davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-27
German Reply to Report of Gerard On Prison Camp Al
 Wittenberg Is Made Public

Berlin, February 25.--(via London, Feb ruary 26.)--The Prussian war minister to- day handed to James w. Gerard, the American ambassador to Germany. long the ambassador S report of November s regarding the Wittenberg prison camp. The reply is courteous one.
 German high military authorities were astonished, the reply says, when they saw portions of the ambassadors report printed in distorted fashion in the Eng fish press. It declares that MT. Gerard had communicated his criticism to the Prussian war ministry and had received assurance that the conditions criticized would be remedied,
 The communication refers to MT Ge- rard's statement. which was obviously made in reproachful sense, that when he visited the wittenberg camp he was not received by the camp commander.
 FORCED TO BE ABSENT
 'The German military authorities are fully aware of the consideration due to the ambassador because of his position, " the reply says, adding the explanation that the commander of the camp was compelled by military duties to be absent on the day of the visit of the ambassador, who was received by the commanders representative.
 The communication points out that while Mr. Gerard reported the accommo- dations and fare of the prisoners were the same as those in other camps. reports In the English press. allegedly based on the ambassadors statements, represents
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-27
Dispute Aids Germans, Be cause It Embarrasses MT. Wilson in Pressing His Demands
ENGLAND IS REAL
 CAUSE OF TROUBLE
 BY ARMING SHIPS
Congress Would Deprive Americans of Right to Travel on BelIigerent Yes sels Carrying Arms
By HUGH ". nonEnrs


 Washington, February 26.-(special) It is evident that President Wilson has been embittered to a great extent by the criticism of his political enc mics who have boldly and repeatedly characterized his foreign policy as "timid. vaciiIating, weak and con- temptible.p
 There is nothing more patent at the present time than that the chief executive has determined to abandon "ready letter writingv as his sole de- pendence in diplomatic exixencies. On his recent western tour, he intimated very strongly that his former prac- tice was necessary on account of the unpreparedness Of the United States. In the present, facing terribly strained situation in the reIatfonshfu of this country to Germany, the Pres- ident, it would appear, is determined to make the Kaiser bend bis knee fr- respective of the inability of this na- tiOn to present a formidable appear ance against the mfIitsry efficiency of the Teutons.
 As result of the transformation. the President is in the role of the war god, and Congress. it appears. fs "the timid, weak. vacillating. contemptibiep factor
 THE PRETTY POINT
 That regarding which the President and Congress are at loggerheads coa-s stitutes nice point, in the opinion of observers. The chief executive con- tends that Germany shall not destroy, without warning. merchant vessel bearing arms Congress contends thae the President is serving notice on Ger many that an American citizen. injured without warning. although he be a traveller on merchant ship bearing arms, will be tantamount to a declara- tion of war.
 The issue takes the form of an inter- rogatfOn; Shall the United States en- trench itself In a position out or which it must emerge i'm Its war feath- CTS as soon as one American, daringly rislking death in armed English or French vessel, receives an injury. Or, is 1t the part of wisdom for this na- ton to permit one irresponsible Amer lean to enguIf it in a war as bloody.
  costly, as destructive to life and property as the European war of to- day.
 The President declares. in effect. that every American must be protected in his right to travel wherever he pleases, irrespective of abnormal con- ditions Congress declares. in effect. that this government shall deny it's people the right to travel on armed ships when by so doing they might precipitate a war demanding the sac rifice of thousands of American lives.
 THE ENGLISH GAME
 There would be no grave danger of foreign complications, and. as q se- quence, no friction between the Pres ident and Congress, but for the insist ence of England and its allies that Continued on Page Eieven)
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-27
Bessemer Police Chief Fatally Wounded and
 Detective Goodwin Hurt

