davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1917-12-17
Soldiers Demand Closer
Confinement for Ex.Czar

LONDON. Dec. tG.-A dispatch from
Reuters Petrograd correspondent says
that on Saturday. at about the same
time rs Il was reported that former
Emperor Nicholas had escaped, meet
mo OF the Ismailovsky and Petrograd-
skv regiments was passing resolu-
tion demanding the immediate re-
moval OF the former ruler with Alice
and family" 20 Kronstadt or to the ST.
Peter and st. Paul fortress for strict
confinement. q.
The meetings Of almost all units OF
tho Petrograd garrison have sided with
the Peoples Commissioner and the
soldiers and Workmen's Delegates
against the Constituent Assembly in
the form originally intended. Three
Cossack regiments quartered IN Pc
trograd have offered TO send detacn-
ments against General Kaledine. .
The newspaper "lsviestIa," organ OF
tne Soldiers and Workmen's Delegates,
says that the MsXimalists, Socialists
and Socialist Revolutionarles OF the
Right must be classed with the Right
parties and the counter-revolutlonarles:
After the election of members OF
;he Constituent Assembly from Tsurlda
Palace by armed sailors attempts 10
NEE, there have been abandoned The
Bolshevik Red Guards broke up
meeting for the defence OF the Con-
sti,uent Assembly and made forty ar
rests. Uproarious scenes in the peas
ants congress have followed clashes
between the supporters and opponents
of the Constituent Assembly.
The destruction of wine stores in
Petrograd continues, accompanied by
orgies and shooting,
New-York tribune., 1917-12-17
Says Whimpering Over
War Will Be Silenced
Fretting Gladdens German
Hearts, Newspaper Man
Tells Bronx Audience

Louis Wiley. business manager OF
"The New York Times" enumerated
some of the achievements Of the Unit
ed States since entering the war yes
terdav in The Bronx Open Forum. in
Morris High School, 166th Street and
Boston Road. and expressed the opin-
ion that sedition and "whimperers"
would be silenced.
"The land and sea force OF the Unit
ed States now exceeds 100000 men,,
he said "But no war can be success
fully fought without two armies, each
dependent upon the other. Behind
these men in srms there is another
army even greater in numbers, equally
we'll organized and disciplined-an
army Of men of service creating the
supplies of every kind, which the army
at the front must receive in steady
stream of great volume.
I'VE have been disturbed and an
gered by the disloyalty of certain
newspapers, some Of them printed In
foreign languages, which have dis
graced journalism. They have abused
the privileges OF the country which
welcomed them. They have endeav-
ored TO sow sedition and treason
among their readers. The Administra-
tion at Washington, however, is fully
capable Of coping with the situation.
Looking OF as spectators Of every
great enterprise, there are always a
lot Of whimperers. IL is so in the
present war. and their fretting is prob
ably gladdening the hearts of German
officials. The abundance of the sup
plies Of fuel and food and munitions
surpasses every precedent. More coal
has been produced this year than ever
before. The output is hundreds Of
thousands Of tons above the previous
maximum production. The value OF
farm products this year is s2l 900 ,000,-
600. Many crops have beaten the rec
ord In quantity, but the food admins
traitor has not been able to make it go
around.
"In spite of the faults of distribu-
tion, which appear TO be due 10 the
fact that railroad facilities have not
kept pace with the increase of bust
ness. the railroads have carried a
greater tonnage OF fuel and food
freight than ever before in their his
tory"
New-York tribune., 1917-12-17
me Great War-1234th Day
French Shatter
German Thrusts
In Champagne
Efforts of Foe to Gain In
formation Prove Un-
successful

