davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-11-19
FRENCH SHOWING MUCH
 ACTIVITY TO SOUTHWARK

To the south the big guns of the French and the Germans also are active along the Chemin Des Danes and the present week doubtless will witness an- other attempt by General Petain's army here to press further toward L.aon.
 The British troops in Palestine are giv- ing the Turks no rest. The important city of Jaffa, on the Mediterranean, has been captured by them, the Ottoman forces offering no resistance. It Is stated that instead of standing and of ferfng battle the Turks are in retire ment northward.
 The German naval forces encountered by British light war craft in the North sea Saturday were forced to seek safety under the protection of their battle fleets and behind the mine fields of Helgoland The British warships chased the fleeing enemy as far as was com patible with safety, and when last seen one of the Germans was on fire and another apparently had been damaged by the craftsmanship of the pursuers. In addition a German mine sweeper was sunk The British naval unit suffered
 slightly material damage, and there are few casualties among the crews. The latest unofficial advices from Rus sia indicate that Petrograd and Moscow are still in the hands of the Bolsheviki and that Sebastopol, the big naval base and arsenal on the Black sea, has gone over to the workmens B and soldiers dele gates, the sailors of the fleet having
 sworn allegiance to them.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-11-19
MERIDIAN POLICE
 CLAMP DOWN LID"
 ON MAYORS ORDER
Publishers of Newspapers Were Not Arrested, But Names of Workers
 Taken" by Sleuths

Meridian, Miss, November 1S.-Although the two local newspaper offices were visited by the police shortly after .nid- night and names taken of all employees on duty at that time, the threatened ar rests of publishers, employees. agents and vendors of Sunday newspapers as viola tors of the Mississippi blue laws did not take place today. Tonight the police blot ter contained the record of but one ar rest for alleged Sunday law violation that of suburban grocer accused of having sold groceries from his store.
 Mayor Dabney last week announced that at the request of the ministerial association he would rigidly enforce the Sunday prohibitory laws. Should Sun day newspapers be published. he said. all persdns responsible for their publica- tion. sale or distribution would be ar rested
 All business houses except drug stores. hotels and restaurants were closed to- day. Soft drinks could be sold only with lunches A sandwich constitu,- ed '1unch' in many drug stores where soda fountains were operated.
 The local agent of Memphis paper gave papers to boys only on their own responsibility. New Orleans papers were delivered by the agents in person.
 It was understood a friendly test case would be instituted in 2 few dtys by lex al publishers joined by thos9 in ths cities from where Sunday 1edi Ions ars largely circulated hsyes
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-11-19
STOCKHOLM REPORT SAYS QUIET RE|GNS TN RUSSIAN CAPITAL

London, November 19.-The American embassy at Petro- grad, according to a Reuter- dispatch, has requested that a train be provided to convey 200 members of the American colony in Petrograd to Harbin.
 Stockholm, November IS. Petrograd was quiet up to- Wednesday evening, accord ing to advices from what are regarded here as reliable sources. The railway em- ployes were refusing to transport troops for either faction and the food situa- tion in the capital was be- coming serious.
 There is little definite news from the provinces, but an apparently re- liable report said General Kaledines was assembiino Q considerable force of Cossacks.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-11-19

The enemy was taking full advantage of the delicate period after the retreat knowing that every day counted for the restoration of the ssolidity of the Italian offensive force. In this knowledge, too, the Italian supreme command is pro ceeding methodically giving ground here and theie and holding elsewhere, as all this is part of a systematic plan to bring to the army offensive qualities tc deal a biow at a chosen moment.
 One hears talk in high quarters tonight that if tie Piave line holds another few days the tide will be turned, as its sue cessful defense through six fearful days has established that the enemy has his limitations.
 Thus far. nothing beyond battalions have crossed the river, and no corps or brigade, much less divisions, has passed the deadline. Only at Benson and Gris- olera are there any serious Judgments on the west bank of the Piave and today the enemy was forced back to the river at Benson and elsewhere, with more -han q thousand men captured, while the food waters bar him before Grisolera.
 It Is because the Piave has resisted 50 well that the enemy now is turning his attention to the north and trying to make a bi each there which he failed to make cn the Piave. The line on the north luns along Asiago, Cismon and Onero and there the Italian position re- mains virtually unchanged. In the east where tho mountain line joins the Plave' the Italian position has been moved 2 little farther back, not in giving ground but 10 solsdify the whole northern 1ron' from Mont Tondarecar on the west 10 tn. Piave on the east, thus consolidating .ns defense at the center and on both neytn- orn wings. NY
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-11-19
Summary of the News

