davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-07

CFror, The Honchsstsr GUARDIAN
The renewed activity in Mesopotanna
has taken an interesting shape. When
Kut-el-Amara fell on May our forces
had failed to force the Turkish position
at sanna-i-Yat. on the north bank Of the
Tigris, fifteen miles below or east OF hut'
On the south bank we had reached but
failed to take, the Dujaila Redoubt, when
;s seven miles east of Kut. After the
town fell the Turks abandoned their po-
sitions on the south bank and retired
across the Shatt-el-Hai, the waterway
which begins at Kut and flows south to
ioin the Euphrates. They maintained
their position on the north bank, and from
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-07

out in the woods by myself and listen to it
and teryify myself by thinking what 1t
would be like to be under that rain OF
shells. A foolish thing to do, but for more
than a year, nearly two years, had been
under the obsession of my fear. could
no longer control it.
A Cog in a Machine
"And then we were on the road, march
ing toward that inferno. By imperceptible
degrees the pounding grew louder.
moved mechanically because ! was IN the
ranks. with a man on each side of me and
one in front and one behind. had to go
on. Nv will could not control my move
ments. was part of machine. The ma
chine went toward the pounding and
went with it. That was all, except that
once | vomited.
mind you, had never really hesrd
shell. only the distant sound of the explo-
sions. We had been marching nearly TWO
hours. when I heard my first shell. There
was a long, thin whine some place IN the
air. 1t was a new sound, and it was Sc
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-07
The Measure Of Fear

that we have not yet forced them. AS
Kut itself stands on the north bank, a
straight march on the town is impossible
until the Sanna-i-Yat position and those
behind it are taken. We have, however,
crossed the Shatt-el-Hai, and cleared the
Turks from their trenches on the opposite
side of it, BY this stroke our force on the
south bank has progressed so far east
ward that it is in line with kut itself, If
not actually behind it, and is some twenty
miles in advance of the force on the north
bank. The Tigris lies between the VIC
torious force and the town, but if we are
well supplied with artillery and river
craft the command of the Shatt-el-Hai
should make possible a successful fianking
attack on kut Its capture would sever
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-07

my curiosity was aroused. wanted TO &c
on and see how far | would go before my
fear overcame me. With every one OF
their long whines I studied myself to see
if I would run, and when ] continued
marching with the regiment l would say
There Was Limit
"'Not yet; perhaps the next time. Ger
tainly, there is limit beyond which Will
not 60
at was as though were studying some
other man. There was the me who was
afraid and knew it, and the me who
watched to see how afraid | was.
eleven o'clock came and we stopped for
luncheon. We stacked our arms beside the
road and eased off our equipment. | felt
wonderfully relieved that ! had got that
far. was not really hungry, because |
was afraid, but I was enough master of
myself to know that | must eat, and TO
force myself to do so.
while we waited there shells began to
fall close to us-close enough so, that we
could hear the explosion after the whine.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-07
THE BRITISH ADVANCE IN MESOPOTAMlA

the communications of the Turks at
Sanna-i-Yat and compel their retreat. 1t
would. moreover, complete our hold on the
great triangular system of waterways
formed by the Tigris, the Euphrates and
the Shatt-el-Hai, which dominate lower
Mesopotamia. If we had made certain OF
our hold on Kut when We took it before,
instead of risking it in dash for Bagdad,
we should have been in a better position
to-day. 1t is not apparent why this at
tack has been so long delayed. Since we
last moved the enemy is reported to have
completed his railway to Bagdad. The
hot weather ended some weeks ago, and
the rains must now have begun, though
they should not be menace to transport
for some weeks yet.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-07

strange to me that l raised my head for
the first time since we started on the
march, The man next to me laughed.
ga SHE'LL he said.
~ looked all around me. / tried to stop
to see the path Of that queer whine, but
the man behind me prodded me on. Sew
eral of them laughed.
"'You will hear plenty more they said.
"They thought / was eager for them.
"The shells began to come at regular in
tervals, all following the same path with
the same peculiar whine. | tried every
time to see them.
"'The Boches are hunting for battery
over on our left the veterans said. There
was no change in the pace. | was saying
70 myself, Il have really heard a shell, and
did not run
The Measure Of Fear
at was very queer to me; ! tried to
think it out. | was afraid. / knew | was
afraid But / had not run. ] began TO
wonder Just how afraid | was, and !
wanted to know. had heard the shell and
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-07

