We MUST Win This War—Are YOU Doing Your Bit?
The Nenana News
VOLUME NO. 2
NENANA, ALASKA SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 1918.
WHOLE NUMBER 79
BUNNELL RULES
EIGHT HOUR LAW
IS NOT REGULAR
FAIRBANKS, Mar. 23.—In the
case of the United States vs. the
Northern Commercial company, in
which the local manager of the con
cern was charged with the violation
of the territorial eight-hour law,
Judge Bunnell has granted the de
murrer to the indictment, filed by
the defendant, and the case will now
be taken to the supreme court on
appeal. In granting the demurrer,
the court held, as in the former
hearing, that the law was unconsti
tutional.
D. L. Squier, who was tried on
the charge of making seditious ut
terances, has been found guilty by
a jury, after a deliberation of only
nine minutes. He will be sentenced
next wreek. Squier is an American,
having been born in the East, of
American parents.
Matt Carlson and Mrs. Luther C.
Hess have announced their candicacy
for positions on the school board.
Mrs. Hess will make the run on a
well-defined platform, but up to the
present time Mr. Carlson has made
no announcement with regard to his
plans, in case he is elected.
Earl Orr, who entered a plea of
guilty to the charge of obtaining
money under fi.lse pretenses, vas to
have received his sentence this after
noon at two o'clock.
The court has not ruled on the
demurrer to the indictment in the
Smith case. Action is expected dur
ing the coming week.
The Cole case will come up for
a hearing sometime next week.
FREIGHT DELAYED
Bl HEAVY TRAILS
Bad weather, high winds and the
drifted trails have added very con
siderably during the month to the
troubles of the Alaskan Engineering
commission and have, to some ex
tent, retarded work in connectior
with railroad construction. The
freighting of the necessary materia'
and supplies from Camp 9 at (20
mile) to points beyond, has neces
sarily been slow by reason of the
fact that the teams engaged in this
business were not able to haul £
fair load and make any time, and
as a consequence, a four-horse tean
was able to haul approvimately one
ton only. A team thus loaded wit)
stuff consigned to the camp at 43
mile was able to make 35-mile foi
the night and deliver the load a1
destination on the afternoon of the
next day- It is expected, however
that the roads and trails will be
much better for hauling in the neai
future, when the teams will resume
taking capacity loads as before, anc
considerable material and supplies
will be rushed to the far distant
camps. About 50 head of horses
will be sent for work in this divisior
from Anchorage shortly. They wil
come over the Broad Pass trail.
Feed Cache Established Beyonc
Crossing.
To care for the stock in camps te
be established later on at Lignite
and points beyond Residency 4 (43
mile) a large feed cache has beer
built close to the right of way across
the Nenana river and within a few
hundred yards of the roadhouse a1
Nenana crossing. A considerable
quantity of feed has already beer
hauled and cached, and hauling wil;
continue until the break-up, by which
time it is expected that the entire
quantity intended for this cache will
have been hauled. Camps beyond
Residency 4 will draw their supplies
of feed from time to time as re
quired from this cache.
TO BUILD BIG SHIPS
Washingtn.—According to an an
nouncement made by the shipping
board, contracts will soon be let foi
ten freighters of fifteen thousand
tons capacity. They will be the larg
est carriers in the American mer
chant marine.
GIANT ARMIES dASH
IN GREATEST BATTLE
-—
Germans Lose hundred and Fifty Thousand Men in Vain Effort to
Crush Allied Defenses. British Lose Heavily in Men and
Ground in Cambrai Sector. Many Men in Action
LONDON, Mar. 23—The greatest
; battle in the history of the world is'
now in progress on the Western
| front, the Teuton armies being en
gaged in a supreme effort to break
through the Allied defenses. All
doubt regarding the real character
of the offensive has vanished, the
Allies now being fully convinced that
the Germans have entered the pres
ent struggle with the avowed in
tention of bringing the Allies to
their knees.
Although desperate fighting has
been in progress during the past
two days along practically the en
tire front, the Germans appear to
have concentrated their real effort
against the British lines in the Cam
brai sector, where there is a sharp
bend in the Allies’ line.
