davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-06-26

being disheartened by their temporary
check in Volhynia, are bringing i'm
menSe numbers of reserves into action
and have renewed their vigorous at
tempts to reach Kovel. In the south
east the Slavs have cleared Bukowina
of the enemy and are entering the
passes of the Carpathians.
Reports that Rumania is displaying
military activity, come from German
sources. coincident with other dis
patches that the pro-ally party at
Bucharest is urging Rumanias en-
trance into the war.
Before Fortress of Verdun.
Paris. June 26.-The Germans are
now three-quarters of mile from
French lines Immediately in front of
the fortress of Verdun. But no opera
ton has as yet been undertaken else
where to relieve the pressure on the
citadel.
The official statement issued by the
French war office says:
There is no important event be-
yond the usual cannonade to record
on the rest of the 'front.' This is TAX
en- to show that the French COM
mand, viewing the situation as a stra-
tegic whole, looks on the tactical sue
cess of the Germans on the right
bank of the Mouse as of but momen-
tary significance. Exhausted by the
murderous fighting of the last three
days the enemy has been forced to
pause for breath under cover of the
rain of ten and twelve inch shells with
which they are pounding the French
line"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-06-26
Russ Through Bukowina.

London, June 26.-Russian troops
have broken through the Carpathian
mountains into Pennsylvania in an adj
vance from Bukowina, according to a
wireless dispatch from Rome today.
The message quoted Petrograd tele
grams as authority for the statement.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-06-26
Attention Royal Neighbors.

Children's exercises at Camp 14S,
Royal NeighboEs, at Lincoln Post hall
Wednesday evening, June 2S-Adv
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-02

the bitterest Of disappointment. with
a weary hopelessness as though the
person. n woman, had been at similar
gatherings before only 10 meet the
anguish she now expects.
The people Hook ahead and begin TO
walk along the tables. There is no
sound hut the swish of the feet. The
soldiers cit mo.ionless in their chairs
in contained eaGerness.
suddenly n woman screams. Her
screams rise 70 shrieks and az sud-
~dcnlv stop. Through the crowd they
carry hor to n chat near the piaform
where the train pulled in. \ dark.
handsome soldier hobbies along. In n
t,w seconds tn" woman regains cor
seriousness and with a rending cry Of
My boy-boy." throws herself about
the ncck Of the soldier.
lie stands on one leg and a wire
substitute for the other. An arm
clasped about the waist Of the woman
is handless. The soldier-he IL very
tall-bends over the woman stif'y and
gives her "A long passionate kiss. 7
shall never forget the look on his
face. Ii - a smile. full OF pain CON
ccalci. hut a smile. and therein g
Youth gone and tho earnest ambitions
# n little moro than a year ago
crushed forever. The woman is vcry
happy. for he was long dead and is
alive.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-02
Two letters to the front that may remain without an answer

Then Is comes: From the far end
Of the corridor leading to where the
crowd has waited comes a rustic, a
swish Of many feet and the officers
and brancardiers gathered at the
tables in silence turn to look.
The long string Of parents. wives,
sweethearts and children comes on
steadily through the long. narrow pas
sage toward the tables. Now tire
silence is tense and brcathless. Not
one in that sad. strain.ng crowd is
sure OF q reunion. They come on
with something that resembles a giant
billoW ready to break.
In tho cagcrness OF expectancy the
faces are painful! 10 see. There ia =
woman with a baby In her arms ana
poorly dressed. An old man hobbies
along with the aid ~ a cane. one hand
feebly extended toward an elderly.
stout woman who pushes along in the
lead. She has a face set for disap-
pointment. Near her In a slight. gen
tie looking mi whose face Is fur
rowed in deep lines and who tries 10
force an air OF u%nconccru.
Three women pass and in the r
frantic Cacorncss 20 get at the tables
push ~ncrvously through little openings
in the crowd, Evcryhody tries 20 look
over the shoulders Of those in front.
All are lookinG in the same direction.
bne a see much IN a few seconds.
There is \ face on which is written
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-02