Bessemer, February 26- (special.)-A Third avenue and Nineteenth street. the most prominent corner in Bessemer. Chief of Police T. B, Wallace was shot and fatally injured tonight at e;5o o'clock by sam Lindsey, a farmer, residing near Morgan.
 At the same time Detective J, c. Good win was shot through the left knee and seriously injured, the bullet severing the main artery
 The same bullet which struck Goodwin in the knee went on through and hit Chief Wallace.
 The shooting was one of the most sen- sational affairs in the history of Besse- mer and caused profound sensation. Extra precautions tonight are being taken to guard the city jail. where the prisoner is confined Feeling is running high and an outbreak would not be un expected should the wounds of Chief Wallace prove Immediately fatal.
 Chief Wallace is at the Elizabeth Dun can Memorial hospital tonight with only the barest chance of his life. His intes- tines are pierced in number of places by 44-4o ealibre bullet which, ranging upward, almost demolished the left lung where it lodged
 \ At q late hour tonight Chief Wallace was in great pain and physicians helc
 ut little hope of recovery. The doctors Fare unable to remove the bullet and afte, slight probing decided that it was best to leave 1t alone for the present.
 At s:3o o'clock tonight q call was sen, in from Firth avenue and Nineteent, <,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-27
CHEERFULNESS IS DOMINANT TRAIT
 OF MEN AT TASKS
Davis Gives an Intimate Glimpse of Life in Two of Wars Most Notable Institutions
By RICHARD HARDING DAVIS

London. February 14-(special Cor espondence) )-These days the streets of Paris are filled with soldiers each of whom has given to France some part of his physical self.
 That his country may endure, chat she may continue to enjoy and teach lib- erty, he has seen his arm or his leg, or bot, blown off, or cut off. But when on the boulevards you meet him walking with crutches or with an empty sleeve pinned beneath his cross of war, and he thinks your glance is one of pity, he resents 1t. He holds his head more stiffly erect. He seems to say. T know how greatly you envy mel"
 And who would dispute him? Long aft Ter the war is ended, so long as he lives, men and women of France will honor him, and in their eyes he will read their thanks. But there is one soldier who cannot read their thanks who is spared the sight of their pity He Is the one who has made all but the supreme sacrifice
 He is the one who is blind. He sits in perpetual darkness. You can remember certain nights that seemed to stretch to doomsday, when sleep was withheld and you tossed and lashed upon the pillow praying for the dawn Imagine a night of such torture dragged out over many years. With the dreadful Knowledge .sax the dawn will never come Imagine Paris
 
 the Seine the Tuilleries. the boulevards. the glitteriug shop windows conveyed to you only through noise. Only through fthe shIisks of motor horns and Che si1uf- fling of feet,
 LOSE MORE THAN SIGHT
 The men who have been blinded in battle have lost more than sight They have been robbed of their independence. They feel they are a burden It is not only the physical loss they suffer. but the thought that no longer are they of use, that they are a care; that in the scheme of things. even in their own It. tie circle of family and friends there is for them no place
 It Is not unfair to the poilu to say that the officer who is blinded suffers more than the private As a rule, he is more highly strung, more widely edu- cated, he has seen more, his experience of the world is broader, he has more to lose. Before the war he may have been lawyer doctor, man of many af- fairs. For him it is harder than for the peasant to accept future of un- ending blackness spent in plating straw, or weaving rag carpets. Under such conditions life no longer tempts him. h. stead death tempts him. and the pistol seems very near at hand.
 TO SAVE FROM DESPAIR It was to save men of the officer class from despair, and from suicide to make them know that for them there still was life of usefulness, work and accomplish nlent, that there was organized in France the committee for men blinded in battle. The idea was to bring back to officers
 tContinued on Page TwoJ
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-27
Best Interests of Party Be- ing Jeopardized by Self
 Appointed Leaders
PLAN IS DISCOVERED
 IN TIME TO MEET TT
Attack on Underwood Is Conclusive Evidence of Effort to Keep Alive Bitterness and Factionalism
 Through Political Agitation
By |. s. BETTY

