davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Mena weekly star., 1917-05-10
FRUIT CROP HIT BY
 BIC HAIL STORM
Damage to Fields and Orchards of State Estimated at S150,OO0-Ben- ton and Washington Counties
 Suffer the Most.
From The Arkansas Gazette.


 Damage aggregating many thousands of dollars, probably in ex- cess of Si50000, was done by a se- were hail storm and rain which were general turnout the western half of Arkansas yesterday lThursday) and last night. The loss to berry grow .ers and orchardists will be especial ly heavy, in some places reaching 100 per cent of the crop in large .areas where the harvest was well under way, with excellent prospects. Apples, peaches, grapes, cherries and other crops were severely damaged, and gardens in many places were ruined.
 The heaviest loss, it is believed, was suffered in northwest Arkan- sas. especially in Benton and north Washington counties, where some of the most extensive berry fields and orchards are located. At Springdale and Tontitown, in this section, it is estimated that the loss will amount to more than Sl00,000, The berry output will be greatly curtailed, and other fruit suffered severely. Corn and grain crops also suffered.
 Storms occurred in many locali- ties. Bentonyille, Rogers and Springdale, in north Arkansas, re- port heavy damage. Ozark, Altus, in T'faf,t |. Johnson county, also report hard hailstorms, and at Philadelphia, in Ozark county, hail of an unusual size fell Apparently there was lit- tie wind with the storm, and no fa- talities or serious injuries are re- ported Damage was chiefly to the growing crops and fruit trees Lightning destroyed a barn and 70 tons of hay near Bentonville.
The Mena weekly star., 1917-05-10
WINTER WHEAT IN
 1. A POOR CONDITION
Based on Forecast of Department of Agriculture Crop Will Re Short est Since I90i-Similar Conhi-
 ton in 1912.

Washington, May S.-In the face .of a threatened world food shortage the American winter wheat crop shows the lowest condition recorded since 1888 and promised a smaller yield than any other since 1904,
 Agricultural conditions otherwise are good, the department announced, and it recalled that, altho the winter wheat crop of 1912 showed an equal ly discouraging outlook, the total production of crops that year was the greatest on record.
 The winter wheat crop, planted last autumn on one of the largest acreages ever sown to that grain but which met disaster in several im- poriant producing states from se- were winter conditions, now prom ises a harvest of 366, 6,li6000 bushels this year That quantity was fore cast today by Inc Department of Ag- riculture which based it's estimate on the condition of the crop May as reported by the thousands of agents thruout the grain belt A month ago a crop of 43G00000C bushels Was forecast. Production last year was iSl,7it000 bushels anc in 1915 it was 673,9i1000 bushels.
The Mena weekly star., 1917-05-10
HAIG'S METERS
 STEADILY CLOSING
Only Matter of Few Days Until the German Defenses Protecting Lens Are Rolled Up--Germans Real
 ize Their Peril.

According to the Associated Press report made Tuesday, the great hu- man nippers which General Haig has forged around the southern end of the Drocourt- -Queant switch line, are steadily closing and the rolling up of this important section of the German defenses appears to be a matter of a few days. The Dro- court-Queant line is the hastily improvised barrier thrown up by Field Marshal yon Hindenburg to protect Cambrai and Douai after the more famous line, named in honor of himself, had been smashed by the British.
 The bitter resistance offered by the Germans to the British advance has centered in their defense of Bullcourt two and a half miles west of Queant To the south the British nave forged well beyond Queant but have been forced to mark time until Bullecourt falls. The capture of the village was entrusted to the Australians and these hard fighting colonials have almost surrounded the German stronghold, so that its Nsurrender or extinction is expected momentarily
 The Drucourt-Q -Queant line forms a broad salient in the British front, iS miles al it's top and paralleling the Douai- -Camria line. Drocourt is sew en miles from Douai and Queant is about 70 miles from Cambria. The crushing in of this salient will mean that the German grip on the great Lens coal region will be broken and the entire German line in northern France imperielled
 There are many signs that the Germans realize the menace to them in alternate sledge hammer blows of the British and French, beneath which their choicest troops are be- ing driven from position after posi- tion
The Mena weekly star., 1917-05-10
Swing Toward Better Times Polk County Her People
ASK TEXAS FOR A MILLION.
Army Officer Says That Amount Is
 Needed for Border Protection.

