davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-11

by commission representing the Brit ish and Russian governments. Since that time this commission has been carrying on ths manufacture of munitions for en- tente allies.
 The financial loss as a result of the explosion is estimated at less than s25,- 00o, not including the ammunition de- stroyed Work will be resumed tomorrow in all departments except the box, pack ing and base charging departments All departments will be in full operation by April 24, according to an official of the company. More than 10000 persons are employed at the plant.
 William O'Donnell of Hazelton, Pa, who was in the pellet room when the ex- plosion occurred, charged the Eddystone officials with laxity in the matter of hiring intuition workers. He declared that many Mexicans who recently arrived from the border were hired and that Germans and Austrians also were given employment. Unlike other munition plants, O'Donnell said the Eddystone concern did not require extended refer enees from prospective employees.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-11
MRS. bERRYMAN|S IS NOW ABLE ID WALK
 10 TOWN, SHE SAYS
Couldn't Walk Two Blocks Without Rest Before
 Taking Tanlac

Tt certainly is wonderful the way Tam lac built me up after I suffered for 10 long years" said Mrs. V. J. Berryman, who resides at 264 West Iowa avenue, Mem phiS. Tenn. recently.
 I just don't hardly know how to de- scribe the terrible spells I used to have at times. Hard chills would often come over me and even my fingers would turn purple from lack of circulation, and the agony I suffered would be almost un- bearable. I'd get numb all over after these spells and often had to cali the doc tor.NI took salts, soda and hot water, but nothing gave me more than temporary relief.
 My stomach was in a dreadful condi- ton from gas that formed after my meals and this wolud press up against my heart until d almost smother to death. I kept growing weaker and weaker and finally got so bad couldn't walk over two blocks without resting. I had about given up hope of ever being free from these mis- cries. when one day friend told me what Tanlac had done for him, SO I got bot tie and began taking it.
 Well, sir, l never saw anything to equal the way I began to improve after I had taken the first few doses. I got so that everything I ate digested easily and the gas quit forming. After I finished the first bottle was so much better and ctiO4iScl III ONciS way tlldl WSHL Oil ct visit to my sister in Indianapolis, Ind, and while there I took the second bottle. I got my strength back until I was able to walk all the way uptown without tir- ing myself out I just simply feel fine now and the smothering spells are a thing of the past Tanlac is the only medicine that ever helped me and I'm glad to rec ommend it."
 Tanlac is sold in Birmingham exclu- sively by Eugene Jacobs drug store and Patton-Pope Drug company; in Ensley by D. W. Morris Drug company: in Bes- Isemer by Pegram- Patton Drug company; Tn Pratt City by Gale Drug company, and in North Birmingham by Walker Drug company.-Adv.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-11

Cambrai the British have established their line to the north of the village of Louverval.
 In the two days fighting along the front from Lens to the southeast of Arras the Germans have suffered great losses in men and guns. More than 11,000 pris- oners among them 235 officers, have been taken, and 100 guns, 60 trench mor- tars and 163 machine guns have fallen into the hands of the British. Some of the larger guns are of S-inch calibre. The advance of the British over the entire front has been made to a depth of from two to six miles, the penetration being greatest east and southeast of Arras.
 The Berlin official communication ad- mits that two German divisions In the near Arras Monday suffered considerable losses' in stubbornly re- sisting superior forces. It admits also that the British succeeded in penetrating German position, but says they did not break through the line.
 On that part of the line held by the French, reciprocal bombardments con ii, ue at various points No infantry en- gagement has taken place.
 Again the British and Russian forces report successes over the Turks in Meso- potamia and along the Caucasus front. The Russians operating against the Ot- tomans in Mesopotamia from the Khan ikin district near the Perso- Mesopo- tamia prontier. have captured the village of Kizil Robat, 80 miles northeast of Bagdad and to the north of this region have, driven back the Turks in the dis trict of Baneh, which lies about 100 miles east of Moul.
 Fifty miles northwest of Bagdad the British troops have captured the villages of Ballad and Herbe from the Turks and made prisoner nine officers and 200 men. Two machine guns and railway ma- terial were taken by the British.
 On none of the other fronts has there been any engagements of great i'm portance.
 The American line steamer New York has been damaged by striking a mine off Liverpool Nobody on board was injured by the explosion and the steamer pro- ceeded under her own steam to her port of destination.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-11
Obstacles Being Placed Tn Way of Sldckers Who
 Marry 10 ADoid Service