nv terror from my wife, my friends and
nv neighbors. And all the time my coun-
try had called Fear and shame! Fear
and shame My country called and ] was
afraid to go!
For a man who loves his country, there
is nothing harder than to be a coward and
know il. I went at last because / could not
stand the torture of failing to do my duty.
No one else knew. l had been sent back
bv the doctors. was blameless before the
community. But knew it was because
was a coward, because | was afraid to be
hurt. afraid to die. So when they called
the class of 1917 | went.
The Terror of Verdun
"Thev sent me to Verdun. Can you
imagine what that meant to me? 1t was
in the very midst of the German attack on
the left bank of the Meuse. had been
drafted into a veteran regiment with lot
of others to help fill up the gaps, and
Joined just in time to go into the front line
"You know how the papers were filled at
that time with the terrors of the Verdun
fighting. 1t was not of the bravery of our
troops that read, but of the terrors. !
don't know how ever got into line on the
day we marched from the rear to go to the
front. Everything | did was mechanical.
We were called before daylight; we had
cup Of coffee; we were marching along
the road
Il had managed it up to then without
giving myself away. True, ! talked little
to nv comrades, and probably that saved
me. But the morning we marched to the
front. what saved me then don't know
except possibly because | said nothing
was unable 20 spea',. was numb with
fear. Twas sick. My stomach turned.
walked with my head down and my feet
dragged like great weights.
"You know, at that time you could al
WAYS hear at Verdun the pounding of the
big guns. ! had heard it for days while
nv regiment was in repose. | used to go
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-07
Rv FRED B. PITNEY

This is the story Of Leon Barbesse, a
volunteer of France met him first in
TIA trenches on the Somme. He stood in
first line post, where we were halted be-
esuse the Germans had begun fierce rain
~ shells on the French lines. They were
nervous that day, the Germans. All the
5av and night before there had been sue
.sssion Of sallies from the French trenches.
They were really only reconnoitring expo
Sitions. but the Germans had come to think
Zach the precursor Of an attack in force,
and every time there was the least sign of
activity in the French lines the German
artillery burst into furious action, she'll
ing the French trenches to prevent sortie.
VS. arrived as one Of these rqfales began,
and we were halted to seek shelter.
The best trench is not proof against a
real bombardment Of heavy shells. Para
D.ts erumble In like walls of sand. There
is nothing reassuring about coming sud
denly upon a great gaping hole in what
Ia, been considered a moment before a
solid rampant. a hole still steaming from
n. IMPACT of a white hot shell weighing
half ton. Il does not add TO ones con-
sdence 10 find that instead of walking.
quietly along a well ordered corridor with
a decent, dry plank floor one is crossing a
miniature mountain chain, sinking sud
denly into narrow valleys, waist deep in
water. rising as suddenly to heights that
leave half ones body exposed TO the full
view Of the enemy. And to know that
those valleys and those heights have been
caused by the explosion in the trench of
the shells that are constantly screaming
overhead-that is the most disconcerting
Of all.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-07

BEFORE We ndu Only
heard the whine. The
first one made me
Jump. The whine was
loud and strong and
the explosion came
quick and sh arp.
With the second |
was strong enough TO
turn and look at the
cloud of earth, smoke
and rocks. | was do
ing pretty well. A
shell fell short Of US.
Some Of the men look
ed up and saw an
aeroplane SAIL n 6
around over our
heads.
Better get out Of
here they said. That
is a Boche. He is
giving our range to
his battery A shell
dropped up near the
head Of the line, al
most in the road. I
heard no orders, but
we all gathered up
our rifles and equip
ment and marched off
at quick step.
81 had look e d
straight in the face
of the shell that fell
in the field beside US.
1t was another tri-
umph for me. ! had
looked at it, shivering,
to be sure, wondering
if | would run. But
| had not run. There
was still a little fur
Their to go to pursue
my investigation and
find out how much /
could stand before l
ran"
My curiosity go I
the better of me.
"Have you found
out YETI" | asked.
81 am coming to
that" he replied. Eve
went on up that road
at the quick step I'M
til we came TO the en-
trance of a boydu
leading to the sup
porting tren c h e S.
Shells fell around us
all the time. The
Boche aeroplane was
still trying to regu-
late the fire Of its bat
terry, and there was a
maddenlng walt III
the mouth Of the
boyau until it came
time for US to go in.
We had been march
ing in the road four
abreast, but we had to
90 into the boycu sin
gle file. My platoon
was we'll toward the
rear, and that made
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-07

