davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-12-17
GERMANS LIKE SOFT CLAY
IN HANDS OF THE FRENCH
Fierce Onslaught Against Teutonic Positions
on Verdun Front Described by Asso-
ciated Press Correspondent.

was pierced after hard fight, and its
occupants made prisoners. Then, up
the slopes of Pepper hill the infantry
progress until at exactly an hour from
the start the twin crests of this height
, had been swept clear of Germans and
the rockets announced the French were
established there.
In the meantime the Germans on the
opposing slope had been taken in the rear
by an extemporized French flank move
ment. The surprise was so great that
both the infantrymen and the gunners
attempted to fee, and French aviators
turned the fight into a rout by de-
scending to within a hundred yards of
the earth and emptying band after
band of machine gun cartridges into
the disorderIy crowd, of which those
remaining alive surrendered.
Making their way along the valley
behind Pepper Hill, the French ap-
preached and took Louvemont with
similar and untiring brilliance. in
which they Were supported by another
French wave that had fought it's way
through the entanglements of strongly
fortified field works in Caurires wood,
just about the center Of the line.
Meet Strong Opposition.
In front of Douaumont the advance
was equally rapid. but on the right
flank the forward movement encoun-
tered strong opposition in Hardaumont
wood, which was not overcome until
late in the afternoon, when Bensonvaux
redoubt, about five kilometers in adj
vance of the original French front line,
was taken from the German garrison.
Gen. Mangin was again the principal
organizer of the victory, in which he
followed his own example at Douau-
mont and Fort Faux by delivering ir-
resistible blows at the chief point in
the German lines and hammering until
his opponents were forced to give
ground. Gems. Nivelle and Petain watch
ed the engagement, in which only four
French divisions participated, although
it is known the Germans had five di-
visions engaged, from every regiment
of which prisoners were taken.
1t is reported without confirmat ton
that several of the German divisions
which took part in the fighting were
hurried from Rumania to rejoin the
crown princes army and that they were
among those suffering defeat
The French losses during the attack
were unbelievabiy slight. The German
artillery seemed to fire at random,
probably disorRaniZed by the absence
/ Of German airmen, who were kept in
complete subsection by the French
aviators-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-12-17
FOR INCREASE AND PROMOTION
Bill to Raise Sa aries CT Railway
Mail Clerks 500 Yearly.

bill has been introduced by Senator
Penrose of Pennsylvania increasing the
salaries of railway mail clerks 500 a
year in each grade. The bill further
provides that clerks of class shall be
promoted to grade 5. at salary of
$1,000 "a year: clerks of class b to
grade G. at salary of $1,000: clerks
OF class c to grade 7. at salary of
Sl,7O0 Promotions from one grade
only to the maximum grade in respec-
tive classes shall be made Annually,
credit to be allowed for time served
prior to the passage of the act.
Assistant division superintendent
would be paid annual salaries of $4,000:
chief clerks. $4,000. and assistant chief
clerks. $4,000. Substitute railway pos
tai clerks would be paid at the rate of
$1,000 a year. and promoted to grade
($l,100) after completing one year Of
$ crrdlt to re allowed for time
served prior to the passage Of the act.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-12-17
FIREMEN ARE GIVEN BOOKS.
Citizens Donate Nucleus of Library
to Engine Company No. %.

A library of 100 volumes and a num-
Der of magazine subscriptions were
presented last night by the Connecti-
cut Avenue Citizens Association to No.
% engine company. which recently took
possession of the new firehouse on
Connecticut avenue. AT the same time
a sectional bookcase was presented to
the company by the Milton Rhodes
Company of Washington and Green's
boro, y. c., through Fred b. Rhodes.
The associations gift was made
through David l.. Selke, chairman of
the library committee, and was ac-
cepted on behalf of the fire company
by Commissioner Brownlow. who has
supervision of the fire department. An
address of appreciation also was made
by Capt. c, F. Beers of the company
Others who witnessed the presentation
ceremonies were Fire Chief Frank j.
Wagner. Fire Marshal p. W. Nicholson
and a large number of residents of the
neiGhborhood.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-12-17
TO URGE MORE PAY
At MASS MEETINGS
Federal and District Employees
to Open Their Campaign
Tomorrow Night.
LABOR LEADERS IN CHARGE
TO LAUNCH CAMPAIGN
FOR SALARY INCREASE

