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Halites Hathj ^mBptcitsv
VOLUME XIV. VALDEZ. ALASKA, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1917 NUMBER 263
SOLDIER'S LIFE
IN SIM FRANCE
Brother of Mrs. Walter Klllot Relates
Experiences at Front—Censor
1
Deletes Much of letter
The following letter was written
from "Somewhere in France," to Mrs.
Walter Elliot, by her brother, Mer
ritt H. Davis, who is on the firing
line on the western front. Mr. Davis
is a graduate of Clarion, Pa., Normal,
this year, and at the time of his en
listment was a Professor in the tajb
pity of the Clarion High School. He
is a brother of Prof. Frank C. Davis,
principal of the Valdez schools last
year.
iviy ucai x cuj/ic. * “wkv v“~*
this time you have the card I wrote
some days ago. If you have not I
suppose you are looking a little anx
iously for a letter. The government
is busied with such a stupendous task
now that I do no* wonder that the
mail is delayed. Any mail coming
this way will be handled quickly, I
think, so do not fail to write, and I
shall write as often as possible.
•'It hardly seems possible that I am
in France, but 1 guess I am. Our
voyage over was safe and pleasant,
although -I heard that we were re
ported lost. I trust the rumor did not
reach you. (Deleted by censor.) My
idea of it was greatly changed by the
reality. It has the most beautiful
fields and valleys that I have ever,
"seen. They show better care than I
have seen evidence of in 22 states of
the Union. Not a weed is to be seen.
1 think I am safe in saying that (de
leted by censor) of the (deleted by
censor’ we saw, are of red brick.
••We did not pass through (deleted
by censor) to have an abundant har
vest this year.
“On arriving in (aeieiea ny censor;
our present location. Traveling fa
cilities are not so good as in the
States. France has better trains than
has England. The English coaches
are a little more than a third the
length of our Pullmans. They are
divided into compartments capable of
accomodating about 8 persons, and
each compartment has connection
with the outside only at the side. They
are laughable.
“(Deleted by censor) hearty along
I lie line although I suppose they are
getting used to American soldiers.
“One does not see many Frenchmen
of military age on the farms, but they
are by no means neglected by reason
of that. I think that the tributes
lhat have been paid to the French
women are all deserved.
“We did not come through the most
picturesque part of France, but one
could see that it has much natural
beauty. The part in which we are lo
cated looks more like dear old Penn
sylvania than any place I have seen
since I left there. The crops and
fruit are almost the same and the
surface is also like it.
“Five of us renows goi a pass 011
Sunday and took a walk out of town.
On the way back we stopped and
raked and pitched on a big load of
hay for some old people. It seemed
like old times-for some of us. They
gave us some fruit which was mighty
good. You should see the soldiers
work for these people for a drink of
wine or a couple of apples or plums.
There is a severe penalty on taking
the fruit except as a gift.
“We are in a little old fashioned
town, which by now is (deleted by
censor.) We occupy all the vacant
rooms, hay lofts, etc., for the time be
ing and are getting very comfortably
situated. The town is not very clean
and our first task is to cleaif it up and
make it a fit place for the Sanitary
Division of the U. S. army to live. We
are doing that with a vengeance. We
• have had no drills as yet but we wear
our fatigue clothes about all day.
“The townspeople are a simple, hos
pital lot. many of whom have been
driven from towns on the border. Our
conversation, if any, Is halting, but
we are picking up a little French al
ready and we have scarcely been here
a week. It will be many a day before
we speak It fluently. I think I shall
study it pretty hard with a view to
adding it to the things I can teach
when I return, if I should take up that
profession again. It is hard to rea
lize that we are (deleted by censor)
judging from the life here.
“I guess I have seen most every
kind of a soldier now except the (de
leted.) They all look different. I
CLEANLINESS FIRST ESSENTIAL IN ALL CAMPS
% ** ____ _m
Id the medical camp of tbe United Slates army at Allemuwu. Pa., the Hist thing* taught those lu training are
cleanliness and economy. Here the young officers are being taught the principle of having a |>lace for everything
after finishing eating.