The British have been forced to
retire at several points, before the
German onslaught, and the reports
indicate that many prisoners have
been taken by the Huns. A state
ment issued from Berlin last night
claimed the capture of sixteen thous
and British troops and today it is
, claimed that ten thousand more have
been taken. The British war office
announces, however, that the Ger
man losses have been much heavier
than those of the British. The Ger
man loss is given as 150,000 men,
while the British have not lost more
than 100,000.
Veterans of the great battles of
Somme, Flanders and Arras declare
that they never before have seen
anything to approach the awful gun
fire of the present conflict. On the
southern reach of the Western front,
held by the British, the Germans
are reported to have had a thousand
big guns placed in one small sector,
there being one gun for every twelve
yards of line.
Still Pressing Hard.
LONDON, Mar. 23.—A report re
ceived from the British headquart
ers in France this afternoon states
that the Germans are still pressing
hard their attack on the British right
flank, near Ham, while on the-north
end battlefield, there is desperate
fighting about Mory, which has
changed hands several times since
the commencement of the gigantic
struggle. Enemy infantry is re
ported to have pushed down across
RELIGION 10 AID
FEW 10 MISS WAD
President Will Not Force Registrants
To Take Part In The Fighting
Overseas.
WASHINGTON, D C., Mar. 23
President Wilson has directed that
drafted men holding religious scrup
les against actual participation in the
war may be allowed to transfer to
the medical, quartermaster corps or
some other non-combatant branch of
the service.
HOLLAND THEATENED
WITH WAR BY KAISER
LONDON, Mar. 23—The German
government has increased her co
1 ercive attitude toward Holland to
the extent of threatening to invade
the little kingdom. This action is
taken because of the attitude as
sumed by Holland toward England
and the United States in the ship
ping controversy.
Miss Doris Jacobson, who recently
underwent a serious operation at the
Government hospital, improved con
siderably during the week.
*
the canal de la Somme and driven
forward against the positions to
which the British retired yesterday.
German cavalry was seen advancing
behind the infantry, and it is be
lieved that the enemy intends to •
make a supreme effort to rupture
the British line at this point.
The British Loss.
BERLIN, Mar. 23.—The war of
fice announces this afternoon that
between Fontaine and Lescroiselles
and Moseuvres the German forces
have penetrated the British defenses
to the second position and captured
several villages. At one point the
British have been forced back two
miles and at another point in the
same sector they are now fighting
three miles behind their original
line. South of Somme the Germans
have broken through the hostile 1
lines and are driving the enemy to
ward the west in an uninterrupted
forward movement.
In addition to the capture of six
teen thousand British troops yes
! terday, the Germans took 400 hun
J dred big guns in the Cambrai sector,
! near Hargieeurt.
i The German troops have forced
| a crossing of the Oise river, west of
' Lafere, twelve miles south of St.
Quentin.
Kaiser In Command.
LONDON, Mar. 23.—Reports from
j the mainland state that the kaiser
:is in command of the German forces
! on the Western front, personally
| directing the giant attack on the
| Allied defenses. It is believed that
J he has staked everything on the
present battle. German newspapers
lend color to this belief by assert
ing that this is the last battle before
peace.
All Is Well.
With the British Army.—An an
; nouncement issued by British army
! commanders this afternoon states
that the British withdrawal need
cause no panic. The commanders
are confident and everything appears
ito t>e working out smoothly. The
new battle positions are strong.
There are between sixty and ninety
German divisions arrayed against
the British, with approximately one
million men. Battles are in progress
this afternoon at Lys and Labasse
canal, on both sides of Rhrfms, be
! DRILLERS TO HAVE
WOODEN GUNS SOON
Sergeant Smith, who is putting
a class of Nenanites in shape for
j active military service, has made
| arrangements for wooden guns for
i the use of those taking part in the
drills, and when the new equipment
j is ready it will be possible to widen
| the sphere of the drilling to a con
! siderable extent
A class of forty was put through
! the exercises at Union hall on Tues
day evening, that being the largest
number that can be handled con
veniently in the hall. Another drill
will be held next Tuesday, com
mencing at the usual time.
