The Nenana News
VOLUME NO. 2
NENANA, ALASKA SATURDAY DECEMBER 29, 1917
WHOLE NUMBER 6
GERMAN SAILOR SA YS
* KAISER IS UNAFRAID
PETROGRAD, Dec. 29.—Baron
Admiral Keyserlingk, advance guard
of the Teuton peace delegation,
reached this city this afternoon and
announces that the Central powers
^ are ready to proceed with their ne
gotiations with the Russians, inde
pendently of the other Allied na
tions.
He says that Germany is not
afraid of America, either on land
or on the high seas. Had the Ger
mans feared the American fleet, he
points out, the Imperial government
never would have launched her sub
marine campaign.
Reports received in this city from
Brest Litovsk state that the Russian
representatives have accepted the
peace terms outlined by the Austro
Hungarian minister, and will adopt
them as a basis for the general
peace discussion set for the coming
month.
Representatives of the Bolsheviki
government have received assurances
from the Central powers that when
peace is established between Russia
1 and Germany, the way will have
been paved or an easy settlement
with the other Allied nations. This
is being used as an argument or a
speedy settlement of the pending ne
gotiations and appears to have made
a most favorable impression on Bol
sheviki.
GERMANS ASSIST TURKS'
CAN’T STOP THE BRI
WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. 29.—
Four Turkish army divisions which
are operating against the British
in Palestine, are reported to have
been re-infofced by Austro-German
troops which were rushed from the
Russian and Rumanian fronts to
assist in checking the British ad
vance north and northeast of Je
rusalem.
The reports received by the war
department this afternoon state that
a desperate campaign has been start
ed, the object of which is to retake
Jerusalem and drive the British
from the Holy land. The British,
however, are standing up well under
the new offensive. Four attacks
have been launched by the Turks
and their allies thus far, with the
result that the British have advanced
their positions more than two miles,
along a nine-mile front. The Turk
ish losses in killed, wounded and
captured have been unusually heavy.
Many Germans were among the
prisoners taken.
ARMY BALLOON LOST;
WENT TOWARD SOUTH
SAN ANTONIO, Dec. 29.—An
army balloon which left here at mid
night last night, has been lost sight
*s of and it is feared that it crossed
the Mexican border and was forced
to land south of the line. The oc
cupants of the balloon were a cap
tain and a student aviator.
ATTACKING SUBMARINE
CAPTURED TWO YANKEES
WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. 29.—
Officials of the navy department an
nounce that the crew of the sub
marine which sank the Jacob Jones
early this month, took two of the
Americans captive.
BRITISH LOSE THREE
FAST TORPEDO BOATS
LONDON, Dec. 29.—The British
admiralty is authority for the state
ment that three torpedo boat de
stroyers were sunk on the night of
December 22, either by mine or sub
marines, off the Dutch coast. The
destruction of the vessels resulted
in the death of thirteen officers and
180 men.
AMERICAN IS STOPPED
fiY BOLSHEVIKI GUARD
STOCKHOLM, Dec. 29. — An
American diplomatic courier, enroute 1
from the United States to Petrograd
with important communication* to
the Russian government, is reported
to have been refused admission to
Russia on the ground that his papers
had not been vised by the Bolshe
viki minister here.
AMERICAN GUNNERS
SINK A SUBMARINE
LONDON, Dec. 29.—Passengers
arriving here on an American
steamer state that the gunners on
their vessel sent a German sub
marine to the bottom on Thursday,
off the British coast. The U boat
was apparently preparing for an at
tack, when the gunners opened fire.
The submarine disappeared and was
not seen again.
BLACK SEA WARFARE
WILL BE SUSPENDED
COPENHAGEN, Dec. 29.—-A con
ference at Petrograd between Rus
sian naval officers and representa
‘ tives of the Central powers, looking
to the cessation of naval warfare
in the Baltic and Black seas. The
greater part of the German Baltic
fleet is reported to have already
started on its return to Kiel.
CHARLES GUNDRUM
CALLED BY DEATH
Charles F. Gundrum, who was
taken to the Government hospital
last week with a fully developed
1 case of tubercular meningitis, pass
ed away at 3:15 this afternoon.
The deceased came from Beaver
Springs, Pennsylvania, and was an
oldtimer in the country, having come
in with the rush of 1898. He was
about 45 years of age, and is sur
vived by a wife and four children
in Nenana and by his mother, sister)
and brother in Beaver Springs, Pa. 1
RAILROAD EXECUTIVES
TAKE CHARGE OF WORK
WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. 29.—
The war board, consisting of pri
vate railway executives, was direct
ed to assume temporary control of
railroad operations today by Director
General McAdoo. This is the only
announcement made by McAdoo re
garding the government’s plans for
the operation of the commandeered
railroads.
