davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-03-30
Make a Record for Efficiency

The greatest difficulties arose from
lack OF officers to train the new armies.
On the eve of starting an order came
to The expeditionary force from the
war office that every battalion should
leave behind one captain and n sub
altern to assist In training. That
helped greatly. Some two hundred of
the Indian army, home on leave, were
retained for training purposes; retired
officers ~("dugouts'') were appointed In
large numbers many civilians over the
age OF twenty-five received their first
commissions as ~lleutenants or captains.
The wisdom of providing a method of
rapidly expanding the commissioned
ranks by means of the Officers, Train
Ing corps became apparent. Within
the first year OF the war Oxford univer-
sity 0. 4. 9. provided more than $500
officers for the army Cambridge Uni
versity O. I. G., more than 1000: three
northern universities more than 1000.
and Inns of Court o. T. @. more than
$500.
New Army OFF After Nine Months.
Only nine months after embodiment
the first new army was sent to the
front, closely followed by the second
and third. Even some divisions Of the
fourth and fifth were fit to 90 to the
front barely a year after they had
been raised. And none of them gave
a bad account of themselves.
The secret of the great triumph over
difficulties lies chiefly in the magnifi-
cent spirit of all ranks. If any special
rank is to be picked out. 1t is undoubt-
eddy true that the backbone OF these
new armies was the junior subalterns.
Mostly unframed, or half trained,
they came to learn their work with
their men, and had no false shame in
telling them so-without any prejudice
Of discipline. Not content with the
exacting labors of the parade ground,
they sat up late preparing their work
for the next day, studying military
textbooks. practlcing problems of
strategy and tactics; at mess hardly
any junior subaltern talked ANYTHING
but SHOP" They put posers to the
majors and the colonels, which these
as willingly tackled. They were. In
fact, all keen and on their mettle. and
as on the whole they had been well
chosen for brain power and aptitude
to command, they taught themselves
and their men, too, as they went.
The same tribute is applicable I'm
greater or less degree to all ranks.
There was everywhere a determination
to overcome difficulties couahou, and
to get on with the work.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-03-30
NAVY ORDERS
] DESTROYERS
Awards Contracts for the
Construction Of Two Dozen
U-Boat Destroyers.
Council OF Defense Forms War Plans
In Line With General Military
Budget to Be Laid Be.
7 fore Congress.

Washington-Having taken virtually
every defense measure possible be-
fore the assembling OF congress. Presi.
dent Wilson and hts advisers IN the
executive branch OF the government
are concentrating their efforts TO pre-.
pare for the more sweeping steps for
which congressional authority win be
sought.
The details OF the steps to be rec
commended are held IN closest conf.
dence. but officials let 1t be known on
Saturday that among the rest q gen.
ersl military budget, co-ordinating
many items OF expense deemed i'm.
perative. Will be laid before the house
and senate whe~ the extra session
begins a week from Monday.
During the day the Council OF Ma.
tionai Defense held a long conference
with Its advisory committee OF seven
industrial leaders. who mapped out
mobilization resources; the navy de-
partment awarded contracts for
t~wenty-four d~estroyers, and called a
conference of steel and other material
companies for next week TO consider
means OF speeding naval construction:
the war department announced that
failure OF the army appropriation bill
at the last session OF congress would
mot be permitted TO handicap the
army's preparations; and regulations
we're promulgated to guide the coun.
try's newspapers in a voluntary cen.
sorship preventing publication OF de.
tails which might embarrass the gov.
eminent.
In making the awards on destroyers
on Saturday. Secretary Daniels ac-
cepted the maximum estimate OF eacli
OF the three companies submitting fig.
ures. or the twenty-fouf ordered,
nine will be built under the emery
ency fund, congress having specificai.
iy authorized only fifteen. A consid-
cradle number OF other builders were
In conference with officials. however,
and Indications r that the order win
be doubled or even trebied II facili-
ties for construction OF the vessels
can be found.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-03-30
us. WAR Plan
BEING RUSHED
President Taking Steps to
Place the Nation on a
War Footing.
National Guard Called Back Into Fed.
eral Service and Navy TO be Re-
cruited Without Delay TO
Mar Strength.

