davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Connecticut western news., 1917-07-19

We learned more the first week of our
actual training i'll England than we
did from November to April i'll Cana
da. l make this statement without
fear that any officer or man Of the
Canadian forces alive today will dis
agree with me, and submit it for the
thoughtful consideration of the gen
tlemen who believe that our own
armies can be prepared for service
here at home.
In this war every man has got to be
a specialist. He's got to know one
thing better than anybody else except
those who have had intensive instruc-
ton In the same branch. And, besides
that, he's got to have effective general
knowledge of all the specialties i'll
which his fellow soldiers have been
particularly trained. I can illustrate
this. Immediately upon our return
from first leave in England we were
divided into sections for training in
eight specialties. They We're: Bombing,
sniping, scouting, machine gun fight
ing, signaling, trench mortar operation,
bayonet fighting and stretcher bearing.
l was selected for special training in
bombing, probably because l was sup
posed, as an American and q baseball
player to be expert in throwing. With
the other men picked for training in
the same speciality, 1 was sent to AL
dershot, apd there for three weeks,
twelve hours a day, 1 threw bombs,
studied bombs, read about bombs, took
bombs to pieces to see what made
them tick AID put them together again
and did practically everything else
that you could do with a bomb. except
eat it.
Then 1 was ordered back along with
the other men who had gained this
intimate acquaintance with the entire
bomb family, and we were put to work
| teaching the entire battalion all that
we had learned When we were not
teaching we were under instruction
ourselves by the men who had taken
special training in other branches.
Also at certain periods of the day we
had physical training and rifle pTac-
tice. Up to the time of our arrival in
ENGLAND intensive training had Leon
merely fine phrase with us During
our sta< there it was a definite ana
overpoWering fact. Day and night we
trained. and day and night it rained.
At 0 o'clock we TOIld fall into or
ounks IN huts which held from half
o whole platoon-from thirty to siX
Connecticut western news., 1917-07-19

all battles and tells OF the hell OF IL. THE
front In Belgium was really a rest sector
in comparison with H." he says. The ex-
tensive preparations OF the allies for open
warfare afterward abandoned because Of
the failure OF expected developments.
NO. s.-Wounded In Action, This article
describes the terrible fight, the dead and
dying the loss OF pal and the final fall
ing Of McClintock in No Mans Land. Sim
ply told. II Is one OF the most remarkable
descriptions OF a battle by participant
ever put together.
NO. 6.-Deeorated For Bravery; Home
and Uncle Sam. This concluding article ol
the series relates In detail how England
cares for the wounded. How the king and
queen came TO the bed OF an American
boy and decorated him In n London hos
pital for gallautry. Interesting, intimate
and amusing incidents told by and OF the
wounded Tommies, Trying 70 fight for
Uncle sam.
Connecticut western news., 1917-07-19

Official orders now tell every soldier
what he is TO do with his handker-
chief or piece of his shirt If he is.
caught in a gas attack without his
mask.
The nearest l can come in print to
telling you what the soldier is ordered
TO do in this emergency is to remind
you that ammonia fumes oppose chic
rinc gas as IA neutralizing agent and
that certain emanations of the body
throw off ammonia fumes.
Now that I've told you how we got
from the Knickerbocker bar and other
places to n situation which was just
100 yards from the intrenched front
of the German army in Belgium I
might rs well add n couple of details
about things which straightway put
fear Of God in our hearts. At day
break one of our Fourteenth platoon
men, standing on the firing step, push
ed back his trench helmet and remark,
Connecticut western news., 1917-07-19

T DON'T lay claim to being much Of
a writer, and up till now 1 have
never felt the call to write any
thing about my experiences with the
Canadian troops in Belgium and
France, because l have realized that
q great many other men saw quite as
much as 1 did and could beat me tell
ing about it. Of course believed that
my experience was worth relating, and
/ thought that the matter published in
the newspapers by professional writ
ers sort of missed the essentials and
lacked the spirit of the bitches" in
good many ways in spite of its excel
lent literary style, but didn't see any
reason why it was up to me to make
an effort as a war historian until now.
Now there is a reason, as I look at it.
! believe can show the two or three
millions of my fellow countrymen who
will be tout there before this war is
over what they are going to be up
against and what they ought to pre-
pare for personally and individually.
That is as far as I am going to go in
the way of excuse, explanation or COM
Connecticut western news., 1917-07-19
;"OVER THERE"
The Thrill and the He'll of
the Trenches, Described
by an American Boy.

