davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-08-01
Heavy Losses for Germans.

The Germans made a heavy counter
attack at La BaSsee, recaptured by the
British in an attempt to regain the
position, but the British flung them off
and began consolidating the ground
won. Many prisoners already are find
ing their way back of the allied lines.
These men report that the unprece-
dented artillery preparations which
prefaced the entente allied attack
worked havoc in the German lines and
undoubtedly caused a heavy loss of
life. The German front line trenches
were entirely smashed to pieces and
the wire entanglements before them
were torn away.
The French, who attacked on the
difficult territory between Dixmude
and a point near Boesinghe, forced
their way across the marsh and cap
tured the first two German lines. Six
Bavarian divisions were withdrawn
and replaced as they were demoraliZed
by the inferno of fire. At one point
the British charged through their own
barrage fire to prevent the escape of
fleeing Germans.
Attack on Twenty-MiIe Front.
Most of the points captured are be-
tween BOesinghe and Warneon. The
British gains cover a 20-mile front Of
attack. The British and French troops
went into battle under cover Of what
perhaps was the greatest barrage fire
seen In the war. The entente artillery
is moving forward and the whole situa
ton Is satisfactory in every particular.
Between Dixmude and Boesinghe
the attackers reported they had Sc
cured the two first lines of trenches
after having fought over the most diff
cult terrain imaginable.
The British again have captured the
town of La Bassee, which they recent
ly relinquished- to the Germans.
The British and French forces are
facing large concentration of Ger
man artillery and fresh troops which
have been rushed up.
The entente allies have established
complete air superiority.
Entente military officials say the
morale of the Germans here Is not up
W Tic Olu StdIduId.
The offensive launched early by Gen.
Sir Douglas Haig, the British COM
mander, in conjunction with General
Petain, the commander Of the French
forces, against the German lines on
the Belgian front, is the elimination
of the tremendous heavy gun lombard
ment which has been in progress al
most continuously In this area for
week
The battle front north Of the river
Lys stretches from Warneton on to
Franco-Belgian border to the North
sea coast, the distance between those
two points being about thirty miles.
Included in this battle area is the
famous Wyschaete-Messines front,
where the British on June Z, after ex-
ploding 100000 pounds of high ex.
plosives under the German lines, at.
tackled On a ntne-mile front and cap-
tured the high ridge, several towns Al
heavy guns and more than 1000 pris-
Oners.
French Gain on AIsne Front.
Paris, Aug. 1.-French forces made
a successful attack against the Ger
man positions along 1,5O0-yard front
at La Royere and west Of Epine de
Chevregny on the Aisne front, says the
French Official statement Issued this
The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-08-01
FOR PEACE THROUGH VIENNA
Germany Will Gladly Act Upon Over
lures bv Way of Austria,

Copenhagen, Aug. 1.-The semioffi-
cial Vienna Fremdenblatt says it is
able to announce authoritatively that
Germany gladly will act upon peace
overtures coming by way of Vienna
The Cologne Gazette, copy Of which
has been received here, reproduces the
Fremdenblatt's statement.
The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-08-01
CLASH OVER HARBORS BILL
Madden and Moore in Hot Debate Over
Measure in House,

Washington, Aug. debate on
contested amendments to the river and
harbor bill in the house took on the
air of the torrid day outside.
Representative Madden of Illinois,
who opposes the BILL and Representa-
tive Moore Of Pennsylvania, who sup
ports it, were the principals in the
row.
"Brazen effrontery," "Indelicate and
indecent" said Mr.. Madden, attacking
Mr. Moore.
Ridiculous" "Asinine," "Continu-
Gus CROUCH" said Mr.. Moore to Mr..
Madden.
The house adjourned until today
after sending the bill to conference.
The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-08-01
CALL SECOND QUOTA SOON
Second Class of Registered Men Will
Be Examined This Month.

Washington, Aug. 1.-The second
class of 755,750 men registered under
the draft will be called up for exam
ination in August. With the examina-
ton of the first quota progressing rap
idly, the provost marshal generals Of
flee announced that seven days after
the first called are examined, the Sec
ond quota would be posted for exam
ination. The second class, which will
number 11O per cent of the 6S7, 900 men
needed, will be combed for men to re-
place those exempted in the first
group.
The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-08-01
DIVERS ROUTED BY YANKEES
American Torpedo Destroyers Save
Steamer From Attack,

American Naval Base in British Wa
ters, Aug. American torpedo-boat
destroyers were reported to have en-
gagged two hostile submarines, causing
them to submerge without shooting.
One of the U-boats had just sunk
steamer and the other was attacking q
merchantmen.
The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-08-01
20 ON WARSHlP GIVEN BATH
Swapping of GangpIank PIunges Work.
men Into Water.

