davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1917-09-16

clashes against steel. rifiebutts crash
against heads. Trench knives sheath
themselves in human flesh. Revolvers
come into play. Some men drop their
weapons single out an antagonist
clinch and fight like wild beasts, with
fists. with nails, with teeth.
We are fresher than they. and they
break and run. We pursue until re-
called by bugle note. and then return
to our trench, painting but triumphant.
A score of prisoners precede us. Some
are arrogant in defeat, others seem
glad the war is ended for them. A few
have lost their nerve and crawl a our
feet asking quarter
The bombardment recommences. We
descend into our shelters with our pris-
oners and find Picard feebler, but still
in possession of all his senses. His
Evening star., 1917-09-16

Cross work, and these will be Immediately
available for advice and instruction
=
"Our instruction to the smaller work
ing units and individuals doing Fed Cross
work is invariably to apply to the nearest
chapter whose chairman should be quail
fed to advise and assist and supply ma
terial to all in her community" said Miss
Marshall
Fortunate it was for the Red Cross
that it was able to obtain her services
for the task of directing the activities
of the millions of women throughout
the land who are willing and anxious to
sew and knit and roll bandages for the
nations men at war. Miss Marshall
came to her work here from the Man
haitian Trade School. of which she was
principal, and she not only has the
scientific and practical knowledge OF
the requirements of the work at her
fingers ends. with an international ex-
perience in technical and trade condi-
tions but also she has the trained ad-
ministrative ability of the staff officer
necessary for organizing the efforts OF
nationwide groups of women
The women of America have re-
sponded nobly to the cali of the Red
Cross" said Miss Marshall. and that
nous magnitude. Millions of women
will be needed for making war supplies
when the Army is on the firing line and
the Navy on the high seas. 1t is to mo-
bilize these women and to secure the
greatest efficiency from their efforts
that the womans bureau of the Red
Cross was organized. Our work is to
stimulate women everywhere to the
great tasks ahead of them. then to
guide and direct their efforts.
y
I'VE especially desire to look after
the women in smaller towns and in
the country. These women working in
their homes, or in small local groups
frequently are not in touch with chap
ter workrooms and organized branches
of Red Cross activity. Yet to get the
full advantage of their work is of vital
Importance at this time. when every
woolen comfort. every hospital gar
ment and every kind of supplies is
headed for the relief of worldwide
suffering"
1--WE want to plan our work SO that
the greatest possible amount can be
done in the quickest and pest manner
to meet the demands of our Army and
Navy and our allies. and we want the
work to be so arranged as to be OF
educational value to those who per-
form the SERVICE" she declared. I'VE
want the women to feel that the
of the American Red Cross and the
United States government. It is up to
them to make 1t count by throwing as
many problems in its way as possible"
In this new bureau of the Red Gross,
whose aim it is to mobilize the non-pro-
Evening star., 1917-09-16

OO ~ and one-half million each
D knitted mufners. sweaters,
O. socks and wristlets. These
are desperately needed before cold
weather"
This is part of a cable message which
was rushed to Red Cross headquarters in
Washington the other month. 1t was sent
by Maj Grayson NJ. P. Murphy. head of
the Red Cross commission in France.
which is finding out exactly the needs of
the men in the trenches.
An interviewer sped across the open
grounds of the State. War and Navy
building to the new white haven of mercy
on 18th street to find out how this order
was to be met Realizing that only tne
recently created woman's bureau could
handle such a demand. its circurnscrlDed
quarters in the much overcrowded build
ing were sought
The new director of the womans bu-
reau Miss Florence NJ. Marshall. sat at
a bis desk in the midst of secretaries. A
l,itted sweater meant Christmas for
some one in a foreign land. and parity
made khaki comfort kit bespoke thought
,f home care for some soldier lad
Ry happy combination OF circum-
stances. Just before the cable for the
"uoo,ies" came from France, the Red
Cross had purchased 100000 pounds OF
In;+t;ne- wool. to be knitted by American
women into garments to protect American
soldiers and sailors from cold this winter.
This yarn is being distributed to Red
Cross warehouses and sold at lowest possi-
Bile price to the chapters throughout no11 the the
sales are turned back into the treasury OF
the Red Cross and made available for
further purchases
Three spinning mills are now engaged
in making this yarn, which will furnish
900 pairs of socks. This stock. when
worked into finished shape. will. In dollars
and cents, represent 100000 in yarn
value. but it Will represent nearly three
times the value when made into garments
by means of the busy hands Of American
women. This is good beginning Tor the
5000, 900 comforts asked. and before win
ter sets in the snug helmets and the tidy
sweaters should be in possession of all
the boys on the French fields.
Since she entered upon her position in
Washington Miss Marshall has been in
constant communication with the Red
Cross commission In France. and has
known the denaEd for women's work. To
meet the situation. the head Of the wom-.
ans bureau had clear and simple direc-
tions prepared. with complete informa-
tion as to the knitted articles asked for by
Nal Murphy
The circular. which is available to any
woman who applies to the nearest Red
Cross chapter, tells exactly how to obtain
yarn. gives detailed knitting Instructions.
and where to send the garments for imme-
Evening star., 1917-09-16

