davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-10
STATEMENT FROM ROME

Rome, December 9.-The official com munication issued today says;
 From Stelvfo to the Brenta river the fighting generally was limited. In the La Garina valley our patrols captured some enemy soldiers and on the Asago plateau our batteries repeatedly heavily shelled hostile forces in movement
 Between the Brenta and Piave rivers the artillery fire which had been very violent during the afternoon became nor nal again in the early evening. A French reeonnoitering patrol brought back 10 prisoners.
 "On the Piave plain and in the Sedona valley the artillery activity by both sides was very noticeable. Numerous enemy patrols were repulsed by our rifle fire.
 Last night our airships repeated their daring raids. dropped more than four tons of bombs on enemy encampments near Queromotta, Di Livenza and Porto- gruaro. Two enemy airplanes were brought down and a captive balloon which was on fire, fell in the neighbor- hood of Grisolera."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-10
NITRATE PLANT 1. BULL DINGS ARE DESTROYED BY FIRE
Work of Rebuilding Tem- pOrary Structures on Site of Federal Industry at
 Sheffield Started

Sheffield. December 9.-(Special) shortly after 10 o'clock this morning fire completely destroyed the ord- nance department building and two administration office buildings located on the grounds in West Sheffield, where the governments experimental nitrate plants are in the course of con- struction. For a time other buildings nearby were threatened, due to the high wind, biting cold and a lack of water pressure which rendered it diff ficult to bring the flames under con- trol.
 The fire had it's origin in the ad- ministration building immediately in the rear of the ordnance department building, and was the result of an overheated gas torch which was be- ing used to thaw out frozen water pipe. A number of employees were in the building at the time and had there been supply of water the blaze could have been extinguished instant ly. Before the fire department was able to reach the scene the entire building was aflame and quickly spread to the adjoining, buildings.
 Besides the loss of the three build ings, entailing loss of several thou sand of dollars, considerable office equipment and records including blue- prints and plans of the nitrate plants under way were destroyed. The con- tents of the ordnance department building. however were saved.
 Immediately following the fire as- sembling of lumber and other mate rial was begun and a large force of laborers began the work of rebuild ing the houses. Tonight one building is practically finished and the founda- tions are ready for the other two buildings.
 Pending the completion of the buildings, Captain Hemphill and his corps of assistants will be quartered downtown.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-10
Spri17t Around Me Field
Fly BILLY SUNDAY Famous Evangelist)

There is flock of more or less fool ish things in this interesting place we inhabit, and among those is the six day race which every winter annoys the big town. l mean the whole week bicycle grind that is held in New York at Madison Square Garden each annum and Is now just concluded.
 So far as I can make it, a six-day thing is an affair where a bunch of boobs keep pushing pedals around track, whose turns have a bank to them about as steep as the face of Gi- braltar.
 They keep on going not oniy day, but night, and whoever has steam enough left at the end to stagger across the line on two wheels is the winner But most of the time they make the circle as if they are dazed. They look full of hop, pursuing a mechanical course.
 Once in a great while some bird manages to break loose, and once every few years contender shoots out and performs the feat known as tapping the field; that is, making the whole circle ahead of the bunch.
 But, as I have lamped these sad shows most of the company seems con tent to keep on just plugging around.
 Far be it from you, Uncle Bill. to ut ter a knock against what we term life, but, if you give 1t the up and down,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-10
HALIFAX REQUESTS S25,OO0,0O0 FOR
 IMMEDIATE RELIEF
Canadian Government An nounces Preliminary Ap- propriation of S1,OO0,-
 900, Available at Once

