U. BOAT WAR 1$ NOT EFFECTIVE
THE NOME DAILY NUGGET
VOLUME XVII NO. 132. TELEPnONE MAIN 4* NOME, ALASKA, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 1917. TELEPHONE MAIN 4«. PRICE 25 CENT9
CONSCRIPTS ARE BARRED FROM LEAVING U, S.
ENGLAND NOW LAUGHS
AT SUBMARINE
WARFARE
International Newt Service.
LONDON, May 31.—Today is (he
Inst day of the four months which
Germany nllowed herself to bring Kng
land to her knees by the ruthless use
of her suhmcrsibles. In honor of this
the admiralty report the sinkings for
the past week to he the lowest of any
week since March 11. During the week
which ended yesterday but eighteen
Hh'ips averaging sixteen hundred tons
were sunk by German U boats ex
clusive of two fishing boats
The annjoi|noemont (made by the
admiralty today Is a great relief to
the British. It shows a miserable fall
ing off of what was so desired by the
Germans who were so positive In
their statements that shipping to the
allied countries would be paralyzed
before the last day of May.
During the past two weeks, with
two exceptions, the sh'ps sunk by the
underwater boats were slow steamers
and sailing ships of small tonnage.
The larger shipping was practically
unmolested and kept to the usual
channels which has been the favorite
hunting grounds of the submarine.
JOxtra vigilance on the part of patrol
boats whose number has considerably
Increased as well as the presence of
many mure warships in the danger
zone accounts for the lesser activity
of the German d'lvers.
Shipping to the British Isles has
increased in the past month over thir
ty per cent and the insurance rates
are twenty five per cent lower than
they were two months ago.
The British press announce that
t.reat Britain has no further fear of
the submersible which threatened them
a few months ago. They state that
the system adopted by the admiralty
at present can successfully cope with
underwater warfare no matter how ex
tensive and inv'ite Uerinany to allow
herself four years to accomplish the
dost ruction id' allied shipping instead
of four inonthu
We want every one to be a eub‘
scriber to the Nugget—Do it NOW.
WILSON GIVES NAVY
GERMAN VESSELS
International News Service.
WASHINGTON, May 31.—President
Wilson turned over to the navy five
huge German merchantmen today,
with instructions that these vessels
be converted into cruisers. This type
of vessel is needed by the navy more
than any other at the present time
therefore the president was insistant
that work should start immediately on
overhauling them and equipping them
with every modern appliance.
In addition to then* lie also added
eight others that are to he usfd ns
• oilier?, and as these lirga boats are
in fairly good condil'on very little
I work v ili lie necessary before pulling
them into commls i'^u.
There are a number of other Ger
nam and Austrian vessels-that have
been seized by our government, and
ns several of these are of the trans
Atlantic liner type it is assumed that
they will lie converted into transports
as soon as they have been thoroughly
overhauled. ,
As in most cases it was found that
the engines had been either destroyed
or very much damaged replacing these
will be the chief work in putting the
groat liners in shape for use by our
navy department.
SECRETARY OF LABOR
EXCEEDS AUTHORITY
international Nawa Service.
WASHINGTON, May II.—Secretary
of I^ahor Wilson has greatly exceeded
Ills authority l»y allowing Mexican
poens to be brought 'into the - United
States under the guise of farm lob ir
ers.
By this action on his part he has
brought down the wrath of the Immi
gration committee of the senate, and
today It was deeded that he is to he
asked in a res ihition that Is to he In
troduced by tli s committee, by whit
right he has granted such permission..
It te their contention that this
move in his part is in direct violation
to tlie recently enacted immlgrat'oii
law. Further that he cannot possibly
offer a reasonable excuse for the
granting- of those permits as the Mex
ican labor was Ihe subject of suffi
cient discussion prior to the passage
of the measure.
The comm'ittee claims that lie has
deliberately framed rules and regula
tion of his own In this respect to the
apparent disregard of laws govern'ng
immigration and a hot fight is looked
for when the secretary is called on the
carpet.
CHINESE PROVINCES
DECLARE INDEPENDENCE
International Nows Sorvlca.
