from further struggles. Their losses
have been enormous and when the full story of that ti
tanic battle around the city of Lodz comes to be written it
will tell of a slaughter that will stagger humaniy. The
Russians report that their retirement is only a strategic
move and that the Germans have really gained no victory
such as that which has been reported but the full report
will probably be known today or tomorrow. It is certainly
known that Germany had a crushing victory in sight but
lost the chief results by not being able to unite its forces
at the psychological moment when a united force would
have meant disaster for Russia. After the main battle
the Rusians gained a dominant position further back but
they were unable to hold it and the retreat was continued.
Lodz is nearly a hundred miles from Warsaw so that the
Germans have still a huge task before them before they
! can hope to reach that city unless the retirement of the
Russian center will make a retirement of the Russian
j right necessary and. so permit the Germans to swoop
I down from the East Prussia frontier . There is a
very grave fear that the retreat will also compel the Rus
sian forces in Galicia to fall back and so relieve Cracow
while giving the Austrians a chance to advance and take
offensive once again.
GETTING BUSY
j ON R. R. DOPE
TELEGRAMS COMING FROM
WASHINGTON SEEM TO SUG
GEST A SCHEME.
In newspapers from the outside like
the Seattle Times and the San Fran
cisco Examiner have recently begun
to appoar some telegrams about the
Alaska government railroad which
rather suggest that some one is get
; ting busy for some purpose or
another. These telegrams to those
papers all come from Washington and
all began to come about the same time.
' One of them quotes Chairman Edes of
the commission as saying that it
would be a good policy for the govern
; ment to purchase the Copper River
railroad and to extend it as well as to
build additional lines . It is noticeable
that Mr. Edes is not quoted verbatim
and we may be perfectly sure he
never made such a remark as it has
been his fixed policy to make no re
commendations until the president of
the United States himself asks for
them. This telegram appears in the
Seattle Times of November 28. The
same telegram also states that the
proposed deal for the Copper River j
road is still pending and that it has
only been pigeon-holed until the re
port of the railroad commission has
been received. This report, the tele
gram says will be filed in a few weeks.
In the Examiner telegram it is
stated that when the route of the
government railroad has been decided
upon the administration will take up
the question of the purchase of the
Copper River railroad or the Alaska
Northern.
BROTHER OF YOUNG SEWARD
PEOPLE PASSES AWAY.
The sad intelligence has been receiv
ed by Miss Anna Nelson and Oscar
Nelson of the death of their brother,
Peter Nelson, which took place at
Portland on November 28. He had
reached the ago of 17 and had just
graduated from the grammer to the
high school. Some time ago he was
taken ill of heart trouble which is said
to have been caused by a too rapid
growth. His parents live at Kodiak
where his mother received the news
by telegram.
VALDEZ PAPER STARTS
WAR ON U. S. ATTORNEY.
VALDEZ, Nov. 20.—The Valdez
Prospector has gone a-gunning for
United States Attorney Spence.
The Prospector says: “The United
States grand jury, lacking confidence
in the district court, yesterday asked
Judge Fred M. Brown for instructions
regarding the right of a woman to
vote in Alaska when her husband has
a separate residence in the State. The
court replied that the vote was ille
gal.
“On the day of election the district
attorney advised a woman whose hus
band is an alien, that she had the right
to vote. The vote was challenged, but
finally accepted. Now the district at
torney admits he made an error.”
The Prospector further alleged that
the district attorney advised a dis
charged soldier who was not a citizen,
that he had the right of citizenship by
reason of his military service. The
man voted and The Prospector says
Mr. Spence denied he advised him.
The Prospector is particularly bitter
tow’ards the district attorney for
“closing a moving picture show in
Seward, on Sunday, and refusing to
close a show in Valdez where his son
is employed.”—Juneau Empire.
MEXICO SEEMS
MOST DOCILE
CAPITAL QUIET AND ALL
CHIEFS APPEAR TO BE
FRIENDLY.
WASHINGTON Dec. 9.—Not a rip
ple seems to have disturbed Mexican
i
I alFairs for several days and as far as
has been learned all the chiefs who
have arrived in Mexico City are re
maining in the same friendly rela
tions. Villa and Zapata have had pro- j
longed conferences in the last forty j
eight hours and always display every J
indication that their relatione are
most cordial. Zapata has stated that
his only reason for participation in
any of the Mexican disturbances in
which he was involved was to strive
for the welfare of the masses of the
Mexican people. Guiterrez is now
fully recognized as the provisional
head of the republic and the confer
ences between Villa Zapata and the
other chiefs are supposed to be con
cerned with the coming election for
the presidency. It is reported that at
tempts have been made by some pro
minent people who have taken no very
conspicuous part in the recent troubles
to sound Carranza as to his opinion
of the proposal that he and the oppos
ing leaders take up negotiations again
with a view to reaching a settlement.
