davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Monte Vista journal., 1914-12-26
capable OF nourishing the sacred

growth.
In the sixth book OF Aeneid a
lengthy description of the mistletoe
is given by Virgil, who makes the
Sybil describe to his hero the exact
spot In hades where he will find 1t
growing. There is little doubt that
the strange ethereal appearance OF
the little Opaque berry is largely re-
sponsible FOR the mystic character It
has enjoyed among the people OF d.
vers nations from the earliest hlstor.
lead times.
The Monte Vista journal., 1914-12-26
ANNUAL "hOLuER" DAY.

When children have their Christmas toys
The house will ring with laughter gsyi
And thus. In truth. by girls and boys,
u Christmas made q "hollsr" dAy,
The Monte Vista journal., 1914-12-26

John" said the Loving Wife. "T In.
tended to get you nice new necktis
ror Christmas, but | am ashamed to
acknowledge that in the rush OF the
shopping l completely forgot It,"
Thank you, nevertheless" said the
Happy Husband.
The Washington herald., 1914-12-13
Social Activities Posts and Navy Yards Told In Late Dispatches
Many Bullets to Kill.


Measured In shots, IT took loo bul.
lets to kill each man who met his death
in the civil war. World war figures arc
not yet available, but Il is known that
many shots are wasted in modern bat
ties
Accustomed to the tricky methods OF
| the Indians. men OF both armies in the
civil war sought cover as often as pos
| sible. That II the practice today. Trench
fighting has been reduced to a science
Attacks In the open are discouraged. ex-
cept when deemed absolutely necessary.
Bayonet charges I'm close formation are
said to be due TO a lack Of ammuni-
lion.
Discussing the subject in a general
way Col. J. p. Morrison. L. s. A., re-
Gently said:
properly instructed In the use of their
rifle will produce a given number cas-
ualtles with many less cartridges than
would be expended by raw. half-trained
troops in accomplishing the same re-
suit.
The kind OF troops you are opposed
TO will AFFECT the number materially.
some require a much more killing than
others to satisfy them. The better the
enemy shoots the more your mems aim
will be affected.
Increase Of range at which fire is
opened Increases consumption Of car
tridges, as the percentage of hits will
be less the longer the range.
The kind OF target offered varies the
number of rounds necessary to get the
requisite number Of hits.
Improvements i'm the rifle affect the
number of cartridges necessary. II does
not depend, however. on its rapIdity so
much as other points.
In the war OF 1866 the Austrians used
a muzzleloader. whose rate Of fire was
three shots per minute. The Germans
tPrussians) used a breechloader, whose
rapidity was fifteen shots per minute.
Yet the Austrians fired more shots per
rifle engaged than the Germans. But
It was the hits that counted
1t has been computed that in the thirty
year war, when troops were armed with
a short-range musket and fought in close
formation. it required about 2,0OO shots TO
disable one man.
During the battle OF Leipzig the allies
expended 100000 cartridges and dis
abled 45,coO French, each casualty repre-
sentinS the expenditure of 80 rounds CT
small-arms cartridges
As the men drew nearer the reckless
ness of fire would increase. but the path
of the bullet would be natter and the
ratio OF casualties to cartridges would in
crease.
The Washington herald., 1914-12-13
Praises Garrisons S Report.

