Celebrate Liberty Day Right—Buy Liberty Bonds
THE NENANA DAILY NEWS
VOLUME ONE
NENANA, ALASKA, FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 1918.
NUMBER 23
HUNS TAKE KEMMEL HILL, NEAR YPRES
BRITISH FORCES MAKE GAINS IN FRONT OF AMIENS
GREECE " ASSURED RIGHTS WILL RECEIVE ATTENTION
r
WEST FRONT BATTLE
INCREASES STEADILY
LONDON, April 26.—After two days j
of furious fighting, in which the
French and British have been greatly
outnumbered, the Germans have cap
tured Kemmel Hill, a stategical point
on Messines ridge, south of Ypres.
General Radcliffe, chief diretcor (
of military operations, stated at the j
war office this afternoon, that while
it is possible for the Allies to hold j
Ypres, even with the Germans in
possession of Kemmel Hill, it would ;
not be convenient to have them so
close. Consequently it will be ad
visable either to drive them from
their captured position or to make
further retirement in the Ypres sec
tor.
A report received from the Fland
ers front this morning stated that
the Germans had entirely surround
ed Kemmel Hill, but that he French
troops, who occupied the defenses
on top of the eminence were still
fighting, despite the odds against
them. After eight hours of steady j
and violent fighting yesterday, Ger- j
man storm troops finally wedged |
themselves between the French and!
British flanks and cross the Kemmel-:
Ypres road. They were held at that
point for two hours by the terrific :
fire directed against them by the
combined forces of the French and
British. They then swung to the
south and poured down the valley to |
the west of Kemmel Hill, surround
ing the French defending forces on
the hill.
Kemmel Hill is one of the import
ant positions of the Allied defenses
in Flanders.
The advances made by the Ger
mans in their attacks about Ypres
have been made at frightful cost, the
losses being described as greater than
any thus far recorded during the
great war.
A MATTER OF RESERVES
LONDON', April 26.—The great
battle which developed two days ago
on the Picardy and Flanders fronts
continues to rage with varying suc
cess. The Germans have gained a
footing on Messines ridge and in
the Hangard sector, but at a cost
which hardly compensates for the
ground taken.
The battle, of which Kemrnel Hill
has been a part, may last all summer,
in the poinion of British military
observers. The chief determining
factor, they say, will be which side
holds the hest resreves. In this re
spect, the Allies appear to le the
stronger.
GERMANS IN DANGER
On the French Front, April 26-—
The more the Germans advance along
the road to Amiens, the more peril
ous becomes the salient they are
forming in the Somme region, es
pecially in view of the fact that
the resreves of the Allies are prac
tically intact. The defending powers
of the Allies also have been strength
ennd by placing the command under
a single head. The present position
is regarded as less favorable for the
Germans than when they began their
advance on March 21. At that time
there existed a weak point between
the British and French lines, un
doubtedly known to the German com
manders. Under a single chief,
there is not now a single sensitive
point in the Allied line, unified com
mand having given the opportunity
to make use of all the Allied troops.
The German effort has the ap
pearance of having become a des
perate attempt to break through to
Amiens, without regard to cost. The
enemy now possesses only a limited
number of reserve divisions with (
which to continue the overwhelming
rushes. Since the commencement of
the drive in March, the Germans
have employed approximately one
hundred thirty divisions and only
about sevently divisions remain in
the reserve list. Of these many of
the soldiers are unfitted for heavy
fighting.
FRENCH COUNTERING
With the French Army in Flanders
J April 26.— French troops are coun
[ ter-attacking this afternoon in an ef
fort to drive the Germans from their
position on Kemmel Hill. The fight
ing is growing in intensity hourly.
_ |
NOT SO BAD
With the American Army, April
126.—The losses suffered by the
Americans in the operations at Seich
I eprey were not so numerous as at
I first believed. Two of the soldiers
. who were reported among the miss
j ing, have been found in a dugout,
I where they lay wounded for three
I days. The hut was almost demolish
ed by shell fire and the escape of
the men inside is regarded as mira
culous. Another supposedly dead
trooper, Raymond Dumansky, was
buried alive for three days in No
Man’s Land and hundreds of Ger
mans passed over him. After quiet
| had been restored, he crawled from
his temporary prison and was res
! cued by stretcher bearers who
j chanced to pass near him, this morn
| ing.
i
GUN IS WRECKED
I
_
I PARIS, April 26—One of the Ion?
range guns used in the bombardment
' of this city is believed to have been
^ destroyed by Allied airmen.
KAISER VISITS ZEEBRUGGE
! _
j AMSTERDAM. April 26.—The
kaiser is reported to have made a
j special trip to Zeebrugge to make
a personal investigation of the dam
1 age done by the British raid on that
base. While there, an Allied aviator
flew over the town and dropped sev
eral bombs in an attempt to hit the
i monarch.
