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This Paper is Owned, Controlled and Published by Local 240 of the I. U. M. M & S. W
VOLUME XII.
NOME. ALASKA. SATURDAY', OCTOBER, 5, 1018.
2625.
FEARFUL MUNITION DISASTER N. J.
SERIES EXPLOSIONS CLAIMS MANY HUNDREDS
MARTIAL IS PROCLAIMED
AT RUINED FACTORY TOWNS
NEW YORK,—A series of explo
sions rooked the countryside Satur-j
day morning in the munition plant of1
Morgan. Giiepsie county, New Jersey
and fierce conflagrations spread thru
out the town.
The disaster reached mammoth
proportions and one hundred at least
are known to be dead and eight hun
derd injured some very seriously in
the explosion.
The cause of the explosion is not
known, the initial explosion and
which started all the others occurring
shortly before the day crew went on
shift.
The plant was engaged in making ’
high explosive munitions and it is be
lieved that in some way a small ac
cident started the first explosion. As
practically all are killed or so seriously
injured that they will die who were
engaged in working in the shops
where the first explosion took place
the origin will probably never be
known.
The explosion possessed an unusual
force demolishing buildings, break
ing doors and glass for a far distance
from the scene of the disaster. The
whole countryside shook as if an
earthquake had struck it so violent
were the detonations.
Hundreds are homeless following
the fearful calamity and the govern
ment has declared martial law.
NEW YORK,—The explosions fol
lowing the Morgan munition disaster
continue with fires increasing. The
property damage is immense. Night
shift of hundreds are missing. Cars
on the tracks containing explosive
munitions are bursting in all direc
tions. Towns in the vicinity of Mor
gan have been ordered evacuated.
Soldiers are in complete control. The
Red Cross is caring for the sufferers
who now number thousands. The
property damage will not be less than
thirty million at the lowest figures.
The continuing explosion of muni
tions recurs at irregular intervals
forming a terrific menace to the res
cuers and increasing the havoc
wrought by the early morning explo
sion. The theory is spread that the
explosion was caused by enemy spies
or sympathizers but nothing is given
out officially. It is feared that the
BELGIANS COMING
TO THEIR OWN AGAIN
HAVRE,—The advance of British
and Belgians is little short of extra
ordinary so swift is the rate of pro
gress that they are literally smashing
down all opposition. They advanced
on Friday nine miles on a 25 mile
front capturing eleven thousand pris
oners, the largest day’s bag since the
Flanders offensive began. The whole
of Flanders ridge was taken by the
British and Belgians who have now
everyjthing in their favor for thje
drive upon the Germans. The gains
are os important that they are likely
to force a German evacuation at an
«arly date.
LONDON,—The British are mak
ing steady progress on the Cambrai
front. Every day sees a sensible ad
j vance in the line. South ms<. of
I Beaurevoir the British made today
their greatest gains and took eight
hundred German prisoners.
PARIS,—The French continue
their boring into the German lines
on the Aisne front. Saturday fore
noon they crossed the Aisne canal
north of Rheims near Bermericourt,
forcing the Germans back and taking
additional prisoners.
PARIS,—American regulars cap
tured six hundred prisoners in the
Argonne forest Saturday morning
and are still advancing without an
effective resistance. American tanks
are now approaching Cunel, two miles
in* advance of the old line of the
Yanks.
The Americans are also proceed
ing steadily up the Aire valley on a
big offensive having captured Fle
Irille from the Germans, worsting a
a superior force of the enemy after
a brisk battle.
Keep Posted, Read the WORKER.
BRITISH WIN ON
ALL THE SECTORS
LONDON,—Haig's Saturday re
port in addition to the gratifying
gains in the Flanders front shows
that the Britisli also advanced seven
miles in the Lens and Armentiores
sector, the Germans giving ground in i
all directions. The German line is
begining to wobble badly all along
the west front and if the weather
keeps up and storms do not intervene
a speedy dissolution of the German
defensive is looked for.