Senator Chamberlain, chairman of the
Senate Committee on Military Affairs, in
an interview relative to the annual re-
port of the Secretary Of War. said:
Il am very much pleased with the re-
port. 1t contains suggestion Of great
value. II they are carried out by Con-
gress it will place the country in a bet
ter state of preparedness against attack
| or invasion than it has been at any time
| since the civil war.
while the Secretary does not advocate
large standing army, he does express
a very strong conviction that the enlisted
personnel of the army should be in
creased by at least 5000 men, and that
methods should be adopted for the train
ing of more civilians TO become officers
in case of necessity. He insists, too, that
some system should be adopted for Gre
ating a reserve which might be called
upon to supplement the regular army.
AT the last session of Congress in
troduced a resolution to authorize the
President to raise the organization of the
regular army in time Of war or when
war is imminent, to the prescribed statu-
tory maximum strength, and suspending
the restriction OF law limiting the total
enlisted force Of the line OF the army to
10000. This resolution passed the Sen
instrumental in putting into effect the
first recommendation of the Secretary
for an increase in the enlisted personnel
of the army. 1 agree with the Secretary
that the army should be maintained on
a peace basis at the highest state Of eff
cheney.
Il would go further than the Secretary,
in recommending the creation of an ade-
quate reserve. Every educational insti-
tuition in the country which receives
money from the national Treasury ought
~ be required TO adopt as a part of its
curriculum proper training of the stu
dent body in the handling and use of
guns. This is being done in most of the
agricultural colleges of the country and
most excellent results are being obtained.
Every State which appropriates money
for the support of its universities ought
to adopt the same course.
THE importance of the National Guard
as a reserve upon which the first call is
required ought not to be overlooked. The
Secretary calls attention TO this branch
of the service, and his suggestions are
most pertinent. 1 introduced a bill at the
last session OF Congress to strengthen
the National Guard, and it, too, deserves
to receive favorable action.
Il hope some of the suggestions made
by the Secretary may be crystaIIized
into statute
The Washington herald., 1914-12-13
District Militia Notes.

Marksmen Of the District militia are
looking forward with pleasure to the
Christmas holidays because there will
be nightly turkey and chicken shoots In
the armory range. Several hundred fat
birds have been purchased and will be
won by the gunners making the best
marks with rife and revolver. Prior TO
Thanksgiving the boys enjoyed a bird
shoot
The officers and enlisted men of the
Second Regiment enjoyed a dance last
Thursday night in the Grand Army Re-
public Hall in Pennsylvania avenue.
More than 200 couples danced. The OBJ
3ect Of the dance was to bring the Of
, ticers and men in closer harmony, and
TO promote good fellowship Some time
in January the officers of the regiment
are to give banquet. This will be one
OF the biggest social affairs of the win
ter among National Guardsmen. and be-
sides officers Of the Second there will
be large number OF invited guests. Cow
ers will be laid for more than 100
-Four sergeants during the week stood
examination for promotion to second
lieutenancles. They were First Sergeant
Landvoight. OF Company +. Second Regi-
ment; Sergeant Oliver Enight, Of Com
pany G Second Regiment; Sergeant Nc
lntyre, OF Company G. Second Regi-
ment, and Sergeant Tunstal. Company
u, Second Regiment.
There was a hot basketball came at
the Armory on Friday night between
Naval Battalion and d. c. Battery. Bat
talon won by a score OF 81 to 10 The
Baket-ban League. now in full swing,
Is attracting great attention, and the
games are attended by several hundred
men. The roofing is spirited.
Capt Herbert c. Earnshaw, regimen
tai commissary. has been detailed to COM
mand the supply company. Lieut. Harry
f. Burton has been assigned to this
company. Il
Capt. Theodore Heap. regimental ad-
jutant Second Infantry. has been de-
tailed to command the headquarters COM
pany OF his regiment, assisted by the
battalion adtutant, First Lieut.. John Ed
ridge and Second Lieut.. Harry Z. Bur-
ton.
Sergt Robert Garner, Company B,
Twenty ninth Infantry. now at Fort Sam
Houston, Tex, has been detailed to duty
in connection with the District of CO.
lumbia National Guard
Maj. Summers. n. G. ID. c., was honor
guest at an informal gathering OF the
members OF Company n, Second Infan-
try. n. G. ID. c.. at the armory after
the regular drill of the company We'd
nesday night. Capt. L. B. Ernest, Com
pany X, who is on extended leave of
absence. also was present After in
formal talks mess was served in typical
army style.
Last night members of the company
were guests at 4 reception rendered them
by ex-Sergt. Mai. b. T. Jackson, at his
home in Eenilworth.
The Washington herald., 1914-12-13
Officers Chief Need.

