davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-07-17
U. s. Should Build Battle Cruisers, No Dreddnaughts, Is Opinion of Naval Expert

Washington, July 16.-The Jutland bat tie between the British and German fleets has not changed the opinion of Rear Admiral Knight of the naval war col lege that dreadnaughts are and will con- tinue to be the backbone of any fighting feet but it has caused him to recommend that if Congress decides to add only four capital ships to the first line, all should be battle cruisers. The admiral's opinion has been given in response to a request from Secretary Daniels that he state what lessons might be drawn from the North sea fight? He has replied that although the battle cruiser bore the brunt of the losses in the Jutland engagement, the fight added new era to the field of use- fitness of the battle cruiser.
 "In my opinion," wrote the admiral, neither Admiral Jellicoe's report nor any other source of information available to the actual results of the battle. The most significant fact thus far established Is that three British battle cruisers were sunk. It is not clear by what ships of the enemy fleet they were sunk nor tc how heavy a fire they were subjected; nor is it known whether they were de- stroyed by gunfire alone or by the ex- plosion of their magazines.
 But this one fact is clear and in 1t lies the whole explanation of the in- cident the battle cruisers were doing the work of battleships. for which they were not designed, and they paid a penalty which was more or less inevitable It is claimed that they were doing this for purpose which made 1t worth while to sacrifice themselves: that they were seek ing to hold the enemy fleet until Ad- miral Jellicoe could come up; and that they accomplished this.
 My reply is, then, that my view of the value of the battle cruiser has been some what enhanced by the results of the bat tie off Jutland. so far as these results are known"
 At this point the admiral referred to his testimony before the House naval committee, in which he declared it his opinion that the battleship would con- tinue to be the backbone of every eff
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-07-17

cient fighting fleet. The admiral thought the next year would bring developments which would enable constructors to de- sign battleship which would measurably meet some of the new dangers appear ing during the war.
 The battle off Jutland," Admiral Knight continued, "has not led me to modify these views but I learn that in the four months which have elapsed since these were expressed, the develop ment in battleship design to which I looked forward at that time has advanced so rapidly that 1t is possible to intro- duce this year the improvement which I had in mind as likely to be ready for next year; and for this reason I am glad of the opportunity to make one change in my recommenda tions as follows
 If the number of capital ships to be provided for this year is four I recom- mend that all be battle cruisers.
 If the number is six, I recommend four battle cruisers and two dread- naughts.
 If the number is eight, I recommend naughts.
 ''If the number is 10, I recommend six battle cruisers and four dreadnaughts.
 T desire to invite attention to the marked difference between conditions un- der which the British and German navies have been operating in the North sea and the conditions under which the United States would operate in case of war with an enemy beyond the seas"
 The letter sums up the value Of the battle cruiser as follows:
 They are ideal, first, because their very high speed enables them to search out an enemy force and get information back with regard to that force and sec- ond because if they met an enemy force they have great power of resistance, II the force is one which they can properly re- sist. and great power of avoidance if the force which they meet Is one which calls for avoidance The characteristic of battle cruiser is that it has very high speed, associated with very great. gun power and especially very long range gun power"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-07-17
GUARDSMEN MUST HAVE EQUIPMENT
No Other Commands Will Be Hurried to Border by
 Department

Washington, July 16.-The war de- partment sent orders today to all de- pertinent commanders to delay trans portation to the border of National Guard organizations now mobilizing until they are thoroughly equipped and organized. The effect will be to revoke ruling issued when the Mexican sit uation was acute, waiving certain re- quirements. The order affects about 25,O00 men still held in the camps.
 The latest information of the de- partment is that about 100000 of the national guardsmen now are at the border With the 5O,000 regulars there and 5000 additional men called from the reserves, officials estimate that the American strength on border service within a few weeks will be adequate to cope with any present emergency, and will make unnecessary the dis patch of any more guardsmen until the are completely equipped and organ ized.
 Published stories that use of a gen. eral draft was being considered to fill the National Guard ranks were denied by the department tonight.
 Reports that National Guard units are being supplied poor and insuffi- cient food are not borne out in pre- liminary telegraphic reports received from all the department commanders today.
 A message from General Funston to- day reported that General Trevino had sent many troops south with the in- tention of occupying the Guerrera- San Borja, Santa Rosalia line against any possible northward advance of bandits.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-07-17
JACKSONVILLE

