The weekly Alaska citizen., December 17, 1917, Image 1

About The weekly Alaska citizen. (Fairbanks, Alaska) 1917-1920

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THE WEEKLY ALASKA CITIZEN
YOI yiji. _FAIRBANKS. ALASKA. MONDAY MORNING, Dec. 17, 1917,_NO. 43
NEW ERA OF DEVELOPMENT IS
PREDICTED FUR ALASKA AND
WESTERN STATES THIS YEAR
(Associated Press)
W ASHINGTON, D. C , Dec. 15.—A new era of hith
erto unprecedented development lor the west and north is
tonight being predicted by the western members ot congress,
who are working to open up vast resources for development
by individuals and linns. i hey state, however, that it is
nut going to be another ol exploitation, but one ol genuine
grow tn, resulting lrotn increased activities ol all kinds.
.Most ol this prosperity which is foreseen by the west
ern members is due to come lrum the unlocking ol great
natural resources which have hitherto been held under lock
i,y tue go\ eminent, the unlocking process will come from
tne nuls winch are being handled by congress now, and will
open about 44,000,000 acres 01 coal lands in lour states,
i liese lands lie in the west and Alaska.
In addition to the coal land projects, vast tracts of oil
and will also be opened lor exploration and prospecting, anti
will be either leased or sold outright by the government. Only
bona lide investors will be allowed to take up these lands,
as it is the intention of the government to have these nat
ural resources developed and not tied up lor years. Many
water power sites will also be leased for long terms, where
they will accommodate the people by providing cheaper power
than is at present obtainable.
Most of these bills will be taken up shortly after con
gress convenes following the holiday vacation. Alaska is
expected to be well looked after, as several northwestern
delegations tire co-operating with Delegate Sulzer in working
out needed legislation for the benefit of his constituents.
TREATY FORMULATED BETWEEN
RUSSIA AND GERMANY; REVOLT
REPORTED BEING CONTROLLED
(Associated Press)
AMSTERDAM, Dec. 15.—An oilicial statement issued
from Berlin today announces that a treaty has been formu
lated between Germany and Russia which will be ratilied in
a tew day;, and will end hostilities between the two coun
tries. 'file terms oi the treaty have not yet been published,
and pr<>t 1 tmul after it has been signed
is m force.
Reports received from Petrograd state that the treat)
is being discussed and tnat the clause which Germany sougnt
to have inserted, insisting upon the complete disarmament
oi Russia, has been withdrawn on account oi strenuous pro
tests irom the Russian representatives.
bUPPDfEb BRING KRCE1VED
PETROokAD, Rec. Id.—it is seim-olhcially reported
here tnat tne German government is already obtaining lats
and many other badly needed supplies from Russia, beverai
namlouds oi supplies are said to have been shipped to Ger
many during tne past few days. German buyers are re
ported to he scouring the country for all kinds of supplies.
CUbSACKb DOST
PETROGRAD, Rec. Id.—Oilicial statement issued this
morning state that tne Bolsheviki lorces, winch were deieat
ed ihursday by the Cossacks under tne leadership oi Gen
eral Raieume, were yesterday reiniorccd and, recrossing
tne Ron, attacked and deieated the revolutionist forces, it
is also rumored that General Kaiedine was captured and
is being brought to Petrograd under arrest, where he will
be tried lor treason.
the oilicial statement declares that the Bolsheviki forces
have occupied the towns of Rostov, Evan and Taganrok, in
Cossack territory. The revolutionary forces are said to be
in full retreat.
bo many conflicting reports are being received here that
it is impossible to get any accurate lineup on the situation
regarding what Kaiedine and Korniloff are doing. No offi
cial confirmation has been received regarding the capture
of either of these leaders.
NEW BRANCH OF
ARMY FORMING
(Associated Presst
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN’
FRANCE, Dec. 15.—American army
headquarters announced this morn
ing the organization of a new branch
of the American forces in France,
which is officially designated as the
"Graves Registration Service.” The
duties of the members of this branch
of the army will be solely to ar
range for the proper burial of all
American soldiers killed in France
and the care of their graves.
This branch is the outgrown h of a
plan originating during the Spanish
American war, and will see that all
graves are properly marked. The
head of the organization is an Am
erican army chaplain, who also saw
service in 1898.