and ordered Marceau to march at the
head of the column with the wounded
officer on his back.
When the sentinel challenges us you
will answer I say or you will die
the next minute he menaced. and
Marceau, barely able to keep his feet
through fatigue. nodded dejectedly.
Our sentinels were alert. Their
were within 200 yards of our outposts.
Call to them the number Of your
regiment and say we come as REIN
forcements. whispered the Bavarian
him in the side with the barrel of his
revolver.
Marceau did not hesitate.
1T is Marceau of the Sd Company,
eign Legion. who approaches" he
shouted. II have with me Lieut..
rastigone. who is wounded" Then as
the sentinel. recognizing his voice and
help bring in the officer, Marceau
shouted more loudly than before:
ITO arms The boches! l am a
prison. But the report of the Ba-
varian officers pistol drowned the rest.
The surprise was not surprise after
all due to Marceau's abnegation. and
the regiment, its guard, was able
to hold out until next day, when rein
forcementS arrived.
Marceau did not die. The bullet
glanced off his ribs and did not make
much more than a flesh wound. He re-
ceived both the war cross and the mill
tary medal, and. with them on his
breast. will never again be mistaken
for German.
The battalion occupied a position that
jutted out into the German lines and
was an eye-sore to the Prussian gen.
eral staff.
In front there were fat meadows
SCARED by the criss-crossing of the
enemy trenches, and behind US rose
wooded plateau that afforded ample
camouflase to our artillery. The Ger
mans coveted the plateau. whose strate-
eical value was incalculable, and We
We're Just anxious to keep 1T. We
had held it easily against their many
attacks. for our trenches on the sum-
nit dominated the only road which
gave access from the plain.
For weeks things had been quiet in
our sector; then one fine day the boches
recommended their cannonading. We
knew what to expect, for to soldier,
the booming of artillery presages an
infantry attack just as surely as to
farmer thunderstorm will spell rain.
During the slack weeks we had dug
out splendid shelters. and, as the enemy
brought no big guns into play. we had
could not penetrate our defenses, and.
except for a dozen men or SO. who
manned the observation posts. the en-
tire battalion laughed at the lombard
ment from the shelter of or "cagnas."
However. every once in a while shrap-
mel would burst directly above the
trench. sprinkling us with round bull
lets and fragments of asing
Thus it was that Picard got his-a
nasty cash in the abdomen.
Picard was colorlese chap about
forty years old. whose chief claim to
distinction was wife and four babies.
whose photographs he was always
showing around. He was fairly well
liked by every one. for he always did
his share of work uncomplainingly We
picked him up, put him on stretcher,
applied first aid bandage and were
about to take him to the dressing sta
tion in the rear when the "a1erte" was
given The Germans were attacking.
Not d man could be spared from his
place. So we had to leave poor Picard
in a corner of an "abris" to await the
result of the battle.
Through the loopholes we can see
Evening star., 1917-09-16
Girls and Soldiers.

