davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-05-28
AUSTRIA OPENS THE wAR
Gunboats and Airships Attack Coast q
itaIy-Some Clashes on the
Border.

London.-Little or no time has been
allowed to elapse between the declare
ton Of war and actual fighting between
Italy and Austria. Austrian aeroplanes,
destroyers and torpedo boats on May
"a descended on the Italian coast of
the Adriatic and bombarded several
towns, including Venice, while in the
Tyrol and on the eastern frontier. Ital-
ian and Austrian advance guards fired
the first shots.
The plan Of campaign has not yet
been disclosed, but it is generally be-
lieved attempts to inflict a quick and
decisive defeat, or, at least. one that
will discourage the Italians. will be un-
dertaken, largely by the Germans un-
der Field Marshal Won Hindenburg.
It is said the German troops, with
heavy guns, aeroplanes and Zeppelins.
already are passing through the valley
OF. the River Adige In the direction Of
Verona, and that rapid and fierce
blows will be delivered almost imme-
diately at the Italian center. This, the
Germans doubtless believe, would
serve to hold off an Italian advance
from the province of Venice, where the
flat nature Of the country would give
the Italians a greater chance of sue.
cess.
Throughout Austria and Germany
there is bitter denunciation Of Italy
which for the moment has replaced
England as the most hated enemy.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-05-28
MEAN DEATH CHAN


Albany. N. Y.-Charles Becker, tbs
former New York police lieutenant,
must die In the electric chair at Sing
Sing within the next six weeks for the
murder OF Herman Rosenthal, the New
York gambler, by four gunner July
is. 1912. unless Gov. Whitman or the
United States supreme court inter.
venes. The court of appeals Of New
York has affirmed Becker's conviction
by q supreme court jury at his sec
ond trial several months ago.
Executive clemency for Becker is re-
garded as remote. AS district attor-
ney OF New York county, the present
governor prosecuted the former police
lieutenant both times.
Speculation is rife as to whether
Becker facing death will not seek to
save his life by making revelations in
connection with the so-called "police
system" in New York to the governor.
Regardless Of his connection with the
Rosenthal, case, Becker is believed to
possess information that would be in
valuable to state and New York city
officials. The statement has been
made frequently that the trial of Beck
er and the four gunner who shot Ro'
seminal only scratched the surface OF
the true conditions in New York police
circles.
Becker, informed of the higher
courts decision, received the news
with the same GOODNESS that charac
terized his attitude throughout his
trials.
'It is awful" he said. 81 am wor
ried about how it will affect my wife
Other reports late from the death
cell quoted Becker as saying he would
not appeal from the decision, adding:
cit will only delay matters. Lei
them set the date; / am ready"
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-05-28
ALTAR BOY SAVES ENGINEER
Found Him Bound and Gagged by
Highwaymen Who Planned Ex-
tensive Robberies.

Park Ridge. N. FRANK Englis
an altar boy, was on his way to ear
when he noticed that the wate
wheels OF the electric power plan
here were still turning. Thinking thi
unusual. he went inside and found tn
night engineer, Edward Griesct
bound and gagged.
Grfesch said re had been visited b
three masked men, who told him T.
shut down the plant and thus cut o
all electric lights in the town. The.
also demanded that he direct them I
the houses of the wealthiest peopl
here, he said.
b engineer said he refused, AM
b . they attacked him. bound hi
hands and feet, and thrust a gag int
his mouth, and made of with 500
which he had in his pocket. The au
thorities are investigating his story.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-05-28
ITALY IN AUSTRIAN TOWNS
First Official War Statement From
Rome Says Enemy's Territory
Is Occupied.

Rome.-The first official war bulle'
tin issued by the Aalian war office
was given out May Is. The statement
is as follows:
"On the Carniolo front Austrian ar
tillery opened fire against our posi-
tons without results. During the day
of May "a our artillery fired on posi-
tions occupied by artillery Of the en-
envy.
ION the Friuli front our troops ad
vanced everywhere and encountered
only feeble resistance. We have &C
cupied Caporetto, the heights between
the Idria and Isonzo rivers. Cormons
Cervignano and Terzo. The enemy
withdrew, destroying bridges and
burning houses.
"Our torpedo d~estroyers opened fire
against the enemy's detachments al
the port of Buso, and have disem
barked troops. We captured 20 Aus
trians, who have been sent to Venice
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-05-28
SUBMARINES sink
Two SHIPS Of War
ENGLAND AND TURKEY EACH
LOSE ONE IN OPERATIONS
THE pARDANELLEs.
BRITISH SHIP TRIUMPH HIT
Turkish Gunboat Adm Reis Il Sent
TO Bottom in Sea Of Marmosa,
Near the City Of Con
stantinople.