New York, Aug. 1.-The swapping of
a gangplank leading from a new bat
tleship at the New York navy yard pre-
cipitated twenty or more wOrkmen into
the water, injuring a number, but all
were rescued. First reports had it that
number were drowned. An official
statement issued at the Office of the
cOmmandant of the yard read:
eat II o'clock noon civilians in a
working party on one of the ships in
the yard, while going to lunch rushed
down the gangplank. The gangplank
gave way and the men were thrown,
some on the dock and some into the
water. There were no serious injuries.
The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-08-01
MANY JOIN ARMY IN DAY
Washington Says Record for Enlist
ments Was Made on Monday.

Washington, Aug. Recruiting l. for
the regular army Monday was the
heaviest since the outbreak of the war.
1t was learned that 2,705 enlistments
were reported. Seven states turned in
more than 100, as follows: New York,
323; Pennsylvania, 81; Massachu-
setts, 262; Illinois, 172; Ohio, 1877;
Michigan, 12S; New Jersey, 121.
The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-08-01
RAID ON MARRIAGE BUREAU
u. S. Marshal Gusts Siackers at New
York

New York, Aug. LIMITED States
Marshal Thomas D. Mccarthy, with 10
of his deputies, appeared at the mar
riage license bureau, where scores of
young men of the draft age with their
prospective brides We're waiting for Ii
censes, and within 15 minutes cleared
the room and Railways Of half of the
number. He elected from the place
every man who was unable to produce
his blue registration card.
The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-08-01
BANK ROBBED OF $4,000
Two Masked Men Hold Up Cashier at
Medical Lake, Wash.

Spokane, WASH, Aug. 1.-Two
masked men held up the cashier of
the First National bank of Medical
Lake, IS miles west of here, and es-
capped in an automobile after SCOOP
Ing $4,000 into sacks.
The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-08-01
Raid New York SIackers.

New York, Aug. deputy United
States marshals conducted a raid on
500 young men of military age who
were attempting to get marriage IL
censes in the municipal building, pre-
sumably to avoid military service.
The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-08-01
PRINCE EITEL IN ARTILLERY
Kaiser Appoints Son Chief of First
Pomeranian Regiment.

Copenhagen, Aug. 1.-Advices re-
ceived here from Berlin say Emperor
William has appointed Prince Eitel
Frederick, his second son, chief of the
First Pomeranian field artillery regi-
ment No. 2.
The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-08-01
Cav Crusader Wins Derby.

Newmarket, Eng, Aug. 1.-The new
Derby stakes were run here and won
by Gay Crusader. Dansellon was sec
Ond and Dark Legend was third.
Twelve horses ran.
The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-08-01
Seeks Food for Norway.

Washington, Aug. 1.-Dr Fridtjof
Nansen, head of the special Norwegian
food mission, laid his case before the
exports council in an effort to secure
food shipments for his country.
The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-08-01
On the Green
Diamond
STANDING OF THE CLUBS.
Tuesdays Results.

NATIONAL LEAGUE.
Chicago, 81; Boston, 6-8.
Pittsburgh, 7-3; New York, 11-9.
St. Louis. 0-4; Philadelphia, 6-2.
Cincinnati, 2; Brooklyn, 4.
AMERICAN LEAGUE.
Boston, 5: Chicago, 4.
New York, 4: ST. Louis, l.
Washington, 4: Detroit. 8.
Philadelphia, 5: Cleveland, 8.
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION.
Kansas City. 9: st. Paul. 3.
Indianapolis. 7: Louisville, 5.
Milwaukee, II: Minneapolis, 7.
Toledo. 7: Columbus. g.
The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-08-01
State Senator to Frame

Albany, n. Y, Aug. 1-State Senator
Ogden L. Mills resigned from the SEN
ate. The senator will join General
Pershing's forces in France.
The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-08-01
Duty of Librarians.

