davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-09

the whole city joins in extending this
welcome. The great pride that We nat
urally feel in the navy will be intensl-
fed by this demonstration OF ITS
power; and added TO il will. | am sure,
be an even greater appreciation OF that
national security for which it stands.
You will be entertained not only by the
city government, but by these gentle
men. members Of a committee APP
pointed by Mayor Mitchell. in whose abb
Scnce | am welcoming you. You have
been acquainted with our plans.
need only add that the city government
Joins in this welcome not only with en-
thusiasm, but with real satisfaction"
Admiral Fletcher replied briefly: 81
thank you very much for myself, and
on behalf of the officers and men Of
the feet for the great honor and all
the courtesies that you are extending
to us, and | accept these as an appre-
citation of the interest that the people
are taking in the American navy, and
of other realization that the defence
Of our country lies first upon the water
rather than upon land. l think the
people of this country are beginning TO
realize that situation, and ! want to
thank you for all the cOurtesle5 on
behalf of the officers and men Of the
fleet"
With the illumination OF the battle
ships last night the first days pro-
gramme was completed.
To-day special services for sailors
will be held in several churches and ar
rangements have been made to have
men from the fleet deliver addresses in
branches Of the Y. ". c. A. Baseball
games and theatre parties for enlisted
men and officers are on the schedule
for tomorrow.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-09
Nary Unready for War
Officers Admit in SOrYOW
Vessels in Hudson Look Fine, but Could Not Stand
Two-Eiour Battle Against Modern Fleet, Is Frank
Confession of Men Who Would Do the Fighting.

Navy ever had such practice to make
them proficient in hitting submarines 2"
"Not that know of
what do American naval men think
Of the German submersible's sinking
the Lusitania without warning"
No Warning Possible.
"As I understand the case, It would
have been impossible for a German u
submarine to warn the liner" replied
one of the officers. That submarine
could make only eight knots an hour
submerged. The Lusitania was good
for twenty-three knots. Now, suppose
tho Germans had come up near the
Lusitania and signalled her TO stop so
they could blow her up after the pas
sengers were taken off. Why couldn't
tho Cunarder turn full-helm and either
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-09

Latest reports from the Lusitania
disaster and possibilities Of serious
trouble between the United States and
Germany would not have been men
toned on the Atlantic feet yesterday II
officers had followed strictly the die
tates Of President Wilson's neutrality
proclamation. But interest in the news
from London and Washington tran
scended ordinary precautions.
When cornered in their cabins officers
would talk freely about the psychology
cal reaction of Admiral Fletcher's fleet
10 the latest achievement OF German
submarines. Invariably the interview
with Tribune representative was
closed with the earnest request: Now,
please don't use my name. You know
that Secretary Daniels has threatened
10 court martial naval officers who say
anything 10 the newspapers about his
policy"
Naval officers appeared to agree that
the Lusitania might have been better
protected by the British government.
They also agreed that in the vent OF
complications with Germany, the fleet
which now floats so imposingly in the
Hudson would be found wanting In
many important essentials. Their hon
est opinion may be summed up IN the
comment Of one officer: The United
States does not know what it means to
60 TO warl"
Laid for Lusitanla.
"Were you surprised at the torpedo
ing of the Lusitania ?" a group of three
officers was asked.
I'm not surprised at anything the
Germans do" replied one. He quail
fed this remark with the after-thought
that some of the pro-German officers
in the fleet would be displeased at his
sentiments.
zone thing is plain to me-" chimed
in another officer THE Germans GER
tainly laid for that one ship. They
probably had several submarines
watching for her. With their wonder
full spy system they knew everything
that we knew over here about the ship.
II looks TO me a. though they had her
course all mapped out"
Gould England have protected the
Cunard liner with a guard Of cruisers
or topedo destroyers ?" was the next
question.
one of the officers recollected that
several cruisers rallied to the de-
fence Of the Lion, of the British navy,
earlier in the war. "A good cruiser
ought to have been able TO smash the
periscope on that German submarine
as soon as it appeared above the
water" he added. 81 don't mean it's
an easy stunt to hit moving periscope,
but it could be done. Everything's
possible in the navy, you know"
"Have cruisers in the United States
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-09