London. The announcement Is
made in Paris that q Turkish gunboat
Of the Adm Refs type was sunk in
the Sea of Marmosa within sight Of
Constantinople by a British subma'
rine. The report originated In Ath'
ems. The loss OF the gunb0at. follow
ing close upon the destruction OF Turk
ish transports, has caused a deep i'm
preston in Constantinople.
The disaster to the Triumph Is de
scribed in a brief statement by the
admiralty. which says that while op
Grating in support Of the Australian
and New Zealand forces on the shore
Of the Gallipoli peninsula May Is the
Triumph wass torpedoed by a subma
rine and sank shortly afterwards.
Most of the officers and men. in
Guiding the captain and commander
are reported to have been saved. .
The submarine was chased by de
stroyers and patroling small craft un
til dark.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-05-28
OTHERS MAY JOIN ALLIES
Roumania, Greece and Bulgaria are
Believed to Be Nearing the Brink
Of the War.

In the allied countries, Italian inter
vention is hailed with delight, and in
the Italian quarters of London and
Paris there have been enthusiastic
demonstrations and cheering farewells
to the Italians leaving to join the col
ors.
Roumania, Greece and Bulgaria have
made no move. The government OF
Bulgaria has reiterated that it will
continue neutral so long as Bulgarian
interests are not directly affected, and
1t sees no reason why they should be.
The opposition, however, is voicing the
opinion that Bulgaria should seize the
opportunity to join with the allies.
Bulgaria may be drawn in through
an incident which has arisen between
her and Turkey owe the seizure by
Turkey of a NUM- er of Bulgarian rail.
way cars loaded with goods. Sofia has
lodged a protest against this action.
Roumania may be affected by change
Of fortune in the battle and in Middle
Galicia.
A Daily Chronicle dispatch from Blu.
charest says:
The Roumanian government is ne.
gotiating with the allies. King Ferdi
nand has reviewed the army. Great en-.
thusiasm prevails"
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-05-28
WAR DECLARED By ITALY


Rome.-ItaIy on May e declared
val against Austria. The decree wal
signed by King Victor at 2 o'clock in
the afternoon and becomes effective
May "a.
At the same time Baron Won Mac
chios the Austrian ambassador, was
handed his passports and left Rome
the following day.
The Italian ambassador at Vienna
the Due d'Avarna. was recalled.
A decree was issued confiscating all
Austrian and German ships In Italian
harbors.
The kings mobilization decree went
into effect at once. All preliminary ar.
rangements completed and the
work Of assembling the land and ma.
val forces is going forward smoothly.
Fully 1000. 900 men. fully equipped with
arms and ammunition, 1t is expected.
will be put in the field within q month.
Several clashes have already been
reported from the border.
Austrian troops attempted to invade
Italian territory through the pass be-
tween Pont di Legno and Pejo May %.
Italian Alpine Chasseurs halted them
at Forcellini di Montosso and drove
them back across the border into Aus
tria. The Austrian troops formed a
frontier patrol. The Italian force was
in a like mission. The encounter is the
first skirmish OF any Importance be.
tween the two forces.
But for interrupted communication
between Rome and Vienna the declara.
tioa of war would have been effective
from May %. After the cabinet meet
ing on that day at which the declara'
ton was formulated, Baron Sonnino
telegraphed the text Of the proclama'
ton to the Due d'Avarna, at Vienna
with instructions to present it to the
Austro-Hungarian government and to
ask for his passports.
Upon learning that telegraphic com
m~unications was interrupted and its
presentation within the day was i'm
possible, the communication was
handed later to Baron Won Macchio by
Baron Connino, together with the Aus
TRAN ambassadors passports.
Austrian troops have been with
drawn from some of the frontier posts
and all navigation services In the Adrf
attic have been suspended. An indica
ton hat the Italian senate Endorsed
the chambers action in granting the
government extraordinary powers in
the event of war. for which the whole
country appears to be enthusiastic.
simultaneously with the anticipated
E
ed army has fully recovered from the
campaigns which resulted in the Aus
trians being driven from Servia. and
yell armed and eq6ipped, it is an
ncunced, has commenced a march to
ward the Austrian border, bent on an
other invasion of Austrian territory.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-05-28
WAS HAPPY IN
HIS PRISON CELL
California Millionaire Says Term
Was NAaost Useful in My
Career"
CALLED PRISON ANGEL
r. A. Hyde, Land 9peeulator. Recently
Released From Federal Prison,
Does Great Work Among His
Fellow Convlets.

