THE NOME DAILY NUGGET
VOLUME XVII. NO. 38. TELEPHONE MAIN 46 NOME, ALASKA. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1917. TELEPHONE MAIN 4*. PRIuE 28 CENT*
•%
TAFT SAYS COUNTRY
NOW FACING WAR
ON THE BRINK
International Nows Service.
NEW YORK, Feb. 9.—Former Pres
ident William Howard Taft made a
public speech last night at Carnegie
halt in which he dealt with some
phases of the European struggle with
especial reference to the rights of un
armed nationals and defenseless wo
men and children.
, Referring to the duty of America
he said that this country which has
stood during the war for the rights
of ji■'u »•.ur and the strict observ
ance of international law i3 facing
war. He would go farther, he de
clared, and say that even now the
Untied States is on the brink of war.
fie saw no t»ay to escape making the
plunge, if var comes, as it seems it
will, it will not be of our seeking.
The speaker declared it to be the
duty of every American without re
gout ty onriy affiliations or to racial
descent to stand firmly with the ad
ministration v hlch alone can know
all the faci3 and upon whom must
devolve the responsibility of deter
mining the tidy of the nation to its
ideals and to civilization.
Subscribe for the Nome Nugget
i *.M per month.
1,1 1 ■ ■
LEAK INVESTIGATION
SHOWS CONGRESSMEN
CARRIED ON BOOKS]
international News Service.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 9.—The rules
committee of the house acting as an
investigating committee today again
went into executive session as it did
yesterday to listen to the testimony
of Mrs. Visconti who was expected to
connect Tumulty with the leak.
It is known that the hearing today
resulted In bringing out the nlames
of a number of congressmen both
representatives and senators who have
been carried on the book3 of the brok
BRITAIN WANTS
SUPPRESSION OF
MARINE NEWS
International News Service.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9.—Great Bri
tain has requested the state depart
ment to prevent the publication or
even public knowledge of the move
mens of all ships sailing tor allied
puts from American porta.
Tbla request has been submitted
to the treasury department for con
sideration and will probably be taken
up today at the cabinet meeting.
T’ ere Is a question as to whe'htr
aurb a prohibition would be a neu'ral
act which aspect along with othsrs
must be considered before the order Is
lstued to customs collectors.
erage firm of Harrimun and company.
While these congressmen are
known as having frequently specu
aited in the stock market it has not
yet developed whether they sold short
on December 20 during the bear raid
which accompanied the president's
ncte on the subject of peace.
BRITISH MAKE GAINS
ON SOMME SECTOR
In+ernational News Servioe.
BERLIN, Feb. 9.—It Is officially
l conceded In the bulletin from the gen
eral staff that the British have de
veloped a strong offensive on the
Somme sector which has resulted In
material gains.
Fighting has been In progress on
both the north and south side of the
Ancre river and is still raging fiercely
with the British bringing up very
strong support in every action.
PLANS FOR MARATHON.
Messrs. Perrine, Cole and McCloy
who have full charge of all arrange
ments for the Borden Marathon race
which is set for Monday next have
announced that all dogs entered for
the race must be registered on the
Nome Kennel Club books. Another
matter they have called the attention
of the racing men to Is that the
drawing for position In the race will
take place at the Alaska bank tomor
row afteifioon at 4 o’clock.
Let the Nugget do your letter writ*
lng by sending the Weekly Nugget to
I yeur friends «>n the outside—Me mo
UMATILLA AND SENATOR TO SAIL
FOR NOME AT EARLIER DATE
.. -. .■■■■■
Pacific News 8arvlca.
SEATTLE, Feb. 9.—The newly,
formed Pacific Steamship Company
which combines the old Pacific Coast
Steamship Company and the Admiral
line has announced that a strong fleet
of ships will compete with the Alas
ka Steamship Company’s vessels for
the Alaskan business during the com*
la« Maaon.
Beginning on March first the Pa
cific company will increase Its present
fleet 03 the Alaska run to ten ships.
These will serve all parts la South- *
eosteht and Southwestern Alaska and t
art expected to be able to handle SAt-;
U'actorlly the tremendous passenger
and freight traffic which Is certain to
be demanded from that date onward.
The company will li^iugurate an
UNITED STATES SEEKS FOR
INFORMATION ABOUT GERARD
li.‘«rnation«l News Servlc*.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 9.—Great un
easiness is manifested in various de
partments of the government by the
failure of the German government to
gove passports to Ambassador Gerard,
urd his staq in accordance with the
usual custom when a legate is recalled
by his country.
Today officials of the 3tatc depart
ment announced that no word from
Gerard has been "-ecelved in answer
to official and confidential messages
since February 5. This Is very puz
zling to the state department which
in spite of efforts is unable to get
ary information as to the reason un
(Jellying the German refusal to allow
the Americans to leave.
It Is now very plain to observers
in Washington that Gerard’s deten
tion! came as a great surprise to the
administration. At first when the
press called attention to the fact that
Gerard had not reached Berne, Swltz
er'and government officials would not
credit the report and indeed tried
to prove the contrary by a dispatch
fiem Ambassador Willard at Madrid
which was not clearly understood.
Now' the matter is admitted to be
taikng a very serious turn and the
administration from the president
down to the chairmen of the house
and senate committees on foreign re
lations are giving the affair ‘heir
meat earnest consideration.
This morning urgent messafies wei v j
sent to Miinster Kgan at Copenhagen !
and to Ambassador Willard at Ma ]
drid in which they were ordered to J
obtain all information they can re- )
garding the status of Americans in
Germany and to expedite the sending
of such inforniuMon to Washington
by every means at their disposal.
