davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-26

holds of Europe. IT is the strongest
! fortress of France. and is OF particular
! Importance from the fact that it offers
direct communication with Paris, which
: is $50 miles to the west. Nerdun marks
the northerly point of the great French
defenses against direct attacks from
! German territory, the most southerly
! being Belfort, as between these two
! points lies the stretch of frontier on
+ which Germany touches France. France
has other fortified forts farther north.
although of minor Importance, as they
were along the line of contact with
Belgium and Luxembourg.
! The most important probably of these
! latter was Maubeuge, which was taken
J by the Germans with sacrifices to them
estimated at the time in September,
/ 1914. as between $4,000 and 100000.
Since that date no important fortress
has fallen to the Germans on the west
ern front. At the same period des-
perate effort was made to reduce YER
dun. and some of the incidents of the
fighting which then occurred were of
a memorable character.
Battle May Last Fortnight.
The French assume that the battle
at Verdun may continue a fortnight.
1t is believed the calm last night was
! only a lall required by the attacking
! forces to bury their dead. c.rry off
wounded and bring up reserves to take
the places of divisions half destroyed
by French artillery and machine guns.
French Statement.
The text of the latest French state
ment follows:
The fighting is still being carried on
bitterly in the region north of Nerdun,
where the enemy continues his efforts
in the front to the east of the Meuse.
After the last engagement our troops
retained their positions in spite of the
repeated assaults of the enemy. who
no longer counts his sacrifices.
IN the region of Beaumont the bat
tie which is still raging has taken on a
most sanguinary character.
ION the front of the Woevre the ad-
vance posts which we held as lines OF
observation from Ornes to Hennemont
since the battles of last year have been
attacked by infantry forces from both
sides of the Meuse. Our artillery on
both right and left banks of the river
replies without ceasing to the bonn
bardment of the enemy.
Nothing of Importance has occurred
on the remaind> OF the 'front.'
French Capture Salient.
Last night frencn coIniiuhiSdtioH
reads:
I'm Champagne this morning we at
tackled and captured an enemy salient
to the south of Ste. Marie-a-py. Dur
ing this action we captured 800 pris-
oners, including sixteen non-commis-
stoned officers and five officers.
IN the Argonne our destructive fire
has been efficacious on German organi-
cations to the north of Laharazee.
IN the region to the north of Nef-
dun, snow has fallen in abundance dur
ing the day. T he activity of the ar
tillery on both. sides has continued
very intense on the whole Of the 'front.'
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-26
DURAzzO EVACUATED
BY ITALIAN FORCES
Several Defeats at Hands of Austro.
German Armies Reported
by Vienna.

ROME, February g. via Paris, 4:4O
pn.-The report that Durazzo, an AL
banian port on the Adriatic sea, had
been evacuated by the Italian troops
there is confirmed.
BERLIN, February 26.-Reports from
Austrian press headquarters predict
the early fall of the Albanian city of
DuraZzo. as a result of the defeat We'd
nesday of the Italians and the Alba
provisional president. A strong line
of outer defenses for the city had been
and the indications were
that spirited resistance would be Of
fered.
Forced to Abandon Positions.
The Austrians and Germans attacked
at daybreak. The defenders were soon
elected from their positions at Bazaar
Sjak. Shortly afterward the Italians
on the southern bank of the lower Ar
zen were forced to abandon their posi-
tions. The Austrians crossed the river
and proceeded southwark
At noon a decisive action east of
Bazaar Sjak drove the Italians from
strong positions. The same fate was
suffered by the defenders of Sasso
Bianco. six miles east of Durazzo BY
evening the entire outer girdle of de-
fenses was taken. The attackers ad-
Vancing to the inner line positions, es-
tabliShed the fact that the Italians
were embarking their troops hurriedly.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-26

In the plain of the Woevre the en-
emv's resistance broke down along the
entire front as far as the nelghhof-
hood of Marphoville (Marcheville), 10
the south of the national high road
from Paris to Metz. Our troops are
..The capture of the village OF
Champneuville, reported yesterday,
was based on an erroneous report.
Work Down Meuse Valley.
While the German wing on the east
has been driving at Fort Douaumont
and it's protecting trenches. the center
of the crown princes forces mas
worked down the Meuse valley until 1t
is hammering at the ridge of La Cote
du Poiyre, just south of Louvemont
and about four and half miles north
of the main fortress.
All along the Verdun front the Ger
mans are hurting their men against
the French lines without regard to
sacrifices, the fighting being particu-
larly desperate in the region of Beau
mont.
Accounts from various sources agree
that the fighting has been of degree
of intensity unparalleled in the war.
EspecialIy is this true of the artillery
work. the Teutons having brought up
MANY massive 12-inch and 11-inch guns
from the Serbian and Russian cam
paigns and blasted out the French
nositions with a pitiless bombardment
of high explosive shells of these large
ca1
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-26
May Take Hand Later.

