davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Norwich bulletin., 1917-05-18
STORIES OF THE WAR
Meeting at KiziI Robat.

l Russian Cossacks who had fought their way down from the Caucasus and Indian Lancers who had helped to drive the Turks up the Tigris valley
 manner at Kizil Robat, northeast of i Bagdad on April 2, reports the official eyewitness with the British forces in 1 Mesopotamia. This meeting linked into one long front from the Black l Sea to the Persian Gulf. Narrating l the incident. the eye witness writes ] from KiziI Robat:
 i At noon on April we met the l Russians here. The officer command l ing our column, seeing their cavalry with the blue and white pennant, called up the Indian Lancers, who pushed forward, wheeled into line, l iuted. and turned back, bringing the Russians into camp.
 Our allies had a hard task from Hamadan, through an inhospitable country, over snow passes trodden in to the consistency of ice, down into the burning heat of ravines, but they pressed hard on the heels of the Turks. The road all the way from Hama dan was a defile between snowclad ranges, which made a turning move ment almost impossible, hence there was no opportunity of rounding up the Turkish rear guard; but owing to the relentless pressure of the pursuit the enemy suffered heavy losses in the re- treat through artillery fire, sickness and exhaustion.
 "All the way the road was filtered with dead mules, horses, camels, asses and buffaloes. The Turks ranks were
 were footsore, their light Hamadan boots only lasting a few days, and most of them were barefoted. The villages are full Of deserters.
 "The country between Kermanshah and Khanikin is an uninha bited waste. Seven armies have passed through it in ten months. Villages are abandon ed, and supplies do not exist even in districts which are least exha austed.
 Many Turks fell from exhaustion, and the cemeteries of every village show signs of new graves. Nearly 2.O00 were counted at Kermanshah alone. The Cossack horses were fed on dry leaves and shrubs.
 At lunch We drink the health of the Russian army. A motor convoy jam and dates for the Cossack squad ron.
 "The Cossacks, a hard weather beaten cheery crowd, were soon fra ternizing with our troops. They ride with short stirrups, toes down, heels thrown on the stirrups. They wofh jack boots and sheepskin caps. Be sides their rifles they carried knives and curved Caucasian scimitars with out hand guards.
 They came in at a walk, their small horses being heavily laden and looking thin and spent. They had crossed the Persian frontier at Kaar- i-Shir In and bivouacked last night ten miles northeast of Kizil Robat. march from Hamadan were not heavy.
 Persia is now clear of the Turks, and there are no enemy this side of the Diala River"
Norwich bulletin., 1917-05-18

until there is at least one non-Euro-
 pean power admittedly the equal Of
 any of the great European powers
 themselves.
 This must be question or taCt and
 not of theory.
 This European power need not have the greatest army, nor the great est navy, but it must possess strlk- ing force and industrial organization capable of immediate utilization. Its actual resources available at any mo-
 ment must be such as to cause all European powern to feel that no de- cision can be reached upon any inter national question without consulting this non-European power. Until such a power shall actually exist, new irs- terna tiona1 order, actually as well as theoretically international will remain a desirability and not fact.
 The United States must become that power.
 In the interest of the rest of the world and of the neutral states in Europe the United States must be- come the one great non European power which must be consulted upon every international decision of the slightest consequence. The duty Of the United States therefore in the de- fense of International Right, in the interest of international organization at the close of the war, is the pros ecution of the war in real earnest, and the organization of this country's pOLonlldl IOTC0 III SuCD IaSDlOn lDdl it can never again thinkably be dis regarded
 The part we play in the war will more than any other one thing decide the relationship of the Uptysa States to Europe in the future Upon the reality of our international status. will depend the character of the new international government which will certainly be formed at the close of this war. If at the end of it the really great forces in the world are all European, that government will not be truly international. If at the end of it the United States shall have achieved an actual equality in with the greatest powers of Europe, international organization will be fact, congress or no congress, theories or no theories, codes or no codes.
 Facts are facts and we have it now in our power to make a new interna- tional fact. We may rejoice that in this fact we shall achieve it literally more in the interests of oth- CTS than in our own.
 The Vigilantes is a non partisan or ganiZation of authors, artists and oth- CTS whose purpose is to arouse the country to a realization of the inn portance of the problems confronting the American people.
Norwich bulletin., 1917-05-18
THE covERNoR,s vEToEs.