Alphonsc Auard. professor of the history of the French RevoIu-
ton al the University of Paris and author of the "HiStoire PohIque
de Ia Revolution Franchise" has made a career out of the defence Of
the tradition of the French Revolution against the attacks OF the
reaction. notably Of Tame. Since the opening of the war ne has had
a considerable calming influence on the more violent French opinion
and has done much by his articles in The paIisian daily press to soothe
useless. wastefui haired, and TO direct French energy mt more
effective channels. He has stimulated the courage Of citizens by
blunt'y telling them the truth about the military and diplomatic
situation.
M. Au'ard is widely known to American history students for his
conviction that the French Revolution csmc from America TO France.
30 to speak. He attaches the greatest historical importance to the
against absolunsm in government had on the French liberal move
ment Immediately preceding the outburst of 1850. M. Aulard is a
tremendous admirer of the United States and Of AHerieans. whom
In the we Articles printed herewith M. AuIard throws a rev
and interesting light o n the state Of public opinion in France and
the causes of the military strength displayed by the Republic
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-02

vas immensely improved during the
same period ttat primary education
Wss spreading. and the peasants be-
came happier in the measure hat they
acquired more education. They came
u OF the economic slavery ~ pow
crtS AT the same time as they emerged
from the bondage NJ ignorance.
Rapid and color.css as Is my TX
position of tho mental condition OF
the French peasantry, 1t nevertheless
ma, serve To cceunt for the fact that
the basis OF the present French armies,
scvcn-tenths peasant as they are, is
50 much more soldier thar was that OF
Gambctta's armies. though the pres
cnt armies. AT least as regards tn"
very numerous latest recruits. have
been improviscd to almost the same
,icgrc" that ~;anbetta's troops were.
1t is foI these reasons Of social de-
vclopment that We have now such an
i~ntelicsHt and heroic discipline in all
orr armies. such an enlightened and
ardent patriotism. for now every peas
ant hHows that in defending France
he is defending his village, his FAM
lily and his property.
In our present armies. whose former
officers have almost entirely disap-
p.arcd under the wear OF war. il has
been found easy to secure new off,
GERS from the educated individuals
among the simple privates. The
school teachers have here been OF
great Importance. Promoted to he
non-commissioned officers and leu
tenants, they have showed ability to
, command as we'll as hcrolsm and good
spirit. Led in battle by the school
master in whom he has so much on
filonce, The French peasant Is the
stanchcst of soldiers.
Besides, his spirit is kept up by tn"
knowledge that during his absence his
family Is being looked after. He knows
that his relatives are not suffering.
even that they are not In II want,
The Governments allowance to SOL
diers' wives. varying az It does accord
ing to the number OF children In the
family. sut,lccs amply, for living Is very
cheap in the country. There are some
peasants, indeed, who have never
found themselves In such good for
tune as since III" opening OF the war.
In the cities, where living is dear.
workinGmcn'S wives, on the other
hand, are hard put 10 It. The result
is that peasant women, who make up
the majority OF French women do not
complain very much Of the war. do
not lament too much OH account of its
length. and do not write discouraglng
letters I, thcir husbands at the front.
Thr workiugmcu's wives, in the towns,
ave more Inclined +" complain and 10
write d,scouragingiy, hui fortunately
their husbands are even better edu-
Gated than the peasants. so that they
have AN cvcn stronger conviction OF
the absolute necessity NJ carrying
| through the war to Q victorious end
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-02
France in the Present War Fighting a the Champion of Liberty, Not From
Desire of Vengeance, Says Prof. Aphone Auad, Famous Historian

10 speak NJ 10 peasants. hc they land
owners or hired men, In So far as
their material interests are concerned.
Those who produce are selling at
higher prices. Farm wages are twice
"a high as in peace time. II Is only
middle class property owners VIII" arc
suffering materially from tn" war. and
their moral strength is supported by
a patriotism Of n - enlightened
degree than that Of tn" peasants.
II is through the loss Of mon, above
all, that the war s affecting the peas
ant class. Widely spread ~"durItlun
has made the poaSants more s"nsltt>"
OF spirit. They mourn their dead more
bitterly ruan in tho tim" Of Napoleon.
but this suffering. even among the
women. Is tempered by the spirit and
habit OF resignation acquired in Their
continual struggle with nature.
There are many other things which
could he said Of this subject, so Nttlc
known to foreigners. Eut ! trust that
the little sketch which ! have made
here will make clear the rcas"ns for
rne frmncss Of French public opinion
during this long and cruel war.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-02

