davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-24

front near Selz, in which the Italians captured 3G0 metres of Austrian trenches and took number of prisoners and d quantity of rifles and other war scores.
 While the Russians report that in the Caucasus region near AschlSaia, 50 miles west of Erzerum. they have captured an important sector of the Turkish po- sition, Constantinople says that south of Bitiis the Turks have defeated the Russians and sent them in retreat to- ward Bitlis In an engagement east of Mush the Russians were again forced tc retreat. An attempt of the Russians t. debouch south of Trebzond was stopped by the Turks. Fighting is in progress between the Turks and a Russian de- tachment which landed on the Black sea coast 10 miles west of Trebizond.
 The British relief corps which is en- 'deavorng to lift the siege of Kut-el- Amara, have made further futile efforts to advance along the Tigris river. their failure being attributed to the flooded condition of the country.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-24
General Scott and General Funston Recommend That Present Status Be MaintainedWil Be Put Up to Cabinet Tues day and if Decision Is Indorsed More Troops
 Will Be Sent to the Border
COLUMNS WILL NOT ADVANCE
 ANY FURTHER TO THE SOUTH
Base Be Changed in Such Manner As to Shorten Line of Communications Recommendations of Commanding Generals Good News to Unofficial Washington,
 Which Had Feared Opposite Action
By HUGH w. ROBERTS

Washington April 23.-(Specal )Newton D. Baker, reay of announced tonight that President Wilson had dorsed the recommendation of General Scott and General Funs ton that the present American troops be not withdrawn from Mexico
 At the same time the ntimaton advanced that manen decision would be reached to the cabnet meeting Tuesday, which time General Scott will have returned from the border submitted full detailed report.
 The idea prevails that in the event the cabinet Tuesday the position of the commanding generals President Will will prepare to the Caranza demand that the troops be withdrawn It anticipated that the President Will negotiate with the first chief in respect to plans for withdrawal the time by which Mexican soil shall be abandoned.
 In the meantime the base of the American force will be changed shorten and strengthen the line o communication and all probability 4000 additional regulars will be rushed the border It regarded as certan however, that the column will be advanced further south effort Ito capture Villa.
 The recommendations of the commanding generals came good news unofficial Washington which feared that Pres dent Wilson preparing yield desire to withdraw the
 oops after having with great expenditure of money achieved nothing of material value respect carried out the object +io ition
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-24

Heavy fighting has been in progress in all the war theatres except the Bal kans. Successes for the entente and the Teutonic allies have varied
 On the yerdun front, where for two months the Germans and French have been almost continually in battle, the Germans, according to an estimate o1 the French war office, up to April 22 lad used 30 divisions or about 6O0,0Oo men, in the fighting or in reinforcing units which suffered heavy losses
 The Germans claim the capture or French trenches in the Verdun region southeast of Haucourt and west of Dead Man Hill. while Paris records the talk ing of several German posts in the Avo- court Wood FIll 30i is again under the heavy bombardment of the Germans.
 Artillery duels have everywhere fea- tured the fighting in France and Bel gium. being particularly severe on the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-24
I HARDEN DEPENDS WILSON

It may not be without significance that Maximilian Harden was permitted to print remarkable article in his paper, Zuk- unfit, defending President Wilson's stand point in plain words.
 With the possible exception of handful of extremists there appears to be mo- body in Germany desirous of a breach or war with the United States It is evil dent beyond doubt, however, that if the government should reject the demands of the American note respecting submarine warfare, it would find the united support of Germans of all parties.
 Even those to whom the idea of a rup- ture between Germany and the United States is most distasteful agree in feel ing that the government must refuse to weaken it's means of warning against Great Britain, though this should mean breach with the United States.
 A fair note of optimism is sounded by the Vorwaerts, the organ of the socialist democrat party, but other papers speak openly of An unavoidable breach"
 A striking feature in connection with the whole matter is the fact that the press dlIlOSl uHdliihlOuSlS sPcdhS VI w sons note' and only in exceptional cases of the American note.' Most of the pa pers disregard reports showing that Con- gress is supporting President Wilson, and the Post declares that MT. Wilson by no means has a safe majority behind him. "
 The Lokal Anzeiger speaks of President
 (COntinued on Page TwO)
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-24
Summary of the News
(Continued on Page Two)
GENERAL NEWS

