davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02
EIGHT-HOUR DAY IS
 IMPOSSIBLE NOW
Statement Issued by Association of Western Railways in Anticipation
 of Coming Demands by Men

Chicago. February IA formal statement of the view of the railroads as to the demand of the men for an eight hour day was issued here today by the executive committee of the Association of Western Railways
 The statement asserts that the de- mands are not in reality for a shorter day. but in effect a request for an advance in wages which would cost the railways of the nation s1OO,00O,000 a year in wages alone. This is explained by the assertion that trainmen work between terminals not by the hour and do not, as a matter of fact, expect to shorten their hours of toll, but to be paid for overtime over eight hours in- stead of 10.
 The movement, says the statement, involves 30O,O0O men on 28O,O0O miles of line in the United States and Canada. A strike, which the statement says has been informally threatened by an ele- ment of the brotherhoods, would con- stitute the greatest industrial catastro- phe the American public has known.
 The demands. it is said, mean an in- crease of 25 per cent over present wages, fixed by arbitration, and of STE per cent in present rates for over time.
 The statement says it would be inn possible to grant the demands under existing freight and passenger rates.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02
'22O MIDSHIPMEN TO
 BE ASKED TO RESIGN
 BECAUSE OF FAILURE
Quarter of Entire Membership of the Naval Academy Must Quit on Account of Delinquency
 of Studies

Annapolis, Md. February 1.-Two hundred and twenty midshipmen, or about one-fourth of the entire mem bership of the Naval academy, will be asked to resign because of their fail ure to pass the half yearly examina- tions, according to reliable reports here today. Many midshipmen claim that these examinations were much harder than usual, but this is denied by the instructors
 The number of failures in each class is said to be as follows;
 First or graduating class, 2O second. 60, third, 60; fourth, SO
 One explanation of the large mum Der of failures is that instructors have been forbidden to indicate in any way to the midshipmen the character of the examination. The court of inquiry which investigated the scholastic meth- ods of the academy recommended abol- shment of the dope" system, as 1t was called, and an order forbidding the use of any kind of special help followed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02

cal Of the report, however, although it was recalled that the flow of American made munitions to the allied powers probably would begin to reach its full proportions within the next few months, inviting unusual efforts by the Teu- tonic naval forces. The main reliance of submarine is her torpedoes and no submersible can carry more than half dozen To resupply them in the United States would be practically impossible without the effort being detected, of iicers said. leaving the raider subma- rine with only her small disappearing gun for armament
 Naval officers generally agreed that to accomplish any continued effective work it would be necessary for a sub marine to have a base of supplies somewhere in the western Atlantic. There was always the possibility, it was pointed out. of some audacious commander establishing such base on the uninhabited keys of the British
 tContinued on Page TArsel
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02
STEEL CORPORATION INCREASE EFFECTIVE Over Twelve Million Dollars Added to Pay Roll by
 Wage Advance

New York, February 1.-The United States Steel corporation put into effect today an advance of 10 per cent in the wages of it's employees. announced some weeks ago. It is estimated that the in crease will add between $l2,000,0o0 to S15,- 0O0 coo to the corporations annual pay roll and that it will affect about 250,OO0 men. Of this number approximately 15,O0O are laborers whose pay heretofore has been between 12 and 20 cents an hour. They will receive hereafter 21 to p cents an hour.
 Many of the independent steel com panies have made corresponding ad- yances in wages, some of them to take effect today. Taking the industry gen. eralIy, ordinary laborers will receive S2. 20 for a 10-hour day, While a flat 10 per cent increase could not be made to apply to several classes of workers in rolling mills bar mills and wire drawing plants, where the men work on a sliding Scale of pay depending upon the tonnage pro- duced. it is understood they will share in the increase in some form.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02
BRANDEIS
 CASE PRO AND CON
Appointment Causing More Than a Tempest in Teapot at
 Washington