By the action which has been taken by Governor AEIolcomb in sending to the general assembly eight .vetoes of bills presented for his approval there certainly could have been no surprise in connection with some of them. But regardless of that it must be recog- nized that he has taken all these mat ters into serious consideration, and as in the case of previous bills where he has applied his veto he has un- occasionally acted in accord with his judgment after proper de1iberation.
 Though the amount involved was small it cannot help being felt that he adopted the right course in refus- ing to give his sanction to the bill for a legislative souvenir. This is a mat ter entirely outside of state business and the idea of voting the states money for such a purpose is contrary to the purposes for which the gen. eraI assembly is elected. There are needs enough for all the money that the state can raise when it is expend- ed legitimately, but to spend 1t, in. this way when. it will do the state no good and when it better be utilized in. other ways is wrong The promoter of such 8 bill ought not to expect any such consideration. It is only the en- tering wedge for other appropriations a. sembly took the right action when 1t failed to approve it a few years ago and the governor by his veto follows the right course now. The idea of such an expense ought to receive such a reception in the future that 1t will discourage every effort in that direc- tiop before it gets underway.
 Regarding the veto of the act con- cerning the vaccination of school children there is bound to be a di-I vision of opinion even as there is re- garding the compulsory law that ex- fsts. today, but when he failed to give approval to bills which are already covered in other legislation, it will be generally agreed that he did the right thing. There are enough laws on the statute books which are needless or unenforced without adding more to the confusion. If the legislature is not able to put the proper check upon them a. state needs a governor who has the courage to supply the de1- ciency.
Norwich bulletin., 1917-05-18
HORRID COMPLEXITIES

"Bye-bye," said Bobby's mother, kissing him lightly. She looked very pretty as she bent over him and was entirely aware of the admiration that shone in the eyes of the tall man who was watching the episode.
 Good -bye,' Bobby repeated me- chanically. His face was sober, ssWhere Nou going 9,
 some surprise. It suddenly dawned on her that her child was much too tall for the little boy, almost baby, which she had considered him. Why she told him half indignantly, I'm go- ing to the theatre with Mir. Hammond. Be a good boy!"
 The chambermaid will put him to bed!" Bobby's mother somewhat fret eyes of the tall man who had glanced back at the square little figure stand . ing with widespread feet watching their departure through the hotel lob. by. 'I don't know what should do without Jane to depend onf"
 She smiled up at him and the tall man temporarily forgot Bobby. Her smile was that kind
 When they had disappeared through. the big swinging doors Bobby swung. about Slowly. He did not mind the easy chairs filled with people. mostly. dinners, placidly surveying the world, ;. because for as long as he could re- member they had been there. He strol1ed unconcerningly past them.
 Come here, Bobbyi" one of them called, reaching out a hand, and he went willingly, since his mother was; not there to see. What was the term his mother applied to Mrs. BalSer?3 Oh, yes-.Frumpy and ifnpossible!" She said 1t with the air of scattering Mrs Baker to the four winds from the pink tips of her daintily manicured fingers, and Bobby was always glad that Mrs. Baker was not at hand to see just how the delicately curved eyebrows went up when she said it. He had a sneaking fondness for the frumpy Mrs. Baker. Usually she has something pleasant for him and this time it was half bag of chocolates.
 I'm far too fat now for eating those things" she told him, laughing. You. take themi Go upstairs soon, won't you, Bobby, dear?"
 He nodded, backing away with his mouth full of the candy, wondering why she always said that to him all most every evening when he was left alone. And then she always sigher. Maybe it was because she was fat
 The chocolates were very good and he ate them all He paused moment. at the telephone desk and the girl in charge smiled at him but she was so busy sticking in plugs and taking them out and saying yes, she would page MT. Gresham, that she could not talk to him.
 q know where Mir. Gresham isl" Bobby informed her. "He went down in the buffet-the drink place!"
Norwich bulletin., 1917-05-18
THE GAS AND ELECTRIC REPORT