GENERAL NEWS 1-ExpeditiOn not to he withdrawn from Mexico at present time. Consideration of American note completed by TeutOnic leaders. Kcating's child labor bill in strong position.
 Germans forced to quit lines in Flanders by rising waters. Clash imminent in Congress over legislative programme. Reply expected to note by Satur- day.
 Heavy fighting on all fronts with varying success. S-southern railway Headquarters at WashingtOn burn.
 STATE NEWS s-Jacksonville belle weds Oxford 2-Many changes at Bessemer plant. Smoother stack for Gadsdcn ru- mored.
 LOCAL NEWS 5-EditOrial cause of wide comment throughout south. Fort Worth Greys to camp at fair- grounds.
 Brother Elis give blood to save from death. Howard college gIee club placed on reunion programme. Age-HeraId's automobile show will be first open air exhibition. S-Father COylc given auto by par iShOnerS.
 FEATURES .-New York stories by Birmingham man. a-HOlland's letter. 4-EditOrial comment. 2-FoOtlights and screen.
 SPORTING NEWS G-Birmingh ham and Mobile divide dOu- bIe bill.
 EIberfeld again announces roster complete for year. Playing of Vols features initial week in Southern. Big league teams fighting hard at end of week.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-24
RAILROADS STILL BUYING RAILS FOR DELIVERY NEXT YEAR
Placing All Contracts Mills Can Be Induced to Accept. 9O,OOO Tons Placed by
 Pennsylvania

New York April 2SThe railroads are still ordering rails for 1917 shipment as heavily as the mills can be induced to make sales. Trolley lines. industrial roads and manufacturers of frogs and switches, as well as contractors of rail- road construction, also are anxiously making efforts to secure places on rail mill schedules before May l. In the past week contracts for light and heavy sec tions. reported specifically, amounted to nearly 150.oo0 tons, including 5000 tons for the Great Northern, 2S00o tons for the Southern railway, 12,0oo tons for the Chesapeake and Ohio. 5000 tons for the Glover Leaf, l5.o0o tons for the Pere Mar auette and 37Oo tons for the Lake Superior and 1shpemng. Four southern railroads bought an aggregate of a5,O0 tons stand ard sections. There were also orders ot girder rails and light sections aggregat- ing 1e.ooo rails. Since April rail con-
 (Continued on pags Twel
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-24
DELAYED BY FLOODS

London, April 23-Eloods in the Tigris
 region are proving a formidable obstacle
 to advance of British relief force. Gen
 eral Gorringe in another attack this
 mol,ning o1s the atr E sannSSyat post ton on the north bank of the river, met the same fate as in similar attack on April g. The British succeeded in pene- trating the second line of Turkish trenches, but were unable to maintain the positions in the face of Turkish
 counter-attack Nothing is said in the official statement about the losses sus-
 tained, but it is feared these were serious. Last weeks fighting on the south bank of the river, which also was of se-
 rious character, and varying fortune, had given kearys forces a net advance of
 about two miles, and it had been hoped
 that this success would help General Cor
 ringe break through on the north bank. According to the official dispatch Gen
 eral Keary's forces were unable to make much progress in todays battle.
 The official statement says:
 General Lake, teegraphing today, re- ports:
 ...An attack made this morning on the Sannaiyat position, on the left or north bank failed. The position had been sysas tematically bombarded on the 10th and Fist at intervals during each night and again this morning. Owing to floods, 1t was found possible for one brigade only to attack over very concentrated front. The leading troops of this brigade, consisting of a British composite bat talon, advanced with great gallantry and penetrated the enemys first and second lines through the bog and submerged trenches. A few got up into the third line. The brigade, however, was unable to maintain itself under the enemy's counter-attacks. Other brigades, pushed upon the right and left to reinforce, were unable to reach their objectives across the flooded. boggy ground under heavy machine gun fire. Our troops on the right bank were also unable to make much progress,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-24
EFFECT OF MEASURE