NIAGARA FALLS TAKEN
OVER FOR WAR NEEDS
WASHINGTON, D. C„ Dec. 29.—
The federal government has requisi
tioned Niagara Falls power for the
benefit of war industries, announce
ment to that effect having been
issued today. This is the first re
quisition of the kind, but it is ex
pected that other sources of power
throughout the country will be taken j
over by the gqvernment as the need 1
arises.
ITALIANS ARE MOVING
STEADILY ONWARD NOW
ROME, Dec. 29.—The war office
is authority for the statement that
the Italian troops are forcing the,
Teutons back at several points on
the various Italian fronts. The cap- j
ture of an advanced position on the 1
northern front is reported this after-1
noon.
SALT IS POISONED.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. 29.— ,
Advices received in this city todav j
state that a score or more persons!
are dangerously ill at Seabrook, j
Maryland, as the result of eating!
salt purchased from Max Katzen, a j
German grocer.
London.—The achievement of the j
purpose for which the Allies are j
fighting is essential to the future!
freedom and peace of mankind, de-,
dared Premier George in a letter j
written todav to the British labor I
congress. This i« regarded as the
reply of Great Bntsin to the latest
German peace offer.
Tokyo.—Unable to en-nromte with
the Bolsheviki wv-Trnntit, tVn~„
hundred American *sfinned engin
eers have returned feem Vladivos
tok, having arrived at a Japanese
port this week, enroute home.
COLO WAVE HITS
EASTERN STATES!
WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec .29.—
The eastern section of the United
States, from the Mississippi to the
Atlantic seaboard, is enveloped to
day by a cold wave of unusual in
tensity. The great blanket of frost
is moving sluggishly toward the
east and south, adding steadily to
the area of the frost belt. No re
lief is offered by forecasts issued
by the weather bureau.
The situation is rendered the
more serious on account of the fuel
shortage in many sections of the
East. Distress is already reported i
and much real suffering will follow
in case of a protracted cold snap.
GERMAN FOREMAN JAILED
ON CHARGEJF TREASON
NEW YORK, Dec. 29.—Paul Hen
nings, a naturalized German, em
ployed as foreman in a torpedo
manufacturing concern, was placed
under arrest this morning on the
charge of treason. His offense con
sisted of mutilating gyroscopes for
the control of torpedoes in such a
manner as to render the torpedoes
useless. Henning was engaged in j
superintending the assembling of
the gyroscopes and had ample op
portunity to commit his treasonable
acts undisturbed.
DELAYED PURCHASES
OF CLOTHES COSTLY
WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. 29.—
In a statement made today before
the senate investigating committee,
Quartermaster-General Sharpe ad
mitted that there had been much de
lay in the purchase of uniforms and
overcoats for the American soldiers
in training. This delay, camp com
mandants have already testified, has
been responsible for much of the
sickness and many of the deaths
reported among the soldiers. The
men are said to have been without
sufficient clothing and blankets.
ALLIES REJECT TERMS
PROPOSED BY GERMANS
LONDON, Dec. 29.—The govern
ments of England and France,
through their prime minister and
foreign ministers respectively, have
made it known to the Central pow
ers that the peace terms suggested
through the Russian negotiations are i
insufficient. It is regarded as cer
tain that the Teutons must go fur
ther toward meeting the terms of
the Allies before a general uiscus
sion will be consented to.
DOROTHY GISH STARS
IN SUNDAY’S FEATURE
Dorothy Gish, who has the dis
tinction of being the youngest lead
ing lady in the realm of motion pic
tures and one of the most popular
actresses appearing before the cam
era, will delight Nenana theater
goers tomorrow night as Susan, in
“Susan Rocks the Boat,” a Fine
Arts production in five lively parts.
She will be supported by Owen
Moore and a strong company of Tri
angle players.
Miss Gish takes the part of a so
ciety girl, weary of idle rich with
whom she associates. She wants to
be a reformer and starts in on the
poor residents of her own city. She
spends money lavishly in an effort
to rid the town of one of its bad
corners and winds up by falling in
love with a real ganster. Her fre
quent visits to the tough quarter
lead to many thrilling experiences,
with lots of fast action. And the
story ends right. It is decidedly an
American play, with a mixture of
comedy, melodrama and the spec
tacular,
The price of admission will be
fifty cents, with a quarter extra for
reserved seats. The show will start
at eight-thirty o'clock.
London.—The king has appointed i
January 6 as a day of national
prayer for the »uccess of the Allies’ ,
armies.
