davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-11
Army System
Rejects Many
Fit Soldiers
European Experience Shows
u. S. Test Too Rigidly
Applied
Americans Face Ordeal by
Specialists That Throws
Good Material Aside
By DR.. Paul Bartholow

IT is frequently said in the Euro
pean press, both neutral and Al
- lied, that the Germans are COM
ing to the end Of their reserves in
men; and the fact that the tuberculous
appear among their last conscripted
levies is quoted in support. That the
supply Of reserves is becoming ex-
hausted is probable; is, in fact IN
evitable, but it does not follow that
the admission into the fighting ranks
of those formerly refused on the
ground Of physical unfitness is proof
of it. Rather is it proof that the door
was at first too narrow. and that the
Germans have shown their usual quick
acceptance of a change in the sltua-
ton by setting it wider. 1t is ques-
tior whether we might not in this re-
spect copy their methods Of selection
with advantage.
For truly martial power and a
highly efficient one-and Germany is
both-this fact of tuberculosis in her
armies must be an exceedingly CALLING
one. 1t is also a tell-tale and a graft
flying fact TO the Allies. For US the
DANGER is an entirely different one. The
most pathetic illusion of a nation Just
entering the war is that its armies
will be made up of fit men. even OF
"perfectp men. This is a chimera. be-
cause the supply Of really desirable
recruits is limited.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-11
By Patrick O'Flaherty

q OMEWHERE IN FLANDERS, Nov.
S.-The Mud Of Flanders begins at
the sea, where the trenches, all
shipshape, confront each other across q
No Mans Land--No Mans Lake, rather
full Of wild ducks, observation posts,
s.s, drowned wurtembergers, tall
Nae heron sleeping on one leg, wrecked
arnon and q vast sour smell. All
.rsht and shiny where the sun glints
u the water No Mans Lake looks IN
Z. aeroplsre photographs.
This Is the front held by the Bel
Eans and their ancient ally, the floods
foot or two below sea level, 1t runs
RON Nieuport-on-the-Sea, little less
ian twenty miles south TO Dixmude.
% where the User loops furthest east
i. stsgnsnt waters Of No Mans Lake
--she hsunts Of coot and hern"-are
xsnty.hve hundred yards wide. AT
0Imude they narrow 70 a bare TWEEN
S'l'e yaTQs.
Saith Of Dixmude, in the British
ara, the Mud Of Flanders makes a
nab Of 10 Mans Land and wallow
o. UsY attack.
Whole Flanders
Front Sea of Mud
Here the land lies a foot or two
iseys sea level, rising inland 70 the
nsrssi shoulders Of ground, 70 which
as Germans withdrew in the linden
'sfg retreat last April. So the en-
cay, in many sectors Of the Flanders
,nsnt, until Haig's last victory on inc
ftssehendaele Ridge, still held the
petitions that were highest and the
Trenches that we're driest. In most OF
ss British trenches" facing them an
l,issnehirg TOOL would strike water a
'ssi below the surface, and, as likely
e not~-wi.h a soft collapse under
ises and q Cav blimey. Here's
nps 'unl Talk abaht a rotten egg
ssrItin' on yer nose!"-one II the
sisrious Dead as we'll
Given time. the Mud Of Flanders
wis slowly down from sight all the
tsaSn and mechanical debris OF the
'eeleae.d, leaving surface broken
s,sy b. she'll holes, some three rect
sss.i, some ten feet deep, each at least
itf fall % water, and many OF them
".ssa 20 they form lakes big enough
. efoyn men and horses. Possibly
~ Of ruin stands up from the mud
Ia ruin Of a church where people
~ 70 worship; IL conceals ma
Ga gun now, and looks. on the lip
va biz she'll hole, like a piece OF
fitttsd dockyard. IL all resembles
HEs Cd drained riyer-Ded, with thar
s-fIss emptiness which IL character
~ u the modern battlefield; there 10
s.hinz % be Eeen--nothing' day upon
~ Dat the same calamitous m'ho''
~ Of mud.
y is the zane back Of the trenchss;;
%nm1niestlou trenches are iui! %
's%f, and the endless muGh OF sIimyi
llisf ground conceals alike deao
S1ita ard unezploded shells. re-
ssfy night there IN a bedlam OF traI'
bach u the lines churning up the
sssenerogs surface Of this wilderneS'
tal
IAsh there are those sunken serpsn.
nas msrthez along the rim OF &c
.sFt Land ~ which Battalion OTder'.
~ tisassd ~ refer ~ "the trenehes'
IRE are ssl1isrs cruated from head "
~ N dried mud, With queer tattoo'
Sssfktd On their faces in mud. acrspinl
,,shts Of mud on themselves ~ SOUP
~. grape chunks of clay on statue
W insking, sDrns u them spth.
~ quiet Afternoons looking througt
,.wr'st|pt, bAlinz Out the trench,
t-tE stray London Newspaper "
e. 1at whether The war IL over YET
T.. sfssitpriiy watching a British swal.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-11
And IL isn't the Huns
rs the MUD.
MUD.
MUD.

