davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-17
BoLsHEvIKI WANT NEWS
Dutch Socialist Editor to Keep Them
 Informed on Peace Sentiment

Amsterdam, December 16.-The Trib- une. which is the organ of a small Dutch party of revolutinary sociai- isis. announces that 1t has been of- scially invited by the maximalists to undertake telegraphic correspondence with revolutionaries in Petrograd on the subject of peace movements among the proletariat and among the pour
 reoisie in Europe and America and keen the Russian revolutionary move ment informed regarding political events in the central powers and en- tente countries. The Tribune has ac- cepted the task.
 David Wynkoop, editor of the Trib-, une in an interview, said that the in- formation to be supplied would relate particularly to the entente nations as naturally the Russian were better ac- quainted with affairs in the central
 powers than in the entente countries.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-17
Summary of the News

GENERAL NEWS l-Allied initiative nas not been abandoned. says Baker. Means acquitted on murder charge Congress trying to clear stage for war work. Agreement for armistlce signed by Russians and Teutonic allies. Prominent Selma woman burned to aN death.
 Seventeen enlfpted men from ensi- neers reported missinE. 2-French repulse German attacks on Aisne front. AustrO- Germans lose heavily in attacks on Italians. 3-Ncws from Camp Wheeler and Camp Pike.
 LOCAL NEWS 5Cold weather in giyen ns reason for delayed trains. Red Cross drive for new members will begin today. six thousand Woodward men at work Sunday to aid in relieving coal shorta&e. Three injured In automobile acci- dent.
 Fz:ATUREs l-EditOriHl cOmment. 5-MaRket FevfeSvu.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-17
American Officer Buys Passenger Tickets For
 Barrels Of Cranberries
Was Determined That Pershngs Men Should Not Miss Sauce For Thanksgiving TurheyTwo Stories Are Told Showing How Things Are Done" in France On Time and
 According to Orders
nr Associated Press

erful engine This one was cheer fully commandeered and as a result the organization was transported on time Available records do not indt@ cate whether that trains passengers have gone forward as yet.
 The second incident occurred the day before Thanksgiving, but has just cAmc to light. An officer, under or ders to see that the necessary quan- tity of cranberries reached his com mand in time for the holiday dinner, discovered that no freight train serv- ice was available. The barrels could not be moved by express, so the American bought passenger tickets, had the barrels trundled into the compart ment of the car and arranged in the previously reserved seats before the astonished railway officials. The of ficer made his cranberry delivery ii time for the dinner.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-17
MEANS ACQUITTED BY JURY ON CHARGE
 KILLING MRS. KING
Verdict Quickly Found in Case of Prominent Caro- lima Man Following
 Long Trial

Concord, N. C., December 16.-Gas- ton E. Means was acquitted here today of the murder of Mrs. Maude A. King, a wealthy widow of New York, whose business affairs he had handled. The case went to the jury last night at : o'clock and as Presiding Judge Cline had ruled that a verdict might be rem dered on Sunday, the jurors sent for
 him today and returned the verdict
 shortly after 10 o'clock.
 After the foreman of the jury had formally pronounced the verdict of not
 guilty. counsel for Means asked the
 court if It had anx otaer ci1s Fgss' Agaifass 5
 Means. Judge Cline replied there was
 none, and Means was given his freedom
 for the first time since last September,
 when he Ras arrested on a warrant charged with having shot the woman
 who met death near here in August
 Means always asserted she shot herself accidentally.
 OTHER CHARGES HUNDRED Reports had been current here that If Means were acquitted of the murder
 charges that New York officials, who
 took an active part in aiding the prose- cution. would seek his arrest on other charges, alleged misappropriation in New York of the woman's fortune and allegations of Means connection with Germans interests, having been aired at the trial.
 Assistant District Attorney Dooling of New York and a number of other off cials from that state left here last night, taking with them documents seized in Means New York apartments, which were used in the trial and Solicitor Clement, prosecuting attorney for the state, said in reply to questions late to- tday that he did not anticipate any prosecution of Means in New York. He added, however. that he was not in a position to speak with authority. c. B. Ambrose, a federal agent. also attended the trial. presumably on account of the alleged connection with German agents which Means explained by saying his activities were legal and were before the break in relations.
 SMALL CROWD IN COURT 1 A small crowd which had been at tracted by reports that the jury had called TOT .Juuge cline aDout y.5V tnls ! morning was in court when the judge finished breakfast and reached there.
 Means was surrounded by relatives and friends, including his wife, his father and mother and members of counsel
 Judge Cline had announced that what ever verdict was rendered that there
 must be no demonstration Prompt ar !, rest and punishment. he said. would fol l low.
 NO DEMONSTRATION 1 There was no demonstration when the verdict was announced, but after court
 had adjourned Means was rendered an lin.promptu reception, relatives. friends
 and members of his counsel surround. 1 ing him to shake his hand and offer 1 congratulations.
 l After leaving the courthouse Means
 and his wife went to the home of Means father. A little later Means appeared
 on the streets of the town where
 scores of friends stopped him to extend Congratulations.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-17
WOMAN'S ECONOMY
 MAKING IDLE HANDS
By Wearing Last Years Suits and Coats Garment Workers Thrown
 Out of Employment