KK OF RUMANIA
GIVES UP 1HR0NE
PETROGRAD, Dec. 29.—Advices
received in this city late this after
noon state that King Ferdinand, of
Rumania, had abdicated his throne
in favor of his son, Crown Prince
Charles. The abdication, it is be
lieved, is the result of the activities
of Rumanian revolutionists who,
some tme ago, were reported to have
planned the downfall of the mon
arch. The reports received today
state that the representatives of Bol
sheviki and German propogandists
have been working diligently amonp
the Rumanian soldiers, creating a
sent.ment against Ferdinand and ir
favor of the Russian peace move.
GOOD TRAIL IS MARKED
ON BROAD PASS ROUTE
An aid to mushers has been pro
vided by engineers in the employ of
the Alaskan Engineering commis'uo;
in the form of a good trail, plainly
marked, between Jack river and the
end of the railroad work on indiar
river, south of Broad Pass. Divisior
Engineer F. H. Bailey has issued ;
statement in which he says that the
trail between the points named car
be easily followed by mushers, with
out danger of losing their way. The
markings extend for a distance of
mots, from Indian river, at Mile
265, northward through Broad Pass
to the confluence of Jack and Ne
nana rivers, Mile 322. South oi
Indian river the right of way is
cleared and beyond Deadhorse, Mile
249, the grade is practically com
pleted to Montana creek, Mile 211
Mr. Bailey says that Mr. Forbes
has been over the trail and reports
that it can be followed readily'.
VOLUNTEERS POPl -AR
AT NEW ARMY CAMPS
Letters received in Nenana dur
ing the week from Arthur V. Hea
cock contain the information that
the former Tolovana river navi
gator is much taken up with his
ne v life in the army camp at Fort
McDowell, where he is attached to
the quartermaster corps. Heacock
is an Alaskan regist”snt, but volun
teered his services to the govern
ment instead of waiting to be draft
ed. And now he writes that he is
very glad he took the step, for the
volunteers are the white-haired boys
of the army, being much more high
ly regarded by their comrades than
those who were forced into the ser
vice by the drafting process.
The feeling is such, in the army
camps, that the war department has
found it advisable to make an equal
iivision of drafted men and volun
teers at each of the camps.
Heacock writes that he likes the
life immensely, and says that he is
not a bit sorry that he joine 1 the
army, although at times he longs
for dear old Alaska and the many
friends he left behind. He says
;hat he does not know where he is
to be sent or when he will leave
Fort McDowell, but he is ready for
iny orders that may be issued and
eager to get into real action.
Art expressed a wish to be remem
bered to his many friends in Nenana.
RAILROAD LUXURIES
ARE PUT UNDER BAN
Washington.—One of the first
lurtailments made by the govern
ment in the operation of the rail
■oads of the country will be the
elimination of the luxuries of the
jassenger service. Several of the
■oads, including the C. M. & St. P.,
vill discontinue observation and buf
fet cars, thus saving the cost of fuel
■equired to pull the coaches across
;he continent
CA1SER NOW TRYING
TO INVOLVE FRANCE
PARIS, Dec. 29.—In discussing
;he peace negotiations between BoL
iheviki and the Germans, French
Foreign Minister Pichon declared to
iay that the Germans were trying
\o involve France in the negotia
YANKEE DESTROYERS
CAPTURE DIVER CREW
tions with the Russian government.
He declared further that the war
between the Allies and the Central
powers would continue, regardless
of the action taken by Russia.
PROPERTY OWNERS URGED
TO INSTAL LADDERS NOW
Owners of buildings, and espe
cially two-story buildings, in the
business district, are urged to instal 1
ladders on their property at once,
for the purpose of making it pos
sible to reach the roof quickly and !
easily in case of fire. Some prop- ;
erty owners have already taken this
precaution, but many buildings are
not yet equipped with ladders and,
in consequence, stand exposed to
gravest risk and a menace to adjoin
ing buildings.
Acting Townsite Manager W. H. j
' Grigg, in discussing the matter of
fire protection, said yesterday that
failure on the part of property own- j
j ers to instal ladders and take other
ordinary precautions against fire
doubtless would result eventually in
the issuance of an order requiring
such action. The ladders, he said,
should be attached permanently to
the building, at a point near the
stove pipe.
In addition to the roof ladders,
Mr. Grigg suggested that other lad
lers be provided for the safety of
occupants of upper stories. With
out such ladders, a fire occurring
near a stairway might easily cut off
the escape of lodgers and compel
them to jump from the windows.
As a further precaution against loss
of life, he suggested that the owners
of two-story buildings instal ropes
i in the rooms, for use in case ladders 1
are not available in time of need.
These ropes can be securely fast
ened just inside the windows and
coiled so that the loose end can be
thrown to the ground, thus afford
ing a safe and rapid means of es
cape.
