GENEVA. Switzerland, Dec. 23.- The Teuton offensive
movetnent having tor its purpose tlie capture of the great Rus
sian seaport of Riga has failed completely. For months past
the German army has been hammering away at the Russian
army, in an effort to reach the coveted goal. I he Slavs were
able to resist the repeated attacks, at the same time preparing
for a counter movement against the invaders. Heavy re-,
iuforcements had conic to the aid ol the Russians, who were
about to deliver a decisive blow. General von tlindeuherg,
commander of the Teuton forces, anticipating the attack'
buried his cannn, abandoned enormous stocks of food* cloth
ing, etc., and is retreating with his troops toward Germany.
The extremely cold weather is ascribed as the cause for aban
doning the Riga campaign. Advices to this effect reached
Geneva today.
BRITISH WITHDRAW FROM DARDANELLES.
BERLIN, Dec. 23.—Advices received by the war office from
Athens state that the British troops are being withdrawn
from the Dardanelles region and are being hastened to Sa
lonika, to aid the allied forces in Serbia. The withdrawal fol
lows the visit of Lord Kitchener, British war minister, who
considered that the troops were more urgently needed in
Serbia.
SERIOUS BLUNDER DELAYS CAMPAIGN.
LONDON, Dec. 23.—British and French troops, landed in
transports at Sulva bay and at Anzae, found upon arrival at
their respective destinations that all equipment and munitions
of war for their use were not to be found. Inquiry at the Brit
ish war office led to an investigation, which reveals that the
war supplies destined for Sulva bay and Anzae were sent
either to Egypt or to the Balkans* through the serious blun
der of some one connected with the war office. The error ren
ders the campaign in the Sulva bay and Anzae regions little
better than a farce, due to the lack of munitions and food sup
plies. The troops are idle* pending the arrival of the neces
sarv equipment.
HOUSE OF COMMONS IN UPROAR.
LONDON. Dec. 23.—The Brit Is house of commons continued
its session until 5:45 o’clock this morning* the subject of dis
cussion being the premier’s request for an additional million
recruits. John Redmond, the leader of the nationalist party,
created a sensation by declaring that the British empire must
use every means in it-s power to secure the number of troops
asked for by Premier Asquith, and said he favored a resort to
conscription if they could bp obtained in no other way. The
commons, after a vigorous debate, in which acrimony was
freely indulged in by some of the members, finally agreed to
follow tlie lead of Redmond, wjherenpon an adjournment
was taken,
,jOlin iMliOn, H promuirin uiemufi me umiuuoimi |»ai iv,
led dhe oppsitfon to conscription, find severely arraigned tile
military leadership of the empire. Tn the course of his re
marks lie shouted. “What’s the use of sending more troops
to the front to he led like those responsible for the Sulva bay
and Anzae failures!”
BULGARIA’S CHIEF PORT CAPTURED.
LONDON. Dec. 2.').—Varna. Bulgaria’s chief port on the
Black sea. has been laid waste and captured- following a
fierce bombardment on the part of Russian battleships. Rus
sian troops now occupy the city, considered a vital strategical
point for future operations.
KAISER WILHELM ON SICK LIST.
BERLIN. Dec. 2d.- Kaiser Wilhelm is suffering from a
slight inflammation of the cellular system, and is obliged to
remain indoors for a few days, according to an official bulletin
issued today.
RUMOR OF MUTINY AMONG TROOPS OF ALLIES.
RERUN, Dec. 2d.—The rumor is current here today that
several general staff officers of the allied armies have been
killed through a mutiny of allied troops on a transport at
Tmbros island.
NOTED TEUTON GENERAL DIES.
BERLIN. Dee. 2d.—General von Emmicli. the noted Teuton
officer, died yesterday at Hanover. Yon Emmicli was largely
respnsible for the successful sweep of the Teuton army into
Belgium, being in immediate command of the division that
conquered Liege.
FIVE CHINESE PROVINCES REVOLT.
SAN FRANCTSOO. Dec. 2d.—Advices received here todav
indicate that five of the provinces in the southern part of.
China have revolted against a return to a moneiv-hial form of
government and are preparing to resort to arms.