Observation-Disclosures Wilson on
March rs took steps to place the ma
ton on q wal footing.
BY executive order he directed that
the navy be recruited without delay
to full authorized war strength of ST.,
900 enlisted men. Taken in connection
with emergency naval construction al
ready ordered, this mean that the
president has exercised the full limit
Of his full legal powers as commander.
in-chief to prepare the navy for war.
For the army the president directed
that two new military departments be
created in the Atlantic coast region
The order mean that the task of or
ganizing whatever army congress may
authorize will be divided among six
departmental commanders instead Of
four, in the interests of speed and eff.
ficiency in mobilization.
The third step was to assume as a
national duty the task Of protecting
American industries from domestic
disorders in the event or nostilities.
For this purpose, eleven full infantry
regiments, two separate battalions
and one separate company of the ma
tional guard were called back into the
federal service to act as national police
In important districts. experimenting
these troops, a regiment of Pennsyl.
vania guard and two companies OF
Georgia infantry, en- route home from
the border for muster out, were or
dered retained in the federal service
The presidents orders were made
known in terse official statements is
sued by both departments. No expla.
nation accompanied them except the
statement that reorganization of the
military departments, effective May l,
was designed to facilitate decentrali.
zation of command.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-03-30
MEDIATION IS
LATEST PLAN
Another Scheme Fostered by
Germany to Prevent War
With United States.
Declared at Washington That No Sug.
gestion OF Mediation Will be Con-
sidered Unless Submarine
y Warfare is Abandoned.

Washington.-Word that a European
neutral might offer mediation to pre-
vent open war between the United
States and Germany has come to the
administration without causing sur.
prise or in any a affecting the gov
ernment's plans for meeting the situar
ton forced by submarine ~ruthlessness.
Such a proposal is regarded here as
nothing more than another scheme
fostered by Germany with the hope
of confusing the issue and possibly
dividing sentiment in this country
while the destruction of American
lives and ships on the high seas con
tinues.
At the state department on Thurs.
day officials would neither deny nor
confirm that the government already
had been approached on this subject,
although it was admitted informally
that some such move was not unex.
pected. 1t was very emphatically stat
ed that no suggestion Of mediation Or
discussion would be considered unless
it was accompanied by abandonment
of illegal assaults upon American
shipping, a cours to which there Is
no a for believing the imperial
government is giving a thought.
The feeling in all quarters here is
that the United States has with in.
finite patience and forbearance done
everything possible with honor to avoid
the virtual state of war now existing
through German aggression. SO long
as this aggression continues, officials
say there is nothing to be done but
adopt measures of defense, and no
basis exists for discussion.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-03-30
RING TEARS OFF HIS FINGER
Catches In Nail as Wyoming Man
Leaps From Hayrick to
the Ground.

Newcastle. Wyo.-F. M. johnson O,
Howard, while jumping from a hay
rick to the ground the other after
noon, had the misfortune to lose a
finger.
Mr.. Johnson's ring became caught
In a nail when he jumped. and the fin.
ger was torn completely off at the first
joint. He was at once brought to
town to have the finger attended to.
and a physician amputated the mem.
Der at the second joint.
He is now doing as well as can be
expected. Mr.. Johnson is staying at
the home, Of his brother, Clarence
johnson, in this city, while he is un.
der the doctors care.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-03-30
STOP TO WATCH
BAYONET DUEL
American VINO Fought in France
Describes CHASTITY Incident
OF the War.
DUELIsTs KILL EACH OTHER
Former Harvard Student Who Enlist
cd In Canadian Regiment and Lost
ain Eye In Service Tells Of
Thrilling Experiences.