GENERAL NEWS 1-tIalians capture more than 20OO prisoners and 27 machine guns in counter attacks. Berlin newspaper says kerensky and Lenine are working together MedIl1 Mccormick. just from Eu- rope. sees no hope of peace be- fore 1919.
 Mobile shipbuildinG plant of Steel corporation to be constructed Tor permanency. Secretary ,IsSker issues optimistic review of war operations. 2-PeOple of Venice are showing cOur- age while they wait in shadow of terrible fate. ADisturbing canard about TuGulty Is traced to Providence.
 LOCAL NEWS +FuIIy 2O00 people are turned away from community sing. Notable week for Red Cross begins in Birmingham today. Formal "Y" campaign will end to- dny at noon.
 Congresswoman Rankin speaks here tonight.
 FEATURES 4-Edit0rial comment. 0-Sp0rts. 5-Mnrket review.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-11-19
U. s. Steel Corporation to Construct Merchant Fleet
 When Peace Comes
JUDGE GARY THINKS AMERICA HAS BRIGHT
 FUTURE ON HIGH SEA
Private Work Will Not Be Allowed to Interfere With National Needs in War Time.
 Material for All
By THEODORE M. KNApPEN

New York, November 1S.- (Special) Yes. we shall have merchant ma rine," said Judge F. H. Gary, chair man of the board of the United States Steel corporation. but in the matter of fact way in which friend wife' de- cides that chicken shall be served for dinner
 had just said to him that it was to be inferred from the fact that the Steel corporation was going into the shipbuilding business itself, that it must have made up it's mind that the United States had a future on the sea.
 TWO PLANTS STARTING
 Then he went on to telllabout the two new shipbuilding companies the corporation is starting. the Federal. which is now building its plants on the Hackensack Meadows; and the unnamed corporation that will build ships on Mobile bay, where there has been acquired a great tract of land. The latter is an offshoot of the Ten nessee Coal Iron and Railroad com pany. which is erecting new plate mill at Birmingham, chiefly for the purpose of meeting the requirements of the Mobile yards for shipbuilding material.
 FIFTY BIG SHIPS PLANNED Quite independently of the plans of the United States shipping board, the Stecl corporation had decided to build l sn .b;nc aryinp in aiza from Q600 ion s up to 1S.O00. At present. of course there is no use in any private cor poration attempting to serve it's own purposes in shipbuilding, as the ship. J ping board would undoubtedly requisi-
 tion any boats 1t might build. so while building it's own type of vessels, sub ject to minor notifications to meet 1 the submarine menace. the Steel cor poration has whole-heartedly thrown itself into the great task of co -oper- (Continued sn Page Two)
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-11-19
CAPTURE MORE THAN 2OOO PRISONERS AND 27 MA CHINE GUNS LN
 FURIOUS COUNTER ATTACKS ON PA VE
Austro-Germans Continue to Be Held Back on This Important Line-British Start Great Artillery Action in Flanders and Petalns Men Are Preparing Offensive
 to SOuthward
By Associated Press

By Associate All along the river the Italians are holng the German and Ausro Hungarian armies in check Nowhere have the n vaders been able to the and at several places where they previously had gained to the western bank they have been brilliantly counter attacked and forced to WtndaW to the rivers edge.
 endeavored to the Italians putting down an a
  the panK or the prisoners and also the Fagare the enemy mas pee his position
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-11-19

