davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Norwich bulletin., 1914-10-20
Importance of Sea Power.

9sTHE importance of sea power is
 demonstrated in this war; said a naval officer, and the possibility is that the lesson will not be lost on the Ameri- can public. The sea power of Great Britain is the greatest weapon of the allies. German commerce has, been brought to standstill. Such merchant ships as fly the German flag are idle in neutral ports, bound up in their own ports. under. judgment before British prize courts or at the bottom of the sea- Outside food supplies are cut off and the sale of German products abroad is stop ped. The German fleet, representing heavy expenditures. of money and time, is sealed up. and the legions of men man ming those ships are prevented from striking the blow for which they have long been trained and fed.
 'Thls matter of sealing up the ports Of a trading nation may not be so impress sively tragic or dramatic as the hurlins back of an army, but it is practical and effective warfare, paralyzes the country increases the hardships of war on non-S. combatants and combatants. and starts those backfires of discontent which often lead to such general demand for peace that the bIockaded nation makes the best terms it can. s.-.
 Great Britain, commanding the seas, keeps her own ports open and commerce moving, feeds her own people, and trans- ports troops and supplies without inter ruption. German officialdom has madesit plain that Russia,s action was anticipat- ed and Frances expected, but that Great Br:tain's was inaccessible and unforgiv- able.
 'tGerniany felt that on land she could. crush France and hold Russia in detail. Her fleet would probably have destroyed or blockaded the fleets of Russia and France and would have sealed up the coasts of France. With her own ports open and those of France closed, the call for speed in her campaign would not have been so imperative as it has been Sea power in the struggle of nations has been and is emphasized by all authorities on e strategy and is clearly understood by peo- ple of common sense. '
 ''The lesson I would draw from this is that the United States should maintain its fleet at the top point of readiness and efficiency, that the fleet should be as strong as the United States might requira in the emergency of war, and that that requirement should not be estimated and by those who, though sim cere and patriotic, are generally referred to as little navy men
Norwich bulletin., 1914-10-20

dancing dervish in a prayerfuI mood. The Indians did not move, but sat sol formance used by the secretary to in form they that the senator would be back at two.
 Nsgusted at what he thought was his intellectual attempt to impart knowledge. the secretary sat down in despair Then TWO Stars rose up in the majesty of his six feet and handsome blanket
 'I am much obliged to- you sir he said slowly, in excellent English, '.for the trouble you have taken I will re- turn at ? o'clock, but any hour the sen ator will set will be equally as conven- tent to me-" ~
 And then they went out. leaving the secretary feeling as though he would like to creep into a prairie-dog hole and pull in the edges after him.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-10-20
SPHERICAL BU oYANT
 SCNTAcTM1NE.
handle and store. and may even be used fin itS Wat stat ta

 handle and store. and may even be used in its wet state.
 ..@ -
 One of the most usual types of i1arbor mine is the contact chemical mine. This mine generally consists of sphere filled with guncotton or dynamite From the surface of the mine a number Of 1eaden- plungers project When one of these plungers is struck. it breaks a tube of picric sulphuric acid imbedded in powdered sugar and chlorate. of potash, and the detonation results
 Inventors in Germany, ,AuStrfa-Hungary and Italy have been especially active in the last few years in putting together these engines of destruction. and recently a good manyzpatants-<haS.e heens issned5s upon them in the United States. { Foremost among the European in- nvanni esnyoT G Emannele 5n Eiia of Ro@ea n0 who ceived two patents on sibmarinef bombs. { mechanism by which a ship. striking his mine near the bow causes the mine to oscillate and work itself backward, SO stroying engine is nearer arnidships and at a more vital point of attack than the. bow. calls for two mines connected by al floating cable and rigged with sea anchors, so that when the bow of ves-d sel engages the floating cable. both the mines are dragged inward along the , vessels sides. while another cable at-.ss tached to the sea anchors operates al mechanism to explode the bombs. A third patent issued by the patent office is to Morris Klauber German ln-z ventor.. The feature of this. engine con-4 sists of a glass cap placed at the apex of the bomb. Contact with a ships breaks this cap, permitting the entrance
 This bomb is also equipped with a. detonating cap. causes the explosion. This bomb is alsa equipped with a device by which barrier may be in- terposed between the firing hammer and the cap, rendering it safe during ths' operation of planting. A -'sss j
Norwich bulletin., 1914-10-20