day branded as towards and "slackers" by City Clerk Scully, who as head of the marriage license bureau, has become in dignant at the unprecedented rush of ap- plicants for licenses, seeking, he has be- come convinced, to put themselves beyond the pale of conscription.
 Theodore Wasserman, in charge of the municipal marriage chapel, run in con rection with the bureau, said many of the young women told him their hus- bands-to-be had begged them ito save them from the trenches by hurrying to the altar" There ought to be a special act of the legislature "to corral the crowd that has caused this dsgraceful state Of affairs,' he said.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-11
GOVERNMENT WILL
 PLACE SEIZED SHIPS
 INTO COMMISSION
Preparing to Rush to Con- pletiOn 1000 Wooden Yes sels-GOethals Will Be
 in Charge

Washington, April 10.-With the view to using commercial lv the German merchant yes sels in American harbors to meet the shortage of ocean carriers, government agents have begun thorough examlna- tion of the ships to fix definite ly the cost and time required to make them seaworthy. The machinery of most of them was seriously damaged by their crews when the United States broke relations with Germany.
 Preparations also have been made to rush to completion as rapidly as possible wooden cargo carrying ves- sels to be built under the shipping board. Maj. Gen. George Goethals, builder of the Panama canal, probably will be asked to take general charge of this work.
 In addition, the government is seriously considering the advisability of requisi- tioning a portion or all of the fleet of American vessels engaged in the Atlantic coastwise trade some of which are owned and operated by railroad interests. Prob lems connected with the sudden shifting to 1, roi1y Ic 1f ohro rd of the burden of traffic at present car ried by the coastwise vessels are under consideration by the council of national defense.
 TO CONFISCATE SHIPS
 While no formal announcements has been made on the question, it is under stood that in general German vessels in American ports belonging to the German government will be confiscated outright, while those belonging to private individ- uals will be paid for at the end of the war. The administration will act only in strict accordance with international law.
 Work of repairing of the German ves- sells probably will begun soon Some of them are so badly damaged that it will require months to make them fit to put to sea, but others can be repaired within a few weeks.
 The disposition to be made of the Aus trian vessels in American ports has not been determined. It is considered prob able that for the present they will merely be kept under the protection of the treasury department for safe keeping
 MUST TRANSPORT HEMP
 One of the reasons for providing quickly ships for service on the Pacific as well as the Aelantic Is the shortage of hemp needed in the manufacture of binding twne which is necessary for the har- vesting of crops next summer and fall. Large quantities of hemp is awaiting shipment from the Philippines because Of the lack of vessels.
 Twenty three German vessels are swing ing idly at their moorings in Philippine harbors.
 Should the proposal to take over a part of the Atlantic coastwise fleet be adopted, radical revision of present traffic and transportation facilities on the seaboard probably will result. One of the chief questions involved is whether the rail- roads, at present carrying a burden far beyond their normal capacity, will be able to take care of the added traffic.
 One >of the chief fleets or rafroad- owned coastwise vessels is that of the Southern Pacific railway, consisting of more than % vessels, plying between New York and gulf ports.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-11

Chicago, April 10.-Obstacles were placed today in the way of the parade to the marriage license bureau, where since the beginning of war with Germany the num- Der of daily applications has reached an unprecedented figure. Observing that 1116 of the 125O applicants yesterday were of military age, County Clerk Sweitzer elim- mated his emergency force of 20 clerks, leaving the normal force of four.
 The second obstacle was a plan to place recruiting offices in the building, where clear-eyed young men in uniform were to ask each applicant the direct question: Are you going to side-step your duty?"
 New York, April 10.-Young men who marry to avoid military service were to-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-11
GERMANS DESTROY
 6 86 VESSEL s OF NEUTRALS M WAR.

