Food—-The Weapon that will Win the War—Help to Save It
The Nenana News
VOLUME NO. 2
NENANA, ALASKA SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 1918.
WHOLE NUMBER 77
NORTHERN LIGHTS
HELP GERMANS IN
Nature Illuminated Sky Aa Raider*
Flew Toward Kent With
R Bomb*.
LONDON, Mar. 9.—The accuracy
with which German raiders dropped
bombs on the occasion of their re
cent raid on England was due largely
to the brilliant display of northern
lights, which illuminated the sky as
the raiders approached the Kent
coast. Watchers on the coast de
clare that before they heard the
enemy machines approaching the
whole northern sky was strongly
illuminated for few moments, after
which it became pitch dark- The
watchers are confident that the
lights were a greater help to the
Germans than would have been a
clear starlit sky. The illumination
showed them their objective and the
intense darkness which followed pre
vented defending machines from at
tacking the raiders.
Seen In Washington.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Mar. 9.—
Northern lights were visible Thurs
day night over the northern half of
the United States for a period of
three hours, the illumination extend
ing across the sky from Portland,
Oregon, to New York. The brilliant
lights, delicately colored, which
seeed to play about the dome of
the capitol building, attracted thous
ands of people to the streets, many
of them at first being under the
impression that Hie capital was
ablaze.
SIOPS
Lone Yankee Sentry Put* Forty
German Raider* to Rout In
Trench Fight.
With the American Army, Mar. 9.
—An American sentry has the dis
tinction of having put a raiding
party of forty Germans to rout un
assisted last night, after they had
stealthily entered an advanced Amer
ican trench. As the Boches ap
proached the sentry, he opened fire
on them and killed their leader
with the first shot- Evidently be
lieving that they had run into a
big bunch of Yankees, the Germans
took to their heels and returned
speedily to their own position. Sev
eral of their number were wounded
by the sentry, who is the hero of
the hour today.
A Number of Residents of French
Capital Are Killed By the
Enemy Airmen.
PARIS, Mar. 9.—This city was at
tacked last night by a number of
German war planes and a score of
bombs were dropped in various parts
of the city, resulting in the death
and injury of many persons. This
is the first time the enemy has
attacked the city by the air route
since January 31, when the casual
ties numbered 49 and more than
two hundred persons were injured.
RELATIONS NOT CORDIAL
v New York.—Newspapers just re
ceived from Germany, under date
of January, indicate that relations
between the dual monarchy and the
imperial German government were
not improved by the recent labor
troubles in Austria. It is also evi
dent that a discussion has started
over the question of which nation
has rendered the greater service.
STORMS STOP H
ROME, Mar. 9— Unfavorable
weather conditions on the Italian
front have compelled a temporary
halt in hostilities. The entire front
has been swept by severe storms
during the week.
COMPANIES GRANT
Company Official* Declare Wage
Increase Boosts Cost
Big Sum.
SEATTLE, Mar. 9—All of the
steamship companies operating along
the Pacific coast and in Alaska
waters, have granted the demands
of their employees for an advance
in wages. In discussing the matter
today, an official of the Pacific
Steamship company said that the
cost of operating the boats of his
company would be increased a
quarter of a million dollars annually
and that it would be necessary to
add $120,000 to the budget of oper
ating costs for vessels of the com
pany engaged in the Alaska trade.
The new wage schedule becomes
effective immediately.
Under the new scale, seamen,
watchmen, oilers, quartermasters
and foremen will receive $75
monthly, instead of $60; carpenters
have been advanced from $70 to
$90, and all ol the employees of
the steward’s department have been
advanced $15 a month, from the
second steward down.
LANE IS SURPRISED
AT STRONG’S ACTION
—
WASHINGTON, D. C., Mar. 9.—
Secretary of the Interior Lane is
at a loss to acocunt for the state
ment of Governor Strong, announc
ing that he had not resigned his
office as official head of the terri
tory. Lane said this afternoon that
Strong knew all about the plan to
appoint Thos Riggs to the position
and that any opposition at this time
! on the part of Strong was entirely
I unwarranted and unexpected.
—
WHITE PASS ROAD
WILL BOOST RATES
Permission Is Sought From Inter
state Commerce Commission
To Raise Rates.
j SEATTLE, Mar. 9.—Officials of
the White Pass have petitioned the
interstate commerce commission for
permission to advance freight and
passenger rates on the British-Amer
ican road of the company. It is ex
pected that other companies oper
ating in the North will announce an
i advance in rates very soon, officials
: of several of the companies having
stated that they will lose money if
| they do not do so, as the result of
I the advance in wages just granted
| to their employees.
SPAIN WlfHELP
! SUPPLY U. S. ARMY
j
j
Commercial Agreement Entered Into
By the United State* and
Spain.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Mar. 9.—
The state department announces
' that a commercial agreement be
' tween the United States and Spain
! was signed late yesterday afternoon,
1 the terms of which are particularly
gratifying to the American govern
j ment. The agreement provides that
j Spain will send much needed supplies
! to the Pershing army in France,
' thus relieving the shipping situation
to a very considerable extent.