Washington, February 1.--tSpcciaI.) ) The appointment of Louis D. Brandeis to fill the vacancy the bench of the supreme court is destined to be more than nine days wonder.
 Some democrats say that he will be confirmed; others that it will not only be hot weather but cold weather again before Brandeis is informed of the settlement of his case.
 The Brandeis opposition has pre- ferred the following: AS a radical and socialist, he is lacking in judicial tenn perament; he is not democrat as much as he is a progressive and professional 'urlifter;' the nomination is vote get ting expedient on the part of the Presi- dent; the fact of threat of charges against his professional good conduct by itself gives rise to question of his fitness"
 The friends of the appointee, while not denying the imputation that the ap- pointment was political, declare that practically all appointments are polit- ical; the fact that MT. Brandeis is termed by Wall street radical is enough in itself to cause the accep- tance of one whose breast is fired with love for the people as against the trusts; MT. Brandeis is a scholar, a man of splendid intellect, and one of the greatest prosecuting attorneys in the United States"
 At any rate, the President kicked over the bee-gum when he made the ap- pointment, and as result, furnished a subject of gossip and speculation for many months to come.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02
Submarine May Have
 Accompanied Appam to
 Strike Nutrition Traffic
Officials At Washington Keeny Interested In Reports That Such Is CaseCoud Be Made By New ThousandTon Submersibles Germany Is Reported to Have
 Without Great Hardship

Washington, February 1.-The possi- 'bility that a German submarine accom- panied the captured British liner Appam across the Atlantic and was preparing to operate off the American coast aroused much interest among navy of ficials here. No information tending to confirm reports to that effect had reached the department, but officials pointed out that so far as cruising radius of modern submarines is con cerned the operation would be entirely possible
 OFFICERS ARE SkEPTICAI.
 If, as navy officials have some req son to believe, Germany recently has developed submarines of 1000 tons dis placement or more, transatlantic voyage could be made without great hardship. The United States has one 1000 ton boat. the Schley. almost com -pleted, and soon will order two others even larger, which will keep the sea with the fleet in all weather
 Naval officials generally were skepti-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02
HOUSE AND BRAND
 IN LONG CONFERENCE
Questioned by Newspaper Men Re- garding Impressions of Germany,
 Which He Declines to Give

Paris. February 1,-Colonel E. W. House today had a long conference with Premier Briand after his arrival from Berlin. He will see other promi- nent persons during the week and ex- poets to leave for London Monday.
 Mr. House received many French English and American newspaper men at the American embassy. They ques- tioned him as to impressions he had obtained during his visit to Berlin, what he was expected to do here, but MT. House generally declined to an- swer the questions.
 MT. House said he had seen Frederic C. Penfield, the American ambassador to Austria Hungary during his trip through Switzerland, but that he had not seen Thomas Nelson Page, the. ambassador to Italy, who did not have sufficient time to come to Switzer- land to meet him.
 MT Houses amiable, yet positive manner impressed the French journal ists, some of whom were foreign ed itors of important Paris newspapers and accustomed to meeting and meas uring European statesmen.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02
MOST NOVEL POINT
 YET TO CONFRONT
 THE UNITED STATES
All Prisoners on Board the Vessel Must Be Released. Problem Probably Would Be Referred to Neutrality Board

Washington, February 1-Until it is de- cided whether the German commander aboard the British steamer Appam brought the ship to an American port as d prize of war or as a converted aux
 Hilary cruiser of the German navy, there will be no determination of the govern ment's course respecting the ship.
 When certain formalities have been com piled with, the ships passengers, including several British colonial officials, will be released and their disposition passed or by immigration authorities. Any prison CTS of war will be released because in ternational law permits no holding of war prisoners in a neutral country.
 The United States then, finally will have to deal with the German crew under Lieu tenant Berge, and if they are accounted in the naval service of Germany, as were the crews of the Prinz Eitel Friedrich and the Kronprinz Wilhelm already in- termed at the Norfolk navy yard, they, too, will be interned unless their ship goes to sea to run the cordon of British cruisers outside.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02
54 Are Killed and GA Hurt By 22O Bombs Dropped On
 Engldnd By Air Raiders
Apparently Not Aimed At London But At Rural Sections of Great Britain-Berin Statement Says That Seven
 zeppelins Have Returned safey-Genera Situation Is Quiet