LONDON. Dec. 16-The Crown
Prince continued yesterday his futile
attacks and reconnoitring thrusts along
the French front, from north OF the
tisne 20 the heights Of the Meuse. The
Paris War Office reports to-day the
repulse Of assaults south OF st. Quen-
tin. north OF the Chcmin-des-Dames
and east Of Corniliev, IN the Cham
pagnc. the most likely point for Ger
man offensive. In this latter region
the Germans have been hammering az
the enemy's lines for some time, put
without success. That their CHIEF oo-
iect in all these local operations Is the
gathering Of information is further re-
vealed by the stress laid in Luden-
dorf's communiques upon the humoef
of prisoners taken. ..~.ooL
Meanwhile, patrol engagement tooh
plsce on the Cambria and fpres lroh's'
BIZ means of which the British sue,
ceeded in pettering their positions eas'
OF Ovion, and the Germans near noehei-
hoek Castle. east of Ypres. BRUSH
thrusts at Monchy and Bullecourt, IN
the angle where recently the Germans
failed in their effort TO break through
broke down under the enemy's hre,
Berlin reports. while German assaults
south OF Armentieres and west OF
Villers- Guislain brought no better sue
cess. An increase of artillery fire north
of Langemarck, in Belgium, is noted ny
the British War Office.
French hiers were active again yes
terday, bringing TO earth Ave hostile
planes. in addition TO three accounted
for i'm the two preceding days
New-York tribune., 1917-12-17

on THE LOWER PIAVE RIVER,
NORTHERN ITALY, Dec. 15.-Count-
less square miles OF desolate marsh
land. intercepted and cut into number
less islands by sluggish lagoons and
land inundated to the depth of several
feet. line after line of stationary bat
teries Of guns OF from three TO fifteen
inches in calibre and deep. muddy
trenches filled with men determined
that the enemy shall not advance any
further-such are the impressive and
apparently wellnigh unsssailable de-
fences OF Venice.
The character OF the warfare all
along the lower Piave line. and par
ticularly the methods employed to de-
fend the Queen Of the Seas" from the
Austro- German invasion, undoubtedly
are unique even in this war of novel
ties. Nature has placed barrier in
the path Of the invader apparently
more insurmountable even than the
mountains which the enemy has fought
his way across, and these natural OBJ
stacles have been fortified rs probably
has no other place in Europe.
Floating Fortresses
Human ingenuity has outdone itself
TO provide floating fortresses armed
with huge guns which, camoufaged and
concealed cunningly from spying air
planes. can slip from point TO point
never offering mark for the invaders
and yet always able to lombard the
enemy as he attempts nightly to build
pontoon bridges across the River Piave.
Skilled engineers have ferreted out
every bit OF solid mainland in the vast
swampy area north of Venice. where
batteries. large and small, according to
the distance from the Austrian lines,
have been established. They never
relax their vigilance in watching for
the enemy. The same engineers have
cut away the dikes that formerly con-
trolled the water to irrigate the fertile
Italian plains. creating a vast lake.
The inundation has made a thousand
peasants .homeless. but it presents an
almost insurmountable barrier to the
Austrian artillery from its scores Of
vantage points and illustrates every at
tempt OF the Austrians to steal across
unnoticed. Finally. in addition to the
foremost infantry lines In the inun-
dated section, big and little batteries
are scattered everywhere and floating
monitors constantly are on patrol.
Foe Unable to BOmbard Venice
Thus far the enemy has been pre-
vented from bringing his big guns up
to "A position from which he might
lombard Venice.
The trip through the defence system
Of Venice and along the lower Piaye
which the correspondent. though ac-
credited only to the French armies. was
able TO make through the courtesy bf
the italian naval and military authori
ties. began at Venice. from which city
a speedy naval motor boat ploughed its
way at sunrise into the confusing maze
Of canals that interesect the vast
marshlsnd area TO the north. The
grumbling Of the big guns, corstantly
growing louder. could be heard in
Venice. where it sounded like thunder
Virtually all signs Of life were left
New-York tribune., 1917-12-17
First Wounded
American on Way
Home to Mother
Aubrey Mcleod, of Boston,
Had Both Legs Cut OFF
in Hospital Raid

