davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1917-12-25
Back Up Men Abroad,
Urges Roosevelt

OYSTER BAY, n. T., Dec. 24.-Colo-
mel Theodore Roosevelt, at the Christ
mas festival of the Sunday school OF
Christ Episcopal Church this evening,
talked of the world war and urged
every person 20 take an active part in
it. lie complimented the children IN
sacrificing presents in order TO send
money 10 Belgium. where the church
has adopted three children.
81 believe in every one having
good time" he said, unless by giving
up that good. Eme you Hill help some
one else. The worst time which you
children have experienced so fax in life
is the happiest time the children over
there have had in the last three years.
THE United States is now at war"
ne continued. I'VE were shamefuliy
unprepared. but we are now making up
for il. Let Us all be OF Uncle Sans
team and back up the men az the front.
Germany despised US for our unready
strength. II we had been prepared
Germany would never have gone to
war with US.
"A wear hence We will feel little in
clination to have Christmas gath
ering. for many homes here viii be
darkened. Next year Will be one or
trial. and each man, woman and child
has a part 70 perform, and that IS 20
help our country and comfort others"
New-York tribune., 1917-12-25
Clemenceau Demands
Younger Generals
Present Age Limits for Com
manders Too High, He
Declares

PARIS. Dec. 23.-Premier Clemenceau
has sent circular letter to General
Petain and all the army chiefs, pointing
out that the experience of three years
of war has shown that existing age
limits are too high and that with few
rare exceptions commands are not Ell
fectivcly exercised at over ffty-siX TO:
a regiment, fifty-eight for brigade,
sixty for division and siXty-two for
an army corps. Under these condition,
he adds, general and field officers over
these ages must be given commands
hereafter in the rear or placed at the
disposal of the Minister of War.
The only exception to this rule will
be the general officers recommended TO
retain their commands on the personal
responsibility of generals commanding
armies.
In the future. the Premier declares.
no promotions will be made to the rank
of general of officers who have served
only a short time in the line. This pol
lev will result in placing at the head Of
The fighting troops. he hopes, chiefs
who know them well and in whom the
soldiers can have full confidence from
having seen them at work. The same
principle will be used in promoting field
and subordinate officers.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-25
10000 Deserted Italy
Before Big Defeat
Carorne's Troops Fraternized
Exactly as Did Russians,
French Writer Says
ISpeciaL COrrespOndenceI

PARIS. Dec. by MaiD-IIere
are some of the causes Of the Italian
debacle. as reported by VI. Ballot
Beaupre, Of the journal" who went to
Italy to investigate the situation per-
sonally.
There were 10000 deserters from
the army in Italy on the eve OF the
catastrophe. These deserters hlled
the country without being molested by
the police.
A division was formed OF soldiers
who for various reasons were con-
demned to disciplinary measures. This
division was sent TO the front and
placed in the first line trenches.
Italian and enemy soldiers held open
parleys, initiating the fraternizing on
the Eastern front. ust before the col
lapse. The Italian commanders toler-
ated or ignored these parleys.
Paciiist and "defeatist" literature IN
large Quantities was sent TO the front
along with munition shipments, appar-
emily without the knowledge OF the
commanders.
"The Italian press writes Ballot
Bcaupre. els now writing freely about
deserters and fugitives and telling OF
mass executions. and there is no rea-
son why the French papers should not
discuss these matters freely. Every
Italian asks himself now the follow
ing question: How was il possible
for the government 10 tolerate month
after month at the front and rear n,
dcfeatist propaganda of the radica
parties p"
New-York tribune., 1917-12-25
Deaths Among
Our Troops Abroad

WASHINGTON. Dec. 24.-Four
deaths in the American eypeditionary
force were reported 20 the War De-
partment to-day by General Pershlng:
The Navy Department was advised OF
the death OF two seamen who were
lost overheard from a transport De-
ccmber II. The army casualties re-
ported are as follows:
FISKE, Charles d.. private, infantry
December II, scarlet fever; emer-
gency address. Louis J. Fiske no
relationship given), 8 Cambridge
Street. Attleboro. Mass.
PERRY. James r., private, Engineers;
December 20. measles, complicated
by broncho-pneumonia; emergency
address, Mrs. S. Il. Shepard SISTER,
Moultrie. Ga.
COOGE, Madison L., private, Engi-
neers, December 20. broncho-pneu-
monia. complicated by measles;
emergency address, r. L. Brooks
(uncle), Abbeville, Ga.
SIDERS, Bert C., private, Engineers.
December 81, broncho- pneumonia;
emergency address, Andrew Siders
father, Avella, Penn.
The navy men lost overheard were;
MURPHY. Leo b.. seaman second
class, of 0rrville, Cal.
VIDAHL, George o. h, seaman second
class, Of Arlington, y. ].
New-York tribune., 1917-12-25
Propagandists in
Italy Assail British
German Agents Spread Wild
Reports of Selhshness and
Aggression
[SpeciaI CorrespondeNcel

