davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-12-04

fective against England in cross chan
mel fire. Every time the gun is fred it
will cost the German Government
nearly ten thousand dollars. and us
the gun can fire only one hundred and
twenty shots during its life time these
giant fighting machines will cost the
German Government a tremendous
sum Of money. each of them costing
in the neighborhood of half a million
dollars. 1t is said they have already
been tested, being fred by electricity
from bomb proof three hundred feet
from the gun. They are to be known
as the Channel Berthas."
The siege gun is clumsy affair, and
1t requires good roads for their trans
portation, and the Germans are not
moving any more OF them than they
require, knowing full we'll that in case
of retreat these cumbersome machines
would likely stick in the muddy roads
Then, too. 1t requires an expert to fire
them. and an experienced engineer
from the Krupp factory has to be sent
along to see that the gun does not
balk. They are the most effective,
properly installed. on well laid foun-
dations. and the building of these re-
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-12-04

der. which is used today. Almost
every country has contributed some-
thing toward the make-up OF the ex-
plosive. When the old fashioned gum
powder was exploded 1t produced
number of solid products which were
seen as smoke, but gun-cotton affords
only colorless gases which are invisl-
BILE. cellulose is the organic matter
which forms the basis OF all vege-
table products and Of all substances
made from them twood, cotton, silk.
paper. etc) To convert them into
explosives they. are treated with
mixture of. nitric and sulphuric acids
technically known as .nitro-acid." The
process is simple when carried out by
the exact formula, hut unless this pre-
caution is taken it becomes more Of a
menace to the maker than to the ems
envy as in the case of the destruction
of the French bnttieship la Lberte"
which occurred in 1911 as the result
of spontaneous explosion of soms
nitro-cellulose.
Ono of the new explosives for war
purposes Is trenitrotoloul. familiarly
known as TINT. One of disadvantage
is that 1t does not absorb moisture
and is effective both under and above
water. At the present time gun-cot-
ton. lyddite and INT are all used in
filling shells known in the military
world us .bursters." The explosions
of the "burstersn are due to the sud
den liberation of an enormous guam
tity Of gas which being intensely heat
led expands with terrific force. The
material of the explosive undergoes a
very rapid combustion and at the same
time owing to the disturbance pro-
duced in the air an air wave is prop
agated which frequently travels and
effects the destruction at considera-
BILE distance. Another merit OF the
newer explosive is that It. goes of
quicker than gunpowder but the ex-
plosion is less violent.
Special Bullets For Airships.
The very latest explosive is known
as the incendiary bullet and is for use
against Zeppelins. 1t Is fred from an
ordinary rifle. When II strikes the
airship Its explosion sets the gas on
fire.
Providing ammunition for all these
engines Of death is no easy task. and
the ammunition factories as well as
those which manufacture guns are
running night and day to provide their
countrymen with the agencies for the
violation Of Gods law-sThou shalt
not KILL
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-12-04
The Work Of the Fine
Artist Commission Some
Of the New Statues,
Monuments and Bull
dings.