PARIS,—The Americans continue i
their dashing victories. They pene-j
trated the famous Kriempilde line, a
continuation of the new Parsifal line
and to the northwest of Verdun,
breaking thru most massive defenses
of the Germans. They captured the
strong position of Cunel and Ro-|
mange and are still going strong.
The victories are accompanied by
the capture of immense batches of
prisoners many of whom openly re
joice that the fighting has ended for
them.
WASHINGTON,—The American
ssteamer Sansaba was sunk by a mine
fifteen miles off Margate. Only four
survivors so far have been found.
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AMSTERDAM,—Crowds throng l
Berlin streets waiting for the promis
ed statement of Prince Max of Baden
the new Chancellor. The crowds ar& |
in the most excited mood. I
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LONDON,—Rioting and fighting is t
now rebelling the streets of the Aus- 1
trian capital with blood. Hand to (
hand combats are taking place be
tween the people and loyal troops. i
A revolution is feared. The panic (
stricken cabinet has resigned. t
LONDON,—The Americans advanc- I
ed two miles on an eight mile front <
Saturday afternoon, between the «
Meuse and Aire, capturing many
towns and thousands of prisoners.
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AMSTERDAM,—Docks, bridges
and ways at Brugges are set on fire
at Brugges and the ship slips blown
up by the Germans who are also re- .
moving guns from the Belgian coast, j
A dispatch from Copenhagen says j
hat Ludendorff is resigning Chief
if Staff.
UTTER FIGHT OVER
WOMAN SUFFRAGE
WASHINGTON,—After a bitter
ight between the supporters of suf
rage and the opponents of the
mendment, the former won out and
he woman suffrage amendment will
>e given the same place on the calen
ar, it occupied before It was defeated.
Under the compromise, the amend
nent can be called up any time for
onsideration by the rules of the Sen
te.
So many political resolutions of
irotest have been received since the
lefeat of the measure that the great
st concern is shown.
The soliciting committee of the
i’ourth Liberty Loan will meet at the
'ity Hall Sunday Gth at 2:30 p. m.
NOTICE
All members of the Committee for
'Belgian Relief" are requested to be
iresent at City Hall Tuesday at 2
. m.
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casualties will run into the thousands.
Help is being rushed from all direc
tions to the scene of the calamity.
Owing to the danger connected with
this work, re'ief work is somewhat
impeded. The heroism of the Red
Cross work’s. '•> in affording help and
running the risk of death in all di
rections is beyond any possible verbal
praise. The disaster is one of the
worst that has ever occurred in Amer
ican munition plants both in number
of victims and the extent of its havoc.
The only parallel that can be made
is the dreadful Halifax explosion
last spring.
Ruined houses, demolished dwell
ings, wrecked factories, torn railroad
structures are to be seen everywhere
in the immediate vicinity.
NEW YORK,—Another explosion
of great violence broke out in the
Morgan plant this afternoon, killing
25 firemen and eight Guards all of
whom were caught in the awful blast.
This evening the Public Service
Commission ordered all Hudson river j
traffic suspended and work on the
river subways stopped. The military
authorities about the same time an
nounced that they believe that the
explosion were now over.
ATLANTIC PORT,—-An American
submarine chaser was sunk a mile
off shore by an explosion. The ex
plosion wrecked the ship, apparently
all the survivors rescued by passing
ships.
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MUTINY IN RANKS
OF THE SULTAN’S ARMIES
ZURICH,—Reports reaching here
from Austrian sources reveal a new
danger in the ranks of the Allies of
the Central Powers. A strong mutiny
has broken out in the ranks of the
Turkish forces, ten thousand desert
ing the armies of Turkey in Asia and
the Caucasus and are now said to be
morching on Constantinople to de
mand a cessation of the war. They
have clashed with loyal troops but
the result of this fighting has not
been gtven out.
Because of this, evidently the cen
sor having exercised his authority
freely on the news dispatch, it is
believed that the loyalists were
worsted in the engagement with the
mutineers.