Preliminary legislation for an ade-
Quate land force Is recommended in the
annual report of the Secretary of War.
He asks for $4,000 men to al up the
existing regular army and 1000 onicers
TO NIL the vacancies created by detail
ing. officers to duty sway from their
regiments.
In its report for the reorEanization
OF the army the general stan shows
that three divisions are absolutely nee
essary to provide sufficient force OF
trained troops to resist an Invading
army until the organized militia could
be mobilized and recruited up TO its
war strength and volunteer army
trained for service in the field To MI
out three divisions which would pro-
vide for one for the Pacific Coast. one
for the Atlantic Coast. and one for the
Central Department TO be used as a
reserve for either coast. 1t would re-
quire an addition of ten regiments OF
infantry and fire of field artillery to
the regular army. The secretary rec
ognizeS this fact.
The recommendation of the secretary
for 1000 additional officers for the reg
ular army and the training of volun-
teer officers at students camps and col
leges will be indorsed by all students
OF military problems. 1t is a crime to
send unframed or partly trained citi-
zen soldiers to war with inefficient Of
fcers. This government sacrificed the
lives of hundreds of thousands OF SOL
diers in the civil war by sending them
into battle in command of inexperienced
officers. Not until the second year of
the civil war were there any efficient
officers on either side excepting the
graduates of the West Point Military
Academy and those who came from the
regular army.
The only professional soldiers in the
German army are the commissioned Of
icers. Noncommissioned officers are
semi-professionaI soldiers, while. the
enlisted men have not served to exceed
three years in the army. A large pro-
portion of the German soldiers who
come from the educational institutions
have had only one years training in the
army. The strength of the German
army lies in the high state of efficiency
of its officers.
If the Russian army had as highly
trained officers as the German army the
Cars troops would be in Berlin before
this. 1t is not n question OF the bray
cry of the soldiers but the inefficiency
of the Russian officers.
Russia has millions of brave and
heroic soldiers but comparatively few
officers to lead them. The
secretary in his report clearly shows
that there is a shortage of officers for
the regular army and that the country
has none for a volunteer army.
The Washington herald., 1914-12-13
Fencers' Club Notes.

Members of the Fencers' Club of
Washington have taken up rife and
pistol shooting and have organized a
Government Rifle Club. afiIiating with
the National Rifle Association OF
America. Col Robert NJ Thompson is
president and Sir Cecil Spring-Rice, of
the British Embassy, is vice president.
The secretary of the club is Assistant
Secretary Of War Henry Breckenridge,
and the executive officer and team cap
tain is DR.. Scott d. Breckenridge, his
brother.
A gallery range will be installed in
the clubhouse, and preliminary work
has been commenced on a sub-target
gun machine which has been installed.
Members are looking forward to hav-
ing many pleasant days on the outdoor
range upon the advent of fine weather
in the spring. Rifles and ammunition
will be drawn from the War Depart
ment under the recent act of Congress,
and the perforation OF the bulls-eye
at long ranges will be energeticaIly
followed. With fencing during the win
ter and shooting during the summer,
the club members will be kept busy.
The Washington herald., 1914-12-13
Would Enlarge Army.

Secretary of War Garrison busily is
engaged in the drafting Of a bill to put
into force his recommendations to Con-
gress with respect to material enlarge
ment of the army OF the United States.
One thousand additional officers and
q, 600 more enlisted men are what the de-
sires and what he thinks the situation
demands. Although no definite state
ment with respect to the matter yet has
been given out, il is likely the proposed
increase will be extended over a period
of five years or even longer
1t would be almost impossible to Sc
cure 1000 candidates in one year who
could pass the examinations for commits
siOns in the army. On former occasions
IL has been found necessary to hold two
or three examinations of civilians in or
der to secure a sufficient number OF ell
Eible candidates. According to existing
law, West Point graduates will be ap-
pointed first, enlisted men second. and
remaining vacancies will be filled from
civil life. II 1t is provided that one-fifth
of the vacancies are to be filled each
year for five years there will be 300 va
cancies created by law and something
like 100 by retirement, death and resigna-
tion.
This will bring teh toatl Of vacancies
in the army up TO more than 300 per
year. and will give plenty Of opportunity
for promotions of efficient enlisted men.
1t is understood that preference will be
given TO graduates from college main
tanning military instruction. just how
this will be worked out has not yet been
determined but the Secretary Is very
anxious to encourage the colleges in
maintaining military organizations
The thousand additional officers will be
used in filling vacancies created by Off
GERS on detached service, so that every
organization in the army can have its
full complement of officers. This will be
made more necessary II the army Is
raised to its full strength as is recon-
ended by the Secretary. In addition to
filling the existing vacancies. others will
be created by detailing the required
number OF inspector-instructors TO the
Organized Militia. By the provision of
the law every regiment and separate bat
talon Of the Organized Militia should
have an inspector-instrqctor but at pres
ent there are not sufficient officers for
this duty. The Secretary is particularly
anxious to provide additional officers for
duty with the National Guard, and in the
event that his recommendation Is enacted
into law by Congress the National Guard
as well as the Regular Army. will have
its full complement Of regular officers.
The Washington herald., 1914-12-13
Fort Monroe Notes.