Atlanta. Ga.-When Frederick A.
Hyde. sixty-seven years old. million
aire land dealer and former president
Of the board OF education Of San Fran
CISCO. left the federal penitentiary
here. after serving 16 months. his first
statement was that those months had
been the most useful of his whole life.
He added that he would return to his
home In California, where his wife,
daughter and three sons are waiting
for him, not afraid to look any man in
the face.
mot only have these l6 months
been the most useful in my career"
said Hyde, but this period has been
the happiest Of my life, and l have de-
rived more good from my work at the
prison than at any other time"
Sentence 10 COMMITTED.
Hyde was imprisoned In December,
1918, after one of the most sen ational
court battles in the history Of the
country. He was sentenced to serve
two years for alleged conspiracy in
land frauds. but the sentence was
committed by President Wilson.
At the p~enitentiary Hyde was
known among his fellow prisoners as
the "angel convict" because Of his
work to better the conditions of the
other prisoners. especially those who
were poor. He was assigned to the
prison newspaper, Good Works. and
in the performance of his duties was
allowed to go to all parts of the
prison and mingle with all the cOn
victs.
From the first he took an interest
in their welfare. He found that base
ball and a few WORKOUT movie films
were the only amusements in the
prison. He laid out plans for a COM
plete athletic field which, with money
furnished by himself. was constructed
by Hyde and his fellow prisoners.
Great Work In Prison.
Hyde's greatest work in the prison
was with the unfortunate men who
finished their terms but looked upon
freedom with no pleasure becau~
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-05-28
SECOND J.. 5. SHIP
HIT BY TORPEDO
STEAMSHIP NEeRAsKAN BOUND
FOR HOME RECEIVES BLOW
OFF irish COAST.
VESSEL DOES NOT SINK
Crew Takes Il Life Boats When Shock
Comes, But Later Boards Ship
and Returns to Liv.
erpooi.

London.-The American steamship
Nebraskan. owned by the American
Hawaiian Steamship Company of New
York, was either torpedoed or struck
a mine AZ miles off the south coast Of
ireland at 9 o'clock, May %.
No lives were lost and the steam
ship, listing badly at the bow. is pro-
ceeding to Liverpool under her own
steam.
Capt. J. S. Green, her commander,
sent the following wireless message
to the company's offices in New York:
Struck by either mine or torpedo.
4S miles west of Fastnet. Am steam
ing under convoy to Liverpool. Wa
ter in lower hold. No n injured.
GREEN"
It is declared here that the Nebras-
but it is also admitted she might have
encountered a floating mine.
According to a dispatch from Liver
pool the name and nationality of the
Nebraskan was painted in large let
tiers across her side and shs flew q
large American flag.
Consul-General Skinner, stationed
here, sen a message to the state de-
partment in Washington.
The Nebraskan left Liverpool May
"a in water ballast for Delaware break
water. She was proceeding under full
steam in a smooth sea. The weather
was clear and twilight giving way to
a bright MOON.
Suddenly there was a terrific ex-
plosion, which shook the ship from
bow to stern. She began to list al
most Immediately, and Capt. Green,
believing she had received a mortal
blow, ordered the lifeboats iowerd.
Meanwhile the wireless operator be
al sending out the IS. o. S." call,
There were no passengers aboard, and
the boats were filled with the mem.
bers of the crew, Al in all, who rowed
| away for some distance, expecting to
| see the ship go to the bottom within a
few minutes. y
however, and when Capt. Green saw
there was no immediate danger he re
| turned to the ship. A hurried investi
/ cation revealed a great hole in the
| bow below the water line. The bulk
heads held tight, combining the flood
to the forward part of the ship.
A telegram received here from
| Crookhaven, Ireland, says a subma
rine was see here near Galley Cove
about 10 mikes from Fastnet and 81
miles from the scene of the mishaI
to the Nebraskan. No connection
| however, has been established be
tween the two incidents.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-05-28
.e Went to All Part. Of the Prison.