us wait. We had nothing TO do but stand
I in the road and watch the shells and wait
our turn.
81 tried to follow the course of every
she'll. Ny head was continually twisting.
II jumped at every explosion. ] could not
control the muscles of my back and shout
ders. But | stepped out of the line and
walked a little way into the field, toward
the shells. / wanted to see if could do 1t.
got close enough so that I could hear a
piece Of shell whiz past my ear. Then !
waited for another piece. 1t was a hard
Job, but | waited, leaning on my rife and
looking at the ground little way in front
of me, where the last shell had exploded.
If had moved my eyes from that spot |
could not have stayed. Not until the third
one came did hear another piece of shell.
The others had struck too far to one side.
Easier Going Back
CHOW I can go back I said to myself.
But / walked very fast going back.
"In the boyau it was not so bad. A
French aUion had come up and chased
away the Boche.
81 thought of the things had done and
hoped that having done them once could
do them again. But was not sure. | was
afraid. ! knew that. have always been
afraid and there has always been the
question in my mind if my fear would con
auer or if would conquer my fear.
"There was the time when it became
necessary to take a message from our
support trenches to our advanced lines in
the Bots des CorbeGur. There was tir de
barraqe to be crossed and volunteers were
called for. ! was chosen.
"By that time ! had formed the theory
that man can do anything if his duty de-
mands it Of him and he will keep that in
his mind. 1t was part Of the thought
that came to me that first day in the boydu
and developed it later in the long nights.
The first day had no really coherent
thoughts, only a great fear Of my own
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-07
Shame of Being Afraid Made
This Volunteer of France
a Brave Man Among
the Brave

Is u I ! was ) G n I
home. My lungs, you
know. They are all
right now, though. A
few months of this life
and your lungs kill
you or they get all
right. Mine are all
right"
He struck himself a
heavy blow on the
chest and grinned.
81 could not have
done that in 1914" he
said. 81 would have
coughed for half an
hour"
80 | was sent
back" he continued,
land | was glad Of it
| can't tell you how
glad. ] did not want
to go to war. | was
afraid. That is the
truth. ] was afraid.
And when the doctor
said | would not do, |
could have cheered.
The doctor was sorry
for me. and ! pretend
ed to be sorry, also,
but not too sorry, for
he might have passed
me.
II went home. I
was safe. | did not
have to fight. ! did
not have to be killed.
/ did not have to be
ashamed. for the doc
tors had turned me
back. Well. ] was
ashamed. My coun-
try was in danger.
The Germans we're in
France. And | was
at home. But | was
afraid. There you
have it. ] was ashamed
because ] would not
fight for my country,
my country that need
ed me, and ! was
afraid to fight. ! was
afraid to be hurt. ]
was afraid to die.
do you remember
when they called the
1917 class a year
ahead of time? |
went then. / volun-
teered. God, what a
struggle that was! /
walked the road to the
caSerne with the sweat
running off me. For
a year ! had dreamed
nlgnJly OF JIle Shells
| had heard them.
They had falle n
around me. | had been
wounded. ! had felt
the impact of the steel
on my yielding flesh.
For a year | had spent
my days trying to hide
-. $780, fr,t,, NV w
The Butte daily post. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1913-1961, 1917-01-08
SERETH RIVER
DEFENSES ARE
BROKEN DOWN
Won Mackersen's Army is Be.
yond Them-Russ is Ag-
gressive in South.
THE WAR SUMMARY.

Field Marshal Won Mackensen has
broken through the strongly defended
barrier before the River Sereth which
the Russians had constructed at Fox
shani. has captured that important
Rumanian town and taken 1000 pris-
oners.
The Russians also have lost ground
further north along the Moldavian
frontier between the Putna and Oituz
valleys. Berlin announces. Towards
the Danube from Fokshani, however.
the latest reports showed a Russian
offensive of some importance which
admittedly had succeeded in gaining
ground from Won Mackensen's forces.
On the Franco Belgian front patrols
and aviation operations are featured
in the war office statements. Berlin
reports considerable aviation activity
and announces the bringing down OF
six hostile airplanes during the day
The Butte daily post. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1913-1961, 1917-01-08
STILL SEEK THE
MOTIVE BEHIND
GIRLS MURDER
Many Friends of Dead Artists
Model in Philadelphia Sum-
m0ned in Probe.

