The Nenana News
VOLUME I
I
NENANA. ALASKA. FEBRUARY 3. 1917
NUMBER 20
AMERICA BREAKS WITH GERMANY
Von Bernstorff Handed Passports-Gerard Ordered Home
We Seek Merely To Vindicate The Right To Liberty, Justice And Unmolested Life-Wilson
PLANS DISCUSSED
—
Commercial Club Meets
Again To Talk Over
Needs Of Town
There was further discussion of plans for
the establishment of sewage and water sys
tems for the town of Nenana at the meet
ing of the Commercial club, which was
held at the office of United States Com
missioner Robert K Burns last Sunday
afternoon. The discussion was largely
informal, however, and no action was
taken, the matter having been deferred
until more data ts available for presenta
tion to the club. Commissioner Thos.
Riggs, Jr., was present at the meeting
and took an active part in the discus
sions.
Townsite Manager Ryus informed the
members that an assessment would be
levied against the property owners in the
near future to meet the obligations which
have been incurred by the townsite. The
date cannot be stated definitely, but it
probably will be March 1. It is probable
that the town will be divided into three
assessment zones, the more valuable
business lots being assessed more than
those in the residence zones or outlying
districts. The ratio of assessment prob
ably will be 4—2—1—that is, the busi
ness lots will be taxed four times as
much as the cheapest lots and twice as
much as the medium priced residence
lots. The»maximum assessment at this
time probably will not exceed $10 per
lot. Further assessments are to be levied
from time to time, perhaps quarterly, to
cover the cost of townsite improvements
which are planned—permanent improve
ments for the most part.
Secretary Burns reported that he had
sent a wire, at the request of several
members of the club, to Supt. R. J. Som
mers, of the Alaskan Road commission,
relative to the apportionment of sufficient
funds to cut a road from Knights road
house to Nenana, connecting at the for
mer place with the road which is now
being cut by the Llovd party. The reply
received, however, held out little encour
agement that such an apportionment
would be made, Mr. Sommers explaining
that the present road, which joins the
right of way at the Thirty-mile house, is
considered a better feeder for the rail
road. He also expressed the belief that
the Thirty-mile route would prove as ben
eficial to Nenana as the proposed more
direct route across from Knight’s.
Secretary Burns also reported that he
had iniormed all stage men of the decis
ion of the club relative to the carrying
of mail, and it is expected in the future
the service will be greatly improved.
The next meeting of the club will be
held a week from tomorrow.
Interior Department
Trying To Save Game
Thos. Rings, Jr., is in receipt of a tel
egram from the Secretary of the Interior
in which thatofficial stales that complaint
has been made to him that game is being
killed in Alaska out of season. He states
further that under his instructions hunt
ers and others have been warned to de
sist from the unlawful practice.
Commissioner Riggs says that he is un
aware of the origin of the complaint and
is equally unaware of violations of the
game law.
Severance of Diplomatic Relations Brings United States Perilously
Near War--Another Overt Act on Part of Germany Will
Precipitate Hostilities—Nation Stands Solidly
Behind President in New Crisis
FLASH--The American steamship Housitanic, Galveston to Liv
erpool, is reported to have been sunk today off the Scilly islands by
a German submarine. Details unobtainable.
1
Diplomatic relations with Gbrmany
were severed this morning at 11 oclock,
when Count von Bernstorff, American
ambassador to the 1 nited States, was
handed his passports, and a cable sent to
Ambassador Gerard, ordering him to
close his offices at Berliu and leave Ger
many immediately. Gerard's instruc
tions are to close his embassy, as well as
all consulates in Germany, and all at
taches of the embassy, consuls and con
sular agents and their staffs are to be re
moved from Germany. This action makes
the severeuce of relations more complete
than is usnal in such cases, and if the
two nations do not declare war it will be
the first time in history that two first
class powers recalled their diplomats
without hostilities following.
The United States has also demanded
of Germany the release of all Americans
who were taken prisoner on prize ships
in the South Atlantic by German raiders.
The break in diplomatic relations was
decided upon by President Wilson after
an all-night cabinet session and confer
ences with numerous members of con
gress. Confident that the sentiment of
a free sountrv is behind him, and assur
ed of the united support of congress, the
president reached the conclusion that
there was only one course for the United
States to pursue. In taking the momen
tous step the president counted the con
sequences carefully, as also have his ad
visors.
