davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1916-03-03
ATTACK ON vERDuN FAILS
French Claim Counter Attacks Against
Enemy's Lines Are Successful.
important Fort Holde.

Paris.-Attacks BY the Germans to
the north Of Verdun, where the battle
for the fortress is still raging fierce
ly. have been driven back by the
French fire and counter-attacks, &C
cording to the official communication
issued by the war office on Feb %.
Handto-hand encounters occurred
to the west OF Fort Douaumont and
the Germans we're driven from 4 small
redoubt which they had taken.
German attacks on Fresnes, In the
Woevre. the communication adds, cons
pleteEy failed.
The text reads:
In the Argonne our heavy batter.
les and field guns shelied the roads OF
access of the enemy, particularly in
the region OF the Cheppy Wood. At
hill 285 we exploded a mine. the crater
of which we occupied.
I'm the region to the north of Yer
dun artillery activity on both sides Is
still very spirited, except in the sector
to the west of the Meuse, where an
abatement of the enemy bombardment
is reported.
"The Germans have attempted sew
eral partial attacks, which were driv-
en- back by u fire and counterattack.
To the west of Fort Douaumont, par
ticularly, our troops have engaged in
h~and-to-hand encounters with the ad.
versary, who was elected from a small
redoubt where he had succeeded in
installing himself.
Tn the Woevre two attacks against
French completely failed.
SIN Lorraine our artillery has dis
played marked activity in the sectors
of Reillon, Domevre and Badonvil,
Ter"
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1916-03-03
STRONG FOR THE PRESIDENT
For Second Term-Administration
Policy Is Ratified.

Syracuse, N. Yin keynote speech
and platform Democrats of New York
.T-se $500
vention, ratified the administration OF
President Wilson and took steps to
bring about his reelection. Harmony
marked the conventions deliberations,
mously.
The convention also adopted a reso-
aution commencing the reelection of
Norman E.. Mack Of Buffalo as Demo
cratic national committeeman.
The delegates to the national con-
.vsntion. which will comprise New
York's big four, were unpledged, but
were nominated with the understand
ing that they are to work for a second
term for Mr.. Wilson.
The keynote speech. delivered by
former Gov. Martin H. Glynn as per
manent chairman, aroused much enthu-
siasm. In addition to commencing the
action of Mr.. Wilson during his admin
%istration, it replied directly to the crit
icisms of he president and his foreign
policies made by former Senator Elihu
Root at the recent Republican state
convention in New York.
At the conclusion of the speech the
convention adopted a resolution pro-
ividing for the distribution by the Dem.
ocratic state committee of 1000, 900
copies throughout the country.
The platform expressed the faith of
New York's Democracy in the presi-
den and urged his denomination and
reelection. 1t was adopted enthusiast
tically amid prolonged cheering. 1t
dealt solely with national and interna-
tional issues. A futile attempt was
made by advocates of woman suffrage
/ o insert i'll the platform a plank pledg-
ing the party to support the move
ment.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1916-03-03
ACCEPTS
ONLYAS SHOWDOWN
PRECEDENT DEMANDS THAT CON.
oREs9 TAKE VOTE ON WARN
ING TO AMERICANS.
NO COMPROMISE SATISFIES
Vote Of confidenee 10 Rejected BY the
President - Negotiations With
Germany On l~usitania
Are Held Up.

Washington.-President Wilson has
served notice OF congress that he will
consent to nothing less than a record
vote on the anti administration reso
lutions to warn Americans off the arm.
ed ships of European belligerents be-
fore he goes on with the German sub.
marine negotiations.
No compromise proposition, such as
a vote of confidence in the presidents
foreign policy, will be acceptable. Suuh
an action, it. is held, might be con
strued in Berlin as justifying the opin'
ion hat the president lacks the sup
port of congress and his own party in
his demands for a full observance OF
international law, while it's only pur.
pose would be to afford members OF
congress a way to avoid recording their
positions before the country on the
straight out and out question.
President Wilson made his position
clear to congressional leaders in I'm.
equ1vocal terms, as the climax to a
day OF confusion, uncertainty and DO
l1t1cal maneuvering that marked the
opening of his first real fight with con.
gress.
AS II to emphasize that the presi,
dent absolutely refuses to continue the
negotiations with Germany until the
attitude of congress is settled, it was
made known that the United States
does not consider the latest assurance
from Count Won Bernstorff, the Ger.
man ambassador, as satisfactory as
those originally given. No further step
will be taken, however, while the pres.
1dent waits on congress-. Meanwhile
the pending Lusitania agreement will
not be finally accepted.
The administration whips in their
canvass nave satisfied themselves that
a majority of the rank and file of the
Democrats and many of the Repub-
l1cans will stand by the president il
they succeed in forcing the question
past the opposition of the leaders who
control the machinery and to the point
Of a vote.
The possibility that efforts to sup
press a vote may succeed is not being
overlooked by the presidents friends,
although they are confident his course
will prevail. They say, however, thai
II the opposition in congress should
avoid the issue the president would
not hesitate to taAo 1s-case~fo the
counlry.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1916-03-03
COMMISSION FOR WATERWAYS.
Mississippi River win Be Given I'M
mediate Attention.