SPAIN WILL ENTER WORLD WAR.
NEH 'i ORK. Dec. 2d.—From information received today
from Spain, it is positively asserted that that country will
soon enter the war in aid of the allies.
PEACE DELEGATES MUCH DISCOURAGED
CHRISTIANA, Norway, Dec. 23—
The municipal authorities of Chris
tiana refuse to permit Henry Ford
or members of his peace commission
the privilege of holding public meet
ings within the confines of the city.
The reception to the distinguished
peace envoys borders upon rudeness,
and open hostility 1s shown. The
delegates are at a loss to account for
the strange conduct of the Norwe
gians and are loud in expressing
their indignation. It is believed by
the delegates that Norway’s attitude
toward the en.oys is in harmony
with England’s suggestion.
The acknowledged leaders of the
expedition, aside from Ford himself, j
which include John Wannamaker,
Judge Lindsay, Rev. Dr. Asked and
others of equal note, are now In
favor of abandoning the project as
being time wasted. Ford wishes to
proceed.
MAY ABANDON' KNDKDITION.
CHRISTIANA, Dec. 23.—Due to
the hostility toward the peace en
voys displayed by Christiana and
Copenhagen, the two cities thug far
visited by the peace delegates, the
belief Is growing that the expedition
will be abandoned as inconspicuous
ly as possible. The Ford party will
leave for Stockholm today. Henry
Ford, who has been ill, is fast re
covering.
NELCHINA CLAIMS ARK
BONDED FOR $100,000
The holdings of Duncan McCor
mick, Fred Getqhell, Odlu A. Olson
and J. B. Palmer, which comprises
practically the whole of Albert
creek, In the Nelchina district, have
been taken over under lease and
option by prominent mining men,
wintering at Seattle. Under the
terms of the deal which has been
consummated but recently, the claim
otvners are to receive $12Q,000, or
$30,000 each. The payments cover
i a period of three years from the time
the papers were signed. The parties j
concerned in taking over the claims :
bind themselves to ilistall mining
! machinery and equipment for the
comprehensive working of the
[ ground to the value of $100,000,
.-aid machinery to be placed in oper
ct'oti next season, and to pay to tne
claim owners a stated percentage of
the gold product recovered until Anal
payment is made, provided that the
final payment shall be paid on of
before the expiration of the three
I year clause. Should the bonding
parties elect to throw up the deal,
after beginning mining operations,
then the claim owners, under the
terms of the agreement, fall heir to
the mining equipment and machinery
that may be installed.
J. C. Cauldweil, a mining mau for
merly of Nome and later of the Nel
ch>ua district, who for a time was
associated with McCormick and
Palmer in the working of their
ground on Albert creek, put the deal
through. Mr Cauldweil passed j
through Anchorage, from the Nel-,
china, enroute to Seattle. While,
here he informed the Pioneer that ho
expected to meet success in making,
the deal, as he considered the propo
sitious a meritorious mining project j
that only required proper mining
machinery to open up a highy prof-'
itable mining enterprise.
McCormick, Getchell, Olson and
Palmer are the original discoverers
of the Nelchina district, having made
heir locations on Arbert creek.
Aadrew Christofferson, Charles
Schiller and Peter Jensen,®wbo with
several other' partners own claims
on Crooked and SJeigh creeks, in the
Nelchina. will depart from Knik |
about February 1 to begin develop-:
ment work on their claims.
classy no<; team
RACKS ARE ASSURED
At a. well-attended meeting of the
Anchorage Kennel and Sports Club
last night at Robarts’ hall, it was
about decided to pull off a dog team
race between Anchorage and Mata
nuska Landing and return On Janu
ary 13; another short race February
22, and the big event, from Anchor
age to Seward and return, beginning
March 17. Much enthusiasm was
evinced in the matter, and it will be
definitely determined at a meeting1
of the executive committee called to
convene this evening.
In the matter of ski jumping con
tests, Chairman Campbell, of the
scouting committee, reported that
Townsite Manager Moore had given
permission to use a desirable site lo
cated just above the water tank, and
several hardy sons of Soanida, in
terested in ski jumping, are engaged
in getting the ground cleared and
ready for some ski jumping contests.