AFTER BOOTLEGGERS
OTTAWA, Mar. 23.—The North
west Mounted police will soon es
tablish a post at Camp Pleasant,
on the Alaska boundary, opposite
Maines, for the purpose of prevent
ing liquor traffic with the natives
of that region. *
First and second class local and
coast mail- arrived on the Koland
stage, which reached town late
Thursday night. Some local mail
was also brought to Nenana _ by the
Thelin stage, arriving yesterday.
fore Verdun and in Lorraine.
What It May Mean.
LONDON, Mar. 23.—Unless the
British forces are able to restore
their positions by counter attacks,
withdrawal on a wide scale may be
necessary, with open filed warfare
and consequent great exposure to
troops. The point at which the
British line has been broken is at
the southern end of the German at
tacking front, which extends from
Arras to Lafere, fifteen miles below
St. Quentin. The German offensive
has developed with unparalled rapid
ity, the reason for this being indi
cated in General Haig’s report, which
show's that the Teutons are con
stantly bringing up large bodies of
fresh troops.
Shells Are Thick
PARIS, Mar. 23.—It is announced
by the war office that 9,500 shells
including many gas shells, were
thrown into Rheims by the Germans I
on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Worked In Gas.
LONDON, Mar. 23—In yester
day’s fighting on the Western front,
British and German artillerymen
were forced for the first time to
work amid gas fumes.
The First Break
LONDON, Mar 23.—The penetra- i
tion of the British lines is the first!
time that the defensive system has
been broken through since the
trenches were established. Previous
attacks bent the lines slightly but1
they did not give way. This led
critics to believe that the system :
was impregnable. The statement
that the British have retired in good
order to prepare new defenses, in
dicates that the encircling movement
launched by the Germans failed to
achieve the results expected, al
though a cnsiderable number of Brit
ish troops were caught in the trap.
The Last Exertion.
COPENHAGEN, Mar. 23—Copies
of German newspapers which reach
ed this city today contain the de
claration that the great battle now
in progress is final and decisive.
They characterize the struggle as
the “last exertion of strength before
peace. Germany only needs to hold
a short time to obtain victory. Our
' army leaders probably intend that
I the enemy shall bleed to death be
SURPRISE PARTY AT
ANDERSON RESIDENCE
The home of Mrs. and Mrs. Her
man Anderson was the scene of a
jolly party last Wednesday evening,
when the friends of Miss Mildred
! Anderson sprung a surprise party on
| her in honor of her birthday. The
I evening was pleasantly spent in sing
. ing, dancing and games, after which
I refreshments were served to the
j guests.
Those present were: Mrs. Fowler,
Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Burns, Miss
| Russell, Miss Slippern, Miss Hut
macher, Dr and .Mrs. Bowen, Miss
Kobe, and Messrs Benner, Sumer
lin, Grennan, Pearson, Larsen, Grigg,
Slippern and Hanson.
BAKER MISSES FIGHT;
RETURNS TO LONDON
—
LONDON, Mar. 23.—Secretary of
War Baker has returned to this city
after a several-day visit to the front
line positions on the Western front
Upon his arrival here he was met
by Ambassador Page.
J. B. Peers, a commission con
tractor south of Nenana, is a recent
arrival in town, having found it im
possible to continue work because of
the heavy snow.
fore the final attack.”
Pari* Ii Alarmed.
PARIS, Mar. 23 —Official an
nouncement was made this pfter
noon that the Germans had com
menced the bombardment of the city,
rhe announcement states that : hells
of large calibre are falling in the
suburbs at the rate of one every
fifteen minutes. A score of per
sons are reported to have been killed
The German line at the nearest
point before the commencement of
the present offensive, was sixty two
miles distant from Paris. Prepara
tions for conuter attacking the ene
my’s cannon are being made this
afternoon.
Several enemy airplanes attacked
the city this morning, but they were
driven off before serious damage
had resulted.
Report Doubted
WASHINGTON, D. C„ Mar. 23.—
The report received today that
Paris is being bombarded by the Ger
mans is generally discredited here.
The Germans, it is believed, do not
possess guns of sufficient size and
power to throw shells from the pres
ent ilne of battle to the French
capital.
May Fight Bulgaria
WASHINGTON, D. i\. Mar. 23
ShouM it be shown tliat Bulgarian
troops are being used by ihe i.er
mans in the present offensive oper
ations, the United States, in all prob
ability, will declare war .in Bul
garia.
Americans In Acton.