AUSTRALIANS IN ACTION
LONDON, April 26.—Australian
and English troops, operating to
gether, have retaken the town of
Viller Brettoneaux from the Ger
mans and report the capture of six
; hundred prisoners. Heavy fighting
; continues along the line between
Bailleul and Wytschaette, on the
Flanders front.
DUTCH SITUATION
|
WASHINGTON, D. C., April 26.—
Official dispatches received from the
Netherlands state that the proposal
that a Dutch military commission go
to Belgium to supervise the use of
the sand and gravel which Germany
desires to send through Holland
territory, has been turned down by
the kaiser on the ground that the
time is inopportune for sending a
commission through German military
districts. It is understood that Ger
many has assured Holland that fur
ther transit of supplies will not he
required, on account of placing the
Dutch government in an embarrass
ingk position. But the right is re
served to resum traffic later, if the
need arises.
Berlin dispatches state that the
differences between Germany and
Holland are about to be adjusted
satisfactorily.
AMERICAN AIR RECORD
WASHINGTON, D. C„ April 26.—
American aviators operating on the
Western front have downed a total
of 339 enemy planes since the entry
of the United States in the world
wrar.
TANKS FORMIDABLE
WASHINGTON, D. C., April 26.—
Advices received in this city this
city this afternoon indicate that the
German drive is increasing in in
tensity. It is believed, however, that
the Allies are now in better condi
tion to withstand attack than at any
time since the drive started.
It is admitted in the reports that ,
the tanks used by the Germans are
a most formidable fighting machine, j
being lighter and much faster than
those built by the British. It is un- j
derstood that steps have been taken
by the Allies to meet this new men- !
i
ace, hitherto employed chiefly by
the British.
Experts express the belief that the !
Allies will soon force the Germans !
to dig themselevs in along the entire I
line.
ITALIANS ATTACK TEUTONS
ROME, April 26.—Italian troops j
are attacking the Teutons in the Val- \
larsa sector, and the capture of three :
1 entanglement systems is reported, j
I with a number of prisoners.
WILL PROTECT GREECE
j WASHINGTON, D. C., April 26.— j
President Wilson has given assur
ance to the Greek people in the
United States that America’will give
the fullest measure of support to I
Greece and see to it that Greek
rights will be preserved in the peace
' negotiations, when that time arrives.
_ :
*• AMIENS IS SAFE
—
PARIS, April 26.—No further ad
vances have been made by the Ger
mans in the drive on Amiens. The
British are reported to have regained !
| considerable ground lost by them
| early this week and are now strongly |
; established at Viller Brettoneaux, an I
important tactical point in the Amiens !
| sector.
NEW GOVERNOR 10
TAKE OATH TODAY
Riggi Expected to Qualify Upon
Arrival of Steamship Alameda
At Ketchikan.
According to advices received in
this city this morning, Governor
Thos. Riggs, Jr., who is enroute from
Seattle to Juneau on the steamship
Alameda, will take his oath of office
immediately upon the arrival of the
.steamer at Ketchikan, where Judge
Jennings is engaged with court busi
ness.
HOUSE APPROVES
MEASURE MAKING
MORE AVAILABLE
Bill Authorizing Registration of Men
Who Have Reached Twenty-One
Is Passed.
WASHINGTON, D. C., April 26 —
The bill authorizing: the registration
of all men in the United States be
coming: twenty-one since June fifth,
of last year, has received the ap
proval of the lower branch of con
gress.
Under the terms of the measure,
one million, seven hundred thousand
men in Class A will become available
for draft, and of that number it is
estimated that seven hundred thous
and will be able to qualify physically.
There was very little opposition to
the bill in the house, it being re
garded much as a compromise meas
ure to satisfy those lawmakers who
are advocating an increase in the
age limit.
CAMPAIGNERS DO
LOT OF SELLING
FOR UNCLE SAM
Advance Report of Sale Indicate
That Many Nenanaites Are on
Honor Roll.
While figures are not yet ready
for publication, the reports of those
' engaged in the Liberty Loan drive
in Nenana indicate that today’s sales
: of Liberty Loan bonds will aggregate
a very substantial sum. The town
i has been thoruoghly canvassed, not
an opportunity having been over
: looked by the patriotic salesmen to
place bonds in the hands of Nena
i ites.
1 Liberty Day is being observed at
the commission as a holiday, in order
that the employees of the govern
ment may assist in the bond cam
j paign; and the holiday air is also
! generally in evidence throughout the
town, a number of busines places
1 having closed their doors for the day.
I A holiday was also announced by the
| school board, the pupils having been
' excused for the day immediately af
ter they had reported for the morn
I ing session. Holiday hours were
i observed at the telegraph office and
j the postoffice.