HOUSE RETURNS
FROM BIG TRIP
NEW YORK, Dec. 15.- Colonel E
M. House, special ambassador from
America, and the President’s per
.sonal representative to the great in
ter-allied conference held a few days
go in Paris, arrived here today di
rect from a French port. He wil
leave almost immediately for Wash
ington to report to the President.
Colonel House stated that the war
j mission accomplished the desired re
. ults at the big council in Paris,
which was arranging for more co
operation between all nations. He
. tated, however, that he was unable
to give out any details of what oc
curred at these meetings until after
I he has conferred with President Wil
son.
He declared that he was greatly
j impressed with the spirit of the
French and British people. At ev
ery point there exists but one feel
ing, and that, he said, is a determi
nation to fight until a complete vic
tory is w-on, regardless of the cost.
MRS. WALKER'S BASKET
AN EXQUISITE CREATION
___
At the basket social last night the
basket donated by Mrs. George Walk
er was conceded to be the most ex
quisite article of that nature ever
seen in Fairbanks. It was of white
ivorine, exquisitely lined with blue
messaline and with trimmings of blue
and gold satin ribbon No other
basket in any way approached it,
either as an exquisite basket or in
its choice contents.
Seaplane Downs 1 wo
British Aeroplanes
BRITISH DESTROYER SUNK AND
TWO AIRPLANES PUT OUT OF
WAR BY THE GERMANS
{Associated Tress)
LONDON, Dec 15.—A hostile
seaplane is believed to have de
stroyed one British airship and
forced another to descend within
the borders of Holland as the re
sult ot an (ngagenirnt taking
place off the coast of Holland
early this morning. A British de
stroyer is also reported to have
b. , n sunk at the same time by
a mine.
The admiralty today issued a
statement in vWiich the loss of
these two planes and the de
stroyer is made public. No de
tails of the engagements have
been made known, as official re
ports from the British command
er have not been received.
Whether any of the crew aboard
the British destroyer were lost
is also unknown. The crew of
the airplane which descended In
Holland will be interned for the
remainder of the war.
MINOR SUCCESS
FOR HUNS UPON
ITALIAN FRONT
(Associated Tress)
ASSOCIATED PRESS SUMMARY,
Dec. 15. After a day of the most
terrific battling, the Austro-German
invaders succeeded in making a few
minor gains on the northern Italian
front, paying most dearly for theii
advance. At no point have they
succeeded in breaking through th..
Italian lines, which are still intact.
No activities are reported elsewhen
GERMANY FIGURES VICTORY
BERLIN, Dec. 15.- The German
general headquarters tonight report,
that the British have definitely dis
coutinu.d theii efforts to bnak th.
German lines in Eland.is, vvh. i
they have been inc ssantly attack
ing for more than four weeks. This
attack, which had for its obj cUv,
th ; i m mint of the Get man lin
iu lueu.-e river, and ill captu.
of the German submarine bases oi.
the North sea coa: t. The g n -ra.
staff states that the operations war,
a tacical victory for the Geunan
forces.
In the three months' struggle that
has raged along the front at oih.s
points, the general staff claims that
crushing defeats have been indict
ed on the enemy. A great victor.,
is claimed over the British at Cam
brai.
ITALIAN REPORT
ITALIAN FIELD HEADQUAR
TERS, Dec. 15.—Heavy fighting is
progressing along the mountainous
front east of the Brenta river, where
(lie enemy is attempting to advance
his positions in the same manner in
which he has been doing west of
the river. This, if accomplished,
would give him two lines of approach
to the open plains.
The Teutons have brought a large
number of their heaviest field guns
to the northern front and are rain
ing a terrific shell fire on the Itali
an positions there. No change of
line has been made, and the enemy
is believed to be definitely checked.
NICHOLAS HELD
BY BOLSHEVIKI
(Associated Pr^fts)
PETROGRAD, Dec. 15. -The Bol
sheviki government this afternoon
issued an official announcement to
the effect that all reports that for
mer Czar Nicholas has made his
escape are false. The government
today is in receipt of advices from
Tobolsk, where the former Ru sian
ruler is imprisoned, that no attempt
has been made by him to escape,
and that It would be useless foi
him to do so
Nicholas is closely guarded by a
detachment of sailors and a red
guard sent from Petrograd serial
days ago. These men have been
especially selected, and their loyal
ty is unquestioned. All former guards
of the prisoner have been replaced
by these picked men, and no fear
is felt that he may be able to win
them over and take French leave.