WASHINGTON. Dec. "a. - Italy is
filled with anti-British propaganda OF
the most sinister character. German
agents. and itailan Germanophils
spread wild reports Of British selfish
ness and aggression. The Rome cor
respondent of THE London Morning
Post" tells OF a friend OF his being
assured by an Italian soldier that
Great Britain had demanded Sardinia
as the price of her assistance to Italy.
This story gained wide circulation. and
was believed by ignorant people. whose
only doubt was whether Sardinia or
Sicily was the price TO be paid to Eng
land.
Another report had it that in return
for her financial aid to Italy, Britain
obtained control of certain number
OF Italian ports for a long period OF
years.
The Teutons continue to shower all
kinds of appeals on the Italian lines.
The following is A specimen OF an Aus
trian manifesto thrown from an aero
plane near Classe. outside OF Ravenna:
italians your second and third army,
again beaten on the TsPliamento and on the
Liyenza. are in full fight toward Treviso
and Padua. while the fourth army is retiring
under the pressure of the Tyrolese troops
and is hastily evacuating the province OF
Belluno!
THE repercussion of such an irreparable
breakup Of Italy's military force IS already
manifest in Russia. The Soviet revolution
ary committee of the official Socialist party,
weary OF seeing the Russian people sacrificed
in now useless and hopeless war. has dealt
a vigorous blow at the Provisional Govern
ment Kerensky. the famous dictator. in the
pay OF England. has ned The army has
declared for the new government. The Rus
sian people has at last found the energy to
free itself from the British yoke 80 as to be
ables to obtain true liberty and peace
New-York tribune., 1917-12-25

have written a glorious page IN the
annals Of this war Their bravery has
prevented the enemy from spreading
his forces 10 the south and complete
the surrounding of Monte Grappa. Our
soldiers fought FOR several days under
terrific artillery fire and against the
deadly effects OF asphyxiating gases.
The enemy suffered enormous losses.
The enemy command IN the city OF
Udine has issued rules by which all
workmen. women and children are
obliged to work in the fields from =
o'clock in the morning until O'Clock
in the evening with half an hour OF
rest in the morning, one hour ana
half at midday and half an hour IN
the afternoon.
"The transgressors Of these rules
will be accompanied to work and
watched By German soldiers and, at the
termination Of the harvest, they Will
be imprisoned for six months and
every three days they will receive only
bread and water. Slow or lazy women
will be exilcd and lazy children Will
be nogged. II necessary, the COM
mander will subject the workmen 10
corporal punishment
New-York tribune., 1917-12-25
Rumania to Open
First Legation Here
DR.. c. Angelescu Coming to
Establish Official Rela-
tions With u. S.

That Rumania never had an official
representative in America IS a little
known fact revealed with the announce
ment yesterday that DR.. c. Angelescu,
first minister from that country to the
United States, is expected to arrive
here in a day or two.
DR.. Angelescu is on the way from
Paris with the Rumanian commission
to the United States. He has held sew
eral important diplomatic posts in his
native country. and, in addition, is re-
puted to be one OF the leading medical
authorities Of Europe.
Accompanying the new minister are
members Of the Rumanian Legation
that will be opened at Washington.
Among them is Captain Teiseanu, mill
tary attache of the legation, who lost
an arm in battle.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-25
General Advance to the
North Reported by Gen
eral Allenby
Airplanes Bomb Foe
New Line Four Miles North
of Auja Brook Is
Reached

LONDON, Dec. 24.-General Allenby'5
troops are now advancing with slight
opposition through the famous Plain
of Sharon. The capture of four more
villages there was reported to-day.
Further east they are also moving
northward rapidly.
The plain where the Biblical "rose Of
Sharon grew is a broad stretch ex-
tending along the Mediterranean, north
from Jafa to Cesarca, and Offering an
easy road for an army's advance. As
late as the time of the crusades it was
largely covered with forests, but these
have now disappeared.
The British forces, to-day's official
announcement says, reached the line OF
Sheikh el Ballutahel-Jelil, four miles
north OF the Nahr ell Auia (Auja
Brook on Saturday.
Inland Fejja and Mulebbis were occu-
pied, and then the troops pushed on and
took Rantieh. on the Turkish railway
line. and Khelbeida- -Khelbireh. four
miles TO the southeast. Airplanes
bombed the retreating foe.
The statement is as follows:
"0n Saturday morning, with naval
cooperation, our left continued the ad-
vance north of the Nahr ell Auja, reach
ing the line Sheikh ell Ballutahel-Jelil,
about four miles north of the river.
Pushing eastward and south of the
river we occupied Fejja and Mulebbis.
This was followed by the capture Of
Rantieh, on the Turkish railway to the
north, and Khelbeida- -Khelbireh. four
miles southeast Of Rantieh. Effective
aerial work was carried out on enemy
transports and infantry"
New-York tribune., 1917-12-25
GuiIlaumat for Salonica

