davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-06

open air lie is postgraduate war CORE
spondent. With his military mustache shaved
off and in everyday clothes, he resembles very
alert medical man, unless you might take it in
your mind that he was an attorney, and then,
again, he might be connected with the stage in
some way, where his good looks and fine per
sonality would assure financial as well as artistic
success
Last spring, Mr. Palmer wrote "The Last Shot"
Charles Scribner's sons, story OF an mag
mary war. He reversed the system followed by
H. c. Wells, and wrote of war 20 come in terms
of war to-day The thesis is, What would
between great countries be to-day? The ink is
scarcely dry before this keen observer and vivid
writer Of war scenes is told TO report hour by
hour 70 a hundred million people, with the least
possible assistance by the censor, accurate
and detailed reply to that question.
He went to Central America in 1902, where
it is always exciting, and the next year he re-
ported the Macedonian instruction. When he
was taking few weeks off in 1907 he accom-
panied the United States battleship feet in its
cruise around the world. The guns remained
silent, but Palmer was near them. And, anyway,
there weren't any guns going off anywhere, so he
did not lose any time.
When Mr.. Palmer packs his grip he expects to
be under fire without fighting. He will not bear
arms but he will march as far the next man.
He e used to hardships. Whatever the cOndi-
tons, whether it is war in the large or in the
small. we have his word for it that he finds the
same basic human qualities in the white heat
Of conflict working out the same Illusions, hero
ismg, tragedies and comedies.
in view of the present conflict, Mr.. Pslmcr's
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-06
CANNON SHOTS PALMER PLAY DOES

After Mr.. Palmer got Central America and Its
Problems" out Of the way cit is one of the books
to which he put his name, plus the mystic +. r.
G. s., he got the playwrting fever and went
across to Florence to put into dramatic action an
indispensable Man"-you know the type, the sort
that can't see he's not the centre Of the universe
and his every second of diamond value.
Before leaving for Vera Cruz, he said af
tcrnoon in the Century Club, in New York:
THE appalling possibilities of real modern
war, war between any Of the perfectly equipped
and organized European powers, fairly staggers
ne imagination.
This talk about modern weapons essening the
GeRdness Of war IS not well founded. A
to-day, with machine guns capable of throwing
hose stream Of bullets; with dirigbes, balloons
and acroplanes dropping bombs; with field guns
throwing six shells minute each she'll carrying
2CO bullets tell you the person who has not
been close to these things and to the human nat
ure back of them, cannot appreciate what they
mean.
"Thc world is all staged for a tragic drama Of
almost unthinkable magnitude and deadlness."
To a reporter in Vera Cruz Mr.. Palmer ex-
pressed the opinion that only a war 50 disastrous
in its horrors as to appeal to the world would
bring about the disarmament of nations.
WAR" he said "must literally strangIe itself
to death. The perfection Of armament is the
greatest safeguard against great war. Some day
the world will realize, through terrible expert
crce. that a modern war means annihilaton for
the armies engaged.
Then, I believe. modern civilization viii
ser, itself and war will be impossible In future
generations the development Of higher human
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-06

.ortb Of Belgrade. After all, it was not peace oot
var-crueI, bloody wRr--that ruled mere 40
sav the battered servian city across the river
intervals, when the white finger Of the Austr'a"
,earchIight poked up and down the bank, the YER
ribls destructiveness and wckedness OF TINS GRIM,
ipal war stood out in all its naked reality ana
wondered how long it would be before that PROUD
city would lie there a mass OF ruins or at OeS'
lot Of deserted shells
with the guns still at it, dodged over 70 t"e
railway station ind bought ticket Tot mus
,a, bouof. ;te last ticket sold in that sta
and ofer closed the building the ticket
,,,o,, oot aboard tho train with don't know
,,bothcr there were any Americans in Belgrade
,tat d,v or not. but the ticket agent and other
.,caI runctionarics assured me that was the
,,,g oac in Semlin.'
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-06
FAMILIAR SCENE AT STATIONS
AUSTRIAN SOLDIERS ON GUARD

