The Cordova daily times., 1917-08-04
co6bovA DAILY TIMES ooRpovA ALASKA SATURDAY AUGUST 1917
'Tis the voice of the North-it's calling. Will Uncle Sam hear?


 Will Uncle Sam hear?
 With alarms sounding every side, does he reaize the strategic importance of Alaskas
 Out here the edge of things close contact wlth e W and the constant fight waged with Natures elementary forces make Aaskans clear Tn her vslon They keeh feel isolation They greatly fear that which might hap ben They know is far cry the Heart of the Golden Norh of Alaska and it's 20OO miles of coast ne to the ma tona capital at Washington, D. C.
 They have heard mysterious voices radio code messages coming of the void they have strange aerial lights n the sky of winds sweeping vast stretches o lonely tundra the fierce storms beating amongst the weather crag the smoking mountains the deep weird silence of thederness the musical night call of the wolf and the limit less and unbouaded horizons have taught and auned Alas kans to subtle dangers unknown the duled of cvza tion They know that lurking peril is taking definite shape
 But can they make their voices heardf
 Does congress realize that Alaska's for 1916 toaed $12OOOOOO0 Since the purchase from Russia its ports have toaed $6Oo0ooO Mere figures how ever, to many, meaningless.
 be known that this wealth represents the bleached of pioneers which when the earlier tras that sents determination born and bred from the harsh environ of Naues clashng forces and its terrible moods to and difficulties that represents vision conceived along far stretches which had other wdeesses tanned and dreams made ue and finally it represents indus tries which in the hands of enemy would become the great est menace to the safety of the United States
 For instance Alaska, controlled by hostile force would serve a valuable base from which to strike the very vals United States Its coal and its copper and other and its timber and its generally would feed equip army and navy and give them bases within land locked harbors from which to strike swiftly and surely, and from which naves of the world could scarcely dislodg them.
 And the pity of it
 To allow great wealththe very snews for of deense-to dange forth tempting bait In short these unprotected riches might have psychological effect i'll deciding nation to attack the United States where the scales otherwise might be evenly balanced.
 And let emphasize the fact that agents of industrial competitors to the United States know the full value of Alaska They have mapped its shores they have sounded its harbos anu @ & @ Rhd@Isdge today conditions than is true of the executive officials of emment.
 This knowledge has been stored away against day of need Other nations have been prepared for eventuae and have been wide awake whilst Uncle Sam has been dreaming world peace One hostile warship alone could capture all the leading ports of Alaska opening the copper the coal and the gold mines
 On the other hand though 25 900 miles of line may difficult to forfy glance at large map of Alaska will show that Qualifications of few straits would protect the whole of southeastern Alaska and the andoced harbor of the main ports farther westward could easily be closed against coang base should also be maintained Unaaska, the Alaska peninsula Home guards and recently organized in Alaska towns could the Notifications with but few exceptions Without federal ance, however Aaskans will be helpless and mercy the first enemy that comes along.
 Aroused the insecurity of Alaska the territorial leg ature has directed memorial to congress asking also appropriated $0OO to be used by the governor purposes
 The ''Voice of the North is calling the & O. S. signal Uncle Sam but could make known the truth about the ground forces and what these have already accomplished the whole nation would be aroused and special session of if would be called to Alaska from be made to be turned against the United States
 Again ask will Uncle Sam be warned in time.