WIN LIFE MEMBERSHIP
ON FRIDAY EVENING
At the meeting of Midnight Sun
Chapter No. 6, Order of the Eastern
Star, on Friday evening, six life mem
berships were drawn for, from the
money raised by the Chapter at
their recent dance. The lucky win
ners of memberships were Mrs. Theo
dore Johnson, Miss Grace M. Rol
ston, Mrs. Frank Hall, G. A. Mac
Quarrie, Sidney B. Moore and Wil
liam W. Hunter.
NOTICE TO REGISTRANTS |
“Juneau, Alaska, Dec. 15, 1917.
"All registrants who have changed post office ad
dress since registering should immediately communicate with
local boards having jurisdiction of their cards, giving present
addresses, so questionnaires will reach them without delay.
Registrants are bound by law to keep themselves advised of
all proceedings in respect to them, and failure to do so may
result in their losing right to claim exemption or discharge.
"By direction of the Dover nor.
“J. T. HUNT."
The above instructions were received last night by The
Citizen with a request that it be given immediate publicity,
the information asked lor is necessary before questionnaires
can be supplied to all registrants. Those who fail to com
ply with these instructions will probably not receive a ques
tionnaire in time to answer the questions asked by the gov
ernment to determine classification of the registrant, and
thus will automatically be placed in the first class which is
o be called._
RAILROADER IS
HELD BY ORDER
OF BOLSHEVIKI
(Asrorlatetl Press»
PETROGRAD, Dec. 15. American
Ambassador Francis today receiled
information that Charles Smith, an
American railroad man. has been ur
rested in Tchita, Siberia, by the
Bol. heviki officers. Mr. Smith is a
member of the staff of John St< yens,
the head of the American railway
commission to Russia, and was >xi
Siberia organizing transpo. tation
property at the time of his arrest
Ambus ador F.ancis at onto w n
to tin govornm nt building and d.
mand. d information from t.i m re
garding tin arre: t. The officials dis
claim, d all knowledge of any such
action and Mated if it was true, it
.as evid ntly a mistake oil the part
jf the officers making th arrest.
Tlio Am dean ambassador then
upon a.-ki d that Mr. Smith be n
lea-,id and given p.oper treatment,
nd that the case be investlgaud
), dors have bwn is. u d command
ng llint lln Ameilean be released
t once and an explanation of tn
iff air forward d to P trograd.
BELF RPiACiD
BY He RSE MEAT
( \ ssi.ci i led 1‘r' sy »
GRAND ISLAND, N.-br„ D:c. 15.
As tar as is known, for the first
time in the history of the State of
Nebraska, horses wore today slaugh
tered for human food. Several of
the animals were killed to take the
place of beef, and are being sold
rapidly.
The flesh resembles beef in looks
and is said to have a very pleasant
taste. Owing to the difference in
price, the horseflesh being 10 cents
a pound the cheaper, it is believed
that it will soon replace beef to a
great extent on the local market.
GENERAL SCOTT
OPPOSES BAKER
(Associated Pr.-us)
WASHINGTON. 1). C„ Dec. 15.—
Major General Hugh L. Scott, until
his departure lor France to be pres
ent at the great inter allied war con
ference, chief of the American gen
eral staff, in his last annual report,
which was today presented to con
gress as a supplement to Secretary
Raker’s annual report, takes a stand
against the secretary’s opposition to
the adoption of universal military
training, and recommends that this
principle be adopted at once as a
regular national policy.
it is expected that a hard fight
will be made in both houses by the
upporters of the universal military
training bills for their adoption at
the present session.
?LAa to help
EQUIP TROOPS
(Associated Tress l
WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. 15.—
A war council w'ill be organized at
once, the purpose of which will be
to help supply American troops both
at home and abroad with needed sup
lies. S crctary Baker tonight an
nounc d that thi council would k
composed of hading experts of th.
United Stat-rs, and every effort would
jo made to speed up on the output
of n d d ■ upplies.
The personnel of the new organi
.ation has not been announc d yet
It is expected to begin its labors im
mediately after the first of the new
year.'