Cambridge. Mass.-A vivid war diary
by Aimer Auzias de Turenne, a sta.
dent at the Harvard Law School now
living In Seattle. who lost his right
eye fighting with the First Canadian
contingent at Ypres, is published In
the Harvard Alumni Bulletin, extracts
OF which follow:
"A had completed my first year at
the law school OF Harvard university
says de Turenne. land was spending
my holidays In Canada when the war
broke out, and |, an American, decided
to enlist.
1T was on September 4, 1914, at
Vaicartier, near Quebec, one OF the
training camps OF Canada, that I en-
listed In the Fifth battery, Second
brigade, Canadian Field Artillery. Az
ter remaining a short time In camp we
left Canada for England, a force Of
10000 men, as members OF the First
Canadian contingent, and thence we
went 20 France 10 the firing line. IT
was not until the first German gas at
tack that we got a real idea Of war
fare In all Its horrors
After a short OF the battle
OF Neuve Chappelle aud the first use
OF gas by the Germans, De Turenne
the battle OF Ypres:
Describes FatefuI Battle.
Ahead of us lay a long field, and
then a row OF tall trees bordering the
Yer canal, then further on another
plain and a little hill. AT my point OF
vantage picked up a pair Of field
giasses and, looking along the Yer
canal. could see black lines moving
up q hill. The infantry was charging.
Occasionally the black lines would stop
n then continue again, leaving ey-
cry time black dots behind them
theae were the dead and wounded. At
night time 1t was also possible to see
our " shells explode.
"One morning about 10 80 the gun
ners were all sitting by their runs
awaiting the order to fire, some smok-
Ing, others chatting. Shells were ay-
Ing by, but far off. and nobody was
paying attention, we got SO used to
thetn. ! happened TO be fixing the
bride OF my horse, about 20 feet from
the nearest gun, when l heard a shell
come. II seemed to come straight for
where was, judging by the sound /
turned around to see II explode. 1t ex-
ploded above my head at about the
height OF 30 or 40 feet. / saw the ex-
plosion. A large piece OF the outside
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-03-30
New. British Armies Perfectly Or
ganized and Fitted Out for
Business of War.
HIGH IDEALS ARE FOLLOWED
Standard Set by Gallant Force Which
Went Out 70 Mons Closely Fol-
lowed In Training Thou
sands OF Recruits.

London.-Great Britain's new armies
are now so perfectly organized and fit
ted out that one may be likely to lose
sight OF the greatness of their creation
and the unexampled difficulties that
had TO be surmounted. There was a
sorry characterization stageA due 10
shortage Of boots. uniforms and so
forth.
The tiny army that went out 10 Mons
In August, 1914, was probably the best.
trained body OF troops In Europe for
Its size. Its high standard was that
which those training the new armies
had before them as an ideal. The first
~ months OF the war was the difficult
period. Nearly all the efficient Instruc-
tors had gone abroad with the men.
who added another laurel to England's
military record In the great retreat
from Mons.
At the outbreak OF war the accom-
mediation available for single men In
barracks In the British isles was hard
ly 10000 units. Hosts OF recruits
poured In. 1t was difficult to get tim
T~%f ~ AANktNAOtS , " III tnt CuulpS
water and gas or electric light had to
be laid; old roads were repaired,
new ones made. and special lines Of
railroad laid to all the largest camps,
Civilian Clothing Used.
In the clothing dilemma, while the
dozen makers of khaki cloth were be-
ing expanded to two hundred, civilian
~overcoats were bought up and served
out to soldiers.
When war started the country had
fewer than 100000 rifles, of which only
the authorized reserve of 10000 re.
manned after the original force, mobi.
ized on August 4, had been armed.
And at that time the weekly output Of
rifles In the United Kingdom was un
der two thousand. OF guns there were
At the outbreak of war only enough for
eight divisions, with the authorizedr e
serve for wastage.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-03-30
RECOGNIZES SON IN
NAVAL MOVIE PICTURE

Charleston, w. Va.-When r.
II. Washington, a hotel man
here, went into a moving pic
ture theater he learned the
whereabouts of his twenty-year-
old son Lawrence, who disap-
peared from his home two years
ago.
The film showed a picture of
the dreadnaught Pennsylvania
In target practice in the Hamp-
ton Roads proving grounds,
with Lawrence Washington
manning one of the guns. The
father recognized his son in
stantly.
The picture showed honors be-
ing conferred on the young man.
who made three hits without a
miss, as q result of which he
was promoted from ordinary
seaman to chief gun pointer,
with an increase of IS in his
monthly stipend.
The youth is a direct descen-
dant Of George Washington's
brother Charles, for whom
Charlestown, w. Va, was
named.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-03-30

and as 1t was getting dark they were
forced to retire, with great losses, leav-
Ing the dead and wounded on the field.
Amid this awful carnage two men only
remained, q Frenchman and a German.
They were engaged In a bayonet duel,
one trying to kill the other. They
were both dancing around in circles
like demons, thrusting and stabbing
right and left. One had to 60, and
they fought. 1t was practically dark
by this time. The pale moon shone a
sickly reflection on these two human
beings. Their features were drawn
and haggard, their eyes flashed and
bulged or. Of their orbits, the ex-
preston on their faces was CHASTITY
that OF utmost despair. And still they
danced, each fighting for his existence,
when all Of a sudden this uncanny per-
formance came to an abrupt stop.
There was a sharp click, a thrust and
a muffied sound. Both bayonets went
home, both men stood transfixed. both
TELL dead to the ground
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-03-30
Nearly 1000 in Family

