AMERICANS CLAIM BIB WAR DAMAGES
AMERICANS PREPARING HUGE DAMAGE BILL AGAINST GERMANY
Special to The Nome Nugget by The Associated Press.
WASHINGTON. March 8—American citizens acting in concert have
tiled claims with the government against Germany for the huge sum of seven
hundred and fifty million dollars since the signing of the armistice, according
to an announcement given out by Frank Lyon Folk .Founseler for the State
Department today. A majority of the claims arise from the German sub
marine atrocities and other Teutonic acts in contravention of the recognized
rules of warfare and many are indemnity claims for the deaths of American
citizens resulting from German acts.
Counselor Folk stated that although the present claims run into the
hundreds and present an immense sum of money when traslated into German
values, it is expected that the number of claims ultimately submitted will
number over a thousand.
The claims are divided into two classes, the first arising out of the
.submarine atrocities and the second class from other Teutonic acts of war In
opposition to the recognized rules of civilized warfare. Many are for tin* loss
of American ships and the destruction of American lives.
The list is already so long that it will require the labors of a large
denial force for several months to compile a eertfled list of the American
losses.
Folk stated that the claims will probably be presented to the Fence
Conference for presentation during the final peace adjustments.
REVISED U S CASUALTIES TOTAL TWO HUNDRED FORTY THOUSAND
Spoc'tal to the Nugget By the Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, March 8—Chief of Staff General Peyton C. March,
announced today that a revised compilation of the battle casualties sustained
by the American army in France shows the actual battle losses to have been
slightly over two hundred and forty thousand.
The list totals exactly two hundred and forty thousand, one hundred
and ninety seven. This includes all grades of casualties, killed wounded and
missing, sustained in actual combat.
March also announced for the first time, the exact number of Ameri
cans engaged in actual fighting at the ultimate period of American partici
pation. stating that at the close of the war a total of one million three hun
dred and ninety thousand American troops were actually participating in
engagements against the enemy
'General March said that the overwhelming advances achieved by the
Allies during the last weeks of the war period were largely attributable tc
the Immense increase in fighting strength provided by this great body o1
American soldiers.
American troops were engaged along nearly every important section
of the battle front during the last stages of the war and numerous addditional
bodies of American troops were acting as reserve supports for the French,
British and Italians.
Referring to the demobilization of the army, General March told ths
reporters that up to today a total of one million three hundred and sixty one
thousand five hundred and twenty eight officers and men have been released
from service.
BERLIN GENERAL STRIKE CALLED OFF FRIDAY NIGHT
Special to The Nome Nugget by The Associated Press
BERLIN. March 7—Announcement was made today that the general
strike called in Berlin last week will be officially ended tonight in compliance
with orders from the Labor Federation of Workmen.
The workers who have responded will return to work Saturday morn
ing. Taken in a general sense the effort to provoke a general strike in Berlin
has been a failure, comparatively few of the. workers responded to the strike
call and the failure of the movement has been admitted h.v the union leaders
for several days.
The failure of the strike indicates that the radical elements have tc
a great extent lost favor with the actual working elements, who are apparent
ly not in sympathy with their repeated efforts to overthrow Iho government,
DECISION OF SEATTLE STRIKERS ANNOUNCED SATURDAY NIGHT
Special to the Nugget By tho Associated Press.
SEATTLE, March 8—The vote of the striking shipworkers on the
question of returning to work under the former scale of wages and hours will
be announced tonight. The voting has been in progress during the greater
part of the week.
Statements by union officials today indicate that practically the entire
membership of the metal trades workers and other unions whose members
engage in ship yard work have registered their vote. From the frond of
comment among the strikers it is generally believed that the men have voted
in favor of returning to work and the hope prevails that the shipyards will
be able to re-open Monday.
The yard owners have announced that they expect to open with only
one shift, instead of three, as was the case before the strike, indicating that
there will be a large reduction in the number of workers employed. The
decision to employ one shift is stated to be due to the fact that there is
nc longer need for extraordinary haste in ship construction.
BRITISH MINISTER OF EDUCATION
PROSPECTIVE AMBASSADOR TO U. S,
.■-'pedal to The Nugget by The Associated Press.
