davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-20
TELLS HOW GUNS
FIRED LEBANON
Refugee Describes Wreck
ing Of Great Oil Wells
by French WarShip.

Barouk Masuds. young Egyptian
Jew who studied for seven years at the
American college in Beirut, Syria. last
night gave an eyewitness account OF
the destruction of the great French pc
troleum plant on Mount Lebanon by
the French battleship Jeanne dare in
April of last year. Masuda reached the
Hebrew Sheltering and Immigrant Aid
Society, 300 East Broadway, two days
ago after having been detained on Ellis
Island five months for medical treat
ment.
Lebanon is about two and hall
hours ride from Beirut" said Masuda.
1--WE could see everything plainly from
the college. Thirteen shots were fired
by the French battleship, the com
mander of which had been ordered to
destroy the petroleum plant because 1t
was being used by the Turks to supply
Frances enemies 1t seemed t. us VINO
were watching as if each shot reached
it's mark. The great guns OF the snip
would crash out at half-hour Intervals.
The bombardment started at O'Clock
in the afternoon and lasted until mid
night. As il became dark the entire
countryside was lit up by the giant
tongues of flame and thus aided the
Jeane dare found an easy mark. Great
barrels of petroleum were shot INTO
the air and exploded like skyrockets.
The mount was wrapped with a blanket
of fire that destroyed trees and under
growth and left permanent scar,
Nothing was left of the great oil wells
that the Turks had coniiscated.'
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-20
SAYS RUSSIA HAS
VAST FORCELEFT
Diplomat Asserts 100000
Troops Are in Petro-
grad Alone.

Konstantin Onou. recently appointed
first secretary to the Russian Embassy
AT WASHINGTON, and his wife, arrived
here yesterday aboard the krlstanla-
ford. Of the Norwegian-Ameriean Line.
MIR. Onou told of the great rejoicing to
be found everywhere as a result OF the
recent Russian Offensive.
Not only in the capital but in Mos
COW and in other sections through
which he travelled, a spirit OF The
greatest confidence was felt on all
sides. he said. Russia still has at her
command practically limitless numbers
OF troops. according to the secretary
In Petrograd alone there were more
than 100000 fresh young troops, which
daily drilled in the garrisons IN and
about the city.
Speaking of the attitude adopted by
America during the European struggle
Mr.. Onou said: con every side there
is a feeling that America is doing more
than her share in supplying Russia
with the sinews of war. Indeed, Russia
is proud to be the friend of America,
which has helped her so much already,
and which we pray will continue to aid
and assist her in her gigantic struggle
for civilization"
There were sixty Armenians and
Persians in the steerage VINO had oeeh
rendered destitute as result OF the
war. Various relief organizations had
combined TO send them TO America,
where they expect TO be cared FOR by
relatives and friends. As all were
without the necessary S25 70 permit
them 10 land they were sent to Ellls
island. TO remain until they could get
word to their friends.
Fraulein Jenny Valliere, who starred
last wear at the Irving Place Theatre,
was among the passengers. She had
made a two months trip through Ger
many. visiting her nome at Hamburg;
then Berlin. Maiaz, Cologne and Dus-
seldorf. She returns to America WIN
the firm conviction that Germany can
never be beaten. 49,.
She said that the reason the Allies
were gaining temporary successes III
their recent offensive was because al
the armies had been depleted 10 allow
the men to harvest the crops, when
we're unusually good. The bitterness pc
tween England and Germany Is m
creased daily, said the actress "hile
Germany and France by their great
losses and suffering have been drawn
much closer together. The German
soldier, she added has a wholesome re-
spect for the French soldier, Whlch she
believes is reciproealed.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-20
BRITISH ADVANCE
ON 2-WILE FRONT
Continued firm page l