The Atlantic feet gray-and to the
uninitiated an impressive gathering OF
superdreadnoughts dreadnoughts, sub
marines and other craft, Is now in the
Hudson. Ordinarily the crowds along
Riverside Drive would have regarded
these vessels merely as a spectacle.
But with the news Of the sinking of
the Lusitania there has come upon the
people a new angle Of vision. New
York to-day is asking not what kind OF
a showing these ships can make in
celebration, but what they could do if
hurried from their anchorage into ac-
tive duty.
A naval expert visited the feet yes
terday at the request of The Tribune.
Every one Of the battleships in the
Hudson is undermined, and It would
take three months to bring them to
maximum efficiency" was his con
clusion.
Each of the vessels in the first di-
vision is short about 200 men. This
group is composed Of the superdread-
nought class and includes the COM
mander in chiefs flagship Wyoming
and the Florida, the Arkansas and the
North Dakota.
with their present complement
these four ships could not be manned
well, and both Admiral Badger and
Admiral Fletcher, tho present com
mander, admit that there is a serious
shortage Of enlisted men. This lack
is considered far more alarming than
an insufficient number OF dreadnoughts.
Need 1900 More Men.
"To make these ships efficient would
take at least three months, for in a
shorter period raw recruits cannot be
brought together and taught how 10
drill and operate guns"
lie explained that the Bureau Of
Navigation made an allowance of en-
listed men for each ship, but that at
present this number was nowhere near
lv complete. And this is in spite of the
statement made by Rear Admiral Blue,
chief Of the bureau, who told the House
Naval Committee that the navy was
suffering from a shortage of officers
and men. lie also pointed out last De-
cember that 1900 men and 200 officers
more were necessary to fully man the
vessels Of military value which could
be used in time of war.
subsequently, under the pressure Of
public opinion, $500 men were asked
for, but the Naval Committee had al
ready received its instructions and re
fused 10 grant the request. The Naval
General Board had recommended an
addition 10 the enlisted forces of $4,000
men, and Admiral Fiske in his testi-
mony backed up this estimate"
The naval expert then went into the
results Of his investigation, and told
" the conditions existing Oh two Of
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-09
Women's High Grade Low
Shoes, $3.95

Imported patent leather with fawn
and gray cloth sides, welted Soles;
also all patent leather hand turn; all
have Louis heels.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-09
Gray Fleet Undermined,
Inefficient, Says Expert
Ships from Deadnoughs to Destroyers, Would Be
Crippled in Action, or Even Peace Manoeuvres,
by Lack of Men if War Came.

the ships which he said we're typical
of the others.
"On the Texas" he continued. "the
newest of the dreadnoughts, the Blu
reau Of Navigation allows eighty-four
men as a war strength for each of the
forward li-inch gun turrets. A peace
strength Of seventy-three men is re-
garded as sufficient. But the latter
figure was cut by the present admins
tration to sixty-four, and when the
Texas went TO target practice there
were actually only fifty-three men in
the turret.
Practice Work Hampered.
This necessitated calling upon the
engineers forces and ships cooks TO
aid in the turret work. Had the Texas
just completed long run at sea she
would have been unable TO engage in
target practice, because the coal pass
crs would have been completely tired
out. As IL was she steamed from
Hampton roads -four or five miles out
TO sea, held the practice and returned
Immediately. The Wyoming completed
only half her practice. and when the
celebration here is ended will return
for the part she has not yet finished.
kota was the best ship in the Atlantic
fleet. But II had been decided to de-
mote this vessel from the first TO the
second division. This plan had to be
abandoned because Of the brilliant rec
ord her Gunners had made at target
practice, for hers was a mark unprece-
denied in naval annals.
while at Guantanamo she expert
enced engine trouble and rs she had
always had considerable difficulty in
this line II was determined to place her
out Of commission at Norfolk
Her superb crew was accordingly
divided among the other ships 20 make
up for their shortage, and barely
enough men were left on the North
Dakota TO get her TO Norfolk When
she reached there and was thoroughly
examined 1t was found that the engine
trouble could be remedied in two
weeks. Nevertheless at that time no
men could be found 70 put the vessel
into commission again, and this great
ship missed the entire season Of drills
at Guantanamo simply for lack of men.
THE highways and byways have been
searched for sufficient men for engi-
neers' force 10 bring the North Dakota
20 this city, but her whole organization
is smashed to pieces and no command
er on earth would now venture 70 take
her into a battle
These two vessels were made ex-
amples, showing what was true
throughout the entire feet. Il was
pointed out that the seamen gunners'
class at Washington, whore men were
taught TO be electrical gunnsrs. had
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-09