Philadelphia. Jan. S.-District At
torney Samuel P. Rolan. who on Sat
urday expressed the belief that Maize
Colbert, the advertising art model, was
killed by Bernard w. Lewis Of Pitts
burg, Pa, who killed himself at At
lantic City as detectives were about
to arrest him, today summoned many
persons whose names have been linked
with the case in the hope Of definitely
establishing the identity OF the muir
derer and the nature of the motive.
Included among those summoned
were Captain Of Detectives Tate and
virtually all the men under him who
have been working ON the mysterious
case.
Others include relatives of the dead
girl. police magistrate who is said
to have been acquainted with Miss
Colbert and several wealthy men
known to have been friendly with her
Letters alleged to have been written
by Lewis in the middle Of December
to relatives and friends In Pittsburs
that he was about to commit suicide
because he had made failure Of life
were Investigated.
The Butte daily post. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1913-1961, 1917-01-08
WEBB KENYON LIQUOR
TRAFFIC LAW UPHELD

Washington. Jan. s.-The Webb
Kenyon law. designed to prevent the
shipments from wet to dry states,
was today declared constitutional by
the supreme court In a decision which
upheld West Virginia's prohibition
amendment prohibiting citizens from
receiving liquor for personal use,
shipped by common carriers In inter-
state commerce. The court was di-
vided to on the decision.
1t was announced that Justice Nc
Reynolds concurred in the decision
but not completely in the opinion.
Justices Holmes and Vandevanter
were the two dissenting justices.
The attracting power of govern
ment over liquor is settled" said the
chief justice In announcing his deci-
sion. There was no intention of con-
gress to forbid Individual use of IL
quor. The purpose OF this act was to
cut out by the roots the practice OF
permitting violation of state liquor
laws We can have no doubt that
congress has complete authority to
prevent paralyxing Of state authority
Congress exerted a power to co-ordi-
nate the national with state authority
The Butte daily post. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1913-1961, 1917-01-08
VILLA FORCES At
PARRAL BEATEN;
LOOT IS RETAKEN
Bandit Troops Flee to the Hills.
General Murguia in Pos
session of City.

Ell Paso. Jan. S.-Parral. Chihuahua,
was occupied by Carranza forces under
General Francisco Murguia at
o'clock yesterday. message received
by Carranza Consul Bravo here today
stated. The villa forces who occupied
Parral fled to the mountains. the
message added, and nine locomotives
and 100 cars were recaptured.
This message to the Carranza consul
also states that General Favila. a
Carranza commander, met and de-
feated a column Of Villa followers yes-
terday on the wagon road. between
Jiminez and Parral. killing s5 villa
troops and capturing many prisoners
after the command was scattered.
The Butte daily post. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1913-1961, 1917-01-08
NEW YORK GREATEST
PORT IN THE WORLD
No Other Harbor Has Ever Ap-
preached it in Volume
of Business.

New York. Jan. s.-Of every 800
States in 1916 $50 was transacted in
New York. according to figures made
public today by the collector of the
customs. showing that the foreign
trade of this port during the last cal
endar year was valued at s4oss. .000. .o0e
No other harbor in the world ever
transacted trade to such an extent in
a single year. 1t was stated.
Customs duties collected during last
year amounted to s1s3.211,s3s, or al
most half a million dollars for each
business day. March was the record
month with s14.s4s.47s.
The Butte daily post. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1913-1961, 1917-01-08
WHEAT FOR INSTANT
DELIVERY QUOTED AT
So A BUSHEl TODAY

Chicago, Jan. a.-For the first
time war prices on wheat here
touched today q long predicted
coal, two dollars q bushel. No. 2
red wheat for immediate delivery
sold at that price, an advance OF
about Sc sincs Saturday. Pressing
dem snds for shipment to Europe and
for domestic milling nssds were
generally accepted rsasons for the
rise.
The Butte daily post. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1913-1961, 1917-01-08
SUPREME COURT MAY TRY
ELECTION CUSTER SUITS