Sergeant Alexander McClintock of Lex
ington, KY, and the Canadian Army Has
Gripping Tale That Every American Will
Read, For He Tells the Facts-Unadorn-
ed. Wounded, Distinguished Conduct
Medal Man, He Was Invalided Home,
but Is Going "Out There" Again to Fight
For Uncle Sam and His Allies. An In
spring, Interesting, Personal Narrative,
Full of the Spirit and Atmosphere of the
Trenches.
Connecticut western news., 1917-07-19
In the Front Trent hes.

We got into Poperinghe INT Z a. M,
and the scouts had led us into the
front trenches at 2 the next morning.
Our position was to the left of st. Eloi
and was known as ''the island" be.
cause it had no support OH either flank.
On the left were the User canal and
the bluff which forms its bank. On
the right were 300 yards of battered
down trenches, which had been rebuilt
twice and blown in again each time
by the German guns. For some rea-
son, which l never quite understood,
the Germans were able to drop what
seemed a tolerably large proportion of
the output of the Krupp works on this
particular spot whenever they wanted
to. Our high command had concluded
that it was untenable, and so we, on
one side of it, and the British, on the
other, had to just keep 1T secuted and
protect our separate TANKS. Another
name they had for that position was
the bird cage" That was because
the first fellows who moved into 1t
made themselves nice and comfy and
put up wire nettings to prevent any
one from tossing bombs in on them.
Thus, when the Germans stirred up
the spot with an accurate shower of
'whiz bangs" and coal boxes" the
same being thirteen Founders and six
inch shells, that wire netting presented
Il spectacle of utter inadequacv which
hasn't bean equalcd in this war
They called the position which we
were assigned to defend "the grave
yard of Canada" That was because
of the fearful losses of the Canadians
here in the second battle OF Ypres.
from April 81 to June 1, 1915, when
the first gas attack in the worlds his
Connecticut western news., 1917-07-19

Metagama. 4 British cruiser escorted
US until we were 400 miles off the coast
of Ireland. Then each ship picked up
meet her. At that time Il notice was
posted in the purSer's office informing
us that we were in the war zone and
that the ship would not stop for any
thing, even for man overheard. That
day a soldier fell off the Metagama
with 500 i'll his pocket, and the ship
never even hesitatcd. They leGx him
where he had no chance i'll the world
to spend his money.
Make a Break"
Through my training in the V. NJ.
l., was able to read semaphore sig
nails, and l caught the message from
the destroyer which escorted us. 1t
read:
Each ship for herself now. Make
breakr'
We beat the other steamers of our
convoy eight hours in getting to the
dock in Liverpool, and, according TO
what seemed to be the regular system
of our operations at that time, we
were the last to disembark.
The majority of our fellows had new
err been in England before, and they
looked on our travels at that time as
a fine lark. Everybody cheered and
laughed when they busted off one of
those little toy trains and brought it
up to take us away in it. After we
were aboard of it we proceeded at the
dizzy rate of about four miles an hour,
and our regular company humoriSt-
no company complete without one
suggested that they were afraid, If
they went any faster, they might run
off the island before they could stop.
We were taken to Bramshott camp, in
Hampshire, twelve miles from the
Aldershot school of command. The
next day we were given kings leave
eight days, with free transportation
anywhere In the British Isles. 1t is
the invariable custom to give this sort
of leave to all colonial troops immedi-
ately upon their arrival in England.
However, in our case Ireland was bar
red. Just at that time Ireland was no
place for a newly arrived Canadian
looking for sport.
After that they really began to make
soldiers of us. We thought our train
ing in Canada had an4ounted to some
thing. We found out that we might
as we'll have been playing croquct
Connecticut western news., 1917-07-19

ment, call it what you will. The rest
of my story is a simple relation of
facts and occurrences in the order in
which they came to my notice and hap
pened to me. It may start off little
slowly and jerkily, just as we did, not
knowing what was coming to US. I'd
like to add that it got quite hot enough
to suit me later several times. There
fore, as my effort is going to be to
carry lou right along with me m this
account of my experiences, don't be
Connecticut western news., 1917-07-19
Feb. IA, 1917.