en- miles, were mot successful. As a
result we capture9 a ridge southeast
of and overlooking Thiepval and north
ern slopes of Ugh ground north OF
Pozieres, from which we get an eX-
tensive view O. the east and northeast.
We are boiling the western edge OF
High Wood aid trenches made by the
enemy extending some half a mile west
of the wood We have advanced our
line half wa TO Ginchy and to the edge
Of GuillemMt,, where we hold the out
skirts of tie village, including the ran.
way statiM and quarry, which is OF
considerable military importance: Inc
number q prisoners passed back TO /
o'clock il the afternoon as result OF
operations is sixteen officers and ISO
of other ranks
To:d8 northeast of Pozieres we
made ? further advance on both sides
of the Poziefes- Bapaume road for some
800 Yards
An earlier statement said:
Gu success reported last night has
beer maintained and extended. Dur
ing the night the enemy delivered sew
era very determined counter-attacks
against the positions we had captured.
Except on our extreme right, where
th enemy regained little ground,
these counter-attacks everywhere were
npulsed.
From High Wood to the point
where we join up with the French we
advanced our line over "A frontage OF
more than two miles for a distance
varying between 200 yards and 600
yards. We now hold the western out
: kirts of Guillemont and line thence
northward to midway between Delville
Wood and Ginchy, and also the or
chards north of Longueval.
Between High Wood and the Albert
Bapaume Road we captured some hun
dred wards Of an enemy trench. East
and southeast Of Mouquet Farm We ad-
vanced our line by some 800 yards.
Between 0villers and Thiepval we
nushed forward on front of over half
4 mile. AS result of these opera
lions. several hundred prisoners have
been taken by us.
The French official statement to-
night tolloWs:
North of the Somme, apart from an
oneration of detail which PERMITTED us
10 eject the enemy from the portion of
the trench he penetrated last night
north of Maurepas, the day has been
met Our troops actively pressed
forward the work of consolidation on
the conquered front: The artillery
actions were of small Importance IN
of the bad weather.
In the Argonne we exploded q mine
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-20
One Russian Regiment
Lost 1000 Men in Month

Berlin, Aug. l9.-The Russian losses
in the recent engagements on the. East
ern front have been extremely heavy
saws the Overseas News Agency to-
dav
The Russian 2s2d Infantry, says the
statement. received for the replenish-
ment of It's ranks on July from the
depot of Pavlograd 1000 men, on July
ls from the depot of Novograd- Nolyn-
Ski l 900 men, on July % from the de-
pot Of Pavlograd 1000 men, or 4'ooo
men within less than three weeks.
"Since the complement Of the regl-
nent numbered after the engagement
OF August @" adds the statement, only
50 to 40 men, the regiment lost a. to-
gether 1000 men. Russians taken
prisoner stated that after August, 2
only 1000 reserves were available LOT
the regiment from the depots."
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-20

from their efforts" the official Austrian
report of Friday says. On the Italian
front the repulse of attacks in the
Isonzo region is reported. The an
nouncement follows:
Russian front; Front of Archduke
Charles Francis-Our troops which
stormed Starawipczna heights Gin the
Carpathians) brought in 200 prisoners
and two machine guns.
South of Horozanka Austro-Hur
garian battalions elected the eneny
from an advanced trench. Turkish
troops with the army of General Won
Bothmer repulsed Russian attempts to
advance.
Front Of Field Marshal Won linden
burg-The enemy suffered such defeats
during the last few days at the hands
of the army of General Won Boehm-
Ermolli that he remained Completely
quiet yesterday. On the VolhyniaR
front we carried out successful recon-
NOTHING operations"
Vienna, Aug. 19.-The official state
ment from Austro-Hungarial headqusr-
tiers to-day says:
Westward of liable we withdrew our
advanced troops, after fierce fighting,
toward the Chornanora rltge."
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-20
Germans Resent CreWe'S
Submarine Charges

Berlin, Aug. l9.-The Marquis Of
Crewe had no proof of his recent
charge, H. the British House of Lords,
that the German government is violat-
ing its pledge to the American govern
ment regarding the sinking of vessels
by submarines without warning. de-
clarcs the semi-oficial Overseas News
Agency to-day.
The intention, it says, was appar
emily to embarrass relations between
the United States and Germany and
to influence American public opinion.
"The form in which the Marquis of
Crewe made his statement is char
acteristic," says the news agency. "He
did not assert, but insinuated, which
proves that no evidence was back Of
his words. This circumstance, how
ever, mak's his unspoken purpose
clear, since he was satisfied with in
situations.
"The suggestion that the Germans
might have shot at survivors in boats
is considered especially subtle, and is
resented, as coming from a nation
which protects the Baralong and King
Stephen murdcrers and which decor
ated the heroine of Loos, although she
was guilty of murder"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-20