Halifax, December 9.-Premier Robert L. Borden announced here tonight that a preliminary appropriation of $1,000,009 had been made by the Canadian govern ment for immediate relief in Halifax This fund will be placed at once in the hands of the citizens finance committee.
 An appeal to the people of Canada for from s20.OOO,o0O to $25,0Oooo0 for immediate relief of the homeless and the recon struction of the stricken district of Hali- fax was issued today by the mayors of Halifax and Dartmouth. The appeal ex- plained that the ruin was complete in a wide area occupied almost exclusively by the laboring class.
 In order to avoid confusion American and Canadian cities which have planned to ship supplies here were requested iI a statement issued today by the repairs and reconstruction committee to wire Q reasonably accurate description of ma terials offered before shipments are made.
 Building materials of every kind. espe- cially lumber and roofing products, are most urgently needed
 "Weather conditions at present exist ing and expected at this time of the year." the committee announced, are most indictment and repair and recon struction work must be carried forward with all possible speed to avert Q largely increased casualty list"
 All the railroads connecting with and running Into Halifax have been re- quested to expedite shipments and com mittees sending relief supplies are asked to placard all cars:
 Halifax relief. Rush..
 Under the plan adopted as offering the best means of saving duplication and confusion. cities anxious to help should telegraph Col. R. s. Low as to what they have to offer. By cooperation with the government such messages will be sent through promptly and just as promptly answered.
 Await reply from Colonel Low before shipping what you have telegraphed is ready to come forward" the committee announced.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-10
FRENCH STATEMENT

Paris, December 9.-The war office com munication issued tonight reads:
 We repulsed an enemy raid north Of Anizy Le Chateau. There were quite lively artillery actions around Sapig- neul, Maisons De Champagne and on the right bank of the Mouse
 Belgian communication: On the nigh. of December 7-S, a strong enemy detach- ment attacked one of our posts near Stuyvekenskerke after artillery prepa. ration The operation failed completely by reason of our machine gun fire and artillery harrage. The day of December 8 was marked by slight artillery activity. Last night we bombarded enemy organi- cations in the neighborhood of Dixmude and Kippe in retaliation for the smelling of our communications. Today there was moderate artillery activity?
 Eastern theatre December 8: There was intermittent artillery activity in ths Vardar sector and in the region of Mon astir, where the fire of our batteries caused an explosion in the enemy lines
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-10
GREAT BATTLE SUSPENDED

Italian Army Headquarters in North mn Italy, Saturday, December S.-The title of Asiago is virtually suspend II with the enemy checked, if not de-
 ,ated, in his main design of break
 g through to the Brenta valley and ge plain a few miles below. AL aough he succeeded in advancing his saes a short distance when the Ital-
 ms fell back to new positions
 These positions, guarding the Fren- ella and Gadena passes. have success sully resisted all enemy efforts and 'ie Italians on the steep heights on i sch side of the passes rain down rtillery and rifle fire and release 1ge boulders every time the enemy
 Tees try to get through. This has no tinued until the Italians seem req VI ably assured of holding the passes hke1 compelling the enemy to look for | other lien of approach.
 'sesn exceptionally large air raid was
 ,,,ried out yesterday with a fleet of
 airplanes. including Italian light
 5l heavy squadrons. The huge fleet
 low. scattering more than 200O 5inbs, which caused extensive dam | Ike in the northern sector, where the aemy is assembling forces and sup
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-10
NOTED COMEDIAN
 GAS FUME VICTIM
 IN HIS GARAGE
Nat Wills Is Asphyxiated While Getting His Car Ready-Body Found
 by Wife

Union Hill, N. J.. December 9-Nat Wills, widely known comedian. whose characterization of "the tramp" is fa- miliar to theatregoers throughout the country. was asyphyxiated in garage at the hear of his home here today while getting his car ready to take a friend for a drive. He was overcome by gas fumes as he reached the closed door in an effort to get to the open air
 His body was found when a friend tele- phoned Mrs. Wills, inquiring what had delayed her husband, and she went to the garage to investigate. She could moi open the door, which appeared to have damned. neighbor opened it and the comedian's body fell into the roadway
 MT. Wills was A years old and was born in Washington, D. c. His wife is known on the stage as May Day He also leaves a daughter,s Natal,t3 years old.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-10
REMNANTS FOR STATE