LONDON, March 8—The Daily Nation asserts in today’s issue thut A
L. Fisher, the British Minister of Education is in line for the post of British
Ambassador to the United States and ventures the opinion that hfs appoint
ment will probably be announced soon.
Although little known in tho United States, Minister Fisher has been
.1 prominent figure in British politics for some years and is well qualified for
the position he appears slated to occupy.
RUBBER SUPPLY PLANTS
ON PACIFIC COAST
Associated Press Srevlce.
S.\.\ FRANCISCO.—fry ..f
plants with rubber content in tho
district extending from tie- Raciflc
coast to Colorado and from New
Mexico to the California state council
of defense by its scientific researches
committee is suitl to assure the coun
try Of an emergency supply of rub
ber.
Prof II. M. Hall in his i* port on the
rubber discovery raid:
“For two months tin- writer cat tied
on field surveys in eight western
states in order to make estimates of
tiie tonnage and distribution of rub
ber carrying shrubs and to gather
samples for chemical analysis. The
results indicate that the total amount
of rubber present is much greater than
we formerly supposed, although the
percentage content of the shrubs is
perhaps less over much of the area
covered.
eastern California have been studied
that it will be necessary to destroy
the phints in order to harvest the
rubber. On the other hand, a method
is being developed which gives prom
ise of increasing the weir,lit of the
rubber carrying portions. This me
thod will he particularly applicable if
the plants arc brought under cultiva
tion.
• In order to get ail expert ••pinion
on the quality of the product twenty
five pounds of shrub were sent to Dr
D. Spence, chairman of the sub-com
of the National Research Council.
After some months, during which
time deterioration probald > took
place, the rubber was separated by the
ordinary mechanical means and 3
per cent of pure rubber obtained. This
was tested and reported upon as of
“high grade and average quality- not
as good as the fine Carry iftit a great
deal better than most Ariean low
grade rubbers. Dr. Spence also re
ported that "the rubber vulcanizes
readily, and gives a. product of very
fine quality.”
PLATINUM FOUND IN
COOK INLET SECTION
A sroc'iated Press Service.
JUNEAU, Alaska.— Platinum, that
much needed and sought for material,
exists throughout an area of 150 by
100 miles from Cook Inlet region to
the Alaskan range, in the opinion of
Mr. Herschel Parker, geologist and
explorer, Dr. Parker-, who has gone t<>
the States, look with him a large
number of samples obtained from a
winter he will make an exhaustive
tests and plan operations for his work
early next summer. Upon his re
turn he plans to establish a small
plant on the Susitna river for hand
ling platinum ore.
Dr. Parker’s experimenting and
prospecting work took him through
the Talkeetna country, along the Sus
itna and Yenta valleys Speaking of
the results of his work, he Raid:
“The platinum is there. Most of
the land, however, is low grade, and
it must be handled in large quantit
ies in ascientific and economical man
ner. The question of the commercial
value of the platinum is simply a
matter of engineering.”
The region described is tributary
to the government’s Alaska railroad.
PETERSBURG TO HAVE
NEW CONCRETE HOTEL
Associated Press Service.
JUNEAU, Alaska—The town of
Petersburg, to the north of Wrangell,
is to have one of the finest hotels in
this part of Alaska. It. will be of
cone/ete, two stories high, and will
contain 42 looms and 20 baths. The
estimated cost is $55,000.
IT IS MORE ECONOMICAL TO
EAT
AT THE ARCTIC BAKERY
THAN TO COOK AT HOME
Subscribe Now for The Nome Nugget
GOVT TROOPS WIN FOUR DAY BATTLE
FOR BERLIN POLICE HEADQUARTERS
Special to Tho Nome Nugget by The Associated Press.
COPENHAGEN'. March s Berlin dispatches announce that the gov
ernment troops have won a complete victory over the Sparticans for the pos
session of the Berlin police headquarters. According to the reports, the
troops not only captured the station and its immediate environs following
severe fighting yesterday, hut also made prisoners of a large portion of the
Spurtican assailants who have fought so desperately to gain complete posses
sion Of the building.