Fort Monroe, Va, Dec. l2-Nrs
John S. Williams and children are
visiting relatives in Washington, where
they will be Joined later by Lieut.. Will
Jams. Capt. Edward p. Nones and his
sister, Miss Nones. are to spend the
holidays in Louisville. Ky. The most
hop on Friday was largely attended
The club was thrown open to ladies
for that evening. On Thursday Can't.
and Mrs. Frank G. Jewell gave a din
ner for Capt and Mrs. Walter p. Baker.
Capr- and Mrs. George Z. Hawes, Mrs
Bradley and Lieut.. La Rhett l.. Stuart
Capt. Trotten spent last week in New
York and Washington. Capt John G.
Workhizer left last week for his new
post Lieut.. and Mrs. Guy 3. Laurason
are spending months leave at New
Orleans with her mother before going
to Fort Dade. Last Sunday Lieuts
John II. Jowett and Alfred f. I.arrabeo
gave a luncheon at the officers mess
for Miss Cleary and Miss lima Book
er. Miss Mckinney, of Fort WAYNE
Ind, is the guest Of Capt. and Mrs.
Richard c. Marshall. Mrs. Furman =.
Mccammon and daughters left yester-
day to visit relatives( in Arkansas.
Lieut. McCammon will join them a week
later, and they will leave on the Feb
ruary transport for the Philippines
Lieut.. and Mrs. Edward w. WiIdrick
and children. of West Point, were
guests recently of Lieut.. and Mrs.
George A. Wildrick. who gave an auc-
tion party in their honor and for Maj.
and Mrs. James II. Williams, Capt. and
Mrs. Richard G. Marshall. Mrs. Fred
erick Coleman. Mrs. James Totten. Can't
and Mrs. Walter p. Baker. Mrs. Clifton
G. Carter. Lieut.. and Mrs. Alexander
Gillespie, Capt Charles Z. KfIbourne.
Mrs. Bradley. Prizes were won by Mai
and Mrs Williams. Capt. Marshall. and
Mrs. Bradley.
The Washington herald., 1914-12-13
Washington Navy Yard.

Since the arrival Of the marines from
Mexican waters via Philadelphia the per-
sonnel OF both officers and men has been
greatly changed. The change OF COM
mandant Of the navy yard and gun fac
tory took place formally yesterday, when
Capt. f. W. Eberle, u. s. N, win relieve
Capt. Hilary Jones, U. S. y.
The Navy Relief Society viii give a
oenent ball at the sail loft on the even
ing Of December 30 from until O'Clock.
ior the benefit Of the Navy Relief fund.
Mrs. z. w. Eberie. wife of the incominS 2
commandant Of the yard, Is the president
the vice presidents are Mrs. seaton
schroeder, Mrs. Richard Wainwright.
Mr+ George Barnett; treasurerx, Mrs.
frank z. Beatty. Mrs. W. ID. MacDougaII:
secretary. Mrs. Chester Wells. The COM
mittee Is composed OF Mrs. F. F. Fletcher.
Mrs z. J. Dorm and Mrs. J. o. Nichol-
son.
Capt. N. L. Bristol. U. S. n. and Mr..
brls'oI nave as house guests Judge and
Mrs. Floyd Hughes, Of Norfolk. Va. Mrs.
Bine, wife OF Rear Admiral Victor Blue.
L. s. N, gave a large auction bridge
party for Mrs. Floyd Hughes On TDes-
day. Capt. A. c. AImy. L. s. n and
Mrs. Almy are sojourning at the Cairo
for few weeks before their departurs
for Coronado Beach, Cal.
A large crowd of society folk attended
the first formal reception of Mai Gen.
George Barnett, L. $. NJ. g, and Mrs
Barnett at the commandant's house Mon
day afternoon. and dancing was a feature
oI The occasion. The Marine Band fur
hished the most approved dancing music
OF the season. Maj. Gen. and Mrs. Bar
nett left later in the evening to attend
the first Monday German of the season
In Baltimore, when Miss warfield, Mrs.
Barnetts guest, made her debut.
The Marine Band gave its first concert
OF the season at marine HEADQUARTERS
drill hall early in the afternoon on Mon
day. Many admirers of the band were in
evidence for the opening concert.
The Washington herald., 1914-12-13
West Point Notes.