o. G. Sonneck of the Library of
Congress, writing in the Art World
on the specific subject of music in pub
lie libraries, has this to say in refer
ence to books in general:
"a librarian ought not to content
himself with giving to the public what
it happens to want, but ought to help
create a demand for what the public
needs; no self-respecting library can
afford to be without certain cultural
documents whether they be consulted
frequently or seldom; the needs of
one solitary scholarly specialist should
weigh with librarians just as heavily
as the wants of a hundred general
and generally superficial and unpro-
ductive readers.
"After ALL" he adds, 'it is not the
frequency of use that counts, but the
use to which a book is put. A costly
and rare book consulted only once in
ten years, but then by man of far
reaching research or codification Of
research, has justified its acquisition
just as much as an inexpensive COM
monplace book consulted every day
for more receptive information"
No Countrymen of His.
"K. w." on recent visit home, told
a story about trainload of British sol
diers who stopped the engine and took
the hot water from the boilers to make
tea. The Pittsburgh Chronicle-Tele-
graph prints a Scotch version of what
is apparently the same story, wherein
the testy engine driver explained to the
Scot commandant that they were not
on the way because ''a lot Of whisky
drinkin' Scotchmen had sneaked all
the hot water from the boiler to make
grog." "They Gamma be countrymen Of
mine," replied the commandant skep-
tically, cor they'd nae bothered about
tn water."-Kansas City Star.
The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-08-01

British Front in France and Belgi-
the entente allies accomplished all
they had planned for the first day Of
this battle in Flanders. Three lines of
trenches have been captured. The
casualties of the French and British
were surprisingly light. The German
front line about the YpreS salient
which had been held unquestioned by
the enemy since the early days of the
war offered little resistance to the
British advance, but beyond these
trenches the Germans made a firm
stand in an -endeavor to stem the on
Slaupht
The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-08-01
81 KILLED BY HEAT WAVE
Twenty Three Victims In New York
and Seventeen at CHICAGO.

Chicago, Aug. 1.-High temperatures
with fatality lists are reported from
the following cities:
The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-08-01
ALLIES SMASH
2O.M|LE FRONT
IN FLANDERS
General Haig's Men and the
French Strike Kaiser'S Line
in Conjunction.
ten TOWNS ARE CAPTURED
Terrific Bombardment Is Followed by
Concerted Movement-Troops of
the Republic Make Successful
Assault on the Aisne Front.

London, Aug. 1.-British and French
troops attacked on a 20-mile front, fol-
lowing the most terrific artillery fire
three lines of German trenches be-
tween the River Lys and BOesinghe.
Ten villages and more than $500 pris-
oners were taken. Losses on the allied
side were reported to be very light,
while the German losses were de-
scribed as extremely heavy. Late re-
ports said the Germans had begun a
counter-attack at the point where the
French and British forces join.
The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-08-01
TERRIFIC FIGHTING MARKS
.F|RSTDAYSW WAR in FLANDERS
afternoon. A German counter-attack
was crushed.
Berlin Tells of Battle.

Berlin, Aug. 1.-Strong attacks by
the entente allies have commenced
along a wide front from the User to
the Lys, in Flanders, says the official
statement issued by the German gen.
eral staff. The infantry battle in
Flanders, the statement adds, has thus
opened.
The daily progressive-miner., 1917-10-08

He viii submit 70 being hauled around the country in cattle cars, he will go to jail, starve. be executed almost anything-for his belief that he is working for the betterment of the race.
 And above all, he will keep con stantly before him the one object of his movement, what he calls the eman' cipaton of the working class, and he will use the weapons of the strike and boycott; he will sabote until he is sup pressed, and then break out in an other place.
 That is why strike settlement with the I. w. w. doesn't remain set tied for any length of time
 That is why Il e.e are constantly recurring industrial trouL.es in Colo rado. in Arizona, in Michigan, in Wash
The daily progressive-miner., 1917-10-08

lnRtOn ana III Une Sih Llilio Ol lhC East.
 Strike Their Bludgeon.
 Your real I. w. w. uses the strike as bludgeon, and he isn't worried much about settlement. The watch word with him is Strike! Strike! Strike!" As against what he terms the "futility of political methods" in at taining his goal, he cries out: "Sa- bote! destroy! hit the capitalist where he'll feel it the most"
 And so, if the American public would combat this menace to the na- tion's institutions, it must cease to regard the I. w. w. as an incense quental aggregation of irresponsible vagabonds and ne're-do-wells, acquaint itself wit hthe underlying purposes of the movement and seek to apply the proper remedy.
The daily progressive-miner., 1917-10-08

WANTED-Gasoline Launch to 10 h. D., 30 to 35 feet long. Suitable for trolling or store tender. Cash for right boat Con E. Giebel, Loring, Alaska-adv I'm
The daily progressive-miner., 1917-10-08
Strike Their Bludgeon.