"State pennants? Yes. Among the states the national association distrib- utes banners on the same principle. wonder whether Alabama can win a banner by purchasing about 10 seals per capita? Ten cents a head. That's not much, considering the cause. But lit would put the anti tuberculosis work on it's feet.
 Anything else? Yes. As already pretty widely known. we are pledged to devote all the seals money outside Montgomery and Jefferson to system of visiting health nurses, one in touch, if possible, with every uncared for case of tuberculosis. The counties have been coming into line. Talladega, think will, with the aid of a certain generous citizen, get an all-time nurse Madi- son and Morgan probably will divide a nurse. But the league will engage as many such noble, public spirited. trained, trustworthy nurses as the seals income warrants, and distribute them according to the several coun ties contributions. That will be the very greatest step ever made in this slow advance. It will need about ESQ., 900 to properly care for the salary and travelling expenses. of 20 nurses of the sort needed. Shall we get it?
 You know as well as I. But ought we not to get It and contribute this as safety zone around the lads who will presently be coming back from the front and to the dear ones whom they have left behind? Wounded, sick and convalescing men must not be up against tub erculosis homes. But for that matter. neither must susceptible children. But they are up against such homes, and they grow up and need a tuberculosis hospital
 By the way what could the ancient sage have meant when he talked about locking the stable door after the horse had been stolen? Did democracy ever lock door before it had lost it's best horse?"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-10
AUSTRIAN PREMIER SAYS WILSON NOT
 CLEAR IN SPEECH

Amsterdam, December 9.-The declara- the United States while painful to the empire. will not affect the events of the war, in the opinion of Count Czernin, the Austro- Hungarian foreign minister, whose speech last Tuesday Is quoted by the Vienna correspondent of the Berlin Tages Zeitung. Referring to President Wilson's address to Congress, Count Czernin is quoted as having said
 President Wilson's speech is in many respects incomprehensible and not clear, but it still marks a step forward in the in one direction, when he says we in 'nowise desire to harm Austria Hungary and it is none of our affair to concern ourselves with institutions and peoples'
 "The President shows signs of making important progress which we must rec ognize and which it is to our interest to nail down. The right of f-determina- tion by a nation is a catch phrase, given different interpretations by various statesmen. We find it first used by the entente at the beginning of the war as their reason for taking up arms to pro- tect small states like Servia and Monte negro from violence by the central powers.
 Tn a note addressed to the bellger- ents in Decemb CT, 1916, President Wilson still held to be the one pinciple of his peace aims the safeguarding of the rights of small states Subsequently he supplemented this with the formula that he is waging war for the liberation from foreign domination of Italians Servians, Rumanians, Czechs and Slovaks This protection for small nations has reached into the background to be replaced by plans for the forcible separation from the monarchy of certain nationalities without granting the latter the right of self determination of their future'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-10

don't you think life is pretty much like the six-day affair?
 You start out In it, like the contend CTS in the nearly-a-week proposition sure to get, as they get, a certain guarantee as long as you keep going.
 In the six-day race it's piece of change. no matter where you finish. And in life. if you just pedal along, you'I get in life. three squares day.
 All you've got to do is to keep roll ing.
 But in the whirl of the week as l un- derstand, there is a big prize. it's something like 5000 bucks. And any speeder that can get out in front and lap the field can make certain of it.
 Any guy who has nerve enough to shoot ahead of the bunch and hold his own pace in the whirl of life can do the same thing-and get lot more than a little three thousand.
 You get me, don't you? Don't just stick with the pluggers, content to grab a guarantee.
 Bust out in front and give them a whiz for a few laps.
 Maybe you'll circle the field. If you do, you'll be there for the hoorah and the dough. If you don't, there's noth ing lost.
 Put down your bean over the han dlebars; pump your legs, and go to 1t.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-10
Suffragist Delegates Are
 Arriving in Washington