ssH Owe and war go together" said
u a well known novelist. mo young
man out of uniform need expect much
attention from the girls for the next
year or two to come.
AN aviator from the Escadrille Ia
fayette met q French girl in Paris.
"'Have you killed any bochesT she
asked him. eagerly.
Yes he answered.: with this goco
right hand I've settled three
"She snatched his hand in both hers
she was a very pretty girl-and printed
warm kisses on 1t.
".0ee,' said the young aviator. sw1y
didn't tell you I'd bitten en- -
death?"
Evening star., 1917-09-16

retailers shelves. The boards investi-
gators found that the retailer was
carrying every day more than he sold.
which meant that the bakers who sup
piled him were making more than they
sold.
The board sent it's agents to a num-
Der of leading bakers and wrote to
over four hundred others in all parts
of the country in order to find out
what their practice was. 1t was dis
covered that largely for competitive
reasons most of these bakers regularly
supplied the retailer with more bread
than they expected him to sell. Their
point was that the retailer should have
enough of their bread on hand so that
there should be no complaint on his
part that he was not supplied. Amy
amount of the bread that remained on
the dealers shelves unsold the baker
took back when the next days supply
was delivered.
The board found that more than 4
Evening star., 1917-09-16

of his own tunic picture of his own
blond kinder
Again the alarm is sounded. The
lookouts have seen a low yellow cloud
arise from the German lines. and come
toward US ahead of the wind. 1t is the
asphyxiating gas, diabolical chlorine
compound, which suffocates and pol
sons.
Our officers make the rounds to see
that every man puts on his mask. The
food supply is well covered, that the
poisonous gas may not spoil it. Fires
are lit every few yards in the trench: ::
our artillery drops shells into the
cloud mass, to dssipate it.
The air begins to density. Our eyes
water But we are not afraid: our
masks, with their chemical antidoae.
will permit US to defy the fumes.
Suddenly violent spells of coughing
break the silence. The officers look
around anxiously. Who have not put on
their masks7 The wounded men? Sure
Evening star., 1917-09-16

great deal more at stake than profits
this year and next
The emergency has put the whole
system of free business enter
prise on trial." he said. 1T is matched
against the Prussian system Of state
controlled business in just the same de-
cisive way that American democracy Is
matched against Prussian autocracy.
But it can be defeated far more easily.
1t can be discredited and supplanted
without a German victory. j am glad
to say that the board has had the most
encouraging experience of the volun-
tary system. Acting, as it does.
without coercive power. it has SO far
had the heartiest cooperation of prac-
Evening star., 1917-09-16

ons to carry home the daily buyings of
the people. Now it takes but eighteen
In other towns there has been a saving
of from 25 to rs per cent.
The readjustments proposed by the
commercial economy board are obvious
ly readjustments that will eventually
have to be made in any case. Expert
ence has shown that they have had to
be made in all belligerent countries, and
sometimes suddenly and with great loss.
1t is to obviate such hardships and
losses that the board exists.
Mr.. Shaw pointed out that while none
of the recommendations proposed by
the board were In the least contrary to
good business practice, business had
Evening star., 1917-09-16

tically every business man with whom
it has dealt"
The members of the commercial econ.
omy board besides Mr.. Shaw. are: WAL
lace D. Simmons of st. Louis: E. F. Gay,
professor Of economics at Harvard and
dean of the Harvard graduate school OF
business administration: George Rublee.
former member of the Federal Trade
Commission and a member Of the eight
hour commission. and Henry s. Denni-
son of Framingham, Mass. DR.. Hollis
Godfrey. president of the Drexel Insti-
tute and a member of the advisory
commission of the Council of National
Defense. is an ex-officfo member Of the
commercial economy board.
Evening star., 1917-09-16

once. but often half a dozen times
day. The board has recommended that
retail delivery be generally reduced
to one a day, and that special deliv-
cries be stopped. These recommenda-
tions are already being put into ef-
feet in many localities.
Conservation by means of cooperative
deliveries is also being urged by the
board in small and medium sized towns
Already there are number of towns
where the system is on a successful
basis. Ann Arbor. Mich. is one of these
having had a cooperative delivery con-
Quoted by its merchants for several
years. Formerly it took seventy wag-
Evening star., 1917-09-16