including some women, who had not taken the cue
to get away to safety when they should have done
80. Pretty the whstinG and booming Of
shells, the cracking of rifles with the dronlng Of
bullets we're the only sounds could hear.
Before long the enemy's fire became desultory
and then ceased entirely. SO far as sounds were
concerned when the day drew to close with
magnificent sunset of red and gold no one would
nave believed that Mars had just lid his hand on
;hat quiet town.
A new moon rose and gIimmered over 'he beau
ufuI Danube stirring my imagination with dreams
Of the romantic past, from which | was rudely
shaken by the fash and bang of a Serylan battery
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-06

ity may protect US from the dreadful scourge OF
var. To-day the primal instinct within US is too
strong FOR such a solution of the question Of
wars."
few years ago Mr. Palmer wrote a series of
acroplane stories. These came out in 1910, when
The aeropanc had not performed the many diff
cult feats that are now history. But even in
that early day Mr.. Palmer said that "if the aero
plane should never reach one with higher deyel
opment it has performed great mission, it has
killed warfare.
81 mean it," he added. Had Russia had
Beriot, the Japanese would not have won The
great force is rot of dropping shells from the
sky, but of knowing what the enemy is doing.
warfare is to feint and to mass, and whether
the line IS 240 miles long, or twenty or ten to
flank and turn in and strike at the vital point
What good strategy and secrecy when a
trained eye, up over 1000 feet in an aeroplauc,
safe from shots from below, can ascertain posi-
tons and vulnerable ponts?"
Iir. Palmer wrote his last novel because there
were certain ideas in his mind, ideas that had
been developing in his long years Of service as a
correspondent to which he wanted to give
expression.
lie had no foolish hopes Of the book achieving
any great material success. By the time it would
be ready for the public mind the national mind
would, Of course, De much occupied with Mex
leo that readers would pay little attention to a
story 50 remote from actual events.
The chances were apparently thousand TO one
against the summer of 1914 bringing forth any
thing that would direct attention to a novel de-
sigrcd to describe modern scientific warfare in
the great contic. between the Gray army and the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-06

study Of American, British and German business
methods AID characteristics as ne found them
operating IN Central America may be'of interest
His observations in Central America led him to
express himself strongly in 'Gvor of the Germans,
as against the Americans and English, in times of
peace. Throughout that country he found that the
American coffee and rubber planter fails and the
German thriveS
"The extreme American case" said Mr.. Palmer
on his return from that trip, us the company
booster, who buys patch Of Jungle and sells as
many shares as he can. The Jungle keeps on
growing, but no rubber coffee trees grow, while
he booster turns his attention 20 other fields Let
It be said without cquvocatoD that anybody who
invests in am land or plantation scheme south OF
:hc Rio Grandc when he has not seen the property
or does 10; know Lis may consider his
money lost.
But the German comes first as an assistant
manager, and after ha mes learned the business,
with his savings and little borrowed capital he
gets q small plantation for himself. He is pa
tient, industrious. frugal content with small
profits, and works a coffee plantation without any
thought of it as a bonanza which is the American
faut-but rather as 4 good farmer works fer
tile farm at home.
"The Engishman, without the gift of the Ger
man for small economies rebels against the gov
eminent. He is not at home among spies in
formers. bribers and assassins, and he is hand-
capped, just AS the American is, by his stubborn
and inadaptability to the vile conditions that
prevail where the Monroe Doctrine makes reform
impossible. In fact. neither the average American
nor tho Englishman can READILY knucklc to Cen
trial American desPoI"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-06

From behind parapct on the roof Of an empty
house pretty the river | had q fairly good
view of the whole affair. Whenever heard the
premonitory boom which meant that another piece
of shrapnel was started its hellish course !
dropped fat till the savage pow!' that follows the
harsh whistle of the she'll in fight told me that
the thing had done its worst triangular piece
Of the metal jacket Of one of these shells took the
ear off soldier in the street below clearly as
you could have done it with scalpeI. The bullets
in the shells don't mangle nearly much these
pieces of the casing,
AT first, when the Scrvan fire was hottest the
streets of Semlin were filled with frantic citizens,
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-06
7IRST SHE'LL OF THE WAR BURST OVER SEMLN
A CHICAGO Sunday School Superintendent
Whose Lot It Was To Be Within Range
Of the Guns Which Opened Europe's
Strife Describes His Experience.

