davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
ROOSEVELT TO VISIT WASHINGTON SOON
Will Co to Capital to See if He Can
 Speed Up War Programme

Oyster Bay, December 2S.-Within the next month or six weeks. it be- came known today. Col Theodore Roosevelt will go on to Washington for visit at the home of his daughter Mrs. Nicholas Longworth. It will be a purely private visit He will attend no public functions and will make no speech or statement of any kind.
 Colonel Roosevelt, it is understood desires to consult with certain mem bers of the Senate and House about speeding up the war and doing every. thing possible to make this country s work for war more efficient. He also is desirous of having introduced as a permanent governmental policy, some such plan of military training as that provided in Senator Chamberlain's bill,
 The visit is made In consequence of the request of Senator Shoot and Con greSsman Madden.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
Women Nurses Are to Be Employed on Naval
 Hospital Ships First Time

Washington, December 2S.-Women nurses are to be employed on naval hospital ships in this war for the first time in American naval history. It became known today that they will be assigned to two ships soon to be ready for service the Comfort. formerly the Ward liner Havana, and the Mercy, formerly the Saratoga, of the sane line.
 Both liners lave been compIets.y ..e- modelled and fitted with acc ,mmoda : tions for SC0 patients each. There viii le special quarters for the women nurses. Much of the refittins of tho vessels is modelled upon the plans of tile new maya, hospital ship now build :. ing and which naval officers regard as the last word in scientific arrange ments for caring for the sick and wounded.
 Surgeon c. Holcomb, now assist ant to Surgeon General Braistel. will command the Comfort. and Medical Inspector Norman J. Blackwood, no V iu chars 0 of the hospital ship Solace, will Fave charge of the Mercy
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
German Submarine Sent Down By Gunfire From
 American Passenger Ship
Naval Gunners and Others on Board Liner Make This Report on Arrival in England They Claim Convoy Sgnalled That Direct Hit Was Scored When Enemy Craft
 Came to View

London, December 28-A German submarine sunk by the fire of of American steamer approaching the British Thursday according reports of the sengers and gunners aboard.
 The ship proceeding full speed about in smooth The weather conditions such make the best visibility periscope sighted by the watch the bridge and the submarine plainly by the the surface distance of about 1900 yards directly in the wake of the ship.
 The brought about sharply and the fired with shell debris flying the Afterwd of the submarine visible.
 The signalled to the liner: "A direct hit" bridge confirm this torpedo quickly that who the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
NO INFANTRY FIGHTING

Rome, December 2S.-Active patrollina and aerial operations took place yester- day but there was no renewal of in- fantry fighting on a large scale Fol- lowing Is today's report from army head quarters:
 Tn the Giudicarie and Lagarina val leys enemy patrols were driven back Or the Asiago plateau to the west of Ca. novodi Zotto, one of our companies surrounded the garrison of an enemy advanced post, capturing an officer, 2 men and much war material. Betweer Cesuna and Canova our patrols raideo the enemy line, bringing back an off cer and 36 men,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
Summary of the News
GENERAL NEWS

GENERAL NEWS 1-Raiiroads go under govern ment control without formality. German submarine reported sunk by guns of American liner. Three of Pershing's men reported killed.
 British make another advance in Palestine.
 German pence feeIers will not change attitude of allies. Coal mines to come next, fs opinion In Washington. No additional draft calls to he made now. 2-Packing inquiry is bringing out squeeze methods of big business. 3-Many Alabama enlisted men to be made officers.
 Lo& Al. NEWS 5-War emergency food agency is placed here by Government. Two women are murdered at home i'm Kimberly. Bnnkhead highway committee meets here.
 Flour and sugar advertisements In papers barred. 7-Many different opinions on cause of coal shortages.
 t'r;.Aa LES 4-EditOrinl comment. 6-Society and Dolly Dalrymple. 0-Slarkets.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
CAMP COMMANDERS TELL COMMIT TEE ABOUT CONDITIONS Overerowding and Lack of Winter Clothing Cause
 of Illness DONIPHAN AND BOWIE WERE WORST OF ALL Creole and Wright Show How Training Has Been
 Delayed for Want of
 Equipment

