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SEWARD:—The Gateway to the Land of Opportunity—The Hunters’ Paradise—The homesteaders’ Land of Promise ZT ~ ‘ l The Gateway The Gateway . .. t0 the - ° ®. Kenai, Knik, Broad Pass Great Coal Fie ds of ’ , . . . Gold Fields Matanuska , 31 __ . . _ j |___ -- ’ n.iD, lonrn ntMV lrYr'PPT SUNDAY LARGEST ALASKAN CIRCULATION MEMBER ASSOCI VTED PRESS_PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEIT SU1NUAI V«L *, No. M SEWARD. THE GATEWAY TO ALASKA, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, l’JLL_1 1.. SANGUINARY BUT INDECISIVE BATTLES RAGED RUSSIA GIVES LARGE TERRITORT TO JAPANESE EOR HEAVY GUNS~:r:r.. EXCHANGE ISLAND FOR GUNS WASHINGTON, Dec. 26. -The Japanese embassy here announces that Russia has ceded to Japan the north ern half of Sakhalin island in exchange for heavy guns which Russia evidently needs badly in the present war. The southern half of the island was ceded to Japan at the close of her war with Russia. The news is taken here to mean that Russia is by no means so well equipped for the war as the world had been led to believe. LONDON’S REPORT LONDON. Dec. 26.—Christmas passed without a truce by any of the warring nations. Petrograd reports today that the Russians have resumed the offensive at several points in Poland ami that they have captured eleven thou sand prisoners. The Austrian army is still making a courageous effort to strike down the valley of the Nida river in the direction of Cracow. British observers think this movement will be too late of the Austro-German at tack on the center has been checked as reported. Hinden burg still keeps his bulldog grip on the Vistula and seems at present ta be making a movement towards Warsaw from Thorn in the western part of East Prussia. TWO DAY’S FIGHTING PARIS, Dec. 25.—It is officially announced that in termittent fighting has been proceeding in Belgium. The allies have made progress along the whole front in France and Belgium but the gains are slight. PARIS. Dec. 2G.—'The official announcement this morning shows that fighting went on to some extent on Christmas Day but a heavy fog which settled over Flanders interfered with the operations. Counter attacks made by the Germans have been repulsed at various points. All the fighting took place near the sea and at Perthes. It is also announced that the French have made further progress in upper Alsace. PETROG RAD’S REPORT PETROGRAD, Dec. 25.—On the left bank of the Vistula the Germans have been hurled back from one of the positions they had occupied. This position was on the * right bank of the lower Bzura. They have been reinforced at another point and are continuing their attack on Soch aczew. They are also trying to debouch from Bolimow. To the east of Skierniewicz their night attack was repuls ed with heavy losses. They have launched several fruit less attacks to the west of the river Rawka and are vig orously resisting the offensive of the Russians on the north bank of the Pilica. In East Prussia and around Przemysl and the Carpathians no essential changes are noted THOUSANDS OF BRITISH DIE BERLIN, Dec. 26.—It is officially announced that the Germans have scored a big success over the British and Indian troops at St. Hubert. This success was reported before but the facts can be better judged today by the later reports arriving from the front. Nineteen officers and eight hundred and eighteen British soldiers were cap tured. Fourteen machine guns, twelve mine throwers and much other war material fell into our hands. The enemy left more than three thousand dead on the field. So fright ful were their losses that the British asked for a cessation of hostilities to bury their dead while our losses were com paratively slight. ZEPPELIN MAKES RAID NANCY, France, Dec. 26.—A Zeppelin airship flew over this city early this morning and dropped fourteen bombs. Two persons were killed, two were wounded, sev eral houses were slightly damaged but no public building was struck. When the bombs began to drop quite a panic was created but the work of the Zeppelin was not at all so effective as had been expected. It is supposed that this was a trial raid made on a city close to the German border for the purpose of testing the effectiveness of airships of p, that kind with the future general air raid on London or Paris in view. The members of the government in Paris have taken special precautions to guard against attacks by Zeppelins. Special guns have been mounted near the Elysee and other government buildings. FIERCE FIGHTING IN POLAND PETROGRAD, Dec. 26.—It is officially announced I this morning that the Germans who succeeded in forcing their way across the Bzura river south of Sochaczew have been driven back after suffering heavy losses. It is also announced that the German attacks in the region of Boli mow have resulted in failure. In the region of Lodz, on the Pilica river and to the south of that locality stubborn fighting continues. Along the entire course of the Nida river and to the south of the Vistula fighting is progres , sing under conditions favorable to the Russians. BERLIN ON POLAND BERLIN, Dec. 26.—1The official news today about the eastern field of war is that Russian attacks in the vicinity of Lotzen were repulsed and we took a thousand prisoners. In North Poland to the east of the Vistula the situation remains unchanged. We have ceased our attacks on the Bzura river and on the right bank of the Pilica to the southeast of Tomaszow our offensive movement has been successful. Further to the south the situation remains | unchanged. SEIZE ITALY’S COPPER i ROME, Dec. 25.