With three "co-operative'
mass meetings, the campaign
for higher salaries for federal
and District employees, includ-
ING those in the public schools,
will be opened this week, Each
assembly will be distinct, YET
the persons interested IN each
will cooperate in all. ana
every man and woman IN the
District interested in the cam,
paign is urged to attend all
three meetings. Samuel Com
pers and Frank Morrison, presi-
dent and secretary, respectively,
of the American Federation OF
Labor, are to open the series
tomorrow night. Dates, places
and organizations i'll charge OF
the meetings follow:
Tomorrow night - General
meeting, at which various labor
organization will be represent
ed, at Convention Hall, under
auspices of Central Labor
Union.
Tuesday night-Meeting deal
ing particularly with case OF
public school employees will be
held at new Central High
School, under auspices OF High
School Teachers Union.
Wednesday night-Meetlng at
National Rifles Armory, under
auspices of Federal Employees
Union, at which the govern
ment clerks case will be given
special consideration.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-12-17
INDoRsE ADVERTISING BILL.
Members CT American Fair Trade
League Favor Is Passage.

Neutrality-suspicious. who are interested
in honest advertising. and members of
the American Fair Trade League who
are now in the city, expressed gratifi-
cation last night over the strong sup
port which has so far been given by
advocates of the stephens honest ad-
vertising bill" on the plea that they
We're not ready, opponents of the bill
yesterday succeeded in having hearings
before the Interstate and foreign COM
merce committee of the House sched-
uied for yesterday postponed until jan
uary and 6, but those hoping to see
the bill passed at this session feel most
optimistic over its chances.
Representative stephens of Nebraska,
a member of the committee and author
of the bill. yesterday declared that aft
er ten days notice it was unfair to
witnesses from distant points to ask
for delay. He served formal notice
that if the opposition was not ready
to present their case at the time set he
would move for consideration of the
bin at once.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-12-17
TO AID THOSE WHO STAMMER.
National Round Table Plans to Es-
tablish Free Clinics.

NEW YORK, December 1s.-The
national Round Table for the Improve
ment of Speech. formed during the
convention of the National Education
Association here last July. announced
today that free clinics to aid persons
who stammer and have ether speech
defects. and persons who wish to i'm
prove foreign accents, are to be estab-
lished in Boston. Chicago. San Fran
cisco and other cities. 1t is estimated
that in New York city alone there are
$4,000 persons who have speech de-
"ertS
The school authorities in various
cities will be asked by the round table
to supervise the clinics. as is done by
the board of educa ton here. The round
table recently elected DR. Harris Tay-
lor. superintendent OF the Institute for
the Improved instruction Of the Deaf.
as national president.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-12-17

| augural a spectacle of unprecedented
proportions and brilliancy.
William F. GUIDE is to bring his ex-
perience OF four years ago to the chair
manshfp Of the committee on illumina-
ton, with Leo c. Brooks as vice chair
, man.
D. J. Callahan heads the committee
on badges and medals, with ]. Harry
Cunningham as his vice chairman.
The committee on historic sites is to
elaborate on Its customary work of
placing tablets on these places of his
| toric interest, and the prospect is that
an attractive souvenir booklet will be
issued. c. c. Calhoun. who has had ex-
tensive experience in this line of work,
is to be chairman and William V. Cox
vice chairman.
The reviewing stand privileges have
been tntrusted to a committee, of which
! John B. Colpoys Is chairman and
Charles F. Nesbit vice chairman.
The tickets for the Lafayette Park re-
viewing stand in the court of honor
are to be in charge of a committee with
e. S. Wolf as hartman and w. w.
Spade vice chairman.
Maj. Raymond w. Pullman is chair
man of the public order committee and
will have as his vice chairman James
F. Oyster
DR.. Philip S. Roy is to head the COM
mittee to take charge of medical ar
rangements.
Other Chairmen to Be Named.
F. S. Hight. manager of the New
Willard Hotel. as representative of the
hotel men. is chairman of the commit
mittee on hotel accommodations. with
Prof Arthur Ramsey of Fairmont
Seminary as vice chairman.
The chairman of the auditing COM
mittee Is to be Levi David and Corne-
nus tckhardt auditor for The Even
ing Star, is to be vice chairman.
Col. John I. Martin has been chosen
sergeant-at-arms of the inaugural or
ganization.
There are a number of important
chairmen yet to be named. The per-
sonnet of the subcommittee will be
announced just as fast as Chairman
Harper can arrange conferences with
the committee chairmen. The first of
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-12-17
HOPES NEW GOVERNMENT
WILL GET FAIR CHANCE