As a. result of tho government victory, all fighting in the center of the
city is reported to have coaxed but.the radicals are still maintaining resistance
in the Moabit section and fighting is still in progress in that locality. The
losses of the government troops are said t-» bo slight. Many prisoners were
taken during the latter stages of the fighting around police headquarters
in which the fighting occurred.
Tin- government troops employed gas during the lighting with disas
trous effects on the beseigers. The victors were compelled to shell a num
ber of buildings near the police station before the Sparticans were driven
out.
Reports teaching here today indicate that the general strike in Berlin
ended last night. The unions are said to have recognized the futility of con
tinuing the effort to cause a general suspension of labor and voluntarily urged
tho men to return to their labors today.
Will Execute Sparticans Captured.
LONDON. March -S —Copenhagen dispatches to the London press to
day say the government forces captured many Spartican followers during the
fighting in Berlin for possession of the police headquarters on Friday. The
reports indicate that the government lias won a complete victory over tho
radicals and fully demonstrated its power to handle the Berlin situation.
According to the reports reaching Copenhagen, the Ebert government has de
eded to adopt a policy of stem repression toward the radicals and has an
nounced the intention of sentencing to death a large number of the Sparticans
i captured in the lighting around the police station. The German officials
believe that execution of those who persist, nily attempt to create disorders
\ ill have a salutary effect in restraining others of siiniliar tendencies.
Alaska-Pacific Troops Sustained 5.000 Battle Casualties
WASHINGTON. March s—According to the statement of General
March regarding the revised list «*f American hatile casualties, the 91st.
Division, composed principally of Alaskan and Pacific coast men, suffered
li* • thousand and thirty eight, battle casualties timing its short period of ser
vile on the French and Belgian' war fronts.
WILL WAGE VIGOROUS CAMPAIGN FOR
FUNDS FOR COMPLETION ALASKA RAILROAD
Sj Li I to The Nome Nugget by The Associated Press.
SEATTJ.F. March S \ Washington sjieci. l to the Se.'Pib; post Intel
li"« !aa i toda\ indicates that the Washington delegation and Secretary Lane
if the Interior Dcpartim til are making preparations to njtnmejir? a vigorous
(umpaign for appropriations t-> complete the construction of the government
railroad iii Alaska as soon as the new congressional session is under way.
The dispatch says that owing to poor health. Chairman Wm. C. Fades,
head of the Alaska Pailroad Commission, has requested J. I,. McPherson, Sec
retary-Manager of the Alaska Bureau of the Seattle chamber of Commerce,
(o remain in Washington t.. aid the Department of the Interior in assembling
[data, and preparing an estimate of the costs of completing the railroad and
other constructions in Alaska which will ho submitted to the Appropriations
Committees of the m u congress immediately after sessions are resumed.
The P. I. correspondent says both the Washington delegation and
j Secretary Line are agreed that a vigorous campaign must be waged to secure
I the. appropriations for completing the railroad immediately after congress
j convenes. Secretary McPherson, who is probaldx the best informed man in
I the country regarding the northern territory, will prepare the facts for the
j committee which will conduct the campaign during the forthcoming session.
POWERS HAVE AGREED TO DISTRIBUTE GERMAN WAR FLEET
Spwelul to The Nugget by The Associated Press.
LONDON, March 8— In what is claimed to he an authoritative .state
ment regarding the disposition of the captured German war fleet, the London
Mail states that the Entente powers are understood to have reached an agree
ment to divide the captured vessels of the German war navy among them
selves.
The journal further asserts that it. has learned that America and
England are in accord regarding the necessity for sinking their respective
shares of the German naval battalions when forniall> turned over.
ARRIVING TROOPS BRING FOREIGN WIVES
Special to the Nugget By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK March 8—Tlu* transport Plattsburg arrived in port to
day with two thousand one hundred and seventy five soldiers and one hun
dred and fifty sailors who have been engaged in active service in France.
The steamer also carried forty five interesting female passengers, made up of
French, Belgian, Alsatian and English girls, many still in their teens, who
have become the wives of American soldiers engaged on foreign service.
Twenty five of the young women are the wives of members of the army
forces and the remainder have chosen to cast their future lot with Ameircan
sailors. The contingent attracted great attention on arrival and provided
to tlie newspaper men with much interesting “copy"
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