GERMANS FUNK ITALIANS
CAPTURE MANY PRISONERS
BERLIN, Nov. 9.—The War Office
announced today that the Austro
German troops had flanked i.he re
treat of the Italians, btween Tolmezzo
and Gemona, capturing 17,000 pris
oners and many guns.
Quarter Million Captured
BERLIN, Nov. ».—The War Office
states that the captured Italian pris
oners during the recent drive total
250.000. or over a quarter of a ni 11
lion, and that the Italians are practi
cally rendered harmless.
ROME, Nov. 9.—Both British and
French troops are pouring toward the
front to assist the Italians in holding
the Germans from a further invasion
of Northern Italy.
Confer With King
ROME. Nov. 9.—French and Brit
ish representatives hud a long con
ference with the Italian king today
over the situation.
Overcoming All Resistance
BERLIN, Nov. 9.—The Austro
Gertnan forces in Italy are overcom
ing all resistance of the Italian rear
guards, and are advancing toward the
Piave river, the war office announc
ed.
Ho|ie to Check Advance
ROME, Nov. 9.—It is hoped to
check the German advance at Ven
zone on the Fella river. Large bod
ies of troops are pouring into the
plains‘here and entrenching. The
roads are crowded with heavy artil
lery and supplies, and thousands of
villagers are helping the army dig
trenches.
think I like our uniforms best. The
French have a light blue uniform in
which they make a very neat appear
ance, especially the artillery and cav
alry, for they have the finest horses
I have ever seen. I suppose the gov
ernment gets the best.
“I haven’t seen many fellows out
side our department, and I don’t know
whether there are any here that I
know. I suppose I am not the first
Jefferson county boy to enter France
in the regular army, but I have been
hoping that I am.
RAILROADER FOR FRANCE.
W. W. ^ttor-bury, Vic* Proaidont
of Pannajdvania. to Aaaiat Troops.
Photo by American Proa* Association.
Vice President W. W. Atterbury ot
the - Pennsylvania railroad, who baa
been granted leave of abeence, in ex
pected to go to France to asslat In the
construction and operation of railroads
there for the transportation of troops,
munitions and supplies.
"I spoke some time ago of an allot
ment. I have made it now, but you
will get no money until November 1.
as 1 could not make it on this month's
pay and the government always holds
back one month of it, 1 understand.
I have already deposited some with
the paymaster and will deposit more
as I can. We get 4 per cent interest
on it there. I think the money from
the allotment will go to you from
Washington each month.
“I shall close for today. I am writ
ing this letter as someone else un
loads a load of rubbish that I helped
.load. I hope to get some mail soon.
I have not had a word from home
or anywhere else for more than five
weeks. I am anxious to know what’s
going on. I suppose it has been near
ly as long since you heard from me.”
|
BYBUZZARD
Butte Experiences Blizzard and Fif
teen Inches of Snow—Seven be
low at Helena
BUTTE, Mont., Nov. 9.—This .city
has experienced a mid-winter bliz
zard which during the last few days,
has brought fifteen inches of snow, to
gether with intensely cold weather.
Last night’s minimum temperature
was 4 above ?ero. The woather today
is clear.
Seven Below In Helena
HELENA, Nov. 9.—Seven degrees
below zero was the coldest weather
recorded here for the winter, some
time this morning. During the early
evening last night it went still farther
downward. Billings and Missoula re
ported 4 degrees below.
SEATTLE, Nov. t.—Seattle prices
at noon November ninth; haltbut,
twenty-two and one-half cents.
EDES ARRIVES
IN SEATTLE
Kays lie lias ’ompleted" 245 Miles
of Hoad and Unloads Panegyric
on .Anchorage
SEATTLE. Nov. 9.—William 0.
Edes. chairman of the Alaska Engi
neering Commission, who arrived here
yesterday, announced the completion
of 245 miles of the government rail
way. He stated that war .conditions,
especially a lack of ships, would
greatly hamper the work next season.