Park as q memorial to the late u. s.
Senator from Michigan and grace
full fountain has been erected In the
rear Of the White House as public
tribute to the. late Francis Millet and
Major Butt. distinguished victims Of
the Titanic disaster. In the newly
created plaza between the U. s. Cap
itol and the Union Station there have
been placed two fountains-huge
overfiowing bowls-which were hewn
from the largest single blocks OF gran
lite ever obtained for such a purpose.
The newer statues in Washington
have included bronze figures of the
nations foremost naval heroes-John
Paul Jones and Commodore Barry, the
Father of the American Navy. The
most Important statue project now Inn
pending is that which involves the
s250,000 memorial to General Grant.
the execution of which has been In
progress for some years past and
which will probably be Installed and
unveiled ere another year has rolled
around. This Grant monument, In
GLIDING splendid statue of tho Union
Header, will occupy a site literally un-
der the shadow of the Capitol dome
and in order that the monument may
have q suitable setting Congress has
decided to remove from their pres
emit location the greenhouses Of the
Botanical Gardens which have been
objects of interest to all visitors 70
Washington for many years past.
Meanwhile Congress Is considering the
advisability OF erecting In washington
statues to Thomas Jefferson, Alex
ander Hamilton and other national
heroes not now commemorated In this
wise In the Getty of statues.
Proposed Bridge Across The Potomac.
While Washington is so rich in
statues she has been lacking In some
other monumental forms. As has been
mentioned above. progress IL being
made in the provision OF fountains;
an arch is proposed as a contemplated
memorial and q beginning has been
made in the creation Of bridges.
Washington has as good opportunt-
ties as Paris for imposing bridges, and
1t Is believed that no other one project
will contribute more to the beautify-
ing OF the Capital than the erection
of q memorial bridge such as : has
been proposed connecting the seat of
government with Arlington, our great
est national cemetery on the opposite
side Of the Potomac. A bridge upon
which work has just commenced Will
link the fashionable section Of the
new Washington with the aristo-
cratic precincts of old Georgetown.
historic community that antodasos
Washington proper.
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-12-04

A new postoftice has only recently
been completed, this building. located
within sight of the Capitol. has been
built and equipped with the idea that
1T win rank as the model postohice of
the world.
Fountains A Feature.
Notable as is its new architecture,
1t Is in monuments that the new
Washington" is pre-eminent. For
years Washington has enjoyed the dis
tinctlon Of possessing more statues
of men on horseback than any other
city in the world and now the fair city
is rapidly attaining prestige in other
monumental fields. For example Fed
eral taste seems to be running just
now to fountains and several notable
examples have been erected within q
short. interval. A particularly artistic
..~untain has been erected in Mcmillan
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-12-04

Effectiveness of Washington is the new
home for the American Red Cross. This
edifice will serve at once as an ad-
ministrative building for the Red Cross
Society and as memorial to the
women of the Civil War who by serv-
ing as nurses or in other capacities
did SO much for the men who fought
in the War for the Union. All in the
future, also. is the George Washing
ton Memorial Building, great ma
tional auditorium for the erection Of
which funds are being raised by pop
ular subscription throughout the
country. The 100000 marble home
for the q. s. Bureau of Engraving and
Printing (the governmental postage
stamp and paper money factory
which was SO long and eagerly an
ticipated has lately become an accom-
lished fact.
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-12-04

s. Capitol 1t may be stated that Con-
gress. having its own architect in
whom great confidence reposes, has
not seen fit to place its home under
the Jurisdiction of the new Commits
sion. All the same Congress Is MAX
ing big contribution to the trans-
formation Of Washington. Every year
sees important additions to the sculp-
ture and art treasures at the Capitol;
latterly tidy sum has been expended
upon tree surgery with the purpose of
preserving the historic trees on the
Capitol lawn. and, most notable Of all,
Congress is expending moro than $10,-
100000 in the purchase of all the land
lying between the Capitol and Wash
ington's new Union Station and by
tearing down nil intervening buildings
is providing for tourists wonderful
vista of the great white-domed build
ing visible almost as soon as the sight
seer steps from the train that has
brought him to this favorite mecca
OF American excursionists.
Magnificent Private Buildings.
( AS for the private projects-that Is
the non-governmental undertakings
that are contributing to new ideals Of
beauty at Washington their name is
legion. On the beautiful thoroughfare
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-12-04
luires some little time.