LONDON,—Tho Teuton forces, com
bined German and Austrian troops
who engaged in an attack upon the
Serbians in force today but were re
I pulsed with heavy loss. The Serbs
I attacked in turn and drove the Teu
tons across into Turkish territory,,
capturing several hundred prisoners
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COPENHAGEN,—Tzar Ferdinand
resigned his position and left Sofia
He abdicated in favor of Crown Prince
Boris who is now king. Whether
( Boris will be recognized by the Allies
^ or not is unknown.
ITALIANS FORCE THE
AUSTRIANS TO FLEE
ROME,—The Italians continue
their advance in Albania fighting the
Austrians whose defense is collaps- j
ing under the hammering of the Ital-!
ian general. The Italians crossed the
Semeni river and occupied the towi^
of Berat. In addition they are now
proceeding towards Bassau with the
main body of the Austrians retiring
before them. The town of Patrochob
di on a branch of the Semeni river
was early occupied and the army is
also pressing forward along the coast
to Kavaja
It is V ,eved that the Austrians
will no 'op at Durafczo but will still
furthi retire. Everything indicates
this.
LONDON,—Naval and marine
forces attacked Durazzo from land
and sea on Friday. This force is
co-operating with the main Italian
advance in Albania. Depots and for
tifications were destroyed in the at
tack by the Allies.
Two enemy submarines in Durazzo
were attacked and sunk by two Amer
ican submarine chassers which en
tered the harbor in the most daring
manner after their prey. The sub
marines were sunk in the port and
may be raised again, altho they are
badly damaged by the fire from the
chasers.
LONDON,—The activity in Albania
is part of the general plan of winter
activities in this section and was.
originally a co-operative movement
wth the Allies in their attack on Bul
garia. Since the surrender of Bul
garia the Austrians have been;
strengthening their lines but there is
evidently little hope that they will
be maintained, according to admis
sions made by prisoners captured.
Any person who can afford to pur
chase Liberty Bonds and does not
shows an unfriendly spirit to our
Government and its institutions.
Subscribe for ■ine 'Worker.
LIBERTY LOAN
ON VICTORIA
WASHINGTON,—The Treasury
Department estimates that the
Fourth Liberty Loan is running be
hind its expected total in the present
drive by about fifty per cent to date.
It is now Saturday morning $057,
124,000.
SEATTLE,— A Nome Steamer just
arrived here with passengers from the*
Alaska mining camps. Nome passen
gers led by Governor Higgs and .lafet
Lindeberg subscribed $53,000 to the^
Fourth Liberty Loan. This amount
will go to the credit of the Second
Division quota.
Keep Posted, Read the WOKKLi'-i,
BRITISH SIX MILES
ON NORTH OF LILLE
LONDON—Field Marshal Haig
eported Friday that the British in
•"landers were but six miles from the
•’rench city of Lille and which has
teen the main base of operations of
he Germans for the northwest sec
ors. The advance in this section is
leing pushed wth great energy, but
veather conditions are not wholly
avorable. Heavy fighting has taken
dace along the Lys river the Ger
nans making every effort to resist
he British and Belgian troops in
his sector. The advance towards
toulers has been costly in its results
o the Germans owing to their having
o relinquish important defensive po
rtions.
BERLIN,—The War Office admits
hat the Allies penetrated the Ger
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man lins beyond the Staden-Roulers;
road. The report claims that the ad*
vance has been checked however.
PARIS,—The fighting in Flanders,
which is showing signs Friday of
slowing up as the Germans are hurl*
ing men forward to stiffen the resis
tance to the Allied impact i3 one of the
most important along the Allied
lines. It is expected that the Ger
mans will still further withdraw. In
the meantime the enemy is making
ready to evacuate Belgium according
to reports from behind his line, and
supply stations are being dismantled
and civilians compelled to work irt
removing everything that the Ger
mans will need further back and that
can just now be dispensed with.
Airmen confirm these reports.