run the submarine down or speed of
before the Germans could stick tor
pedo in herr"
How about a comparison Of our tor
pedoes and those used by the Ger
mans?"
"They have the advantage. The best
torpedo we have will travel 5000 yards
at thrty-two knots. Our submarines
carry four or eight torpedoes, according
to their size Now, the Germans have
a torpedo that will spin along for four
miles at forty knots
War If People Want II.
When the possibility Of war with
Germany was put up squarely 20 sew
erel officers they hesitated before MAX
ing reply. l. certainly was a serious
situation, they admitted; one could not
tell what would happen.
How does the fleet take this
suggestion Of even g possibility OF
war;"
"Let me ask you something" de;
manded an officer, wheeling around
sharply as he paced the deck. DO the
people Of this country want war? II
they want war we'll get it. Public
opinion will decide this question, not
the government at Washington"
~ see no reason why we should rush
into war" said an officer who stands
we'll I'D in the service. suppose l5O
Americans had been killed when the
Germans tore through Belgium.
Would we have gone to war over that
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-09

loss Of lief Its the same prine,,.
at bottom.
"And furthermore, how would
harm the German cause by enyaS.
in war7 u seems TO me that BIZ -
ing our ammunition and war suo,I;.
Tor ourselves we would be crinnI.'
The Allies. Every bit OF anmppis.
that we can turn out over here Is bs:,.
sent TO the Allies. don't see how y
would be bothering Germany BY A.
claring war on her"
DO you think Germany thought Il
this precise situation before she A.
cided to sink the Lusitsnia"
A moment OF silence, q tvinh. III
the eye, and then the reply, "Wo,s'
you have another cigarette? ,"
Is the Fleet Ready,
"Tf trouble should come is thi, "a.
equipped ready 20 90 20 sea for hzS.
ing?" vas question put up to s,,,
Of three officers They all shook N,
heads and sighed.
we look Ike an cficiert feet a, N
lie here in TINS river" said one. Sy,,
look pretty fine, but I don't think :,
would stand Up two hours in con,sr
against q modern European feet Pa,
hans It's rercsy 20 say 70, but kelis,,
ne. that's TIE way ! feel about !,
Does anybody IN possession Of all AL
senses believe for one minute tha, r,I
are ready for q war; Why, we dos
know in the United States VIVA, II
means 20 go 20 war. Some dag ,ki,
countr will wake u7"
Opinion among officers seemed 70 L
that the submarine ao...la which Ii,
at l25th Street. IS tie bos. e1uinp,l
unit in the navy for .mmeiiate SCI.
vice. But We can, hold q candle I,
the Germans IN submarine cons,rv,.
NON" SAID another uaquotable nsv,i
man 81 understand .ncy are build,,,
and showing into The water two y
those big L type boats every well
. The men VINO build Gcrmanys SUI
! marines have nothing else 10 this,
about. Each boat is personally surs,.
Z vised By an engineer and expert. WIa
US submarine construction incident,
70 other naval matters. The only va,
for us 20 develop our submarines a.
aeroplanes is 20 adopt the German sy,.
TEN Of concentration.
Sailors Cuss submarines.
"Nine Of the eighteen submarine, 4
service or this coast are right her
with the feet. Two more are on thet
way from Charleston, 5. c. We hav
eight building and acquisitions 70,
eight more have passed Congress. Bv
we are reyerting % type. Turnlrs
against the wheel Of progress. we a.,
going back TO a small 350-ton sub.
mersible. All naval experts are agreed
that for coast defence A large S0O..o,
submarine is best. The German Z
boats are twice as large as those
boats Of ours, which have Just con.
/ up from Pensacola"
One Of the seamer who made tia.
l 200 mile trip vas overheard telling
friends on the pier that IL a complete
log of the run we're perused il would
show a continual sequence Of break.
downs and emergency repairs. THAT,
the way with those cussed critters" Be
said, looking at the lanky steel sub.
mersibles IT'S work every minu.,
while they're running and then work
some more when they stop
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-09
Destroyers Short of Men.