Washington, December 2S. Disease epidemics and clothing and equipment shortages at Camp Bowie, Tex, and Camp .Doniphan, Okla., were de- scribed to the Senate military committee by the respective commanders o fthose national guard cantonments, Major Generals Creole and Wright.
 Both officers said the epidemics at their posts now were under control and that adequate supplies of over coats had been received, but they gave dismal pictures of earlier conditions. They told, too, of enormous shortages of rifles, machine guns and other equipment still existing. Food has been plentiful, they said, and of good quality.
 General Greble's story showed condi. tions at Camp Bowie to have been the worst He declared the lives of many men who recently died there would have been saved If winter clothing, sufficient tents to avoid overcrowding and proper hospital facilities and sanitation had been provided. He told how the war depart ment ordered F men housed in each tent. where, he said, they were "so thick IT,
 THOUSANDS TAKEN ILL
 During November, General Creole said 5000 men, or about one-third of his command. passed through the hospital, with deaths from pneumonia. measles and other diseases averaging ls daily. crowded into a hospital built to accom- modate S00 and that without a sewer age system.
 In September the general said he pro- tested against crowding F men into a tent, and gave warning that sickness would result Before more tents arrived the epidemic broke out. Now, however. he added. there are only 800 men on the sick list.
 SHORTAGE GIVEN
 Shortages in equipment al Camp Bowie on December 23 were given by General Creole as follows: Rifles 5S per cent; bayonets. 65 per cent; prsrols S6 per cent; cartridge belts, 5s per cent; automatic rifles, & per cent; three-incn guns, SS per cent; artillery ammunition. 90 per cent The command has no machine guns, Trench mortars, live grenades six-inch howitzers and one-inch cannon.
 This shortage delays training Gen. eral Creole said, but he added that the handicap was not serious
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
NO ADDITIONAL DRAFT CALLS ID BE MADE NOW
 Local Boards Instructed to Continue Filling Vacan- cies Caused by Rejec- tions at Camp

Washington, December 2S-Provost Marshal General Crowder has notified state governors that there will be nc more formal calls for deferred percent ages of the present quota of national army men before February 15 All mer who have been called but whose order numbers are so low they are not actual ly in camp, will get the benefit of the new classification.
 Boards have been instructed, however to continue sending men to make up de- f1ciencies in the quota caused by rejec- ton of men already in the service until they have enough men finally placed in the first class. They were notified also to expect very shortly calls for men skilled in special lines of work.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
FRENCH ATTITUDE

Paris, Thursday, December 27-FrancS will not accept a peace based on condi- tions before the war, Foreign Minister Pichon declared in replying in the Cham- Der of Deputies today to the peace terms of the central powers outlined to Rus- sia. He asserted that Germany was en- deavoring to involve France in Its ne- gotiations with the Bolsheviki. but that the was would go on whether or not Rus sia made separate peace.
 The foreign minister said Germany was seeking to protract the negotiations with the Russians, re-establishing conamer- cial relations in the meantime believing that in this way the Bolsheviki might be eheckmated later
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
FRENCH REPORT

Paris, December 2S.--Artillery fight ing continued during the night on the Verdun front near Caurieres wood where the Germans made an unsuc- cessful attack on Wednesday, the war office reports. There also was heavy shelling in Lorraine. The communica- ton follows:
 During the night there were ar tillery actions in the region of Cau- rieres wood and in Lorraine, in the sector of yeho, where the pombardment became very severe late in the night. In Upper Alsace Frnch patrol brought back prisoners. There is noth- ing to report from the remainder of the frontn
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29

With the American Army in France Thursday, December N.-(By the Asso- ciated Press s.)-Under orders received from general headquarters, divisional commanders of the American forces to- day issued orders suspending temporarily Paris leave for all officers and men. No explanation was given.
 Washington, December 8.-The Amer ican army at home and in France is rapidly developing liberty feet on which to march to victory.
 Under the hard work of military train ing, soldiers feet are expanding in length and width and some part of General Pershing's forces will do their work in Nos 13 and IA shoes instead of the old maximum F now of the regular. At his recommendation these two new. big sizes have been added to the quartermas- ter's stock.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
Bradford Changed Plea