The first American soldier wounded
in France. Aubrey Mcleod, Of Boston,
is on his way home, happy In the
thought Of returning TO his mothers
cooking and firm in his belief that his
government can still find use for him,
although the German bomber who at
tackled the hospital where he was sta
toned blew of both his legs.
Trench and Camp" published to-day
under the auspices Of the Young Mems
Christian Association in twenty-six
csntonments, contains an interview
with Mcleod. He counts himself lucky
that he wasn't born a Frenchman. an
Englishman-or a German.
Saw He Was Wounded
81 had been on guard" he said, in
brisk, matter-of fact tones. Somebody
relieved me, and | lay down for some
sleep. / heard commotion and jumped
to my feet. Two bombs went off, and
l knew it was an air raid. Then a
third exploded very near me. Another
man in my unit began yelling Help
me.' and | saw that he was wounded.
Then / looked down and saw that my
right leg was cut almost in two. |
didn't feel a bit of pain, but | began
yelling, too, just like the other fellow
was doing. | remember the colonel ran
in and held me up until two men came
with a stretcher.
"NeXt thing | knew was when | woke
up the following day. | remembered
about my right leg dangling as if ready
to drop off. | reached down and found
that il was gone. Then | reached for
my left leg. 1t was gone, too.
Argued with Nurse
81 called for my nurse, and | remem-
Der that ! had a long argument with
her before | sank off to sleep again. |
told her that she had promised they
wouldn't amputate my leg, and here
they had amputated both Of them.
There was no heart.breaking realiSa-
tion that | was cripple Tor life. | was
too full of morphine for that.
"And now I'm going home. ! want
the kind of food my mother knows how
TO cook. When they get me pretty we'll
patched up I'm going TO find something
else | can do for the government
don't know what il will be. but I've got
two good arms and ! know something
will turn up"
New-York tribune., 1917-12-17
First High French
. Officer Killed in Italy

WITH THE FRENCH ARMIES IN
NORTHERN ITALY, Saturday. Dec. Is.
Colonel Ferreol Francois Bel was the
first high French officer to fall in Italy
lie was buried this morning in tiny
village at the foot Of Monte Tomba.
close behind the front, where he was
killed by a she'll while inspecting the
line.
The funeral of Colonel Bel was at
tended by Genera! Favolle Duchene
d'Infreville. ,of the Chasseurs, and
British and Italian officers from ada
cent regiments. A German airplane
that was flying over the scene at the
time Of the burial was put TO flight.
For two years prior TO taking over the
command OF n Chasseur regiment in
Italy Colonel Bel was on the head
quarters staff of Marshal Joffre.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-17
Four More Villages
Taken by British
In Palestine Drive
Allenby Extends Line Mile
and Half Between Je-
rusalem and Jaffa

LONDON, Dee 16.-General Allenby's s
troops IN Palestine, continuing their
operations against the shattered Turk
ish forces northwest of Jerusalem,
pushed forward their line TO a depth
Of a mile and half yesterday, on a
fve-mile froEt between the Holy City
and Jafa, It's port. -four villages and
the ridge overlooking the town of FL
Tireh were occupied. the British COM
mander reported tonight.
The statement says:
General Allenby reports that on
December 10 his left centre, northeast
of Ludd t25 miles northwest Of Jer-
usalem). advanced on a five-mile front
to a maximum depth Of about one and
one-half miles, without meeting much
opposition. Kissiah, Khibanneh. Khel,
Bornat and the ridge overlooking Ell
Tireh were occupied.
"Our airplanes dropped ffty-six
bombs on motorboats and sheds and on
troops az the mouth Of the Jordan with
good effect. obtaining twenty-four hits"
New-York tribune., 1917-12-17
u. S. Forces Learn to
Shatter "Pill Boxes"
Isolated Forts Like Those of
the Germans Constructed
for Practice