Jacksonville. July 16.-(Special.) )-Work has begun on the new city high school building, which, when completed, the building will have cost $10.O0O The teach CTS elected for the ensuing year are: D. D. Stephenson, principal; Mrs. Belle Scott Vomell, Miss Mary Berry, Miss Edith Johnson and Miss Jimmie Ledbetter.
 Corn has been damaged 75 per cent by the recent rains in the bottom lands of Calhoun county, according to James +. Crow, crop reporter of this county.
 Ex-Senator Frank S. White and Frank Dominnick of Birmingham will deliver the annual addresses at Sulphur Springs before the Confederate veterans of Cal houn. Cleburne, Etowah and St. Clair counties, who will have their reunion Au- gust 9-10.
 The Independent Order of Odd Fellows will have an installation service Thursday evening.
 Rev T. D. Cartledge of the Presbyterian church is holding a series of services at Piedmont.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-07-17
REPUBLICANS HARD PLACED FOR ISSUE
 TO DEFEAT WILSON
(Continued from Page One)

(COnttnue0 from Page One) of the progressive party-that note in which he abandoned the militant and enthusiastic following which, for per- sonal reasons, he had led out from it's historic fold-declared that practically every promise made in the democratic platform had been abrogated. It is safe to state that a greater percentage of the promises has been fulfilled than ever before in the nations history. That one- term plank vas abandoned, true; but that plank was Colonel Bryant personal plank and was not very seriously con- sidered.
 And the republicans cannot criticize the democratic party for extravaganza Money has been spent in millions. But in addition to subserving the ever-in- creasing requirements of an over-g growing nation, this money has gone out to pro- tect business against manufactured pan ics of Wall street, to aid the farmer in buying his home building his roads, and educating his children and in preparing this country against the possibility of war.
 The democrats in trif1e more than three years have prepared the nation, both as to its navy and its army, against attack Great sums of money have been expended. But, from infor- nation reaching democratic headquar- ters, the expenditure for purposes of war while the nation remained at peace was in accordance with the expressed will of the American people
 With the outlook, the democrats are delighted. The republican nominee is supported by Wall street, the reactionary republican organization, half the be- trayed progressives, and the professional German-Americans. Against the Amer ican people, according to indications, this heterogeneous force cannot prevail.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-07-17
BOYS IN CAMP ARE HEALTHY IN SPITE
 OF THE LONG SIEGE OF WET WEATHERl
Grinding dDowno
 Is Near, pr

still young in civil life, is the beginning of old age in the army. So the old men of 35 and upward have to be left behind. And their disappointment is hard to bear.
 Many of the rejections have been for illiteracy. This shocking fact has been brought home in no uncertain manner. It is a shameful thing that in a great state where educations are given away and all men may help themselves, boy can grow up into man without ever learning to write his own name. Think of the ignorance and poverty and injus- tice that lie behind such a disgraceful fact. Think of the misfortune of being born to such state of bestial ignorance and stupidity; of being a brother to the OK to such an extent that not one single printed word can carry message to your brain, and this in an age when books are as cheap as the paper they are printed on Surely we who make up this state of Alabama and frame its laws and mold it's customs will have something to an- swer for when the day of reckoning final ly dawns.
 An astonishing fact is that often the brightest looking fellow will prove to be absolutely illiterate. One in particular was discovered as soon as his company reached camp. His tentmates promptly took him in charge and actually taught him to read and write in two weeks. That 1s he learned enough to give him desire to learn more. As might have been suspected, he had never had a chance before, and now that he has it he will surely make the most of it.
 The boys are looking forward eagerly to a payday, which will come along next week. They are nearly all penniless and clamoring for pocket money. This being without money is the most discouraging thing that could happen and they have frightened up considerably since they learned that payday is coming. Kiplng says in one of his stories that there is nothing quite so terrible as a broken British regiment" I know of nothing quite so bad as 'broke" American one. And all three of "our brigade" are broke.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-07-17
By M. HARVIE

1 home. It would be a sure bet that the | bovs out here were much better off than those in town.
 The physical examinations are still going on. with a dozen overworked medical officers on the job day and night. It is a tedious and long drawn out affair, for these alert physician soldiers pry deep into each mans in- most secrets The standard is that of the regular army and man must be as sound as a dollar to pass. He must be more than sound; he must be not over 35 years old if an enlisted man, must weigh 12O pounds and measure not less than five feet four inches. No matter how strong and well a man may be- if he is over 35 he is rejected, unless he has been continuously in ser vice.
 Many a grizzled old veteran who has passed to the shady side of 35 has been rejected. Many with an army record back of them, in Cuba and the Philippines, and few with service in foreign armies, have been thrown out because of the age limit It seems a great pity that the country should lose the services of such experienced men, but "orders is orders, and must be obeyed. Evidently the ex- perts have figured that they must draw a line somewhere, and so chose 35 It makes many of us feel might uncomtort- able to think that old Time is fitting by so fast
 have seen few things more touching than the sight of one of these old soldiers when told that he is too old He can hardly realize that an old "service man who knows the game is of no further value-not so much so as an unbroken boy of 1S He had been thinking all the time that he was a valuable acquisition, with his mature judgment and his years of honorable service. But now he learns that what the government wants is youth. and nothing else will do. Wisdom, eX perience, learning. everything must stand aside for raw, undisciplined youth. Sol diering is young mans game, and wars re fouoIt hu hnvs rThirtY- five. though
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-07-17
HUNTSVILLE