The committee on constitution
and by-laws reported through Chair
man J. L. Waller, and with the ex
ception of the elimination of various
committees suggested, they were ap
proved by the members
An executive comimttee was elect
ed from the membership as follows:
0. M. Campbell, J, C. Murphy, L. P.
llyrne, Tex Jones and Frank J. Cot
ter. This committee, acting in con
junction with President Shonbeck,
Vice-President Robarts, Secretary
Fischer and Treasurer Pilger, will
have entire charge of the sporting
even's that may be pulled off from
time to time. The president bus au
thoiity to appoint special committees
to assist, if the occasion requires.
SEATTLE, Dec. 21.—Two em
ployes of the local steel works held
up a laundry wagon driver at mid
night Saturday night. When the
amateur robbers stepped out in the
middle or the street and commanded
the driver to halt, h's horse bolted
and ran away. Upon gaining con
trol of the frightened animal, the
nervy driver drew his own weapon
and returned to meet the baudits.
In the tight which followed, one of.
the robbers was shot and killed out
right. while the driver took the other
in custody and handed him over to
the police authorities.
The laundry driver is the hero of
the hour in Seattle. He displayed
marked bravery, and an agitation is
on to have him placed on the police
force.
The Tolovana stampede resulted
in leaving the Hot Springs camp
short of miners for the winter opera
tions. but a telegram to Fairbanks
started a number of men down the
Tanana river to secure work.
M’ADOO ASKS $2,000,000
FOR ALASKA RAILWAY
Washington, Dec. 22—Secretary of the Treasury Mc
Adoo has asked congress for an emergency appropriation
of $2,000,000 for the Alaska railway project. Congress has
adjourned, to convene again January 4.
(X>U SWANITZ DIES
AT HIS AliAMEDA HOME
AHMEDA, Cal., Dec. 22.—Col. A.
W. Swanitz died at his home in Ala
meda yesterday evening. He had
been in ill health since his arrival
front Alaska, some three weeks ago.
The cause of his death was not re
vealed. He had reached the age of
64 years. He is survived by a wife
and a son, the latter being a noted
civil engineer, in charge of the
Spring Valley water system, which
supplies San Francisco.
Tn the demise of Col. Swanitz,
Alaska loses a devoted friend and
staunch advocate. As a railway en
gineer he ranked high, and it was
his chief aim in life to build a rail
way line in Alaska, for the develop
ment of the country which he loved.
His first connection with railway
work in Alaska was as chief engineer
of the Valdez & Yukon Railway Com
pany, which began the construction
of a line from Valdez to Fairbanks.
Financial difficulties led to the aban
donment of this project. The colonel
then accepted a position as chief en
gineer of the Alaska Central Rail
road Company, another chimerical
scheme to build from the coast to
the interior—Seward being the coast
terminus. Col. Swanitz built some
twenty miles of track for. the Alaska
Central Company, and gave way to
W. K. Poland, when the Frost inter
ests took over the road. He then
returned toValdez, and was again
connected with the Valdez & Yukon
Railway. Company, which showed
signs of reviving. Again, financial
troubles caused all work to cease.
When the AIo*ka Central system
passed into the hands of a rece'vor.
and eventually evolved into the
Alaska Northern Railway. Colonel
Swanitz was again chosen chief en
gineer. His connection with that
road ceased when the government
decided to take it over.
WRESTLING ROUTS
ENTERTAIN BIG CROWD
(From Monday’s Daily.)
Swan Challstrop, known as the
Viking, middleweight amateur cham
pion of the United States, didn't lose
his title to Casey Jones, the Anchor
age ironworker and athlete, in the
main event of the wrestling tourna
ment at Robarts’ hall Saturday night,
but he was compelled to work over
time and resort to high-class mat
generalship before getting the two
falls necessary to win the match.