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE. Dec. 16.-lntensive training
i'm the science of attacking "pill boxes"
has begun at one of the largest train
ing grounds. Numerous concrete
structures identical with those used
by the Germans have been erected, and
the troops arc being taught how the
British take them.
The system of attack involves auto.
matte rife fire from number of
points into the slots. sufficient num-
Der Of rides being used from various
points to assure continuous stream
of bullets entering every slot from
each direction from which the pill
boxn is attacked. Under this fire
bombers crawl to the "pill box and
the firing ceases. The bombers then
quickly hurl grenades inside the
minute forts. This system, IL faith
fully carried out, seldom fails to bring
about the capitulstion of the largest
of the "pill boxes"
General Pershing in general orders
issued to-Hay proclaimed Christmas
and New Years Day holidays. The
orders said that no work is to be per-
formed on the two holidays that is
not absolutely essential.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-17
Deaths Among
Our Troops Abroad

WASHINGTON Dec. 16.-General
Pershinr reported the following deaths
from natural causes:
WOLFE. Herbert j., bugler, headquar-
ters troops, December II, scarlet
fever. septicamia; father, Morris
Wolfe, Roxbury, Mass.
MINKLER, Clarence NJ, private, field
hospital. December IL. scarlet fever,
nephritis. acute; next Of kin, Ira b.
Minkler. Proctor, VT.
SCHENKMAN, George. private IN
fantry, December ID, tuberculosis,
chronic, pulmonary; mother, Mrs.
Yetta Schenkman, New York City.
Rugler Herbert j. Wolf was an artist,
and had a studio in New York City
when he enlisted as cavalrymsn. His
father, Morris Wolf, is police IN
,nector in Boston.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-17
Urges Dutch to Block
Belgian Relief Work

WASHINGTON. Dec. 16.-The former
Dutch Minister Collin suggests in an
article appearing in "Stemmen des
Tiids." a magazine of standing in the
Netherlands, that the Dutch Govern
ment prevent American relief work
i'm Belgium if this country does not
permit the expectation of foodstufs TO
the Netherlands. The article reads as
follows:
"The Belgian Relief Commission Is
poweriess without the assistance of the
Netherlands. And we should make use
of this fact in case we cannot take
care Of our interests by other means.
While food IL lacking in our counAry,
while the Dutch people are starving
and demonstrations are leading TO
riots. We cannot afford 20 forward the
grail. unlosded at Flushing or Rot
terdam TO Belgium. and tell our own
people: Go back TO your homesn He
does not know much OF the psychology
Of the Dutch people who think such
procedure possible.
"For these. IL for no other practical
reasons, the government will be forced
10 refuse any help TO the Belgian Re
lief Committee in case we are no.
allowed the necessaries of life.
"That Is certainly not fine policy.
hut II Is n matter Of self-defence. We
may. 1t must be admitted, employ these
means only after all other attempts Of
reaching an agreement have failed. We
are not yet confronted with the ncees-
sity of taking such drastic action. We
may. for instance, offer a part Of our
ships retained in America for service
in waters outside the danger zones as
a matter of compensation for the per.
mission 10 obtain what we need. Also
we may. together with other neutrals.
offer the tonnage needed by the (Bel.
gian) relief committee. After all these
proposals we're rejected we should act
in self-defence. Then even the most
extreme measures sfe permissible"
New-York tribune., 1917-12-17
Teutons Take MT. Caprille,
Dominating Head Of Pass;
Italians InAict Big Losses