He also said that Nenana and An
chorage have great permanent fu
tures.
RUMANIANS ARK BADLY
IN NEED OK KOOD
JASSY. Rumania, Nov. 9.—Ru
mania is in danger of starvation and
destitution unless urgent steps are
taken to relieve the food and cloth
ing situation. Investigation by the
Associated Press correspondent in
dicates that help must come soon if
the country is to retain its strategi
cal importance in the war. The death
rate among Rumanian children due
to malnutrition; is appallingly larg
er because of the serious shortage in
wheat, rice, meat and other vita! ar
ticles of food. Meat, is no longer is
sued to the civilian population and
the bread ration is limited to less
than a pound a day for each person.
EDITOR ACCUSED OK
ROYALIST PLOT
PARIS, Nov. 9.—The police search
for evidence concerning a supposed
royalist plot was continued today.
Leon Daudet, editor of the royalist
organ L'Action Francaise, whose of
fices w^re searched yesterday, was
not permitted to leave his house this
morning and a policeman was posted
at the door to see that he did not re
ceive reporters. In the residences of
M. Daudet and Charles Maurras, co
director of the newspaper, further
documents and miscellaneous weap
ons were found.
• M. Daubet ridiculed the whole af
fair saying all he could do was to
thank the government for giving his
newspaper and himself such a splen
did free advertisement.
_ —_
MAN DRIFTS 25 MILES
IN AN OPEN BOAT
PRINCE RUPERT, B. C., Nov. 9.—
Walter Warner Steard, of the C. G. S.
Lillooet, who had been reported
drowned, has turned up after drifting
for twenty-five miles at sea in an op
en boat.
While the Lillooet was anchored
in Refuge Bay, Porcher Island, War
ner, who had a raneh - there, went
ashore. On returning It was blowing
a gale and wind and tide swept the
little boat past the Lillooet and out to
sea.
Steering and paddling with*one oar
he managed to make a landing at
Lucy Island, where he toand shelter
with the light-keeper. He was halt
dead with exhaustion, fatigue and
oold after drifting before a gale for
fifteen hours in a boat half full of
water.
RUSSIA WRITHES IN
THROES OF CIVIL WAR
PKTRO^RAD, Nov. 9.—All Russia
today is writhing in the throes of civ
il war. The government forces includ
ing a battalion of women, who were
besieged in the Winter Palace, were
compelled to capitulate, after holding
out for four hours under a heavy (ire
from the cruisers in the harbor and
a brisk cannon Are from the fortress
Peter and Paul. The defenders had
no heavy artillery, but used machine
guns and rifles with telling effect up
on the revolutionists.
Kerensky lleen Arrested
AMSTERDAM. Nov. 9 The Rhein
ische Westallsche Zeitung. an official
paper of Essen, Germany, punlishes
a statement, according to a telegram
from Stockholm, that President Ker
ensky is under arrest.
Army I.raves Trenches
LONDON. Nov. 9.—A telegram to
Amsterdam, from German source says
the Russian army on the Northern
front has joined the Maximllists and
is marching to Petrograd.
A member of the revolutionary
committee said Wednesday that Pres
ident Kerensky addressed a body of
fiOOO soldiers at Gatchina, who were
on their way from the front to Petro
grad and after a conference among
the leaders, they agreed not to go ti
Petrograd at the present time.
LONDON, Nov. 9. — In Russian cir
cles in this city it is believed that
President Kerensky, knowing Nichol
as Lenlne's lust for the leadership
of the Russian people, has removed
the seat of government to Moscow,
and will endeavor to rally to the sup
port of the government the First,
Third and Fourteenth Regiments of
Cossacks, who informed Kerensky
they would support the government
if no compromise with the rebels was
affected.
Hays I'ctrograd Will l-’all
NEW YORK, .Nov. 9.—William G.