Huntsville. July 16.-(Special )-Detec- Friday night that they had located David D. Overton. who is wanted for the murder of Probate Judge Lawler. It had been reported that he was hiding on the King place northwest of the city, which is now owned by his brother, Tax As- sessor A. E. Overtor. This place was searched so closely during the night that it would not have been possible to have missed Overton had he been there, but no trace of him was found Many peo- pie in the city were in high state of excitement while the search went on.
 Judge Archie Mcdonnell took the oath of office Saturday as probate judge of Madison county and immediately as- stunned his duties He was appointed by W. T. Lawler. who was murdered on the night of June 14. The oath was adminis- tered by Circuit Judge Robert c. Brick ell. Judge Mcdonnell made no changes in the clerical force of the office ex- cept to appoint Thomas w. Jones, pro- bate clerk. a position that he has held during the last Il years, with the ex- ception of few months.
 John C. Lowe. the governors appointee for sheriff, also received his commission and took the oath administered by Judge Brickell. MT. Lowe did not an nounce his appointments of deputies Chief Deputy Lonnie Bates and Judge s. Morgan Stewart, office deputy. were re- tained. however.
 Deputy Marshal H. M. Colbert came up to Huntsville yesterday afternoon with four men who had been arrested by Cullman deputy sheriffs, who caught them at work in an illicit distillery. The men were Jim Easterwood, Genus Easter wood, Lawrence Easterwood and Will Fortner. The men were bound over tc the federal grand jury after hearings be- fore United States Commissioner Green leaf, and all made bonds.
 MT. and Mrs. A. E.. Mastin have is- sued cards announcing the engagement of their daughter, Laura Mae, to MT, Riner Sayler Wright of Cincinnati. The marriage will be solemnized in the early fall The bride is a singer of some note, having attended the Cincinnati conserva- tory for two years.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-07-17
ANNISTON

Anniston, July 16.-(Special.)- )-A
 great big box of nice things was sent
 to the members of Company M, Fourth
 infantry, in camp at Montgomery, Sat
 urday by people of Oxford and Annis-
 ton. For several days the local soldier
 boys will be supplied with home cooked
 food, plenty of smoking tobacco and
 a variety of other things which included
 in the box dispatched yesterday
 MT. and Mrs. Frank Miller are ex-
 pected to arrive in Oxford Sunday from
 their home in San Angelo, Tex, to spend
 several weeks among relatives and old friends. They started through the coun- try in their car on the first of July and had pleasant trip until they reached Shreveport, where the high waters impeded their progress to the extent that they abandoned their car and will make the remainder of their trip by train. MT. Miller recently sold a six thousand-acre ranch and will have a good. long vacation before he de-
 cides what he will do in future. Announcement has been made here oi
 the engagement and approaching mar riage of Miss Iva Dove Cook to MT Donald Keith Fitzgerald. Miss Cook is a daughter of John F. Cook. member of the Calhoun county board of tax equalizers, and sister of Paul Cook we'll known literary editor of The Age Herald. MT. Fitzgerald is associate edi- tor of the Anniston Star and a mar of brilliant attainments in his chosen profession, having travelled widely. reat extensively and made many friends since coming to Anniston.
 | Miss Alice Weatherly was hostess or
 Friday evening at the Anniston Coun l try club at a dance in compliment tC Miss Martha Bradshaw of Birming ham and Miss Louis Hooper of Selma The dance was one of the largest event.
 of the social summer season in Annis. l ton.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-07-17
Eliminates Cabinet
 Members From Board

Washington. July 16.-Democrats of the Senate commerce committee have decided to eliminate the Secretary of the Navy and Secretary of Commerce from membership on the federal shipping board to be created under the pending government shipping bill. which has passed the House There has been ob- jection that to have members of the cabinet on the board would make it a partisan body.
 The commerce committee majority voted to make the board strictly Ia civilian one of five members. not more than three to be from the same political party. The bill will be reported to the Senate next week.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-07-17
CHINA AND UNITED STATES

One of the largest of the American manufacturing industries obtained, after severe competition, the contract to equip the great national arsenal of China with machinery. for the manufacture of rifles. This contract was obtained about a year before the beginning of the European war and Is understood to have in- volved little over $2,OOOOO0. The same corporation also obtained the contract, after severe competition with the English manufacturers, for equipping the great national arsenal of Australia with ma- chinery for the manufacture of rifles. The conditions of this contract have re- gently been fulfilled. If the United States, through a syndicate, rejoins the so-called six-nation group Git was five nation group after the United States withdrew in 1913) then there is no doubt that much American capital will be in vested in the construction of the great national transportation system which the present Chinese government has in mind But the chief value of participation by the United States in this proposition is a certainty that the open door will be maintained in China and her territory will not be impaired.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-07-17
Special Bargains
 by Merchants in
 Today's Age-Herald