HEADQUARTERS OF THE ITALIAN
ARMY ~ NORTHERN ITALY, Satur-
dav. Dec. 15.-After a heavy sacrifice
Of men and five days of continuous
fighting, me enemy has succeeded IN
making another slight advance, bring
ing his position up TO Caprille Hill,
just east - the Brcnta River. This
represents an advance of about three
quarters of q mile. its chief importance
being that Caprille is one of the dom
mating heights at rhe head Of San
Lorenzo Valley, leading southwark TO
the plains toward which the enemy is
persistehtly eNerting all his pressure.
As his CHIEF effort the previous week
was to gain command of the passes
west Of the Rrenta River, so all his
attention in the past week has been
given to the passes on the east bank.
The fightiag during the past five days
has been heavy and Mt times desperate
for control Of strategic positions.
The struggle yesterday and to-day
took on a double aspect, with the ltal-
ians attacking on the right OF Mount
Pertica, occupied by the enemy, while
the Austrians concentrated their at
tacks on the left, around Mount Beret-
ia and its neighboring hill, Caprille.
The Alpinii again distinguished them
selves in charges up the slopes of Per-
tca in an effort to redeem the hill,
but, while all reports agree that heaps
Of enemy dead marked the course of
the Alpiri assaults. they were unable
10 maintain their position at the sum-
nit, exposed to the sweep of enemy
batteries.
Austrian attacks on the left were
n l. /. L.. 1,.~ b
2 large addition of fresh troops, .he
Austtians got to the summit of Caprillo
while the Italian lines were CORES
ponding!y drawn back. Although Ca
/ prille is at the head of San Lorenzo
Valley. the passage along this valley is
controlled by the heights on both sides
/ held by the Italians.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-17
Official Statements
West
BRITISH

LONDON, Dec. 16 (DAY)-We captured
few prisoners and machine gun during
the night in patrol encounters south or
Cambria.
(NIGHT) During the night a hostile
party attacked one OF our posts west OF
Villers Guislain but was driven OIL by ouF
Are. To-day an enemy bombing attack
northwest of La Vscquerie was repulsed
after sharp fighting.
We improved our position slightly last
night east Of Ovion. An enemy attempt at
a raid early this morning south or Armen-
there's was successfully repused.
The artillery was active on both sides to-
day at a number OF points south OF the
Scarpe. There was increased hostile activity
north OF LanRemhrck.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-17
Teutons Renew
Italian Assault
Despite Losses
Austrians Storm Several
Positions South of
Col Caprille
Alpini Bar the Way
Powerful Forces of Defenders
Ready to Contest Every
Inch of Ground
Alpini Bar the Way

LONDON. Dec. 1G.-ln spite OF the
crushing losses sustained by the Aus
tro-Germans in the last four days OF
their offensive on the Northern Ital-
ian front, they are continuing without
cessation ;heir efforts TO smash through
the mountain barriers into the Ven
ctian plans. To-day, following up the
attack which broke the backbone Of
the Italian resistance on Col Caprille,
between the Brenta and Paye rivers
the Austriars took by storm several
enemy positions TO the south Of that
height, tna Perrin War Office reports
tonight.
These new successes Of the invaders
have rendered the Italian lines east OF
the Brenta far less stable than their de-
fences on the Asiago Plateau and along
the lower Piave, though there is no in
Gication that there is immediate danger
OF the enemy breaking through to the
plains. Caprille Hill is dominating
height at the head of the San Lorenzo
Valley, which leads directly to the
Venetian lowlands.
Alpini Bar Way to Below
By massing men in empowering
"
extend mis- froht in this region con-
siderable distance, but in the San Lo-
renzo Valley and along the slopes on
either side Of il, powerful forces oil
Alpini bar the way TO the plains, pre-
pared TO exact heavy toll for every
inch of ground wrested from them. -,
Already the losses by which the
AuStro-Gcrmans have paid for their
proporticnately slender gains have
Ec-n terrific, and if continued Tor
many days must begin to eat into the
eight divisions Of reserves behind the
fighting line. While Germany has been
able to release thousands of fresh
troops from the Russian front recently,
she can i'll afford TO suffer heavy casu-
alties on the Italian front at time
when HindeRburg is preparing to
throw all his strength into a crushing
blow against France.
Austrians Need Men, Too
The Austrians still less can stand
such biz losses as they have sustained
in the last week of fighting, as Aus
trian man power now is down 10 little
over 200, 900 men, few hundred thou
sand Of whom Will be needed by Hin
denburg il he hopes to carry out his
extensively advertised campaign in the
West before Americas weight is thrown
into the balance.
There are strong indications that
from now on the Italians and their al
lies will be exposed TO the most deadly
artillery fire Of the whole offensive, as
the Teutons have finally got into line
their heaviest guns. Parts of the
French section Of the line were eX-
posed Friday to the most severe bonn
bardment they had experienced since
they took their place beside the ltal-
ians. The mammoth German cannon
and trench mortars threw tons OF high
explosives miles beyond the Piave.
bombardng one town, Crocetta, with
l00 shells of large calibre.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-17
FRENCH