_
FAIRBANKS OBSERVES
HOLIDAY FOR LIBERTY
FAIRBANKS, April 26.—Liberty
Day is being quite generally observed
in this city in honor of the big drive,
and Liberty Loan campaigners are
out in force. The courthouse is
closed for the day and both banks
are observing the holiday, except for
the receipt of loan subscriptions.
A Liberty Day program will be
offered at Thorne’s tonight, includ
ing addresses by prominent speakers.
PIONEER DRUG STORE
TAKES NEW LOCATION
FAIRBANKS, April 26.—The Red
Cross Drug store, owned by Dunham
& Clark, is taking advantage of the
holiday lull in business, to move to
a new location on Front street, in
the quarters formerly occupied by ,
the Imperial Cigar store. The Im-!
perial has been moved to the Sim
som building, near the old Tanana j
saloon, which was recently purchased 1
by W. W. Pendergraft.
The Red Cross Drug store was
established in its location at the cor
ner of Second and Cushman in the
days before the big fire and is one
of the landmarks of the town. It is j
not known what disposition will be j
made of the quarters now, no pros
pective tenants having appeared on
^ the horizon as yet.
SEATTLE URGES
AIDS FOR FLEE!
FISHING BOATS
i -
Fisherie* Conference See» Oppor
tunity to Train Seamen in
the North.
SEATTLE, April 26—The Ameri
can-Canadian fisheries conference,
which has been in session in this
city during the past several days,
| concluded its deliberations late yes
terday and has departed for Victoria
! where another conference will be
held.
During the session here, it was
strongly urged that the American
government lend aid to establish a
big American fishing fleet in Alas
kan waters in order to supply train
ed seamen for a powerful merchant
marine. The suggestion received
I the approval of Secretary Redfieid,
who is conducting the hearings, and
the matter doubtless will be pre
sented to Congress in the form of an
emergency measure.
i
Last of Criminal Cases Was Disposed
of Yesterday By Judge
Bunnell.
| FAIRBANKS, April 26.—With the
1 return of a not guilty verdict in the
! Maddocks-Fox trespess case, the crim
inal docket in the local district court
was cleaned up, the remainder of
the term will be occupied with civil
matters. Monday has been desig
nation motion day, for the considera
tion of the civil calendar.
Since the commencement of the
■ present term a total of 23 criminal
cases have been disposed of by the
court, convictions having been se
cured by the government in sixteen
of the cases. Four of the defendants
were acquitted and three of the fases
were dismissed.
Judge Bunnell has intimated that
he will excuse a number of the trial
jurors next week, it being his in
tention to hold only about eighteen
of them for the consideration of civil
cases, now pending or which may de
velop later.
“Doing all humanly possible”—
but the war calls for superhuman
effort.
TELEGRAPHERS
CRISIS SUNDAY
Companies Threaten Lock-Out
Men Attend Union Meetings
Called for Sunday.
| CHICAGO, April 26.—There is
If
a
(possibility that the principal tele
I*
graph lines throughout the country
will be tied up by a strike next week,
in consequence of differences which
i have arisen between the Western
! Union and Postal Telegraph compan
! ies and their employees.
The president of the Commercial
Telegraphers union of America has
issued instructions to all operators
to be ready to strike on Monday in
the event that a lock-out is ordered
by the emloyers. It is understood
that both companies are considering
ordering a lock-out, to include all
employees attending union meetings
called for Sunday to consider call
ing a strike to force the reinstat
ment of certain union men who have
been discharged.
SALES MOUNTING
■ THRUOT STATES;
DAY A BUSY ONE
Believed At Wa»hington That Two
| Billion Mark Will Be Reached
By Tonight.
WASHINGTON, D. C.. April 26.—
j Liberty Day is being observed in
patriotic fashion throughout the
j United States and the sale of Liberty
, Loan bonds are climbing steadily.
1 Scores of cities and towns throughout
] the country have joined the honor
; -Tag class since morning and it is
‘expected that the two billion mark
i will be reached before the day’s sales
are over.
Aviators bombarded the capitol
this morning with Liberty Loan pam
phlets and fifty thousand people
paraded Pennsylvania avenue in a
great Liberty Loan demonstration
Similar parades were also held in
other ciUe* throughout the count) y.
SAN FRANCISCO, April 26.—The
twelfth federal reserve district has
reported subscriptions totaling one
hundred fifty-nine millions, and it is
expected that the quota of two hund
red million will be reached within
the next few days. Four of the seven
states constituting the district have
already “gone over the top,” with
a credit of six hundred ninety-eight
honor flags. The states are Wash
ington, Oregon, Utah and Nevada,
i The town of Millers, Nevada, has
; won thirty stars, with an over-sub
i scription of three thousand per cent.
CLARK MAY ACCEPT
i
—
WASHINGTON, D. C., April 26.—
There is a strong possibility that
Champ Clark will accept appointment
as senator to succeed the late Sena
tor Stone.
Short circuit on combread, the
wheat won’t go around.