entangle the planted hostile mines, pull ing them from their. anchorage. -r
 The third method of conquering mine field is called creeping and consists in dragging hooks along the bottom to locate cable, which are then severed.
 Each of the world powers possesses it's own individual plans for the con- struction of submarine mines, and, per haps, Its own particular method of det- onating them. the details of which are as carefully guarded as are the plans of the national Notifications or the draw ings showing the construction of our own great naval rifles. And~yet, in broad general way, all submarine mines are constructed upon similar basic prin- ciples.
 Submarine mines may be divided into various classes, according to whether they explode from contact or from cur rent made from shore; according to whether they are fired by a trigger or by the breaking of phial of acid, which makes the distinction between mechani- cal and chemical mines; or according to
Norwich bulletin., 1914-10-20

whether they float near the surface or. are moored near the bed of the river or the ocean.
 The contact mine is exploded when a ship touches it. This detonation may be accomplished either mechanically or chemically. In shape and size these contact mines vary, but are usually either cylindrical or spherical in shape, the latter type predominating, as it's globular case offers the least resistance of any of the mine types to the current of rivers or bays. and can also stand a greater amount of external pressure than any other. The cases of these mines are constructed of mild steel.
 Controllable mines. socalled in contra distinction to the contact mine, derive their names from the fact that they are detonated usually by an electric cur rent from wires leading to switchboard ashore. This type is itself divided into
Norwich bulletin., 1914-10-20

flct, when he took up farming. Though a lawyer, he still retains fondness for country life, and at his place in the south boasts of fifteen different varieties of vegetables which have grown most successfully under his own directions.
 When Thornton was a lad his teacher one day read out the history lesson. It was about Rome and the gallant fellow who "swam across the river three times before breakfast" Young Thorn : ton asked if he might put in a oues- tion. When the teacher told him to go ahead, he rose in his seat and asked:
 "If that man swam across the Tiher three times,' insisted Thornton. q want to know how he got back to NEere ass left bis -bEiiSbssT.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-10-20
0r'His Toga?

w h e n Senator J o h n Randolph
 T h o Tn ton of Louisiana leaves the Senate next M a r c h Senator B a n k h e a d of Alabama will be
 the only Confed- crate veteran re- maining in that b o d y. Thornton joined the army when but fifteen and served till the close of the con.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-10-20
They Understood!

Senator James Porter McCumber of North Dakota is from the state which is famed for it's big farms. North Dakota, it is said, raises one-sixth of the entire wheat crop of the Union, and the large ranches are several thou sand acre sin ex- tent. Often the train will go for
Norwich bulletin., 1914-10-20
Agreed!

Senator Borah of Idaho is credited with this story. told at a recent dinner:
 There was a D a r t i c ularly grouchy congress- man, it seems, who a t t nd e d some sort of an affair where he had the misfor- tune to meet a pompous gentle man who ilnmedi-
Norwich bulletin., 1914-10-20

three methods may be used. The first is marine countermining. This is done with the aid of a high-speed launch from which ten or a dozen mines are mined by the enemy. When the counter mines are fired the mines of the enemy are exploded. The second form of pro ceeding against hostile mine field is one which has been adopted by the British government It is called mine sweeping and is performed by trawlers, a fleet of which type of craft is main tained by the government for this pur- pose.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-10-20
Kind Mother Made.

Senator Thomas Sterling of South Dakota possesses one of the oldest names in Scottish history, a name which has gone back for hundreds of years in wealth and fame. Yet few man have known the hard work, the actual pinch of poverty, as he.
 His ancestors
Norwich bulletin., 1914-10-20