PARIS. Dec. Is (DAY)-Between the
Aisns and the Oise rivers there was great
actiyity by the artillery on both sides. We
repulsed an enemy attack north OF the
Chernin- n-des-Dames.
In the Champagne the Germans last night
attempted TO attack our positions cast OF
Coruillet. but were repulsed by our fire.
There was lively artillery activity on the
RIGHT bank OF the Meuse. notably in the sec
tor of Chambrettes.
Aviation-Our chaser airplanes displayed
great activity on the day OF December 10.
bringing down Ave enemy machines III mas
been confirmed that three other German air-
planes were smashed on the ground as the
result of engagements which took place on
December T. and December IA. -,
tNIGHTD There was intermittent artil-
lery action over the greater part OF the
front. quite violent north OF Caures Wood
An enemy raid last night on our trenches
south of St Quentin completely failed.
Eastern Theatre. Dec. 15.-The artillery
was moderately active along the whole front.
Il was quite lively north Of Monastir. Thirty
Allied airplanes bombarded storehouses and
the railway station nc Chestovo, eighteen
kilometres northwest Of Doran. An enemy
airplane was brought down BY our artillery.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-17

Rev. !. !. Stillemans, director or
the Belgian Relief Bureau, yesterday
"for tho sake ci bcirg able 10 declare
them crrone4s and to claim victorious
Iy. though illogically, that all other
accusatiors are 20 he Judged untrue
since. In this particular case, no PROOF
rs forthcoming ,.-..-;.,.
professovs of Louvair University
md other " tnesses 20 atrocities nave
bocr and are i'm the United States, Mr'
Stillemars said. hut were AFRAID 10
tell whst they had seen lest the Ger,
mans max, reprissls upon friends ana
,cIstivcs who we're still. in Belgium
New-York tribune., 1917-12-17
To Count Soldier Vote
Election Of 20 officials Hang
on Result Tomorrow

The polls will open to-morrow morn.
ing for the canvass Of the ohieisl var
ballots. The votes Of New York Cfyt
soldiers and sailors will not aheet any
important office, but the seats OF rofe
than twenty aldermen and Assembly,
men hang on the war ballots Ia
Brooklyn. where the vote Is 50 eless
in eight aldermanic and seven Assem-
bly, districts, the ballots OF the men N
service may also determine one hsh'e''
pal judgeship.
In Manhattan five aldermen. ana one
Assemblyman, who now are eleetec On
the present returns, may be asies'sl
by the soldier and sailor vote. one AZ
dermanic district in The Bronx aiso
hangs in the balance. and there ls a
slight possibility OF The Bronx n,. sntls.
valty being determined By tomorrow
count.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-17
War Profits Boost German
Fortunes 81, 1,250,0OO, 900

COPENHAGEN. Nov. i6.-Pri"ate
fortunes in Germany increased more
than 81 $50 O,O00,0O within the last
three years, according to information
received here. This enormous gain,
due cheAy to war profits, will be
greatly enhanced when the profits Of
the last year are added.
A law now in effect prohibits the
transfer OF fortunes to foreign coun-
tries without the knowledge OF the
tax authorities. 1t also obligates cor
porstions 10 place so per cent OF their
war profits in a reserve fund.