davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-10
 FRENCH WITHDRAW | FROM SALIENT AND STRA|GHTEN LINES Operation Around Verdun Carried Out Under Cover
 of Darkness
CURTAIN OF FIRE
 STOPS GERMANS
More German Trenches Taken in the DOuaumOnt RegiOn-Russian Of fensive in East Halted-Turks
 and Slavs Are Fighting Hard

The Bethincourt salient, which for weeks had projected like wedge into the German lines northwest of Verdun, has been evacuated by the French
 The evacuation was carried out under ence and the French through the move, have been enabled to straighten out their line, which now runs from the corner of the Avocourt wood to the south of the crossing of the Bethincourt- Esnes and Bethincourt-C -Chattancourt roads.
 Violent attacks delivered by the Ger mans against the new positions found the French line unwavering and all of them were repulsed, except between the Avocourt wood and the Forges brook, where the Germans succeeded in enter ing the French trenches, but were almost immediately driven out.
 Northeast of verdun. around Pepper Hill and on the Douaumont-Vaux sec tor the Germans heavily bombarded French positions but were unable to launch an infantry attack in the face of the fire of the French guns. The capture of 150 metres of German trenches south west of Douaumont is reported by Paris.
 On the rest of the lines in France and
 Continued on Page Eight)
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-10
TRADING HEAVY AND DULL ON THE STREET
Market Principally Affected by Foreign Relations.
 Domestic News Hopeful

New York, April S.-External affairs were the absorbing features during last weeks dull and heavy stock trading. Renewed cause for anxiety was found in foreign relations. The break in French exchange to the lowest point since last September added to the general uneasi- ness and confusion respecting events across the water.
 T Domestic news was mainly helpful all though trade authorities were plainly dis posed to greater conservatism and the governments winter wheat report was the poorest in over a decade. The latter development had an adverse effect on rails. The national political situation was rot ignored by shrewd observers.
 Two points stood out in the week s operations-the utter indifference of the investment public toward the stock mar ket as such and the obviously profes- sional tone in speculative issues. From one-third to one-half of each days busi- ness was composed of shares of com panies whose affairs are in state of uncertainty or whose intrinsic value is yet to be demonstrated
 Coppers and kindred stocks made only feeble response 10 the unabated demand for those products and United States Steel was heavy despite the announce ment of an early advance in rail prices. Prices were at their lowest in the finan- cial session of the week.
 The constructive side of the account may be counted steady with only a mod crate inquiry for only high grade se-
 (COntinued on Page EiEhO
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-10
RAILROADS ACTIVE
 IN PLACING RAILS
Anxious to Get Contracts Before Expected Rise in
 Prices May 1

New York, April 9.--Since the first of April the railroads have been feverishly active in the placing of contracts for rails in anticipation of higher prices to be charged on May l. Twenty five roads placed contracts for 254.0oO. tons of stan dard and light section rails, making a total of 450 900 tons ordered in the last two weeks. and 1,214Oo0 tons bought since March l. Contracts for Soo,0O0 tons addi- tional are pending, which probably will be closed next week. including 100000 tons for the Pennsylvania railroad sys- tenn. The latest and largest orders placed include 900 tons additional for the Santa Fe. 25,oO0 tons for the Seaboard Air Line, +. coo tons each for the Boston and Maine, the Wabash. the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Saulte Ste. Marie, and the North ern Pacific The export buying amount ed to 72,O0O tons for shipment to Rus sia France, Egypt, Australia and South Africa. Light sections were advanced 5 per ton.
 The United States Steel corporation. apparently. has recognized the force of the arguments of the independent rail mills that have contended for higher rail prices for several weeks. It is inter- esting to note that the highest prce ever paid by Bessemer rails was SIP per ton lin 1sS6 The lowest price was SIG per ton in 1898. The price has remained uni form at $2s per gross ton since 1901. In the last few years open hearth rails have commanded premium of g per ton over the price of Bessemer
 Another interesting development was the placing of large contracts for round
 <Coatinusd on Page Eisht)
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-10
Summary of the News
GENERAL NEWS