Austin, Tex, May 5.-When the Texas Senate convened today, Sen ator Johnson had read a telegram from Brig.-Gen. John A. Hulen, of the Texas National Guard, who is in Washington, D. C., conveying the in- formation that is not only advisable, but necessary that the legislature pass the bill providing for an appro- priation of sl 100000 for border pro- lection A favorable committee re- port was made by the Senate Fi- nance committee on the Hudspeth bill carrying an appropriation of Sl,- 000Q00 for increasing the state ranger force
The Mena weekly star., 1917-05-10
WASHINGTON SEES
 REAL WAR ALARM
Returning Arkansans Tell of Fears That Russia Will Make Separate Peace With Germany-United
 States Troops tO Europe.

Little Rock, May 7-People resid- ing in Arkansas have no idea of the gravity of the war situation accord ing to all Little Rock citizens who have recently returned from Wash ington. Those who have made the trip, and talked with government officials, are now taking the lead in the preparedness and defense cam paigns
 Tn Washington they are making preparations for a war of several years duration,N states Dr. Nor gan smith, and for actual partiei- patton on the battle line. The pre- parations that have been made by the different departments is as- founding, and every detail has been looked after. Arkansas is going to be called upon to do it's share, and am convinced that it will not be found wanting
 Another who recently returned intimated that government officials are shaky about Russia's attitude, and fear that a separate peace will be made with Germany, which will release 2,500,000 Germans for fight ing on the Western front. In such an emergency, troops from the Unit ed States in great numbers must be sent to France. This man also ex- pressed the opinion that within six weeks orders will be issued for a force of at least 100000 men to be sent to the front, and the impress sion was that these would be volu- teers. largely oflicered by regular army men, and the pick from the officers reserve corps, which will be completing training about the time they will be ordered to sail The further training of the troops will take place in France
The Mena weekly star., 1917-05-10
GERMAN U-BOAT
 SINKS ]. s. SHIP
Steamer Rockingham, With Many Americans on Board, Is Victim of Submarine Mar-Thirleen Men
 in One Boat Are Missing.

London, May 2.-The American steamer Rockingham has been sunk by a German submarine.
 Two boats containing thirty-thrce men were picked up yesterday, one by patrol vessel. One boat con- taining i3 men is missing.
 The Rockingham was of {, ,l08' tons gross. She was built at Camden, N. Jy in 1902 and was owned by the Garland Steamship Corporation. She left Baltimore April l9 for Liver pool under command of Captain Charles Edwards of Brooklyn. She carried i9 men, including many Americans The crew numbered thirty-siX and the naval contingent consisted of lieutenant and l2 men The value of the ship and her general cargo was S3,250,00O. The vessel was due in Liverpool today.
The Mena weekly star., 1917-05-10
AMERICAN SHIPS
 SUPPLY U-DOATS
Carried Provisions to German Sub marines in the Atlantic While Flying U. $. Flag-Detained
 at St. Thomas, N l.

Washington, May S.-The govern ment is investigating the activities of the steamer Manitowoc and other vessels of the American Trans-At- lantic Company, which are said to have carried supplies to German submarines in the Atlantic This was discovered at the Navy Depart ment Tuesday, but no details of the steps taken were gwen out
 Cause of Suspicion Secret.
 The American Transatlantic Company has offices in New York and Boston and it's ships fly the American flag. Officials here will not say what had aroused their sus- picions, but admitted that the ships had been held for investigation at St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. Both the State and Justice Departments have been taking part in the inyes- tigation.
The Mena weekly star., 1917-05-10
MOVE OF U. $. TRIPS GERMANY
Realizes That Our ConscriptiOn Law
 Upsets It's Plans.

Kansas CiE. May 7.--Passage of the selectiye conscription law in this country was one of the greatest blows that could have been struck against the morale of Germany and her armies, former Ambassador j. w. Gerard told the City Club here He added that he was convinced America would have been the next victim of a victorious or unwhipped Germany if this country had not en- tered the lists against her.
 No German expected the United States to adopt conscription, the former American ambassador said.
 Neither revolution nor starvation will defeat Germany. She will De beaten only by open war.
The Mena weekly star., 1917-05-10
CHILE HAS BROKEN
 WITH GERMANY
Action Taken Despite Vigorous Ef- forts to Prevent st--BPazil, Nor way and China Seem About
 to Enter the Struggle.