enough men for active service without
the former period of training.
Destroyers Short of Men.
There is also shortage of men on
the dcstroyers. Their captains were
asked by the department 10 submit
figures for the lowest number of men
they could keep in commission. II was
understood that these estimates i'm
piled that the destroyers were to re-
main in port.
After the figures rad been fur
nished the deck force of the destroy
ers was reduced from forty-three TO
twenty-ninc, so that to-day there are
actually not enough TO man a gun on
any destroyer in the Atlantic fleet.
at is also significant that there is
lack OF torpedoes, and each destroyer
has been allotted only one. The men
are working watch and watch. which
means four hours on duty and the
same time or, for the engine and deck
forces. Under this system man IS
in no condition 10 work well after he
has tried 10 snatch a four-hour nap,
and is often sleepy and partially dazed.
"A naval officer has explained that
in the event of trouble between the
United States and another nation 1t
would be the paramount duty OF the
President TO summon as soon as posi-
bles a special session OF Congress 20
man the ships, which at present are
unable 10 go into an engagement be
cause OF the lack of officers and men"
From the point Of view of equipment
and ammunition the vessels now at
New York are much better situated
than they are in the number Of en-
listed men, and are efficient from those
angles
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-09

After him came the City Hall delega-
tion. As they assembled the gangplank
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-09

been abolished in an effort TO discover
/ enough men for active service without
! the fnrmnr narinl Of training.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-11-12
Salmon Thriye in Maine.

Success has been met by the bu-
reau OF fisheries in establishing hump
back salmon on the Maine coast, &C
cording to reports from that terri
tory. The fish were planted in Febru-
airy, 1914. Many fish weighing five
to seven and a half pounds have been
taken or seen in Penobscot river. Me-,
and twenty were captured alive by
agents OF the bureau near Bangor and
held in an effort to obtain ripe eggs.
From two of these fish 5000 eggs we're
taken September s, and. after fertili-
cation, sent to the Craig Brook hatch
cry for incubation. Local fishermen
caught and ate large numbers. and an
employee of the Green Lake hatchery
took fifteen fish last week These had
passed through the fshways in dams
in Dennys river and were dropping
| down stream in a spent condition; al
the same time both live and dead fish
were observed below the dams.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-11-12
ENTIRELY A STATE OF MIND
So Just Feel Sure You Have the Sc
cret Of Longevity and the Years
Are Yours.

Centenarians all know why they
have been blessed with long years It
is because they never drank, or be-
cause they did drink; because they
never smoked, swore. quarreled. wor-
ried, sat up late OF nights. or because
they did all these things, yet counter
acted the evil effects with diets OF
milk. mush, cornbread or an apple a
day. Neighbors and relatives and doc
tors may wonder why the tooth Of
time has proved incapable But the
subjects of their wonder have never
any doubts They know exactly why
they and death keep apart
An intimate study Of the character
of centenarians might reveal the true
formula for long life. These tenacious
old folk all have one thing in COM
mon, and that is perfect confidence.
They are never troubled with misgiv-
ings. never afflicted with self-ques-
tioning. II person is absolutely GER
tain that he is going to defeat time,
perhaps that is as effectual as It is
with the man who is absolutely Ger.
tain that he is going to defeat case
of typhoid. Confidence may be q
good anodyne for sleeplessness, 9
worthy aid to digestion. a protector
against accident
The records indicate that II does
not matter so greatly that the can
didate for a hundred be abstemious
or moderately indulgent. careful with
his food or reckless, as that he fee
sure that he has the secret OF Ion
gevity. So. 1t would seem. the first
duty Of aspirants is to cultivate {
dogmatic set Of opinions--ToledC
Blade.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-11-12
HIS SILENCE A COMPLIMENT
Too Many Men Are Apt TO Make the
Mistake That Is Recorded Of
This Husband.