However, should it become evident
that the Presidents policy was inevi-
tably leading this country into a posi-
tion from which it could not extricate
itself without loss of honor on the one
hand or war on the other. there Is still
a strong chance that Congress may
take hand in the proceedings
and particularly against being drawn
into war on the issue now confronting
the administration.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-26
DAY IN CONGRESS.

Senate:
Met at noon.
Resumed debate on Shields
waterpower bill.
Judiciary subcommittee con-
tinded Brandeis inquiry.
Agricultural subcommittee con-
tinued sisai investigation.
HOuse:
Met at noon.
Military and naval COMMITTEES
worked on defense plans.
Post office appropriation bill
debated under special rule.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-26
WatchfuI Waiting Attitude
Is Adopted by the Senate
in Armed Ship Controversy

Quiet prevailed at the opening of the
Senate session today. and yesterfays
excitement over the foreign situation
and the possibility of Congress taking
the bit in it's teeth and calling upon
the President to warn all Americans
off armed merchantmen seemed to have
vanished.
AS the Senate had taken recess last
evening, the Legislative day OF yester-
day still continued. and there was no
morning hour and no opportunity for
the Gore or Jones resolutions. assailing
the position of the President. to come
up for consideration.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-26
Presidents Letter Effective.

The Presidents letter TO Senator Stone,
chairman of the foreign relations commit
tee, made public yesterday, has had a
strong effect, it was admitted by senators
today. 1t tended to put an eud to all the
queries which had been afioat for several
days as to just where the President stood
in the matter
The leaders on the democratic side
were watchful today. however, ready
to act should there be any sign of the
situations becoming acute again. With
the residents letter before the world,
it was admitted today there was little
or no chance of "A resolution such as
that offered by Senator Gore passing
the Senate at this time. The general
decision has been to let the President
have free hand in settling the sub
marine question with Germany.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-26
Four Miles From Verdun.

Fort Douaumont lies four miles north
east of Verdun. 1t is one of nearly a
score of forts circling Nerdun and is
situated just to the north of the rail-
road running east from the city OF
Metz.
Douaumont is one of cluster of sew
en- forts protecting Eerdun from the
east. Forts De Sauville, de TaVannes
and st. Michel lie directly between the
position conquered by the Germans
and the city of Nerdun.
The conquest of this fort was made
by the right wing of the huge attack
ing army, which has scored the great
est advance in the assault on the
French positions. Douaumont is some
what to the east of what has hitherto
been the principal line of progress, be-
ing situated four miles east of the
Meuse river. The main force of the
German attack as indicated by the pre-
vious official communications was be-
ing exerted southwark along the Meuse.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-26
:. WEATHER.

Partly overcast tonight and tonor-
row: little change in temperature: low
est tonight about &c degrees: strong
westerly winds
Temperature for twenty-four hours
ending pm: Highest. 39 at pm.
TODAY: lowest, 49, at 10 pm. yesterday.
Full report on page IL.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-26
Main Body of Turks Escapes.

Continued on Second Page.)
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-26
Important Achievement.

The reported capture of Douaumont
is the most important achievement
since the Inauguration of the German
drive at Verdun-an onslaught which
for fury and for weight of men and
guns has few precedents in the war
The French war Office has expressed
confidence that, notwithstanding the
admitted great strength of the German
drive, Verdun and its protecting for
tresses would be able to hold out.
These positions form what has been
Regarded as one Of the greatest strong
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-18
Boys of Curtis High School, Staten Island, being trained in bareback drill.
Ugh school in the city to organize a troop of cavalry
Curtis is the only