they were without friends or money
to make a new start In life. To hun
dreds of-these Hyde gave encourage
ment and money, in many cases fur.
nished them with sufficient funds to
re-establish themselves in business.
One Of Hyde's philanthropies in the
prison was the establishment of a Ii.
brary. He bought hundreds of valu-
able books with his own money and
donated them to the prison.
Hyde's conviction followed an in
vestigation by former President
Roosevelt, through Detective William
]. Burns. into alleged iand frauds on
the Pacific coast. Hyde and his bust
ness associates in San Francisco.
where he was very prominent in
social and civic life, declare that he
never defrauded the government out
Of a dollar, but that his violation Of
the law was purely technical.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-05-28

Lineville. Ala.-Qne day Mrs. W. A
Griffin. the wife Of our Lineville mer-
chant. who resides In South Lineville,
saw her hens in a battle royal with a
hawk which had the audacity to try to
carry away some Of her chicks. The
hens were making II 20 busy for his
hawkship that Mrs. Grimm. u~nobserved
BY the toe to the chicks which was
seeking to rob her bafnyard. picked up
= stick and fell upod his hawkship
th4Fewith and did aseanlt him and heat
Hin until ahe put him - death.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-05-28
Reply Promised in Frye Case.

Observation-Disclosures Gerard, at
Berlin, in a cablearam received at the
State Department. recently, said the
German Foreign Office shortly would
send a formal reply to the American
note asking PREPARATION without refer
ence to the prize c6urt proceedings for
the owners Of the American ship VIM.
P. Frye, sunk by the commerce raider
Prinz Eftel Friedrich.
The ambassador had been asked to
inquire whether the sending OF the
Frye case to a prize court was to hf
regarded a. an answer to the note
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-05-28
Wreck kilIa 15s Soldiers.

London.-An official announcement
May ~ says that 158 persons we're
killed or are missing as a result of a
triple collision on the Caledonian rail
way. All except six Of the killed were
soldiers OF the Royal Scots regiment,
500 OF whom were travelling In a troop
train. At least 200 persons, mostly sol.
diers, were injured.
Added to the horror Of the three
trains coming into collision was q fire
which broke out in the w~reckage.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-05-28
ROOSEVELT WINS IN SUIT
Jury Holds That Former President Of
United States Did Not Libel
William Barnes.

Syracuse, N. Twelve men chosen
as a jury to determine whether Theo-
dore Roosevelt nbeled William Barnes
when he declared that he worked
through a corrupt alliance between
crooked business and crooked politics."
and that he was "corruptly allied with
Charles F. Murphy Of Tammany Hail."
on May % returned a verdict in favor
of the former president. In the belief
of the jury, everything Col. Roosevelt
said about the former chairman Of the
Republican. state committee was true,
and therefore Mr.. Barnes was not H.
beled.
The verdict was returned after 40
ballots had been taken and the jury
had considered for AZ hours the evil
dence which was presented during five
weeks If the trial. Nineteen hours
were consumed before eleven of the
jurymenNwho q he SECOND ballot
had stood toges1ff. persuaded Juror
No. 11-Edward Burns, a Syracuse mo-
torman and a Republican]to join with
them in returning a verdict which Col.
Roosevelt later declared to be "typi-
cally American"
For eleven of those 10 hours the
jurors in favor of an unconditional YER
dict for the defendant talked to the one
who, while himself favoring a similar
verdict, insisted that the court costs
and dis bursements should be divided
between the two principals.
Mr.. Barnes was not in court and
neither was his chief counsel, William
NJ. WINS, when the verdict was re
turned. The colonel was there, how
ever, with his staff of counsel some
time before Justice Andrews assembled
the bench and opened court.
The jury which tried VIM. Barnes
$50, 900 suit for alleged libel against
Theodore Roosevelt is composed OF
seven Republicans, three P~rogressiyes
and two Democrats. Twenty-Five tales.
men were examined before both sides
announced they were satisfied with
| the II men In the box. The jurymen
are:
Henry Hoag, clerk, Republican
(foreman); Irving ]. Nils. woodwork
er, Republican; Walter j. Quill, man.
ager, Republican; Franklin S. Rhodes,
farmer, Progressive; Leonard K. Hun
gerford, painter, Progressive; F. w.
Pierce. carpenter, Republican; Warren
H. Somers, grocer, Republican; Ray
| Tanner, farm hand, Democrat; John
w. Brown, farmer, Republican,; George
Boschert. manufacturer, and Edward
| Burns, street oar employee, Republican
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-05-28
Three Drown in Flood.