Montgomery. February 26.-(Special) Developments of political nature in Alabama during the past week have been fast and furious.
 First, it was conclusively proven that the best interests of the democratic party in the state were being seriously jeopar- dized by the machinations of a few self appointed leaders who, under the guise of loyalty to the national administration, were seeking to name and control the del- egates to the St. Louis convention.
 Second, the hostile attack on Senator Oscar w. Underwod. in which he was again charged with being a tool of the liquor interests, furnished positive evi- dence that the effort was being made to keep alive bitterness and factlonalism hibition agitation.
 The plcn to control the St. Louis dele gaton was discovered in time. it Is be- lieved. to defeat the intent of those seek ing to direct the situation. Cognizance of their designs was taken by leaders at Washington, with the result that steps were immediately taken to insure a more fair-minded, a more loyal, more non partisan delegation than those believed to have been put out by the wel-known prohibition lobby"
 WILSON SLATE DISCUSSED
 As will be remembered. it was an- nounced in The Age-Herald last Sunday that well known. unselfish leaders in Alabama had been called upon by friends close to President Wilson, and with the Presidents approval, to take a hand in the situation in this state with a view to securing a delegation to the St. Louis convention that would be in thorough ac- cord and sympathy with the national ad- ministration.
 Since that announcement was made a conference has been held in Birming- ham for that very purpose. The plan of putting out Wilson slate was discussed, and steps were taken to follow to the letter instructions from Washington. AL ready there have been results, and there will be more before the close of the final day for the qualifying of delegates to the national convention. It is anticipated that there will be at least four candi- dates for delegates from the state-at- large who are recognized as friends of the President and that there will be new entries of candidates from the various districts of the state.
 As previously reported, the para mount question to be considered in the selection of Wilson slate is that there shall be chosen a delegation of undoubted loyalty to the President and his policies. It is true that the state committee has endeavored. to deliver the Alabama delegation to President Wilson. but it is feared that fealty to the cause of prohibition and, in some cases. to propaganda dissem- mated throughout the state by Col. ". J. Bryan. may induce some of the dele gation to lose sight of the more im- portant party issues and thereby en-
 <Csna,nusa on raxs I've,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-27

street that man in an irresponsible condition had been terrorizing the neighborhood and aid was asked. Good the call and found the man who had been creating the disturbance sitting on the curbing at Fifth avenue and Nine teenth street. Tn his hand was 44-40, 1871 model, revolver which was cooked.
 The man was aroused and informed that he was under arrest, and he imme- diately set up protest. His revolver was taken by Ross. who let down the hammer and placed the weapon in his lefthand coat pocket After a brief struggle Lindsey consented to accompany the officers, and the three went down Nineteenth street toward the Jail at Eighteenth and Third.
 When the officers reached the cor ner of Third avenue and Nineteenth street, just on the outside of the Lewis Drug company in the Realty building, Lindsey. who is big. powerful man. suddenly tripped Ross and the two fell to the ground fighting desperately.
 In a trice Lindsey ran his hand into the officers pocket where he hau seen his gun placed and seized it. He fired from the ground one time.
 Chief Wallace had heard of the dis turbance, which was witnessed by hundreds of people. and came up just as the man fired. The bullet struck Goodwin in the left knee completely pierced it. and struck Chief Wallace about four inches below the heart, ranging upward into the left lung, Both officers fell to the ground while Ross and Lindsey still pros {Continued on Page Eight)
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-27
Would Give Peace Strength of 143,OOO Men and Fed
 eraIized Guard
ALSO PROVIDES FOR
 GUNPOWpER PLANT
Provides for Organization of Civilian Training Camps With Wide Discre- tion Allowed Department-WiIl
 Be Before House in Ten Days,