SPRING OPERATIONS
BEGINNING IN WEST
WASHINGTON, D. C„ Mar 9.—
Advices received by the war de
partment from the French war zone
today indicate that the long period
of trench raiding has given way to
operations on a much larger scale
and it is generally believed in
American and Allied military circles
that the Germans are about to
launch their long expected spring
drive.
The Germans trained their big
guns on the British positions south
of the Menin road yesterday and
followed an all-day bombardment
with two night attacks. The action
took place to the north of Poelder
hoek and at two points the British
were forced to quit their positions
temporarily. A counter attack early
this morning enabled them to re
cover all the lost ground and some
additional ground was taken from
LABOR SECRETARY
SAYS DEPARTMENT
Many Industrial Disputes Disposed
Of During the Past Eleven
Months.
WASHINGTON, D. C„ Mar. 9.—
The department of labor, which is
presided over by Secretary WilAn,
has issued a statement in whiel*”ii
is shown that the department has
handled over 807 industrial disputes
during the past eleven months, af
fecting two hundred thousand work
ers in a variety of industries.
Of the total number handled, five
hundred thirty-eight were adjusted
by the department alone. One hun
dred nine disputes were settled by
local boards and in seventy-one cases
mediation efforts failed.
The department now has on hand
seventy-four disputes and seventeen
I cases involving workers actually on
I strike.
MINISTERS QUIT
MADRID, Mar. 9.—The premier
and foreign minister of the Spanish
cabinet, recently reconstructed by
Marquis Dealthur, have resigned
their posts.
ALIEN^DRAFT BILL
WILL BE_LAW SOON
Military Committee of the Senate
Favors Passage of New
War Measure.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Mar. 9.—
The administration alien draft bill,
which gives the president authority
to enforce alien draft treaties which
may be signed at any future date,
I and which gives effect to the treat
, ies already arranged between the
| United States and England and
i Canada, has been favorably acted
: upon by the senate committee on
military affairs and will be taken
up for early consideration in the
upper house of congress. The bill
empowers the president to require
the registration of all aliens in
America and those whose countries
have consented to such action, may
be drafted into the army in accord
ance with the drafting provisions of
their native land as regards age.
RUSSIAN TRANSPORTS
ARE SUNK BY GERMANS
I
1
COPENHAGEN, Mar. 9.—Two
Russian transports are reported to
have been sunk by German destroy
ers on Thursday, the attack having
taken place south of Aland island.
The transports fought hard to es
cape the attacking boats but were
no match for the destroyers.
I the enemy. The fighting extended
over a mile of front.
In the Verdun sector, the Germans
! are confining their operations to
aerial raids on French positions.
Battles at high altitudes are almost
1 continually in progress.
From Rome comes the reDort that
the Teutons have completed their
| preparations on the Italian front
for spring operations and the re
sumption of hostilities is expected
just as soon as weather conditions
will permit.
Heavy artillery action is in pro
gress near the Swiss frontier, to
| which point some American troops
have been transferred. The big gun
J demonstration has been in progress
during the past three days and
reached its crest today, it is be
lieved.
{RUSSIANS START
NEW REVOLUTION
TO OPPOSE PACT
National Guard Being Formed To
Down Bolsheviki In the
Slav Empire.
LONDON, Mar. 9.—Information
which reached this city today from
Russia states that Dr. Eleff, of the
Moscow university, has started the
lotiiiation of u national guard to
overthrow the Bolsheviki and estab
lish a coalition government in Rus
sia. The movement has the support
of the Social revolutionists and it
is expected that a vast army will
soon be in the field, ready to fight
for the new Slav republic.
| Professor Eleff is credited with
the statement that the Bolsheviki
j has suppressed news of the new
j movement, which received much sup
I port at the Moscow conference. He
i also says that the new republic will
; repudiate the peace terms imposed
, on Russia by the kaiser.
! Premier Lenine has issued a pub
lic statement, for the enlightenment
of the Russian people, in which he
says that the terms imposed by Na
poleon upon Germany and Prussia
| were tenfold heavier than those Ger
: many is imposing upon the Russians.
i
Fighting Slaves of the Kaiser Are
Told Tales of Cruel
Yankees.
_
American Army in France, Mar.
9.—With the object of embittering
1 German soldiers against the Ameri
’ can troops, and inciting them tc
more determined action along the
Western front, officers of the kais
] er’s army are telling their men that
they will be subjected to all sorts
of terrible tortures if they chance
to fall into the hands of the demon
Yankees. This was revealed to an
American officer today by a Prus
sian soldier who was captured by a
party of American raiders. He con
fided that he fully expected to be
I killed by some fiendish process and
j could scarcely believe it when he
| was informed that he would be
j treated decently by his captors.
—
SWORD BEST PROTECTION •
AMSTERDAM, Mar. 9—Replying
to a message of congratulations re
ceived from Phillip Heincken, a
director of the North German Lloyd
line, the kaiser is reported to have
said, referring to the conclusion of
peace with Russia, Rumania and
other European states: “The German
sword is our best protection. With
God’s help, it will also bring peace
in the West.”