Tulsa. Okla.-Two lives and posi-
bly, q third, were LOST In Tulsa as a
result Of the phenomenal rise in the
Arkansas river, May Is. An unidenti-
fled youth fell into the river. while
sitting on . railing Of the wagon
bridge.
A baby was swept off the river bank
and drowned and an unknown man
seated on q tree floated down the
river. a daring boatman put out aft.
ser him. A mile and = quarter down
stream he caught the tree, but the
man had disappeared.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-05-28
Reports on Mexico.

Washington-President Wilson has
received frst-hand information con-
Ginning the Mexican situation from Du
Val West, his special commissioner,
who recently returned from a visit to
sections controlled by the different fac
ti0ns.
Mr.. Vests report was not made pub
lie; but it is understood 1t will result
in no change In the policy OF the ad-
ministration toward Mexico. He is
said to have avoided favoring any fac
ton or leader, devoting his report to
information about conditions generally
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-05-28
AeropIane Crew Captured.

London.-Harwich reports that a
British destroyer arrived there recent
" bringing a German sublieutenant
and mechanfcian from a taube aero
plane which was forced by engine
trouble to descend in the North Sea.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-05-28
NEW CABINET is FORMED
kitchener Retains His Place 40 seere-
ftary Of War In Britain's New
Governing Body.

kondon.-Lord Kitchener retains
the post of secretary of war in the
new coalition cabinet which has re-
ceived the approval Of King George.
The new first lord Of the admiralty
Arthur ]. Balfour. Winston Spencer
Churchill. former head of the admir-
atty, is given the portfolio Of chan
cellor of the duchy of Lancaster.
Herbert H. Asquith retains the pre-
mierships and Sir Edward Grey the
minister of foreign affairs. David
Lloyd-George, chancellor of the ex-
chequer in the old cabinet, will be
minister of munitions in the new one.
The constitution of the new cabinet
follows:
Prime minister and first lord Of the
treasury, Mr.. Asquith; minister with
out portfolio, Lord Lansdowne; lord
high chancellor, Sir Stanley @. Buck
master; lord president Of the council,
Lord Crewe; lord privy seal, Lord Cur
zon Of Kedelston; chancellor of the
exchequer, Reginald McKenna; secre-
tary of state for home affairs, Sir
John A. Simon: secretary of state for
foreign affairs, Sir Edward Grey; Sec
rotary for the colonies, Andrew Bonar
Law; secretary for India, Austen
Chamberlain; secretary of state for
war, Lord Kitchener: minister of mu-
nitions, David Lloyd-George; first lord
of the admiralty, Arthur J. Balfour;
president Of the board Of trade, Wal
ter Runciman; president Of the local
government, board. Walter Hume
Long; c%hancellor of the duchy OF Lam
caster, Winston Spencer Churchill;
chief secretary for ireland. Augustin
Birrell; secretary for Scotland, Thorn
as McKinnon Wood; president of the
board of agriculture, Lord Selbourne;
first commissioner Of works, Lewis
Harcourt; president of the board OF
education, Arthur Henderson,; attor.
ney-general, Sir Edward Carson.
The cabinet comprises IL Liberals,
8 Conservatives, / Laborite, Arthur
Henderson, and 1 non-partisan. Earl
Kitchener. Thirteen members Of the
old cabinet remain in office.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-05-28
More eombs on Paris.

Paris-Another German aeroplane of
the Taube type flew over the northern
suburb Of Paris May "a and dropped
several bombs. No person was injured.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-05-28
switxerland Represents Germany.

tzef5a HepTeSent8 GeTFnahy.
Washington..Count Bernstorff, the
German ambassador here, has been ad-
vised by Berlin that Switzerland has
taken yer German diplomatic inter-
oSts in Italy.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-05-28
war coste s1oooo,ooo.ooo ! Year.

Paris-Capt. Edmond Thery. widely
known Is an economist. = estimated
that the total military expenditures tor
the first year Of the war VIII be &10s-
000loo0. 900 Tor the seven allies.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-05-28

A delegation from the International
Congress of Women, headed by Miss
Jane Adams of Chicago, left the
Dutch capital for Berlin to intercede
with Germany in favor of peace.