The weekly Alaska citizen., December 24, 1917, Image 1

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

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THE WEEKLY ALASKA CITIZEN
VOL. VIII. _FAIRBANKS, ALASKA, MONDAY MORNING, Dec. 24, 1917.NO. 44
ITALIANS DRIVE ENEMY BACK
ALMOST MILE ON THREE MILE
FRONT NEAR MONTE ASOLONE
( \ ssoclnted f’r*
\KSOflATKD PRES? SEMMAI1V.
Iic< 22. All it-ports front both tier
man and Italian sources show that
the Italians are -'ill holding offensive
in the Monte Asotom .-ector. when
their lines have been -eriously men j
ao d since last Tuesday They have
been launching attack after attack
all day in a desperate effort to re
take the lost heights, and have made
considerable progress
In the other sectors along the
Italian lines in northern Italy, there
has been a comparative cessation of
infantry activities b> the Teutonic
forces, hut the artillery duel is rag
Ing unchecked
DRIVE INVADERS BACK
ROME, Die 22 In a succession
uf the most brilliant infantry at
tacks of the entire war. the Italian
forces today drove numerically su ,
pi-rior Austro German forces hack
two-third.- of a mile along a front
three miles wide in the Monte A so
lone sector. The Italians still re
tain the offensive, and are ham
Hierinc away at the enemy positions
without any letup.
Tlie Teutons are rushing great
bodies of reinforcements to break
up the Italian movement, but the
troops of Italy are battling for the
heights of Monte Asolone, which
were taken from them by the Teu
tons last Tuesday. The achievement j
of the Italians in today's fighting is
considered by all allied military ex- !
ports to be equal in rank to the |
'upping ot the Germans at Verdun
and the great British drive in the
Somme region. The situation is con
siderably brightened by the successes
of the day. although the crisis Is
not passed.
JAPAN DENIES
ALLEGED ARMY
MOBILIZATION
(Assoeiuteu Press 1
TOKYO, Dec. 22 In order to cor
rect an erroneous impression which
lias bet-n gathering headway during
the past iorty egiht hours, the Japan
ese government today informed a
reppo. i ntat. i of th. A suci.iUd
Press that all reports of Japanese
troops occupying any Russian port
or territory are without foundation,
and utterly false. The statement
also declares that Japan does not
intend to move troops to Harbin,
Vladivostok or elsewhere
Regarding a report that Japan is
secretly mobilizing her armies, a
representative of the Japanese gen
eral staff declared that no such
move was under way, nor had it
been proposed It is the belief in
Japanese militaiy circles that these
reports are the fruits of a German
conspiracy to < rente suspicion and
distrust of Japan by the allied gov
ernments, particularly Ragland and
America.
All the officials stale that Japan
has no other idea than to live up
to her treaties with England and
her more recent agreements with
the United States
PATROL SHOOTS
SPY AT EL PASO
(Ashot-lated I’i mu)
Kl. PASO, Tex., Dec. 22. The
watchfulness of the military guards
stationed here at the bridge between
Mexico and the United States is
being redoubled on account of the
detection of a German spy tonight
as he attempte* to dash across to
the Mexican side. Charles l'eige, a
German, tried to evade the chal
lenge of the armed patrol on the
international bridge and, when order
ed to halt, started to run. The
sentry immediately fired on the flee
ing man, killing him at the first
shot.
Feige's body was taken in charge
by the military authorities, and when
searched was found to carry a num
ber of maps, and military informa
tion regarding the position of vari
ous camps throughout the United
States. It is believed that he in
tended to send the information from
Mexico to Germany.
GERMAN CONSUL
HEAVILY FINED
{Associated Press)
SAN FRANCISCO, Cal., Dec. 22.—
Former German Consul Rodiek, of
Honolulu, was today fined $10,000
when he pleaded guilty to foment
ing a revolution in India against
the British government. Rodiek is
the third of a number of defendants
now being tried for violating the
neutrality of the United States by
plotting against a friendly nation.
The trials of the remaining defend
ants will be heard as rapidly as
possible.