New York, May i- Chile has been added to the nations that have sey- cred diplomatic relations, according to a Central News dispatch from Amsterdam received here by way of London last night. The dispatch says that Germany made every eff fort to prevent the break and it con- tains an intimation that the mem bers of the Chilean legation will not be allowed to leave Germany be- cause of the displeasure of Berlin officials over the action of the Chil- can minister in demanding his pass ports.
 Brazil has taken one more step preliminary to declaring war on Germany, and it is possible that Norway and China soon may be add ed to the eVer-increasing list of na- tions that have found the Prussian mailed fist impossible to tolerate.
 Brazil Acts Vigorously.
 In Brazil, Dr. Lauro Muller, min ster of foreign affairs, has resigned just as the Brazilian congress is to meet to decide whether the nation shall declare war on Germany. Dr. Muller. who is of German descent, always has opposed declaring war lon Germany. It is believed that the direct cause of his action was an or der issued by President Braz, order ing that the dismissed German min- ister be held in Brazil. This is in retaliation for the action of the Ger man government in refusing to give the Brazilian minister permission to leave Germany.
 Norway Bitter Toward Germany.
 Dispatches indicate that Norway, embittered by the enormous losses to her shipping, is considering the advisability of making war on Ger many. Before the war Norway ranked fourth among the nations in shipping. Now her shipping is ac- Iually threatened with eXtermina- tion as a result of the ruthless sub marine war. Newspapers of that country say that Norway could be in no worse plight were she at war and that if she joins the entente all lies. she might be able to force Ger many 10 pay for the destroyed ships af the close of the war.
 Reports from China say that advo- cates of war are in a majority at pekin, but apparently the president still is unwilling to take the final step.
The Mena weekly star., 1917-05-10
Reorganize to Meet U-Boat Menace

London, May 2.-Important reor- ganizations of the staff and methods of the admiralty will shortly be put into effect for the purpose of meet ing the submarine menace, accord ing to the Daily Mail. The changes are being planned by Premier Lloyd George, in collaboration with Sir Edward Carson and the war cabinet.
 An examination of the adminis- trative machinery with which the admiralty has been fighting subma- rines in the past is said by the Mail to have convinced the premier that "a change is desirable. The paper specifics two departments in which important changes are contemplat- ed, namely, the admiralty inven- tions board, of which Lord Fisher is chairman, and the department in control of sea traffic.
The Mena weekly star., 1917-05-10
KILLS TWO; SHOOTS SELF.
Dakota Farm Hand Stays Parents of
 Girl He Would Attack.

Dickinson, N. D., May 2.-James Caldwell, principal in the U. c. R. identity mystery case, and his wife, were murdered last night by their hired man, who then shot himself. The killing at the Caldwell home. near Taylor, \. D., followed an att tempt by the hired man to attack Caldwell's daughter.
 The story of the shooting was told by the girl Caldwell successfully defended himself in a suit brought by "J. C. R. known as the man of mystery who laid claim to prop erty held by Caldwell J. C. R" was picked up at Waseca, Minn, and first brought his claims to notice when in an asylum for the insane.
 Mike Shumet, the hired man, is not expected to live. The bullet passed thru his lungs.
The Mena weekly star., 1917-05-10

ALL MUST REGISTER.
Officers of State, However. Will Not
 Be Drafted.

Little Rock May 4.--In response to a telegram from Governor Brough regarding the subject, Secretary of Var Baker wired as follows:
 No one is exempt from registra- tlon. The legislative, executive and judicial officers of the state are cx- empt from draft. The matter of ex- emptlon of city officials has not yet definitely been determined. As the blll now stands they are not exempt from draft unless the President should decide to exempt them under the authority vested in him. Ne groes are to be registered under this law and kept in separate class.
The Mena weekly star., 1917-05-10
TO TAKE UP REFORMS.
Reichstag Committee Gets to Re-
 distrieting.

diStFieting.
 Copenhagen, May 8.-The reich stag committee on constitutional re- form will take up this week, the question of redistrictng. The ceu- trists, national liberals, and radical socialists. who carried the previous reforms over the opposition of the conservatives, will according to a Berlin dispatch, vote for a general redlstricting of the empire.
 A population of 100000 is favored as the basis for reichstag district The proposals, long among the chief demands of the liberals and radicals are a blow at conservative influence, as the present districtmg, dating from the foundation of the empire, favors the country sections at the expense of the municipalities and industrial regions.
 The committees proposals in re- gard to officers strike at the root of an important source of the emper- or's power At present all appoint ments in the army and navy and even the higher civil lists are in the hands of the responsible heads of the emperor's military and civil cabinets
The Mena weekly star., 1917-05-10
HAS WAY ID TRAP THE SEA WOLVES"
Edison Has Work Il Out Plans the Naval Consulting Board Believes Will End the Submarine Menace
 --GiVes No Details.