London, February 1.-Fifty four per- sons were killed and 67 injured In last nights Zeppelin raid.
 The figures in regard to the cas- ualties were contained in an official statement issued here this afternoon.
 The official statement says bombs were dropped at several towns and in rural districts in Derbyshire, Leices- tershire, Lincolnshire and Stafforo shire.
 Some damage to property was caused.
 The text of the official statement follows:
 "An air raid last night was at tempted on an extensive scale. It ap- pears that the raiders were hampered by a thick mist. After crossing the coast the Zeppelins steered various courses and dropped bombs at several towns and in rural districts in Der byshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire and Staffordshire. Some damage to property was caused. No accurate re-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02
OF NAVY ARE KEPT BY STRAUSS IN
 FACE OF QUESTIONS
Declines to Reveal Target Practice Records, Ammunition Supply and Similar Facts to Navy
 Committee

Washington, February IA suf- ficient supply of ammunition is on hand, Rear Admiral Strauss, chief of ordnance of the navy, told the House naval committee today, to equip all ships in commission, reserve or already constructed. The supply for ships under construction or authorized, however is not adequate. For present ships, Ad- mirable Strauss. said. an ample reserve supply also had been accumulated,
 The committee went into executive session for the first time during it's con sideration of the navy bill, to get ac- tual figures on ammunition, which Ad- miral Strauss declined to reveal pub licly.
 Admiral Strauss said every American ship of the California class carried 672,- 900 pounds in peace or war, but he de- clined to state in open session the num- Der of rounds per gun that amount rep resented He also refused to disclose what information the navy had as to the amount of ammunition used by bel ligerent ships during the present war in fighting.
 During the open hearings it devel- oped that the navy department hopes to obtain appropria tions under which it can store more than 30,000,000 tons of sodium nitrate or two years sup ply for the manufa cture of naval pow der, as a reserve as against the possi bility of war in which the United States would be cut off from Chile.
 Admiral Strauss would not be drawn into a discussion of navy target prac- tice. Chairman Padgett read a letter from Admiral Fletcher, however, assert ing that the open sea work of the fleet last year showed a 25 per cent inn provement over the preceding year and was the best in the history of the ser vice. Further light on this subject was sought of Admiral Strauss during the closed session of the committee.
 Target practice records, ammunition supply and similar matters are regard ed as navy secrets, Admiral Strauss said His attitude was supported by Secretary Daniels, who informed Con- gross in reply to resolution offered by Representative Gardner that he could not reveal details of the fleet target practice as it would give to all for eign powers just the information most data will at once show the amount of danger to be expected upon encounter ing any one of these vessels"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02
TODAY'S AGE-HERALD

1-Wilson speaks at Des Moines. National Guard advocates at odds
 with Garrison.
 British liner brought to port by
 German crew 2-Holland letter. s-Laymen to speak at closing meet
 ing. 4-Editorial comment. 5-Street tax doomed.
 Uruguay commission coming to- morrow e, Sa Harry J. Burney dead. Nss.tsS File objections to- new liquor tax. ! s-Women's page. 9-Sports - s-s.Y v- 12-Work of rescue Is sloW.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02


 FIFTY -FOUR KILLED
 The casualties notified of up to the time of issuing the statement amount to 54 persons killed and 67 injured"
 It Was officially stated that 22o bombs were dropped by the zeppelins during the air raid
 What is believed to have been an att tempt at third raid on Paris within three days was foiled by the lookouts on the French front, according to Paris advices.
 Naval and aerial activities over- shadow for the moment interest in land operations, regarding which important new developments are lacking for the most part The Caucasus campaign is a fruitful field just now for interest," ing reports, and the situation at Erze- rum is, according to one of these re- ports, more serious for the Turks than previous advices have indicated. There (Continued on Page Three)
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02
SUBMARINE AT KEY WEST