celt "A few tardS provinces, most peas
ants cav read and write. The rcpuh-
lies normal schools have turned ont
for them first rate teachers of admi-
rablc zeal, capable Of furnishing them
with Al The idvas useful To "A free
man and a citizen. Extending their
thoughts beyond the marrow horizon
dominated by II" village stoeplc,
French peasants have come" to rn-
dcrstand that their little countryside
are only units IL the great French
! patrie. The peasant has become q
patriot
II is not alone to the primary school
that the credit for this result is due;
the children do no. remain there long
enough. The institutions which WI
call by a term resembling that used
Ia describe your ~'c%tens.Or' Orgaf!Za'
items have pa,rd a great part. The
evening lessons given by sg!loolmaS-
tiers to grown people, the friendly in
dividual talks between teachers anC
former pupils, the general moral in
nuence of the schOolmaster in the vii
Ia ge-often of almost prcponderant au'
thority-have contributed 10 the gen
eral work OF education.
Newspapers have also been a sue
cessful medium Of peasant education
For the past twenty-five years the'
have been spreading throughout thu
country. penetrating even to tn" mos
secluded districts. II all the peasants
do not read them themselves, there is
scarcely q family where one member
| docs not do so, and from him The
others ioaIU the essential substance
| of the news.
Such newspapers As the Pch Pa
| risicn and tho Petit JoHrH0l Of thu
Paris press and the Dcpcchc de- Ton
louSr and tho Pctif NarsciHdis Of thu
provincial press are excellent edu'
Gators of the people by VIRTUE of thel'
distribution in An attractive, clear
elementary form Of historical, scicn,
life. moral, geographical ANA l~iicrnr,
knowledge. They hav" '"riaGli
served to cnlichtcn and "a render hnc'
tho rude good sense OF the French
peasant.
II must also he horne in mind thai
the economic condition Of the peasantr,
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-02
Women with babies at relief post; their soldier husbands are
dead Or prisoners of war.

return. But she had learned Of his
arrival and is telling him that it makes
no difference. In days now past. those
Of another life-hc was "A surgeon not
long out Of school and his was a big
ambition. lie thinks Of his while the
girl stands by.
In Germany he found a chance to
learn how to make little useful things.
In his bag are ON articles he q
made after much hard work and prac-
tice. But he can do these things bet
ter now. and easier. n he has a sud
den hope.
Meanwhile N air Is filled with little
cries. much excited talking. There u
relief after the pent up anxiety Of
weary months and there are sobs az
still others find those they look for.
Nurses tripping through the throngs
ministerlng here and there. smiling
cheerfully. unexpectedly burst into
sobs and hurry AVA az they see
things not describable. while among
the several hundred observers lined
up along the sides there IL not q dry
eye.
The meal is now over. The majority
If the crowd are interspersed among
the places at the tables, exultsnt and
satisfied. having found those they
we're looking for. But there are still
many who continue to pass among
the long rows, stopping here and there
or suddenly ~retracine their steps with
a growing feeling OF terrible disap-
pointmcnt as they scan and rescan
the faces about them-now wildly
hoping against hope that those they
search are present.
They pass faster along the tables,
nervously and quickly looking around
in many directions. Muscles Of their
faces witch spasmodlcally, yes mar
row or widen and fingers Jerk and
pull.
While the throrgs still preN about
there II a rapping on a table. a sudden
dying doan ~ the confusion 81 sound
and silence. " is announced that
there Is 20 he a short address to the
soldiers.
The speaker Is a notable from the
Wal Office ard a We'll known patriot
mon. the people. He arises a. the
end ~ "a table in q Ear corner ~ the
room and ucas low before his com.
patriots. He comes To thank his
friends. his hrothers. he SAYS. for .hc.,
service To- the country, Their sacrifice.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-02