The Metropolitan cafe says: Take SUD- per with us-plenty good things to eat.''
 The Excelsior laundry advises house. keepers to send the clothes there, where they will be sterilized
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-07-17
Lansing's Attitude Under stood to Differ Somewhat
 From That of Bryan
DAWSON ACTIVE
 IN CONFERENCES
But United States Withdrew From Six Nation Group When Sec retary Bryan Intimated
 His Objections
Nv HOLLAND

New York, July 16-(Special)-In the early weeks of the administration of President Wilson, Henry P. Dawson spent an hour or two with the then Sec retary of State William J. Bryan for the purpose of giving the latter first hand information respecting the so-called six nation loan to China. The United States was one of the six nations. China might want as much as s3O0,0O0.0Oo. but she would certainly like to negotiate for as much as s125, ,OooOOo immediately.
 Secretary Bryan either did not fully understand the purpose of the proposl- ton, or else, if he did, it was not in agreement with his view of what the re- iations of the United States toward other nations should be- He felt compelled to intimate to MT. Davison that the govern ment at Washington would not give any moral or official support to 1t. MT. Davison accepted this statement without protest and the European nations were informed that the United States syndicate felt it expedient to withdraw from the arrangement.
 There was a great deal of high class diplomacy at the conference of Paris when this six-nation group was organ ized for the purpose of financing China It was diplomacy which began with the Secretary of State in President Taft's administration, Philander c. Knox. He was anxious that there should be no combination of, or cooperation between, European nations which would be strong enough to threaten the sovereignty of China or to close the open door to trade txifI nafi nf Q world Secretary Knox, therefore, com municated with American bankers, among them MT, Davison. setting forth his view of the opportunity for the United States and the responsibility which was upon this country with re- spet to China. He, and not the bankers, made the original suggestion that the United States should participate in any arrangement which had for its purpose the financing of China.
 Within few hours after Secretary Knox had made his wishes known, Mr. Davison and others organized an Amer ican syndicate and it's representatives were admitted to the conference which was held at Paris. MT. Davison was chosen chairman of that conference, and he had not long been in the chair before he had some reason to suspect that the motives of the representatives of some of the nations were not in accord with the proposition that no nation or group of natins should retain the open door, or possibly with the proposition that no na- ton or group of nations should by means of financial strength undertake to segregate or capture some of the Chinese territory.
 COMMON SENSE IN DIPLOMACY
 MT. Davison had had litle or no eX- perience in diplomacy at that time, all though since the beginning of the Euro pean war he has had ample opportunities to cultivate it. He made up his mind that the best factor for successful diplo- matic action that was of honorable pur- pose was plain common sense. He, there fore, by diplomacy of this kind so di-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-07-17
Army Officer Suicides

San Antonio, Tex, July 16-Capt. Chris- tian B. Briand of the Twelfth cavalry committed suicide today at Hachita, N. M shooting himself in the head. The report of the incident to departmental headquarters indicated that the officer was mentally deranged.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-07-17

Montgomery, July 16.- Especially Since the rain ceased the mobilization camp of the Alabama National Guard looks like different place. The wa ters have reeeded and the clouds have passed away. The boys, emerging once more into the sunshine. have taken on new life. The amphibious existence of the past week had gotten them so used to rain that they all declare it feels strange to be dry once more.
 It was a real sure enough rain while it lasted. too. Nobody ever saw the like before. It was rain every day and all day Nothing but rain and mud and slush and profanity. The boys kept as dry as they could the first day, but soon found it impossible, so they sim ply made the most of it. There was very little grumbling for the boys soon be- gan to regard the weather as matter of course. A few of the weak in spirit gave way to lamentations but the vast majority took their discomfort with soldierly fortitude.
 Of discomfort there was great deal, for no one can live for the better part of a week without a dry garment or blanket and remain comfortable. But conditions were never as bad as painted, nor the soldiers in as dire distress as the good people of the state believed. There was very little sickness, and practically none caused by the rain. Instead of the "colds" that everybody was sure they would die of. the medical officers had very little more to do than ordinarily.
 It would be of interest to compare the health of the soldiers here in the open air, in a germ free atmosphere, with that of the same number of young fnen cooped up in offices and houses at
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-07-17
Antigua Is Sunk

London, July 16.-Lloyds shipping agency announces that the British reported to have been sunk. The steam CT is unarmed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-07-17
Spanish Situation Unknown

Madrid, July 16.-(Via Paris)-The gov- ernment has established a military cen sorship of all press dispatches.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-07-17

Martial law was declared throughout Spain on Thursday as a result of the railway strike.