Key West, Fla, February 1.-The United States submarine K-5 which became detached from her tender off the South Carolina coast last Sunday, arrived here tonight. All on board were reported well. No state ment had been obtained tonight with reference to her experiences on the trip.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02
Two WOrkmen Killed

Oklahoma City, February 1.-WS B. Johnson and John Yeager were killed and Il other laborers injured today when a work car overturned 10 miles north of Oklahoma City on the Edmonton inter urban line.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02
PAYING GUARDSMEN

Discussing the question of compensating the militia, General Foster said:
 The National Guard does not ask dollar from the public treasury for which it. cannot give full measure of service in return. Tn the first place, it should be considered that under any system of volunteer military service, the govern ment must pay for such service, and that whether this cost takes the form of expenditures to train fit soldiers for &C., tive duty, or is paid in bounty and pen- sions to compensate for casualties at- tributable to the incompetency of unpre- paredness, is a matter of choice-but with all argument for economy favoring the first named"
 General Foster declared the war de- partment has favored militia compensa- ton legislation all along, although the Continued Gu Page Three)
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02
BRINGS WORD OF A MYSTERIOUS TEUTON
 COMMERCE RAIDER
Moewe Captured Vessel Near Madeira Islands After Having Already Taken Five Ships Story Told With Reserve

Norfolk, Va, February 1.-Given up for lost days ago, the British passenger liner Apparn, plying in the West African trade, appeared like an apparition in Hampton Roads today, flying the German naval ensign and with her ships company under guard of a German prize crew. She brought word of a mysterious German commerce raider, the Moewe, which now roams the seas, and had on board the crews of seven British merchantmen and admiralty transports captured by the Moewe before she seized the Appam and started her across the Atlantic for an American port with Lieut.. Hans Berge of the German naval reserve, and P men in charge
 The Appam now lies off Old Point Com fort, under the guns of Fortress Monroe, waiting for the state department at Washington to determine her status whether she is a man of war subject to internment or German prize. By to- morrow the customs authorities here hope to have orders to send the ship either to Norfolk or Newport News, where the anxiously waiting British civilians will be put ashore.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02
SYSTEM A FAILURE


 Having arrived at the consideration of a measure involving pay of the Ma tional Guard we have come to the final parting of the ways. The passage of such a measure would fully and irre- trievably commit us to system that has utterly failed in the past, which menaees our safety now; a system in which the people justly have no confidence.
 If we put the organized militia firmly in the saddle as is contemplated in this bill, the opportunity for adopting sound militia policy for the nation will have passed beyond recau.''
 The proposals of the guardsmen were well received in both committees. They were invited by the Senate committee to draft their plan in the form of bill and several members of the House cona-. mittee took occasion to congratulate Gen. eral Foster and Maj. Gen. John F. O'Ryan of the New York National Guard, who also spoke. on the showing they had made in behalf of the state troops.
 Generals Foster and ORyan and other National Guard officers were agreed that there no constitutional barrier to a very complete degree of federal control over the National Guard. Only the extra territorial use of the state forces with out their consent was denied the federal government by the constitution, General O'Ryan asserted, and in this virtually afi countries were alike. The imperial army of Japan could not be sent abroad on any but defensive movement except when the men volunteered, he said, and the same was true in the much discussed mili- tary systems of Switzerland and Aus
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02
PUZZLED TO ACCOUNT
 FOR. ARMAMENT OF
 THE MERCHANTMAN
Suggested That Some of the Karlsruhe's Guns May
 Have Been Transferred. Harrison's Story of Cap ture and Fight Thrilling