L.aconia, N. H., December 2S. Morris P. Bradford, who shot and killed Miss Alice B. Richards and wounded two other teachers at the New Hampshire School for the Predetermined, on June 2S, today pleaded guilty to first degree murder and was sentenced to prison for life He had previously pleaded not guilty by req son of insanity and his trial was set to begin next Monday.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
Minister, His Wife and Son Killed When Train
 Crashes Into Automobile

Fort Worth. Tex. December 2s.-Dr. A. l.. Andrews pastor of the First Methodist church of this city, his wife and son William were killed instant ly late today when an automobile Tn which they were coming to Fort Worth. crashed into the Sunshine Spe- cial nthe Missouri Pacific railroad at crossing near Dalworth. The car was demolished
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
PEACE 4FEELER" PUT OUT BY GE ERMANS WILL NOT CHANGE ATTITUDE OF ALLIES Lloyd George and French Foreign Minister Take
 Firm Stand ACHIEVEMENT OF AIMS MUST COME FIRST TO PRESERVE FREEDOM English Working Men Go on Record as Opposing
 Terms Made in
 Berlin
FIRST GUN IN BIG
 PEACE CAMPAIGN

London, December 2S.-That the Russia are only the opening gun in an elaborate peace campaign by the central powers is the belief here. It is likely that the next step by Ger many, according to well informed London opinion, will be a direct pro- posal to the allies, either though the vatican or a neutral power.
 Neither in London nor Paris is there a disposition to deride the Ger man offer as spurious On the other hand, 1t is regarded as serious step by the Teutonic group, which regards an early peace as the suress and perhaps the only method of avoiding disaster.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
JOHN BARTON PAYNE
 MAY BE LEGAL ADVISER

Thus far the director general has made no plans for a staff, although |, is considered likely that one of his legal assistants will be John Barton Payne of Chicago. now legal adviser to chairman Hurley of the shipping board. He asked the war board to- day fo, complete chart of its organi xalion, which was furnished tonight.
 In drafting into service the war board organization, the director gen. eral takes over the services of all the boards committees including the op- Srating committee of eastern rail roads. headed by A. w. Thompson ot the Baltimore and Ohio. He obtains rle services as well of the boards car service commission. which now Is as- sisting the interstate commerce com mission in distributing cars.
 Pooling of railroad equipment, already started by the war board, will be carried much further under government opera ton. Common use especially will bs made of terminal facilities and MT. Me- AduO asked the war board today for a special report on terminal facilities and the extent to which they may be pooled. s NON ESSENTIALS WILL
 BE DENIED ALL RIGHTS
 An carly measure to relieve congestion 1t was intimated tonight. will be de- nial of transportation to non-essential x commodities Tr&ffic that is considered
 (Continued on Page Two)
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29

London, December 2S.-Pre- mier Lloyd George, in a letter which he sent today to the spe cial national labor conference, declared:
 Achievement of the pur- poses for which the allies are fighting is essential to the flu ture freedom and peace of man. kind"
 The premier also asserted that a statement on war aims could be made only in agreement with Great Britain's allies. The question of issu- ing fresh joint declaration, he added, was being constantly kept in view by the entente allied governments. The premier's statement is regarded as the British reply to the German peace offer.
 The labor conference was conJ
 vened here today by the parIfa- mentary committee of the Trades Union Congress and the executfve committee of the labor party in the central hall at westminster to consider "memorandum on war
 aims.. A pronunciamento was adopted with a virtually unanimous show of hands, declaring that In
 continuing the war labor is aetu- ated by a determination to make the world safe for democracy
 hereafter. No sympathy was ex-
 pressed in the text of the state
 ment with attempts to convert
 the war into one of conquest, but 1t said restitution and reparatfon
 and also certain territorial read
 justments are necessary if the re- newal of armaments and war is to r be avoided.
 The conference was attended by z50 delegates and was expected to place on record an expression of opinion from British labor on the s-
 war aims of this country. It's adoption of the memorandum is
 considered especially significant in view of the peace negotiations be- tween Germany and Russia. The statement placed at the forefront demand for the res toration and rehabilitation of BeI-
 gium at the expense of Germany. It also dealt with Alsace- Lorraine.
 Italy, the Balkans, Poland. Turkey
 and German African colonies on lines similar to those suggested in
 earlier documents an these sub-
 jects.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
TRoTzKY PREPARING NOTE