TOKIO, Mny 31.—Demanding the
dissolution of the present Chinese
government several of the largest
provinces in China today declared
themselves as Independents. In nil
cases the military governors of these
provinces has taken over direct con
trol, according to the wishes of the
peoplij, until the new form of govern
ment is established,
It is probable that this movement
will spread Itself throughout entire
Chinn as the masses are not In har
money with the present government
The people of China have been clam
oring for war with Germany and when
the war resolution was defeated in the
house of assembly two weeks ago the
decision of that body did not meet with
the approval of the nation.
Every home in Nome should have
the Nugget delivered to it—Subscribe
now and keep the household enlighten
14 KILLED ~ 1
IN MISSOURI
CYCLONE
International Newa Service.
POPLAR BLUFFS, Mo., May 31.—
Fourteen persons were killed and
many Injured when a cyclone visited
the section surrounding Chaonia at an
early hour this morning. As the mes
sage was coming over the wire the
service was cut off and it is feared
that a settlement of about three hun
dred people near that town may have
been destroyed.
This place is a long ways east of
tile section that was struck by a
cyclone a few days ago, and weather
conditions throughout the state are
such that repetitions of this disaster
are feared hourly.
BRITISH LOSE OVER
WO.ROD III THE
MONTH OF III
_
International News Service.
LONDON, May 31.—The fighting on
he Arras front has been intense dur
ing the month of May and comparing
lie casualty list with that of the
Somme scct'ion the lighting in the for
cer has been twice as fierce.
The war office published the cas
uality list for the month of May this
afternoon. It includes five hundred
and ninety officers, one hundred and
six thousand, three hundred and thir
ty one men of all ranks.
Since the start of the “Ninetecn
seventeen” drive the British troops
ive not lost a square mile of ground.
Many hundred square miles of battle
front strongly fortified—'in places a
! veritable net work of barbed wire en
I tanglements—was taken and Is now
occupied by the British.
The advance is now halted but the
artillery are pounding the way through
on the northwestern front. This can-1
not be accomplished without heavy
casualties. The German losses more
than double those of the British in the
same engagements.
ELIGIBLE CONSCRIPTS NOT TO
LEAVE THE UNITED STATES
International New* Service. ,
WASHINGTON, May 31.—The au-!
thorities here today made a ruling
that all persons subject to conscrip
tion are not to be allowed to leave the
j 1'nlted States. During the past week
many Americans of conscriptive age
have crossed ovef to Canada and
special legislation may be enacted to
cover such Bases.
Others have chosen Mexico as an
out to evade the conscription law. This
has alos been stopped. The authorities
on tiie border have many special of
ficers now on duty to apprehend any
slackers who may he inclined to leave
the I'nited States.
Strict measures will he taken to dea.
with those who favor and promote the
anticonscription propaganda. Those
at present under arrest w'iII he arraign
ed when the department of Justice
completes the investigation which 'is I
now proceeding.
—
Kl. PASO, M :> 31.— This morning
orders were received here that no
American of conscriptive age he
allowed to cross the border. Ten
I ■
joung' men were stopped on the bridge
and escorted back for examination.
Nine of them proved to be evading
the conscription law and were Sent
under escort to Fort Sam Houston
where they await instructions from
Washington.
During the past ten days many
eligible Americans and German
Americans have crossed the border.
Special officers are now detailed to
apprehend all such men. These orders
have been issued along the Mexican
border and many special officers were
detailed for such duty.
VANCOUVER, May 31.—Six Amer
icans were today taken in custody by
officers of the United States and will
leave for Seattle Immediately. These
were all men of eligible age who
desired to evade conscription.
International News Service
WASHINOTON, May 31.- The de
j part men t of Justice has Issued special
instrvtiop to its agents thvougnout i
the conetrv i i arrest mTediately all
who promoti end op encourage
ant’i-con ji if lion sentiment. lho
authorities have decided to act firmly
in this matter. Drastic measures will
he adopted to entirely erase this sen
timent which is stated to be the
direct work of German agents in the
United States.
Hundreds of arrests have b’cu made
in connection with this tieasonable
aet'ion which has cropped up in the
principal cities of the United States.