—Several cargoes of copper consign ed to Italy have been seized by British and French ships but the British and French governments have now promised the Italian government to release the cargoes if Italy pledges that she will not permit the copper to be exported to Germany or its allies. The Italian officials say that this pledge will be given as all the available cop per can be used in Italy ami there is no necessity for ex porting it. FROM VARIOUS QUARTERS LONDON, Dec. 26.—Reports have come through Rome that the Turks have gained some successes in Asia (Minor where they are opposing the Russians. Constanti I nople and Berlin say that a million Turks can be placed in the field as soon as arrangements have been made to have them properly equipped. The British government has given out no late intelligence as to the reported intention of Turkey to invade Egypt but the people here seem to assume generally that the Turks will certainly make the attempt by way of the Suez canal. The khedive of Egypt has been in Berlin for some time according to the latest reports although it is difficult to understand how he got there from Constantinople where he was reported to be at the time Turkey entered the war. PETROGRAD, Dec. 25.—The Russians are still using the Julian calendar and Christmas is still thirteen days distant. Petrograd’s first Christmas without vodka has been marked by less feasting and carnival making. The winter has been comparatively mild and the river Neva is still unfrozen. The Christmas spirit has been over shadowed by the spectre of war. In every large square and open space are gathered detachments of new recruits to the army. All of them are clad in fur caps and long overcoats as they are trained. The religious ceremonies of the season will be practised with a greater fervor than usual as the war has created a more intensely devotional spirit amongst all the people. LEIBNECHT DRAFTED PARIS, Dec. 25.—Dispatches from Switzerland say that Dr. Leibnecht, the famous socialist and the only member of the reichstag who voted against the war cre dit, has been enrolled in the army to put a stop to his op position to the war. It was at first thought to place him on trial for treason but this idea was abandoned although his action made him detested. MASQUERADE PRIZES. The prizes for the Firemen’s Mas querade ball will be on view in the | windows of the Gateway office. As ! the days go on it becomes more evi j dent that the affair will be one of the j pleasantest ever held anywhere. BRINGING MAIL. Elgin Vaughan is bringing in the j ! Hope and Sunrise mail and Colonel Revell is following with the Iditarod mail. Both are expected today. BIRTHDAY FOR MISS HAWKINS. Miss Virginia Hawkins, one of the most popular young ladies in town, celebrated Christmas and her birth day simultaneously yesterday by act ing as hostess to some other fair de butantes in the persons of Misses Alice Daggett, Marit Eide, Patsy Ray, Geraldine Hickey and Gladys Green. The young ladies dined at a table which stood about fifteen inches above the floor but which was leaded down with a splendid banquet. TROUBLED. MANILA, Dec. 2G.—An abortive at tempt at rebellion was made by the Filipinos in Manila and its environs on Thursday but matters are again quieted down. Eight of the ringleaders have been arrested but it is apparent that the rising was started by men who were not gifted with the ability to be dangerous. The party was mostly composed of persons who implicitly trust the word of Antonio Kicarte the revolutionist who conducts a continual propaganda from Hongkong where *.e was banished by the American govern ment. MOOSE HAVE FINE TIME The Seward Lodge of the Loyal Order of Moose held their Christmas tree last evening and later had a royal time until the small hours of the morning. All the children received prizes and the grown up children danced and feasted. A feature of the evening’s fun were some musical sel ections and some selections that were by no means musical but helped to create a merry atmosphere. The Moose hall was crowded to the doors but yet much of the culinary creations of George Kosmos were left over. The affair was so thoroughly successful that it is evident a new Moose build ing will have to come before another Christmas. A PLEASANT XMAS EVE. Christmas Eve was spent in a most enjoyable manner by those who were lucky enough to be present at the Christmas tree at the Methodist Episcopal church on Christmas Eve. The children were made happy by an abundance of pretty gifts and a very nice program was rendered. FOR MODERN SCHOOLS HERE - # WICKERSHAM GETS TO WASH INGTON AND TELLS OF NEW PLACES. WASHINGTON,D. C. Dec. 16.—Del egate James Wickersham of Alaska, arrived in this city today aftor sev eral weeks absence in that territory mwhich he was re-elected to the posi tion he now occupies by on over whelming majority at the territorial election in November. Mr. Wifkersham has announced his intention to immediately prepare a bill for the organization of a modem school system in Alaska. LONDON, Dec. 25.