per cent of the bread delivered to the
retailers of this country was returned
unSold to the bakers, the bakers them
selves going to the expense of collect
ing it. The boards agents then inVes-
tigated the ultimate destination of this
per cent of returned bread. Some of
it was sold to the poor. who went direct
to the bakers for it. but it was found
that a very large proportion was sold
at a nominal price to farmers for their
live stock. 1t has been calculated by
the board that the bread wasted in this
way in normal peace times has been
enough to feed 100000 people.
j. ::
The bakers and the retailers of the
country have taken a keen interest in
this investigation, and with few excep-
tions they have heartily co-operated
with the board in stopping the leakage
They agreed that by joint action the
change to no returns could be made
with little Inconvenience to baker, re-
taller or housewife The housewife
would only have to regulate her orders
of bread as she already regulated her
orders of milk.
In accordance with the boards rec
ommendation the change is now gem
orally effectual ana practically all of
cutting out important source of
bread waste caused by former methods
of distribution. The food administration
has assisted in the work by asking on
its home cards that all bakery bread
be ordered twentyfour hours in ad-
vance
The commercial economy board found
another costly non essential service in
the return goods privilege allowed by
retail dry goods and department stores.
Its Investigations in one store discov-
cred that the average cost to that store
of delivering a package was 25 cents,
and that 25 per cent of the goods sold
were returned.
In typical store, with total annual
sales amounting to SS.0O0.000, an in
vestigation by the manager showed
that the returns amounting to 20 per
cent of the sales. involved an extra ex-
pense of $4,000 in the office. $40 1000 in
packing and $4,000 in delivery. The
board has recommended that this prac-
tice be severely curtaiied in the inter-
est OF economy Of material, labor and
equipment.
But the returned goods are only one
phase of the waste in retail delivery
service. The commercial economy
board has gone into the subject much
more broadly. 1t has held conferences
with representative merchants and it
Evening star., 1917-09-16

fatal after all We wonder if we could
have saved him by getting him to the
dressing station at once. But suddenly
we notice that no mask covers his face.
while beside him croucnes the Germa
prisoner he of the four children. calm
iy wearing a French regulation aspira-
tor.
Supposing that the Boche had over
powered our comrade and deprived him
of his mack. we raise our rifles with
deadly intent, but another wounded
comrade lying nearby halts US with
cry. and tells US what he had seen
through the yellow gas fumes.
The German between coughing spells
was moaning. "quatre enfants." 'ihr
kinder" when Picard, handing him his
mask, said:
Here, take this. Four children. I
Evening star., 1917-09-16

suppose the Zouaves and Marsoins
should be very far behind?
We picked out a good strategical po-
sition. and, surrounded by sentine1s.
tried to snatch little sleep without
taking off our equipment or relaxing
our grips on our rifles. We did not
know that to the left of US the Zouaves
had met with a rebuff Our artillery
had failed to destroy the German
blockhouses in front of them, and. as
a result, their bayonets had been pow
Evening star., 1917-09-16

in a recent inquiry into the cost of
carriage in the city of Washington that
it costs IA per cent of the gross sales
of food to pay for it's delivery. On a
food bill of about twelve and three
quarter millions of dollars in 1915
Washington paid over $500. 900 for send
ing the stuff to the purchasers. Natu-
rally it cost more to deliver some
things than others. Ice. bread. milk,
ice cream cost Washington most.
The commercial economy board has
found that similar conditions exist in
all parts of the country. 1t estimates
that the gross delivery expense Of re-
tail grocers in the country is over
$15. .000, 900 a year. What is this sum
used for? For the hire of men to put
up packages. to run the number Of
wagons and trucks required" to put
them at the householder's door. not
Evening star., 1917-09-16

erless against the concrete protected
boche machine guns.
:. ::
To the right of us the Marsoins had
failed to gain much ground. because
they had advanced too rapidly at the
beginning and had been caught by their
own artillery fire, losing very many
Evening star., 1917-09-16

men. We. therefore. were alone in
enemy country and in danger of being
cut off. We did not know it. but the
Germans did. and three regiments of
Bavarians were sent to round US up.
Marceau was staggering toward the
dressing station with a wounded Of
ficer on his back when a mob of silent
shadows rose around him and made
him prisoner.
These men will help us surprise the
F'ranZozen, said the German colonel,
Evening star., 1917-09-16

diate shipment to France. Before prepar-
ing this manual Miss Marshall called in
consultation those who had studied the
problem abroad and so had learned the
needs of the men, She also sent for knit
ting experts to assist in the standardiza-
ton of simple practical patterns Of he'll
NETS. sweaters, mufflers, socks and wrist
lets. The directions for making these ar
Evening star., 1917-09-16