Petrograd. Thursday, December 27. (6:so D. m.)-The delegates of the central powers to the peace conference at Brest- Litovsk have agreed to 10-day receas in the peace negotiations which win be resumed January {. at place not yst determined
 Leon Trotzky. the Bolshevik foreign minister, is reported to be drafting nov note to the entente allied enabaasien again asking them to participate in th2 peace conference. B
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
HOOVER WAS NOT ON HAND WHEN CALLED ID TESTIFY Senate Committee Then Wires Food Administra- tor to Appear on Next
 Wednesday

Washington. December 2S. - Food Administrators Hoover, now in New York, was requested by telegraph to- fore the Senate committee investigate ing the sugnr situation. The telegram was sent by Chairman Reed after the committee had considered in executive session whether subpoena should be issued for the food administrator, who had been advised last Saturday that the committee expected to hear him to- day.
 Last week MT. Hoover made several futile attempts to get hearing be- fore the committee it was said he was delaying an important business trip to New York. Since then his statement on the sugar situation has been made public by the White House, and when the committee met this morning there was a letter from counsel for the food administration saying the administra- tor had been called to New York and would be there several days.
 REED EXPLAINS
 In announcing the telegraphic re- quest Senator Reed referred to criti- cisms of the conduct of the hearing and said that the witnesses examined list furnished by the food administra- ton. So far. he said, two witnesses had been heard favoring the admin istration and one opposing 1t.
 With no other sugar witnesses available the committee again took up the coal investigation with w B. Col yer of the federal trade commission continuing as witness. He disagreed with the statement of Fuel Admin istrator Garfield that there is short age Of coal, saying there is plenty of it and the trouble Is it cannot be trans ported.
 REEDS VIEW WRONG
 Senator Reed tried to develop from the witness that miners were making such high wages that they could earn enough in four days a week to sup ply their needs and declined to work six. MT. Colver said he did not be- lieve that to be generally the case and gave inability to get coal cars as the reason for curtailed labor questions.
 l.. A. Snead, in charge of distributing coal for the fuel administration. said
 
 that one-third of the coal difficulty was due to hoarding of psyche logical shortage" He said 1t operated like a run on bank, that there would be enough money if withdrawn gradually but shortage if every de- positor wanted his money on one day.
 PRIORITY ORDERS
 Evils growing out of too many prior. ity orders for the movement of freight. Mir. Snead thought had been mitigated by the present plan of hay ing the priority board pass on all re- quests for priority
 Snead said coal was the last freight generally moved now by the railroads and gave transportation improvement as the only solution of the problem. He said that within POO miles of sec tions of Ohio where people are suffer ing 500.000 tons have been tied up by the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad. the officials of which maintain their connecting lines at Cincinnati cannot take 1t over.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
ITALIAN ATTACKS FAIL

Berlin, December 2S.-(via London ) Throughout the day there was in creased artillery firing on the Asiago plateau. and tAe Tomba Ridge (north- ern front).' says today's official report from the Italian front
 London, December 2s.-The repulse ot Italian attacks west of Asolone and eas Iof Monte Solarolo, on the northert front, is reported in an official Austrian stateniFat received Here today.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
PERSHING'S REPORT

Washington, December 2S.-The names of the American engineers killed and slightly wounded in action on December g, were reported by General Pershing today as follows:
 Killed:
 Coporal Russell w. Sprague Middle. town, N. Y.
 Slightly wounded:
 Corporal Charles G. Hewett, Rockland, Maine.
 General Pershing also reported five deaths from natural causes, none of them southern men.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
WOMEN EMPLOYED IN U. $. & F. RAILROAD
 SHOPS IN MONROE
They Are Cleaning Coaches, Wipine Engines and Working in the
 StockrOOm