The proceedings were filed by Al
torney Edward Horsky, who Is as
ISOLATED with Attorneys H. L. Maury.
B. X. Wheeler and ]. NJ. Hinkle in
the cases. The suits are based on
claims of Illegal use OF voting ma
chimes in Silver Bow county at the
late election.
The complaint asking for the re-
moval from office of Sheriff O'Rourke
Is sworn to by William Tracy. who
was the republican candidate for the
office. II recites that in certain pre-
cincts voting machines were used.
while in others paper ballots. 1t is
contended that inasmuch as the con.
Continued on Page Three-)
The Butte daily post. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1913-1961, 1917-01-08
GREECE STILL H[s|TATEs
OVER ENTENTE DEMANDS
Latest Communication to the
Allies Neither Accepts
Nor Refuses.

London, Jan. s.-Reuter's Athens
correspondent says the Greek govern
ment has handed to the diplomatic
representative of the entente a series
of statements In response to the last
note of the allies. These statements.
the dispatch says, are neither refusal
nor an acceptance Of the entente note
but point out difficulties in the way
OF compliance with some of the terms.
An Athens dispatch last Saturday
said the Greek government had de-
cided to reject certain clauses OF the
entente note. which demands repara-
ton for the recent outbreak at Athens
in which entente soldiers were
fired on
The Butte daily post. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1913-1961, 1917-01-08
fcETON MEN REVOLT
CLUB SYSTEM
Eof President Cleveland One
of Leaders in the Stu
dent Break.

1nceton. N. j., Jan. s.-Five prom
4 members Of the sophomore class
university have organized
volt against the club system and
refuse to join clubs. according to
Snmunication appearing in today's
Richard Cleveland
& the late president. Is one OF the
"a of the movement. AS the CLUB
IA IL one of the important fea-
Of Princeton life. the news
"a interest. The chief objection
system. as stated by the sopho-
In that II Ii undemocratic.
The Butte daily post. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1913-1961, 1917-01-08

b hearing opened Represen-
rnpbell. republican. moved
b0mmittee subpoena F. M.
- and company. brokers at
&tndway, New York. to bring
"a documents. showing sales
10 to 23. The committee
u consider 1t in executive
On motion of Representa- :
lerfield the Boston stock ex-
uvas ordered to preserve it's
Slips for the same period.
Tumulty Called.
sP. Tumulty. secretary to
Wilson. then was called and
Atement.
with an endorsement by
Wilson. Secretary Tumulty
y following statement to the
|n1es committee:
Soar before this committee to
HE unjust intimation that !
tprmation to Mr.. B. M. Baruch
"a to the called peace note
THE European belligerents last
~ the secretary of state. This
bn was contained in a state
kde to this committee by Rep
I've Wood. a man whom DO
- and to the best Of my knowl-
have never met Mr.. Wood.
he made no effort to find
truth from me before dragging
ne into this affair.
)ldn't Know of Note.
sh to deny that l gave advice
.Baruch or to anybody else In
Ito the peace note. I did not
2 the existence of this note or
~ government contemplated the
OF such a note until after
a the note had been given to
Natives of the press by the
bArtment. ! was not consulted
reparation OF the note by the
or anybody else. The con-
: and communications relating
drafting Of the note and its
\ were confidential between the
81 and the secretary Of state,
nothing of them whatever nor
: other person employed In the
we office.
xe had no correspondence. writ
CONTINUED on Page six.)
The Butte daily post. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1913-1961, 1917-01-08
Justices May Hear Testimony
and Act as Court of Original
Jurisdiction in Actions to Re-
move O'Rourke and Heating
From Office.
Special to the Post.

Special to the Post
Helena, Jan. s.-The Montana su-
preme court may sit as trial court
of original jurisdiction and hear testi-
mony In the custer proceedings filed
here this morning against State Audi
tor william Heating and Sheriff John
TX. O'Rourke of Silver Bow county.
The Butte daily post. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1913-1961, 1917-01-08
FREIGHT EMBARGO IS
LIFTED ON UNION PACIFIC

Omaha, Jan. S.-An embargo on
freight shipments over the Union Pa
eific lines. which has tied up more
than 500 cars In the Omaha ana Coun-
ell Bluffs yards since Dec. 20, was
lifted at midnight last night and the
cars are now being started for eastern
points as fast as engines can be found
to haul them