I
BARNETTE AFRAID WHEN
HE AIDED MEN HE RUINED.
A news special from Fairbanks says
that Captain Eldridge T. Barnette and
Mrs. Barnette have fded complaint
there asking the court to set aside a
trust deed in which he conveyed to
the defunct Washington-Alaska bank
in favor of depositors, a ranch in Mex
ico and real estate in Fairbanks.
Barnette's plea is that he executed
the deed while in fear of personal
violence from an aroused public.
The property in question is worth
perhaps $500,000.
EVANS LEAVES JUNEAU.
The Evans left Juneau at 7:30 this
morning on the way to Seward, ac
cording to word received today by
Agent Wayne Blue.
MARIPOSA LEAVES TONIGHT.
Tonight is the time scheduled for
the sailing of the Mariposa from
Seattle. Agent Guptil received word
some days ago that she would leave
on the ninth instead of the eighth.
NEWS NOTES
Duncan Little who has arrived in
the city from Moose Pass says that
the trail is fine. The snow begins
three miles out of town.
According to the Los Vegas Age of
November 21, Dan Greenwalt has be
come interested in a rich quartz pro
perty there. The rock is so rich that
high graders have been caught at
work on it. It is said to be worth
fifty dollars a pound. Greenwalter left
here some time ago after the wreck
of the Sampson on which his wife was
a passenger.
Major L. H. French arrived at Mile
Thirty-four last evening and phoned
in to say that the trails were fine and
that he had a fine trip on A1 Chamber
lian’s dog team.
N. W. Sweetser, general manager of
the Granby Consolidated, stated to the
Ketchikan Miner that the dock and ore
bunkers at Hadley are nearly finished
and that the aerial tram from the
Mamie mine to the beach is ready for
business.
•SAYS U. S. IS
NOT PREPARED
GARDNER TEELS SENSATION
AL THINGS A BO IT
SPANISH WAR.
The speech of Representative Gard
ner in congress on the question has
just arrived and in a timely manner
l after the speech of President Wilson
I yesterday shows just how poorly this
country is prepared for war. Gardner
j in his speech said he was a member of
j the militia and fought in the Spanish
| war. He declares that twenty per cent
of the personnel of the American
| militia is unlit for war and would
demoralize the rest. He also declares
that a great part of the forces mobiliz
ed on paper during that war were
actually not mobilized until the war
was all over. He further declared that
part of the U. S. forces were armed
with short range old rifles shooting
black powder cartridges. Some of the
rifles he declared, had neither triggers
nor plungers.
Sixty per cent of the men in the
militia do not know how to use a gun
properly, he said, and that percentage
were unable last year to qualify as
third class marksmen.
LAFGHTER AND SHOFTS
STOPPED THE PRESIDENT.
Democrats in Congress Almost Tickled
to Death When He Hits
the Jingoes.
WASHINGTON, Doc. 8.—When the
president declared in his message to
congress today that “we shall not
change our attitude towards national
defense because some amongst us are
nervous and excited" there was an
outburst of laughter and applause
that lasted nearly a minute during
which time the president was unable
to proceed with his reading.
Me A DOO SEES A SFRPLFS
IN GOVT. RECEIPTS.
Secretary Believes However, That
There Will Be Ten Million
Loss This Year.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 9.—Secretary
sf the Treasury' McAdoo estimates
that the receipts for the current fiscal
year will be seven hundred and twenty
eight millions and that the disburse
ments will be ten millions in excess
of that amount. He sees an increase
in prospects for the next fiscal year,
however. For the coming year he
estimates the receipts at seven hun
dred and thirty five millions. This is
due, of course, to the new revenue
taxes recently levied. Even then the
surplus will be only a slight one.
IVY L. LEE WROTE PAMPHLET.
DENVER, Dec. 8.—President Wel
born of the Colorado Feul and Iron
company has finally consented to tell
the Industrial Relations committee
who wrote the now famous pamphlet
attacking the Miners’ union. The
writer was Ivy L. Lee, executive as
sistant of the Pennsylvania railroad.
BERTHA LEAVES CORDOVA.
The steamship Bertha left Cordova
this morning at 2 o’clock. She will
stop at Valdez to land the mail and
come right on to Seward. It is believ
ed that she has about six days’ mail
aboard. Agent Wayne Blue received
word of her leaving Cordova this
morning.
You get locai Ranch Eggs with your
Ham and Bacon at Gamble’s Res
taurant