explosions, sending showers OF shrap-
mel over the whole zone. In going
through this the courier sees every
where the spectacle of death, stumbles
over corpses. sometimes runs into a
cloud of poison vapor before he has
crossed il; once through, he is within
range Of the smaller German guns and
the quick-frers.
For the whole distance OF mile or
two miles, according to the position,
his nerves are at the highest tension,
with his mind on the end of his mis-
sion and at the same time on the OBJ
stacles that are multiplied each instant
in his path.
Some of these couriers get through
untouched, some crawl back TO the
starting point bruised or manned.
Some never return to tell the story Of
their heroic effort.
At Fort Vaux.
The couriers of Verdun maintained
communication from the rear with the
heroic troops under the orders OF Com
mandant Raynal-who held the Fort
of Vaux several days against over
whelming numbers of assailants. They
were all volunteers, selected from a
considerable number OF men VINO OF
fered themselves for the dangerous
mission. One was boy of the contin-
gent of 1916, of childish aspect, VINO
every time volunteers were asked Tor
was the first man to the front.
"He had scarcely returned from one
Of these perilous missions" SAID MS
captain, when he pleaded to be sent
out again"
Another, literally riddled by frag-
ments of a shell that had burst IN ms
path. had dragged himself back, al
though unable to rise to his feet,
saluted his colonel and said:
Colonel. | am done for, but | have
got enough left in me to give an ac-
count Of my mission" He made his
report. and that was the end OF his
service for his country.
The risks are so great for these mes
sencers that they are generally sent
in couples; if one is hit, the other
NAV get through. Two of these men
from the commanding post of bri-
gade crossed the Fumin Woods; they
were almost at their goal when the
shell Of German three-incher struck
one of them full in the chest. His
comrade stopped and searched the body
for the message, but found nothing;
the shell had carried away the packet
and the paper that was in 1t. He made
his way back to the post, seemed al
most ashamed not to have executed
his mission. and asked:
Colonel, give me a duplicate Of the
messagel" He received a pint of wa
ter. which was in those days the
courier's greatest recompense, and
started Off again.
One courier presented himself at the
commanding post of colonel, pant
ing. covered with mud, and bleeding
freely. He had passed through the
zone of drum fire" that ploughs up
the ground, yard by yard, methodical-
~. He held out the envelope contain
ing the message r "However did you
get through asked the colonel.
Colonel" was the reply, 81 don't
know; only noticed that the envelope
was marked Urgent"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-20
RUSSIANS RENEW
CAUCASUS DRIVE
Grand Duke Nicholas
Gains in His Effort to
Reach SivaS.

London, Aug. i9.-Grand Duke Nich-
olas has resumed the offensive IN the
Caucasus westward from Erzingsn. In
his effort to reach Sivas. the next OBJ
iective, his forces have advanced for .
considerable distance. To the SOUTH
near Diabekr, q stubborn battle is in
progress.
Meanwhile, in Southern Armenia. the
Turks have launched q heavy counter
offensive and pushed forward for
twenty-five miles. according to Con-
stantinople.
British infantry and cavalry sup
ported by two gunboats and three no
tor boats. tried to attack our division
near Nesiriyeh ION the Southern Eu-
phrates)." says the Turkish statement;
After four hours fighting they naa
to withdraw, abandoning forty kiiied
and forty wounded.
Caucasus front: Our right wing 40
vanced it's positions forty kilometres
in a northerly direction, everywne,e
resstablishing contact with the enemys
retiring rearguard. On the lett wing
and on the coast there were fsNoraDie
patrol engagements"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-20
Passenger Ship Had Been
Requisitioned, Agents
Here Believe.
LAST TRIP FROM
NEW YORK IN JULY
She Mounted Rapid Fire
Guns-Warned of u
Boat Peril.