Iington and in the silk mills of the
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-10-19
Ada Dixon Splendid Com.
position On Rubber

Dear Juniors:
This is the first time I have written
to you. am going to write about rub
Der.
When the explorers came to South
| America they found the Indians play
ing with balls made of crude rubber.
The Indians also had made shoes and
buttons out Of rubber. The name Of
| rubber was finally given to the English.
And the English people found that it
| would erase pencil marks and they
called it India rubber because the first
| rubber used in England came from
India.
The rubber trees grow best in low,
wet ground. and under shade. The rub
Der collectors cut their way through
the dense forests and tap the trees.
They say the dripping from the rubber
tree is white just like milk. This is
i, taken to camp where it is thickened
, in the smoke and heat Of the palm nuts.
| 1t is then crude rubber.
The United States. Great Britain,
| and Germany are the countries that
lead in the consumption of rubber.
The crude rubber is changed by va
rious processes. especially by mixing
/. with sulphur, so that it will stretch
when cold and stick when hot.
1t is also made into hard rubber, such
| as is used in combs.
Rubber is used for erasers, in gar
ments and footwear, for insulation OF
electric wires. for hose, dental and
surgical goods mats, cushions, toys,
paints, for balls of many kinds and for
carriage and automobile tires.
By taking care in tapping the trees
and by increasing the number of rub
Der plantations, the world can always
have enough rubber.
Ada Dixon, age 70.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-10-19
Hannah Blanch Miller-Ex
cellent Composition, The
First American Flag.
Dear Juniors:

Dear Juniors:
! thought you would like to hear
! one of my school compositions, so |
am sending you the story of "The First
American Flag"
In the revolutionary war, 177S, an
artist painted a flag which George
Washington had overseas. Then
Washington, Mr. Ross and another
man took it to the home of Betsy Ross
where she took piece OF red flannel
cloth, an old blue army coat and sol.
dier's white shirt and sewed all to.
gether and made flag.
The men were going to have a six.
pointed star, but Betsy Ross suggested
five-pointed star, SO the flag has a
five-pointed star.
There were then thirteen states. so
they decided to have thirteen stars
and stripes. They were going to add
star and stripe for every new state,
but saw it would make too many
stripes, so they just added star for
state.
The red of the flag is for bravery.
the blue is the star from heaven and
the white is purity.
The flag has fought in the revolu-
tionary war. the civil war, the Span
lsh-American war and the Mexican
war. Today the flag has gone to
Europe to do its part in the European
war.
Hannah Blanche Miller. age II.
Falrvew school, Eldon, Iowa
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-10-19

Mays brother laughed well. IL
you see any more you just head them
this way" he said. "I'll sit right here
and be ready to welcome them when
they come"
! 81 will, too" laughed May. Send the
Opportunities for Poor Girls to me-"
[ "Oh, there aren's any for Poor
Girls" said the Girl-"unless they
have talents like you; and she went
/ sadly away down the street.
BY this time she had given up
speaking to people about the things
| she saw, but as she walked along she
grew more and more Disguised at PEG.
pies stupidity.
There was the Man, for instance,
who was wandering up and down, look.
, ing for guide-posts in the road to Sue
cess; and there in his own empty little
shop Success was waiting for him.
Others would get near enough to Op-
portunity to look her over. even to talk
about her timidly behind her back;
but they were never quite sure enough
to seize her before she was gone
town-the Girl and the brown. bent
figure beside her-and half the time
the Girl was exclaiming over the won
derful number of Opportunities that
she saw, and the other half over the
blindness of the people to whom they
| belonged.
Its queer you haven't found one
for yourself yet, you who can see,''
said her companion at last.
oh" said the Girl, I've been look
ing all my life. you know. For others,
there are plenty, but not for me"
Have you looked everywhere?
ask the Old Woman. in a queer voice.
Suddenly the Girl turned, and for the
first time since she had worn the
magic spectacles she looked carefully
at the figure beside her; and there,
hidden under the old brown cloak of
Every Day and the wrinkled mask of
Homely Labor. she suddenly recogniz-
ed the shining face and form of the
most glorious Opportunity of all-the
Opportunity TO do wonderful service
for her country: and crowded beneath
the cloak there were growing up OPP
portunities to travel. and to learn. and
to earn money. and to give what is bet
ter than Nancy.
Even as she recognized this and
flung her arms about the smiling fig.
ure the other people came running up.
What a greedy girl.' they cried.
She has taken for herself the only
Opportunity that there is anywhere
about"
The Girl only smiled as she held out
the magic spectacles toward them.
1.-THE world is full of Opportunities,
she said. There are some for all Of
you; but you must learn to look under
the cloak and the mask
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-10-19
Katherine Shank-"M J
Visit To Uncle Fred's."