The president addressed a joint session
of congress this afternoon, and at the
conclusion of his remarks declared that
if overt acts on the part of Germany
against American citizens should force
his coming, he would again appear before
congress to ask authority to use any
means necessary to protect the lives of
American seamen. He expressed the be
lief that all neutral countries would pur
sue the same course. “We seek merely
! to stand true, alike inthoughtand action,
| to the immunity of our people; we seek
j merely to vindicate the right to liberty
and justice and unmolested life. These
are the basic principles of peace, not war,
God grant that we may not be challenged
by acts of willful injustice on the part of
the German government. ” Those were
the words of the president, and when he |
: had concluded his remarks it was evi
! dent he had the unswerving support of
I every member of congress.
Whether or not the break with Ger
manv will be followed by a break with |
Austria-Hungary is not known, but inns- |
! much as the latter nation has indorsed !
• the action of her ally it is believed that a
! break soon will be announced,
j DEUjSCHLAND CARGO BURNS.
New London: The cargo intended for'
: the Deutschland was destroyed by fire to
: day, flames having been discovered short
1 )y after it became ktown that a diplomat- j
' ic break had occurred. The Deulsch-!
: land is expected momentarily.
; GUARDING INTERNED BOATS.
Washington: All of the interned Ger
1 man ships are being closely guarded by
' naval vessels and it is understood that!
I the administration is considering the ad- j
I visability of removing the crews.
| BUILDINGS GUARDED,
i Washington: Every public building ill j
this city is being closely guarded and the
j White House is surrounded by a cordon
of special officers.
' NEARLY SCUTTLED SHIP.
1 Philadelphia: A member of the crew
of 'the destroyer Jacob Jones is in irons as
uie icsult of an attempt to scuttle the
vessel. He pulled the sea cocks, but was
! discovered before any seaious damage
resulted.
; MAY CONVOY MERCHANTMEN.
The convoying of American merchant- ■
i men through European waters by war- j
i ships is being considered. i
| SPAIN TO REPRESENT U. S.
Washington: Spain will take over the
j diplomatic interests of the United States
at Berlin.
SENATORS EXPRESS VIEWS.
President Wilson had a two-hour con- ,
ference with members of the senate last
night. Three propositions were discus-!
sed. One was to break with Germane
immediately and hand Count von Bern
storff his papers today; another was to j
wait until some overt act was committed
by Germane, and the third was to rede- i
fine the position of the United States on
the submarine question. Senator Myers
declared, after the conference, that the
majority of tlie senators favored an im
mediate break. Senator Fletcher said
that many of the lawmakers were oppos
ed to further correspondence with the
German government. He also said that
many favored an immediate break, but
that it would not be correct to say that a
majority favored it. Senators Stone and
Lewis expressed the belief that an imme
diate break was not justified. President
Wilson suggested to the members that
there be a night's reflection before any
action.
SPAIN NEAR BREAK.
Paris: The entrance of Spam into the
war as a result of Germany's latest action,
is expected here hourly. It is reported
that Spain is preparing to take drastic
action, but the details are not known.
MONEY FOR PREPAREDNESS.
Washington: Senator Thomas of Col
orado has introduced an amendment to
the revenue bill, providing for the ap
propriation of ,S500,000,000 to put the na
tion in a state of preparedness.
NAVY YARDS PREPARE.
San Francisco: The Mare Island navy
yard has been placed on a war footing.
All ships are under steam, awaiting or
ders. Similar action has been taken at
the navy yards in the East.
INTERNED GERMAN VESSELS
UNDER CLOSE WATCH.
New Orleans: Interned German ves
sels in this port have been surrounded by
U. S. gunboats, but officials decline to
state reasons for the action.
SOLDIERS RECALLED.
Rockford, 111.: Members of the Third
, Illinois regiment, who are at home on
leave, have been ordered to return to
Fort Sheridan immediately.
MILITIA FORMING.
Bridgeport, Conn.: The immediate
formation of Connecticut militia has been
ordered by the Federal government.
STOCKS TAKE TUMBLE.