.quires some little time.
The armored automobile containing
an aeroplane gun is product of the
krupp factory-one of its latest. This
great steel car can rush along the road
at from fifty to seventy-flve miles an
hour the inmates being entirely pro-
tected by the coat of steel even while
the gun is being fired. Tho gun can
be removed IL necessary and set up
anywhere.
The explosives used are, of course,
equal to the guns, and when one reads
of the awful slaughter these projec,
tiles have caused it seems that the
very fiends must have inspired the in
ventors of these terrible things which
hurl men into eternity without a mo-
ment's warning.
The famous turplnite explosive
which is being used by the Allies is
perhaps the most humane of all the
explosives used. as 1t kills instantly
and without pain. It is the gas from
the projectile which does the work.
shrapncl "The Man-Killer.n
shrapnel has been the greatest
man killer" of the war, although 1t
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-12-04

umental Jewels which are being added
to Miss Columbia's crown easily Che
most notable is the new Lincoln. Ma
tional Memorial regarding which all
our readers have doubtless read more
or less during the past year. This
classic structure, suggestive in appear
ance ola Greek temple, is being erect
ed on the banks of the Potomac river
in such position that it will be in
line with the towering Washington
National Monument and the dome of
the U. s. Capitol. The tribute in
granite. marble and bronze to our
martyred President will cost fully S2.-
100000. Work has only just COM
menced and 1t will probably be q
couple of years ere this modern tenn
pie OF fame is ready for visitors.
Z A majestic building which, when
completed, will add much to the at
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-12-04

serves before they can get into action.
Mountain guns are light enough to
be carried on the backs of horses or
mules, yet are capable Of firing quite a
large shell.
"Busy Berthas."
The Siege guns, such as the German
Busy Berthas" which battered down
the Belgian forts. are. perhaps. the
most powerful guns yet manufactured.
1t is said that they. too, arc the result
of American invention, although they
are manufactured at the Krupp works
at Essen and are named in honor of
Madam Krupp Won Bohlen, who be-
fore her marriage was Miss Bertha
Krupp, the oldest daughter of the
gunmaker OF the German Empire and
the present owner of the great fac
tories which are now working day and
night in order to supply Germany with
these death-dealing machines.
"Chnnncl Bertlias."
Now comes the story that the Krupp
factories are building gun which
will weigh twenty-four tons and fire
projectile distance Of twenty-eight
miles. Should the Germans reach
Calais this gun is expected to be ef-
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-12-04
known as sixteenth street, which

known as Sixteenth street, which
stretches northward from the White
House. the National Geographic So
ciety has lately completed preten-
tious home: the Carnegie Institution
has established its permanent head
quarters in an administration build
ing famous for a beautiful winding
stairway; and the Masons of the coun-
try are just completing an enduring
monument in Scottish Rite Temple
that is in very truth a masterpiece Of
massive masonry. Continental Hall.
the white marble building erected at
Washington by the Daughters of the
American Revolution, is quite as beau
tiful as any governmental edifice and
equally notable are the white marble
buildings OF the new American Uni
versity, the seat of learning lately es-
tablished by the Methodist denomina-
ton and which was formally opened
by President Wilson. 4
New Buildings OF Note.
OF the new architectural and mon
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-12-04