In view of the fact that the entire community is interested in the opera tion of the gas and electric plant, the property in which they are all stock holders. much attention will naturally he paid to the report which has been made by Engineer Mole of New York as the result of the investigation which he made thereof as an expert
 As 9 disinterested party and one who is thoroughly informed regarding such properties, Engineer Mole has pointed out some of the shortcomings in regard to the department which have been obvious, and he has called attention to inefficient management and handicaps which must have been thoroughly understood by the depart ment officials and commissioners, but he has nevertheless in the short time which he spent in this city seen where the operation of the plant should be greatly improved if there is the proper respect given to details, if the right attitude is maintained towards this municipal property and if it is given a chance to do business in the same way that a corporation would run it's affairs.
 Especially important are the rec concentrations regarding the condi- tions in the gas department, where business has been conducted at a loss for the past twelve months largely because of the lack of a proper head, one who was acquainted with the business and knew what was required and how it should be used. In other words it is a case where politics should not have been allowed to en- ter Further is it interesting to note what he has to say about the purchas- ing and generating of electricity, the equipment of the electric station and the manner in which the department money is turned into the city treas ury for other expenses to the detri- ment of the plant.
 The report is one which calls for the deepest consideration on the part of the gas and electrical commission CTS, but it is also important that the citizens themselves should make a study of the suggestions that they may be in a position to act upon them when the time comes. If the opinion of an expert is worth anything the gas and electric plant should not find itself again in the condition which it is today. Its troubles can be and should be remedied.
Norwich bulletin., 1917-05-18
HOME GARDENS
CueumbeS.

Let me suggest, that every one whD creates or cultivates a garden helps. and helps greatly, to solve the problem of the feeding of the nations. ident Wilson.
 Plants that crawl must be made to climb says an agricultural authority, revealing a secret of profitable home gardening. The gardener should practice intensive cultivation of every inch of space, and crop offers bet ter opportunities in this respect than cucumbers, according to today's bull letin from the National Emergency cooperating with this paper to bring about more food gardens.
 As usually grown cucumbers are planted in hills to foot apart and allowed to spread out along the ground. When you have plenty of space in a garden this method is all right. but in small gardens cucum- bers should not be grown at all unless they are to be trained upon pc&s or trellises, allowing much closer plant ing. When they are trained to climb vines may be 15 or IS inches apart. A useful method Is to plant them on the south side of the garden fence so that the vines may grow upon strings vines tie them with soft cotton yarn taking care not to injure the vines, and if large, slicing cucurnbers are grown 1t may be necessary to sup port the fruits with loops of tape
 Since cucumbers thrive in rich soil a suggested method is to plant them around a 1eaky barrel, training them up the sides. In the barrel should be placed tive bushels of manure and
Norwich bulletin., 1917-05-18
AMERICAN DEsTRovERs ABROAD