In reality French republicans came
TO put all their confidence and all their
ardor into the spread Of liberal and
democratic IDEAS. They hoped that BY
creating in Europe an atmosphere OF
democracy they would little by little
induce the establishment of free in
situations in all the nations. SO that
Wal might he prevented and national
inJustices he repaired the restoration
or the independence Of Alsace-I.or-
raire included by the mere force Of
the functioning OF these free instltu-
tions
In short. we wished to establish IN
France a model democracy whose in
fuencc would win over. among other
peoples. the Germans, Influencing
them to substitute = liberal, moIu. II
ana pacific government for their Oh.
solutis', cd faGnIoIcd, Narlike gov
eminent.
Among French democrats the So
claiists Wen, 80 Gar as 20 believe that
the German people We're on The point
" entering or had ALREADY entered into
the dcmo,r ratio condition. Taking Sc
rlously certain speeches and certain
acts II III" German Socialists they
cand,dly believed that the Germans
we're at ono with them to oppose. oven
Ivy revolt. any var Whatsoever. ana
even that these German Socialists
would DESTROY In" ahSolutlsm Of the
Solernmcn Of their own mi
The talks between French and Ger
nal Socialists came TO b. frequent.
The Illusion 81 a German socialism
as the brother Of French socialism. the
friend ~ peace at any price, the friend
of France, capable "f disohcy.na til"
Kaiser in SO far as he might be in
clined Ia maxi" war, ct control ~
even clear heads in France, Thus ;he
leader "f French Sucla. SITS, the rolw
est and tho most enlightened mind n
French politics s,uc. Mirahrau, tie
late Jean Iaur-s. not Only dreamed ~
a reconciliation wfh Germany bat
actually believed that such a rap
prochement was practically readable,
and not far away. as he frequently old
me himself.
II was not only the Socialists ~
France who showed their love os
peace IN comforting N q fr.cndly spirit
with the Germans, but even the re-
publ.cans who Wcro not Socialists DID
not hcs..at" 20 undertake such rela-
Ions: in the spr.uS OF 1919 more than
a hundred French pariiamcatarians
conferred with some German repre-
sentative legislators ~ Borne.
As for the Increase in our arma-
mcnis, they were never undertaken eN-
ccpt in answer to suddeu aud cnor-
nous German incrca,cs. as an trdis-
innSahle VITA In.Ts.rtN pr,1 .suayy
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-02

eNsmpl" az resignation. and awaited
the restoration 81 .Alsa"e-TNrraine as
tho frut Of peaceful negotiation only.
II was Germany WHO twice appeared
~ h" seeking an excuse for attacking
US; IL was '~ierinany's continual men.
aces and HOY enormous military deNel-
o%Irnent which Obliged us to he ready
for war AGAINST our viii.
She forced us t. prepare. too. by tho
ty~rarni'al brutality with which she
treated tic inhabitants Of Alsacc-L.or-
rHiuc.
Tile German annexation Il AlsaCc-
Lorraine, So threatening t. the peace
"f th" world. could have obtained q
sort 81 voluntary resignation from tic
French people only under the "ondi-
'i"n that tho conquered provinces
should HAY, h,-n content under Ger
man rulr. \u~ 'Nol are uuhappN and
,nCir state of suffering wa known Ia
every bOdN. Tin" udluuS stupiditicS of
IA" Germans in A's'"o-I.orrainc have
had a'in"'' is strong an Influence as
IL" ''t "f annexation itself in making
q ,oriil reconciliation between France
and ';"rMnuy impossible.
However, "Ir lave If peace Nas go
strong tlidt "ur 'utcllc"tuals and our
l"1dcrs e opinion can" io avoid any
expression whi.i bore any relation Ia
tn" possibility OF an offensive war
against GERMANY.
If ! may speak of myself as N
example. ! remember that soon after
the II in which | had fought as 4
volunteer, | published a biography or
Danton for TIE uso of primary schools
in which ! proposed To tho children
f'.' their civic motto the phrase of
Dthltnn, "Do all our disputes kill \
single prissian?" A few years later
] rut tn" phris" out of a later cdl.
ton, for ! thought thai "" had go:
ont uf ia" danger of war into normal
III" again. ana | hoped strongly that
pacific measures wutld secure a lust
organization of Europe.
similarly our most important cduCa-
tlonal association. the I.igue de I'm
s"igncment, suppressed its motto.
"By the, Pen and 10y the Sword" which
it had adopted Immediately after the
war.
Even the NaiiouaIis;S, as We call
our most burning patriuts. C~ontcntcd
Themselves with not believing in the
pacific intentions of Germany and web
calling for rl'TcU~od ornaments in
order ne better 10 project ourselves
They wished that France shuuid ann
herself :" III" teeth a-atu9i n POSSIBLE
German attack, especially during these
last years. Never did thcy ask for a
French attack against Germany.
The HIlor with which these same
N~at.onaliSls supported and developed
E'rtuce's colonial policy showed clearly
that ;i bottom they did no; wish e
altIck German! lor III" effort nccrS.
.arN I" coma lor and develop Toni.n
Tin.s, MADAGASCAR and Nurocco l"-
moved th' possibility -; a simi''a
nCuus preparation fur In" %rouud,st a.
Germany, ana AT the same time ,hCs,
colonial successes, II SATISFYING na,
tlOnal pride, made the memory Of OuI
humiliation Of 1871 less bitter.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-02