civic duty on the part Of its citizens
the same Legislature enacted a law
providing for compulsory military
training In the schools OF the State.
The military training provided for
by this act Is not limited to military
drill, but consists primarily of the de-
v%s!opment Of character. sense Of re-
sponsibilitv and physical fitness This
is the character Of training that
Will endure. because it's value VIII
come to be understood and appreciated
IN the development OF good citizenship
after the SNOWY and misdirected ac-
t~.vi,ies OF enthusiastic citizens have
been abandoned.
II out " all the movements in sup
port OF preparedness there will ul-
timately survive and be supported a
regular army ~ a couple OF hundred
thousand men To serve as "a national
police and as a school for a great
rational force constituted Of the Ma
iIonal Guard. centrally controlled TO
whatever extent may be necessary for
i,s efficient trimming and available to
the states as il the case with the va
rious forces Of the German States
composing the German army. the
cause of preparedness Will have ac-
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-18
schoolboys drilling at the New York Navy Yard in Brooklyn.

Copyright. American Press A~'soeiation.
| had not taken the trouble 10 learn
anything about a soldiers duty and
had refused a number Of requests TO
join the National Guard because l
thought. az thousands of young men
are thinking now that there was no
danger of any war.
The North then found II had no
arms or military supplies and had to
scrape Europe for every obsolete kind
OF gun hat IL could obtain. 1t had
no uniforms, no equipment. no artil-
lery. and above all il had no officers.
Any man who was competent to drill
a squad could and did get a commas
sion as a captain and even as a field
officer. The Seventh Regiment alone.
which was not a thousand strong. fur
nished more than 700 officers, and
much tho same was the case with
every other National Guard organiza-
ton. although the Guard OF that day
would now be sidered as being the
merest apology for a military organ
ization.
Al tina, saved the North was that
NV stbiH was 'fuuIiS uhF' .
Those OF the present day. when they
think OF the civil! war. point with
pride to the marches and victories 81
Grant, sherman. Sheridan and the
other great commanders as proving
what American volunteers have done.
But they do not stop to think that the
men and officers who did these things
were not the hastv leyies who were
first assembled, but were veteran SOL
diers who had been made such in "
years OF bloody strife and at an abso-
luiely unnecessary expenditure of lives
and money.
After the volunteers who had re-
spoNdcd enthusiastically To I.incoln's
call for troops We're in Washington for
thre" months the Clamor OF the press
forced them TO march and at Bull Run
they met "A similar force of Confed-
crates. After a few hours fighting
both armies were equally shaken. when
Jackson suddenly moved his brigade
forward and parts of the Union army
commenced 10 fall hack. At this no.
mcnt a crS went up that they were
being attacked by Black Horse
cavalry"
As a matter %! fac there was no
s'irn cavalry on the field. But tn.
rr.atcr part of the Northern forces
truhc into a caUS,lcss pane and STAN
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-18
lRE STATE LEADS IN PRACTICAL PREPAREDNESS
National Guard in High State of Efficiency Under MajorCen. ORyan--
Recent Legislation for Enlistment by Draft and Military Drill in the
Schools a Long Step Toward Universal Military Training

peded like frightened cattle twenty
miles to Washington. II the Southern
army had been In any better condition
II could have advanced and taken the
capital, but It did nothing, thus giving
the Northern army n chance to reas-
semble and reform.
More than a year passed. before the
armies of the North were properly
uniformed and properly orlAlnized.
For example. in the suininer Of 1851 I
saw the tifty-hrat Pennsylvania in
West Virginia. They were armed with
a so-callcd Belgian rifle" which vas
simply a gas pise put 81 the toughest
kind 10 "a stock. which went on when
half cooked Us we'll as when fully
cooked. but one could no l,c sure of
hitting n man with 4, at nifty feet.
That same summer, when llarper's
Ferry. n vital point N the line ~ the
defence ~ the North. wae Threatened
with an attack by S~toncvall Jackson
(which actually took place carly in
SeptcInbct), two regiments Of voiin-
,cers. the 18Th and il5th of New
York. each 1000 strong. fine stalwurt
Young farmer boys from central New
York. were sent there Ia reenforce 1t.
Yet among the whole 1000 there was
not a. nan competent to drill a squad.
So that the ~sergeauts and ever cor
porsls had to he detached from other
regiments 20 give the different corr
panies instruction in the elements Of
Grill.
Yet these unframed and undisc!-
plinei men. under equally unframed
officers. were within a few weeks OF
hat time called to withstand an at
tack from Jackson's trained and dis
ciplined veterans. In this they fought
bravely. but were shot down like
sheep, and the place was captured and
stores obtained sufficient to At out
Lees army. which was a heavy blow
tn the Union cause.
As TO the assertion that this coun-
try can defend Itself from an invasion
BY a military force I want TO say, with
all the force | have. that ! know
TIE contrary from what | saw with my
! own eyes. People who make this as
ser,ihn forget that in 1853. the second
year OF the civil war. Lee. with n
small f(rce OF some 10000 men. in
vaded Pennsylvania. the second great
est state in the tnisn, ard marched
around 1t practically at his pleasure
for more than a week until tho arrival
OF the army of the Potomac compelled
him 10 concentrate at Gettysburg.
Pennsylvania raised some 100, 600
'emerGency men" strong. powerful
men fr-m the mines and mills. who
were patriotic enough hut had neither
organization discipline nor confidence
in their officers and could not shoot.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-18
SCHOOL BOYS AS A
GREAT MILITARY ASSET