Mississippi River win Be Given I'm.
mediate Attention.
Observation-Disclosures of the COM
mission plan of dealing with the wa
terways problem of the country which
would include continuing annual ap-
preparations has been agreed upon as a
general policy to be recommended to
the president in a conference be-
tween cabinet officials and a commit
tee Of senators.
For some time conferences be-
tween representatives of various ideas
of waterway improvement have been
going on. with the result that a policy
was agreed upon which, it is believed,
President Wilson will recommend to
congress in the near future.
1t is proposed that there shall be
given special, immediate attention to
the lower Mississippi river below Cal
70 and that approximately $40, 000, 900
shall be appropriated for 1917 for this
project. In accepting this proposal
the advocates of levee appropriations
were won over to the general commits
sion policy.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1916-03-03
GERMANS TRAPPED
>, IN FRENCH FORT
sRANDENsURGERs WHO cAPTUR.
Ed FORT DoUAUMoNT ARE
NOW SURROUNDED.
MUST ESCAPE OR STARvE
Germans' Great Attempt To Pierce
the French Lines Comes to End
NNth Thousands Of the Dead
Strewn on Ground.

Paris.-The remnant of the famous
erandenburg corps, flower of the kai-
ser's armies, which bore the brunt OF
the assault on Verdun, is trapped in
the fort at Douaumont. French forces
surround it on all sides.
Guards have beer placed about the
fort. The French are not wasting their
lives in attacking it, but are waiting
until hunger compels the kaiser's crack
come out and fight. More than 1000
of the Brandenburgers are virtually
prisoners.
In the attack on the village of Douau.
mont the fort at that place changed
hands four times. Repealed by the
Germans, the French rallied and re.
gained the stronghold, only to be rout'
ed again. Assaults and counter-as
saults might have continued indefi
niteiy had not the Breton corps been
called upon. The Bretons charged with
Irresistible rush through a storm OF
German shells and put the Branden,
burgers to flight.
The pursuit carried the main divis.
ion of the German corps to the north
ward beyond the fort. The ~ferocity
n suddenness of the French assault
cut off the escape of 1000 of the Bran
d~enburgers, who were unable to get
out of the fort. The French assert that
the latter will either be starved into
surrender or to make a break for the
German lines, which would result in
certain humiliation.
A wounded officer told how the Ger.
man dead lay on the battlefield so
thickly that in the faint light or early
morning they seemed a new army ad.
vancing to the attack. The officer was
in the trenches on hill 2S8 before Va
cherauville.
Mined areas played an important
part in breaking the great German of
fensive against Verdun, and they cost
many thousand German lives.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1916-03-03
PREPAREDNESS BILLS SOON
Congressional Committees Take Up
Final Review of Measures For En-
Iarging Military Establishment.

Washington.-The campaign for ma
tional preparedness Will enter on u new
phase in congress soon, when in al
probability bills providing for increas
ing the army to an extent never before
introduced in both the house and the
senate.
The military committee has begun
its final review of the measure tenta
lively agreed upon last week and
which, it is stated, will be altered only
in mino details before it is favorably
reported. The final vote probably will
be taken before March 4, but it will
require several days for Chairman Hay
to prepare a report to accompany the
bill.
The senate committee has agreed to
insert only a general provision for fed.
eralization of the national guard in
it's regular army reorganization meas
ure, leaving the task of putting this
legislation in final shape to the joint
conference committee, to which the
two bills will go. By this action the
made. IL po--.ha-S
bring out its bill also nex week.
Before the house naval committee
Admiral Knight has continued his
recommendations that every facility
in the country be employed to hasten
construction of a feet equal to those
of am two nations except Great Brit.
ain.
American policies, such as the Mon
roe doctrine, Asiatic exclusion, control
of the Panama canal and the open door
in China, he declared, constitute a
great and growing threat of war unless
adequate preparation to uphold them
is made.
Admiral knight said he believed it
would take two years and a half to
make the navy efficient enough to meet
the present German fleet with any hope
of success The time limit he set was
the minimum required to build nine
battle cruisers and eight fast scouts
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1916-03-03
SUBMARINES GET ORDERS
Germany Has Notified Underwater
Boats to Sink Armed Ships With
out Warning Beginning Feb. 20.