ut Il enough. this war. How long
yet will II last. do you know" asks a
little. thin fellow with a shaggy beard
and an armless sleeve pinned over his
chest. He has a catch In his voice
as Of weakness. "They told us moth
ing in Germany. the dirty cows All,
II ! good here. this place. I used TO
come here to see an aunt in the coun-
try. I vas happy then. My mother,
Is she here?"
At the door through which they
pass stand a galaxy Of officers and
civilians of note. who salute n lift
their hats TO the homecomers. One
fellow. wheeled along In a chair. with
a leg and an arm missing. manages
to hold onto a large French flag. IL
Is frayed at the edges and much
faded. II partly overs his body and
the missing leg. He draws a solemn
salute and a tear as he passes.
Finally the train Is unloaded. All
OF the soldiers are now assembled in
the large room. The place Is deco
rated with flowers, ferns and flags.
There are long tables set in banquet
STYLE. The dishes are OF tin but the
tdDles are spread WIN real linen anu
strewn with roses. At the plates are
little tri-colored favors OF divers types.
|: is evident that the various Red
Cross societies have concentrated their
efforts I o stretch the funds allotted 10
them.
The soldiers are arranged around the
tables. Spotlcssly gowned nurses
with red crosses on their arms or caps,
fIt here and there and minister to the
soldiers as II to so many children:
patting them and saying nice little
things as they stoop and pass from
n to the other.
Al the other end ~ the station the
crowds still stand without the door
They are held back by gendarmes nj
both sides of the entrance. The pent
up eagerness IL now keyed TO the
highest pitch. II is manifest by the
very silence Of the ;hrong. II Is a
weighted. oppressive silence that now
and then is broken by short waves
~ rest,essncss and a few low words
here and there. Women fix little
things about their dress, the hats
or hair. and fingers twi,ch and pul,
nj handkcrch!efs.
In the room Of the tables there is
also silence and the men are beginning
To nihble at their food.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-02
Even the little orphans of the war feel the spirit that animates
France.

type, distinguished from the French
coaches by the characteristic bits OF
Swiss scenery inlaid along the walls
of the compartments. 1t runs along
the side Of the station at the other
end under n shed
B~rancardiers line IN along the dark
narrow platform. lighted by a glaring
~incandescent here and there. Others
carry heaps of blankets and s,retchers
which they pile AT regular intervals
along the platform.
As the train moves along. slowly
and noiselcssly. the ex-soldiers can be
seen AZ the windows. Most of them
seem to be able to stand up or remain
In sitting p%ostures. The strongest
crowd to the windows. Their faces.
too. are strained and eager.
They are still in their uniforms and
these they have apparently cleaned
and mended after the long detention
in the prison camps. Stuck in their
caps md pinned on their chests are
little flags. tricolored tinsel and flow
ers. gifts received from Swiss children
on their way through the country. I'm
their eagerness to breathe the aiS. Ia
see. hear or feel their fellowmen about
them the wars derelicts cram the
windows until the doors are opened.
II is a wonderful experience after
Understandable hardships, they say. No
ono smiles.
The train stops and the doors are
opened. II takes the greater part II
an hour To unload the cars. The SOL
diers are led. carried. wheeled or sup
ported into II vast waiting room near
10y at the corridor. Armless. sightiess,
leglcss. facclcss even. horribly disfig-
ured, bent double and crippled in
every conceivable way. they manage
10 hoi,hle along with the help Of the
hr1ncardiers who call them endearing
names and carry the piles OF gaudy
sacks and little souvenirs Of all sorts
they received in Switzerland or were
allowed TO bring over. They are the
last word In broken beings. In their
eagerncss. Il pit!ful enthusiasm. they
ply their attendants with questions.
They were trcatcd horribly. they de-
clgrc-fcd ON vii" God and sometimes
beaten. Thcv ARE unanimous in say
INK this. bat thoy gay they received
more lenicut treatment than that
moted to the English prisoners. As
they talk in their weakness and mis-
cry som" say foolish things.