 Page I-Mexicans prOffer use of wires
 to American troops.
 Horrible conditions in German prison
 camp comes to light
 Maxim left to hold the bag in powder
 controversy.
 Scout cruisers of United States will
 he fastest aflOat.
 French eyacuate entire Bethincourt
 salient.
 straight right. Ss s Page S-Republicans cO-Operating with
 democrats for early adjournment.
 LOCAL NEWS Page 5-Estep does not think govern
 ment should manufacture armOr
 plate.
 Long distance test of telephone to-
 night at Tutwfler hotel. y Ward advocates bond issue for erec- tion of auditorium. Touching tribute rendered phstor on hiu birthday. , Ns HobsOn stirs patriotism of big crowd at Lyric.
 Mechanical engineers spend the day
 here. Rotarian finds himself stumped. Pool room issue is up tomorrow. Page 2-spring reunion of Scottish Rite
 begins tomorrow at temple. FEATURES Page 2-New York stories by Rir- mingh ham man. Pare 3-HOlland's letter. Page 4-EditOrial comment. Page S--FOOtlights and Screen. SPORTING NEWS Page 6-Barons meet MethOdists today. All prominent Federal league playeru signed. tfsf Nominations for futurity continue to grow. BasebalI meeting at TutwiIer today. Collections slow for Ellans day. SouthwestexA to play Howard today.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-10
NEGRO SOLDIERS
 KILLED BY RANGER Had Officer Down and Was Clubbing Him When Latter Fired

Del Rio, Tex, April 9.-Private John Wade of Company c. Twenty-fourth Uni ted States infantry, negro regiment. was killed here late last night by State Ranger Barler. when two rangers and Sheriff Almond attempted to arrest 4u negro soldiers, who had created dis turbance in house in the restricted dis trict.
 According to testimony before cor oner jury today Wade overpowered Bar Ter after he had been placed under ar rest and after throwing the officer to the ground was clubbing him over the head with the butt of revolver when Barler drew his pistol and fired, killing the soldier. The jury's verdict held that Barler acted in self-defense. Two of wade's companions were arrest vsd and are being held under guard al the military camp.
 As . result of the occurrence telegrams'
 (Cs.tiaued en Page EisAO
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-10
Burnett's Right to Body
 Stops Insults to Wilson
By HUGH. W. ROBERTS.

Washington, April 9.-(Special
 Representative Burnett. it is learned today, by virtue of blow to the abdomen, forced an unknown man aboard train yesterday to apologize for abusive language directed toward President Wilson and the democratic administration. From reports reaching Washington the stranger became abu- sive as soon as he learned that MT
 Burnett was a member of Congress
 He declared the conduct of the ad- ministration toward imperiled Amer jeans in Mexico to be not only vacil- lating but cowardly. MT. Burnett ven tured the guess that the stranger was a Mexican property holder and
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-10
Returned English Doctors Give RevOIting Details of
 Typhus Epidemic
GERMANS FLED WHEN
 THE FEVER BROKE OUT
Prisoners Left Without Necessities to Die or Get We'll Amid the Jeers of a Delighted Populace - American
 Ambassador Remedied Situation

London. April 9.-The government com mfttee on the treatment in Germany of British prisoners of war, of which the Hon. Mr. Justice Younger IS chairman, has issued a report characterizing as 'in- cescribable,' the conditions prevailing in the Wittenberg camp during the typhus epidemic of last year.
 The report is based on information from repatriated prisoners and especially from Major Priest.ey, Captain Vidal and Captain Lauder, of the army medical corps, who were sent to the camp shortly after the outbreak of the epidemic and who were recently released from Ger many. The officers mentioned are the only survivors of six British doctors sent to the Wittenberg camp by the Ger mans ito take up" says the report, the place of duty abandoned by their own medical staff when the presence of typhus manifested itself"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-10
El PasO Is Uneasy