l. The news that the American navy
 is actually engaged in operations for
 the purpose of reducing the subna-
 rine menace in. the Atlantic cannot fail to meet with the general approval of the country. IL was anticipated that this branch of the nations de- | fense would be called upon first and l the fact that American destroyers
 have been sent to Europe and were ready to begin their work as soon as they arrived makes it apparf mt that il
 is not an Insignificant part which the United States can play and is play
 ing in the great conflict. It is sig
 nificant of American spirit that when
 the commander of these destroyers
 was asked when he would be ready
 for business he replied We can start at once.''
 Secrecy had been maintained in re- gard to the departure of this fleet to Great Britain and it was just what was called for. Information which would be of value to the enemy must be suppressed at all times when it is possible to do so just as much as it would be i'm nprudent to withhold such facts from the people of this country if they concerned information that the enemy already knew, or was sure to receive from one source or another:
 lHeS0 V0SSSIS- began aC once the duty of protecting shipping, aid ing >in the conveying of an American vessel and became engaged in a mix up with an underwater boat indicates that they are not only ready for the service but. that they have entered upon. it in a manner which shows that they will give a good account of themselves. While vessels engaged in the transatlantic service have been re- lying upon the protection which they can obtain from the British methods of warding off the submarines, and the protection which they give themselves by carrying guns and gun crews made up of experienced men. this is bound to be increased by the activities of the United States destroyers. They have been sent across the ocean to do whatever they can and there is no doubt but what they will be of much assistance and will make their presence felt. If by any chance they have an opportunity to try out any of the devices for controlling the submarines which this country is ex- perimenting with so much the better.
Norwich bulletin., 1917-05-18

have been dealing for years will not guarantee them a supply or fix price They seem to have coal enough on hand, but declare that transportation is so uncertain and labor conditions so changeable that they will have no contracts for definite delievery.
 The dealers further say that to meet tn requirements of their customers they have to go into the market and buy of independent dealers at very high prices, enough to meet their inn mediate needs. Curiously enough these independent dealers seem to find cars for their coal, and it is said that if a purchaser is desperate enough to pay anything for coal, cars are always ob- tainable.
 It is suggested that the situation needs the intervention of the govern ment. We should fear that the gov ernment might make it worse, going
Norwich bulletin., 1917-05-18
THE WAR PRIMER By National Geographic Society.

1 Tanqanroq, the Russian city in tht Don Cossacks country to which the Petrograd munitions factories may De 1 removed if German forces shoulc | threaten the Slavic capital, is deScrlD- ed in the following war geography | bulletin issued by the National Geo graphic Society:
 Any munitions plants established in Taganrog would be far removed from any possibility of German, Austrian or Turkish attack, for this city, eigh- teen miles southwest of the mouth .of the River Don, is situated on the shores of the Gulf of oTaganrog; the northeastern arm of the Sea of Azov, that great body of walter is cut off from the Black Sea by the Crimea. Taganrog is 500 miles in an air line east of-the nearest point on the Aus tro-RusSian boundary and $50 miles northeast of Constantinople.
 "Taganrog which had population of 72,000 in 1914, has the appearance of a thriving modern city, but most or it's buildings are of wood and it suf- fers the commercial handicap of a very shallow roadstead which is grow ing constantly worse, owing to the accumulation Of silt. The vessels which frequent it for cargoes of corn, are forced to anchor from 5 to IS miles off shore, according to the wind which affects the height of the waters to a remarkable degree.
 There has been a settlement at Taganrog since the middle ages. The Pisans established a colony here in the 18th century, giving it the name of Portus Pisanus, but the inroads of the Turks and Mongols eventually caused their retirement Peter the Great en- deavored to ad the town, situated on low-lying, sandy cape. to his domain but it was not incorporated as part of the Russian empire until some years after his death. During the war an Anglo-F'rench fleet in 1855.
 -Taganrog's commercial importance is entirely overshadowed by the t11riv- ing city of Rostov 45 miles to the northeast by rail but only 31 miles distant by water This important spreads out on the west bank of the River Don, 13 miles from it's mouth. its importance is due to the fact that it is the chief seaport of the vast wheat country lying to the north. With the exception of Marseilles, Ros- tov imports more agricultural imple- ments than any other seaport in Eu- rope.
 ''The only important manufacturing industries in Taganrog at the present time are tanneries, ;talIow works and tobacco factories.
 Because it is situated in South Russia, thousand miles below Pet rograd, the fact that the Taganrog harbor is ice-bound for from three to four months a year seems surprising Until it is recalled, that 1t is in the same latitude as St. Johns, Newfound- land, and that it has no Gulf Stream to temper it's climate as have the har- bors on the west coast of Europe
 'Taganrog has but two buildings of interest-the imperial palace in which Czar Alexander I died in 1925. and the Tcherkov museum, coramernorat- ing the city's most famous son, the great dramatist and short-story writer has exerted an enormous influence upon modern Russian thought
Norwich bulletin., 1917-05-18
eERMANY's DIVIDED HOUSE.