Washington, April 10.-German subma- rines have sunk during the war a grand total of 6S6 neutral vessels, including 19 American and have attacked unsuccsss- fully 79 others. including eight American according to an official tabulation given out at the state department today and complete up to April B. Since the Ger man war zone went into effect on Feb ruary more than one-third of the ves- sels sunk have been neutral, and large number of other neutral vessels have been terrorized into staying in port.
 No estimate is available of the num- Der of lives lost on neutral vessels, but is known to have been large. Official
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-11

reports show that about 250 Americans have been lost on neutral and belligerent steamers together.
 The department's statement follows:
 "The information has been received by the department that since the beginning of the war, including April 3, a total of 6S6 neutral vessels have been sunk by German submarines as follows:
 Norwegian, 40; Swedish, Ill; Dutch, 6l; Greek, 50: Spanish s5; American 1s; Peruvian 1; Argentina, l. Total, 6S6
 Neutral vessels attacked and escaped Norwegian. 32; Swedish, g: Danish. 3; Dutch, 13; Greek. &; Spanish }; Argentina, 1; Brazil, 1; American, s. Total 79"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-11
BRITISH CAPTURE 11,0OO GERMANS
 IN GREAT DRIVE
Continued from Page one)

hard at several points for good gains along the front from Vimy southward, and also to the west of Cambrai.
 Five miles east of Arras the British have reached the suburbs of Monchy-Le- PreX and northeast of Arras have cleared out the Germans from the vl- lage of F'arbus and Farbus wood, while to the immediate north of this sector, the Canadians in hard fighting took ad- dtional important positions on the fam ous Vimy ridge and captured prisoners and machine guns. Ten miles west of
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-11
BEGINS PERSONAL CAMPAIGN

Washington, April 10.-Colonel Roosevelt began here today a personal campaign designed to result "at the earliest pos sible moment" in the appearance of the American flag and American soldiers in- cluding himself upon the firing line in France.
 The former President placed his plans for recruiting a division of troops be- fore President Wilson at a half-hour con- ference at the White House. and during the remainder of the day and evening was busy with callers at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Nicholas Longworth. He talked about his project to the chair men and minc .ty members of the House and Senate military committees. and mace arrangements to write them letters giving more specific details. He con- ferred with Secretary Baker and with Howard Coffins Daniel Willard and Ju- Illus Rcscnwald, members of the advisory e mnlission of the council of national de- fense. He also received calls from the British, French and Japanese amba ssa- dors; Assistant Secretary of State Phil
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-11
Mother Seeks Son

Phil c. Travis. who was in Birmingham last fall. is wanted In Dallas, Tex, by his mother.
 She has written The Age Herald asking that it try to locate her son. It is known that Travis was in Birmingham last Sep tember.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-11
ROOSEVELT SAYS
 SOUTHERNERS TO
 HEAD HIS CORPS
(Continued from Page onep

now asking each of you gentlemen to speak a word for me-" His eyes were twinkling, but he was characteristically strenuous.
 And I hope you will stand by the President in support of his idea of uni- versal liability to military service, al- though, at the same time, I hope you will make it possible fer the reception of volunteers"
 It is thought that the desire of the colonel to participate in the struggle is one of the reasons for his allegiance to the volunteer system He empnasrze0 ms remarks, however, and concluded with a declaration that in addition to universal ability to service, universal military training was essential to the continued existence of the United States as a virile nation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-11
TIE WEATHER
Weather Forecast