Fl Paso, Tex, April 9.-A civil lian, who arrived here today from Columbus, reported that additional troops are being hurried south into Mexico from the base as rapidly as they can be provided with trans portation and equipment. Local officials in Fl Paso made repre- sentations today to the military authorities and two infantry bat talions were sent from Fort Bliss tonight to act as reserves to the patrols who are on guard every night in the principal streets here. The police officials said they fear trouble with Mexicans in Juarez.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-10
Killed for Whipping Son

Chattanooga, April 9.-Shan J. Nelson, a merchant of Shaw, Ga, near here, was shot and killed this afternoon following quarrel with his brother, Mack Nelson, said to have resulted from the whipping of the merchants four year old son. Mack Nelson was arrested charged with the shooting Mack Nelson is said to have come upon his brother while the latter was pun ishing his son and to have pro- tested. A quarrel ensued which ended fatally for the merchant.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-10

therefore interested in American in- tervention. This the stranger ad- mitted and when MT. Burnett and companions laughed he became still more inflammatory in his criticism. it finally became necessary for the Alabama representative to strike the man and as he could reach no high CT than the stomach he delivered a submarine punch to the solar plexus. The blow was powerful enough to pro- duce the necessary apology. A. R. Brindley. Gadsden attorney, was with MT. Burnett at the time and was ready to render assistance in de- fense of the administration had such assistance been necessary.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-10
MEX|CANS PROPER USE OF WIRES ID AMERICAN TROOPS May Use Telephone and Tel egraph Lines, Chihuahua
 Authorities Say EXACT POSITION OF
 FORCE UNKNOWN Troops Driving South With All Speed. Await Reinforcement of Aeroplanes With Washington Con-
 tinues Without Advices
sALAzAR JOINS VILLA

El Paso, April 9.--Gen. Ynez Sa- lazar, one of the best known of the former Huerta generals, who has been living here. was reported tonight to have crossed the border with the announced intention of taking up arms against the United states. The information was given to the police by man who was closely associated with Salazar and was accepted by them as true after investigation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-10

\ | San Antonio, April 9.-General Pershing ] reported to General Funston today that 4 Mexican military authorities in Chihua- \ fhua had offered the American punitive & Iexpedition the use of the government tel fgraph and telephone lines. General Per- lshing also reported that some supplies ] flor the United States troops have been purchased in Chihuahua but while mer-
 chants in that city showed no dispos- ! lton to withhold their goods, the limited amount of foodstuffs available made it almost impossible to get provisirpgr This report was filed in some part of < tthe field of operations, the location of (which was withheld. It was transmitted ' By wireless and aeroplane routes to Co., ! Ilumbus.
 I The proffer of the use of the telegraph ' .nnd telephone lines was made to drivers { ,of the aeroplanes which visited Chihua- X shua last week. The aviators reported that 1ivinced that they were on friendly mis- 7}sion a few stones were thrown and sev- Neral shots were fired but no one was |ainjured.
 M TREATED COURTEOUSLY M General Gutierrez, commander of the H,earrison at Chihuahua, treated them cour- steorsiy, they reported.
 M The present positions of the advanced Ilcolumns were not made public but it was Eflsnown that cavalry columns under Col Monels Brown and Dodd are driving south Sat rxr,fH oIl hara EShad no information that either force had Eigone so far as Parral, but they said E,the receipt of such information would be 8lno surprise.
 ' General Pershing himself is moving 'lsouth along the trail to Satevo, person Eally to direct, so far as possible, the pur- 1jsuit of Villa. Before leaving his head 8quarters on the San Geronimo ranch. |lnorth of Guerrero, General Pershing said 5lGen. Luis Herrera, the Carranza general
 whose defection was reported, called upon tIfriendly manner the efforts being made Hoy both governments to run down the |]common enemy.
 The excellent work that had been done {by the aeroplanes has been so marked
 that headquarters officials are anxiously reinforcement of that arm of |the service. Although now recognized that kthe machines being used are not of the
 type best suited to conditions in Mex
 leo, General Pershing's reports indicate 1 that the five now in service are doing [ good work, both in scouting and in car
 Trying dispatches. It was due to them
 that General Pershing has been able to
 keep in communication at all with the 3fast moving cavalry attachments.
 FEW ARRESTS MADE
 Reports at headquarters show that a | Jew arrests have been made of those who
 took part in the raid on Columbus, N.
 M., month ago today.
 General Pershing did not indicate where
 the men were captured. Frank admission
 was made at army headquarters today . that without the use of the railroads a
 material strengthening of the forces or
 (Continued on Page Eight
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-10
SUBMARINE IS SUNK