Along other sectors of the front held by the British no engagements of impor- tance are reported.
 Destructive hostile artillery fire is noted in the area along the Yser, cen tering around Dixmude, and the shelling by the enemy increased during the lat ter part of the week, betraying a de- cided nervousness on the part of the Germans lest any unexpected offensive action develop.
 "Along the French front no engage ments of importance are recorded. SAYS NEWS FROM ITALY
 NOW VERY ENCOURAGING
 "The news from Italy is more encour- aging. Operations involving the skilful handling of large masses of troops and the reorganization of defensive positions, #entailing superhuman efforts on the part of officers and men alike, have been carried out by the Italian armies with energy and courage.
 "All sectors of the Italian theatre of operations continue the scene of much hard fighting. The enemy along four different lines of attack is endeavoring to outflank and if possible to crush the Italian armies and debouch into the heart of northern Italy. While attempting to drive ahead across the Venetian plain along broad front, the Austro-German forces have thrown large masses of troops against the Italian defensive positions guarding the Trentino.
 'In spite of the intense strain of the engagements in which the Italian real guard acquitted themselves very well i the Italian defense is hardening. "Along the Piave and in the region o the Lake of Garda, as well as along thu Brenta, it would appear that the enemy Iwhile scoring local advantages, is beInt succe ssfully restrained
 | "On the lower Piave the hostile at tempt to cross the river was partiall. successful, resulting in the capture O Benson. The Italians have opened tn dikes in this sector, which will rende the enemy advance difficult. ADMITS AUSTRO-GERMAN l STRENGTH NOT DEVELOPED
 While it must be acknowledged tha Ithe full Austro-German strength in tA !Trentino has not yet been deployct
 lCeptinned - .aee Threel
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-11-19
The Production of Soft l Coal Greatly Reduced
 by Railroad Congestion

Washington, November 19.-Bitumi- nous coal production in the United States was reduced approximately 2' 900, 0,00O tons last week. the National {cai association announced today, Dy sar shortage and railroad congestion { request that coal shipments be givei nrfority over all other commodities eNeept food and government orders. the statement said. has been placed h the association before the govern rl nt agencies dealing with the situa tim.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-11-19
MesOpotamia Commander
 Is Reported to Be HI

London, November 19.-Maj Gen. Frederick S. Maude, commanding the British forces in Mesopotamia, ac- cording to the Daily Mail. is i'll.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-11-19
Secretary Baker Is
 Confident Of Future h Italian Theatre
In Weekly Review of Operations American War Department Head is Optimistic Morale of Citizen Soldiers in Camp Excellent
 in Trenches Worthy of Best Traditions

Washington Italian defense and the delivered review to- that field with confidence lie points out
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-11-19
f Italian Forces Can Hold Pidue Line
 Country Is Saued
Unless AustrO- Germans Can Succeed in Breaking Through in Next Few Days Their Limitations Will Have Been Reached and They
 Will Absolutely Fail
By Associated Press


   accomplished  offensive well it's defensive
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-11-19
CENTRAL POWERS SPENT
SITUATION IN FRANCE

''The French and British have mod crate preponderance in guns and man for man they outright the Germans.
 While there are still excellent Ger man divisions in Flanders, there was and the physical quality of the German troops on the French and British fronts. At the battle of the Chemin Des Danes the German batteries were so drenched with fire that they were unable to re- ply. With mathematical exactness the French took the terrain. Hundreds and hundreds of heavy guns were employed to work the enemy defenses before the advance was made, so, at last, when the infantry went forward, they did so with .unbelievably small losses. This is an artillery and industrial war. That must never be forgotten. Above all heavy guns are necessary. heavy guns, with
 their obvious compliments of aircraft and rail transportation, but heavy guns
 and still more heavy guns; 25,0Oo cannon
 to be made in American factories and
 shipped to France before March !, 1919.
 This is the essence of victory and great guns OucI tiiS Olaay ihSoAS " "itiNi ~ can be won.
 AMERICA WILL DECIDE The issue of this war will be decided in Washington and by the furnaces of America.
 1.-The splendid little American army which already has crossed the seas rem dered great service when the echo of the first American feet on the soil of France carried to every home the prom ise that strength and still more the industrial genius of America will bring succor to France.
 France is fighting with heroic and dogged courage Her steady. thoughtful soldiery are ready to spend their blood and to die in the belief that America will forge the weapons to win the war They must lot be mistaken. II say very earnestly that we must have greater co-ordination of effort. We must have a true war council such as does not exist in Washington, a coun- l cil of men who represent in the great | est degree the energy and the genius o1 1 America. It will be fruitless if we are
 ready late"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-11-19
NEW ARMY FORMING