PARIS, Dec. 24.-General NJ. p. +,
Sarrail. the government has decided
according to an official announcement,
will be replaced as head of the Allied
armies i'm Salonica by General Marie
Louis Adolphe Guillaumat. General Sar-
rail. who has had TO struggle against
serious difficulties and has rendered
great services. will be called to other
duties as soon as cireumst permit.
General Guillaumat arrived at Salon
ica Saturday. He is one of the heroes
of Verdun, where he commanded M
army corps which was mentioned In
army orders as having distinguish
itself by the methodical precision Of
its preparations and the yigor OF -
attacks"
New-York tribune., 1917-12-25
Aviators Active
On West Front;
Infantry Quiet
French Fight 100 cOmb't'
in Sky in Three Days
Petain Reports
Eighteen Germans + all
British Casualty List Shows
Fewer Numbers, Marking
Fewer Attacks
riobteen Germans Fall

LONDON. Dee. 24-While infan'r!
..,;y;.v has diminished along the front
So, p-.,cc q,d Flanders, the lighting
=" - is growing IN intensity. Pc.
~. ~ ~ .seialy reported to-day that the
r-.b 20. rgr,u.t .battlc airplancs in
-. ,s-ee days Of December 2l to 28'
~, -. engaged in one hundred COM
"a brought down eighteen Ger
- 80, machines. French losses were not
e,n.''..3-e-.Iv both sides are increasing
Aff~l., fcrccs rapidly. But Petaln's
..e.l ...t..-'o-, mat most OF the fights in
s.'.''.'.5 -. -.r.o5 mentioned took place be
'-S tte German lines leads naturally
,to bsli,f that the air initiative IS
TO ~. tsr5s Of the Allies. and that the
~, i romcntarly falling behind IN
~. .' '.o,onstition 20 add 20 the newest
arm Of the service. .;-.,..os
or the eighteen German alrplanes
soV,e5 an but one either fell IN flames
w was destroyed by crashing 70 the
-royrd. Ia the same period trench
s,rbirg machines dropped twenty tons
~ cyniosives on railroads, factories
s,,sr,rnents. marching troops or other
.srcsts behind the front.
Tbc decrease IN the land lighting
-.s shown to-day in the British
,.sgalty -c1 lis, for the week Of Decem-
Ssr 10 70 "a. inclusive. Only 1879
we've lost. compared with 1876 for the
~ .-5o5 december Is. 1886 for the
W. rsse (r5ed Decembr II and 2S,S22 for
he week ended December I.
OF the casualties. 2OS officers and
o-i4 mer were killed or died Of
sounds: S37 officers and l0.16O men
,rsre wounded or reported missing.
Usc officially reported to-day re-
pelling enemy raids near Monchy lie
French drove or by their FIRE small at
taking parties near BezonvauX and
Csurirres Wood. both on the right
hank OF the Neuse, near Nerdun.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-25

The city Of Venice remains COM
paratively undisturbed by the recent
renewal Of enemy pressure on the
lower Piave nearest TO Venice, wnere
his line is twelve miles east OF the
city. While shells from the heavy
guns could reach Venice, II Is
known that the enemy has been
unable TO bring across the river any
fthing except machine guns ana a le"
pieces of small ca,ibre. No shells have
fallen anywhere near the city. The
rumble OF the bombardmcnt can be
heard day and night, but the popula-
tion has become accustomed to It, as II
had 20 the previous menace from the
air and the sea.
One Of the chief reasons for calm Is
the belief that Pope Benedict fas m
tcrvened in some way by when the
Austrians will not shell the city. rms
report cannot be verified but the pop
Ulation generally believes IT and IT rs
one Of the main reasons for the CAIN
with which the pressure on the
lower Piave has been accepted.
The custodians Of the art treasures
in the CITY have considered It desirable
TO move a large number of paintings
and statues which up to this time had
been stored within the city. The most
valuable were sent south months ago.
but now the entire bulk Of removable
art treasures has been taken away. II
is estimated that 1900 square meters
of paintings were taken from the Ducal
palace alone.
The famous equestrian statue before
St. Marks is being dismounted for re-
moval. although it was at frst IN
tended to protect it by brick
covering. Few of the remaining civ
ilians wish to leave Venice, bat the
municipality and the American Red
Cross assist all who wish 20 get away.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-25
Training Thousands
Of Aero Mechanics
Schools for Americans in Eng
land This Winter to Teach
Care of Machines