West Point, n. Y, Dec. l2.-Mrs. b. F.
Crawford, OF Pasadena. Cal. was week
| end guest of Col. and Mrs. Wilcox. On
| Saturday Col. and Mrs WiIlCox's guests
at dinner were Mrs. Crawford ana Mai
| Runcie. Mr.. Otho Gushing, the artist of
New York, was the guest of Lieut.. Hen
derson over Sunday. Miss Elsie Stuart
spent the weekend at home with her
parents. Col and Mrs. Stuart. Miss
! Katherine Taylor, OF Washington, is the
| guest Of her brother-in-law and sister,
Lieut.. and Mrs. Baird. On Sunday Lieut.
and Mrs. Baird gave a supper party for
| Miss Taylor and for Lieut.. and Mrs
| Cutrer. Lieut.. and Mrs. Meade WildTicx.
the Misses Katharine Jones, Marian
| Townsley. Eleanor Vidmer, Capt Card,
| Leuts. Crawford. Chase, Uhl, Selleck,
Erwin and Aleshire
The Misses Marian and Helen Townsley
! leave Tuesday for a short visit in Phila-
delphia. Lieut.. and Mrs. Geoffrey Keyes,
married recently at Washington, visited
the post last Sunday. Mrs. Keyes was
Miss Leila Harrison, daughter of Mrs
George Harrison. Mrs. Kuhn was the
guest Of Col. and Mrs Gordon for She
weekend. Mrs. Householder had a few
ladies in to tea on Monday to meet Mrs.
Walkers mother, Mrs. Carey, guest of
her daughter for a few weeks.
Lieut.. anu Mfs. bdlEu start tuesday
on a six weeks leave, half of which Is
to be spent with Mrs. Baird's parents,
Col. and Mrs. Taylor, In Washington.
Later they go to Montclair. n. j., for a
three weeks visit with Lieut.. Baird's
family. Mai. and Mrs. Abraham G. Lott
and Mrs. Lofts sister. Miks Betty Mercur.
were at the post last week. The Daugh-
tiers of the Revolution made a pilgrimage
to West Point on Monday and met at
ward they went up to the chapel, where
Fsr. Mayer played on the organ. Their
trip was considerably marred by the
wretched weather.
Capt. and Mrs. Eemper apd children.
Lucy Ord and John, who have been
spending a leave of several months with
Mrs. Kemper's brother-in-law and sister.
Lieut.. and Mrs. Gregory, have left for
their new station at Harrisburg Pa
Capt. Mccoy, aid to Gen. Leonard Wood.
and Mai L. W. Evans visited the post
last week. Gen. and Mrs. Rodney Smith
have been visiting their son, Lieut.. Smith
Capt. Estes has reported for duty. He
was the guest of Col Smith over Sunday
Lieut.. Peek has also arrived for duty
here
The basketball season opened last SAT-
urday with the defeat by the Cadet team
of the Fordham five. The Army i've had
things pretty much their own way
throughout. Boye. waldron and BAYLOR
starred in some pretty floor work. and
Boye's fine passing and shooting was A
feature of the Cadets play. For Ford
ham. Walsh and Dale did the best work.
Toward the finish Of the game the Army
tried ont a number of substitutes. The
Army players were: waldron, MacTao-
CART forwards; Boye, center: Howell
HIhbs, guards Substitutions-Baylor for
MacTagEart, Gerhardt for waldron. Brit
ton for Boye. Butler for Briton, Tate for
Howell. Cole for Hibbs. KiIburn for
Baylor.
The Washington herald., 1914-12-13
Fort Bliss Notes.