Washington, April 10.-Forecast for Ala bama- Mississippi: Probably fair Wednes- day and Thursday
 Georgia: Fair Wednesday and Thurs day.
 Tennessee: Fair Wednesday, warmer in east portions Thursday probably fain
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-11
BODIES OF GIRLS
 AND OTHERS ARE
 TORN TO PIECES
tContinued from Page One)

arily cared for in buildings of the am- intuition company, while scores of homes at Eddystone and nearby towns were thrown open to others At one residence in Ridley Park 35 persons in state of collapse from shock and hysteria were given attention.
 There were numerous instances of heroism. Capt. Walter Wilhelm. vice president of the Eddystone corpora tion and formerly national guards man, dashed through smoke and flame into the wreckage 10 times. each time carrying some one to safety
 GREAT CONFUSION
 For a time there was confusion among the rescue squads. who, until controlling head took charge, worked at cross purposes. At first no one re- alized the extent of the disaster and when its magnitude finally was seen the calls for assistance so monopolized the telephone lines that it was impos sible to obtain any information. So serious was the danger from exploding shrapnel considered that the trolley lines were tied up for more than an, hour.
 PATHETIC SCENES
 Throughout the afternoon and until late tonight Chester presented a pa- thetic scene. Thousands of friends and relatives of the victims were surging through the streets in an effort to To- cate their loved ones. Crowds of nor bidly curious in front of the hospitals and the morgue were held back by na- tional guardsmen. No one was allowed in the morgue and only those who rnt,11 Stol 1iS1 1nir ri fn hn fnal. were permitted to enter the hospitals. Companies B and of the Sixth Penn sylvana regiment were called into service early in the night to assist the machine gun company of the First regiment and cadets from the Penn sylvania Military academy. who pd- trolled the streets throughout the aft ernoon.
 SURVIVOR TELLS STORY William A. Drayer, one of the seriously injured, told of his experiences after he recovered consciousness
 About 10 o'clock" he said, T turned on my chair and asked one of the girls what time it was. She told me and I had no sooner turned back to my desk than the first explosion occurred The first one sounded like the explosion of a five-gailon can of gasoline. When the third explosion occurred 1 was blown through the door near my desk to the side of donkey locomotive which was standing on the railroad tracks east of the building. After regaining conscious ness. I noticed the flames bursting out of the structure. I saw girl rush out , with her clothing in flames. She stum- bled and fell and I tried to pick her up, but l was so weak that also fell. Later another man rescued her."
 PLANT nE ALLIES ! The Eddystone Ammunition corpora tion, which was organized originally by interests identified with the Baldwin L6- comotive works and oDerated by those interests. was taken over last September
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-11
TRAINING CAMPS FOR CIVILIANS TO
 BE ESTABLISHED
tContinued from Page one)

meet the situation of civilians who have had no military experience and who are too old to enter the second lieutenant grade of the reserve corps, but are other wise qualified by education and capacity to become officers.
 The department, it was announced to- day, has suspended the regulation limit Ing new enlistment in the regular army to men not more than 35 years of age. This was made possible by the war declara- tion against Germany. Under existing law men not more than 45 years of age could be accepted but to conform to the administrations army bill, the maximum age has now been set at 40 years.
 The present authorized strength of the regulars will soon be reached at the pres ent rate of enlistment. Including all com blatant and noncombatant troops and un- assigned recruits, this would mean a total of 1ss,00O enlisted men. Until the President so directs, the regiments can not be brought up to war strength or additional regiments be organized It is apparent that the administration is not inclined to take this step until Congress has acted on the new army bill.
 EXCEPTION MADE
 An exception will be made in the ca SC oe regiments of negro troops, however, some of which already are over the au- thorized peace strength. They will be filled from waiting lists to full wartime strength. Recruiting for other regiments also will be prosecuted vigorously. it is indicated, as the process of assembling, equpping and assigning recruits takes sometime, and it is expected Congress will have acted before any considerable number in excess of authorized strength may be ready to join their regiments.
 The question of supplies for the in- creasing numbers of recruits both for the regulars and National Guard is a difficult one and has been complicated by failure of the deficiency and regular appropriation bills in the last Congress- Plenty of money may be provided in the near future, but because of the unusual demands upon skilled labor it has been difficult to get quick deliveries and it may be 50 days before the great volume of deliveries begins.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-11

cial handicaps to the military needs of the country through delay in raising the $,75o,o ,oo0,O00 proposed as the amount to be obtained by taxation, the ways and means committee decided to embody in the bond issue authorization, authority to the Secretary of the Treasury to issue, as needed, s2,ooO COG, 900 in one-year treasury notes to anticipate the tax receipts which will result from the war revenue bill The latter measure will be considered after the bond issue bill has been disposed of. Indications are that considerable time will be required to draft the reve- nue bill and that both houses will debate 1t at length after its introduction, which may delay it's passage.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-11
Local Data
German Insurance Safe