SWISS DECLARE
WILL MAINTAIN
NEUTRAL STAND
(AssociHte<i Pr**BM)
WASHINGTON, D. (?.. Dec. 15.
The state department today received
a communication from the Swiss
government thanking the United
States for her assurances that Am
erica will strictly observe Switzer
land's neutrality in all actions. The
Swiss government also adds that it
wlH reallhm its neutral position anew
nd if n c.-ssary will maintain that
.u utrality by force of arms, repoll
eg all violation of its frontiers.
Sine.- the outbreak of the wa.
i.i-rc lias hern but one violation ol
j .he n utrality of the Swiss fedora
tton. This liapp .n_d rec nil.. , wh uj
a G i man ui.p.unc, hotly pu..-u d, 1
e.o.e it- Lite Swi. s bo.ii-r and, ti u t j
ng to the alii d airplanes not to
ply as lung as it was on n utral
. ito. y. inrun dials 1/ opened fire on |
1 I ptiriuets.
\.h n the Swts. bo.dor gua.d. per-i
I ; -i ad tlio action of the Get man
I .an . they immediately op. n d fire |
I >n it with anti-aircraft guns and ri
Les, d.i .tng it back over French ter-1
j itory, where il was again attack d
| iy the allied a.iators. A report of
.he incident with a %igorous prot. s',
.va forward d to the G.tman govern '
in nt, asking for reparation.
I
• Associated I r« sh»
! PORTLAND, Ore., Dec. lo.-Fol- !
' lowing the discovery by the officials
uf the Northwestern National Bank
' that a large amount of Liberty Bonds
were missing from the vaults, Clyde
| Rupert, a special officer in this bank,
[was arrested charged with theft. He
j is alleged to have taken $19,500
5 worth of the bonds from an express !
package. Part of the missing bonds 1
have been located by detectives and
are said to have been disposed of
by Rupert.
The arrest created a great deal
of surprise in this city, as Rupert
is well known and has many friends
He is noted as an athlete and has
taken a prominent part in local ama
teur sporting events. The police of
ficials say there is no doubt as to
his guilt. The accused man refuses
to make any statement.
GOVERNMENT TO
BUILD A PLANT
(Associated Press*
WASHINGTON, D. C.. Dec. 15.
Secretary Baker tonight announc. d
hat the government had perfected
.ts plans for building an cnormou
xploslves plant for the purpose of
manufacturing explosives to supple
ment the output of private manu
facturers.
Colonel Daniel C. Jackling will be
placed in charge of the con. t.uction
of the plant and will be in chargt
of its operations when it is complet
ed. Colonel Jackling is expected to
arrive from his San Francisco home
directly after the Christmas holidays.
TEN KILLED IN MINE DISAS
TER IN WEST VIRGINIA
• Associated I’rcasi
BLUEFIELDS, W. Va., Dec. 15.—
Ten miners were killed in a terrific
xplo: ion of gas in a mine 20 miles
west of here. The shaft is reported
to have been blocked by the force
of the explosion, but on account o!
warning being given, the greater part
of the workers were able to escape
before the explosion came.
How much damage was done to
the property is not known. Work
will begin immediately to rescue the
bodies of the dead miners
American Olhcial
Heads New Council
ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF U. S.
TREASURY HEADS INTER.AL
LIED PUCHASING COUNCIL
l.tfcsjila'ei I'rtbBI
LONDON, Die Is. Oscar T.
i Vu b.., assistant Si c. dary ul the
L uHi.il Slates trea-ury J- ; .1 l
la ,H, Was todaj appoiuled tu
bead the new Inter :tiln d council
which will tak' up qu stiou ot
war purenases and hnances lor
the suppoi t of the war. The
council is composed ol leading
financiers Uum all tin allied na
tions.
Mr. Crosby lias been conferring
with leadeis ol the li.ilish and
French governments lor several
wviks i egaiding purchases lor
Hi- Engli ii and French nations,
and will have complete authority
to handle all questions arising
from this source.
The new council will probably
spi nd the greater part of the
time in America, as the biggest
part of tlie work will be located
there.