LONDON. December 16. - dressing
his corstitu hts at Bailey tonight,
Walter Funciman. former president of
the board of trade. said:
THE reason / did not Join the new
ministry was that the new premier did
not ask me. Mr. Lloyd George invited
his "nionist colleagues ard the labor
ties of the former cabinet to Join him
in the new ministry. but only invited
one former liberal minister. I bear no
i'll will over the matter and hope that
the new government will be given a
fair CHARGE"
Touching the s"bma~ inc campaign,
Mr.. Runciman said there had been
great acceleration recently in arming
british merchantmen.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-12-17
PLEA FOR THE SOLDIERS
BLINDED AND MANNED
Mrs. Moreton F. Gage, Wife of Of
ficer Fighting With Allies, Urges
Relief Measures.

Make a Christmas present TO the
blinded and manned soldiers of the al
lied nations"
That is the gist of an appeal which
has been sent out by Mrs. Moreton r.
Lippitt of Rhode Island. Mrs. Gage is
the: wife of Gen. Gage. who is now
on the front in France, fighting. Mrs.
Gage is in Paris.
Pointing out the limited activities OF
the men who have been blinded, and
particularly their helplessness and
hopelessness during the first six
months, she explains that even trifie
will buy some gift which they will
value more than you can realize. A
graphophone, she says, brings joy to an
entire ward. Hundreds of places are
needed for teaching the blind; also,
many helpers are wanted.
Appeal to American Women.
"There are many women in America
who have great hearts and who would
he clad to Join in this splendid work."
writes Mrs. Gage. VIII they write
and get in touch with us? They will
find the work intensely interesting"
donations should be sent to the fund
for "Atelier du Blesse." care Morgan
Harjes s. Co. 81 Boulevard Haussman,
Paris, which will acknowledge the
In making the appeal Mrs. Gage says.
in part: At. ..,. 80
those who have to fight through that
bitter time alone because their rela-
tiyes are too poor to come TO see
father brother or son. The men sit
talking to one another. listening pain
fully to hear something new to change
the current of their thoughts. Wish
as they may to go out, IT is rarely pos
sible. They have to depend on friends
and visitors who will give the time to
walk out with men. who are as help
less as children and whose every step
has to be watched. The delight of the
men when they are taken out is pitt
full One soldier said to me: It makes
me feel better just to rub shoulders IN
the street with other men. I don't feel
SO apart them.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-12-17
WILLIAM H. SAUNDERS.
Treasurer.

,fo,,, ;,,,o,ro, hnnor, r,nro ,r
MANY inaugural hohors "ere a"
nounced by Chairman Robert N. Har-
per last night, including the chairmen
and v;ce cbairmen If a numher NJ tbe
go. ,..tn,. .o,,..aa. M. L..
MUS. ilhpo' 'ahe eohi'iii'.ees. MI naf
personnel of the large inaugural gen.
ai eoiiiiiii'.ee' "niei 'ne1ou' ,"o.e
~ i'o - .e a,,a.;a
A., - d,,.. III, 49, -
- 80 H. oo,s,n,o.. ,;a, .o,,orro,,
w,li.n u Saunders was named az
treasurer of the committee. He ia iden-
tilted with a number of civic bodies in
m..,>;r,
george H. Llhklns mas peeh maze
chairman of the committee on civic
section of the parade. which is one of
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-12-17
HAS PULrEr WoUN' IN CHEST.
Osoa- We've N Y s~ita'. Woman
Hcn' Of Shooting Him.

Sufferin~ -on severe bullet wound
Oscar Mcclure colored. twenty-nine
wears cd 4O7 Sd street southwest
was taken to Emergency Hospital yes
terdav afternoon Search was fnsti-
tinted by the police for Rosa Bland
colorod thirty-one years old. who is
altered to have shot him.
Rosa il is st"ted. resides in the
house OF the wounded man She walked
from the house shortly after the shot
was fired the police we've told. and
disappeared Mcclure told Detective
O'Dea at the hospital thai he and Rosa
were fooline with the pistol and that
the shooting was accidental.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-12-17
Waist Workers De nand Increase.