New York, December 16.-Samusl Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labor, was told at q conference here today over alleged un- equal distribution of government work that the unemployment problem in the clothing industry had been aggravated by the fact that "the women of the country have been economizing by wearing their last years suits and coats and that there is no demand for garment workers on regular work" It was asserted that 35.000 garment workers are idle here
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-17
SERVICES ARE HELD IN CHURCH EASEMENTS BY HALIFAX CITIZENS
Large Congregations Give Thanks for Aid Given by Canadian and
 American Friends

Halifax, N. S., December 16.-Religious services were held today in the base ments of churches, partly demolished by the explosion of December 6, and large congregations gave thanks that their Canadian neighbors and American friends had been so quick to come to the rescue of the stricken city. It was not day of rest, however.
 The work of restoring the broken build ings was carried on by carpenters and glaziers. Glass stations were open and glass was distributed to all who pre- sented orders from the proper authori- ties
 Put to severe test by ice-bound streets the 10 automobile trucks given to the city of Halifax by the people of Massachusetts. continued their difficult task of transporting building supplies.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-17
r ENLISTED MEN FROM ENGINEERS
 REPORTED MISSING
These Are Believed to Have Been Captured in the German Drive on
 Cambrai

Washington, December l6. Seventeen enlisted men of the United States army engineer corps were reported missing in action by General Perslng
 in a dispatch today to the war
 department.
 They were missing on November
 30, the day of the German turning movement at Cambrai, and are be- |lieved to have fallen into the hands
 of the Germans while fighting val iently with the engineer contingent which distinguished. itself helping the British to check the attack. The missing men consisted of Sergt Paul M. Swenson and Corp. Frank Up- ton, both of New York, and 15 privates. all of New York, New Jersey and the New England states.
 Washington, December 16.-General Pershing advised the war department~to- day that First Lieut.. II. c. Boyle, medi- lcal officers reserve corps, attached to the British forces, was severely wounded 1 in action December :. Boyles next of kin. Mrs Margaret Boyle, lives at Lu- i zcrn, Pa
 1 General Pershng also reported the deaths from natural causes of three en- listed men, all from New York or New England
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-17

With the American Army in France, December 15.-IIere are two stories showing how American officers in France get things done. An artillery tattery commander, having received orders to transfer his command by rail, loaded the men and their equip ment and then discovered that no en- zine was attached to the train and none appeared available. At that mo ment a. small freight engine arrived in the yards and it's engineer and fire man, at first protesting, obtained the battery commanders orders to take out the artillery train. This engine, proving not powerful enough to move the heavy load, it was permitted 10 proceed on it's regular freight run.
 A few minutes later a passenger train arrived with a much more pow
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-17
Summary of Outstanding Developments In NeWs
 From Various War Fronts

that are being inflicted upon him, to advance his lines to CapriIle Hill, T dominating point at the head of the San Lorenzo valley which leads to the Venetian plains. Here, however, he has been forced to stop under the terrific defense of the Italians, who evidently have massed their forces in order to bar the way to further advance. In the valley itself and on the slopes on either side of 1t. vycli- tried Alpini regiments are sta toned to exact heavy toll for cv- cry inch of ground that is taken from them.
 Prior to reaching the summit of CapriIle the invaders were twice usImmariIy repulsed, but for their final attack they brought up large numbers of fresh endorsements and the valiant defenders were compelled to give ground.
 The agreement for an armisticc between the BoIs9seyiki govern ment in Russia and the TeutOnic allies has been signed. 1t will run from Monday until January 15, and then will continue in force auto miaticaily unless seven days mo- tice of it's disc0ntinuaMce is given. On the signing of an armistice peace negotiations are to begin.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-17
FORT oGLETHoRPE DEATHS
Three Men Die From Pneumonia. Health Condition Not Unusual