SECRET SERVICE
CHIEF RESIGNS
(Associated Press)
NEW YORK, Dec. 22 - Wm. J
Flynn, head of the United States
secret service, resigned today, to
take effect at the end of this year.
The cause of the resignation is said
to be ill-health. Mr. Flynn has been
in bad condition for several months,
ami the great st rain under which
lie has been working since the decla
ration of war by tie- I'nited Slates
is reported to have caused an almost
complete breakdown.
Several papers, commenting on the
resignation of the chief, stated that
he lias bet n offered the police eom
missionei ship or New York City, un
tier Judge Hylan. When asked re
garding tills report, Mr. Flynn re
fused to make any statement, or
discuss it in anj manner. Ills prob
able successor hits not yet been
named.
CHURCHMAN !S
ISSUED SOON
The quarterly edition of t lit* Al
askan Churchman is just off the
press at The Citizen office, and will
be ready for distribution during tin
next week. The Churchman is the
official magazine of the Episcopal
church in Alaska, and keeps tin
public informed as to the various
activities of the churches and mis
. ions in Alaska There an- evcral
beautiful cuts in tie present issue, ;
and it certainly is an attractive |
piece of work. Reverend Lumpkin,
in charge of St. Matthew's church
here, is the editor of the Churchman.
The drawing for memberships in
the Red Cross which are due from
the last several quarter lists, and
from the entertainment given by the
Civic club, will be held on Friday,
December 28, at the district court
house.
It is urgently requested that all
members of the Civic Club be pres
ent, as well as holders of tickets,
donors of quarters to the fund, and,
in fact, the general public, attend
the drawing. This request was made
yesterday afternoon by Mrs. Jesse
Rust, Acting President of the Civic
club.
BILLIARD ROOM
HAS BIG BLAZE
(Associated Presto
SAN FRANCISCO, Cal., Dec. 22.
Eddie Uraney’s billiard parlors were
partially destroyed by fire here this
morning. The loss is estimated at
$50,000. The cause of the fire is
unknown.
Graney’s is one of the best known
public places of amusement in the
city, and is considered headquarters
for the sporting fraternity and ath
letes. Graney himself was connected
for many years with the prize ring,
being one of the most famous ref
erees of his time . When he quit the
business, he entered the billiard busi
ness here, and has always drawn
heavily from the ranks of all branch
i.'S of athletics for his patronage.
COMMANDERY
M ETS ON XMAS
The regular services conducted by
Commandery N'o. 1, Knights Templar,
will be held Christmas morning at 8
■o’clock at the Masonic Temple. These
services are held all over the world
it the same time by the Knights
Templar, and are one of the most
pleasing features of all Christmas
observances.
Jennie Seller succeeds her drafted
brother as mail carrier in Greenwich,
Conn.
Canadians Acquire
Near Prohibition
IMPORTATION AND MANUFAC
TURE OF LIQUOR FORBIDDEN
AFTER NEXT MONDAY
(Associate! Press)
OTTAWA, Dec. 22. Premier
Borden today announced that
the importation of all alcoholic
liquors into the Dominion of
Canada would be forbidden after
Monday He also stated that
the manufacture of alcoholic
drinks would be stopped at a
date which would be announced
later.
The action of the premier
causes very little surprise, as
many of the provinces already
have prohibition laws in effect
and others are proposing to take
similar action. This is consid
errd a means of increasing the
efficiency of Canada's war prep
aartions, which are to be pushed
wtih a greater vigor than ever
before Absolute prohibition is
looked for within a few weeks
after the opening of the new
year.
BIG MUNITIONS
PLANT BURNING
STATE WORKMEN
rAssociated Press)
MAASTRICHT, Holland, Dec. 22.
Workmen arriving here from Essen,
Germany, declare that the great
Krupp munition factory and gun
works has been in flames for the
past twenty-four hours, and that
many heavy explosions have taken
place The big plant, where practi
cally all of Germany's war supplies
tire manufactured, is being closely
guarded to prevent any workmen
leaving without authority, and to
keep outsiders away.
It is reported that the German
government now lias 90,000 employees
til work in this plant. The cause
of the blaze is not stated, but it
is believed to have been caused by
bombs dropped by allied airmen,
who have raided the place numerous
times.