boys may do this Guty. but will not
lie compelled to do So.
Those who are bemoaning teaching
lit,.e boys "a carry arms" should re-
member that boys from 10 To 10
wears old are nearly fun grown. In
!act the army records show that there
were over 100 900 soldiers in the civil
war VINO were under IS, and there
were fully as many more who eXag-
gerated their age in order to enlist.
That our high school boys are a
rusky lot is shown ny the following
extract from their athletic records in
The matches Of the Public Schools
Athletic League:
Running high jump, ; zee, . Inches.
running broad jump. - feet 6 inches.
Pole vault. 10 feet . inches.
Putting !. pound shot. ~ feet ~
inches.
100 yard dash. 10 2-5 seconds
29u Yards. % Is seconds.
40 Yards. 50 Is seconds
N0 Yards, . minutes 2 10 seconds
one mule. 4 minutes 81 80 seconds.
shooting ON the state range at Peeks-
Nil. 200 yards. 10 shots standing and
10 prone. 90 Out OF a possible 100.
II WAS also demonstrated 10y the
appearance OF those vino participated
IN the preparedness parade.
The value Of the athletic exercises
which are proposed for the younger
children is disputed by no one. What
is proposed for the Older boys will be
equally valuable.
All sensible people deeply egret tho
spirit 90 disubed,cnCe To parents
teachers, employers and 10 law which
is manifested by our youne people. \
hoy between Ii and 10 too frequently
has outgrown control by his paren's
without learning to control himself
lie is passing through the most critical
,riod of his age and frequently drifts
INTO nooGilmlsm ana even crime
II, however. he should be subjecttd
to discipline and impressed with tn
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-18

cooperation and approval Vt Coy.
whitman the Legislature appropriated
h.p'" mpneN for the deveiuumcn. and
irain:rS of the Nat! nal Guard than
was ever appropriated in any previous
session in the history OF the state.
tiecru.iing has been stimulated and
while many hundreds Of those who
have applied for enlistment were re-.
Jrt-ti because ~. the rigid physical
examinations and VI unsuitabilitv for
military service, Others have been ac-
copied in such substantial numbers
ttdt iA' Average strength OF regiments
mas been increased from s.X and sever
'"n"fed mon To aplrtX imately one
'1"isarJ some companies have al
ready reached war strength Of $50
While much that * worthless and
oven ridiculous is being done nv the
general public in the belief that II is
in support Of preparedness. the law
tuIy constituted authorities have IA
b"r'd !n~tellgently and without hys-
;trit. For example the new Federal
law requires each Sta;e 10 furnish to
ihc National Guard q the United
states a prescribed quota %. men. and
Il fi,hl it, "bl.gillous effectively this
state at b last session Of the I.eg.s-
.at'r" enacted "a law providing for the
drafting OF men into the National
Guard IN t'p event ~ failure IA meet
the prescribed strength uy voluntary
eli. lstmcEt and Il order to develop a
s~"und'dnd substantial conception Of
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-18


eis IN the schoois' II ~here no suc'
teachers can he round VINO are guam
''"' 'ne" >, o",.',S W " -"
90" 'i''" '"
nu"u'S" "" nay ,"e "
I'm ~ ~ ~
"' '"
W. N.
n,o s
-
80 -"
- s-N en
"".'' -. au -"
-
further 10 perfect themselves they
n.".,n,
~ w -
- f'
'" ~ a ~ "''''
""s "'F ''"" P''''.' P''n"" "a
'','''' "'," $500 WV ""' .''" ~,
na"'e ~ VAIN .%'a'if'o"' 4''
h"S' 'iN's seNe"tn s''t'., WI" ",'-
ing us d" "'u 10 zen 'iNHa"' Will I've
""''''''"' W"N'u'" nv '"" pass VIC
Tep"iSi't P"> S'Va' 'Naih''ia''ph' ~ ap-
49,
" "
"., -, ~. .a.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-18
Continued from Fourth Page.