Sheppard, a war correspondent, ar
riving today from Russia, said that
F'etrograd would in all likelihood fall
into the hands of the Germans, who
would also get Helsingfors, the capi
tal of Finland in a short time, and
would then cut the Finnish railway
which connects Russia and Sweden.
Mr. Sheppard stated that thedhing
which impressed him th? most was
that America would have to bear the
full burden formerly assumed by Rus
sia.
Fie stated that Germany had work
ed the greatest bit of diplomacy in
all the war in getting Nicholas Le
nine. head of the Bolshevlkl and M.
Trotsky, both of whom were origin
ally in New York, through the block
ade Into Russia.
RIG (il'N'H KEEP UP
ATTACK ON GERMANS*
LONDON, Nov. 9.— Field Marshal
Haig is still keeping his infantry in
their trenches on the Flanders front,
while the heavy bombardment of the
German lines continues. There has
been infantry fighting on the French
front, although apparently not on a
large scale. The Germans attacked
northeast of Verdun, near Bezonvaux,
but met with a repulse. The artillery
battle is still spirited in much of the
Verdun area and on the Aisne front
along the Chemin-Des-Dames.
Air fighting between French and
German machines has been unusually
intense in the past two days. So far
this week thirty-six German mach
ines have been driven down by the
French, some of them destroyed and
others badly damaged.
SEATTI.J" MAN SUICIDES •
BY GRAVE OF FRIEND
SEATTLE. Nov. 9.—Standing be
side the grave of his old friend, J. F.
Hall, in whose home he had lived for
many years. G. V. Griffiths, a marine
engineer, shot and killed himself.
— — ■ A
FETED BY JAPAN.
Admiral Knight Oivan Recap
tion by Vokohama Citizen*.
Admiral Austin M. Knight, who warn
to Japan to convoy to Emperor Yoehl
hlto the thanks of the United States
for the honors shown to George W
Guthrie, the late American dmba«sa
dor, was received with open arms by
the Japanese people. An elaborate en
tartainmant was arranged by the dtl
sens of Yokohama In honor of the ad
mlral and the other officers of the I
United States Astatic fleet en their
arrival.
.Arbitration Hoard Appointed to In
vestigate Conditions, Kinds for
. Railway Kniployes
—
SEATTLE. Nov. 9. The arbitra
tion hoard advanced the pay of the
street railway employes in both Se
attle and Tacoma four cents an hour.
While the advanct^was not as much
as the strikers had hoped to receive,
it is a matter of congratulation among
union officials here that the hoard
fottnd for the men. and granted part
of their demands.
Twenty to twenty-four below is re
J ported from Fairbanks to Donnelly,
i The mercury is above, the rest of
the way to the coast.
Eleven incites of snow fell last
night, and is still falling.
Passengers on the steamer Evans
report that the mercury was below
zero at Anchorage when they left and
that the Inlet was Ailing up with ice.
Alameda Sailing Postponed
The steamship Alameda, which was
to have sailed November 8, has post
poned her departure until tomorrow,
according to information received by
the local steamship office.
Toys Received by Rector
Rev. Zlnn announces that he receiv
ed a box of toys on the steamship
Mariposa for the children’s Shristmas
tree at the Episcopal church. Rev.
Newton, formerly rector of the church
at Valdez, sent them with his kind re
membrances.
Paul Swanson returned from An
chorage on the Steamer Evans.
The Moose Band will ifractice to
night in Moose Hall.
INDICTED MAN BACK
INTO FRISCO OFFICE
SAN FRANCISCO. Nov. 9.—Geo.
Lull was yesterday elected City At
torney and Eugene Schmitz secured a
good vote and has been chosen as one
of the Supervisors of the Board of
San Francisco. Schmitz was former
mayor and was Indicted with Abe
Reuf about ten years ago for graft.
-1
FOR SALE—Ore sacks. Evlnrude
'igine, crosscut saw, one man saw,
shovels, mattox, axes, 30-30^ rifle, 13
gv shotgun. Morris chair, baby bed,
and mattrea£ and household uten
sils. H. L. Jaynes. It