SLIGHT DAMAGE
ASKOiTATEI> PRESS SUMMARY.
1), i 22 The tire which has been
laying tit the Krupp munition works
at Es.-en, Germany, lias been con
trolled and put out. Tile damage
caused by the fire is apparently very
slight. Its cause lias nut been de
termined.
DEPARTMENT !S
RELUCTANT TO
TRY LEWIS GUN
(Associated
WASHINGTON, I). C, Dec. 22
10. 10. Borie, head of the Savage
Arms Co., which company manufac
tures the Lewis machine gun, today,
testifying before the senate investi
gating committee, asserted that there
had been considerable reluctance on
the part of the war department to
adopt the Lewis gun. Referring to
the shortage of war supplies, Mr.
Borie declared that it was the de
partment's hesitation and policy of
vacillation which had held back the
machine guns.
He said that the department gave
his company an order for 1,300 Lewis
machine guns last April for delivery
as quickly as they could be com
pleted. In August the department
ordered the company to discontinue
work on the Lewis gun and devote
all its energies to turning out the
Browing gun. A short time after
this, however, he claimed the depart
ment again changed its mind and
ordered a number of aircraft guns
of tiie Lewis type.
After the conclusion of today’s
hearing, the committee announced
that it would call Colonel Lewis to
the stand before the hearing is con
cluded. It is expected that the ord
nance department will be. asked to
explain its attitude on the Lewis
gun.
GERMAN PLANES
ATTEMPT RAIDS
(Associated Prtssl
LONDON, Dec. 22.—A squadron of
German airplanes tonight made an
other attempt to raid the coast towns
of England, but were driven off by
the British planes before they were
able to reach any towns. One Ger
man plane was forced to descend.
Several groups of enemy planes
were encountered by the British
planes, and a number of aerial en
counters are reported. None of the
British planes were damaged as far
as is now known. No damage was
inflicted by the enemy aircraft to
any property, and no deaths have
been reported.
POLICE ARREST 1
MANY PLOTTERS
IN CALIFORNIA
(A spoc 1 ;i t ed I’r«h >
SACRAMKNTO, IHt 22. The lo
cal police officials believe that they
have rooted out the organization
which has been planning to inaugu
rate a reign of terror in this city.
Thirty men were arrested here to
night after the police discovered a
[dot to dynamite the city electric
power house tonight.
The men arrested tonight are be
lieved to be implicated in the e\
plosion which damaged the gover
nor's mansion last Monday night.
Ilombs were found in the posses
sion of two of those arrested, and
papers outlining their [dot were
seized.
ADMIT PLOT
SACRAMENTO, Dec. 22.- In mak
ing the wholesale arrests of plotters
here tonight, the police arrested two
men after they had received a ship
ment of ten sticks of dynamite at
the local express office. The officers
then made a raid on the local head
quarters of the Industrial Workers
of the World, where twenty-eight
others were taken into custody, One
of those arrested is reported to have
broken down under examination and
confessed to the plot, and stated
that the explosion at the governor's
mansion Monday night was to have
been the first of a series of bomb
outrages.
OFFICIAL SAYS
RAILROAD WILL
FAY ALL CLAIMS
(Associated f’ros.n)
LOUISVILLE, Ky., Dec. 22.- Presi
dent Smith, of the Louisville & Nash
ville railroad, today acknowledged
the legal responsibility of the com
pany for compensation for the deaths
and injuries which were incurred
last Thursday night in Ute disas
trous wreck at Sheppardsville, Ky.
Mr. Smith suggested that all claims
be submitted to a committee which
would be chosen in any way which
is agreeable to all parties, in order
to avoid expensive litigation.
The wreck is said to have been
caused by negligence on the part
of unnamed employees of tIn? com
pany. It occurred in sight of the
Sheppardsville station, and was one
of the most disastrous in the his
tory of tlie road. A limited passen
ger train enroute from Cincinnati
to New Orleans crashed into tin'
rear end of an accommodation train,
demolishing all three wooden coach
es on the latter train, killing forty
seven people and injuring thirty-five.
Not a person on the accommodation
train escaped nijuiy None of the
passengers on the limited were hurt.