For the big audience there wasn't a
dull minute in any of the thirteen in
the first bout or the nine of the sec-1
ond bout—a total of only twenty-two;
minutes of real wrestling, and ap
plause w’as frequent. Several. times I
Jones had his taller but lighter and;
more skilled opponent where the;
champion seemed to be in danger of
losing a fall, but greater experience
and superior skill enabled the latter
to break out. Jones, too, displayed
really remarkable skill and strength
on several occasions,, and in rapid
succession broke away from two full
nelson holds. The Viking's first fall
was secured with a double nelson,
and the second with a half nelson
and crotch hold. This was the first
appearance of Jones in public as a;
mat artist, although he hag had con-;
siderable experience in that game'
while training for boxing. Jones;
weighs 170, and the Viking 1S8.
Sarella, the local man, who carries
the title of middleweight champion
of Canada, was unable to make good
on his challenge to throw “Dutch”
Miller, of Milwaukee, in twenty min
utes, divided into two bouts, with a
breathing sp#U of five minutes be
tween them. Miller was the aggres
sor during the first bout, but was not
in. condition, and during the second;
session he was content to let Sarella j
do most of the work.
“He weighs like a thousand j
pounds, but 1 can throw hint in an
hour and a half," was the comment
of the loser when Referee McCul-j
lough called time; but the audience J
didn’t seem inclined to wait for the
age limit. J. J. Ross acted as time
keeper. !
Squatters on the government town
site at Nenana have been given no-1
tier that If they make Improvements
on the lots that they will be subject
to removal without warning.
LOCAL NEWS OF 1* WEEK
of Brown & Hawkins, departed yes
terday, enroute to Seward, convoyed
by Charles Harper with his dog
team. After a brief visit in Seward,
Mr. .Brown will depart for the states,
in connection with business Interests
of the firm. Mr. Sol Silverman is
the manager of the firm's business
her*. Mr. W. Krvin is the cashier,
agd Mr. Chas. W. Bush is in charge
ct the clothing, cigar and tobacco
departments in the big store. Mr.
A. J. Walters and Mr. A. Balderson
are in the grocery and hardware de
partment, and Mr. Carl Fosberg is
delivery man.
The gold dust cavalcade passed
by Anchorage *t a late heur Satur
day night. Bob Oriflls, lu charge of
the valuable shipment of treasure,
came hers to replenish his supply of
dog feed. The shipment of gold is
from an Idltarod bank, and is being
transported to Seward for reship
meat to the government assay office
in Seattle. The bullion in transport
has an aggregate weight of three
thousand pounds. Five large dog
teams are required to handle the J
treasure, and six men accompany
the expedition. All are well armed, j
determined men, to guard againstj
any possible holdup.
nrm
Sr
Charles E. Brown, of tn
1’. L. Charlebois, old-time Alaskan,
who has managed ice rinks near St.
Paul, Minn., and Monjreal, ’Canada, ■
is working a crew of men in getting
the ground in good condition for a
large ice rink, 110x130 feet.
Flooding will be started in a day
or so, and it is hoped to have the ice.
in shape so that’fglose who love '‘the
king of sports” will spend Christmas
afternoon on the ice.
Mr, Charlebois has been associated
with the best rinks in the Northern
t'nited States and Canada, and lovers
of the sport may rest assured that
nothing will be left undone to make
them feel at home in the rink or to
get the ice in the pink of condition.
A large tent will be used as a
dressing room, with a division for
the fair sex. The rink will be on G
street, one-half block south of the
post office.
Our esteemed contemporary, the
Seward Gateway, says that a Mr.
Bruner or that town proposes to
look into the matter of the growing
of sugar beets in the Matanuska
valley. For the information of Mr.
Bruner, the Pioneer will say that
sugar beets will grow like wild mus
tard in a Washington farm in this
rich valley. A test that proves it
has been made. The qualitative test
has given good results. The quan
titative test wilt do likewise.
Prompt and energetic action on
the part of the Anchorage Chamber
of Commerce has had the effect of
securing quick results in the matter
of trail repair work between Anchor
age and Seward. Secretary of the
interior Lane is quick to respond to
the legitimate wants of the people.
(From Tuesday’s Daily.)
Attorney J. C. Murphy has re
turned from a trip up the Mata
nurka.
The Commission has a force of
men employed in making repairs to
the trail along Turnagain arm.