Washington, December 9-Delegates began arriving tonight for the forty ninth annual convention of the Ma tional American Woman Suffrage asso- citation, which formally opens Wednes- day in Washington. Nearly 1000 are ex- pected. representing membership of 2,00o,00oo women in every state in the union.
 New York will have the largest dele- gation, composed of the leaders in the recent successful New York state suf- frage campaign.
 The weeks programme begins tomor- row. with a meeting of the national ex- ecutive council, the governing body of the association.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-10
Plans for Third Liberty
 Campaign to Be Outlined

Washington. December Reorganization plans for third liberty loan campaign to be started some time after February will be discussed here tomorrow by more than 100 representatives of local iib- erty loan committees, meeting with Sec retary McAdoo. They will exchange ideas, offer suggestions for improvement of organization work, and probably per feet nationwide machinery for promo ton of the third loan
 The meeting is expected to last most of the week. Several governors of fed
 ere~~r 'ap'ss ranresantativs of woman's liberty loan committees, bank e. 4.nd l.'oil;irenr business men are anong those called into conference.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-10

dun region, last night was met in it's early stages by the French who re- pulsed the enemy after brisk fighting, the war office announced today The text of the official statement reads: <
 There was mutual artillery activity in the region north of Chavignon, on the right bank of the Aisne, and of Fremont wood.
 An enemy attempt to advance toward Bezonvaux led to lively fighting. The enemy was repulsed with appreciable losses.
 The artillery duel was somewhat lively in this region, as well as in sev- eral sectors on the left bank of the Mouse v
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-10
German Fraternizing
 Order Is Published
Instructions to Army Division Show How Treacherous Effort Being
 Made to Spy Out Land'

Stockholm December 9.-An order to the 2S0th German army division, contain ing instructions for fraternizing with Russian troops is printed by the Petro- grad newspaper Dyen. The purpose Of the order as stated in the preamble is ito disorganize the enemy's army and secure necessary information there from"
 Detailed instructions are given for con- ducting a propaganda by means of pam phlets and newspaper, together with 'ap- peals in soft tone filled with comra- dery, by giving tobacco, etc"
 Comrade may not fire in Russian iinffS which respond to such advances. How ever, since 'the enemy is perfidious and without honor.' German soldiers en- trusted with the duty of visiting the Rus sian lines for fraternization are to be closely guarded and riflemen in tho nearest trenches must be in readiness at all times to fire if necessary.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-10
COST TO TAXPAYERS

Now MT Editor, I have been told that this plumbing for the Hillman hos pital annex cost the taxpayers S2l,ooo instead of S3750. However, I have just been handed a statement by perfectly reliable gentleman, who says the state ! ment is a true copy of the records at the courthouse, and these figures show that the amount paid this plumbing firm for this plumbing was $16,95s.11 instead of $3750. :
 Talk about alien enemies; why they're not in it. I have a son in the army today, and I would consider him safer in France before the German trenches than he would be in Jefferson county under present conditions.
 The board of revenue were asked by the medical society to contribute a few thousand dollars to be used in the best work ever attempted by any country. but what did they get?
 Mir Jerry Gwin, who rode into office on the Newell Brothers contract, down the Columbiana road on padded pay rolls, said in substance, over his sig nature in February. 1915, that he would give 5000 to some charitable institu- ton in the district if eight men out of 12 that he would name would not do certain work for 60 per cent of what Newell Brothers were getting. And thereby hangs tale.
 Now, MT. Gwin, on the Sth day of December, 1917, offer to forfeit to five charitable institutions $5000 of real money (not bulb if I can't and don't name five contracting firms who will build this Bessemer courthouse for 50 per cent. or one-half, the amounts you are paying Evans Brothers for the same service. 5
 Provided. if I do name thesnsr Ss above, you forfeit this same oldS zi Coo to the tuberculosis fund, and .s1ave. ;4; you should have. this contract bpenSd up again and give, as you knaw you should give. the Birmingham and Bes3 semer contractors chance to 9ispend some of their own money.
 Will you do this willing, or will you have the county invite you?
 CHARLES M ALLEN, 114H N. Twenty-first Street. Birmingham. December s. 1917.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-10
BURNETT CONFIDENT FIAT HIS DISTRICT ;N|LL RETURN HIM
gfolds That He Is Better
 A"Predicter" Than His Op- x ponent, Who in Past Z Guessed" Wrong
nx HIGH ". ROBERTS