Oh. the rain. the mud and the cold.
The cold. the mud and the rain;
With weather at zero it's hard for hero
From language that's rude 70 refrain,
With pOrridgy muck 70 the knees.
With sky that's a-pouring a flood.
Sure the worst Of our foes
Are the pains and the woes
o. the RAIN.
the COLD, q
and the MUD.
Robert W. Service. in Rhymes of Red
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-11

tic but unblushing. Lastly, there are
sis. but which are not. In these cir
cumstances. to collect an army Of mill
ions without loss-loss of time. loss OF
man power-is the problem OF the med
zeal officer.
How is the work TO be done? Ger.
tainly it will not be done properly II
the present army rules are followed.
Thus, if a man is below the mark in
weight, he may be rejected, though his
thinness Of body may be habitual and
healthy. But the fault may be correct
ed by feeding up on beef and carrying
a ballast Of water. This is one of the
jokes played on examiners.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-11
Success Is Test
OF Doctor s Work

In France a similar rule led to the
rejection of so many fit men that It
has been discarded. Il is true that
these cases are often distinctly puZ-
cling to the ordinary examiner, and
they sometimes hold riddles that he
does not at all enjoy. Success in sort
ing out these men will be the fixed test
OF the surgeons work, and while IL Is
indeed surprising that the same man
can have many of the signs of tuber-
culosis and yet be healthy, there is no
cause for surprise that the medical
examiner should judge. in the one case,
justly, and in the other, unjustly.
As our armies continue TO grow in
size, and as wastage through medical
red tape continues to grow, the occa-
sions on which tuberculosis is met will
be frequent
In the recruiting of our new armies
the tuberculosis problem is curious, and
there are many complications in It;
for, while many real consumptives will
be excluded, some healthy men may OBJ
! tain exemption on this supposed dis
ability. 1t is possible that recruits
will employ their own specialists and
secure certificates of having had tuber-
culosis in some form or other, of hav-
ing some of its signs, like fever, bacilli
in the sputum, cough and night sweats
How is the examining physician to see
his way clear in all these shams and
caprices of human nature? The work
requires men of exceptional shrewd
ness and professional skill as well as
! military knowledge. These profound
qualifications the present army rules dc
! rot meet fairly. The examination oil
recruits will be the work of Medical
Reserve officers, who are themselves
selected for physical fitness, their ca
/ liability in other ways being judged by
| their professional record. IL is not
easy to see how mistakes can be avoid
ed by men who have lived their whole
lives at distance from military re-
/ alities
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-11
Transforms Strip Between
Hostile Trenches Into
mo Mans Lake"
Men Live Underground,
While Dead Lie Unburied
Until Sucked Under
The Mud of Flanders

h ;snt the foe that We fear:
I, ;sn't the bullets that. whine;
/, vnr the business career
NJ a she'll. or the bust Of mine;
+, ,sn't the sniperS who seek
To rip your young hopes in the bud ;
No. il isn't the guns,
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-11

it is go per Gel
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-11

recruits is Limited
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-10
Time to Revive It

way back yonder It was custom
arv for subscriptions to be paid in
chickens. eggs, hams. wood wool, APP
pies. sweet potatoes, butter or any
other article raised on the farm. The
plan worked all right in the days Of
long ago, and it looks like it is going
to become popular with the rural
press again 1t is a good sign when
a man wants his weekly paper bad
enough 10 he willing to bring in bag
Of sweet potatoes, goobers or other
things with which TO reimburse the
cditor.-Montgomery Journal.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-10
Some Line

--Casselrs Saturday Journal.
Irate Lady-This clothes line as
bought larst week, you said 1t was
all-British line.
Shopman-Yes, madam.
Irate Lady-Well, it's broke twice
and let me washin' dahn, A Indenburg
line l calls II
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-10
A Dark Secret