 sisted of heavy wooden or metal cases loaded with a charge of pyroxylin. These cases were buried in rows of forty or fiftyyyards apart, POO yards in advance of the lines of defense. and each mine was placed ten or twelve yards from it's neighbor.
 The. contact mines were exploded by the weight of passing columns pressing a trigger downward and completing an electric current. The others were fired by electric currents controlled through wires which ran back to the fortiffca- tions For it's destructive force the ter restria1 mine depends upon the charge | of gravel. dirt and stones blown into the air, and upon the, effect of the vioi- lent displacement of air caused by the explosive.
 Pocket editions of these terrestrial mines were also used. by both the Rus sian and the Japanese forces as hand bombs. The Japanese bombs, weighing fourteen pounds, and consisting of . charge of pyroxylin' and meletin con tained in linen bags to which fuses Of a were worn into battle hung about the soldiers necks, and when an opportunity. presented itself the fuses were fired and the bombs cast into the ranks of the
 In that, engagement the hand bombs employed by the Russians consisted of from 600 to 1.4O0 grams of mixed ex- ptOSlVeS lOdQeO lnIO the empty cartridge cases from three-inch field guns, with fuses attached.
 As the modern theory of submarine mine defense has for it's object the moor ing of these engines of destruction in such way that no ship may cross the field without exploding one or more of them, attempts to uproot a mine field are among. the most dangerous and hope less diversions of modern warfare. The only form of attack which can be made with any hope of success upon &ny~ inI fSaId or the driving of tunnels into the enc my's field and from it detonating ex- plosives to destroy the hostile mines. In the case of submarine mine fields
Norwich bulletin., 1914-10-20

These trawlers are fitted with special gear known as picking-up gear" which catches and removes all mines from the path of an advancing fleet. Other na- tions employ this system of sweeping by means of long cables stretched be- tween two launches, which catch and
Norwich bulletin., 1914-10-20
Death Lurks In the -Herrible Devices Con-
 cealed in Path of Ad-
 vancing Enemy 70 Mines Are. Buried in IF. IF Ground or Submerged ss in. the Sea-Various Sss%soKinds of Mines in Use .ss t..ssssa-How to Conquer a
 Mine Field.

JBMARINE and terrestrial explo- sive mines are, in the opinion of mili- tary and naval ex- perts of interna- tional repute, bound to play important offensive and de- fensive parts In the all-Europe con- hict.
 And, considering.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-10-20

ately began to explain tariff, ship sub- sidy, foreign relations and other mat ters. The speaker raEbied OF.
 Congress" concluded the pompous gentleman, should do better on the mater of immigration
 The grouchy congressman, who had been getting more and more bored. tumped to his feet and exclaimed:
 "You beti We're wasting our time An immigrant can't speak English, so we needn't bother him. But we ought to be arranging to get some of the people already in this country out of it."
 The list of senators whose present terms will expire on the Sd of next March is a long one. On that date thirty of our Solons will cease the service of the last term for which they are holding office. And many. among them Senator Stephenson of Wiscop- sin. will not stand for ge-election.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-10-20

.ANNE-LAYING SHIP --- STERN NEW WOFABRITrsHM MINE. LAYING VESSEL. HE SPHERICAL nMEs RANGED lNADoUe1E Row
 ON TIE RAILs WMcHPeoJEcT .
 OVER TIE WATE.R,, cANBE AuTo- -hATIcALLY DROPPED INA : STRING As THEyEsSIL STEAMS ALONG IN THIsM6Y A MINE-- HE'LL CAN 6R WRI CU1eNLY l. ATp fsoTo nY -'sS4 \ STfHEr ca 70 6>5osIs JkH
Norwich bulletin., 1914-10-20

either by contact or by a controlled electric current which sets off the ex- plosive at any moment desired.
 sFhe battle of Port Arthur, during the war, perhaps more than any other engagement in recent inter national history. gives the best example of terrestrial mining as well as the sub marine form of this method of wholesale destruction.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-07-02
RAILWAY MAIL PAY
Statement from the RaiirOads' Point of
View Issued I'm Reply to Con-
gresham Moon.
RUFUS c. FLAGG.
+. BARTON WHITNEY,
CHARLES WAITE.