COLUMBUS, May 31.—For fostering
and promoting anti-conscription prop
aganda five persons were arrested
this afternoon. They were taken be
fore federal authorities and remanded
hall being refusd.
SKATT1 .K, May 31.—Four arrests
were made here this afternoon for pro
moting opposition to the draft law.
SAN Fit A NCI SC(), May 31.—Within
the past two days seven persons have
been arrested for openly endeavoring
to discourage eligible nu n from regis
tering.
TAKEN OFF SHIP AT SEA
BY U. S. REVENUE BOAT
International News Service.
LOS ANGELES, May 331.—Taking
passage on board of a Pacific Mail
liner hound for Mexico with the inten
tion of evad'ing conscription William
Kay, twvnty two years old, son of
wealthy German parents here, was
taken off the liner—at sea—by a
Pnited States revenue cutter.
It was reported to the authorities
that Kay had been shipped to Mexico
by his parents in order to evade con
scription. A revenue cutter was dis
patched after the liner who was order
ed by wireless to slow up and await
the arrival of the officers who desired
to arrest Fay.
The liner lay to 'in the open sea and
the cutter dispatched a boat. The
young man was lowered over the side
with his baggage to return to Los
Angeles.
lie wo8 the subject of much ridicule
by other passengers on the boat who
presented him with a large ostrich
feather—white—to take home to his
parents.
Kay will now be charged with en
deavoring to evade conscription by
fleeing from the country'.
LOS ANGELES, May 31.—Upon
Kay's return to this city he was g*iven
a reception that few would care to
experience.
At San Pedro he was placed aboard
a train of the Pacific Electric and
brought here, news of his capture
having proceeded him to lids city he
was met at the terminal by a throng
of thousands who made his progress
through the streets—in the automo
bile with federal officers extremely
difficult.
This great crowd swelled as he
passed through the main part of the
down town district until upon his ar
rival at federal headquarters the po
lice reserves were called to the scene *
to enable the officers In charge to con
duct their prisoner into the building.
Jeers, catcalls, slacker, yellow, co
ward were al that could be heard for
blocks and if over a young man was
held up to the ridicule of the people
the equal of the demonstration In this
Fay's.case has never been heard.
NOTICE.
Winter contracts expiring on May 31,
notice is hereby given to those who
have not arranged for steam heat for
tlic summer months that the steam
will he shir, off the 1st of .Tunc.
Wild) GOOSB MINING & TRAD
ING CO.
Advertise In The Nome Nugget
INTERSTATE COMMERCE
COMMISSION DISMISS
UNJUST RATE CLAIMS
International News Service.
WASHINGTON, May 31.—After in
vestigation lasting over a year the
interstate commerce commission today
dismissed the complaints filed by ex
Delegate James Wiokersham against
the steamship, railroad and-transpor
tation companies of Alaska alleging
that these companies charged unjust
rates and displayed much rate favor
itism in the conduct of their business
Mr. Wiokersham enjoined most all
of the Alaska transportation compan
ies in a suit filed over a year ago in
which the Samson Hardware Company
and the residents of Fairbanks wore
the complainants.
He stated that many abuses In rate
favoritism existed one of which was
termed the contract rebate system.!
This was adopted by the larger min
ing companies; also the cannery con
tract system which was for the benefit
of the fish corportlons.
The Alaska Steamship Company,
Wiekersham stated, controlled ihe
transportation of freight, to N. me the
extent of which he quoted as authority
the report of Alfred IT. Brooks of the
1’nited State geological survey. This
report was made In 1910 and is In
part ns follows: "The total transporta
tion charge on the supplies of the
Seward peninsula will then he about
$1,200,000 or nearly 30 per cent of the
entire gold ouput of the year.”
Mr. Brooks further states that "the
great tax on the mining Industry of
Alaska, caused by the present sys
tem of transportation, Is strikingly
illustrated by tho fact that the annual
freight bill- much to he sure, paid
indirectly—for every white man, wo
man and child living on the Seward
peninsula and In Inland Alaska, is over
|3r.O.”
Hx-Dolegate Wlckersham made a
strong fight In this matter and caused
the elimination of special transporta
tion contracts which were ontcred Into
by large mining companies. These
practices were discontinued eight
months ago.
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