In his address to the refchstag which has been looked for so long Chancel- Tor Bethmann Hollweg devoted his at tention chiefly to the Russian situa- tion and declared that if that coun- try would renounce it's aims of con quest. Germany would not prevent a permanent friendship by making inn possible demands. This must be look ed upon as 9 feeler in an effort to more thoroughly. test the Russian gov errment. He failed to set forth the war aims of Germany furthermore than to say that they were general principles. He failed to consider the time ripe for the further offering of peace terms to the allies, but he of course appreciated the fact that no opportunity should be allowed to go by without Keeping those in Russia who are working for separate peace between Germany and Russia inter ested and active.
 By his address, however, the chan cellor has failed to satisfy. He has not cleared up the situation. He is still working for the accomplishment of the scheme to demora1ize the en- tente. which will be a clever job if it can be carried out but it is apparent nevertheless that he is doing his ut most to silence the uneasiness and dis satisfaction which prevails in his own country. To present peace terms now would be open to misinterpretations on the part of his own people and there is already too much uncertainty prevailing there. especially with the German socialist leader sounding a call for a German republic. Appar- ently the chancellor, or the imperial German government, sees the need of
Norwich bulletin., 1917-05-18

Oddly though, the pretty telephone girls sigh was jugt like Mrs Bakers s when she looked at him then. Why don't you run on upstairs. Bobs?" she asked between da;hs at the phone. Upstairs was not aIluring, so he strolled on, led by rollicking music Reaching an open door he stood en- tranced. Anybody, aged 5 or 500, would have been entranced. The Haskell girl, a belle of 14, was giving a party and the room was full of pink checked fairies and angels with long curls and short curls, clad in all the colors of spring flowers, happily dancing with as many lucky boys. At one end of the room was a gorgeous table full Of enticing cakes and giittering bowls | of punch.
 My goodness," gasped the Haskell girls mother, catching sight of him: Setzing a little tray with one hand and capturing her daughter with the other as she flew by, she issued direc- tions Presently. one of the dancing angels attired in cloud of pale rose, had descended on Bobby, laden.
 Now" she ended, shaking one fin- ger at him where he sat in a corner with the heaped up tray on a chair before him, "eat every bit, Bobby!" ! He smiled back, too happy to an- swer.
 Later when every one began say ing good by to Mrs. Haskell he slipped away The big lobby was deserted. the chairs all in orderly rows. Crawl ing up into a corner of a divan Bobby curled up and went to sleep { The tall man and Bobby's mother paused directly in front of that d1Yan when they returned a little later. She was so pretty, Bobby's mother, that one might be excused for losing his head In fact, 1t was quite remark able that the tall man had not done 1t long before. Just now he leaned to- ward her and said Irene" quite husk- fly and then his gaze fell upon Bobby.
 Entirely crumpled, chocolate stained. uncomfortably twisted, flushed Of cheek. the boy, so tiny in that big de- serted lobby lay asleep.
 "Oh, my goodness!" breathed Bob by's mother in sweet annoyance when she discovered what had made the tall man forget and drop her hand She made no little rush to rescue Bobby, as the tall man had naturally ex- pected Then as he stared on at Bob by a queer thing happened inside his head and when he turned, his eyes were bright and piercing as though something that had clouded his vis- ion had been torn away. He smiled at her pleasantly.
 Good night, and thank you for a jolly evening"" was all he said before he left her.
 She bit her lip and her eyes flashed as she pulled the sleepy child to his feet Do come on. Bobbyi" she said You are perfectly unaccountable, act ing so-Iike all meni"-EXchange