Dear JunlOrS.
AS have not written for some time.
about my visit to Uncle Fred's and
Aunt Agnes
They are both married and live in
the same home.
Aunt Agnes and her husband and
little baby have part Of the house and
Uncle Fred and Aunt Ethel the rest.
On Friday morning September % we
started north. it being 8. O'Clock, and
arrived at Dewitt at s in the evening.
northeast to Davenport and then north.
We went in papa's car and it is a
Ford too.
There were six Of us, papa, mamma,
my sister Elizabeth. Uncle Irwin and
Grandma Shank. We took our dinners
and ate along the road.
We saw a beautiful country. fine
crops. lots Of cattle and hogs. We girls
saw many things which we shall al
ways remember, but best of all was
getting to see our relations, and that
sweet baby. They call her lola.
We stayed until Sunday morning,
coming back the same way we went
1t did rot seem nearly SO far. but the
wind nearly blew us out of the car. We
ate our dinner picnic fashion. Just this
side of Muscatine we saw fields Of
sweet potatoes, peppers, melons ana
cabbage. Grandma bought some sweet
potatoes.
We got home Sunday night at s
o'clock and went right to bed. We girls
had to go to school next day. We like
our teacher fine. His name is Carol
Kerfoot. She took the whole school to
the county institute.
Well have written enough for this
time
Katherine Shank. age 10.
Ottumwa, Ia, r. No. :.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-10-19
HER GRANDFATHER.

Dear Junior:
! thought | would write about nv
grandpa. Edgar X Spears.
Grandpa was born June 8, 1s47. in
Canterbury, East Kent, England.
At the age of years he came with
his mother and brother to America
and first lived in Albany, N. Y. From
there they removed to Oakland county.
Michigan. At the age Of IS he enlisted
in the Union army. and after three
years service he came to Iowa, first
locating in Winnishiek county.
Here, in 1878. he was married to
Miss Martha knowler. To them were
born nine children, five daughters and
four sons, al lof whom are living.
He enlisted January 6. 1865. at the
age of 1s years, in Company B, 18th
regiment. and was transferred to Com.
pany B. 2Sth regiment, u. S. A., in
which he completed his three years
service.
He died at his home near Delta on
Thursday. July 2. 1903. and IL he had
lived he would be 70 years old
Cstell Mcbride, age IL,
Z. l. Agency, Ia
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-10-19
Thelma Hildebrand- An In.
teresting School Com
position, Coffee.
Dear Juniors

Dear Juniors:
will send school composition on
coffee. Coffee is grown in South Amer
lea. 1t is grown in Venezuela, Colon.
bia and Brazil. The latter raises two
thirds of the worlds supply.
The coffee plant grows in warm
countries. The plant grows to a
height of IA feet to IS feet, but when
cultivated it is pruned to 6 or 8 feet
A beautiful red berry which contains
the coffee beans grows on the coffee
tree.
When the coffee bean is gothered
the pulp and the inner and outer skins
which surround it is separated from
the bean. The plant needs high, we'll
drained and rich soil.
Santos is the principle coffee port Of
South America. Coffee is shipped from
Santos to the northern hemisphere.
The United States uses. more cot.
fee than any other country.
Thelma Hildebrand, age 10,
1913 W. Main St.. Ottumwa, Iowa.