Petrograd, April 9.--(Via London. April 1O.)-The torpedo-boat de- stroyer Strogi has rammed an enemy submarine near the spot where the hospital ship Portugal was sunk Gin the Black sea), &C., cording to report. tonight.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-10
Designers Hit on Way to Get Speed of B Knots
 Instead of g
BEGIN WORK TODAY
 ON THE NAVAL BILL
Probable That Two Dreadnaughts and Four Battle Cruisers Will Be Au- thOriZed-Question of Speed Rev
 olutionized by Engine Designers

Washington, April 9.-The House na- val subcommittee on appropria tions will begin tomorrow framing the naval ap- propriation bill which includes the ad- ministrations half-bllion- dollar, five year programme for new fighting ships Chairman Padgett hopes to lay the com pleted measure before the House by April 20. The big fight is expected to come over the 1917 programme for capital ships Secretary Daniels has recommended the authirization of two dreadnaughts and two battle cruisers. The navy general board contended for three battleships and four battle cruisers.
 Present indications are that the sub committee will recommend two battle- ships and four battle cruisers At the navy department work on the designs of the ships has been progressing rapid ly Plans for the battleships, large and small submarines, destroyers. gunboats, hospital ships and ammunition ships are practically completed now and will take only a few weeks after appropriations for the architects to lay the completed plans ! { .t.,5e
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-10
RECORDS ARE. TAX FEN

The records of the epidemic kept by the British officers were taken from them before their departure from Germany but the report gives in detail the condition of the camp and the treatment of pris- oners and patients which the American ambassador, James w. Gerard, in his report last November said was even more unfavorable than I had been led to expect
 According to the released officers. there are 15000, and sometimes more, prisoners in the camp which the com mittee says lis an enormous population for so restricted an area as 101z acres'' There were no proper heating arrange ments and the men were insufficiently clothed, their overcoats having been taken from them, their clothing being in rags. Many had neither boots nor socks. There was an insufficient supply of water and soap and Major Priest,ey says he found the men "gaunt. of peculiar gray paliol and verminous
 The supply of food asso was insuffi- cient. even in the hospital, until supplies 9 rived from England.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-10
HUDSON MAXIM LEFT ID HOLD TIE BAG |BY HIS ASSOCIATES
 Landis and Cooper Write Letters Denying Lobbying Against Bill THINK UNDERWOOD HAS PROVEN CHARGE
 Cooper Brought duPont's Powder Bill to Washington and Asked Sauls- bury to Introduce It, Which He Did
By HIGH. ". ROBERTS.

Washington, April -(Special.)-Charles B. Landis and Hugh L. Cooper, in deny ing the charge of Senator Underwood that they as agents of E. l. duPont de Nemours company manufacturers of eX- plosives, opposed the passage of legis- lation which would make the government a manufacturer of explosives have at tempted to leave Hudson Maxim, another employe of the corporation, with the whole bag to hold.
 As is remembered, Senator Underwood charged that Maxim, too, had used his influence ito defeat pending legislation. So strongly is Mr. Maxim opposed to leg islation which would put the government in competition with the duPont company, that in an interview in the New York Sun he said:
 Tn short the manufacture of munitions of war will be taken from the hands of honest industry and placed in the hands of dishonest politicians
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-10
GERMANS RESPONSIBLE