New York, May Civilian L. Saunders, chairman of the naval consulting board, announced yester- day that the board had forwarded to the government at Washington a plan for aggressive operation against submarines, which, in the opinion of the board. would soon but an end to the submarine menace. He add ed that companion plan for the de- slruction of German establishments on land in which the board had con- tidence had also been sent to Wash mpfOn
The Mena weekly star., 1917-05-10
BIG SNOW IN TEXAS PANHANDLE
Eight and 0ne-EIaIf Inches Reported
 at Amarillo.

Dallas, Tex, May 7-Rain, which turned Co snow at several points in the Texas Panhandle, fell Saturday night and Sunday over the greater section of North and West Texas, and, according to agriculturists, was of great benefit to the growing wheat crop, which was reported suffering from lack of moisture in some sec tions
 Amarillo reported eight and one half inches of snow, which bore many trees in full leaf to the ground by its weight. Consid- erable snow also fell at plamview and other sections of the plains country.
The Mena weekly star., 1917-05-10
Villa Is Believed to Be Near Border

Fl paso, May 6.-Franciseo Villa with his main command is believed to be within fifty miles of the Amer ican border, southeast of Juarez, according to secret service agents.
 Reports received here from the border declare Villas command has been seen on the Calderon ranch 50 miles southwest of Fabens, Tex and an equal distance from Juarez Villa himself is believed to command this body of troops.
The Mena weekly star., 1917-05-10
THIEF DUG UP SEED POTATOES
Milwaukee Gardeners Work on Two
 Lots Was in Vain.

Milwaukee, May 7.--Ever since the President requested every citizen of fhe country to help in conserving inc food interests of the United states. n certain resident of West Allis has worked hard blowing and planting two lots on Fifty-hrst ave- me with seed potatoes. The crop was all planted few days ago. The fallowing morning. however, every notalo seed that he had planted, was dug up.
The Mena weekly star., 1917-05-10
JEWS AGAIN PERsECUTED.
Turks Drive Entire Population Of
 Jaffa Out to StaPve.

New York, May 7.-Ihe enIire Jewish population of Jaifa, Pales- tine. about 5000 men, women and children of many nationalities, were forced by the Turks, on April 1, to evacuate their home and flee from the city, according to cable gram received here today by the provisional executive committee Tor general Zionists affairs.
 The roads leading from Jaffa were fhronged with starving people, some dying by the roadside, and mutli- ated bodies of rich Jews were found on the sand dunes, the message sala'
The Mena weekly star., 1917-05-10
NO REASON TO WAIT.
Socialist Paper Says Chancellor
 should Name War Aims.

Amsterdam, May S. In referring to the Russian governments ex- planation of it's war aims, the Berlin socialist paper, Yorwaerts, insists that Chancellor Von Bethmann-Holl- veg has no reason to postpone de- mite statement of Germany's aims In the war and asks what the chan cellor is waiting for.
 If a frank, bold statement IS made in the sense of the Russian peace formula" iL says, Russia, Germany and Austria-Hungary VIII stand together.n
 How long will America, which IS pacillst at heart: how long will Brlt- ain and France. resist this propa- ganda, especially as their popula- lions are suffering terribly
 Nc Lust of Conquest?
 ~is it true--as we suppose-that We are not driven by lust of con quest? If so the decisive moment has come"
 In the Vossische Zeitung George ibernhard demands that the chancei- TOT make perfectly clear to RussIa what Germany wants. He warns agalnst annexations in the east winch would only bring us an east efn Alsace-Lorraine. Only with hussla herself can we negotiate re- gardlng the future formation of our eastern frontiers. England's alms are not ours and what must be opl ol the question regarding the west may appear to us, regarding Russia as mere political precaution. For lliis reason we must clearly and de- ilhitely show that Russia is comma 10 an understanding with us, need hot expect any loss of territory Dul oh tho contrary. flnanciai reeoh- sFnetlon and economic strcnetheh- ing
The Mena weekly star., 1917-05-10
fI7 WELL SHOOTER AND PAL DIE.
Two Were Blown to Pieces by 80
 Quarts of Nitroglycerine.

Okmulgee, Ok, May 7.--Andrew Lemons. an oil we'll shooter and Fred Baker, oil field worker, of Ok mulgee. were blown to pieces early this morning when eighty quarts or |nitroglyeerine, which they were talk ing to the Bald Hill field, exploded
 A jolt tos their automobile as 1t ran upon a bridge approach, Is be- lieved to have caused the explosion The bridge and automobile were de- m0lished
The Mena weekly star., 1917-05-10
MORE BOMBS IN LONDON
One Man Killed and Woman Injured
 by Hostile AirpIane.