RIGGS REFUSES
TALK POLITICS
TO NEWSPAPERS
(Associated Trv&bt
SUA L'i’Lu, Dec. lj. thus. Uiggs,
ji., idle member ui Liu,* Aiuskun dh
lice, lug cuniuiicsiuu v.Uo is iu
amigo oi luc coiioiiucuou woik m
■ itc ivilcilUi Oi inU«tiu, lULc ilvHid
.uday by a rvprvsi mall. c oi Llic
.. oCrui. d i'i , .js, i ciUccU lo lain, on
.11.. ,io.ilium sduj Ci. , bill dc. c.lOiO
..K .aii.iuii wo.,( L>. ,ng done on tile
. an UsULo-oiUaiu end ol in.' govern
d. ui ,oud. no said turn lie was t n
i.uj loo bd. y ududillg luiltoad.- lo
....a pomiCo ui husLo ills nun' moii
i illg witil it.
..u, uiggs was asked concerning
.He iipOiL tnal lie was a candidate
ui Hie go • eino.. liip oi Alaska, and
i ctiiivd to make any comm. til on
.a. mallei', slating that lie was not
i politician and after no political
Juice bur was > ngagi si in building
i railroad l'or tile government which
wa., ini. ml. d to aid in the del lop
uent of Alaska. lie slat'd lilt;', u
lop. (i and confld ntiy e.vpec d lo
;ee rails laid from Fairbanks, tin
nteilor terminal of the road, to Li w
t.d, on the coast, within the u t
wo years.
( omul nting upon interior cou !!
.ion. , Mr. Uiggs stated ui.it Fan
junks would never again be tin vat
n d with a tu. I famine, as was lie
a e la. t winter. in order to pre
lent a recurrence of this, the goi •
, nment built last summer a spur
ive miles long connecting with the
fananu Valley Railroad which opens
ip a sufficient wood supply to keep
.he interior metropolis in fuel until
die road is completed between the
N’enana coal fields and Fairbanks.
This latter will be accomplished
luring the coming summer, if the
ippropriations which have been ask
'd for and recommended by the
secretary of the treasury are made
ivailable. The commissioner will
ea\e for the national capital in a
ew days.
OFFICERS GRAB
MANY SLACKERS
(Associated 11 r*-s s)
SEATTLE, Wash., Doc. 15. Thlr
y-five slackers were arrested in the ]
tool rooms along south Yesler Way
oday by special officers who were
ounding up registrants for the pur
pose of beginning the new classifi
tations. Among those arrested were j
hree men who claimed to be from
he interior of Alaska.
These latter persons, when asked
why they had no registration cards,
leclared they had failed to register
>n account of being ignorant of the
•xi: tence of any registration law,
ind that they arrived in the states
oo late to register. The state
ncnts of these men will be investi
gated, and if th-y are substantiated
ihey will be given an opportunity
o comply with the laws.
There is a certain Brooklyn man
who takes a great interest in his
lousehold. So the other day, just be
ore he left bi» ofilcp. he 'phoned to
its wife to ask whether Bhe wanted
lim to brng anithing home. "Yes,”
laid his wife, "I wish you would stop
ind get some tea. And you might as
well, while you ire about it, get a
set of China, too,” "China,” gasped
he husband. “Yes, of course we’ve
;ot some, but cook says there'll not
ie enough to last the week out.”
John Cruiser intends to leave for
lis homo up the Big Chena some
ime today.
FUEL SHORTAGE
GROWING ACUTE
IN BIG CiTIES
i *. t y ■ liil** . *'i I MB)
Ci/w Vl JuAiNU, O., i>e(J. Mo
»ba:i l'-j, .o ' iu a tii ' i u t m; .ov
in ut ami hunui eds oi .ii< Lu&t
maiidiaCtU. 1U.1; , iimi..- oi the • ■/ .. •.
It'Mil liu W J!, Uo i UtS I'.-dlil j£ lilt
| most severe Iml si.uiii'.i, - • »t k
COl ii i'll ill tlit.* U1. i • ia ol L 1 • • v * * ia mi.
l ilt uit u have briii toid to i eport
«&aiii .holiday in*- .imy loi wuik,
which will bi ifriiiut d ii coal al
i i. t .» by that tun \
iu • xtr. me coid v.vathr>- con
under. \Wliiodl ail/ K.od .. . -a, and
in .ill/ lain.ite ait . uni tie oe* r. at
new Cti.e.t ui pn uiuouia hum in n
. s pO. i1 u Uj Uf local Doul d oi hraiitl.
i lie cllj UUlilOl 11! * ill*1 ull. V .lie iu
accoi.., it. ii ati/ Liulij-, o’ti d i ii*.*v
.n^ condition.-, tfc.-, there i .'' olun ly
no . dtpid.-/ coai iu any ot % local
} aids.