TOO MUCH TALK
CAUSES ARREST
SEATTLE, Dec. 22.—John Linde,
a driver on a Bremerton milk wa
gon, was arrested tonight by fed
eral officials, charged with being a
German spy. The arrest of Linde
was caused indirectly by his bride.
Mrs. Linde, in conversations with
her neighbors recently, made the as
sertion that her iiusband allowed
her $100 a month spending money.
This assertion came to the notice
of the federal authorities, who real
ized that Linde could not give his
wife that much money on his pay
as a milkman, and an Investigation
was made which resulted in his ar
rest.
COURT DECIDES
FAVOR OF HUNT
(Associated Press)
PHOENIX, Ariz,, Dec. 22.—The
state supreme court today, in de
ciding the contest of the last Ari
zona election, seated G. W. P. Hunt,
the Republican candidate, and gave
former Governor Campbell twenty
one days in which to make applica
tion for an appeal. The decision
of the court was unanimous.
Governor Campbell, after being in
formed of the action of the court,
in an interveiw given the Associated
Press this afternoon, stated that he
had no intention of filing an appeal
and would relinquish office at once.
He intimated that he would again
be candidate for governor at the
next election, as he declared that the
next step would be an appeal to the
people.
Mrs. Alex Simson, wife of the well
known local clothing store man, ar
rived on yesterday’s stage. This is
Mrs. Slmson’s first trip to the north.
Fred Robinson will leave for Ne
nana Monday morning.
German Masses Are
Literally Starving
BERLIN NEWSPAPER DECLARES
FARMERS AND RICH HAVE
PLENTY; POOR STARVE
(Associated I'ressi
LONDON, Dec 22. Reports
received here today declare that
"Vonvaerts," one of the most
widely known Berlin newspapers,
recently stated that the great
masses of German people are lit
erally starving. The article also
stat'd that, while the rich peo
ple and farmers had plenty to
eat, the poorer people, the fac
tory workers and other labor
ers, who were unable to pur
chase on account of government
restrictions, were absolutely in
misery from the lack of nour
ishing food.
The reports from which this
Information was gathered are con
sidered reliable, and they are
confirmed from other sources.
There is said to be a great deal
of internal dissatisfaction preva
lent throughout the poorer class
es of Germany, and much suf
fer ing.
MYSTERY SHIP
PROWLING OFF
CHILEAN PORT
iAssoi-lateU I’rtssi
WASHINGTON. 1). (.' , Dec. 22.
Cablegrams received today from
Buenos Aires by t lie government
state that steamers arriving in that
port report sighting a vessel which
they believe to have been the !.it
tece prowling off the coast of Chile,
Tile Chilean authorities believe that
the Lutece is manned by a German
crew and is raiding commerce off
liie South American ports
The i.utece, which is a French
schooner, was last heard of at the
Samoan Island of Mopeha, where it
left last August under mysterious
circumstances. The vess*-i . '
away from Mopeha, leaving
American sailors, members of the
vessel's crew, marooned on the Is
land, and has not been heard of di
rectly since that time.
it is believed that it was seized
by survivors of the German raider
Seeadler, and has been equipped for
raiding commerce. All vessels have
been warned lo keep a sharp watch
and report any suspicoius ship sight
ed. War vessels will probably be
ordered to search the waters near
t lie South American coast.
ARREST OF SPY
REVEALS LARGE
FOOD LEAKAGES
(Associated Fnssi
NEW YORK, Dec. 21—When the j
federal secret service agents arrest
'd Gustav Meyer this morning they
uncovered a communication system
between America and Germany, and
revealed extensive food traffic which j
has been carried on out of America,
by which Germany has been able
to secure hundreds of thousands of j
dollars’ worth of foodstuffs since the ;
United States entered the war.
Meyer is being held for conspiracy
against the government.
Meyer was traced to his head
quarters in Brooklyn last night and
was arrested early this morning.
The secret service operatives seized
many important papers in his trunks.
Some of these papers showed that f
enormous quantities of food supplies I
were shipped between America and
Germany through Sweden. Meyer,
acting as purchasing agent for Ger- j
man firms, shipped food valued at :
hundreds of thousands of dollars to ,
Germany.