Fashionable Minister--I underst,,
that your son is at the front A
serious engagements?
Wealthy Parishioner-Sh! sh! Oh
a few, and 1 have succeeded
breaking those off-Purple Cow.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-10
So They Say

Say, who is the strongest won'
actress?"
why, you know Anna Held =
audience in breathless suspense L
over two no rs."-Penn. Punch ~
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-10
Not So

Not So
"These reformers who try % ''
up burlesque shows don't have in'
luck"
sNaw. this talk in the Bible
killing the fatted calf is an bunk
-.laek e'IaeI.I-
The Denver star., 1917-04-28
Coming to Colorado From
Texas

The Colorado and South
crn Railroad has brought up
from Texas in the last two
weeks, fully 200 Negroes to
work in the freight depart
ment. We are urging that
the ministers of the city to-
gether with the Y. Nj. G. A.
workers get busy and try and
throw around the men here
such helpful influence that
they will be a credit and not
not a stumbling block to US.
We have church brother
hoods, ushers clubs and vari-
Gus societies thru which we
may work.
The Denver star., 1917-04-28

Washington, ID. c. Iasiah
Williams who lives in Jackson
Vile, Fla. has invented the
most remarkable and wonder
full war machine which has
probably ever been invented
in any country. Mr.. Williams
claims that his gun will shoot
over fifty miles. 1t is mount
ed on a set of wheels over IL
feet high, eight feet wide and
is over fifty feet long. II will
shoot solid or explosive
she'll over fifty miles. 1t is
propelled by gasoline and
as so constructed that the gun
can. cross any marsh or trench
1t is said by expert mechani
cal engineers that if the Ger
man had had this invention
in their possession they would
have captured Paris; that
they could at the present de
stroy London. England,
across the English Channel.
The War Department seems
to be very much interested in
this machine.
The Denver star., 1917-04-28

Knoxville, Tenn, Special
The city commissioners in ses
sion at their regular meeting
on last Friday morning ap
pointed three additional men
to the city detective force
and among those appointed
was John Singleton. Detec
tive Singleton has been doing
plain clothes duty fer several
months although his appoint
ment to that position had not
been acted upon by the com
missioners until last Friday.
The promotion carries with it
a salary of 500 per month
The race has cause for elation
also over the appointment of
David Saunders, a local Col
ored citizen, to the police de
partment, making a total of
FIVE members of the race now
serving on the city police
force.
Mayor John E. Mcmillan,
popular among the Colored
race in the city because of his
interest manifested in their
welfare, nominated the two
members of the race for the
positions.
The action of the commits
sioners in giving the race in
the city this added represent :
alton was the source of much
favorable comment from ev
cry angle among the members
of the race here.
The Denver star., 1917-04-28

hight, bleed or die, if necessa. j..
ry." France was seriously EN-.
barrassed and lost thousands
of men, because; the working
people were slow eosrealize
the need of their cooperation
and help. England was over
two years making prepara-
tions that might have been
made in less than a year, if so
many OF her industrial classes
had not failed to understand
her needs. and the warning Of
her statesmen. lie, us profit
by these examples and offer
ready and willing service.
We have vaIiantly stood by
the nation in every crisis,
whether upon the field of bat.
tie or in support of industries
in the time Of war. In pros
perity and in adversely our sin
ewy arms have fed the arter-
les Of commerce that sustain
ed the life of this great ma
ton.
\ The primary object of this
letter is to call meeting of
the colored people in the
court house Saturday after
noon at 3 o'clock to discuss
and bear discussed means of
rendering to the state and ma
ton the most effective and
valuable service.
Mr.. Editor, will you kindly
emphasize this call. and il
possible come to the meeting
and tell the colored farmers
of Marlboro. how they may
share in this war by fighting
weeds and grass on their
farms and raising more food
for those at the front fighting
for our flag.
Your flag and my flag
And. oh how much it holds.
Your land and my land
Secure within its folds!
Your heart and my heart
Beat quicker at the sight,
Sun kissed and wind-t tossed
Red and blue and white.
The one f1ag-the great flag,
The flag for me and you;
Gloritied all else beside
The red and white and
blue!
The Denver star., 1917-04-28
SUPREME LODGE OF PY1HIANS
LOSES Law SUIT.