Chattanooga. December l6.-The deaths of Private Justin w. Rim, Com pany F. Fifty-second infantry; Ralph IF. Pollack, medical department. Fifty second infantry. and Corporal William J. McNulty, Company D, Fifty second infantry. are reported from Fort Oge- thorpe, all being victims of pneumo- nia. The body of Rinn was shipped 10 his brother. Paul w. Rinn, Yoakum, Tex. that of Pollack to his brother at Tampa. Fla. and Corporal McNulty to his brother at New Bedford. Mass. Health conditions at the camp are re- ported as not unusual. the death liet among the men being normal cQnsid. ering tho number in ssrvics.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-17
First Big Overland Truck
 Movement Is Started

Washington. December 16.-The first section of the American armys new ex- perimental truck transport service has been started from Detroit on its way to the Atlantic seaboard to test the army's nlan for relieving congestion in freight terminals by the overland use of motor trucks.
 In statement tonight Quartermasser General Sharpe said if the plan proves snccessful. it is estimated that the total reIief to the railroads. through the ship- ,,,et to the coast under their own power of the s0,o00 war trucks the army has s,,nder construction. will amount to 6so'- Cno tons And also will permit the trans nortation of 9o.000 tons of government materials to the coast from the interior storage depots.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-17
NO DEMONSTRATION
Means Faces Indictments
 in State of New York

New York, December 16.-Gaston B. Means. acquitted of the murder of Mrs. Maude A, King faces indictment in this county for forgery and embezzlement, District Attorney Swann announced to- night.
 There is, concrete evidence in our hands tending to show that Means forged many documents on which he obtained large sums of money from Mrs. Kings estate" said MT. Swann, "and there is evidence pointing to him as the embez- zler of the major portion of Mrs. King s wealth.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-17
Terrific Pre-Holiday Drive Being Made on Domestic
 Legislation
PROHIBITION IS BIG
 QUESTION IN HOUSE.:
 NATION WATCHING
Vote Will Be Taken at 5 O'Clock This Afternoon. Friends of Measure
 Confident

Washington, December 16. With an unusual record for business accomplished at a 'pre-holiday session already made, Congress turns to- morrow to a cleanup of do- |mestic legislation before the Christmas holidays, after which it proposes to devote itself exclusively to war problems.
 Adjournment next Tuesday until Thursday, January 3, a holiday recess somewhat longer than usual, is planned under a House resolution which comes tomorrow before the Senate.
 Since the session began fortnight
 ago Congress has declared war against | -AuStFid-I1u eAte1lueQ the TreSl- dents s100,000,00o war emergency fund, made progress on natural re- source legislation recommended by the President, passed the s3S3,oo0,oo0 post. office appropriation bill through the House and launched several important Investigations, including those into the army and navy war preparations and Gthe sugar and fnel shortages.
 To be squeezed into the two days before the recess is much ether inl- portart legislation and during the q icess committees win proceed witA siiIs vestigations and drafting of appropri- ation bills to follow in the new year l PROHIBITION VOTE TODAY | Chief in interest now is the nation wide prohibition question to be voted on by the House tomorrow afternoon at o'clock. Prohibition advocates are confident of considerably more 1 than a two-third's majority, neces- sary for approval of the resolution foi I submission to the states of nationa
 prohibition amendment to the consti (Continued on Page Threc)
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-17
Ex-Consul Is Dead

st. Petersburg, Fla, December 16. Ernest A. Man, f, ny years a menl- Der of the Amer iean cons ar service, died suddenly at hss sp'e here last night. MT. Man astn1ned to the consular service sl's 1llforent Euro pean countries. ts Sxt cost was at Copenhagen, whes 2 " as consul gen. eral until his aS're sNi from the service in 1911, as 66 years old and nativs N ylvaniA. ite it survived by laiA and q sis-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-17
BOLSHEVIKI LIE A D E R
 CLAIMS TEUTONS GAVE IN TO THEIR DEMANDS
These Were That No Troops Were to Be Moved Save the Units Already
 Started
ALL OPERATIONS CEASE