A system of communication was
also discovered by the agents. Sev
eral papers were sezied which show-;
ed that Meyer had been in com
munication with the Teutons up to
a week ago.
PLANS ADOPTED
TO AID FARMERS
(Associated Press'
WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. 22 —
Secretary Baker announced this af
ternoon that plans are now being
discussed which will permit farmer
boys who are serving in the na
tional army to return to their homes
at periodical intervals in order to as
sist in crop I i nduction. Many boys
from farms and fa’m laborers were
included in the first draft, and it
is believed lh"t they can be given
furloughs which wl'l not greatlv in
terft.e with their military Gaining
and be of much benefit to the
farmers
This action is the result of ap
peals from farmers all over the eoun
RED CROSS XMAS DRIVE NOW
SWEEPING COUNTRY: ALASKAN
RECORDS ARE SETTING PACE
(Associated Press)
WASHINGTON. P C. I>*c 22.
Reports recejvi d here from through
out tin country, as well as the Is
land possessions of the United States,
indicate that the great Christmas
drive of tlie American Red Cm
Society is progress ing very favor
ably. Campaign managers for the
various districts, wiring Washington
headquarters, are jubilant over the
prospects for an increased member
. hip running well into the millions
From every section it is reported
that great enthusiasm is being
shown. From Seattle comes a re
port that various sections of Alaska
have return- which show that an a
erage of sixty per n nt of the popu
la t ion in these localities have al
■i ady enrolled during tin present
eampaigD
John A. Dar! tv a;-, nt f,.r
tip* Kaiiiank.' • 1 f) v < • t -e.i mit! > ■ . when
hown the aliov* i tch la t ni at
remarked that, whilt lie- uh-ri.p
tion lists for tin town show many
name , ho would 1 mat
that 60 per Off Of tip pOpl.' ntl
have hi . it n: oiled. . ild M 1 >a . i
"W« an ruing » boat
hut w* wi;; . » t
day, Mond
main in which : t w . k. . n ! * , n
tin- i. tu>n at *• < O'".ted. \. will
he til"! T1 t i ml ni ■;. i
elsewhere In :o 'inply
means t ha * we u 1 ■ , hu I !■ ■
a hit haul i In o
I try m kins lit' government to make
some provision for exi mption of e.\
perienced farm workers, stating that
it would be n xt to impossible to in
crease production unless some re
lief from present conditions was
Kiven.
DOZEN TICKETS
FOR LOT LEFT
A dozen tickets are all that re
main from the two hundred printed
for the raffle of each of the two
lots in Port Angeles, Washington,
which is being conducted by The
Citizen for the benefit of the French
orphan fund. It therefore behooves
anyone wishing to purchase a chance
to get a move on himself or he will
be out of lues and will be unable
10 get a chance at one hundred dol
lars for the small price of fifty cents.
SPIES BLOW UP
RUBBER WORKS
(Associated ri «*«f )
NllWAIlK, N. Dee 112. I-'our
men were killed by the explosion of
a bomb in a local rubber plant here
tonight. A fire caused by the bomb
explosion completely destroyed the
factory.
The superintendent charges that
the explosion was caused by Ger
man agents, and asks that an inves
tigation be made. The factory was
working on a number of important
contracts for the government at the
time of the explosion.
TIMERS’ WANT TO
FIGHT FOR UNCLE
THEN FINISH THE
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 4. Knit
ting needles are flying in the cells
and workshops at the San Quentin
and Folsom state penitentiaries, and
a big assortment of socks, sweaters
and other sartorial comforts are bt-ing
turned out for the American troops in
France and in the domestic service.
At San Quentin the twenty four worn
' n inmates are spending all their time
not taken up by other duties in turn
ing out wristlets, sucks and many
other articles of apparel designed to
keep out the cold. In Folsom practi
cally every male prisoner has become
adept at the knitting needles, and a
half dozen knitting machines have
been Installed in addition. Some of
the operators there are said by War
dim J. J. Smith to be turning out a
pair of socks every fourteen minutes.
The Red Cross is directing the
work in both institutions.