London, Aug, l9.--The Italian steam
ship Stampalia, plying between New
York and Italian ports, has been sunk,
says a dispatch to Lloyds.
The New York agents for the STAN
palia said yesterday that two weeks
ago they had received a cable message
advising them that all sailings of the
steamship had been cancelled. They
expressed the opinion, on this account,
that the Stampala had been requisi-
toned and was in the service Of the
Italian government In this case she
would have no passengers on board.
The Stampalia was a passenger liner
Of 5000 tons gross. In common with
other Italian liners, she mounted guns
for protection from submarines. The
last report of her movements was her
arrival on July 30 at Genoa from New
York. Captain Lavarello commanded
the Stampalia. The vessel had accom-
modations for about LOO passengers.
Her crew numbered about 40.
Agents Await News.
No word had been Received in New
York by the agents of the line of the
reported sinking Of the Stampalia at
the time of the arrival of the London
press dispatch.
The Stampalia first appeared in New
York as an armed steamer in February
last, arriving from Genoa with two
3-inch rapid fire guns mounted on her
afterdeck house. Washington was no
tilted, and on being informed that the
guns were to be used for defensive pur-
poses only. instructed the Collector of
the Pert of New York to grant clear
ance papers.
Vessel Warned in March.
On arriving at New York on March
"a the Stampalia reported a wireless
warming had been received soon after
leaving Genoa that a submarine was
lying in wait for her off Sardinia. In
stead of going north of Sardinia and
along the north shore Of the Medter-
ranean. which before that time had
proved the safest route. she proceeded
through the Strait of Bonifacio, be-
tween Sardinia and Corsica.
Several armed Italian steamships
have reported sighting submarines in
the Mediterranean, and in some in
stances being pursued by them and
firing on them. Italian naval gunners
were detailed to service on armed pas
senger vessels to operate the guns.
Re d'ltalia Fought U-Boat.
When the Re dItala arrived in New
York on August 6 from Genoa her cap
tain reported she had fired on three
submarines in the Mediterranean. The
steamship was pursued for seven hours.
and passengers said they believed one
of the submarines had been sunk.
There has been some increase re-
Gently in submarine activity The
naval expert of the Paris temps"
wrote on Thursday that the German
submarine campaign against merchant
ships was again in full swing. in ac-
cordanee with the German note to the
United States in February. in which it
was said merchant ships carrying guns
could not be considered as peaceful
vessels.
The Stampalia was 476 feet long and
50 feet of beam. She was built at
Spezia in 1909 and was owned at Genoa.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-20
COurierS of Verdun Risk
Lives to Carry Orders
Artillery Bombardment Makes Use of the Telephone I'm
possible on the Fied-Picked Men Communicate
Officers Commands to Fighters in Action

Paris, Aug. 1.-The uncxampled con-
ditions OF fighting before Verdun have
developed a new type OF soldier called
"the couriers of Verdun." They are
the men who maintain communication
between the troops in the midst Of the
melees and officers commanding from
the rear. The battlefield into which
they dart with orders or after informa-
tion is a desolated zone where nothing
but thick smoke, sometimes black.
sometimes white. gives appearance OF
life. Except during the brief period
Of an infantry attack, IL is TO all ap-
pearances deserted the sharpest eye
discovers no movement of humanity.
The earth is everywhere furrowed by
freshly stirred earth, but no one sees
the hand that stirred it.
Occasionally a form is seen going
over this desert land something after
the manner of a rabbit, bounding into
sight out of the herbs and above I'M
even ground to disappear again; leap
ing from obstacle to obstacle, from
ditch to ditch, from shell hole to shell
hole as it approaches the front line,
at times vaulting, at others crawling,
and sometimes kept motionless for con-
siderable periods by showers of pre-
jectiles sent over from the other side
of the line for his personal benefit.
This is the messenger of modern
battle; he was never more needed nor
more useful than at Verdun and the
TYNE will probably bear the name for
wears 10 come of "the courier of
Verdun."
Can't Use Telephones.
Not a telephone line can resist the
incessant bombardment that digs up
the soil and levels all field work along
the whole line in front of this fortress;
consequently to assure communications
between the front and the rear is a
difficult problem. Communications by
carrier pigeons are very uncertain, and
optical signals are insufficient for va
rious reasons Nothing is certain ex-
cept the man himself, and to transmit
information and orders across that
beaten field requires something eX-
traordinary in the way of man. He
must be an athlete, with good lungs,
and, above all, he must have stout
heart.
The courier of Verdun is unable to
use the communicating trenches, where
he would be out of sight of the enemy,
because that line is crowded always
with soldiers going to or from the
front line, with wounded being carried
back, with men of the commissary de-
partment carrying provisions to the
men on guard. That is too slow route
for the courier Of Verdun; he must
take his chances of being sighted and
hit-above ground.
The first formidable obstacle to pass
is the zone that is beaten by drum
fire." where S-inch, 6-inch and 4-inch
shells are bursting with formidable
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-20
Greece Unable to Get
News of Central Powers