The coffee was weak, the bread I'M
derdone, and the fowl tough, or at
least he said so. His wife's long pa
tience gave way.
John Henry" said she. I've tried
faithfully to cook to suit you for
twelve long years. No one in the town
has better-cooked food. yet you are
always finding fault Why can't you
praise me once in a while, I'd like to
know"
He looked up in astonishment
Well, il you amt the most anrea"
sonable woman | ever saw, he ejacu-
lated. Why, many and many is the
time I've sat down TO meal and new
er said word about it. Anybody
would know there wasn't any fault
to be found, or I'd a. found it. and
yet you want better compliment than
that, That's just like woman-they
can't tell a compliment when they get
ONE"
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-11-12
He Beat the Clock.

Il once conceived the beautiful
idea" says a Philadelphia school
teacher. of requiring that my pupils
should write for their day exercise q
brief account OF baseball game.
One boy sat through the period
seemingly wrapped in thought. while
the others worked hard and turned in
their narratives. After school ap-
preached the desk of the laggard.
TN give you five minutes to write
that description said sternly. If il
is not done by that time shall pun
ish you
The lad promptly concentrated all
his attention upon the theme At last.
with joyful eagerness. be scratched q
line on his tablet and handed it to
me. II read:
'Rain-no game - PkMadelphia
Inquirer.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-11-12
Thouqht Umbrellas unmiIltary

Umbrellas and khaki seem most
unlikely combination; yet one in
stance is recorded of British soldiers
taking their umbrellas into action, &C
cording to the London Chronicle. On
December 10, 1913, during the battle Of
the Nive, the Grenadier guards cap
tured a redoubt outside Bayonne-
While they were in possession of this
Wellington passed by and noticed that
the officers had umbrellas up to pro-
tect themselves. from the heavy rain.
He se:-t back his aide-de-camp,
Lord Arthur Hill. to tell them that
the duke does not approve Of the use
Of umbrellas in action The guards
officers may, ii they please. carry UNI.
brellas even in uniform when on duty
at St James; but in the field it is rot
only ridiculous, but unmilitary."
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-11-12

presence A szw log huss appeared
along the carying road. the one near
est me IT, ruins. while gaunt Chin
ney beside broad stream unbridged
was all that remained Of former mill.
Beyond this. in midst Of a grove Of
noble trees, large house. painted
white. was the only conspicuous feat
ture In the landscape. recognized
IL at once as the residence OF Major
Harwood
Ny gaze rested % It. as memory
OF the man, and his fate, surged fresh
ly back into mind. The place had
been spared destruction; 1t remained
unchanged-bu from that distance II
had the appearance Of desertion. This
condition was no particular surprise.
for Harwood's daughter. scarcely more
than girl to my remembrance, would
doubtless be with friends. either In
Lewisburg or Charleston; and that
the mansion, thus deserted. still re-
manned undestroyed was. after all. not
SO strange. for the majors standing
throughout that section would protect
his property.
I I moved on down the steep descent,
losing sight of the house as the road
twisted about the hill, although mem.
DRY Of 1t did not desert my mind. Some
odd inclination seemed to impel me e
turn aside and study the situation
there more closely. Possibly some
key to the mystery OF Harwood's muir
| der-some connection between hin
and old Ned Cowan-might be re
vealed in a search Of the deserted
home. Fox had said that his party
halted at the house on their marcel
east toward Hot Springs. Some scraI
of paper might have been left behint
in the hurry Of departure. which woulC
yield me a clue. II not this, thel
thers might be other papers storeC
there relating to military affairs II
this section of value to the Confed
eracy. Harwood was the undoubte'
leader of the Union sympathizer
throughout the entire region; b
would have lists OF names. and memo
randa of meetings, containing infol
nation which would help me great
in my quest. An exploration coul
not be a matter OF any great danger
and might yield me the very know
edge l sought
The great house doomed before m
black and silent. II had ever que!
toned it's desertion its appearance
lulled every such suspicion Nor ha
it escaped unscathed from the desp'
liation of war At distance, gain
from the side OF the mountain, l coul
perceive no change But now, close ;
[ hand, even the intense darkness coul
! not hide the scars left by yandaI
: The front steps were broken. the doc