e Washington, December 9.-(Special) epresentative John L. Burnett of the sventh Alabama, dean of the Alabama touse delegation. and chairman of the ,mmittee on immigration, expresses inl returning to Washington, confidence
 his fight for re election.
 He is actively opposed by Col. John 5o. Lusk of Guntersvil1e, lawyer, mem Yer of the state senate, and well known fTpIitician The battle is on and even Bdough the hour is early, the two can flttes have already met in series " spirited debates.
 It is understood that Colonel Lusk
 basing his fight against MT. Bur sastt on the votes of the latter opposing 2,a declaration of war and conscription
 the preferable method of producing es' army with which to fight Germany or THE CAMPAIGN ISSUE an"Colonel Lusk predicts his victory" helid Mir. Burnett this morning. T pre- N ttt my election. Colonel Lusk has for { Arly predicted his victory in congress ss sJnal campaigns. His predictions have ~>lver come true. Mine have always
 me true. Therefore. am not dis lessed simply because of his conf nIInce. NM
 ="He inveighs againsteme or account I my votes against war and against
 inscription. He tells the people that be I am elected, the word stacker will
 written across the face of the Sew
 lth district. And yet I have produced IT letter written me by Colonel Lusk- l ritten two months following my l otes-in which he says in effect that ,e would not commit himself as either svoring or opposing my stand, and in 1 ahich he states that he would not crit fse my position.
 tiHIe is in rather a curious situation. BURNETT IS CONFIDENT
 T have gone to my people with cry simple and unadorned story of lct. I have told them that I opposed Lar, and that l thought the volunteer lethod was preferable to the method nf conscription in raising an army. Nal have told them, also, that since
 e declaration of war, I have heartily
 ood by the President and the country, >ld have urged every citizen of the
 strict and state to obey the law to the &tter
 "The response of the people has been tn1 that l could desire I will win easi- it appears. I feel confident of car Wing Marshall county, the home coun- S.e- of my opponent"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-10
PRIvILEDGED MULTITUDE

"Now. it is "The privileged multi- tude." Everybody can be a government bondholder, the holder of a bond with more class to it than all the others, Here's where human nature and states manship merge. The people are going to feel in a deeper sense than ever, that this is their government-they are backing it with their money.
 Now, here is where human nature, statesmanship and finance join hands: The government says to everybody, You have chance to help win this war" and it shrewdly knows that every
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-10
BERLIN REPORT

Berlin, December 9.-(Nia London. Brit tsh Admiralty per Wireless, German Of ficial Text .)-"Western theatre: In some sections on the Flanders front, south of the Scarpe as well as between Moeuvre and Banteu, lively artillery battles de- veloped in the afternoon On the re- mainder of the front the fighting activ- ity continued of a minor nature.
 EasterD theatre: There Is nothing new.
 "On the Macedonian front northeast of Doiran lake, several enemy compa- nies which sought to advance against the Bulgarian advanced posts were driven back by their fire
 Italian front: On the Asiago plateau at Monte Tomba and Montello, there was increased artillery activity at times"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-10
BRING EXPERIENCE

nBesides their powerful material they ring the benefit of their three years Experience of the hardest fighting fronts ,)f France. All this counts for restored "oIfidence and from Venice to Treviso ,lds people are breathing easier for they
 tow that the English with the High
 Iders, Welsh, Irish, and Colonials and g French now are on the actual fight at front.
 ,,leports from the north show that the
 nation in that direction has not ma l6ally changed with the new Italian
 e holding well.