Petrograd, November 1S.-G:30 p. m) Reports of new army, composed Of various clements from the front and the vanguard of which is said to be close to Gatchnam, have sent new thrill through the city. If the reports are to be credited. the aim of the new force is to release the city from the control of the Bolsheviki. It is com manded by Staff Captain Pavloff of the social democratic workmen's party ana already has had brushes with the de- lending outposts of the Bolsheviki army.
 According to some versions, M. Keren- sky is returning with the army. Stiil other reports tell of an armored train approaching from the direction of Mos COW, pulling up the rails as it proceeds.
 (Continued on Page TwO)
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-11-19
This Is Just One of Many Contradictory Reports
 on Situation
PEACE IS DECLARED IN MOSCOW WITH THE
 |BOLSHEVIKI WINNERS
Petrograd Is Thrilled at Rumor of New Army Approaching the City
 Under Premier

London, November 19.-The fighting in Moscow between the Bolshevilzi and troops of the provisional government has been far more serious than anything that has. occurred in Petrcgrad, according to special dispatches received here from the Russian capital. Three thousand persons, mostly civil ians, have been killed or wounded in Moscow, according to the Daily Telegraph's s Petro- grad correspondent.
 London, November IS. The Berlin Tageblatt de- clares that Premier Keren- sky and Nikolai Lenine, leader of the Bolsheviki revolution in Petrograd, have effected a compromise essentially favorable to Le- nine, the Exchange Tele-
 graph correspondent at Copenhagen reports.
 Petrograd, November 17.-(12:30 D. m. )-Peace has been definitely de- Iclared in Moscow with victory for the
 Bolsheviki.s The White Guard has
 been disarmed and likewise the mih- tary cadets. Two train loads of the
 Red Guard en route from Petrograds Ito Moscow to support the Bolshevikl
 soldiers there have been stopped, and
 at the same time railway telegraph
 reports indicate that the Cossacks are
 making progress northward and that lthe Bolsheviki are in panic in conse- quence of their near approach.
 1 It is likewise reported that approxi~ mately a corps of mixed troops fror' the southwest front, intent on puttin3 an end to civil war, are en route to Petrograd and have reached Luga. All reports are impossible of confirmation, as the city is flooded with exaggerated rumors of every description.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-11-19
MEN IN TRENCHES SHOW
 THEMSELVES TO BE WORTHY
OPERATIONS IN FLANDERS
 HINDERED BY WEATHER

"At this season of the year the sod den. fog bound fields of Flanders and the bad weather which prevails alons the entire western front makes it diff ficult to coordinate. major operations with precision. Nevertheless. artillery preparation has continued in the two chief theatres of activity in the west, presaging further offensive engagements.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-11-19
NO NEWS RECEIVED AS TO
 ALLIED ANNOUNCEMENTS

No advices have come through to show that the British and French reinforce ments have reached the Italian line In any considerable numbers, but the few days which it was announced last week must intervene before they could stiffen the front are at an end. Therefore, it is presumed that, with the Italians hav- ing borne the brunt of the Teutonic all lied attack during the last week unh aided the present week, with the aid of the allies in their line, will turn 1he balance of the scale in their favor.
 TREMENDOUS ARTILLERY
 ! DUEL IN FLANDERS
 Again the artillery duel on the Elan ders front has reached tremendous pro- portions and it is not likely that Field Marshal Haig has in preparation another dash forward from the region of Pas- schendaele toward the town of Roulers and the important railway line serving the German front from the North sea. soUthward The Germans, anticipating another of the irresistible operations Of the British commander-in-chief, are di- recting their heavy gunfire on the po-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-11-19

In the hilly region representing the northern front from Lake Garda to the region south of Feitre all the Austhct German attacks, some of them delivered with extreme violence, have been re- pelled, according to the Rome war office, although Berlin asserts that northeast of Asiago and between the Brenta and the Piave rivers the Italians have been driven from further strong mountain po- siticns.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-11-19