seen such pathetic scenes as those saw in thi,
station while husbands and fathers were saying
goodby to wives and children.
81 got into the second section Of the tuin
which wac 70 run only to Innsbruck, the mobiliza.
ton headquarters. In my carriage were six Aus
TRANS going to join their regiments and an Amer
lean. One Of the Austrians was consul and
after had helped him carry his countless pieces
NJ baggage Of the train at Innsbruck We became
rood friends and decided TO continue the journey
to0ether. A. VIC we're about 70 pull out again
there was shout and great crowd Of Tyrosns
came marching into the station, loaded with hand
baoosyc. They had left their homes in III,
beautiful Aims to enter the great conflict soon 70
spread over he land like devastating eonasEz.
ton.
AT all the towns between Innsbruck and the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-06

picked as the only American correspondent who
will be permitted by the British War Office to
take the field.
From Pleasantville to the GrecO-Turkish war,
to the Philippines with Dewey to China with the
allied forces in the Boxer uprising to Man
churia with the japanese, to the Balkans two
years ago, and in Vera Cruz when ordered to
the frontest front that not only Palmer in his
forty-one years but the world in its six thou
sand has ever seen-all this shows something
Of the territory that can be covered by
bilious and capable son while Plesssntylle is
adding another sRwml.
Mr Palmer, Of Pleasantville, when there was
no war for q few days, in the early spring Of
1897, visited the Klondike, walking over the Zee
from Dysa to Dawson, distance of six hundred
miles. lie keeps outdoors. lie has been under
ire toe many times % coHnt. and always ia the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-06

Brown army, thin DISCUSSES for the martial ho'S
Of the German Empire and the French Republic
In the midst of battle, with the detachment Of
a non-combatsnt maryelling at the irony Of tive
lines Of men engaged in an effort Of mutual eT'
termination, he has, he says. caught himself hinI'
ing with the other side He knew Why his SIDE
was busy killing Why was the other For the
reason.
81 seeing humanity against humanity
man killed was man killed, courage was eou'
age, sacrifice was sacrifice, romance was ROMANCE
heart-broken mother was heart-broken motheh
a village burned a village burned, regardless
of race or nation. Every war became a story 10
a certain set form: The rise of the passion
the conflict, victory and defeat, and then peace 10
joyous relief which the nations enjoyed beio"
they took the trouble to fight for IT,"
Mr.. Palmer is accustomed to the unlmsginslt'
and narrowing activities Of the censor. Also I.
no new thing for him to be the only correspondent
assigned 70 cover for the American press gFs'
section Of the world engaged in making war pu'
ing the Balkan war he was the only American "
porter within the allies lines.
As sample Of his style the following account
taken from "EverybOdy's Magazine" will be INV.
esting as fOrecssting what We may expect n''
him in the present crisis:
The Balkan peoples fought We should uSu
il japanese invasion had reached Ch'eSs
Then we should forget politics, the money "1,.
and the turkey trOt' Unless our mu'''s
should turn to jelly and our blood TO water e's's
able-boded man would want place on the hi,I -.
line; and he would not worry about catching
death of cold il his feet got wet on the msrea'
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-06
FAPewFLL 70 A REcRUlTE UYW0EN. HUNGARY

border and in Switzerland also armed men we're
modifying saw that would have 10 act quick
ly to get out of the war conc, ana at Lurleh
boarded train for Msrseies. only TO learn al
Lausanne that there were no more trains through
France The midnight train through the Simpon
was the only other chance | took It, and mace
for the neutral port of Genoa. where finally Fa'
one of the lucky crowd Of Americans that got
passage home on the Principe d UdHe. Beyond
being held up in midocesn by an English liner that
had been converted into cruiser to prey on com
MERGE there was no more excitement for which
I was duly thankful"
Spies were everywhere in Europe. according 70
Mr. Hartman On one occasion his travelling
companion was Russian woman spy disguised
as Turkish lady and at another time an obieef
who was about to arrest Hartman for snapshot
ing mobilization scenes, was persuaded not TO
modest the American by an Austrian spy bound lot
Servia with whom Hartman had struck up
friendship.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-06
THE BARBARISM OF CIVILIZED WARFARE
ONE INCIDENT.