—As an answer to the recent charges that football players are paying too much atten tion to their game and too little to re cruiting, it is announced that plans | have been completed for sending to the front a battalion ,1,100 men com posed entirely of football players both amateurs and professionals. Another newly organized battalion is to be composed entirely of men whose height is less than the official standard, recently reduced to 5 feet 3 inches. Members of this “Bantams Battalion”are to receive a special dis pensation from Lord Kitchener. M. Roberts, mayor of lerre Haute anc democratic candidate for governor ol this state in 1906, was arrested today with several others on the charge ol election fraud during the election just passed. The specific nature of the charges has not yet been made public The other men elected are all pro minent in one way or another but principally in politics It is said by the papers here that the alleged offenses are very serious and that very strong proofs have been secured against Roberts and some of the others. The standing of Roberts was very high all over the state and in his own city it was particularly so. He and his friends declare that their arrest is due to political animus and that they can easily prove that they were gruilty of no illegalities. FIFTY TWO BELOW ZERO IN VERMONT Seward Has a Far Warmer Climate Than Many of the States. WASHINGTON, Dec. 26.—An ex tremely cold wave now holds the whole country in its grip from the Missis sippi river to the Atlantic. The Dec ember temperature records have been broken in many places but Barre, Ver mont, beats all records with a temper ature of fifty two below zero. Ex tremely cold weather extends as far south as Florida. Temperatures be low zero are recorded from New Eng land, interior New Y'ork, West Vir ginia, Michigan, Illinois, Northern Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Dakota. JAPANESE LOWER HOUSE PUT OUT OF BUSINESS, Rejected Proposal to Expand the Army and the Government Dissolved it. TOKIO, Dec. 26.—The imperial diet was dissolved today because the lower house rejected the proposals of the government for army expaiv-ion. The proposals were voted down by a large majority and this fact is regarded here as marking the beginning of a movement favoring a curtailment of military power. GENERAL KELLY KENNY DEAD LONDON, Dec. 26.—Sir Thomas Kelly Kenny, formerly adjutant gen eral of the British army, died here last night. He gained distinction dur ing the Boer war but had retired be cause of having passed the age limit BERTHA SAILING CANCELLED. Agent Wayne Blue has received notification that the sailing of the steamship Bertha has been cancelled. A big crowd of people took ad vantage on Christmas Eve of the splendid turkey dinner provided, ac cording to custom, by Leo Margules at the Northern. The Northern Christ mas dinner has now become a most popular institution evidently. ~The Mariposa was scheduled to sail from Seattle on the 24th. The Seattle correspondent was probably celebrat ing and forgot to send the passenger list today. The regular dance of the Seward Dancing club will take place this even ing in the railroad building. An un usually large attendance is expected. : VILLA SCARES ; BUSINESS MEN e HINTS ABOUT EXECUTION 01 THE WEALTHY AND GETS t ? MONEY. 5 EL I’ASO, Dec. 25.—Julian Medini, t a blacksmith, has been appointed e governor of the state of Jalisco by l Villa and replaces Miguel Dieguoz, a carpenter, who was appointed by Car i ranza. During a recent visit to i Guadalajara Villa sought a popular loan of a million pesas. The major r part of this loan will be provided by the church party which is gratified at the re-opening of the churches , which had been closed by Carranza. In addressing the business men Villa » said that if the funds were not raised another French revolution would re sult when men such as those he was ' addressing might fall by the guillo ' tine. The reports coming here say ■ that the business men took the hint ■ and are contributing. i ____ PRESIDENT SPENDS A REAL CHRISTMAS DAY. WASHINGTON, Dec. 25.—The president arose early’ this morning to personally' direct the Christmas white house festivities for his little grand 1 niece Anna Cothran. In the library' 1 was a large Christmas tree and there the family gathered before breakfast to exchange gifts. Afterwards Mr. Wilson dispatched automobiles tilled * with gifts to the poorer parts of the city. He did not attend church, saw p * very few callers and transacted only the smallest amount of work. : MEXICANS QUIT : FOR GENL. SCOTT 1 - 1 AMERICAN OBJECTED FIRING r BULLETS ACROSS THE BORDER. 3 NACO, Dec. 26.—General Mayor tena, commanding the Villa forces that ! were besieging Naco, Mexico, has de ' parted for the southwest as a result of a conference with General Scott, chief of staff of the American army, • who objected U the firing of bullets across the border. General Hill, the I representative of Carranza, remains in occupation of the town but Mayor tena decided that it would be better to let him stay than to incur the dis . pleasure of the United States govern , ment. General Scott has a large force . of troops here and it is generally as i sumed that he has received instrue . tions to cross into Mexico if the Mcx . icans continue to endanger American lives with stray bullets. I German capitalists interested ^n Copper properties in the Kuskulina and Kotsina districts are said to be planning the installation of a smelt er with sufficient capacity to handle custom work in addition to the ton l nage from their own properties. Letterheads, envelopes, billheads, cards, posters, announcements of ill • kinds at The Gateway Job Printery.