Fort Bliss. Tex, Dec. is-Lieut. and
Mrs. Ralph Hospital. who were mar
ried recently at Fort Eeavenworth, ar
rived in the district this week en- route
to station at Columbus, n. NJ, where
the groom's regiment Is on border pa
troll duty The bride, formerly Miss Mar
jorie Craig. daughter of Capt. and Mrs.
Charles +. Craig, Medical Corps. was
the guest OF Mai. and Mrs. w. T. Dom
aIdson at his post last winter. Lieut..
and Mrs. Craig are spending n few days
at the post with Lieut. and Mrs. Alvin
c. Miller.
Mai. W. II. simons. I. c.. Southern
department. will arrive this week from
Arizona and inspect infantry troops in
the district. Col. Franklin o. johnson,
assigned TO duty with the Fifteenth
Cavalry from the Fourteenth, has ar
rived. Capt. Elliott Norton, Twentieth
Infantry, has gone to Fort Douglas.
Utah, to spend a few weeks with his
family.
Lieut.. Robert H. willis. recently trans
ferred from the Sixth Infantry 10 the
Aviation Corps, left last week for San
Diego, Cal, to take up his new duties.
Lieut.. John W. Meehan. recently trans
ferred from the Fifteenth Cavalry 10
the Fifth Infantry, left this week for
station in Empire. Panama. Lieut..
Leonard II. Cook, Sixth Infantry. has
left for San Francisco to spend a short
leave with his family. Lieut.. p. w
Raade, Twentieth Infantry, granted
three months leave. has gone No san
Francisco to join his family.
The Washington herald., 1914-12-13
NAVAL ORDERS.
MOVEMENTS OF VESSELS.


Macdonough. arrived Norfolk yard December ID
Uncas arrived Philadelphia DrcrmhcT 10; Arethusa-
arrived Port Arthur, Tx, December 10: Wheeling
sailed fom Port Au Prince December 10: TAcoml
arrived Pot Prince December 10; McDOuZsl
sAiled from New York yard December Il: Prairie
KS and Ks arrived New York yard December IL
Glacier. arrived San Francisco December II: San
Francisco. sailed from Rockland. Me-, December IL
Panther, arrived Charleston December II; FIlsser
and Reid arrived NsNpnTt December II; Ontario.
arrived New York yard December IL; Saturn. sailel
from San Diego Dccembsr II; Callao, sailed from
HSnekong December II: Jupiter and McDousal
arrived New York yard December IL: Washington.
arrived NeHport December Il: wsshingtnn. sailed
from Newport December IL: Hancock. sailed from
Santo Domingo CITY December II: BTutus. arrived
San Pedro de Maeoris December II: culgoa. sailsd
from Pedro de Maeoris December II.
Note-The Albany was placed in ressTTs at the
navy ward. Puget Sound. Washington. December
10. iJ4
ORDERS TO OFFICERS.
Can't. J. s. Mckean. 10 command North Dakota.
Lieut.. T. X. Hazard 10 Wisconsin.
Ensgn G u. Murray, 10 Works Burgess Company,
Aarhiehead Mas
The Washington herald., 1914-12-13
HarrelI Safe in Mexico

Francls HarreII, resIdent agent In Mex
leo City for a number of American man.
ufacturers. and son OF Mrs. Caroline Har-
rell. or i.S1a NJ street northwest. is safe
in the Mexican capital. together with his
wife and children and intends to remain
there. according to a message received
by the State Department yesterday as
result of an investigation requested by
his mother. who had not heard from her
son for q month.