NEW YORK. December 16.-Demands
for increased wages and shorter work.
ing hours were ratified at a meeting
here late today of members of the
Shirt and Boys Waist Workers and
Troners' Union. 1t was said that TX.
oO0 employees and $50 manufacturing
establishments were affected. The en-
uloyers were given ten days in which
to meet the demands. and officials of the
union said they were confident this
would be done.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-12-17
SENATE PAGES TO FEAST.
Vice President Ma shall Will Pro-
vide for Annual Christmas Dinner.

Though Vice President Marshall will
spend his Christmas in Arizona, he has
instructed Col. Edwin a. HaIsey, as
sistant on the floor of the Senate, in
charge of the pages, to see that his
annual custom of giving the pages of
the Senate bountiful Christmas din
ner is carried out in his absence. i. c.
Petty, the manager of the Senate cafe.
has provided an elaborate menu for the
boys The Vice President is thoughtful
of the youngsters and has given this
feast to the pages each Christmas since
he has been in Office.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-12-17
BLISS WEALTH FOR CHARITY.
Memorial Fund Incorporated fol
Distributions of Funds.

NEW YORK, December Ito apply
to philanthropic purposes a considerable
part of the s4,10O,000 estate of the late
Cornelius n. Bliss. who for years was
treasurer of the republican national
committee, his heirs incorporated today
the Cornelius n Bliss Memorial Fund
Mr.. Bliss widow. his son. Cornelius n
Bliss, jr.. and his daughter, Miss Lizzie
p. Bliss, are among the incornorators.
The purposes of the fund were an
nounced to be ito promote secular and
religious education among all classes
to care for the sick, aged, disabled and
poor improve. the condition of humanity
and to aid other organizations engaged
in similar : ork.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-12-17
STATES RIGHTS INVOLVED.
Supreme Court to Decide Regarding
Pure Food Laws.

Whether states may prohibit sale of
food products containing benzoate of
soda preventative, permitted under the
federal pure food laws, is question
the Supreme Court of the United States
yesterday was asked to decide. Wis
consin's food commissioner appealed
sfrom a decision of Federal Judge San
born holding that the federal laws are
paramount and Wisconsin's anti-bene-
zoate of soda statutes unconstitutional
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-12-17
Not a "Blunder," Officers Say.

HONOLULU. T. H.. December 16-
Nobody blundered, army officers said
today. in ecently ordering to the
islands a large amount Of horse-dr wn
artillery equipment fer the 9th Field
Artillery. motorized organization
When the equipn ent was reshipp d last
week to the mainland 1t ! as reported
that IL had been shipped here under a
misapprehension as to the character of
equipment reqrtred. Officers said that.
as matter Of fact. the motorizing of
the regiment was not DECIDED upon
until the horse drawn equipment was
kon its way here,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-12-17
!, AUTO BANDITS GET $500.
-
Pay Roll Seized in New Orleans
Daylight Robbery on Busy Street.

NEW ORLEANS. December ia
bold highway robbery by automobile
bandits occurred here shortly before
noon today. when an unidentified man
grabbed a bag containing about $500.
the weekly pay roll from the pay
master of a tank-manufacturing con-
Germ as he stepped on street car at
the plant. In Carrollton. a thickly set
tied portion of the city. The robbeI
leaped into an automobile containing
another man and the pair drove rap
Idly away.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-12-17
SHIPS SUNK IN WAR ZONE.
sa.amis and Naiad Sent to Bottom,
But Crews Are Saved.

PARIS. December 16.-The sinking of
the 6.000-ton Greek steamship Salamis
by German submarine is reported in
a Havas dispatch from Madrid. The
crew embarked in eight of the ships
boats which were towed by the sub
marine to point near the coast.
LONDON, December 16-Lloyds Shin
ping Agency announces that the Brit
ish ship Naiad has been sunk. The
crew was saved.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-12-17
CHARLES COLE Is DEAD.
Former Washington Newspaper
Man Passes Away in Philadelphia.

Charles Cole. a well known Philadel-
ohia newspaper man and formerly of
Washington. died at his home in Phila-
delphia Thursday morning. according
to word received here. He was forty
two years old. Funeral services were
held yesterday morning. after which the
body was sent to Baltimore for burial in
Bonnie Brae cemetery.
Mr.. Cole. who was the hrst city editor
of the Washington Herald. came to
this city about fifteen years ago, after
doing newspaper work in Baltimore
He also was connected with the WASH
ipgton Times. Mr.. Cole went to Phila-
delphia about six years ago. making
his home there continuously since that
time. He 10 survived by his wife.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-12-17
BIOLOGICAL ScCIETY ELECTS.
W. P. Hay Heaos -oaru of Officers
Chosen at Annual Session.