London, December 1e.--A Russian government wireless message re- ceived here says:
 Ensign Kry1enko Commander in chief of the arn1y) in A procla- nation addressed to all the army commands on all the fronts and the military revolutionary commit tees, announces that in consequence of the signing of the armistice, which begins December IT, I pre- pose. until receiving the full text of the treaty to cease all mili- tary operations.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-17
PROMINENT SELMA
 WOMAN BURNED ID
 DEATH IN HER HOME
Miss Jamie Bender, Well Known Throughout South, Dies Three Hours Fol-
 lowing Injury

Selma, December 1J.--SIiss Janie Bender, daughter of MT. and Mrs. J. c. Bender, was burned to death this her dress caught fire while she was standing in front of an open gratc. Miss Bender lived about three hours after the accident. She was badly burned about the face and body.
 She was a leader in woman suffrage and welfare work in the south.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-17
Henry Clay Barnabee of
 Comic Opera Fame Dies

Barnabee, familiar to thousands of plavgoers as the sheriff of Noting
 ham, In De Koven's comic opera. "Robin Hood. died at hia home in the Jamaica Plain district today after 3
 lons illnes& He was S4 years of agt.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-17

Berlin, (Via London) De- cember 16.-An arlnistice agreement between the Bol- sheviki government in Russ'a and the 'Teutonic allies was signed at Brest Litovsk Satur- day, according to an official communication issued today. The armistice becomes effect i've at noon Monday and is to remain in force until January IA.
 A provision in the armstlce agreement is that peace nego- tiations are to begin iminedi- lately after the signing of the |armistice.
 PETR0GRAD CONFIRMS
 Petrograd, December 16.--An- nouncement was made today by the Bolsheviki official news agency that Russia and Germany had agreed upon the terms of an armistice.
 TROTZKY'S STATEMENT
 Petrograd, Saturday, December IS. Leon Trotzky, the Bolshevik foreign minister declared at meeting of the Petrograd council of soldiers and workmen's delegates tonight that an armistice governing operations on the Russian front would be signed today or tomorrow He added that peace negotiations would be begun imme- diately after the armistice had been signed.
 The foreign minister announced that for a time break in the negotiations seemed imminent because General Hoffman, the German negotiator, in- sisted on the right to transfer troops in small units The German command CT finally accepted the Russian formula
 We can't and won't aid militarism in any way" NJ. Trotzky said. This question of transferring troops was most fundamental. think our formula is considered by our allies to be sat isfactory.'
 The Russian delegates constituting the armistice committee at Brest- Litovsk have advised the Bolshevik authorities at the Smolny institute that a nagreement was reached with the Germans on Friday concerning the transfer of troops. It was to this ! effect.
 ..Eoth sides signing this agreement ! bind themselves until December 30, l 1917 tJanuary IA, 1918, new style) not ! to carry on operative military trans ! ferc on the front from the Baltic % the Black sea, except such transfers l as were already begun up to the mo i ment of signing this agreement
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-17
By Associated Press

Notwithstanding the terribies losses they have sustained, the German and Austro-Hungarian armies in the mountainous region of northern Italy continue their efforts to break the Italian line and open a passagewny to the plains below. In France and Bel giums there is little miIitar s- tiyity except for small
 ments by outposts and ~ <. .g -contingcnts and artip ,S$ -eis. The nearest approa> taciss in force were me Inc Ger mans saturday Sos in the Champagne re 0 Ies France and to the nort g ~.e Chemin-des- Danes. In .9 4 these the Ger mans were VI, sted by the French. A small British maneuvre south of Cambrai resulted in the capture of a few German prisoners and q ms- chine gun.
 Between the BreDta md Piayc rivers fin the Italian highlands hard fighting continued without cessation. The enemy to the east of the Brenta has been able, by throwing huge numbers of men into the fray and seemingly disre- garding the enormous casualties
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-17
CAPTuRE OF JERUSALEM
 Ic REALLY IMPORTANT