Washington, February 26.-(Special.) The Liberalization of the National Guard of the several state and the con struction of plant for the manufac- ture of gunpowder are the salient pro- visions of the preparedness" bill of the House military committee, agreed upon, but regarded up to the present time as 'conidential'
 Under the sections of the bill, pri- vate of the National Guard will be paid $50 per annum, or a trifie more than $1 for each of AS drills. The salary of a captain will be $500 per annum. The criticism that the Liberalization of the guard would render a governor with out military aid in emergencies is par ried by the provision that the guard, though under the federal government. will still be amenable to the orders of a states chief executive.
 The bill does not name a site for the proposed government plant for the manufacture of gunpowder in time of war and fertilizer in time of peace. It is provided, however. that the site shall be chosen by a corps of engineers appointed by the Secretary of War. As heretofore reported, there was once probability that Muscle Shoals would be named, while majority of the commit tee favors Muscle Shoals, it was thought wisest in order to obviate attack that the site be not named. The fact is stressed that if the war college is gov erned in its selection by the advantages proposed by the several sites which will be proposed, Muscle Shoals cannot lose.
 WILL COST TWENTY MILLIONS
 The plant will cost $20,000,00
 The committee agreed upon the gem eral terms of the bill. which it ex- poets to get Before the House in 10 days. providing for regular army with an authorized peace strength of 143,000 men; a federalized National Guard which would reach fixed min imum strength of 424.000 in five years; adequate reserve systems for both of these forces; and organization of civil ian training camps with wide discre- tion reposed in the war department as to the terms of enlistment, training and government.
 Members of both the House and Senate military committees frankly admitted to- day that they had doubts whether a requisite force could be enlisted in the National Guard, even under the proposed federal pay and regulation provisions and a growing tendency to provide for a federal army reserve in addition to the regular army and federalized national guard was manifest in both committees. Members said they favored a practical test of the possibility of forming fed- eral volunteer army in peace times on lines somewhat similar to the continen- tai army plan. The apparent intention to abandon the continental project wholly was one of the causes leading up to the resignation of Secretary Gar rison.
 The Senate committee has agreed ten
 (Continued on Page siz>
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-27

ed conditions at Wittenberg as extraor- dinarily unsatisfactory. characterizing the camp as the worst in Germany.
 It is admitted that police dogs are used at Wittenburg. but it is said they are employed for guard duty at night and also to prevent thefts among prisoners. As to the ambassadors report that ~ certain cases prisoners complained their clothes had been torn by the dogs, the ministry says that if this be true, the victims themselves were responsible. since they were surprised at night at for bidden games, ran when challenged by the sentry and climbed the barbed wire fence. MT. Gerard's criticism of sanitary conditions was answered by referring to the report of commission of American physicians under Dr. Caldwell, which in estigated the camp on November 20 and praised the sanitary and hygienic equip ment.
 FOUND TO BE TRUE
 Ambassador Gerard,s statement that British army surgeon had been beaten by a German noncommissioned officer was investigated by the ministry of war. which discovered that a regrettable mis- understanding had occurred, the German officer having exceeded his powers. The English surgeon in question has declared that the matter had been adjusted satis- factorily
 In reference to Mir. Gerards statement that prisoners had complained that pay due them for work had been refaifa ft is said the ambassador told the offficei. who was conducting him through tho camp of these complaints. The officer do-
 sContinued on pase Twe)
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-27