W. +. Hay was reelected president of
the Biological Society of Washington at
Its thirty-seventh annual meeting asst
night at the Cosmos Club
The other officers reelected were: Vice
presidents. J. n. Rose. A b. Hopkins, II.
n Smith. v. Bailey: recording secret ry
81 W Lyon. jr corresponding secre AIRY.
W. L. McAtee: treasurer, n. Dearborn
councillors. n. Hollister. J. W. G.dley
William Palmer and Alexander wetmore
e. A Goldman was also elected a coun-
riior In place Of <. A Means. decea cd
{. Reports of officers were given, after
which DR.. Il w Evernan of the Cali
!. fornia Academy Of Sciences delivered a
: lecture on the museum of the academy
and showed pictures of groups of animals
In the museum.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-12-17
Exrects so go for Training Corps,

The War Department expects to have
so 900 students under instruction in the
l next. Adjt. Gen. Mccain told the
House naval committee yesterday More
been authorized to establish. units of
the corps in which the available stu
dent body totals 10000. Applica tions
are coming in every day. Gen. Mccain
said, although no money to equip the
cadets is vet available. The depart-
ment is asking for more than 81, 0O0, 900
for this purpose to be available imme-
diately.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-12-17

Prom Stan Correspondent of the Associated
Press.
PEPPER HILL. Verdun Front, Fri
day December Is, via Chantilly. De-
cember ia short. sharp battle
brought to the French today their third
smashing victory within period of
two months in the vicinity of Eerdun.
Every objective point of the French
commanders was obtained with chrono-
metric accuracy.
Although the Germans offered a des-
perate defense they were like soft
clay in the hands of the French troops.
who squeezed them into any shape they
liked and only ceased to handle them
when their own time came.
Thousands of German prisoners
poured into the French lines during
the day, including 200 officers, and
large groups are still arriving. The
total count already is 1900. tThe lat
est French official statement says the
number of prisoners exceeds 10000
One division alone captured more than
1900 Germans within an hour. More
than eighty large and small German
cannon We're captured or destroyed ana
many others are known to he buried.
The villages of Nacherauville. Lowe
mont and Besonvaux and Hardaumont
wood now are in Frtnch hands.
Gain on Wide Front.
The front over which the offensive
was executed was ten kilometers long.
When the fighting ceased, owing to
the darkness, the French advance had
extended an average of three kilo-
meters along the whole front. at va
rious points rushing further out and
threatening the German batteries,
whose retreat was hindered by the bad
condition of the ground.
The battle began az 10 O'Clock in
the morning with the left flank of
the French opposite Vacherauville and
the right flank on Fort Vaux. The
correspondent of the Associated Press
watched the engagement from "a dom
mating height.
As the church clock struck the hour
every French gun opened a storm of
steel. placing every shot Immediately
behind the German front line. Mean
while the French infantry made one OF
its characteristic -dashes and reached
the village of Nacherauville, where.
utilizing the new method Of infantry
attack they drove the Germans from
house 10 house until the village was
entirely in their hands.
Pepper Hill Swept Clear.
Advancing beyond the village. the
French attacked a German trench
known as "Bethmann's Bowl" which
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-12-17
D c. Engineer Department Changes

The District Commissioners have an
nounced number of promotions and
appointments in the engineer depart-
ment. T. ]. Powell, assistant engineer.
las been transferred from the per
diem to the annual roll. to succeed c.
H. Bailey. ]. J. Curtin, transitman.
has been promoted to assistant en-
gineer. and ]. E. Ebert, rodman, to
transitman. c. J. Cain will fill the
vacancy caused by the latter's promo
ton. Henry J. Hunt. clerk, has been
transferred from the per diem to the
annual roll. at an increase In salary.
The changes are effective Immediately.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-12-17
Ferris Bill Goes to President.

All the disputed points in the Ferris
hill to provide 640-acre homesteads.
principally for grazing purposes, were
smoo, he'd out yesterday in conferences
between House and Senate, and the
measure now goes to the President for
signature. The bill has been supported
by the Interior Department and west
further opening tie public domain.