With the American Army, Mar.
23.—The enemy launched a heavy
gas attack against a town within tur
lines, northwest of Toul, last night
There was no wind blowing at the
time and the fumes of mustard gas
from the bombs hung low over our
lines for several hours.
The French forces have b. en en
gaged at several points by the ene
my, but the attacks are developing
slowly.
A Vienna Report.
VIENNA, Mar. 23.—The war of
fice has issued a statement in which
it is claimed that a great success
has been achieved by the Teutons
in the West.
mm ADMIRAL
Admiral Knight Secu-es Control of
All Shipping Along the Slav
Coast.
LONDON, Mar. 23.—Advices re
ceived from Tokyo today state that
Admiral Knight, commander of the
American Asiatic fleet, who is now
at Vladivostock, has concluded the
purchase of all merchant shipping
on the coast of Russia. The pur
chase involves 680,000 tons.
LABOR COMMISSION
ARRIVES ON SOUND
SEATTLE, Mar. 23—Armed with
parliament credits and bringing a
message of sympathy and good will
to the workers of the United States,
the members of the British Labor
commission reached this city today.
Dr. Malcolm E. Smith was called
to Fairbanks this week on court bus
iness. He made the trip up river
with A1 Sutton’s dog team.
WORK IS MOVING
In the face of adverse weather
conditions, work on the railroad
south of town, has been carried
on vigorously, and, all things con
sidered, with very satisfactory re
sults. The big 1300-foot trestle
spanning Lost Slough at 20-mile,
has been completed and is now ready
for the ties and rails. There are
no indication^ at the present time,
of any further glacier action in this
neighborhood, and it is expected that
the work of extending the line to
wards Lignite will be resumed next
month. Froip the end of track to
the point where the trestle across
Lost Slough begins there is only a
stretch of 30Q0 feet remaining to be
railed, and as the grade beyond the
trestle and up to Residency 4 (43
mile) has been completed and is
now ready for track laying and sur
facing, this work will be pushed for
ward rapidly until the crossing at
43-mile has been reached. To insure
the diverting from the old bed of
Lost Slough to the new channel
chosen by the engineering force, of
part of the water of the Nenana,
and to serve as a permanent pro
tection of the grade from flood
waters, piledrjver No. 2 and a force
of men are epgaged in building an
other strong dam at the head of
Lost Slough. In addition to this,
the big wing dam which is intended
to break the force of the current
and swing the river into the main
channel will spon be completed and
no further trouble from floods is
anticipated- All of the above acti
vities are on Residency 2 and under
the supervision of Resident Engineer
Ike P. Taylor.
On Rsidency 3 (35-mile), under
the supervision of Resident Engineer
Geo. B. Richardson, the last of the
big grading contracts have been com
pleted and the contractors, C. Herb
Wilson, Billy Lynn and George Gottu
have broken camp and come into
town with their respective forces,
for settlement. For the purpose of
driving piles to prevent bank erosion,
a piledriver and crew will be sent
shortly to Residency 3, but at the
present time all construction work
on the residency has practically
ceased. Mr. Wilson, who has a
clearing contract on the branch line
to Lignite, expects to establish his
camp there and commence work just
as soon as he can get away. Messrs
Lynn and Gotto have not made any
plans for the present. They may
possibly take up grading contracts
on sections of the main line beyond
-13-mile bridge later on.
At Residency 4 (43-mile, pile
driver No. 1 and a large force of
men, under the supervision of Resi
dent Engineer Kenneth Case, are
busily engaged in building the big
bridge which will carry the track
across the main Nenana river at
this point; and, though hampered
very considerably by the prevailing
bad weather, have made very sub
stantial progress so far. This bridge
with its trestle approaches, will be
768 feet in length, according to the
present plans of the engineering
i force.
LONDON, Mar. 23.—A dispatch
1 received from Amsterdam last night
j states that two Roman Catholic
I priests were executed at Brussels
I this week on the charge of espion
age. Charged with similar offenses,
1 eight other priests have been sen
| fenced to life imprisonment at hard
labor.
RAIDER IS CAPTURED
Pacific Port, Mar. 23.—An Amer
ican cruiser is reported to have cap
tured a German raider in the Paci
fic and is now towing the prize into
port.