I
I
L
STOCKHOLM, Mar. 9.—Reports
received in this city from Berlin in
j dicate that it is the intention of the
j kaiser to instal Prince Oscar, his
i fifth son, on the throne of Finland
as king.
AVERS CAULKERS
!
Seattle Union Accused of Refusing
To Let Helpers Work On
Ships.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Mar. 9.—
The refusal of Seattle Union caulk
ers to permit apprentices to learn
the trade is responsible for part of
the delay in completing wooden ships
now on the ways in Puget sound
shipyards, according to officials of
the federal shipping board. It is
claimed that there is a shortage of
caulkers on the Pacific coast, the
Seattle organization having only 185
members, while there is work for
more than six hundred- This short
age could be greatly relieved in a
very short time, it is claimed, if
apprentices would be permitted to
work with the union members.
Officials of the union declare that
Wm. L. Hutchinson, president of the
Brotherhood of Carpenters, recently
informed the shipping board that he
had thousands of trained caulkers
enlisted and that he would be glad
to mobilize them for the nation’s
work if granted special representa
tion on the wage adjustment board
for his organization.
Hog Island Plant Is Closed Down
By Strike of Three Thou: and
Employees.
PHILADELPHIA, Mar. 9.—The
■ Hog Island plant of the Interna
tional Shipbuilding corporation has
i been partially closed down as the
result of a strike, three thousand
i workers having walked out yester
' day to enforce their demand for
double time for overtime work, in
j stead of time and a half. The
strikers are mostly wood workers
I The secretary of the union says that
: the men are not unpatriotic but that
; they are merely trying to compel
| the company to live up to its agree
i ment.
Advices received from the ship
ping board contain the assurance
\ that the differences will be ad
justed promptly.
federaTconTrol
IS PARIYJEMAND
National Party Wants Uncle Sam
To Run Industries After
the War.
CHICAGO, Mar. 9.—The new Na
] tional party convention, which has
j been in session in this city the great
| er part of the week, concluded its
deliberations this afternoon, after
i having drafted the platform upo»;
, which the party will stand. The
outstanding planks in this platform
J are national prohibition, equal suff
rage and a continuance of govern
ment control of industries after the
war.
RUSSIA AND RUMANIA
I -
LONDON, Mar. 9.—Dispatches re
; ceived from Russia today announce ,
, the conclusion of peace between the
Slav nation and Rumania. The con- j
ditions stipulate that the Rumanians >
will evacuate Bessarabia.
SLAV NEWSPAPER
SAYS IAPS LAND
AT VLADIVOSTOK
Raiiiiu Claim That Four Tkouaand
Troop* Hare Arrived At
Northern Port.
LONDON, Mar. 9.—Details of the
alleged landing of Japanese troops
at Vladivostock are contained in a
Russian newspaper, under date of
January 19, which has just been re
ceived here. The paper states that
the Japanese cruiser Mikado reached
Vladivostock on January 12, and
was followed two days later by more
cruisers, with four thousand Japan
ese troops. It was explained by
the Japanese officers that the sol
diers were landed to protect Japan
ese subjects and interests at Vladi
vostock.
The story of the landing on troops
is stoutly denied by the Japanese
embassy at Petrograd, although it
is admitted that cruisers were re
cently dispatched to that port.
Jap* Are Unea»y.
Advices received from Tokyo state
that the Japanese press is evidencing
increased alarm over the Russian
collapse, the fear being generally
expressed that the German menace
will spread throughout the whole of
the Far East.
STRIKE IS SPREADING
ST. LOUIS, Mar. 9. - The strike
at the Wagner Electric company's
plant, has spread to the Simons’
Hardware company, three hundred
employees of the latter company hav
irg joined the strikers today. The
Wagner strikers, who demanded a
ten percent increase in wages when
they first struck, now insists upon
an advance of fifty per cent. It is
stated today that the federal de
partment of labor will send a medi
ator to this city immediately to settle
the trouble, which threatens to be
come serious. Twenty-seven of the
strikers were placed under arrest
yesterday afternoon for parading
the streets without a permit.
RUSSIAN LEADERS
UUII MIR JOBS
Leon Trotaky, Having Turned Russia
Over to the Germans, Resigns
Post.
LONDON, Mar. 9.—Leon Trotsky,
who was chiefly responsible for
bringing about the armistice on the
Eastern front, which resulted in the
present enforced peace, has resigned
his position as Bolsheviki foreign
minister, following the example of
Ensign Krylenko, who quit two days
ago as commander in chief of the
Russian army. Of the three who
attempted to rule Russia after the
downfall of Kerensky, Premier Len
ine is now the only one left and it
is expected that he will retire very
soon.
Commander In Chief Krylenko
Falls Out With the
Slav Leaders.
LONDON, Mar. 9.—Dispatches re
ceived in this city today from Pet
rograd, state that General Krylenko,
commander in chief of the Bolshe
viki forces, has resigned his post
because of differences which have
arisen between himself and the
peoples’ commissaries. This is the
first serious split in the Bolsheviki
regime and is regarded as indicat
ing the early collapse of the govern
ment. Krylenko’s successor has not
yet been appointed.