Uatfti>2 Hath) ftraBjrertur
VOLUME XIV. VALDEZ, ALASKA, MONDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1917 NUMBER 387
WOT MS NOW
BEEN HEATED
official Statement received Today In
(Urate* That Russia is Out of
the War for Good
AMSTERDAM. Dec. 17.—A treaty
between Russia aud Germany has
neen formulated, according to an of
ficial German statement received here
today. This renders it certain that
Russia and Rumania can no longer
tie' depended upon to assist in the
war.
—
Signed at Brest-Litovsk
BERLIN, Dec. 17.—The armistice
iietween the Bolshevik! Russian, and
Teutonic allies was signed at Brest-1
Litovsk, according to an official com-;
munication effective today noon. The I
armistice will remain in force until I
Monday. January 14.
' * ' I
FRENCH SPEAKING GIRLS
TO SAY HELM) IN FRANCE
_
' WASHINGTON. L>. C., Dec. 17.—1
A unit of 150 telephone operators ab^
to speak both French and English for
immediate service in France will be!
formed under the direction of the|
army signal corps, it was announced j
today. The operators enlisted for thej
duration of the war, will be given al-i
lowances for quarters and rations ac-j
corded army nurses, in addition to;
they pay and also will wear the same!
uniforms.
In seeking recruits for the new,
service the announcement of the chief
signal officer says:
“Young ladies, physically fit, with,
command of the French and English j
languages, desirous of obtaining these,
positions should apply by mail to |
Room 826, Mills Building Annex,1
Washington. |
1 • ’ i
MAH, CARRIERS MAY BE
NAMED WITHOUT EXAM
WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. 17.— ,
President Wilson has issued an exe
cutive order allowing the postmaster
general to appoint as temporary rur
al mail carriers during the absence
of the regular carriers on military j
duty the person on whom the support
of the dependents of the regular car-'
rier devolves, without regard to civil!
service requirements, if the substi-]
tute is found competent. The first ap
pointment under the order is that of
Miss Edith Strand, of Princeton, 111.,
whose brother is in the military ser
vice, leaving her to care for the fam
ily
REGISTRAI1$ MUST
LEAVEJOIIESSES
Are Obliged by Daw to Keep Selves
Advised as to What is Doing
in Department
_
All registrants who have changed
postofBce addresses since registering
should Immediately communicate
with the local boards having jurisdic
tion over their cards, giving present
addresses, so questionalres will reach
them Without delay. Registrants are
bound by law to keep themselves ad
vised of all proceedings In respect to
them and failure to so do may re
sult In their losing their right to
claim exemption or discharge.
Wall Street Editor Dead
PATTERSON, N. J., Dec. 17.—
James Reilly, managing editor of the
Wall Street Journal, died last night
in a hospital here. His death was due
to burns and exposure. He was taken
111 while alone In his home Thanksgiv
ing morning. While trying to reach
the telephone to summon aid, he fell
downstairs, where his back rested
against a steam radiator and he be
came unconscious. It was not until
last Sunday morning, three days lat
er, that Mr. Reilly’s plight was dis
covered. His back had been badly
burned and he suffered also from cold
when the heating plant fire died out.
Charles P. Topllff was a SeatUe
passenger from Valde*.
RKM < TION IN PRICK OK
BRKAD IH SOUGHT
WASHINGTON. D. C., Dec 17.—
immediate reduction in bread prices
wherever possible has been recom
mended by bakers throughout the
country by the war emergency of the
baking industry. Bakers will go un
der government license December 10.
using a set formula and producing a
standardized loaf required by the
food administration.
NEW YORK FACES
FUEL FAMINE:
I Most Disastrous Crisis in Period of
History—Coal Solidly Frozen
and Cannot be l/oosened
NEW YORK, Dec. 17 - With 30,-|
000 tons of coal just across the North
River, New York today faces the
worst fuel famine in the history of
the city. The fuel, which is in huge
piles, is frozen in so solidly that it
will take steam to loosen it so it can
he handled.