Arc conditions a. atrociouS as they arc palnteo
"a American newspapers was the question ?
,hot at the much travelled miss ionary he picked
up his handbag and started for the Chicago traia
Just about ! saw Slavic soldier ia the Aus
tran army taken from a troop train to be shot on
the order of a ruffsn Of officer who said that
the soldier had stuck out his tongue at him!
Even Pancho Villa would hardly stoop TO such
barbarism. And it's about six of one, half dozen
of the other. I don't believe that one army
much worse than another so far As violating the
rules Of civilized warfare is concerned
"Civilized warfare! What a contradiction IN
terms! ] guess war is much the same horrible
business whether it's in Mexico or 10 Belgium
The only difference is one Of degree. Your Ger
man or your Russian kills with more dnssse than
your Mexican. That's about the only difference
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-06
BY GREGORY MASON.


"Go BE under fire in the first engagement
Of the greatest war Of all time to see
the fuse laid for the explosion which
was 70 blow the peace Of Europe into
shreds. and to be at the centre of that explosion
when human armies rushed together like angry
thunder clouds. but with more damage than has
resulted from any natural cataclysm since the
food. should give one material for sufficient rem
iniscence to enliyeu the long winter evenings Of
the lifetime Of an Arctic Methusalah. This eH-
periencc fell to the lot Of a gentle Sunday school
superintendent, Louis O. Hartman, o. Chicago
head of the foreign department of the Board
of Sunday Schools Of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. After rushing peilmcll over Austria
Hungary France and Switzerland during the first
two weeks Of the war; Mr., Hartman got pas
sage to New York on the steamship Principe
di Udine chartered by wealthy Americans. Upon
his arrival here he started for Chicago with
almost as much haste as he had used in getting
out of the range of Servian bullets, but during
the hour before his train left the Pennsylvania
Station he gave me an account Of his thrilling
experiences abroad.
MR.. HARTMANS PEPPER-AND-SALT SUIT,
WHICH HAS SEEN HEROIC SERVICE.
Looking back at it, the whole thing
Ike d gnaSJly QIedMJ Sdlu WI MAJ 'HaH' "iVoN
pepper-and-sult suit, unchanged since the day OF
Austria's declaration Of war Servia, bore the
crcaseg and ST. Of travel.
"In this calm environment it is hard to be
lieve that was ever in the midst Of that bed
lam of Acknowledgement men and women !
don't believe I've caught full breath yet since
that vivid morning when heard the pow Of
the first shrapuel shell bursting over Semlin.
"Ou Saturday, July %, was in Vienna sched-
uled for several Sunday school rallies and con
ferences. That night it became evident that
Servia would refuse to comply with the almost
impossible demands that Austria had made upon
her, and the usual peace and apathy of old
Eyienna were thrown off for the wild excitement
tof q community about to launch iT:o popular
var The people parsded the streets that Sat
,irday night waving flags and torches and hoarsely
yelling for revenge on Seryia. Their patience,
worn thin by years Of Seryias nagCing, had
snapped clean under the irritation of the murder
Of the archduke and his wife-whch they sin
cerely believed had had the sanction Of Servian
oiicials-and they wanted nothing less than war.
"As we looked at the frenzed mass of hu-
manity seething in the street beneath the hotel
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-06

Louis 0. Hartman, d SUNDAY school supcrm-
tendent from Chicago, ,CGs IN Scm'tR, AHSir7'-
Hun0drh on me banks Of the DdnHtc rhc"
the shots tccrc frcd that uskCrcd i" the great
est ,rqr Of HISTORY He rqy the oniy american
i the lHHc torn opposite Belgrade chen me
shcHS of the 6ySt boHbardmcRt began to 'rhUr,
and before nc couid get into neutral tc'rito,H
ne ,cas the Involuntary eyc,ciiaess Of Dany Of
me stirring crcrty Of the drst t,ro r"eks NJ
The irqr.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-06
-FIpsT Quart, MOUNT, AFTER WAR WAS DECLARED
~ COURT or IMPERIAL PALACE, VIENNA.