..rr,o,,eh the capture of the Holy City
 at he held principal military ob- 4ect,ve of the campaign so vigorousiy
 rs,ed bv General Allenby in this tneatre. the conquest of Jerusalem Will ,,a,,a wide influence throughout the Turkish empire. anu "nA Tar towards reaffirming the prestge of the allied powers throughout the orient.
 nGermany realizes the danger at tandant upon the waning of her in anence in the east and will therefore De roore anxious than ever to conclude snaedv peace before the war map becomes less favorable.
 The raiding of German towns in the interior. more especially tbe industrial centers of the Rhine- 1and. by allied aircraft as reprisals for the repeated bombardment of open towns in France and Great Britain py the Germans, has been successfully III ' itiated lsReports of observers recently out or rz.rmany. who were present during rrevious air raids, state that these raids have had very depressing e1- Tact on the civilian population anu have heightened the growing discon- tant among the German people, who now for the first time are being brought face to face with real war conditions.
 The armistice concluded by the Russians with the enemy now includes the entire eastern front from the Baltic to the Black sea. Negotia- tions are not proceeding smoothly. The German demands as reported to us, specify. among other points. the inn mediate opening up of channels of commercial intercourse between Rus sia and Germany"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-17
No Deaths Reported at
 Camp Wheeler Sunday;
 One at Remount Station

Macon. Ga. December 16.--The first death reported at the remount camp, near here occurred today. James Lunsford. 19, of Gorcon, Ala, died of lobar pneumonia. There were no deaths among soldiers at Camp Wheeler. dur ing the last 24 hours. the military aI- thorities stated.
 Greenville, $. C.. December l6.-For the second successive day no deatiis were reported today at Camp Sevicr. The number of patients in the hospital has also greatly decreased according to the health report today. Sickness in the Thirtieth division IS now not mol e than one-half larger fhan the normal amount, 1t is estimatH.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-17
Secretary of War Confident in His Weekly Review
 of Situation
STATES ADVERTISED
 VICTORY OF GERMANS
 MUCH EXAGGERATED
Berlin Is Trying to Run Usual Bluff to Secure Kind of Peace
 Wanted

Washington, December IS. "No element in the military situation should lead us to con clude that the initiative in the west has passed from the al- lies to the enemy" says Secre- tary Baker in his weekly re- view of military operations, made public tonight and de voted largely to the German advertising of an impending great offensive.
 During the period of the review the general military situation in the west has remained unchanged" con- tinues the statement, which deals with the week ending yesterday.
 ''Rumors of great preparations on the part of the Germans, with a view to achieving some major strategic success in the west, continue to reach us
 Reports of massed. hostile concentra- tions in those sectors where the enemy proposes to break through the French front and roll back the allied line on a 2 hroad scale are numerous.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-17
GERMANY EAGER TO HAVE
 CREDIT FOR VICTORIES

|
 "The German higher command seeks peace through victory The enemy IS apparently very eager to have us believe that he is about to win such a victory.
 4F,or. tae past two years the Germans Fave been on the defensive in the west. The bold advertising of an imposing ol- fensive on the part of the enemy, whicn while in the realm of possibility ana therefore should not be neglected UT overlooked, must in nowise be inter- nreted to mean that the lncreaseu strength of the hostile forces will result in any permanent strategic advantage to the Germans.
 "Surveying the outlines of the general war strategy on all fronts, We lind tna' both belligerents have been on the or fensiye during the past six months. ALLIES HAVE BEEN ON
 OFFENSIVE ON MAJOR LINE
 wrbe central powers have taken the initiative in the eastern and Italian tbeatres: the allies along the major front in the west, in Palestlne' Meso- potamia and east Africa
 "The enemy has confined his eHor's to advancing his lines along the Russiah front resulting in the capture or hisa ana then by a well conducted onensive in Italy. with the assistance of an ih.en, sivc political drive, gained ma IVY ,tratepic success in this sector.
 ",rhe allies. in the principal thea're of operations. the west, have been aoie = record an almost interrupted series tct,cal advantages. and in spite of inc concentration of preponaeran' majority of the most efficient German divisions. have gained consideraoie tarrain and taken a large quota or
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-17
PROHIBITION VOTE TODAY

(Continued on Page Threc)
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-17

lEditoriAI comment. 5-Market reviessn.