Thousands of families who are com
pelled to buy their fuel 2f> cents
worth at a time are caught without
means to make a fire, and are in a
serious predicament. The civic aid so
cieties are working hard to alleviate
the suffering and misery entailed hy
the cold weather, hut unless a thaw
comes and releases the Immense pile
of the stored fuel, suffering will he
acute.
CLEVELAND, O.. Dec. 17.—Many
factories in this city have been com
pelled to shut down on account of
lack of coal, and 100,000 men are
idle today. The situation here is ser
ious.
WHOLESALE DIE
MAOEJNiSEATTlE
200 Subjects Gathered in by Federal,
#]
City, and County Authorities |
—Many Are Aliens
SEATTLE, Dec. 17. - Two hundred
and sixty suspected slackers, persons
with seditious tendencies, and law
less characters were arrested in a
raid made Saturday night by Federal,
county and city officials. Many of
the men arrested were Aliens.
SWITZERLAND WILL
MAINTAIN STRICT NEUTRALITY
i -
WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. 17.—
Switzerland has pledged the United
States that it will repel any violation
of its frontiers and will maintain
strict neutrality.
STEAMSHIP ALASKA SAILS
SOUTH FROM VALDEZ
The steamship Alaska arrived in
port today from Seward. Her passen
gers for Valdez were Henry and Fab
ian Miller and Holly Ashby. Those
leaving Valdez for Seattle were Mr.
and Mrs. Charles Walker, Mrs. Mae
Cameron, Wm. F. Ericksen and wife,
Fred J. Cameron, Chas P. Topliff,
Donald J. Shannon, Richard Mald
ment, Edw. Nuhn, Fred Coleclough,
George Sanders, Felix Yasls, Wm.
Donaldson, Ed. F. Wood, for Seattle;
Wm. Bruno for Juneau; F. Strang,
Miles Valley, M. J. O’Connell, Cor
dova; Geo. Elwood, Seattle.
CORDOVA LAUNCH CHILKAT
IS REPORTED MISSING
The marshal’s office today received
a cablegram from Cordova stating
that the launch Chilkat of that place
had been missing since December 8
and it was feared that she was lost.
Any party having knowledge of the
movements of this launch Is request*
ed to report to the marshal’s office.
About 100 passengers boarded the
steamship Alaska at Seward for the
States.
M. and Mrs. P. I. Curlew were thru
passengers on the steamer Alaska on
their way to hte 8tates.
CLEARING UP TRENCHES AFTER BATTLE
\lter an attack some soldiers arc detailed to clear up the trenches. Two
of them are here seen tilling sacks with cartridge cases. Tren« li mortar
bombs lie at their feet.
CANADIANS WILL
BE ROUNDED UP
Several Hundred Thousand in Uni
ted States Will be Compelled
to Serve in the Army
—
CHICAGO, Dec. 17 -Federal Judge
Landis today announced that several
hundred thousand Canadian slackers
in this country, who were filling po
sitions made vacant by American
boys,being forced into the army,
would be shortly forced to serve un
der treaties being arranged between
the two countries.
, ^ -
KILLED BY AUTO,
'
Mrs. Ijeila Allen Kun Down by Ma
chine Driven by D. .D Andrews
—Son in France
SEATTLE. Dec. 17.-,-Mrs. Liela
Allen, a widow, was run down and
killed by an automobile driven by D.
D. Andrews, a salesman, this morning.
Her only son, Don Sloan. Is with the
Oregon contingeht in France.
GERMANS RAID
BRITISH FLEET
Four Destroyers Sink Fight Merchant
men, One British Destroyer, Five
Armed Trawlers
LONDON, Dec. 17.—Four German
destroyers carried out a successful
raid on the British fleet early Wed
nesday morning, sinking eight mer
chantmen, one British destroyer, live
armed trawlers and damaging one
trawler, it was announced toady. The
news was given out In the House of
Commons and aroused the Ire of the
members, who demanded to know
why the fleet was not convoyed as It
should have been.