Berlin, Aug. l9.-The general cleo
tions in Greece will be held early in
October, according % advlces received
BIZ the Overseas News Agency.
Greece is entirely cut of from news
Of the Central Powers" the agency
ADDS. Agents OF the other belligerents
are taking advantage Of this situation
TO spread broadcast news favorable to
their governments, making predictions
az TO coming events and confirming
them subsequently without fear Of con-
PREDICTION.
General Sarrail, the French COM
r,nnder at Salonica. in interviews, EN-
pbasizes the strength OF his army and
The accumuations OF munitions. The
Greeks, especially the better classes,
resent this tutelage.
Greek reservists have been permit
ted 20 leave the country since the de-
mobilization Of the army, One steam
shin sailed with $500 Of them for the
United States. IL is estimated almost
5000. including some Italians, have left
SLloniea."
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-20
Days Official Reports
of East Front Fighting

London, Aug. 19.-The RUSSIAN
statement says:
LAST evening after an artillery bonn
bardment the enemy launched an az
tack near the village of Zviniache, NJ
teen versts about nine miles, SOUTH
east Of Svinichi It was repulsed..
West of Lake Nobel tsiXty miles
northeast of Kovel) our troops capt
ured part of the enemy's positions.
In the region of the village OF Ger
wisczczce, on the River Stokhod, our
troops after a stubborn fight broke
through the enemy's position and capt
ured the village Of Tobo 1.-TWO miles
northwest Of CZerwiszczce), the farm
Of Tcherische and a distillery, making
considerable advance. The number
Of prisoners accounted for amounts TO
two officers and 220 men.
In the region Of the little town OF
Sokulan enemy aeroplanes dropped
more than seventy bombs.
In the direction of Kirlibaba "a pass
On the Iransylvania frontier the ene-
ny is resuming his offensive with con-
siderable forces and has pushed back
our advanced guards a little distance"
Report from Berlin.
Berlin, Aug. 19.-The German an
Noaneement today says:
=. Front Of Archduke Charles Francis
North of the Carpathians the situation
Is unchanged
IagurA Hill. north Of Capul, has
pTen carried by storm by the allied
tIeutonic) troops Six hundred prion-
sis were taken and counter attcks
we're repulsed
Front Of Field Marshal Won Hidden
Vu,g The engagement west II Lake
Nooel continued The Russia were
sOnpieteiy thrown back and re OFF,
WIS and 800 men and four Machine
guns captured.
oh the Stokhod front tie enemy
a.s Sensibly increased h'a cutlery FIRE
seVeral points. Local fghting con.
mnues on both sides O Rudka,Czer-
.,s]ezee. Near Szelwcc weak Russian
STACKS were frustrated Near Zyini-
S Sshe advance troops Of the enemy were
Vienna Claims Victory.
a. 'Sen leversez have been sufferd by |
An nassians recently in their att,cks |
ne Austro-Germsn army Of Geprsl |
sssn-hsnoili that they have desiged i!
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-20
Venice Again Shelled
by Austrian Aircraft

Berlin, Aug. l9.-Another lombard
ment Of Venice by Austrian aircraft
on the night of August 16 is announced
in an Austrian Admiralty statement to-
day. Notable damage Of q military
nature was caused. according TO the
statement, which says:
"The railroad station and arsenal
and military objects and magazines
were extensively bombarded. Many
full hits were obtained. A great hre
broke out in the railroad magazine
"A second aerial squadron success
fully attacked the inner port OF Grado;
a battery on the Lower lsonzo. ana
military objects at Monfalcone. In
spite OF the most violent defensive hre'
all the aeroplanes returned undam-
aged"