The only provision for personal ciean- liness made for the men," says the re- port was one cupful of soft soap issued at intervals of many weeks to room containing 12O. In consequence the men became verminous and the condition. coupled with cold and want of proper nourishment, was undoubtedly the prin- c;pa inducing cause of the epidemic.
 The epidemic broke out in December. 1914. ..Thereupon," says the report. the German staff, military and medical, pre- cipitately left the. camp, and thenceforth until August 1915 no communication was held between the prisoners and their guards except by means of directions shouted from the guards or officers re- maining outside the wire entanglements.
 All supplies for the men were pushed into the camp over chute no med ical attention during the whole time was provided by the German staff Captain Lauder reports that, while in the bunga- lows there was normally one mattress for three men, in the iniprovised hospital there were no mattresses at ail
 Tn consequence" he says, there were many typhus patients scattered over the compounds who were determined not to come into the hospital if they could help it."
 In one compound he found 50 hidden cases of typhus during the first month.
 NO NATIONS AT ALL
 The food ration for each patient was half petit pain CrolD and half cup or milk d day. The only soup obtainable came from the camp kitchen and as it was brought in open wooden tubs, it was full of dust and dirt
 Tn truth" says the committees re-
 (Continued on Page ElghD
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-10
THE LANDS CASE

In regard to h1S charge against LdndlS, Senator Underwood made the following statement:
 Tn letter I wrote to MT. duPont, the president of the duPont Powder company, I stated that I have also been Informed that MT. Charles B. Landis, an employe of your company has been in Washing ton exerting his influence against the pro- posals in the House bill Joking to the government securing supply of nitro gen. After receiving MT. Landis' letter that has just been read. it is proper that
 I state on what information made this statement.
 MT. R. F. Bower of Albemarle county, Virginia, is one of the official represen- tatives of the Farmers union in the United States. MT. R. B. Carter, former l ly of Albemarle county, Virginia, is now one of the engineers employed by the duPont Powder company. MT. Bower
 and MT. Carter are friends. MT. Bower is greatly interested in the development
 by the government of nitrate acid plant in hopes that if the government develops such 8 plant it may aid in securing cheaper fertilizer for the farmers of the
 United States. He discussed this ques- ton with his friend. MT. Carter. CARTER AND LANDS Shortly afterward, MT. Carter went to dinner with MT. Charles B. Landis. and MT. Carter stated to MT. Bower that at the dinner he called to MT. Landis' attention the argument that MT. Bower was making in favor of a nitric acid IL. n MT. Bower that in reply to his state l ment that MT. Landis said to him. You should not advocate such proposal. Our company is opposing a government ni- tric acid plant
 l '.Mr Bower repeated this statement to me before I wrote the letter to- MT. duPont After receiving the letter from MT Landis, which I have just had read. I sent for Mr. Bower and told him that l I must give his name as authority for
 my statement
 PUTTING CARTER WISE "He stated he wanted to let Mir. Carter
 know that intended to use the state ment. MT. Carter came to see me per
 sonally, expalined his relations with his company and said it would embarrass
 him greatly if repeated the statement.
 I assured him that I regretted to embar-
 rass him in any way. but it was on the basis of what he said that I had made
 the statement in reference to MT. Landis,
 and that I felt that 1t was my duty to
 repeat the source of my information. Although MT Carter was anxious that
 should not bring him into the matter, he confirmed to me what Mr. Bower had stated in reference to his conversation
 with MT. Landis.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-10
SOME SETTLED POINTS

sAs a result of recent disciosures there may or ray not be doubt as to the ac- curacy cf the charges of Senator Under- wood
 1t has been established that the duPont company. if not actively opposing the passage of other legislation, is seeking Identical legislation for it's own advan- tage.
 It has been esta blished that Hugh L. Cooper, consulting engineer of the pow der trust, mentioned by Senator Under wood, brought to Washington the duPont bill, and on a second interview with Sen ator Salisbury of Delaware, asked that senator to introduce it in the upper house.
 It has been established that Senator Saulsbury before acting, insisted that he be so requested by the president of the company. That insistence was met by telegram from k. I. duPont. which tele- gram was read in the Senate by Senator Saulsbury