Ralph Peters, chairman of the COM
mittee of railway mail pay, authorizes
the following statement:
An amazing statement from Chairman
Moon of the postoffice committee of the
House of Representatives Is published
this morning. We have no desire for a
personal controversy, but we must take
exception to some of his statements.
Without waiting for the report of the
for two years. been investigating the sub
ject of railway mail pay. Congressman
Moon had already introduced a bin which
would still further reduce the pay and
thereby extend the injustice to which
the railroads are now subjected
The railroads have been claiming. and
they still assert that they have proved
to the Joint congressional committee that
they were already underpaid at least
sl5, 10000 year for carrying the mail,
and that no fair consideration has been
given to the question Of compensating
them for carrying the parcel post. Yet
Congressman Moon casually states that
under his bill "the compensation is not
much less. If any, than the present
pay"
The congressman questions the state
ments that his bill would produce loss
to the railroads of sli,00OO0o year In
addition to the loss they have already
suffered. This Is question of fact-im-
poS rf determination EXCEPT by
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-07-02
ERNEST DAVIS A SUICIDE.
Ends Life by Shooting while In De-
SuOuupnt Erame of Mind.

Ernest c. Davis, electrician, committed
suicide at the residence of his parents,
Mr.. and Mrs Henry II. Davis, 80 LOOMS
street, Monday morning at S:45 o'clock.
Death was caused by a bullet from a
rifle which he had turned against him
self in a moment of dependency.
Mr.. Davis, who made his home with
his parents, was y years of age and
unmarried He had worked at his occu-
patton as electrician for several years
and had been in the employ of the Lane
Bicycle company and the George ID. Sher-
win Electrical company. For some time
past he had been doing private work lie
had long been Respondent and had taken
very gloomy view of life. His determ-
nation to kill himself was brought to a
climax Monday morning when he was
refused employment on a job of wiring
which had been promised him, the reason
given for not allowing him to do the
enough. He Immediately went home
and told his mother that he had nothing
to live for and that he would end his
life Mrs. Davis argued with him, but
he seemed to have his mind fully made
up. Later, he went to his room, where
he procured an old rifle of large calibre
This he placed against his heart and
probably pulled the trigger with his foot
Death was instantaneous, as his sister,
who went to the room Immediately after
! she heard the report, found her brother
dead
| The deceased is survived in his immedi-
ate family by his parents one sister and
| three brothers.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-07-02
SPANISH WAR VETERANS.
Annual Department Encnmpment u
he Held in burlington July II.

General orders from department head
quarters of the department Of Vermont,
United Spanish War Veterans, We're re-
ceived in the city Tuesday. They are
to the effect, among other things, that the
annual encampment of the department
will be held at Burlington July q. The
orders provide for the composition of
the encampment and the method of
choosing delegates and alternates. The
committee on credentials is the depart
ment adjutant, the assistant adjutant and
the adjutant Of Camp Flynn of Burling-
ton. After the business session of the en-
campment the steamer Chateaugay
will leave for n boatride, to which all
Spanish War veterans are invited. re-
CARELESS Of nbership in the organiza-
ton. The expenses of the ride are borne
by the members of Flynn camp of Bur
lington and local citizens There will be
n campfire In the evening at the armory
and among the speakers will be Con-
gresham Frank l.. Greene, who is also
a Spanish War veteran. This is the
first reunion of the First Vermont since
the regiment was mustered out in 1888.
a large attendance is looked for.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-07-02
GOT GOOD HAUL.
burglars Clean Out Raymond BcId-
ing's store on North Avenue.

The second burglary of the store Of
Raymond Bedding at tho fork of the road
opposite the Ethan Allen Park entrance
was reported to the police Tuesday
morning. The burglar or burglars this
time got away with a good haul, cleaning
out the entire stock of cigars cigarettes
and tobacco, and taking some other
things
| Whoever 1t was that entered had no
difficulty in getting in, although the front
door, through which entrance was made,
was locked In two places, one with
spring lock and the other with key
| The burglar simply inserted knife ar
| some other thin edge, springing one lock,
and picked the other that fastened with
key. There were no other marks of
| force used. The articles taken consisted
OF: Wholesale boxes of London Life
Turkish Trophies, Mecca, Zira, Royal
Nestor and Helmar cigarettes box each
of Lord Nelson, Golden Wedding. Airing
ton, Indian Chief, William Penn. White
Spot, Plutocrat and C. C. C. cigars: one
large box each of Beechnut and Juicy
| Juicy" chewing gum, two boxes of chloe
olates; five small packages Of Union
Leader and six boxes of Prince Albert
| tobacco. rancoat was also added to
| the SWag.
The police have been working on the
case but so far with no result II IS
! thought the burglary was done by some
experienced worker and not by an anna
teur as when the store was robbed be-
| fore, the burglar then having been a boy
| 1t was reported on Monday that
four yeggmen were in the city and it
| is thought one of them may have been
the guilty party. Three of the so-caled
yeggmen, who appeared to be not much
more than common tramps. were arrested
| Monday night. The Bedding store was
| closed at six O'Clock Monday night as
business was poor owing to the rain so
1t is not known whether the burglary was
committed early or late.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-07-02
THE WRECKING CREW.
From the Philadelphia Ledger