Under the eyes of their Emperor the German infantry has advanced to the charge on both sides of the salient wherein lies Verdun, and, ac- cording to Berlin, has stormed and taken the outlying fort of Douamont, northeast of the fortress, while on the plain of the Woevre to the east and southeast it has swept back the French lines and broken their resisting power along a wide front, forcing them to retreat with the Germans in pursuit.
 The crown princess armies engaged in the terrific battle have had their way blasted out for them, according to correspondents near the scene, by what is said to be the greatest con centration of artillery fire known to history, in which the monster guns of the Germans and Austrians, brought from the Servian and Russian fronts, have played an important part,
 PUSH DOWN VALLEY
 With this migf ty aid, the infantry have pushed down the valley of the Mouse, gained the hills southwest Of Louyemont, not more than four miles from the fortress, and carried fortified positions to the east, Berlin declares, the Brandenburg regiments particu- larly distinguishing themselves in storming Fort Douaumont.
 White this was goips -aa VI Ger- mans in the Woevre were assailing the French lines on the eastern side of tlle salient, the two operations being designed to push in the sides of the projecting front, a buckling process, which, if kept up, would soon result in the fall of the fortress.
 The French, however, are defending their stronghold with notable tenacity and, according to various accounts, in flicting terrible losses on the attack ing forces. Paris has not conceded the fall of Fort Douaumont, although admitting that the fighting there had taken on an extremely sanguinary character. and it only mentions the Woevre region in an announcement that tho advanced posts held for ob- servatton purposes along the line from Ornes to Hennemont has been attacked by the German infantry. The German attacks along the front are declared by Paris to be made without regard to the losses sustained.
 ON OTHER FRONTS
 Notwithstanding the concentration of attention upon the great struggle on the western front the current dis patches show that events of consider able interest, while not comparable in importance to those around verdun, are happening in other war theatres.
 From Persia comes the Russian an- nouncement that the important city of Kermanshah has been taken by.storm by Russia's forces. Recent Peuograo
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-27
Capture of Fort DouaumOnt Announced By Berlin and Mighty Fortress TrembIes Under Hammer like Blows of the Teutons- French Also Swept Back In WOevre District
PRESSURE IS BEING EXERTED
 ON BOTH SIDES OF SALIENT
Continued Success Will Mean Speedy Evacuation of Fortress Activity On Other Fronts Rus sia Announces Storming of Turkish Town of Kermanshah- -Durazzo FOrsaken By Italians After Defeat By Austrians

T4don February greatest of French forresses and widely considered virtually pregnabe trembling under an attack unprecedented violence which already declared by the Germans preached the outer defenses point and driven back its French defenders upon their inner lines
The Cook County news-herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Cook County, Minn.) 1909-current, 1916-12-20
sELF-DENIAL, OR SENSE?

Says writer in the Ohio State
Journal: "As time moves on the vir.
tue of self-denial is more and more
needed. The social destinations, the
alluring fashions, the varied amuse.
ments, the fun and fiction in read.
ing, the gadding mania, the every
day gossip and all the glitter and
hum of it's materialistic age strongly
demand the exercise of the virtue of
self denial. In fact, there is no safe.
ty in any other way. Anyone who
lets himself go loose among the
Establishments of the day runs
straight into the face of ruin"
The writer uses the wrong term
when he names self -denial as the vir.
tue that IS to resist these peculiar
allurements of the age. He should
have said sense. Self-denial some.
how includes the idea Of a right
surrendered, Of legitimate priv
lege foregone. for the sake of q
greater end in view. =
When we apply the term self.de.
NAL to the quality in man that is to
resist the extravagant vanities Of
The Cook County news-herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Cook County, Minn.) 1909-current, 1916-12-20

The lad who honors his parents
may some day have children who
will honor him.
A brother editor remarks that he
would rather have good stomach
than million bucks. We, modest
ly, would prefer to hog both..
The Angora goat is said to be
noted as an Indifferent mother. This,
however, does not necessarily signi-
fy that mothers in high society are
Angoras.
Some men, like the cinder in your
eye, are remembered chiefly for the
smart they leave behind.
If they keep on raising hell over
in Europe much longer the devil may
have to change his place of abode.
This war will certainly have uni
que place in history. 1t is creating
more widows than heroes.
Some people are 80 pestiferous
one can hardly tell whether they are
bugs or just plain nuts.
Stop! Do you remember the time
when you was the most anxious of
all times to make good impression?
And do you remember the fool brake
you made? We all do it.
Why should you make howl when
your wife insists on her moral right
to vote? She never makes a kick
when you invade the Kitchen and
wash the dishes.
Keep your money at home, William
and some day it will be yours again.
Soon Twill be the time of the
year when we can revel in the joys
of sunshine and flowers and sweet
perfumes, and bugs and gnats and
mosquitoes. Oh, joy!
No one man ever knows it all. al
though it is had to convince a few
of this fact.
"Love thy neighbor as thysef,"
but draw the line at his wife.
Some people are so pleased with
their own personality that they are
a source of painful vividness to all
others.
just for a change brother, why
not step over into the bright side of
life and speak Of the good there is in
this town?
In seeking to appear young some
old bucks are eminsntly successful
In appearing ridiculous. -