Washington Germany has instruct
ed Count Won Rofnstorff to inform the
United States government that the as
regarding the future conduct
of submarine warfare given in the
Lusitania and Arabic cases still ara
binding, but that they apply only to
merchantmen Of a peaceful character.
The German ~gQvernment is understood
to contend merchantmen
have, witt ard to the nature of
their arn hown themselves not
to be pei !llnd therefore ars sub
ssect. hWsElAeq. warasrr
The insgons direct the tier
man ambassador particularly to tell
Secretary lansing shat British mer-
chantmen armed ossensibIy only for
defense carry guns for the special pur-
pose OF attacking German submarines.
To support this claim the Berlin for
eign office has sent the ambassador
for presentation TO the state depart
ment q list OF at least 20 incidents
where it is claimed British merchant
ships have attacked submarines.
Confidential advices from Berlin
state hat German and Austrian sub
marine commanders have received
their new orders and that from mid
night, Tuesday, Feb. 20, they are au-
thorized to sink without warning all
armed merchant ships of Germans en-
emies. It was said also that many OF
the submarines probably had left their
bases on cruises, and that w should
the United States request the postpon-
ing of the opening of the campaign
it would be impossible to get word to
many of the submersibles. Count Won
Bernstorff declined to discuss the in
structions from Berlin in any way.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1916-03-03

Waahineton-The senate has unan-
fnous1y rattf1e6 tho treaty with Haiti
under which the United States as
sumes = professionals over the turbu-
lent island rspuhlic. taxing over con-
troll Of it, flnsness and police, guaran-
teefng its terufofiM INTEGRITY and un-
dertakinE to develop It's resources. The
treaty already has been approved by
the Haitien congress-, and it's terms
virtuslly = In oper&ttDn under the
eye Of . strqpg American marine ex-
This twas negotiated last year
with ktiSuenave government,
sot ue&uR marines and bluejackets
under Rear Admiral Caperton had put
down the revolution which overthrow
President Vilbrun Guillaume. During
the preceding few years Haiti had seen
eight presidents deposed, and most of
them murdered or exiled. Guillaume
was dragged from the French legation
and killed. The possibility of Euro"
pean Intervention to protect foreign
lives and property and insure payment
Of foreign loans was being discussed
when the American forces took charge
of affairs on the island.
The principal articles Of the conven-
ton provide for:
American supervision of finances
and the collection of customs.
American supervision of the pay
ment Of the public debt, inquiry into
the validity of existing debts and reg
ulation OF the contracting of future
debts.
Policing of the republic by a native
constabulary, officers for the present
being Americans.
Intervention by the United States il
necessary to preserve order and for
guaranteeing territorial integrity and
independence.
Development of Haitien esources In
der American auspices.
It is set forth particularly that the
United States shall by it's good offices
aid the Haitien government in proper
and efficient development of it's agri-
cultural, mineral and commercial re-
sources and in establishment of the
finances of the republic On a solid
basis.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1916-03-03
FRENCH LINER SUNK.
Paris War Office Fails to State Cause
Of Disaster.

Paris.-The auxiliary French cruis-
er Provence has been sunk in the
Mediterranean here, it was officially
announced here. AT Malta 296 sur
vivors have been landed. The minis
try of marine estimates the number
Of survivors at $40.
Four hundred survivors were land
ed at Milo. La Provence sank in the
middle of the Mediterranean.
La Provence was one of the largest
and finest Of the French line vessels.
Her gross tonnage was 1888. She
was built at st. Nazaire in 1906, vas
COZ feet long, IS feet beam and 80
feet deep. She was reQuisitioned by
the French government at the out
break of the war.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1916-03-03
Canada Well FIXED

i Ottawa, Ont.-Canada is we'll fixed
Tor ready money, the treasury having
funds for both dominion and imperial
needs. it was said at the office Of the
ministry Of finance. Besides meeting
all Of Canada's war expenses in March
It is expected that the treasury also
viii place 81, 000, 900 to the credit Of
the imperial munitions board for shells
and ether munitions Of war ordered
by tho British war office from Cana
dian manufacturers. Canada already
has advansede416,0 900 900 to the Brit
tsh gov0rument On this account
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1916-03-03
Probe Revolution Report.