The Supreme Court of the
District of Columbia. at
Washington, handed down a
decision Friday, April I3, JUS
tice Mccoy rresiding, in
which it wss decided that the
Grand Lodge, knights of Py-
thias of Virginia was wrong
fully expelled from the Su-
preme Lodge, Knights of Py-
thias, N. A.. S. A.. E., A., A.
& A. This is the elimination
favorably to the Grand Lodge
K. of p, of Virginia. of a suit
instituted by that body against
the Supreme Lodge to re-
strain that tribunal from en-
forcing the proclamation of
the Supreme Chancellor sus-
pending the Grand Lodge of
Virginia and all the members
in the subordinate lodges in
! that grand Jurisdiction from
the Order.
At the session of the Su-
preme Lodge at Baltimore,
the action of the Supreme
Chancellor was sustained and
a resolution adopted expell-
ing the Grand Lodge. K. of
P. of Virginia from the Or
der, A restraining order was
obtained from Justice Ashley
M. Gould. of the Supreme
Court of the District of Co.
lumbia. forbidding the Su.
preme Chancellor from en-
forcing his own proclamation
or the decree of the Supreme
Lodge,
At the session of the Su-
preme Lodge at Columbus, o.
the injunction or restraining
order was not obeyed and the
Grand Lodge. K. of P. of Vir-
ginia, through counsel and
with the concerted action of
Supre m e Representatives,
John Mitchell. Jr, Thomas
Nj. Crump. E. r, Jefferson
and T. II. Wyatt instituted
contempt proceedings in the
Supreme Court at Washing
ton against S. w. Green, DR..
E. E. Underwood, R. r. Jack
son. for violating the restrain
ing order. The original suit
and the contempt proceedings
we're consolidated at the hear
ing by mutual consent of coun
sci and the result is announc-
ep that Virginia has won it
contention in the cause at is
sue.
The Denver star., 1917-04-28
appeal:
Colored American citizens,
attention! Our Government,


Colored American citizens,
attention! Our Government,
our country and our home is
at war. Our achievements Of
the past and our present and
future welfare is at stake
The Land of the Free, and
the Home of the Brave" is
aroused as never before. 1t
is our plain duty to stand firm
ly by the United States in this
worlds crisis. This is the op-
portune time for us to re- de :
clare our Loyalty, patriotism
and allegiance to the govern
ment. therefore, let us not be
weighed in the balance and
found wanting.
In this, the greatest world
struggle, there must be exhib
tied, preached and practiced
nothing but undiluted, unadul
terated and genuine Ameri-
canism. The eyes Of the coun
try and the world are focused
upon us, as this is no time for
true, unfaltering and unswerv
ing loyalty. patriotism and al
legiance to be subordinated
to racial hatred, racial animos
ity and racial hostility or par
tisanship.
This great struggle is one,
in behalf of civilization, liber
ty and humanity as opposed
to barbarism, oppression and
inhumanity, and in this, with
out regard to race, colored o,
creed, whether native born OF
naturallzed, Jew or gentle
each and all Of the citizens ol
the United States and prospee
tive citizens of the United
States should stand by the
government in every conceil
able way in this hour of tria
and tribulation.
The principal and chief rea
son, why our loyalty. patrio,
ism and allegiance must no,
be vacillating, wavering or un
certain, is that we are indebt
ed to the Nation individually
and collectively for freedom
liberty and the near future
that we have all to gain and
nothing to lose.
The Denver star., 1917-04-28

Toronto, Can. lit has been
officially announced through
the Chief Press Censor's Of
fee that the No. 2 Construc
ton Battalion, made up of col
ored men. has arrived safely
in England. The colored
troopers sailed from Halifax
Murch IS. Several hundred
American Negroes are in the
battalion.
The Denver star., 1917-04-28
LOYALTY OF BLACK MAN SIMON PURE

Chicago IIlFifty salwa black boys enlisted into the
Eighth Illinois infantry the crack black regiment of Illinois,
Led by the Eighth Regiment band thousands of patriotic
members thonged the the patriotic demon
stration in interesting note that these ee
vescent expressions of loyalty from the Negroes in
state where large Of citizenship rights accord
ed the
Galveston Texas-Fifty- six black enlisted at the
recruiting station here day last week. There evil
IDENTIFY had been foundation the emanatng from
southern Texas the effect that the black being
influenced by German emissaries
C0l0RED PATRIOTS
The "Colored Patroits Common Defense and General
Welfare League of the United States of America has ssu
ed to the coored United the following
The Denver star., 1917-04-28
P0L|T|Cs..HUGHES
PATRIOTISM M.-W|LS0N
To Ayenge Murder, E. J
Sawyer Writes Strong Let
ter to South Carolina Paper