SCHOOLS CLOnE
CULL ,.1LI K, Unto., De c. L* Gov
ernor Lox tonight wind til" national
iu. l aduiinis. nation that ali Lie'. ■
land sellout., and ho .i.ialii will bo
loi'Ced to close down t, ,■ ..loaday
unless coal l.i obtain, d iuiinediul.-ly
ile pleaded lor a priority ord .' for
that city. I ni. . .-- i vie I i.i rush. !
there at one. , many d■ .,tn- re likely
to result.
lic«V YORK HIT TOO
NLW YOiiiv, lJ..e. Li. N w Yoi ’•
City i.i today lacing tile 111 1st CM .
e.il situation in !' !n. uny M.in;
plants am mailing at hail povo.
many aieirtment lie a. ■ ai e altuo
cold, and many p.opl1 . . ii... l. on
lack of fu I. Just acio. , N-uth
river i.i piled mu. ■ titan 'r.eU ear
load of cij.i1 which • • a i am ft
thawing before it can la used.
Aid ha. been asked i:u;n lie- . . i
admini.,1 .ation, and Administrator
e.iliil.lll Wins lulllgul III.it only if
tort is being made to supply- tbe
alioi lage. f uel , liipment.i an. In lug
giv.-n priority Tile unsea ,nal. i,
w atlv-i throughout lie" country la
gm n a.i tie- cause of sui I: a cumi
liaii, whidi prevail, Onus bout
iargi portion u the east and v
tends into tin cent al states,
i
LluH i Lcjs NiGHiS
W.umiNGToN, u. i , y e. 15
-'-i.e riea i.s in ha ve sir 11 i,n.. ii«u.
e' idt m e that h is at v. In .
dvr lo help relieve the . I , , I
on.litioni and cut down lie pn . • nt
■ noi m.in.- eon: umption nt oal, 11
it tonal fu-l admipin ratio;; today ie
: >‘d Snndi.y and Tiiur.-d. in
n each v. i .• k ro be II,,hi ■ o
teg uim Ti ,,i; light! a!■■ I • ; ct ic
signs win he dimmed on hen , L.h:;
>)nly necessary >-t light; and
aghti re ce. . arc in ai -s and n . •
dvr.rei will be allowed.
Every effort i living made by tin'
administration lo ; a h coal o tin
threat n.-d points'. Thou points
where the need i- gi.-atest will be
given preference, and it is expect.-d
that all points will be relic. .1 by
the first of the coming w ik Many
shipments have be. n held up and
delayed by tbe extreme cold and
stormy weather which has h '.d the
entire country in its grip for the
past three days.
MANY FAMILIES SUFFER.
NEW YORK, Dec. 15. On account
of the increase of the coal famine,
more than 100.000 families are now
suffering. There Is urgi nt need of
fuel. Women have crowded the of
fice of the local fuel administrator
begging for coal. T'p to a late hour
tonight there Is no Immediate relief
In sight.
f Associate! Press*
LONDON, Dec. 15. An unofficial
dispatch received in this city tint
morning from Geneva, which la re
garded as reliable, declares that the
kaiser will Issu-. a . p- rial Christmas
message which will contain peace
proposals. If these proposals arc not
accepted by the allies he- will place
the responsibility for further blood
shed upon the allies.
If such a proposal Is made, the
allied government will not take any
notice of it unless it contains the
abdication of the entire Hohenzollern
regime, and provides for a demo
cratic government for Germany, un
hindered by the Prussian autocracy.
There is no expectation entertained
by oven the most optimistic that it
will contain such a clause.
Officials here sav that the German
government feels perfec* y saf in
making peace proposals, a: they real
ize that they will not be accepted
by the allies, but are making them
for the pu pose of strengthening
their position at home.
Mr. and Mrs. E M. Keys are
spending a few days in town, hav
ing come in yesterday from their
home at Fox.