Feb. IA 1917.
Sergeant Alexander McClntock served in the Eighty
Battalion Grenader guards from September 1915 until
November 1915 four months of that time at the front
in France where gained the Distinguished Conduct medal by
his devotion to duty and bravery under fire.
As his former commanding testify to his good
oual;ties and consider he would a valuable officer
(Signed) f. MElGhEN,
Brgader General Commanding Canadian Training Division,
Bramshott
Connecticut western news., 1917-07-19

ell that he thought Ii was about timf
for coffee. He didn't get any. \ Ge5
man sharpshooter, firing the first tune
that day, got him under. the rim OF his
helmet, and his career with the Cana
dian forces was over right there. And
then. Us the dawn broke, we made out
a big painted sign raised above the
German front trench. Ii read:
Connecticut western news., 1917-07-19

The Thrill and He'll of the Trenches De-
scribed by an American Boy

We have secured series of six articles by
Sergeant Alexander McClintock of Lexington,
KY, and the Canadian army. He has gripping
tale that every American will read, for he tells
the facts unadorned. Wounded, Distinguished
Conduct medal man, he was invalided home, but
is going over There" again to fight for Uncle
Sam and his allies
Connecticut western news., 1917-07-19
No.1. In Training
BY Sergeant Alexander MCCIintOck,
d. 6. NJ, S7th Overseas Bait,
Canadian Gren. Guards.
dictate, Inc.
FOREWORD.

Here is a literary product aollich is at
of simple realism II, the description, of
things soItich are difficult of ordinary
comprehension, and q hGndb0OE and
guide for every prospective soldier of
our armies.
Sergeant McClintocE has not 1oritten
stories about the AGAR. He has 1CiTttef
the aoGr itself, reducing 1T, one might
almost sag, to 10ords of one syllable,
yet bringing to the readers Uieto, clear
w and VivtdIy, the vGrtous aspects of
the great struggle, hidden to all eDcept
the man aoho Is actually part of 1t.
His contribution to the history of the
toGr must be clGssed as one tohich
shines aoitb q aee1o light.
1t Is fascinating i'm its simplicity, get
thrilling In Its convincing detail 1t
leads one, toitb evergrot0iiag and COM
peItt,,O interest, from q casual CONFER
cation IN q hotel In Ne,o York through
scenes of strife and blood and thrilling
conflict to the moment aohe1t the king
and queen of England came to the bed
side of q Kentucky youth i'm London
hospital to thank him IN the name of
their nation for his services in the
cause qohich zoe haze rsoao come to rec
ognize as that of aoorld humanity.
Sergeant McCJintock receiUed the Dis
tngutshed Conduct medal before EeaU-
ING England for home on lcqVe. He is
returning to accept q commission in the
Canadian -overseas forces The story Is
told IN McCItptocE's ot0H anGdOrned
pGg. '.@...
Connecticut western news., 1917-07-19
A Call For Volunteers.

On June 2, after the third battle Of
Ypres, while Mcfarland and 1 were
sitting YEARLY on our hunks during
a strange hour In the afternoon when
nobody had thought of anything for
us to do, a soldier came in with
message from headquarters which put
a sudden stop to the discussion we
were having about the possibility of
getting leave to go up to London. The
message was that the First, Second
and Third divisions of the Canadians
had lost 40 per cent of their men in the
third fight at Ypres and that 300 volun-
teers were wanted from each Of our
battalions to fill up the gaps.
Forty per cent" said Mcfarland.
getting up quickly. MY GOD, think OF
it! Well, I'm off to tell 'em I'll co.
1 told him was with him, and we
started for headquarters, expecting TO
be received with applause and pointed
out as heroic examples. We couldn't
even get up to give in our names. The
whole battalion had gone up ahead of
us. They heard about it first. That
was the spirit of the Canadians. 1t
was about this time that a story went
round concerning an English colonel
who had been called upon to furnish
volunteers from his outfit to replace
casualties. He backed his regiment up
against a barrack wall and said:
Now, all who don't want to volun-
teer step three PAGES to the rear"
In our battalion sergeants and even
officers offered to go as privates. Nc
Farland and / were not accepted; our
volunteers went at once, and. we were
REINFORCED up to strength by drafts
from the Fifth Canadian division.
which was then forming in England.
In July, when we were being kept
on the rifle ranges most of the time.
all leave was stopped, and we were
ordered to hold ourselves in readiness
to go overseas. In the latter part OF
the month we started. We sailed from
Southampton to Havre on Il big trans
port, escorted all the way by destroy
ers. AS we landed we got our first
sight of the harvest of war. A big hos
pital on the quay was filed with
wounded men. We had twenty-four
hours in what they called a rest
camp" We slept on cobblestones i'll
shacks which were so utterly comfort
less that it would be an insult to n
Kentucky thoroughbred to call them
stables. Then we were on the way to
the Belgian town of Poperinghe, which
is 80 miles from Havre and was at
that time the rail head of the Ypres
salient. We made the trip in box cars
which were marked in FrcI Oh, Eight
horses or forty men," and we had to
draw straws to decide whd should lie
down.
Connecticut western news., 1917-07-19