Mr.. Editor:-Several times
you have very kindly given
me a hearing through the val
liable column of your highly
appreciated paper, but past
blessings do not suffice in
these war times. l want you
to publish this letter for the
benefit of my race. and if your
people happen to read it: well
it will not hurt them.
| have the distinction, l will
not say honor, of being the
only colored man now in the
county. who voted against
Presiden, Wilson at the last
election. For political rea-
sons, was then for Hughes.
For patriotic reasons, | am
now for Wilson. Then. l fav-
: ored resenting insults to our
flag; now favor revenging
the ruthless murder of Amer
lean citizens. Then l was for
preparing: now l am for tight
ing. Yes. fighting with every
available means at our hands.
For what has the Negro to
fght2 Foolish question! But
we are told to answer fool
according to his question:
and shall try to do 50. In
common with other American
citizens, he has a proud flag, a
glorious country and grand
republican form of government
for which to fight. As race,
he has billions of dollars in
churches, school houses. in
dustrial enterprises. farms
and homes for which to fight.
He has to hight to prove his
courage and loyalty. and to
vindicate his right to Ameri-
can citizenship. and last but
not least, he has to fight to In
sure victory: true the Negro
cannot win this war for Amer
ica, but America cannot win
it without the loyal support
and cooperation Of the color
ed race. In common with all
loyal Americans we have our
place and will do our part.
We will gladly and cheer
fully stand by the flag and if
need be shed our blood and
give of life in its defence.
This the Negro has done
from Bunker Hill to Carrizal.
History records the fact that
no, in a single instance has he
proved disloyal or failed to re
spond to his countrys call.
He knows not what it if to
sulk or be Indifferent. when
the country he loves, the coun
try that gave him birth, civil
ization and Christianity is in
danger.
All can not fight at the front
but everyone, no matter how
humble his position in life
may be, can help in the great
fight tor the freedom of the
sea, the honor Of our flag and
safety of our homes by per-
forming willingly and efficient
ly the work he is best fitted to
do.
Let our motto be: produce
more. waste less. prepare to
The Denver star., 1917-04-28
When the Rub Comes
The Contrast
North Aflame with Patriotism, South Cold
Cold. Negroes RapldIy EnIlstIng.

So far have able discern after the South
secured the presidential approval of segregation the
Bureau Of Engraving u S. Treasury Auditor Navy
Interior Department. Post Office. War Department. Marine
hospital service and the State and other
southern States thru actual enstments
posing their bare hosoms defence of this country and their
president and many southern soldiers willing
and actually presenting their bodies
of the encmys bullet that, they might march
shoulder shoulder with people of all groupes
real democracy and liberty defense of the liberty of the
world the defense of other republics and
OF the rights of little peoples who weak
fully defend their rights. The black has, is
ensng wherever and whenever he his
aid on the side of right and liberty
This crisis has shown. if it has shown anything at
ALL that always the who camors the loudes
about and whois the real patriot Thus
in the South that while of them trying attract
attention by saying the Negro the Negro quiet
ly and rapidly enstng round numbers in Oklahoma
other places Oklahoma has sent Negroes Fort
Logan. -..---xso oesssa.s.
North Carolina isn't showing much war spirit. The
North is all ahame with and Down here
ensng beat the band; walking around
lcord.
On Friday. March 49, Ma yor Baggett the pres-
dent that he wished inform the president that
in this section ready offer and do hereby offer
services defense Of Anne rights support
our contentious be used in whatever that
may require This letter published in the paper
Sunday. March 75 and Monday March 2o recruiting
officer appeared in Ellington expecting doubtless peo
pie other enlist but Wednes
day night mothers had offered
Post.
was in Ellington N c. countyseat of Harnett county
last week when recruiting officer from Fortress Monroe
there persuade young white of military
list but did he Notwithstanding the Of
the pledged a and thought
repel German INVASION"
While was there was told that some of these very
same white patriots O approached crowd of coored
standing the of the and in commanding
manner said why don't of you nggers enlist go
TO WARP"
One Of the colored men replied ut is of
it is up to you white folks fight this thing out
The white replied: You niggers must think We
white folks d-n fools go and leave you all
back here with wives and daughters"
The coored back with; Your fathers did so
fifty years and they had regret it,, Then
there slence.-New York Age.
LOYALTY OF BLACK MAN SIMON PURE
CHICAGO lI-Eiftx black sted the