The First Lord of the Admiralty
Geddes said tljat the vessels sunk
were all part of a convoy bound from
England to Norway. Five of the ships
were of British register.
An Inquiry is under way to place
the blame of the disaster.
Band pratice tonight.
SEVENTEEN U. S.
Pershing t'ables that Number Men in
Recent Action Not Been Found
Vet—May be Prisoners
WASHINGTON. D. Dec. 17.—
Seventeen United States army engi
neers. who were in the recent battle
on the western front, are reported
missing in a cable received from Gen
eral Pershing today.
Gaston It. Means, Accused of Killing
Wealthy Widow, is Freed by
Jury—Proved Alibi.
CONCORD. N. H., Dec. 17.—Gaston
B. Means, who was accused of slay
ing Mrs. Maude A. King, a wealthy
New York and Chicago widow, was
acquitted of the charge by a jury here
Saturday, after deliberating over the
evidence for twenty hours.
Mrs. King, who was murdered un
der mysterious circumstances the
first week in September, was reputed
to be quite wealthy, and Means had
been working for her. He was to re
ceive one million dollars as a reward
In case he succeeded in subtantiating
the will of her husband, a wealthy
lumberman. When the safety deposit
box at the bank was opened nothing
was found in it but a solitary rubber
band. What became of her property
could not be learned despite the most
rigid investigation on the part of the
authorities, nothing could be found
of any value. It was reported that
Means won $60,000 from Mrs. King
in a crap game a night or two be
fore her death and that he had grad
ually absorbed the property. Trans
actions involving hundreds of thous
ands of dollars were put thru in
Means' name, and Mrs. King had de
posited sumB in many instances am
ounting to hundreds of thousands.
While the circumstanclal evidence
was pretty black against MeanB, it
was impossible to prove any connec
tion with the death of his alleged vic
tim.
GERMAN SPY ROBS BRITISH
WAR MISSIONS OFFICE
WASHINGTON, D. C.. Dec. 17.—
A German spy entered and robbed the
Brltiab war missions office in this city
last night. The office, which is situat
ed in the Munsey building, was brok
en Into .and valuable papers taken:
8 MEN ELECTROCUTED
BY A LIVE WIRE
ST. LOUIS. Dec. 17.—Eight men
were electrocuted and three suffered
severe electrical shocks when a wire
cable which the men were handling
at the plant of the Anheuser Busch
Brewing association broke today and
fell on a Union Electric cable.
DRAFT LABOR
Any Person of llruft Age and Regis
tered is to be Called Out and
Worked for War Purposes
WASHINGTON. D. C\. Dec 17.
\nyone who can work In a shipyard
or do auy other kind of mechanical
work needed for the advancement of
the war If of draft age and registered,
is to be called out in the regular or
der of their numbers and set to work
under military supervision and disci
pline.
Bouuk Will bo Paid
SEATTLE, Dec. 17.- The govern
ment has announced that it will pay
a ten per cent bonus to all men in the
shipyards here who will work a full
week of six days.
PEACE TERMS
JL
Germany Shortly to Transmit Pro
position to Allies Through Neu
tral Countries
AMSTERDAM. Dec. 17. Germany
will shortly transmit peace terms to
the allieB through the remaining neu
tral nations under a pledge of see
recy, according to word from Berlin.
Reports declare that the peace terms
would state that Germany is disin
terested as to the future of Belgium,
but would not treat over Alsace-Lor
raine.
Blame lx* on Allies
LONDON. Dec. 17.—Etuperor Wil
helm, in his Christmas message pro
poses a linal peace oiler to his ene
mies. on whom, in case of rejection,
will fall the full responsibility for
the bloodshed in 1918. according to
an unofficial Berlin telegram for
warded from Geneva.