K. .1. Warner is about again, after
being confined to his home by a
slight illness.
The telephone line went down this
forenoon, before the Pioneer's com
plete report got through.
Captain McKay, writing from Se
attle to .ludge David, says he has
five hundred tons of freight for An
chorage, and seeks Information
about landing it at Ship creek.
Frank Robinson, who jived at the
corner of Seventh avenue and B
street, passed away at 8 o’clock this
morning, a victim of tuberculosis, i
He was horn’at Sioux City, Iowa, and
was 41 years of age.
Suit has been filed by J. G. Grant,;
a property owner of Wrangell,
against Ben Silverman and the Stik
ine Mining Company. The complaint
charges that the mining company In- i
tends to erect docks which will con'
property owned by him.
(From Wednesday's Daily.)
C. R. Breck, Jr., resident engineer
at Glacier creek, accompanied .he
mail team this morning, returning to
bis duties, after spending a couple o£
weeks in Anchorage.
The publicity committee of the
Anchorage Chamber of Commerce is
busily engaged in gathering data for A
a folder or booklet to be issued soon
after the holidays. The committee
is composed of S. L. McClinton,
chairman, E. .1. Warner, A. J.
Fischer and L. F. Shaw. Several
meetings have been held, and the
various subjects to be covered by the
folder have been assigned to the dif
ferent members of the committee.
Anchorage Chamber of Commerce ^
held a meeting las* e\ening, for the
discussion *of business matters I’rts
Ident A. J. Wonder announced the
appointment of a membership com
mittee, as follows: .A. J. Fischer, J
E. Parker and A. C. Craig. A, re
ception committee will be selected
by the president at a later date. G
M. Campbell and Captain Franklin
Johnston were added to the fire com ^
niittee, and J. E. Parker was added
to the publicity committee. E. J.
Warner was placed on the entertain
aient committee.
TALKEETNA LUMBER CO.
IN HANDS OF RECEIVER
The Talkeetna Lumber Company,
whose operations on Portage bay
nave been enveloped in an air 't
mystery ever since construction -wf
the mill %4s first commenced last
spring, is in the hands of a trustee,
because of non-payment of employes
and the disappearance of official i
keeper of the payroll. The trustee
is H. E. Ellis, of Valdez, who holds a
n-.ortagge on the property.
A member of the company mimed
Johnson left for Seattle several
weeks ago to arrange to mee. th
payroll and other obligations, lm
(.vied to return or to notify lha
.uxious creditors.
T:>e Talkeetna Lumber Company,
was promoted by John Endlund, for
ner'.y of Cordova and Fairbanks. ^
secured a large contract from the
Railway Commission and erected
small but complete plant near the
read of Portage bay, where a fine
lody of timber was accessible.
stltute an obstruction to uph
con
*
rorJovAXA town
SHOWS RAPID UROWTH
The new town of Brooks, metrop
jBs of the Tolovana mining district,
ias had a growth almost as phenom
:na!ly rapid as that of Anchorage.
Mfhough the first building was
-reeled there in September, there
ve.'e ninety-five completed on the
1st of December, in addition to about
Ifty tents. The town has throe priu
■ipal streets, running parallel with
Ldvingood creek, on the right limit,
vith a majority of the business
louses along one of these for a dis
ance of three-quarters of a mile,
ind th *e residence portion on
Pintle slope abo^e these. More raflft
trowth of the town has been p?9
enied by the lack of teams and lum
ier.
A CHAIXRXGR.
1 understand that Mr. Saralla has
stated that he could "handle that
dutchman without much effort.” If
he gentleman is sure enough of his
tround, I will wager any reasonable
imount that he cannot gain a fait
rom me by working overtime. If
le thinks he can, let him name the
ime and amount, and I will readily
neet him. YOUNG VIKING.
SEWARD, Dec. 20.—A Chamber
if Commerce was organized at a
neeting held for purpose Saturday
light. Keon F. Booker is president:
^eon Urbach, vice-president; Ward
Fames, secretary; W. P. Henry,
reasurer, and John Noon, Hugh
dougherty and Frank Torrey, trus
ees.
*