Montgomery, April 10.-(Special) Policyholders of German insurance com panies in this state need have no fear about the validity of their holdings be- cause of the war with Germany, accord ing to C. B. Smith, state insurance com missioner, who issued statement Tues day showing that the status of the com panies is unchanged, and that they are still qualified to do business in America.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-11

lips, Assistant Secretary of the Navy Franklin Roosevelt, many senators and representatives and a score or more of personal friends
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-11
MEETING HARMONIOUS

Democratic leaders were greatly pleased with the harmonious meeting of the ways and means committee. Secretary Me Adoo addressed the committee, and ac- cording to both republicans and demo- crats, made clear the financial needs of the country in such a manner as to insure prompt action.
 Chairman Kitchin will pilot the bond issue and other war revenue measures through the House, according to present plans, despite his opposition to the war. Unlimited debate will begin on it Thurs day. No rule vii be brought in to eX- pedite the bill unless one should be deemed absolutely necessary.
 The general plan for increasing revenue by taxation now most favored, apparent ly, is to lower the income tax exemption and raise the excess profits, inheritance and luxuries taxes.
 Administration leaders are looking for ward to the floor struggles over war revenues with greater equanimity than they have for several days. because of the attitude of MT. kitchin and the spirit of cooperation among the republicans.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-11
TO AUTHORIZE s7,ooO, ,OOO, GOO

The total thus authorized. should the committees programme be ratified by Congress, would be 1000, 000O eco for the first year of the war not all of which, how ever, would necessarily be spent. This is s250, ,0O0,000 more than administration lead CTS have been counting on. The differ ence is regarded as liberal estimate for expenses not now anticipated, but which may arise. Under the authorization to issue treasury notes, the Secretary of the Treasury would not be compelled to issue the full amount unless, in his judgment, 1t were necessary.
 All of the issues would carry an interest rate of 31s per cent. The life of the bonds would be determined by the President and the Secretary of the Treasury The certificates of indebtedness, which can not legally run more than a year, would be liquidated with monies to be obtained from increased taxes, details of which are to be worked out
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-11
FOOD COMMISSION PROPOSED TO WORK
 OUT GREAT PROBLEM
OCOntinued from Page One)

had charge of American relief work 1T Belgium.
 WOULD CONTROL CLOTHING
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-11
SURVIVOR TELLS STORY
PLANT OF ALLIES

The. Eddystone Ammunition corpora tion, which was organized originally by
 interests identified with the Baldwin L6- comotive works and opera ted by those interests. was taken over last September
Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1917-12-08
The Mystery Explained.

Clifton Hess, an employee Of the
Pennsylvania railroad at Shelbyville,
Ind. relates the indianapolis News,
looked out the window of the freight
depot the other day and noticed q
woman. A half hour later he looked
again and still saw the woman. She
had changed her position only slightly.
moving down the railroad track a few
feet. She seemed to be strolling leis-
urely along. covering about a foot a
minute.
Curious to determine the reason for
her actions, Hess walked outside to
get a better Ttew. Then it was all
explained. The woman had a big
Rhode Island Red rooster with a
string tied to his leg. There had
evidently been a loaky car of wheat
along the railroad. and the rooster, OBJ.
livious TO all else. was calmly filling
his craw while the woman kept up
with the procession.
Later on during the day the good
news must have spread. for there ap-
peared on the scene several other
chickens with owners attached to
them by strings. AS the ground be-
came clean the procession slowly
moved from view.