BRITISH AIRMEN
Many Bombs Dropped on Ixiny Range
(inns and Other Positions Near
IJlle By Allied Airmen
LONDON. Dec. 17.- Many bombs
were dropped on the German long
range guns today southwest of Lille
by British aviators, according to a
report received from Gen. Haig.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON
ENLISTS AS A PRIVATE
WASHINGTON, D. C.. Dec. 17.—
Representative Royal C. Johnson of
South Dakota, enlisted today as a pri
vate In the regular army. Mr. Johnson
Is' a Republican, serving his second
term. He resigned his office to serve
his country.
■ I I » —* X
George Sanders, the well known
old timer and sign painter of Valdez,
was an outgoing passenger on the
steamer Alaska for the States. Mr.
Sanders will visit several points in
the east and probably make a trip to
Texas while he is outside. He is In
terested heavily In Seattle property.
Henry and Fabian Miller, both well
known Valdei boys, arrived on the
steamship Alaska from Anchorage to
spend the holidays with their mother,
ltrs. H. W. MiHer,'and brother John.
AERIAL MESSAGES
MesMugWN Relayed by Interned Cruis
er to Japan in Kndeavor to l>n>
mote War With l'. M.
HONOLULU. Dec. 17.—While her
band played lively tunes to drown the
sounds of her wireless working the
German cruiser Geler, Interned in the
harbor at this place, relayed messages
between German agents in the United
States and Japan, in furtherence of
a plot to involve the United States
in war with Japan The plan involved
the landing of Japanese in Mexico and
Germans in Canada. The information
was secured from a diary of the com
mander of the vessel, which will be
published with the consent of the
naval department.
SKNATOK GOKK IS IN
WASHINGTON SANITAKILM
WASHINGTON. I). C.. Dec. 17 -
Senator Thomas P. Gore of Oklahoma
is confined to a sanitarium with ner
vousness and insomnia.
imiTISH ADVANCK NOW
HKYOND PAliKSTINK
LONDON. Dec. 17 The British
army is now advancing northeast
from Palestine.
SILVER WILL GO
McAdoo and Silver Operators ore Con
ferring; on Probable l*rice of
White Metal
WASHINGTON. D. C’.. Dec. 17.—
The government at an early date will
probable establish the price of silver
at a dollar an ounce. Secretary of the
treasury McAdoo and the large and
small silver producers are holding a
series of conferences to arrange the
price.
RECEPTION AT
JA9LE HALL
Now ltecruit.s are Given a Housing
Send <)fT at Kagle Hall Satur
day Kventng
About two hundred Valdezans at
tended the public reception at Eagle
Hall last Saturday night in honor of
Fred Coleclough, Richard Maidment,
Don Shannon, and Ted Nuhn, who
left for the States on the Alaska, hav
ing enlisted in the U. S. Army for
the duration of the war. Judge Di
mond made a stirring and patriotic
speech after which Mrs. T. G. Quinu
favored the audience with a selection
which is enjoying great popularity in
the States and over in France, en
titled “Keep the Home Fires Burn
ing." E. E. Ritchie than gave a most
Interesting talk wherein he showed
that whenever a war occurred between
autocracy and democracy, the latter
has always been victorious. He had
no doubts whatever but that the pres
ent war would live upto the same
rule.
The ladles of the Valdez Chapter
of the American Red Cross then pres
ented each of the boys with a kit and
their good wishes. Dr. J. A. Silverman
made the presentation address.
The Moose Band had assembled for
the occasion and played several pa
triotic selections concluding with the
“Star Spangled Banner."
All recruits in the States have been
given a royal send off and it is to
Valdez’ credit that she show her pride
and faith in her boys by treating them
likewise. It is expected that when the
draft takes place in the near future
a great many more of our young men
will be called to help conquer the
kaiser. Valdet will be well represent
ed in France. ^