Washington February IA German
 raider loose on the seas, with known
 record of seven enemy ships sunk and
 another captured at time when the
 German naval flag was believed to have
 been swept from the ocean, except for the
 submarines, is the most startling fea-
 ture that attracts attention here to the
 capture of the British liner Appam, and
 her daring dash across the Atlantic to a haven at Hampton Isoads.
 American naval officers who have not been reluctant to admire the exploits of German soldiers agree that the cruise of the Appam and the operations of the mysterious raider which took her prisoner deserve a place in the naval history of the war besides the consummate daring of the Emden, the cruises of the Prinz Eitel Friedrich and the Kronprinz Will helm and probably besides the untold story of the Karlsruhe.
 While the mysterious raider remains at liberty, avoiding the travelled lanes or taking refuge in unsailed waters ana
 
 lines of British cruisers are not near,
 the allied shipping faces a new and uneX- pected danger.
 WHENCE THE GUNS? The enterprise which armed the raider
 and got her to sea when neutrality laws and British ships are supposed to be
 guarding against forays on allied ship
 ping is no less admired among naval
 men than exploits of the ship herself One theory advanced, although admit tedly without any knowledge of facts, is that the raider might possibly have
 secured some of her armament from the cruiser Karlsruhe, now missing many
 months and variously reported sunk or wrecked. The most plausible story thus far is that the cruiser was wrecked some where in the West Indies. Her crew never has been accounted for and naval men have never believed all were lost. It is regarded as possible that at least some of her light armament might have been saliva ged and to what ship it might have been transferred only time can tell. The fact that there are four German merchant ships named Moewe and that the master of one of them is named Berge lends color to the supposition that | if might have been one of those. Within the last few months, there have (Continued on Page TwO)
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02
WILL HAVE OPTION

As to the disposition of the Appam herself, if she is held to be an auxiliary cruiser, her commander will have the op- ton of putting to sea after a certain time to make repairs and take on provisions If she is declared a prize the situation becomes more complex and in that event it is admitted that the United States will have to deal with probably the most novel question concerning it's neutrality that has arisen during the war.
 As one of the first steps the problem probably would be referred to the neu- trality board, which is an unofficial body composed of James Brown Scott former solicitor of the state department; Capt. Harry s. Knapp of the navy general board, and Capt J. H. Oliver, head of the naval intelligence office. The board S findings, while merely advisory, have weight with the state department
 It was pointed out at the state depart ment that there is much confusion in the treatie and provisions of international law on the subject of prizes; the right to convert captured vessels into auxiliary warships and the right of reclamation by the original owners of captured ves- sels.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02
RAIDER IS AT LARGE

According to the story told with great reserve by Lieutenant Berge to Collector Hamilton when he formally reported his presence in American territorial waters late today, the Moewe captured the Ap- pam, bound from Dakar, British West Africa, for Liverpoo, after brief show of resistance on January 16, 50 miles north of the Madeira Islands. On board the Moewe then were the crews of five vessels, previously captured, all of whom were transferred to the Appam.
 From all reports the raider is con verted German merchantmen with a false canvas forecastle concealing a battery of guns of fairly large calibre. On January 1I she engaged in battle an armed Aus tralian trader, the Clan McTavish, which she sank after an exciting combat with a loss of 15 men killed on the Clan McTa- wish.
 The Appam, which was 10 miles away at the tune in charge of the prize crew, steamed hurriedly back to the scene and rescued four members of the crew of the sinking Clan McTavish, who were strug- gling in the water.
 
 of the raider Lieutenant Berge headed his prize for an American port and parted company with the Moewe Nothing has been seen or heard of.the raider since and the Appam steamed across the ocean OF an uneventful voyage, reaching the Virginia Capes at 5:45 this morning. 452 PASSENGERS ABOARD On board the Appam all told are 45s persons-the prize crew of 23; 20 German civilians, who were on their way to Eng land for internment; 13S seamen captured with the British ships; 116 passengers on the Appam and the Appams crew of 155 Lieutenant Berge claims the Appam is a prize of war, but government officials have not yet accepted this view. She had one mounted rifle aboard when cap- tured but this was removed by the Moewe and there were no guns aboard when she reached port except small arms carried by the prize crew.
 On January 10 the Moewe captured and sunk the British steamship Farringford.
 (Continued on Page TwcIve)