London, May TIA hostile air plane dropped four bombs north west of London this morning, it IS officially announced.
 The statement reads:
 Tn the early hours this morning hostile airplane appeared over the outskirts of Northeast London and dropped four bombs. One man was killed and a man and woman in- iured. Slight damage was done to buildings"
The Mena weekly star., 1917-05-10
WILL USE WOMEN CONDUCTORS
\ Pennsylvania Transit Company Is
 Ready Co Put Them on.

Bioomsburg, Pa, May 6.-Faeing a labor scarcity and realizing con- seriplion will further deplete their force, the North Branch Transit Company, operating electric lines between Bloomsburg, Berwick, cata- wissa and Danville, is advertising for women to be used as extra con- dnctops
The Mena weekly star., 1917-05-10
KEEP FIGHTING, SLAMS TOLD.
Soldiers Warned Against Having
 Relations With Germans.

petrograd, May 5--General. Alex if. comnlander-i -in-chief of the Rus sian armies, has arrived on the Riga front. An order of the day, issued by General Zrussiloff, warns the soldiers against having relations with the enemy. It says:
 "The enemy is seeking to estab- fish such relations and taking ad- vantage of this to gain information of Russian defensive organization.
The Mena weekly star., 1917-05-10
Proved by Tests.

Mr. Saunders said that the meas ures proposed had not been matters of speculation, but had been tested and proved by fifteen sub-commit- tees of the naval consulting board, who had been working on them at Atlantic coast points and elsewhere for three months
 The most important immediate step proposed, said Mr. Saunders, was the closing of the north end of the North Sea, so that submarines could not get thru into the Atlantic Ocean and this could be done, he insisted, by the employment of sey- era new inventions in conjunction with the naval forces of the United States What the new inventions were Mir. Saunders said he could not reveal, but he admitted that they in volved ar extensive use of electric fly and had been perfected largely thru the genius of Thomas A. Edi- aDp
The Mena weekly star., 1917-05-10
BIG LOAN COMING FAST.
Si72, ,9S3,O0O Subscribed Saturday to
 Liberty Loan"

Washington, May 5.-At the rate of s28,830,60O an hour, or sis0,50S per minute, the rank and file of America are paying for Americas part in the war to establish worlds democracy
 Secretary McAdoo tonight issued a statement giving the total suhscrip- tions to the Liberty Loan" Tor the day at Sir, ,983.000.
The Mena weekly star., 1917-05-10
THE AMERICAN NAVY
 WONDERFULLY EQUIPPED

French Admiral Amazed on InSpec- tion of BattleshipS and Destroyers
 Expects Great Things of Navy.
 Washington, May 2.-vice Admiral Cocheprat, of the French Commis- sion, today said the United States Navy is wonderfully equipped and we have every hope for close cooperation between the allied and American navies.'
 Cocheprat said: T really felt amazed when chanced to see re- gently some of your navy's units among them the batleship Pennsyl- yania and those trim looking de- stroyers that came out to meet us at sea. There is no need to praise your nayy's personnel, l am sure the American navy is ready to sup port in a most advantageous fash ion the cause of the allies
The Mena weekly star., 1917-05-10
IN HURRy TO ENLIST.
Gov. Brough Will Make Commence
 ment Address at |. R. College.

Little Rock, May 7.-Gov, C. H.. Brough will deliver the commence ment address for the Little Rock College on Monday night This commencement was advanced two weeks because so many of the sen- ior class had determined to enlist in the Army and Navy, and were unwilling to wait longer to receive their diplomas.
The Mena weekly star., 1917-05-10
April Ship Losses Big.

Christina, Norway, May 2.--Sev- enty-five Norwegian vessels were sunk by German submarines in April and more than 100 sailors lost their lives.
The Mena weekly star., 1917-05-10
NEGRO COTTON GROWERS LOSE.
Former Slaves Fail to Collect for
 Labor in Supreme Court Suit.

Washington, May 7-Ihe supreme court yesterday dismissed suit brought by former slaves and their heirs to collect S6s,072, ,38s from the government for labor upon crops in the south from 1857 to 1868. The money was collected as internal revenue on cotton.
 The claim was made that the money was due for work performed while in a state of voluntary servi- tude.