ty men-and drop into exhausted sleep,
only to turn out at Il. III. TO give a
sudden and exact imitation of what
we would do TO the Germans if they
sneaked up on us before breakfast in
six inches of mud. Toward the last.
when we thought we had been driven
to the limit they told us that we were
to have a period of real, intensive train
ing TO harden us for actual fighting.
They sent us four imperial drill SER
geantS from the British grenadier
guards, the senior foot regiment of the
British army and the one with which
we were affiliated.
1t would be quite unavailing for me
to attempt to describe these drill SER
geants. The British drill sergeant is
an institution which can be understood
only through personal and close con-
tact and is about as cordial as loose
electricity. If he thinks a major gen.
eral is wrong he'll tell him so on the
spot in the most emphatic way. but
without ever violating a single sacred
tradition of the service. The sergeantS
who took us in charge to put on the
real polish to our training had all seen
from twenty to twenty-five years of
service. They had all been through
the battles of Mons and the Marne
and they had all been wounded. They
were perfect examples of type. One
of them ordered all of our commission
ed officers, from the colonel down, to
turn out for rifle drill one day and put
IL
while the soldiers Of the battalion stood
around looking on.
Gentlemen" said he very politely
in the midst of the drill, when see
YOU handle your rifles 1 feel like fall
ing on my knees and thanking God
that we've got navy"
Connecticut western news., 1917-07-19
WELCOME,
EIGRTY-SEvENTH CANADIANS

We were n new battalion. We hadI
been less than seventy-two hours on
the continent OF Europe, and the Ger
mans were not supposed to know any
thing that was going on behind our
lines!
We learned afterward that concealed
telephones I'm the houses OF the Bel
gian burgomasters of the villages of
Dinkiebusch and Rennmghelst, near
our position. gave communication with
the German headquarters opposite us
One of the duties OF a detail of our
men soon after that was to stand theses
two burgomasters up against wall
and shoot them.
In concluding this first article want
to say frankly that any man who
claims he Is not afraid when for the
first time he goes into that hell of fire
on the western front is n liar, and I'll
tell him so to his face Later we be-
came impervious, but that first day
l prayed, and would have bent down \
and prayed only my knees shook so.
The five remaining articles in this
remarkable series will appear one each
week. They are as follows:
No. 2.-The Bomb Raid.
The great preparations and rehearslng
for this attack Volunteers for the Job
taken behind the line whore the German
trenches are exactly reproduced TheE
days OF preparation. Heretofore unwrit-
ten detail OF modern trench raids. This
article concludes with the men going out
TO their job. a.
No. 3-"over the Top and Give EN-
He'll"
The English Tommy's battle cry rs he 4
breaks from his trench. The bomb raid
and what happened. or sixty that start
ed forty-siN failed TO return because the
Germans had prepared and mined tho
trench. Graphic description or Sergeant
McClintock's terrible experience.
No. 4.-Shiftcd TO the somne.
Sergeant McClintock takes part In tire
greatest Of all battles and tells OF the
hell Of 1t. The front i'm Belgium was
really rest sector In comparison with
It," he says. The extensive preparations
Of the allies for open warfare afterward N
abandoned because OF tho failure OF ex-
pected developments.
No. 5.-Wounded In Action.
This article describes the terrible fight, s
the dead and dying, the loss OF n pal and n
the final falling OF McClintock in No
Mans Land Simply told, II is one OF the
most remarkable descriptions OF n BATTLE
by participant ever put together.
No. 6.-Decorated For Bravery; Home
and Uncle Sam.
This concluding article OF the series re-
lates In detail how England cares for thu
wounded. How the king and queen came,
to the bed of an American boy and dec
GRATED him in n London hospital for gall
lantry. Interesting, intimate and anus
ing incidents told by and of the wounded n
Tommies. Trying to fight for Uncle Sam.
Connecticut western news., 1917-07-19

We will print article each week for six weeks. Watch
for the first installment
Connecticut western news., 1917-07-19

The FIVE remaining articles I'm this
remarkable series will appear one each
week. They are as follows:
Connecticut western news., 1917-07-19

No. 4.-shiftcd to the somme.