There is no member of Congress, it is probable, who wolld oppose any bill hav- ing for it's object the alleviation of the burden of children who are forced to work. The democrats-southe demo- cratic idea-however. is that the regula- ton of it's internal a2eairs is a function of each sovereign state. The Keating bill, as a matter of fact, would have cnly a negative effect in Alabama where, by a recent act of the legisla- ture, a law was written which was en- tirely satisfactory to the child labor lobby and which by that lobby was de- clared to be progressive and altogether efficient.
 In practically every other southern state, there is child labor legislation, and the southern opposition to the Keat- ing bill was based on the fact that emo tional theorists unaware of actual con dtions in the south, were seeking to impose their own impracticable views on those of whose environment they were ignorant,
 A STRIKING ILLUSTRATION
 Of one effect of the bil there is d striking illustration within stones throw of Birmingham Hugh Stokeley. Birmingham attorney. has a brother in
 Continued on Page Two
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-24

The Secretary announced the ad- |ministration,s decision as follows:
 FORMAL ANNOUNCEMENT
 General Funston has recon- .mended redisposition of the forces lin Mexico for the purpose of recupera- |tion and pending opportunities for further cooperation with the forces Bof the de facto government of Mexlco. 'The recommendation has been ap- |proved and it's execution left to ms discretion"
 Later the Secretary dictated the following:
 1.-The statement I have made lndl- |cates nothing whatever on the sub fleet of when the American troops Will |be withdrawn from Mexico. The
 whole subject of withdrawal of the forces is under arrangement and nego- tiation by the state department" :"
 MT. Baker declined to say whether
 General Funston's recommendations in-
 cluded his previous suggestions that
 the border base should be shifted 10
 Preside from Columbus, or some oth-
 CT point to the east of Columbus m
 order to shorten the line of communl-
 cation He stated positively, however,
 that no additional regiments had been ordered to the border and that no such
 Urder was in contemplation The secre-
 tary made it clear also that military officials of the government were not
 Ioonsidering the question of withdrawal
 from Mexico. that matter being who'll
 lily in the hands of the state depart
 ment. It was announced tonight that Gen
 eral Scott had completed his mission
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-24
ANXIETY OVER OUR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
 RULES THE MARKET
Stocks That Have Featured Speculative Operations Close at Lowest Point
 of Calendar Year

New York, April 23.-The growing ap- prehension arising from the country s relations with Germany and Mexico were almost the sole governing factors of the continued disturbances in the stock mar ket last week. Quoted values registered more or less steady declines. some of these attaining serious proportions.
 In fact. the stocks which have fea- tured the speculative operations of recent months closed at lowest levels of the calendar year. Offerings were largely of liquidating character, voluntary and enforced. Many weekly margined ac- counts were ruthlessly thrown over. There was also very liberel sprinkling of short selling. The trading element has long been committed to lower prices and recent events have forced their opera lions to great degree. On the other jiland the general tone has been a but tress to the general selling that it was better able to withstand more alarming developments. Local banks are counsel <rn.tsuueA m Dare Twal
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-24
GERMANS FORGED TO QUIT LINES
 IN FLANDERS BY RISING WATERS
Unable to Consolidate Posi- tions on Ypres Road. Floods Proving Formid- able Barrier to British in Mesopotamia