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE. Dec. 24.-Whcn the American
air fighters begin arriving IN France in
large numbers they Will find a corps
Of several thousand American mechan-
les trained on this side OF the Atlantic
waiting to assemble, repair and care
for their machines.
The Associated Press is able to an
nounce that arrangements have been
completed for training a large number
Of mechanics this winter in England
and that many repair units already
have been sent there They VIII re-
cross the English Channel as needed
when trained.
Arrangements also have been made
for the establishment in the United
States Of flying schools for Italian
ayistors.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-25
Tudor May Form
Labor Cabinet
In Australia

SYDNEY, Australia, Dec. 24.-Fur
ther returns from the referendum hav
increased the vote against compulsory
military service, and the defeat of the
plan is now beyond doubt. The politi-
cal situation is most uncertain.
Premier Hughes has made no state
ment ;hus far, but in certain quarters
there is evidence of opposition to his
continued leadership Of the National
lists, the dominant party.
1t is not improbable that Frank 6.
Tudor, former Cabinet member. viii
be permitted by the Nationalists TO
form a government from the Labor
party, giving this party an opportunity
10 put into effect its plans for raising
troops without conscription.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-25
Italian Front

ROME. Dec. 24.-After careful and in
tense artillery preparation. which began Sat
urday evening. the enemy yesterday morning
made a determined attack in the western
sector Of Asfago Plateau. concentrating hrs
action especially on Buso-Monte Valbeua.
Al this point he succeeded in passing our
defences. which had been raked by the artil-
lcry. but his advance had to stop at the
positions 10 the rear from which our troops
New-York tribune., 1917-12-25
American Red Cross to Garry
Christmas Cheer to Italians
Zach Soldier in and Around Venice Will Receive Git OF
Socks, Tobacco, Sweets, Some Articles of Food
and Distinctive Present


VENICE. Dee 23.-American Christ
mas cheer VIII be carried to the Italian
soldiers in the trenches and TO the sick
and wounded soldiers in and around
Venice by b. Harvey Carroll. jr., Amer
lean Consul at Venice. acting for the
American Red Cross. Mr. Carroll will
leave Venice with General di Viter-
franchcsca, so as to make the tour of
the trenches on Christmas Eve. They
Will be accompanied by detachments of
soldiers with trucks bearing huge bun
dies of gifts for distribution among
the troops
Each soldier viii receive q package
containing socks. handkerchiefs, to-
baccO. sweets. some articles Of food
and q distinctive present.
Presents for Wounded
Another distribution will be made in
Venice on Christmas Eve and Christ
mas morning to wounded soldiers and
civilian poor Large numbers OF
wounted are now coming in from the
Pave 70 the hospitals OF Venice. Each
Of these will be remembered with
clothing. food and sweets.
The civilian poor are being cared for
regularly TO the n-mber of 1900.
Eight hundred received meals at one
American soup kitchen and 400 at an
other American kitchen. In addition
tc the extra Christmas dinner, each
woman and child will receive a present
Of clothing and food. The clothing
consists of blankets, shawls. under
clothing and stockings, most Of which
has been manufactured in the Ameri-
can Red Cross factory at Maestro, a
suburb Of Venice.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-25
Deserters Meet
In Switzerland
Hold Congress and Defy
Swiss Papers That
Score Them
[SpecinI Correepondeaeel