Tlte men prisoners at San Quentin
are not engaged in knitting, but they
are besieging Warden Jas. A. John
ston with requests that they be allow
ed to join the armed forces of the na
tion. Hundreds of the men have told
the warden that they are willing to
place themselves in the custody of the
United States army in order that they
might go to the trenches and then be
returned to the prison to finish their
terms.
Under the laws of the state, how
ever, neither a prison inmate or an
ex-convict can join the armed forces
of the country. The only thing that
permits them to do so is an absolute
pardon from the governor.
Because of this the prisoners will
have to satisfy their desire to serve
by knitting and other war activities
that may be carried on within the
walls of a prison.
Some men can be eternally on the
job and still not accomplish much.
St. Paul in 11 years has had 49,878
births and 26,219 deaths.
MAY NOT SUIT,
SAYS TROTZKY
l Assoc luted J’r»ss»
PETROGKAD. 1 > c. 22 Tin Pol
heviki foreign minister, Don Trot
men's and Soldi -rs* d'leimt.- this
j morning, declared that t! Ru . inns
'would not accept any , • ar. term.
I from Germany which w. r-. •• •• n. i..
I "We did not overthrow c. . ho
I declared, “to km ■ 1 down < the
! kaiser."
Trotzky declared that tin- I! in:,
t people would be kept adsi.d a to
the progress ot peace m . ' m t ion
| and fully informed on all pi .>> :■.! ,
land no clause would be accepted
which was com idered unju t to ill*
i mass of Ru. dan people.
TRY TO ARBITRATE
; •••!.! ROCHA. .>.-c 12 The I!o!
j sht ,{f ;S „ ak.ng . a - ■ m
to bring about amicable relation.-.
I with the provinces which m- now
| in revolt, and which have deep red
(heir independence from tie* Bob he
| \ iki rule.
Delegates have been sent to « -*e!i
I of these provinces with in 'runiuii-.
to Ding about a reunion if it i- at
I all possible. They are ordered to
| lay the aims of the conimi i mas
fully before the people and ask fol
ia general conference b* w n all
| leaders of the Iiolsheviki ;.»v«rn
i ment.
MISS LAMB IS
TO SING SOLO
AT BIG DANCE
As an additional f in lor tli.
Christina dan'" • n b> l’io
near Women <>. *.ia l;a ''•> !!'•• In nt
| fit of the fund fo tlv •■'In .!■ s e' II
dren of France, it 1 announc'd 'Ini
-Miss Itutli Lamb, ill '.t 1*-nt • ■ i young
lady who has faio.-a! Fairbanks mu
, sic lovers by . i-.uin,. .-evvral tiin<
this winter, will r-ml r a olo dur
ing the course of lie menlng An
other feature of tin ball will be
the drawing for the lot; in I'ort
Angelos which '1 ho > tiz n is raf
fling off for til** Orphan fund.
The program for the dance is a.
follows:
1. "The Star Spangled Bann-i”
Camp Fire Girls and Boy Scouts.
2. "Marseillaise" (in Lnglish)- Ilev
1L H. Lumpkin.
I). “Marseillaise" ( in French) Roy
Gotney.
■1. Vocal Solo, Selected Mrs. 1. B
Willson.
5. Vocal Solo Miss Ruth Lamb.
FISHERIES TO
BE REGULATED
(Associated Press)
WASHINGTON, D. ('., Dec. 22.
The house merchant marine commit
tee is to consider hills which are
designed to regulate Alaska fisheries.
These measures will have for th dr
purpose the stimulation of fishing
in order that some revenue may bo
obtained from the season’s catch.
The committee will make a thor
ough examination of the subject and
endeavor to pass legislation which
will be beneficial to Alaska fisheries
The bills will be taken up as soon
after congress reconvenes as pos
able.
The Citizen has received Christ
mas cards from Miss Blanche Wat
son at San Francisco, Mr. and Mrs.
Peter Vachon at Seattle, Mr. and
Mrs. C. W. Ritchie at Portland, On1
gon, and Max Smith, at Nenana.
Joe Vido and Martin Rodset ar
rived from Nenana yesterday with
their own dog team.