The specific point where Washington
has failed in the existing industrial crisis
is this: Washington does nothing to ward
off the troubles, but, on the contrary,
continues to promote trouble, This Of
fers a violent contrast with the way Ger
many has handled her depression There
the government bends every nerve to
help the situation, even to forcing a conf
bination of big business in order TO pre-
vent wasteful competition.
But at Washington the wrecking crew
Is never idle Every new move is move
to subtract and not to add, to divide and
not to multiply Every new law aims to
cut down and curtail and not one en-
deavors to build Up and create.
Washington needs craftsmanship big
enough to throw politics TO the winds
while It marches forth to rescue the land
from tribe of blatherskltes.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-07-02

gent, addressed the meeting. Mrs. S. g..
Ballard spoke for the Colonial Danes and
Mrs r. s. Peck for the d. A. Il. Mrs.
Pierce OF Nebraska added a greeting and
Mrs George p. Martin spoke for the Re-
lief Corps.
A pleasing feature of the meeting was
the singing of the Star Spangled Banner
by troop of boy scouts. led by Allen
McMurphy, scout patrol The song was
heartily encored by the audience. who
Joined in the closing lines. Miss Theodore
Peck accompanied at the piano. Mrs. f.
w. Whitcomb rendered vocal solo in n
very pleasing manner and in response to
persistent applause rendered an encore,
IA Voice from Out the West" short
poem by the late Alfred Austin was re-
cited by Allen McMurphy. He stood be.
fore n large British flag extending along
one side of the hall and rccted the poem
in scholarly manner.
The business meeting followed. Reports
of the officers and chair6en of committees
were read and accepted. A report of the
national meeting, held at New Haven,
Conn, April 90 to May I, was given by
Mrs. Wilbur Brown of Montpelier An
amendment to the bylaws was proposed
which, II passed at the next meeting VIII
add two vice. presidents to the list of Off
GERS. Miss Alice Bradford of Chicago, H.,
was endorsed by the society for presi-
dent national, to be elected in 1915. The
secretary was instructed to send n let
ter of protest to our congressman ana
senator against the proposed change IN
the national flag. The letter will enclose
copy of the poem written by Miss Theo-
dora Peck, "Our Flag Unchanged which
was read ut the meeting by Miss leck'
Resolutions of appreciation and thanks 10
Commodore MacdonouGh Chapter Tor It's
hospitality were read Officers FOR the
ensuing year were elected ms follows:
President. Mrs Arthur 5. lsham, Bur-
lington; first vicc-presidont, Mrs. Loren
b. Lord, Burlington; second vice-presi-
dent, Mrs. c. w. Howard Shoreham;
third vice-prcsdent Mrs. y. Z. Leaven-
worth Rutland; recording secretary
Mrs. j. NJ. Skeels, Isle La Motto; CORE
spending secretary, Mrs. Wilbur Brown
Montpelier bulletin secretary, Mrs.
George Martin. Burlington; treasurer,
Mrs T. II. Prouty. Montpelier; registrar,
Miss Della NJ Sherman Brattleboro; his
torian Miss Theodore Peck, Burlington;
chaplain, Mrs c. b. Lamson, Brattleboro;
auditor Mrs. c. A. Gale. Montpelier: coun-
clors for three years, 19li-l9l7. Mrs Henry
G. Root Bennington, Miss Ella NJ. Bailey.
Montpclier: councillors for two years UNI
expired term. 19l3-1916 Mrs. O. u. Scrih-
ner. Montpelier, Mrs. c. II. Richardson,
Brattleboro; councillors for one year, I'M
expired term, 19l2-1915 Mrs. II. T.. Bond,
Brattleboro, Mrs. c. II. Thompson, Brat
tleboro; committee on soldiers monument