LAUSANNE, Switzerland, Dec. 10 toy
mali The desorters and revolution
lists who have fed from various bel
ligerent countries and found protection
in Switzerland held yesterday in Zu-
rich a congress to express their pro-
test against the hostility Of the Swiss
press and appeal TO the Swiss Social.
lists for assistance. The NUMBER OF
German, Austrian. Italian and Frenen
Geserters IN Switzerland has grown so
great that many SWISS newspapers
have been waging campaign 10 IN
duce the Swiss government 10 e%pei
them from Switzerland.
The Gazette dc Lausanne lead
ing Swiss paper, gives the following
account of the congress OF deserters
and revolutionists:
Thanks to the lack OF iirmness on
the part Of the Federal Department OF
Justice and Police, the deserters and
revolutionists. whom we are tolerating
i'm our country, are feeling strong
enough 70 intervene in our domestic
affairs. 10 criticise our institutions
and 20 utter threats against US. Yes
terday 400 OF them held a congress IN
Zurich. whore thev discussed the meas
ures which the federal government in
tends 20 take in regard 10 them, and
passed A resolution in which they as
sumed an attitude of defiance against
our government.
"The text Of the resolution is as fol-
lows:
"'The congress Of deserters and rcvo-
lutionists calls the attention of the So
cialist party to the attacks made by
the bourgeois press on the deserters
and revolutionists. The congress finds
that the cause of this hostility of the
bourgeois press and Of the directors Of
the police lies in the capitalistic char
acter of the state. which fears that our
conscientious refusal to serve in the
army will spread the spirit of anti
militarism among the laboring classes
and encourage those who refuse TO
serve in the army.
"'The congress realizes perfectly well
the difficulties with which Switzerland
is confronted on account of the over
population due to foreign immigration,
but it finds the remedy for the pres
ent situation not in laws directed
against certain groups of foreigners,
but in the formation of new regula-
tions governing the naturalization of
all strangers.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-25
Methodist Bishops Try
Charges of Disloyalty

CLEVELAND, Dec. PA board Of
bishops of the Methodist Episcopal
Church in executive session to-day be-
gan a trial of charges of disloyslty
ard pro -Germanism against members OF
the faculty of Baldwin-Wallace College.
Aileen Sumner. student of the col
lege. testifyng before the board, as
serted that unless conditions were
changed" forty out of forty-eight
members of her class would not return
after the Christmas holidays.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-25
Official Statements
West
BRITISH

LONDON. Dec. a DAY).-Last night
hostile raiding parties which attempted to
approach our lines in the neiGhborhood Of
Monchy -lc-Preux and west Of La Bassee were
repulsed Yesterday afternoon tho enemy
e1deavored TO raid our positions southeast OF
Epehy, but he was driven of.
FRENCH
PARIS. Dec. "A DAY).-On the right
bank Of the Meuse lVerdun 'front.' the Ger
mans made two raids against our small posts
near Bezonvaux and Caurieres Wood. Their
efforts were repulsed by our fire. The artil-
lerv fighting was rather vigorous on the left
bank Of the river, in the sector OF Bethin-
court.
On December o1. % and % our pursuit
aviators were very active. Our pilots en-
Gagged in 100 combats. most or them over the
German lines. Eighteen German machines
were brought down OF these, seventeen fell
in flames or crashed TO the ground and were
DESTROYED During this period our lombard
ing souadrons dropped $4,000 kilograms
NEARLY twenty tonsi Of projectles on rail
way stations. factories, encampments and
other objectives behind the enemy's lines.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-25
Alleged German Spy Arrested
On Presidential Warrant

San Francisco, Dec. 24.-Federal Off
cials announced tonight the arrest on
a Presidential warrant of Franz Schu-
lenberg. alleged to be one of the clev-
crest and most dangerous German
spies operating on the Pacific Coast,
According to army officers, he
planned to destroy government docks
and shipping in most Of the big Coast
ports.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-25

began powerful counter-attacks. These stili
continue with satisfactory results.
Last nieht on the Piave Necchia told
Piave). TO the south OF Gradenigo. detach-
ments OF Bersaglieri. completing surprise
attack operation vaiantly made during the
previous days, drove 10 the left bank Of the
river large enemy parties. who, having sue
ceeded in passing TO the right bank. had
desperately attempted TO remain there.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-25
Germans Force Italian
Women and Children
To Work Under Threat

WASHINGTON. Dec. 24.-Oficial dis
patches from Rome to-day give a de-
tailed story of the fighting on Monte
Asolone. They say:
with the recapture OF the positions
on Monte Asolone the Italian soldiers
New-York tribune., 1917-12-25
2 Interned Germans Escape

SALT LAKE CITY, Dec. "a Ferdi-
nand Kube and Kurt wilkins, German
civilian prisoners interned at Fort
Douglas. escaped to-day, according to
statement made by the maIitary au-
thOritips
New-York tribune., 1917-12-25
Gen. Goethals to Remain as
Jerseys Advisory Engineer

TRENTON, y. j.. Dec. 24.-Major
General Goethals will continue to serve
New Jersey as State Engineer in an
New-York tribune., 1917-12-25
New S3O,OOO,OOO Swiss Loan

BERNE, Dec. 23.-Switzerland will
issue in January a new loan OF $780,
100000 at 5 per cent. The cost OF
Swiss mobilization to date amounts to
5000, 100000.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-25

advisory capacity. he informed Gov
ernor Edge in letter to-day. II was
thought his now duties might cause
him TO resign