The result was that by nightfall we
had penetrated some ten miles into the
enemy country. and had lost contact
with the rest of the line.
our officers held a council. Should
we retire before re-estab1ishing con-
tact with the regiments to the right
and left of us. or should we await them
where we were" The second course
was decided upon, for why should we
Evening star., 1917-09-16
By Gerald Brandon

know what that means. / am wounded
to death What does 1t matter IL die
a day sooner or latterT -
Armagnac was a patriot, and would
voting his life to France, had he not
previously promised to dedicate II to
making Renee happy.
He was very much in love with the
little blond Parisienne. and had taken
the entire company into his conf1dence.
In his daily letters to Renee, he would
give her all the trench gossip, and
when he mentioned that Godard's wife
was expecting a little stranger. ano
that her ldier-husband was worrying
about his pecuniary inability to supply
the needful, she called on the poor
woman with a hamper full OF DELI
cacies, and stayed until she could write
to the front that mother and child were
doing well.
From then on. Damon and Pythias
had nothing on GODDARD and Arma gnac-
They were always together. and even
shared their home letters.
They made a strange pair; Godard'
bravny and stoop-shouldered, not over
particular as to his person. garbed in
the nonedscript faded uniform that the
poilu inherits. an odd garment AT
time, from former comrades VINO nave
na saed out Armagnac. slim and SOL
dierjv in his tailor made costume OF
blue gray, which he brushed careiuiiy
every time a she'll spattered him WIN
dirt The boy was not very strohs' aho
his friend saved him fatigue whenever
he could He would carry his KNAPP
sack for a mile or two on long march,
would wash his linen for him on a
Sunday in the rear, ana wouia even
volunteer in his place when 1t was
Armagnac's turn to go out on dah-
gerous ''patrouille.
One day the "vaguemestre' handed
GODDARD an envelope addressed IN
dainty feminine hand. which he recoe
him. why should she write to him and
not to her fance? He hid the letter
beneath his tunic and waited until
ArmaRnac was not present before read
and moody. Armagnac in vain tried 20
get him to unbosom his worry NiBnt
came and with it the captain to order
dangerous reconnaissance through the
enemy's wire. 1t was Godards turn.
but to every ones surprise he begged
Armagnac to take his place
'I do not feel WELL he said. For
once do for me what / have so often
done for you"
Armagnac, surprised yet pleased TO
help out his comrade, departed on the
perilous mission.
The next morning he dragged himself
back wounded to death.
Poor Renee. she will never outlive
me-" he gasped to GODDARD. who carried
him in his arms to the dressing station
Take care of her for me. She will be
desperate
That night GODDARD asked the captain
for a few words alone.
II am a. murderer" he stated, but
want you to understand I sent Armag-
nae to his death deliberately that ne
hight never know of this"
And he handed to the officer the letter
received the day before. in which Renee
begged him to break to her fiance the
news of her marriage to wealthy
army contractor.
You understand it was not on ac-
count of cowardice that I sent him in
my place? Do you not?" he pleaded.
..It was better he should be killed By
the Germans than by sorrow"
Copyright, 1917. BY he Bell syndicsre, l.e)
Evening star., 1917-09-16

has sent its agents to typical stores
in Washington. Philadelphia. New York,
Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Nashville.
BY means of lists of questions it has
gathered data and opinions from 500
retail grocery stores and more than
thousand retail dry goods and depart
ment stores in all parts of the coun-
try.
Evening star., 1917-09-16

on the basis of the facts obtained
the board estimates that the retail gro
Gerry, dry goods and department stores OF
the country employ more than 100000
deliverymen. 1t is probable that one
third Of these either have joined or
will shortly join the countrys fight
ing forces. The board has asked the
merchants to make readjustments iii
their delivery service. which will en-
able them 10 geN on without replacing
these men from agriculture. mining,
shipbulding, transportation, munitions
making or the like. or from the supply
of workers available for these vital in
dustries.
When it is considered that many
stores are making four or five deliver
les day when one would do. and that
men and women are everywhere hav-
ing packages delivered that they might
almost as conveniently carry. it will
be seen that the necessary readjuSt-
ments are by no means out of the ques-
ton.
The bureau of the census discovered
Evening star., 1917-09-16

M 7HEN the name of the COM
NAV mercial economy board of
HH the Council of National De-
" " fahS iS
Evening star., 1917-09-16

EGIN shipping at once one
and one-half million each
knitted mufflers, sweaters,
Evening star., 1917-09-16

The circular which is available to any
woman who applies to the nearest Red
Cross chapter, tells exactly how to obtain
yarn. gives detailed knitting Instructions.
and where to send the garments for imme-