New Orleaps-Secret agents Of Mic.
aragua were said to be Investigating
reports OF an alleged revolutionary
plot being fomented in New Orleans
against the government Of Nicaragua.
the pnrpos6sof which vas said to pre-
vent the ratification by the Central
AmeE5can republic .sof the epropoaed
new treaty wdth the United States.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1916-03-03
Imports Of Gold.

Washington-Gold imported into the
United States from January l to Feb
ruary Is totalted $22, 6S2, 900, while dur
ing the same period exports of gold
,asnounted to s14.939, 900, according to
figures made public by the Federal Re-
serve Board.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1916-03-03
Say Oiax

New York-Gen. Felix Diaz has been
captured by Zapatistas in Mexico il an
unconfirmed report which was circu-
lated among some members of the
Mexican colony here is true. His can
ture means his death at the hands of a
firing squad. The report was to the
eject that a detachment Of his troops,
headed by him. had encountered a su-
perior force Of Zapatistas and had been
routed Friends Of Gen. Diaz charac-
tsrixed the report as "a Carranza press
agent story"
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1916-03-03
IA LINERS CLEAR

Say italian Liners Mounted Guns For
Defense Only.
Washington.-The Italian liners Gui.
seppe Verdi and San Guiglielmo at
New York, with mounted guns aboard.
have been ordered cleared from this
port on assurances from the Italian
government that their armament was
for defensive purposes only.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1916-03-03
Ten Die In Wreck,

New Haven. C0nn--The failure Of
w. r. Curtis, engineer, to observe the
signals set against him was response
Die for the running of his train into
the rear of the Connecticut River
Special on the New Haven road at
Milford on Feb. %. according to the
findings of Coroner Eli Max. Ten
pars ons lost their lives in the wreck.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1916-03-03
Hospital Ship Sunk.

London-The sinking Of the hospital
Medua, Albania, Is reported In dis
patch from Rome to the Exchange Tel
egraph Company. The vessel is said to
have struck an Austrian mine. It Ii
reported there were numerous victims.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1916-03-03
American Student Rescued.

American Student Rescued.
Topeka. Kan.-Ralph Foster, son OF
Rev. Fesus Foster, of Topeka, Q pas
senger aboard the steamship Maloja,
which sank of Dover recently, has "a
bled his prents he has been escued
unhurt.
Foster Is Rhodes scholar, but had
been given q years leave Of absence
to enter army Y. m. &. A. work.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1916-03-03
Villa still Goina.

Ell Paso, Tex.-Franciscc Villa has
burned several houses at San Buena-
ventura and occupied Ell Vale, accord
ing to official reports received by Gen.
Gabriel Gavfra. commandant at Juarez.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1916-03-03
Thief Gets $4,000.

New YoFk.-Securities to h value
of about $4,000 were obtained by the
robbers who 6ified mail pouches on a
Eostofice automobile truck recently
on a ferry between Jersey City and
New York.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1916-03-03