One particular piece of inrormation
I .hat both diplomats are especiallj
askedf to secure is whether Gerard
has been given his passport or not.
If it has been given him by the im
pi rial government then it is to bo
learned why he is delayed in Germany
and whether it ia with his consent
or at the will of German officials.
NOTICE.
Nome Kennel Club will give a <10
cash prize, to the individual girl or
boy selling the largest number of
tickets for the (toad Show, February
It.th. Tickets may be had at Roses'
Candy Store, commencing at 3 p. m..
Friday, the 9th.
1 he Nome Bowling Club's alleys are
i ow open from noon to midnight.
PRESIDENT’S CABINET CONSIDERS
TWO VERY SERIOUS MATTERS
A 1
International Newo 8ervieo
WASHINGTON. Feb. 9.—A very
important conference is taking place,
this afternoon at the cabinet meet
ing at the White House. The various
department heads will present all *be
information compiled ao far from all i
reliable sources dealing with the new ,
activities of Gorman submarines which
began on February 1.
Another matter of growing import
ance which may become crucial In a
short time if the situation does not
alter and which will be discussed
i)v the president and his advisers to
day is the detention of Ambassador
Gerard in Germany. All the informa
tion that has been obtained on this
subject will be considered.
Because of these two highly im
portant matters coming before the
cabinet meeting, today’s session may
have important results and any news
of the protracted meeting is being
eagerly awaited although it is possi
ble that none will be given out at
pieseat.
Prom an official of high station
whose position enables him to know
modt of the important administration
it has been learned that war with
Germany is surely expected. He says,
it may result from today's cabinet \
icetifig or may be deferred for some ‘
months. It is possible it may begin
at any day, he says, and no one even
the president knows the time or the j
exact cause that will bring about the
the declaration of war.
This official declares that it is the
policy of the government to defer os ;
long as possible this country's en- |
tlance into the war in order that!
preparations may be made as nearly
perfect as possible.
Ho further says that many officials
who are in toucli with what is now
being done are confident that the Uni
ted States will send a land force to
Europe for fighing there besides using
the full strength of the navy to
sweep the seas of German ■•subma
rines and cruisers. Bur. lie stated,
this expeditionary force may not start
for months after a declaration al
though this i3 not settled as yet.
They do &ay. that the Road Show
will bo ®om® classy affair.
BAKER ORDERS BETHLEHEM STEEL
COMPANY TO CONCENTRATE ON
FIELD ARTILLERY FOR U. S.
j '
I 1
International News Service.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9.—Aa order
from the war department to the
Bethlehem Steel Company has been
made known today and is causing
wonderment and surmise as to its
significance as indicating future action
on the part of the government.
The order was issued by Secretary
of War Baker and directs the Bethle
hem Steel Company to stop taking
further orders and to suspend opera
tic ns on all unimportant contracts
and those that may be deferred with
out injury to the public welfare.
■ } '
Baker also ordered the company to
corcentrate the energy of the plant
on the manufacture of thirty nine
batteries of four Inch guns and thlr-1
teen batteries of six Inch guns for
field artillery to be used by the Uni
ted States army.
He further notifies the company
that ho will have personal supervis
j ion of the filling of this order and
will detail officers of the ordnance
I corps of the army at the plant who
will direct operations under his sup
ei vision.
On receipt of Secretary Baker's or
eerly sailing to Nome the com
ing season and have announced the
date as May 28. On this date two
o' the Pacific liners will start for
the far northern metropolis. They
will be the Umatilla and Senator,
slips that are well and favorably
known to all who are accustomed to
make the trip to Nome and St. Mich
•si.
The Faclflc company already has its
advertising campaign to secure tour
ists for the mid-season well under
way and the coming season promises
to be a banner year for eastern visi
tors to Alaska, both the Interior and
const sections.
Colobr*to Lincoln's birthday by tak
ing in t»i Rood Show Monday night
der the steel company at once began
to folow instructions.
A military attache of one of 'he
allied legations is quoted as saying
that this order and others whose Is
suance has not reached the publio
ear are conclusive proof to him that
the Untied States not only expects
soon lo b< at war with Germany but
a'so Intends to send an army to Eu
rope to engage some portion of the
German forces by land.
LOSSES IN AIR
OF ENTENTE
IN JANUARY
International Newt Servio*.
BERLIN. Feb. 9.—The bullotln Is
sued today by the general staff states
that during the month of January the
allies lost In air battles a total of
fifty-five aeroplanes. Three observa
tion balloolns of the allies were also |
destroyed by the Gormans.
Nearly all of these losses In the air !
were sustained on the west front al
though a few were credited to other
lie says that he can interpret these
plans in no other way for there Is
n>.- possibility of Germany invading
the United States or any portion of
the world under the protection of this
country. Therefore the purpose of
these orders must be a land invas
ion of Germany, according to the opin
ion of the attache.
New lam eggs at Prosssr's Harnos*
Shop, $1.00 per dozen. Phono Black 5.
theaters. No mention was made of
the air losses of the central powers
during tho past month.
AT DREAM.
"Destiny Skein," a three reel photo
feature of exceptional merit, will be
the headline attraction at the Dream
tonight. The play is based on a lit -
ciary gem that Is known and admir
ed everywhere, a masterly story that
delivers a masterly plot of romance,
intrigue, and stirring adventure. As
a whole the production is a sterling
ei tertalner because of its interesting
and vital complications. The suspense
and rich humor of the piece make It
distinctive and a superior spectacle.
A clever farce called “The LSum Mis
take” ends the program. Note—Fea
ture even- Tuesday night. Admission
K cents.