is absolutely worthless against FORTH
locations. 1t is, with the exception Of
the turpinite. which is stiii In an ex-
perimental stage, the most deadly
shell known, and is the invention of
an English army officer. who intro
duced 1t about 1912. 1t consists of
a shell filled with bullets CASUALLY two
or three hundred) and small BURST
ing charge just sufficient to split It
open and release the bullets at a given
point about eighty yards before reach
ing the object aimed at. After the ex-
plosion the bullets and fragments fly
onward in shower. killing or MAIN
ing the human beings or animals
which happen to be in their path. All
guns except those known as machine
guns can fire shrapnel. and that used
by the French guns is effective three
miles distant. Statistics show that
three out of every four men wounded
by shrapnel die, while three out of
every four wounded by rifles get well.
Military experts who have studied
the progress of the present struggle
are inclined to believe that the artil-
llery is responsible for more fatalities
than is generally supposed. One of the
best proofs of the destructiveness OF
the artillery fire is the fact that both
the Germans and Allies are increas-
/ ing their efforts to hide their men dur
ing the battles, even covering. the for
Itifications with trees. In one instance
the Belgians who were in field Cow
cred their caps with straw and did
deadly work with their rifles before
they were discovered. A few shots
from the artillery would have cleaned
Iup the regiment. The effect of the
artillery upon buildings is best shown
in the many photographs which have
become familiar to us through the
newspapers.
The rifles carried by the infantry
have range of a mile and a quarter
on the average. with velocity of
from twenty-five hundred feet to
twenty-nine hundred feet per second.
The German bullet is said to have a
greater velocity than that used by the
French, due to the fact that 1t is
Lighter in weight and propelled from
the rifle by a heavier charge Of ex-
plosive.
Smokelcss Powder.
!. Gunpowder, the old-fashioned ex-
plosive. plays little part in the war
today. AS far back as 1S45 it had a
formidable rival in the shape of gun
cotton or nitro-cellulose, substance
which soon came into general use.
This was evolved into smokeless pow
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-12-04
Ger.11ezn A@woDeaA Szzn12S
.H1aae~21lszzze e1z7

angle. 1t has been worked from the
shoulder of strong man, being used
in this manner several times during
the storming of Liege and is said to
have caused terrible slaughter among
the German invaders. In many in
stances the "rattlesnake" was drawn
to the scene of action by dogs, as these
animals travel well over rough ground
and do not make as coed target for
the enemy as horses.
Horse artillery guns are used to
control hostile artillery while the in
fantry is advancing, to prepare posi-
tions for assault. batter down the enc
my's resistance and destroy his re-
serves.
The fold artillery howitzers are
short, light pieces of artillery throwing
a comparatively heavy shell. They
are the detectives of warfare, for it
is the duty of the field howitzers to
search the slopes of hills, deal with
the redoubts, trenches, shielded field
guns, houses in villages, and support
the army when the assault is made.
Heavy field howitzers are only sent
forward as required and do not ac-
company the army. They are for the
destruction of Notifications, and their
effect when fired against q fixed tar
get, such as certain parts of a fort, is
appalling. 1t requires some little
time to focus the guns. but when this
has been accomplished 1t is time for
those inside the fort to move, for the
results of their fire are terrific.
The heavy artillery are the most
powerful of the movable guns accom-
panyinG an army and are used in
smashing defended buildings and de-
stroying the enemy's shielded field
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-12-04

NONG StrldeS ahead have recently
been made in furtherance Of the
q ambition to make Washington
the most beautiful city in the
world. New public buildings are being
erected and projected at pace not
equalled at any time in the history OF
the American capital: new monuments.
statues and fountains are contribu-
ting to the adornment OF the City on
the Potomac; and there is being rap
idly evolved a water-side park system
which is going to afford an object les.
son for all our municipalities as to
what may be done to embellish the
natural beauty Of river front. Some
of these projects are approaching COM
pietion after having been long on the
way. Others are of comparatively
new inception.
In the year 1901 Congress took up
the task of providing an enlarged and
Improved park system at Washington
an undertaking that may be said to
have been the forerunne- of the pres
ent ambitious effort to glorify Wash
ington-and in this connection sought
expert advice on somewhat the same
plan that has now become a fixed
policy. Finally in 1910, four years ago,
Congress established the present per-
manent Commission of Fine Arts, the
work OF which in furtherance of the
identifying Of Washington is Just now
becoming so strikingly apparent.
Uncle Sam Is A Lavish Spender.
That your Uncle Samuel Is not stint
ing In laying out money to beauty
the headquarters of the nation may be
surmised from the fact that during
the first year of Its existence the Fine
Arts Commission passed upon forty
one different projects the contract price
OF which aggregated more than $751;
100000. The next year the new work
amounted to about 100000 and last
year the total was ahead of either of
the preceding years. To be sure. not
Al OF last years plans were for work
at the national capitalize Commits
sion now including in its operations
the consideration Of projects for gov
ernment monuments on, battlefieids
and other outside work L but in the
main these vast expenditures are for
improvements In the District of Co.
lumbia.
And on the other hand the totals
OF the projects approved by the Com
mission do not include the expendi-
lures for identifying the U. s. Capitol
building nor yet the vast OUTLAWS which
are being made by organizations and
individuals for the Improvement OF
washington. In explanation OF the
ekception made in the case of the U.
Z y ~ | r Z
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-12-04