balcony on which we sat member Of the Aus
trian Imperial Council whispered to me;
"You see they are getting what they want.
We made the note to Servia impossible; We
didn't want her to comply Then, as the with
ing throrg below beloved verse Of popular
patriotic song, he added grimly: You couldn't
stop them now with machine guns.
"All through the services of the four public
meetings which 7 hald Sunday you could feel
the electricity pea up in the people Between
meetings they formed in little groups and in
voices tense with excitement discussed the sit
uation and its possibilities. Unwittngly made
one or two references to the impending war and
nearly transformed the religious meeting into
patriotic riot
ION Monday no one talked Of anything but
war Business and all the ordinary pursuits Of
peace were forgotten Thousands gathered around
tine royal palace, throwing up their hats, singing
shouting, demanding
CROWDS BEFORE WAR OFFICE - THE
EFFERVESCENT AUSTRIAN TEMPERAMENT.
Before the new War Office another immense
throng had gathered in the hope that some bit OF
news would leak out despite the extraordinary
precautions the government had taken to keep
secret all plans and intended troop movements
Later, when regiments fully equipped for business
swung of to the station with the logged preci-
sion that Austrians have learned from the Ger
mans the crowd went wild and threw caps hand
kerChiefs and flowers at the soldiers.
"The next day was Tuesday, July %, 1914, date
that future generations OF school children will
have to memorizc. Even before Austra's formal
declaration OF war was announced it had seemed
that the excitement had reached its zenith. for
carriages and automobiles were dashing about
filled with frenzed officers, newsboys were cry
ing extras Boy Scouts were drilling and psradng,
orators haranguing, and great crowds surgng
.arough the streets singing the national air-but
J had not realized to what heights Of emotion
Austrians and Hungarians can ascend Soon after
The thrilling news was heard, however the crowds
we're partially dispersed BY attachments of SOL
diers sent out to guard the national palace and
other public buildings.
81 still had hopes Of completing my itinerary,
and with the idea Of getting to Bulgaria ! took
the train that evening for Semlin with DIR. +. ii.
OTTO Mcle, superintendent of the Austro-Hunga-
rian Mission Conference
"Your Austrian friend didn't intend to the
eantlet through Servia, did he ?" asked.
"No; he planned 20 leave at Semlin, but
when we got there the bridge between the two
towns had just been blown up and obliged
TO halt, too.
From the river Austrian gurboats were ham
mering the old fort of Belgrade, and some of their
shells made the famous Prince Michael st. look
like Fifth av. when undergoing the regular sum-
mer repairs On their part the Serbs replied with
shrspnel the deadliest thing in modern warfare.
"Talk about your dumdum bullets, They're
shuttlecocks to shrapnel, which rips, cuts and
mangles like hail of Jagged glass and dhot
iron.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-06

From Scmlin M Hartman travelled the weary
tourney TO Szbadka OF slow night train learn
ING upon his arrival that there was no tram Tor
:hc north until evening, and that 1t was douotiuI
# he could get passage on that.
"At every turn | was questioned and was ire
ouenLlv searched The clerk at the hote put me
through regular police court crOss-exsmination'
and :hc nnkccDer began where the clerk left on
going so far as 70 ask the names and habits OF
r.v grandparents. Army officers camored to see
my passports, which they declared insufficient evil
dcncc that I was fit person to travel on the
evening train to the north
an a happy moment | remembered that had
general letter Of introduction from former
Vice Preside Fairbanks Of the United States.
produced tint. and it worked like charm upon
the same officers, who had apparently never seen
;hc usual passports which Americans carry. The
chief of police, after deciPhering some Hungarian
,,hich an officer had scrubbed on the back of the
Fairbanks letter, gave permit to travel on
inc night train. which stated that was college
Professor. Tho chief had never heard Of Sun
g.,v school +: seemed and he insisted that was
a professor
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-06

chosen to represent the
Associated Press with
the British forces on the
Continent Of Europe, has
had more practical eX-
perience AS a war CORE
spondent than any living
man, it is not uninter-
esting to note that he
was born in Pleasant
Penn, in 1873. There
were two churches in
Pleasantville. and one
sawmill. And now he is
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-06
.ENES At THE RAILWAY STATION-ON
TIRE WAY TO INNSBRUCk.

From Szbadka Mr. Hartman went on 70 Buda,
nest sharing railway carriage with seven dirty
ratiycs and dog, whose pride was q meIodiou5
bark which nc tested at frequent intervals. At
Budapest q change was made for the Vienna
train, Mr.. Hartmans aim being TO get to Zurich
IN tine 20 fil n speaking engagement. In Vienna
he found that the "lardsturm" order had just
Jecn issued
This order meant TIA. practically every Aus
.rian under ro-ty-twO able 90 carry gun must
90 to war. The station was jammed with people,
the women and some mccn weeping, other men
grave ana contained, the children frightened and
uncertain what it was all about nave never
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-06
BY EARL y. FINDLEY.

Ms ! d Z RING
that Frederick
Palmer, who
has Just been