Berlin, April 23.--(Via London.) )-Ger- man forces were compelled to evacuate newly won positions on the Langemarck- Ypres road on account of high floods, which made the consolidation of the po- sitions impossible, according to the state ment issued today by the German war office
 A hand grenade attack made by the English south of St. Eloi was repulsed French trenches on the left bank of the Mouse east of Haucourt and west of Dead Man Hill were captured.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-24
STEAMERS ARE SUNK

London April 23.-The Italian steamer Joseph Agost Tcherzc has been sunk by a German submarine. The crew was landed
 Iloyds announces that the French bark Chanaral, of 2476 tons gross was tor pedoed or Saturday morning. The crew is believed to have been saved
 The captain and 16 hands of the Brit
 (COntinued on Page Tyvo)
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-24
Democrats and Republicans Unable to Reach Working
 Agreement on Anything
MILD FILIBUSTER ON
 AGRICULTURE BILL
Republicans Object to Having White House Dictate Course of Con- gress-Preparedne Legis-
 lation Drags

Washington, April 23.-House democrats and republicans, after having worked to- gether tremendously for four and halt months, are on the verge of a clash over the legislative programme for the remain der of the session.
 The majority, desirous of carrying out the wishes of the White House in pushing through the Philippine and shipping bills, is threatening to invoke drastic rules which will insure passage of these meas ures right away.
 The minority Is conducting what ap- pears to be a mild filibuster on the agri- culture appropriation bill and urging con- sideration of the Notifications or appro- priations measures.
 Attempts to agree on a fixed programme have ben futile. Minority Leader Mann says he is willing to come to an agree lnent with the democrats. but that the White House can't tell us what we must do,' and is waiting for the democrats to make the next move. In the meantime the democrats are having many confer ences in an endeavor to reach a work ing agreement, while on the floor such problems as poisoning coyotes, fighting the Hessian fly and preserving the buff falo are being discussed at length.
 INTERNAL DISCORD
 Democratic leaders face a problem with in their own ranks in the Philippine bill. The White House, it is understood, faV- ors the bin as amended by the Senate to give the Filipinos freedom in four years, but this does not meet with the united approval of the House democrats. Hence the plan to nlaHe the bill a party measure now seems likely to be aban- doned.
 Many members would like to see the shipping bill brought in before the Philip pine measure but unless debate on the agriculture bill lasts throughout the week the latter measure will probably be con sidered next
 When the shipping bill comes in it IS certain to precipitate a long and heated fight Only few minor changes will be made in the measure as drawn, it is understood, and vessel owners are de- (Continued on Page Two)
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-24
Ambassador Gerard Will Be Able Accurately to Fore
 cast Its Contents
VON BERNSTORFF IS
 WITHOUT ADVICES
May Call at State De- partment in Next Few Days to Discuss Developments in
 Von Igel Case

Washington, April B. -Gernafy's reply to the American note demanding mmedi- ate abandonment of illegal and inhuman submarine warfare probably will be be- fore President Wilson by Saturday. In the meantime, perhaps within AS hours, Ambassador Gerard at Berlin is expected to be in position accurately to forecast the contents of the document
 It is confidently believed that the Ger man reply will be handed to Ambassador Gerard on "Wednesday or Thursday, and then about two days will be required for the work of coding, cable transmission and decoding. From MT. Garard's in- formal conversations with officials of the Berlin foreign office is expected to come the advance word of what is to be ex- pected.
 The most recent dispatches received from the ambassador were said to con tain only quotations from editorials in German newspapers. These were de- scibed as being virtually identical with the editorial opinions in press dispatches. The general tone of calmness displayed by the German press was noted with sat isfaction, however. The editorial ex- pression seemed not to alter anxiety over the ultimate outcome.
 WILL SEE LANSING
 The German embassy today was with out dispatches from Berlin. Count Won Bernstorff the ambassador, was out of town. He is expected to return tomor- row, however, and during the day may call at the state department in connec- tion with the return of papers seized in New York by agents of the department of justice, from Wolf Won Igel, former secretary of Captain Won Papen, called military attache of the emba ssy. In view of the status of the submarine sit uation it is unlikely that he will mem rion that subject unless instructed to do so by his government between now and the time of his call.
 It is stated authoritatively that the German embassy has no information re- gardng the intentions of the Berlin government than has the state depart ment In some diplomatic quarters the statement made in dispatches of the semi-official Overseas News agency that Germany will act along the lines of
 (COntinued on Page Tw0)
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-24
Chancellor Returns to Ber- lin, Which, It Is Believed, Foreshadows a Decision
 as to Reply to Be Made
HINT OF CONCESSION IS CONTAINED IN THE
 BERLIN NEWSPAPERS
Lokal Anzeiger Says Ger many Can Yield if It so Desires-The Peace Party Deprecates Break