New Y'ork: The announcement that
diplomatic relations with Germany had
been severed was followed in Wall street
by scenes of the wildest excitement. All
stocks are declining rapidly.
PRESENTS CREDENTIALS.
Washington: Despite the break with
Germany, the new Austrian ambassador
visited the White House today to present
his credentials to the President. _
SUBMARINE THREAT
ALARMS MARINERS
Washington: As the result of the new
submarine campaign threatened by Ger
many, practically all shipping has come
to an abrupt halt throughout the world.
Advices from Madrid state that the min
istry of marine of Spain has suspended
all sailings until further notice, and Nor
way, Sweden, Holland and Denmark
have taken similar action. Many vessels
which sailed prior to the announcement
of Germany’s plans have been recalled, i
and will be held in port pending devel- j
op nts.
President Franklin, of the Internation
al Merchant marine, has asked Secretary
Lansing for definite rulings and instruc
tions for the future guidance of American
vessels, and was informed this morning
that all ships would be permitted to clear j
in the regular order to and from the port j
of New York. The liner St. Louis is ,
scheduled to sail for Liverpool tomorrow, j
All departing vessels will be inspected ,
by U. S. torpedo boats. 1
DUTCH BOAT FIRST
VICTIM OF KAISER
London: The Dutch steamer Epsilon
was sent to the bottom yesterday by a
German submarine, the first vessel to be
sunk in the new barred zone. Five ves
sels were sunk today.
Mrs. Campbell has announced a sour
dough dance for February 10, for which
special music has been engaged. There
will be a three-piece orchestra, and all
chechacos are invited, as well as old
timers.
GAME IS PLENTIFUL
Grigg Says Kantishna Is
Well Supplied With
Meat On Hoof
\V. H. Grigg, townsite clerk, returned
to Nenana on Tuesday from a several
weeks' outing in the Kantishna, and re
ports a most enjoyable vacation, consid
ering the weather conditions. Kxtreme
cold weather prevailed the greater Part
of the time, and on some of the creeks
in the Kantishna the wind added greatly
to the difficulty of mushing. Particular
ly bad weather was encountered on the
Toklat.
Mr. Grigs says, however, that the
greater part of his stay in the hills was
spent outdoors, in consequence of which
he returned to Nenana greatly improved
in health and with an appetite which
threatens bankruptcy.
There is an abundance of game in the
Kantishna, reports Mr. Grigg. Sheep,
moose and caribou were encountered
daily and some ptarmigan were seen, al
though not in plentiful numbers. He
also saw a few rabbits and the tracks of
many foxes, which appeared to be num
erous.
Mining is at a standstill in the Kan
tishna, practically everyone in the dis
trict having ground that is more easily
handled in summer. Kittle Mcos;, the
scene of the recent stampede, was not
visited.
The work of cutting a road through to
Glacier, which is being done under the
direction of Tom Lloyd, is progressing
steadily. Four men, for the most part
oldtimers in the district, are doing the
woTk, and two others were recently suit
to Glacier to cruise the route from that
end. About five miles of road hail been
cut when Mr. Grigg left the district.
HOUSE PASSES BILL
OVER WILSON’S HEAD
Washington; The immigration bill,
which was vetoed bv President Wilson
because of its objectionable illiteracy test
clause, was passeil over the. President’s
head yesterday afternoon in the lower
branch of congress, the vote being 285
to 106. The house also passed the ad
ministration revenue bill, providing for
a tax on excess profits and increasing tiie
inheritance tax. This measure will be
taken up by the senate within a few days.
The fortification bill, providing for
the appropriation of $51,000,000, was
passed by the senate yesterday in the
same form in which it was approved by
the house on Monday.
NENANA BOYS WIN
FIRST RETURN GAME
The first of the two-game series < f
basketball of the return series to be
played at Fairbanks between the Nenana
and Fairbanks quintets was played at the
Auditorium in that city last night and
resulted in a decisive victory for the local
^1>oys, the score being 36 to 13 when the
j final whistle blew.
The Nenana boys went to Fairbanks
i on Thursday on the Koland stage, and
!r will start back probably on Sunday morn*
j i„K. The second and final game will be
played .tonight. The Nenana team is
composed of Messrs. Jaylor, Meagher,
1 Month, Hubbacli and Ward.