seven and a bali times what we do
for our army and navy combined.
What We spend for the army and navy
is in the form of Insurance.. as an in
surahce in case We are involved IN
war and AZ all times an Insurance
aEains. II. because It means prepare
tiun and preparation Is tho strongest
influence for peace. II IS the strong.
we'll prepared nation that decides
whether issues are 10 be determined
by the arbitration az war.
Congress will do whatever the peo-
pie OF this country wish it 10 do. II
~ presents the views Of It's conStitu-
ents. When its constituents are in
terested in adequate defence We shall
have adequate defence on both land
aud sea. Tho whole proposition j.
sauarely up to the people Of this
country.
We officers OF the army and navy
nv. looked upon sometimes as eNtre-
miSts and as professional fanatics, hut
We are not So. We are your profcs-
s.onai y rvants, employed Just as are
your engineers. doctors and lawyers.
our business is to do what we can
by way of organizing and training the
elements of defence and recommend
ing what should he provided.
wv" do not want 10 see your sons
and Your young men thrown into war
willingly but Unpreparcd and I'M
ready. such n procedure l. Simply
murder. not on!y murder, hat wan
tor murder. bcCtV~" II can result only
from dcll,rat" nc-.,t and failure TO
heod conditions when oNist to-day
aud tth- heed from The lesson, ~
~, I'M" II = a gross and hruti.
disregard OF human '!fo Sp'coh be-
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-18

!, Lees veterans paid no more attention
To them than they would have done
to So many flies. Those who were in
Gen. Badly Smiths division. which in
the later part Of June. 1863. was Ell.
~deavoring to hold the bridge at Ha,r1..
burg until the arrival of the army of
the Potomac, had burned in their
memories in a way they will never for
get The scenes presented on the TIar-
rishurg turnpike on the anxious day.
winch elapsed before the Northern
army had crossed the Potomac.
For three nights and two DAYS that
broad macadamizcd road presented ex-
actly the same spectacle as has been
shown IN the illustrated papers and n,
IN" movies OF the flight Of the Belgians
before the German invasion. over 1,
swept ono inccssant stream Of vehicles
OF all kinds. mostly farm wagons. over
the notions Of which hay had been
hastily thrown. ON which tho armers
family was h~uddled-the old grand
mother sitting n n rocking chair hold
ing a baby in her arms. the mofbe,
with two or three children clingInp to
her skirts. the farmer or his son driv-
'hI, ana h other farm horses tied
behind. all Of them with tho execution
Of the children dumb with despair az
tf"y left Everything thcN had in the
world To fly, whore they did not know
except mat II was to- cScI pc The in
N"der. Yet that invader msultcd H.
"oinen and harmed uo civilians
1t time that the young men of this
country were taught that the idea of
defending II H. not "A sentimental theory
Z" impress upon, other people. or to he
performed 10y "sdlutiug the flag bi,
Il hard. practical determination for each
as to what he Is going to do ~ nor.
form his duty az a man and an Ameri-
can If tho dreaded emergency should
come. In doing this he must also re.
member that however much n. mich,
he willing - risk his life ~ defend his
family. his property and his country
he can do absolutely nothing niles
he has previously mni, himself com.
petent 70 do So. E.dcl. young Ameri.
can. therefore. should ne taught. mar.
d ulnrly those who are between l6 and
II, TO he strong. alert ana muscular bv
athletics, FOR without n strong body a
soldiers work Is useless. He should
also 10 given military training. and es.
perially taught TO shoot. for thai, IL
seNen-tenths OF a soldiers efficiency.
IT TINS IL done, ~ these bills con
template. II VIII in "A shor, .mc ciye
To u youth 81 training which they
need more than anything else and IN.
state anu the nation VIII possess a
force absolutely free from all faint al
nll!'arlsm and the existence of which
VIII constitute the best possible assur-
1 n tNn- fAr