Berlin, April 2.-CVia Copenhagen to London, April 24.-The imperial chancel- Tor, Dr. von Bethmann-H Hollweg, returned to Berlin this afternoon, which would seem to justify the assumption that the empires responsible leaders at great headquarters have finished consideration of the American note and reached de- cision concerning Germany's reply. What this reply will be is naturally unknown to any but the highest officials
 The chancellor's s return, it is understood, was not expected until Tuesday; hence a general decision appears to have been reached earlier than looked for There is no intimation of when the reply will be formulated but there seems to be Lokal Anzeiger, which is consistently well-informed, says that Germany s strength and prestige have so increased in the last 20 months in the eyes of the whole world that the German government has, indeed, only to follow the command ments of wisdom
 The obvious deduction, according to the view here, is that there is nothing to prevent Germany from making certain concessions if the leaders feel that they can properly do so. Whether they do feel that they can go thus far is, of course, another question.
 There is unquestionab a considerable peace party in Germany, which includes powerful financial interests represented by Bourse organs and the Frankfurter Zei- trng. including also the Berlin Tageolatt and socialist organs. Certain high oft cials also would consent to breach or war with the United States only most reluctantly and under pressure of what seemed to them an unavoidable neces-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-24

Washington in few days.
 PURSUIT IS STOPPED
 The new military plan leaves the pursuit of Villa at a standstill, but ,, frees General Funston's hands to make the position of the forces in Mexico secure by grouping them in posts of such strengts as to protect them It will also serve as a plain warning to General Carranza that he must bend every effort toward securing complete control of the territory south of the most advanced American post if he hopes to have the troops recalled.
 During the encouragement of the line at least. there will be opportunity for
 the state department to make counter
 proposals to General Carranza, urging greater cooperation as means to se
 cure early withdrawal. The halt will also give the men and horses of the American flying columns chance for much needed rest
 With the troops concentrated in po- sitions where they control the entire situation in the territory surrounding them, it may be argued to General Carranza that they form a wall against which he can drive the bandits from
 the south.
 The intimation would suggest that
 either this must be done or Carranza forces themselves must crush out all brigandage before withdrawal of the American forces could be arranged for.
 It is possible that to avoid the pos sibility of clashes such as that at Par ral, the new American bases will be established at points somewhat north of the present most advanced posi- tion. There is little indication of anti American feeling, it has been report ed in territory now within the spread of the American lines. At the same time minor withdrawal might aid General Carranza in granting the addi- tional cooperation which will be sug- sested.
 MAY ASK CONFERENCE It is known that the possibility of asking General Obregon, Carranza's war minister, to come to the border for a conference has been suggested
 here. The opinions of American off cials familiar with events in Mexico City has been sought in this regard. Because of the jealousy Carranza is said to feel over the position the war minister occupies in the minds of the l Mexican people. however, doubt is felt as to the practicability of carrying out | this plan.
 All recent reports indicate the press | ing need of relief for General Per- shing's advance guard, particularly the cavalry. Men were described as phys 1 ically strained, without shoes, their | uniforms frayed and their horses jaded. l (Continued on Page Twol