Sergeant McClintock takes part in tire
greatest OF all battles and tells OF the'
hell Of It, rhe front in Belgium was
really rest sector In comparison with
It," he says The extensive preparations
OF the allies for open warfare afterward
abandoned because OF tho failure OF ex-
pected Developments
Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-05-28
THE UNIQUE representative OF
Elko will be out of town between May
% and June /. .m31
BESSINGER & COMPANY
HAS LOCAL AGENCY

| As recently announced in this paper
Bessinger & Company OF San Fran,
cisco has taken over the 'ide, wool
tallow and pelt business of the Elko
Hide & Junk company.
The new company has been in bust
ness in California for more than
thirty-seven years, and is Jne OF the
most widely known and reliable firms
in the west. They have been doing
business in Nevada for a number of
years with n branch house at Reno
under the management of Mr.. Julius
Schwartzchild, who is well known in
this community.
The local agency will be under the
management of Mr.. ]. Aver, who is
thoroughly familiar with all the de-
tails of the business. Highest cash
prices will be paid for hides, sheep
skins, wool, furs, etc. Mr.. Schwartz
child announces that this Is ma lie
possible through the cutting out OF the
middle mans profit, and bringing the
producer and the consumer directly
together
Bessinger & Company will not han
die junk. This part OF the business
was sold to B. Sutton, we'll known
local man.
The splendid reputation for fair
dealing that this company enjoys in
Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-05-28

serious outbreak OF scabbies In Hum
boldt and Elko counties OF this state
you are hereby notified that the In
spection and dipping Of all exposed OF
infected sheep necessary for the elm
nation OF said disease shall be under
the direct supervision Of Federal Au,
thority; DR.. Robert Dill. winnemucca.
Nevada. in charge
1t was further resolved: That a
lime and sulphur dip shall be used
for all dipping purposes, and all dip
pings must be under the supervision
OF Federal or State Inspector.
1t was further resolved: That all
sheep in the state shall be dipped for
ticks. between the dates Of the nrst
day OF June, 1917. and the 18th day of
October. 1917, inclusive.
II was further resolved: That all
stock sheep entering the State Of Ne
vada from any known infected" dis
tricts must be accompanied by clear
bill OF health, showing that they are
free from all infectious diseases. On
arrival they must be reported to the
State Commission. or one OF
its Inspectors, and they then must be
dipped once within ten days after
entering and under the supervision of
a Federal or State Inspector.
II not accompanied by a clear bill Of
Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-05-28
NOTICE

The school exercises OF the Nevada
School of Industry will be held on
Wednesday. May 80. at 1880 sharp.
A cordial invitation is extended to
the citizens OF Elko and friends of
the school to be present to partici-
pate in and encourage the cadets and
management of the institution by
their presence in such laudable work.
MATHEW KYLE.
Superintendent.
Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-05-28

and Mr.. Toombs will undoubtedly
make a big success with it. He pro-
poses to place on the market goods
the equal II not superior to anything
obtainable. He is energetic and In
dustrious and his personal popularity
throughout the county insures extern
sive patronage. Other extensive busi-
ness interests which require his per
sonal attention have necessitated Mr..
Young's selling. Under his manage
ment the business has grown ana
prospered. and his trade has extended
to every part Of Elko county. Mr..
Toombs' many friends wish him un-
limited success in his new venture.
The whitesides Dental Co. will pre-
vent stomach trouble. See ad.-Adv.
Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-05-28

health. they must be dipped twice
within an interval Of ten to fourteen
days. between clippings. by either a
federal or state inspection.
Nevada State Sheep Commission.
S. H. WHEELER. President.
e. J. @. TAYLOR. Commissioner.
c. w. GRISwoLD. Commissioner.
C: DEL woLFENSPARGER.
ADV. IA Secretary.
Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-05-28

sures them a hearty welcome in this
community. Mr.. Aver is now perfect
ing plans which will give the best
possible service to all doing business
with the company.
Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-05-28

OF 10 a. NJ. May 80. 1917. for the pur-
pose OF proceeding to the X. p. ceme-
terry to participate in the Decoration
Day service of the order.
BY order OF the chancellor.
COMMANDER.