Hiawatha, Kan.-The biggest family
in this county has almost 1000 men,
bers. It iseat Reserve. nine miles
north of here. Reserve is a small
town of 200 OF more people with an
average Kansas population in the eoun-
try surrounding for an area of six
miles. Yet in the town and the entire
area of country within six miles of the
town there are not more than ten
families who are not related to each
other by ties of blood or marriage. or
these ten families nearly all are
strangers who have moved into tbs
community in recent years.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-03-30
RAIDER MoEwE REACHES HOME.

Reports Having Sunk Twenty-Five
Steamers and Five Sailing Ships.
Berlin.-The German auxiliary cruz
ser Moewe has returned into a home
port of the nav from a second cruise
in the Atlantic ocean, it was an
nounced Thursday by the German adj
miralty.
The Moewe, according to the state
ment, captured twenty-five steamships
and five sailing ships, aggregating
1881 ions gross.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-03-30
Governor Asks for Recruits.

Salt Lake City.-Governor Bam-
berger, as commander in chief of the
National Guard of Utah, on Saturday
took the first step toward preparing
the state militia for its part in the de-
Tense of the United States and the
preservation Of national honor should
the present international crisis event
uate in war with Germany, by calling
on all a~ble-bodied men Of the state
voluntarily to enlist in the national
guard.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-03-30
Governor Appeals to Idahoans.

Boise, Ida.--Iu a proclamation Is.
sued March Is. addressed to the may,
ors OF all Idaho cities and towns. and
to the commercial clubs and civic or
CARNATIONS Of the state, Gov. Moses
Alexander urged the opening of local
navy recruiting offices in all parts
OF Idaho. in order that this state may
respond quickly to President Wilson's
call for an increase IN the personnel
OF the country's first line OF defense.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-03-30
GERMANS THREATEN RUSSIA.
Masslna Great Numbers Of Troops
Along Northern Front.

Petrograd.-From internal troubles
apd the problems OF reconstruction
the attention OF Russia has suddenly
been diverted to a new danger which
threatens from without. There now
IL indisputable evidence that the Ger
ans are massing great numbers OF
troops along the northern front ready
for an effort against Russia's capital.
The country has been appraised OF
the new menac by a series OF proc.
.amations from its ministers.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-03-30
Russians Defeat Turks.

Petrograd.-Russian troops pushing
west from Kermanshah in Persia
have reached a point less than forty
five miles from the Mesopotamian
border. The war office announced
Friday that after a Turkish army had
been beaten in a sixteen-hour battle
outside of Kerind the Turks had re-
treated to the vicinity of Kerind and
made another stand there.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-03-30

OF the casing Of the shell, about a
quarter Of an inch thick and one inch
and a half long. struck me flush in the
right eye, smashing the orbit, pene-
trating clean through the face, caus-
Ing a bullying Of the hard palate of
the mouth. whence 1t was extracted.
! still have the piece, which ! treas
ure as a souvenir. For a moment !
was stunned as though hit by a sledge
hammer then came a nasty sensation,
not exactly very painful. Putting my
hand to my face, / managed to reach
a little fence by the nearest gun. and
there the, loss OF blood caused me to
sit down. MY companions flying to
my aid, / was laid on an old-f ,shioned
Flemish farm wagon drawn by the
shadow of a once decent horse. Dur
ing all that time ! was fully conscious,
and / distinctly remember my trip
from the place OF the wound to Eng
land.r
CHASTITY Bayonet Duel.
Mr.. de Turenne describes the fol
lowing incident, Of which he was an
eye witness:
1T was In the early times Of this
terrific struggle, Somewhere In Flnn-
ders the trenches stood only 200 yards
apart. On ms side were the French,
on the other the Germans. The Ger
mans had attempted a counter-attack,
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-03-30
Mexico WIN pay nehts.