in their evolution kept pace
with the progress of the human
race. When considered from a
humanitarian point Of view this state
ment Is paradoxical. for the advance
/ OF man in the arts and sciences means
ya loftier and broader conception of
the relation Of peoples toward each
other and recognition of rights
and obligations heretofore UNI
known. While the advance in the
arts Of war brings with It more terri
BILE and destructive instruments, work.
ing quicker and greater havoc to life
and property; thus the growth Of one
seems to increase respect for mans
right to the pursuit of life.and liberty.
whilst the other is constantly devising
more dreadful agencies for their OBJ
liberation.
Types OF Guns.
The types of guns to be found with
the army Of; today are machine guns.
horse artillery guns, field artillery
guns, field artillery howitzers. heavy
siege guns. mountain guns and aero
plane guns.
The machine guns are automatics Of
rifle calibre. delivering a rapid, heavy
fire. and are attached to cavalry and
infantry regiments. They come into
their greatest use in the final stages
OF the fight or in surprises.
The Belgian Rattlesnnke.
The gun used by the Belgians and
known as the Belgian Rattlesnake"
Ifs Of the machine gun class. 1t re-
calves IT'S mama frop, tho foot <b,+
while 1t Is in action it has spiteful
whirr not unlike the sound of a rattle
snake just before 1t strikes its victim.
Five hundred shells per minute are
sent out by the ''rattlesnake." which
weighs less than thirty pounds. AS
It can be operated successfully at any
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-12-04

Shrapnel has been the greatest
man killer" of the war, although 1T
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-12-04
ZIsIIl2S0nIlde
~11e1cz5 G1721
copyright. 1914. by The international
syndicate.l
a Short Description
Of the Most Import
ant Death Dealing
Machines and Ex-
plosives In the Eu-
ropean War.

l1HE implements Of warfare have
in their evolution kept pace
with the progress of the human
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-04-18
MRS. WAKEFIELD WINS
Connecticut Woman Charged with
Murder TO Have New Trial

Hartford, Conn. April 17.-Ruling
that a pars OF the evidence given by
Coroner Eli Mix In her trial should
have been excluded. the supreme
court yesterday found error in the
conviction of Mrs. Bessie ]. Wake
field OF murder in the first degree
and ordered a new trial for the wom-
an. Mrs. Wakefield was found gull
ty in the superior court of New Hav-
en- county on October 81. 1918. Her
trial before Judge Lucian F. Burpee
had followed that of her accomplice
James Plew. who was executed for
the crime on March at the state
prison at Wethersfield
Mrs. Wakefield and Plew were
charged with having killed the wom-
ans husband last June. The Wake
fields were living in Bristol at the
time. Plew worked on farm near
Waterbury and was a frequent caller
at the Wakefield home. The evidence
indicated that on a Sunday afternoon
when Plew called he stared a dis
pute with Wakefield, according to a
plan that had been arranged by him
self and the wife beforehand The
woman and her paramour then, the
evidence showed, chloroformed Wake
field and Plew dragged him from the
house and for several miles INFO the
woods north of Cheshire, killing him.
Women's organizations have made
strong fight to save Mrs. Wakefield
from the gallows, on which she was
sentenced to die March 4. Her APP
peal acted as a stay of execution.
Thousands of protests against her ex
ecuticn have been received by Gov.
Simeon f. Baldwin from all parts of
the country. No woman has died on
the gallows in Connecticut for more
than century and quarter.