Renewed allied offensives- on the west ern front after the Hull of the past week, MT. Baker. says, are indicated by in creased artillery fire and the nervous ness exhibited by the Germans The only reference to the sector of thts front where American troops occupy first line trenches is that the men have shown themselvess worthy of the best traditions of the American army. MORALE OF AMERICAN
 TROOPS IN CAMP EXCELLENT
 .The training of our national army Is now progressing rapidly the state ment says. At all the camps the morale of our new citizen soldier is reported as excellent.
 .q,be men who have been called upon f, defend our country in the present emergency are taking hold of the work in a serious, high-minded spirit, which will produce the best results. .The British and French officers who are to assist in instructing our new ar mics are arriving. They come for the purpose of initiating our men into the latest developments of modern warfare so that from the very outset our forces may be trained according to the mosi efficient time and hfe-saving methods MEN IN TRENCHES SHOW | THEMSELVES TO BE WORTHY
 "In France the training of our troop l is likewise being carefully continued. II the sector where our forces are in tn trenches they have shown themselves worthy of the best traditions of oul armies
 After the successes gained by thu allies in the west during the preceding week the relative calm of the las seven day period was to be anticipated Tt is significant, however, that tn reaction of the enemy has been reia lively slight both in the region nortl of the Aisne and in Flanders.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-11-19
Illinois Congressman, Just Back From Europe, Talks
 About Situation
SAYS AMERICAN GUNS
 WILL DECIDE ISSUE
This Country Must Furnish Material With Which Victory Can Be Won by the Trained Armies
 in Trenches

Chicago, November 1S.-Russia's coi- lapse and the unreadiness of the Uni- ted States make hopeless any thoughts of peace before 1919, in the opinion of MediH Mccormick, congressman-at- large of Illinois, who has just re- turned from a visit to most of the fm- portant fronts of the European battle line.
 MT. Mccormick in a statement tonight said:
 "The Germans are not winning the war.
 Neither are we.
 ''The war presents a stalemate from hich we are unable to extricate our selves because of the collapse of Russia and the unreadiness of the United States.
 Nowhere in Europe did I find an in formed soldier or public man who be- 1ieved that military decision could be chieved before 1919, when the United States might add effectively to pressure on the central empires. There Is prac- tically no hope that Russia can be use full during 1918. Russia is so dsordered
  all probability, neither can she make peace.
 CENTRAL POWERS SPENT "The resources of the central powers hmave been energeticaliy spent. They are bleeding terribly. But they act with greater energy, unity and skill than their enemies. Thus they made a seemingly successful drive into Italy. The real object of their political foray l into Venetia was partly to make camou- flage to conceal their steady losses from verdun to Passchendaele and partly to provoke revolution in Italy. "The Italians were under-gunned, neither had they enough ammunition But even so they would not have been driven back as they were if two or three divisions, debauched by the spy system of Germany, had not thrown down theii
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-11-19

sitions in the neighborhood or PasscHen daele and Langemarck and south or tn Pnlvrnn Wnod.
The Washington times., 1917-05-10
GIRL STUDENTS DO
THEIR BIT FOR WAR
Washington College Young
Women Make Sacrifice.
GIVE UP GRADUATION FETES
Simple Services Substituted for
Elaborate Social Program.
GIVE UP GRADUATION FETES

Students OF Washington College
have decided to do their bit by max
ing one of the greatest sacrifices pos
sibIe by a school girl. In compliance
with the war plea against extrava
gance, they have petitioned the fac
ulty to abandon the elaborate com
mencement exercises planned, which
included q dance, a house party, and
numerous social features, and SUBJ
stitute brief, simple services instead
Because many OF the girls have
brothers who have enlisted, and
whom they are anxious to see before
they leave for concentration camps,
while other of the students expect
to take up Red Cross work, and are
anxious to get started, they also have
petitioned the faculty to advance the
date of the exercises one week
Both petitions have been granted,
and DR.. Flournoy Menefee, president
OF the college, announced today that
the exercises will begin Friday night,
with a graduating vocal recital by
Miss Ruth Bomgardner. The Cultural
Club of the school will give its final
program the following day, and bac-
calaureate services will be held Sun
day afternoon at o'clock.
The one formal function OF the COM
mencement exercises will come Mon
day morning. but instead of being so
cial. II will be entirely patriotic. The
girls of the class OF 1917 have used
their commencement fund to purchase
a huge American flag, as q gift to