Mexico city,-It Is announced that
when congress conyenes Il resolution
win be introduced providing for the
assumption and payment by the gov.
eminent of foreign debts. These debts
include about $4,000, 900 hack inter.
est in Mexican National railway bonds
and about s40.O0o,OO0 arrears in in,
terest on Mexico foreign loans.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-03-30
To Advertise for Men.

New York.-A national advertising
advisory board, headed by Herbert S..
Houston, president Of the Associated
Advertising clubs, was formed here
March 25 to formulate definite plans
for mobilizing men and money for the
support of the nation through paid
advertising.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-03-30
Police Chief Arrested.

Ogden, Utah.-Chief of Police T. E.
Browning, two of his officers, Patrol
men 0. H. Mohlman and ]. F. Kelli-
her; D. A. Smyth, proprietor of the
National hotel, and Sam Dixon, a bar
tender, were arrested Saturday on in
dictments returned Saturday night by
the grand jury.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-03-30
cuban Warned hY D. s.

Washington-The state department
announced Sunday that DIR. orestes
Ferrara. leader Of a Cuban revolution
airy iunta with headquarters in New
York, had been notified that his actiy-
tiles in the United States were OBJ
noxious to the government, and that
the doctor had agreed to stop further
agitation.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-03-30
spokane PIedaes support.

Standardization pledging sup
port to President Wilson in the pres.
emit international crisis were adopted
at a a meeting Of 5000 Spokane
citizens Sunday, and at an overflow
meeting OF 1000 more.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-03-30
May Send Crane TO TokIo.

Observation-Disclosures R. Crane of
Chicago is understood to be under CON
sideration by President Wilson for ap-
pointment as ambassador to Japan to
succeed the late Ambassador Guthrie.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-03-30
Americans viii Leave Beluium.

Observation-Disclosures relief work
ers in Belgium and American Minis.
ter Brand Whitlock have been formal
~ withdrawn from Belgium. Official
announcement to this effect was made
Saturday.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-03-30
Admit sendinq Spies to England.

New York.-Albert o. Sander and
Charles N. W%unnenberg. managers Of
the Central Powers Wa Film ex-
change, indicted on the charge of ems
gagfng in a military enterprise and
sending spies to England to get infor-
nation for the German military au-
thorities, pleaded guilty ON Wednes-
day.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-03-30
New Emperor Of AbyssinIa.

Washington.-Accession to the
throne of Abyssinia by Empress
zauditu, succeeding MeneHk II, was
reported in a proclamation from For
eign Minister Cagnazmatch Baiane
Iemer, dated Addis-Abeba, January IL.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-03-30
ToIstoi Not optImistie.

San Francisco-Count Leo ToIstoi,
0 and namesake Of the Russian phil
osopher and reformer, said he was
not an, optinist regarding the Russian
revolution when he arrived here from
Abe orient
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-03-30
RaIIroads ASK Increased Rates.

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of west
ern railroads for an increase in freight
rates because of the higher cost of
labor under the Adamson law and of
supplies and equipment was forecast
here Saturday.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-03-30
Colombia Nav cede islands.

Washington.-Changes in the treaty
with Colombia by which the United
States would gain several important
military strategic islands in the vicin-
ity of the Panama canal for a $685.
100000 payment are under considera-
ton.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-03-30
Fourteen Realments Recalled.

Misunderstanding into the fed
eral service of fourteen regiments of
the national guard of police protection
purposes was announced March rs
by the war department.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-03-30
AMERICAN STEAMER ToRPEDoED
Reported That T~hirty-four Lives Were
Lost When Vessel Sunk.

London.-A Rotterdam dispatch to
the Daily Telegraph says that it is re-
ported there that thirty-four men Of
the American steamer Healdton we're
either killed when the vessel was at
tackled or drowned subsequently. A
torpedo which penetrated the engine
room is said to have been responsible
for the death of thirteen men.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-03-30
COMMAND of Air Vital.

New York.-Command of the sea
and command of the land are worth
less without command of the air. said
Rear Admiral Robert e. Peary in an
address under the auspices of the Ma
tional Special Aid society.