Monroe, La. December 2S.--Be- bor, women nre being employed to perform some of the lighter tasks i'm the yicksburg, Shreveport and Pacific railroad shops here, officials of the company announced tonight. The women are cleaning coaches, wiping engines and work ing in their stock room.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29

With the American Army in France, Thursday, December N.-(By the Asso- ciated Press.)-For three days snow has American zone, interfering with the training of troops and with communi- cations. No serious difficulty has been experienced thus far in supplying the troops in the outlying towns and dis tricts, but 1t is feared that the supply problem will give trouble if the storm continues.
 Motor trucks today were crawling over the hilly roads at snairs pace because of the drifts and density of the snow. Numerous accidents were reported and the weather was so cold that many cars were frozen and could not be moved
 The troops of newly landed division, composed of former national guardsmen, tonight reached the towns in which they are to be billeted temporarily after marching for two days through the storm Notwithstanding the severe weather, their experience seemed to have done them more good than harm, for the men are rapidly becoming hardened. Former guardsmen of another division carried on their work in spite of the storm, enga ging in bayonet, grenade and automatic rifle practice without inter- ruption.
 been quite uncomfortable in the last few days, but they are becoming accustomed to the cold and snow.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
Another Splendid Victory Reported From Troops
 in Palestine
GERMANS CONTINUE
 TO HAMMER FRENCH
 FRONT AT VERDUN
Austrians Claim to Have Repulsed Italians in Fighting West of Asolone-Patrols
 Are Active

London, December 2S.-The British troops in Palestine have repulsed n Turkish attack north and northwest of Jerusalem and made an advance of about two and a half miles on a front of nine miles along the Turkish right flank, says an official communication issued today.
 The Turks suffered severe losses in the repuse, which came after the Brit ish pfclxets had been driven in.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
LaFOllette Expelled
 From Madison Club for Disloyal Stand

Madison, Wis.,. December 2s. United states Senator LaFoalette was expelled from membership in the Madison club tonight because of Aunpatrtotic conduct and xgly- ing aid and comfort to the enemy"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
Noted Doctor Dies

K Baltimore, December 8 pr. Charles w. Mitchell, noted specialist in childrens s diseases, and a member of the faculty of the University of Maryland. died of pneumonia today. He was born in Bal- timore 59 years ago and was a classmate of President Wilson at Princeton uni- versity.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
Three of Pershing's
 Men Reported Killed
Corporal of Engineers Victim of Bursting Shell and Tws Prvates in Rear Camp Fall When Aviator Drops
 Bombs During a Moonlight Raid

corporal of An
  shell dropped party of the working the front with of instruction. ; American night two in a in wood fewlo bombs
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
U-Boats Reported Captured

Boston, December 2s.-Four German submarines were captured recently by 12 American destroyers, according to an American seaman who reached his home her from French port tonight. The seaman, former Boston newspaper man, was aboard troop ship at the French port recently, he said, when the destroy CTS, all flying the Stars and Stripes
 steamed in with their prizes The sub mersibles were lying upon the surface of the ocean. with their coming towers open, recharging their batteries. when
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
Rye Names Fentress

Nashville, December 2S.--Gov. Tom c. Rye today announced the appoint ment of Francis Fentress, Jr.. of Mem phis. chancellor of the part ?, Shelby county chancery court, to be supreme judge, vice A. s. Buchanan, whose res igna,ion becomes effective January l.,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
Consulate Is Burned

Washington. December 2.--Destruction of the American consulate at San Jose, Costa Rica, by fire today, is announced in state department dispatches. The fire swept an entire block.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29

the American destroyers swept down upon them and took them prisoner with out 8 fight.
 While the transport was still at a French port, the seaman said. German U-boat entered the harbor with a white flag flying from her periseope. The en- emy crew explained that they had been lying in wait for the troop ship in the open sea, and that when they failed to find her and the supplies ran low. the crew mutined. killed the commander and decided to surrender.