The use of these ropes is general
in other Alaskan towns and is re
quired by ordinance in a number of
cities, including Fairbanks, where
exerience has demonstrated their
I value as an independent fire escape.
JAP EMPEROR SAYS
JAPAN IS AN ALLY
TOKYO, Dec. 20- - Ir- a speech de
livered from the throne yesterday,
the emperor of Japa i declared that
the Japanese government intends to
co-operate in every way possible
with the Allies. “ We will support
the Allied cause to the fullest ex
tent” is the way he expressed it to j
his countrymen.
PIONEER KLONDIKER
ASKS FOR RELEASE
I
SEATTLE, Dec. 29. — Antone
Stander, who took out a fortune;
from his claim on Eldorado creek, in ;
the early days of the Klondike, and !
who has since that time invested
a lot of his money in matrimonial
ventures, has appealed to the courts
for a separation from his present
wife, Lilly. He alleges cruelty.
CHINKS DEFEAT BOL
IN HARBIN BATTLES
PETROGRAD, Dec. 29.—Advices
received in this city today state that
the Bolsheviki soldiers at Harbin
have surrendered to Chinese troops- j
the surrender having been preceded
by several hours of street fighting
in which many lost their lives. The
Russians have been disarmed.
SCHOOL MONDAY.
The Christmas vacation of the Ne
nana public school will end this
week and on Monday the children
will be back at their deska, ready to
resume their studies. The vacation
was limited to one week because of
the delay in opening the school at
the commencement of the term, it
being the desire of the board to give
the children every opportunity to
catch up with their studies so that
it will not be necessary to drag the
term out needlessly nest spring.
The New Year will b« observed hy
a vacation of one day.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec .29.- -
The navy department has issued a
statement in which it is announced
that the American destroyers Fan
ning and Nicholson, engage*; in con
voying American merchant ships
through the war zone, attacked and
sank a German submarine off the
British coast on November 24. The
members of the diver, consisting of
four officers and 35 men, were taken
prisoners.
The destroyers opened fire on the
submarines when the periscope was
sighted and a well-directed depth
bomb wrecked the machinery of the
diver and compelled it to rise to the
surface. The members of the crew
immediately came on deck, wearing
life preservers, and swam to the de
stroyers. One of the Germans had
difficulty in reaching the side of
the boat and two Yankee sailors
leaped into the water and rescued
him. His exhaustion was such, how
ever, that he died several hours
later.
The reports state that the cap
tured Germans appeared well sat
isfied with their fate. They began
singing as soon as they reached the
deck of the destroyers and cheered
the Americans lustily when they
were put ashore. They are the first
German submarine operatives to
fall into the hands of the Americans.
AMERICAN SAYS ALLIES
TOKYO, Dec. 29.—Raymond Stev
ens, head of the American railroad
commission, who arrived at Naga
saki this week from Vladivostock, is
authority for the statement that con
ditions in Russia are deplorable as
the result of the collapse of the Ker
ensky government. He says that the
Allies should not relax their sym
pathy and help at this time because
of the recent change in govern
ment. Instead, they should quad
ruple their efforts to relieve the
distress of the 130,000,000 persons
composing the* peasant class. He
says that it would be a grave mis
take to permit the Central powers
to finance and advise the sufferers
at this time. Should such a thing
occur, he believes the situation in
Russia would be lost, as far as the
Allies are concerned. Stevens an
nounces that he is going back to
Russia within a very short time and
hopes to be of assistance to the
United States and the Allies in re
storing order in the disrupted re
public.
LEWIS TRAINING CAMP
MAKING COOD RECORD
CAMP LEWIS, Dec. 29.—Com
mandant Irons announces that twen
ty-five thousand men have completed
their training here and started for
the East since the first of Septem
ber. He r .'ports that here are now
in training, a total of 35,000 men.
Seattle.—John Forcella and Fred
Elep, suspected German spies and
former artillerymen of the German
army, have been placed under ar
rest in this city on presidential war
rants and will be interned for the
duration of the war. It is believed
the men escaped from a Canadian
detention camp. Forcella tried to
register for the American army and
spent a week at Camp Lewis.
Paris. — The French National
Labor union has adopted a resolu
tion recommending an international
labor conference for the discussion
jf the war. The union has endorsed
the war aims of President Wilson.
MOOSE INCREASE MEMBERSHIP
Several new members were ad
nitted into the “Defending r'i»-ci»’’
it the meeting held by Nenana
Lodge No. 1193, Loyal Order of
Moose last Wednesday evening. The
sommittee on membership have sev
eral new applicants on the tapis and
ixpect to Vitiate again in the near
futare. A good attendance of vis
ting, as wall as looal brothers is
(•ported.