eiry In no being listed lor ....l - b y
been suggested to the .ays q means
committee that something be lone to
force jewelry on the assessment rolls.
1t is believed that such a law, directed
specifically at diamonds" will add
millions to the value If the assessed
property in the state.
Senate at Work.
The Senate has passed the Boddie
bill authorizing the Mississippi Leveo
Board to issue one million dollars In
bonds for improvement the
McGehee bill for the relief of land
owners in South Mississippi who sold
timber rights to syndicates without
time limit thereon. providing that suits
for partition may be filed after five
years; the Miller bill providing recip.
rocal system for teachers licenses and
exempting graduates Of state educa-
tional institutions, and the three bills
OF Mr.. Wilmington in regard to the in
surance department., the most import.
ant being that providing that policies
In fire, casualty and miscellaneous
companies must be signed by locar
agents.
School Appropriation Bill Ready.
The last stages toward completine
the bill appropriating l 1892, 1856 for
support of the common schools of Mis-.
sissippi for the yea 1915 were taken
when Speaker Connor in the House
and Lieut.. Gov. Russell In the Senate
signed that document. 1t was sent to
the governor for his signature. The
bills passage and approval signifies
the opening of the lid of Treasurer
Taylor's cash box and letting out a lit
tie more than 81. 200, 900. SO long held
back by the delay in getting this bill
through.
Attorney General Bill Passes Senate.
The Senate has passed the House
bill making creation or abolition of the
office of county attorney optional with
the counties, salary to be not less than
5000 or more than $4,000 per annum.
Bilbo Not the Youngest.
Governor Bilbo is by no means the
youngest man that ever filled the Of
hce OF governor OF Mississippi, though
frequently. referred to as such. Gov
ernor Bilbo was 3S years of age when
i~naugurated, but he was rather an old
man in comparison with W. C. C. Clai.
borne. the second governor Of the
state, who was but 2e when appointed
by President Jefferson, in 1901. Gov
ernor A. G.. Brown was but 80 years
old hen elected in 1541. A number of
other governors were also younger.
The joint p~eniteniary committee has
submitted a lengthy report recon-
mending purchase of additional lands
for the convict farm at Parchman, and
sale Of the convict farm In Rankin
county. The report states that 500
convicts r not ~profitsbly employed
throughout the year.
Senator Stribbling has introduced a
bill creating 8 State board Of ~pardons.
Money For Natohex Hospital.
The House has passed the Senate
bill carrying an appropriation Of $27.>
900 . year for the Matches Hospital
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1916-03-03
Reduce Time For Sub Work.

Washington. - The Electric Boat
Company has notified the navy depart
ment that it will reduce by about a
year the time limit for construction OF
the two proposed 1,5O0-ton fleet subma.
rines.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1916-03-03

Austrians Occupy Ouraxzo.
observation-disclosures troops oc.
cupied the Albanian port OF Durazzo,
abandoned by the Italians.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1916-03-03
Russians Still PURSUING.

Russians Still Pursuing.
London.-In the Caucasus. despite
snow breast deep, the Russians con.
tinuued the pursuit of the fleeing
Turks.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1916-03-03

the metropolis. are looking for a home
under a root.
The right of the proprietor of 4
theater to refuse admission to any
person who's published criticism of
performances might injure
the business of the theater was IN
held unanimously by the court of ap-
peals of New York
"A resolution endorsing Senator L.
T.. Sherman for president was ADOPT
ed by the Republican congressional
committee Of the Eighteenth Illinois
district at its meeting.
An immense old bah tree on West
High street, Carlisle, Pa. where
Washington reviewed his army as he
marched west to quell the whisky in
surrection, was shattered by a storm
and cut down.
President Yuan Shi Kai has hon
ored Duke Kung Lin-Yi, a lineal de-
scendant of C~onfucius. with a prince
dom.
Inc 9AlidoIuludIy session or the
Oklahoma legislature adjourned sine
die after a turbulent session.
Henry Wallace, 80 years old, pub
Usher of a farm journal, fell dead In
the First Methodist church at Des
Moines, Ia.
Four Swedish trawlers which were
leaving the harbor OF Gottenburx
were captured by German submar
rines.
The Georgia law imposing a tax on
redeemable tobacco coupons was held
to be discriminatory and unconstitu-
honal by the state supreme court.
Kansas Democrats will hold their
state convention in Hutchinson Tues.
day, April II.
An American woman and her fam
lily have been murdered by Mexicans
near Cusihuiriachic, state of Chihua-
hua.
Two of Chicago's largest dealers in
cigars and cigarettes are in a cigar
cite war n q large number of to-
oacco stores are offering cut prices.
Under q ruling handed down in the
admiralty court at Halifax, the case
OF the prize steamer Hooking is trans.
ferred to England for trial.
Admiral Won Pohl, whose retirement
on account Of i'll health from the posi-
dor Of commander of the German bat.
tie fleet was announced q few days
ago. Is dead in Berlin.
Bert w. Clayton, Instructor IN music
at San Marcos TEX Baptist acadr
envy. was found dead Of heart disease
by q roadside.
Rev. O. r. Nelson resigned as pasr
tor Of the First Baptist church ak
Pana, H.. and will return t vandalia,
Ill, to reside.
Protests against the use Of soldiers
and aliens In the engine and train
service on the government railroad ct
Pana4na we're presented to Presideak
Wfln00 hv unf0n lahnr