davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-12-08
GERMANS FOOLED
BY BRITISH: TAKE
ABANDONED WOOD
Reforming Of Line Done So
Quietly That Enemy Was
MisIed for Several
Hours.
(By Associated PressD

German wedges, driven into the
salient before Cambrai, have conf
PEELED the British TO evacuate ex-
posed points, and they have given UP
to the Germans several villages west
of Cambria as we'll As the Bourbon
wood. The retirement was carried
out, 50 well that the Germans ! S con- n.
tined to Shell The empty POSITIONS
for several hours, not knowing the
British had left them,
The British line has bees, short
ened and made. more capable of
strong defense by the retirement.
Attacks Repulsed. -
Berlin in its latest report claims
the occupation of Marcoing, about
four miles southwest of Cambria.
Minor German attacks south of Bour-
lon wood and near, La Vacquerie have
beeen repulsed by the British.
Violent fighting continues on the
northern Italian front between Asiago
and the Brenta river, where fhe Aus
tro- Germans made gains Wednesday,
but have not yet been able to, break
the Italian line. The Italians, intlict-
ing heavy losses on the attackers, re-
tired gradually to prepared positions
up Monte Flor and Monte Castelgom-
berto. ~.
On the western end of the line the
Austro-German attempts to encircle
the Meletta position and cut it off
were defeated. Along the Brenta east
OF. Monte Badenecche and Monte
.Tondarecar, lost Wednesday to the
enemy, the Italians repulsed with
heavy loss, determined effort to
break through,
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-12-08
Most Of ACtaeon Crew
Reach Shore Safely

New York, Dec. All but four
or five of the entire crew Of the
American steamship Actaeon. sunk
by a submarine on. November Is, have
reached European ports safely, ac-
cording to authentic reports received
here today.
The crew of the Actaeon, formerly
the German merchantmen Adam
strum, included 20 American citizens
and five naturalized Americans.
Madrid, Dec. 7.-Twenty-one sur
vivors of the American steamer
Actaeon, which was torpedoed and
sunk on November Is, have arrived
here. They are suffering severely
from exporsure.
This dispatch probably refers to the
survivors reported on November Il to
have landed at Cape Finisterre. Sixty
three others in three boats were re-
ported missing.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-12-08

CONDITIONS APPALLING.
Exact conditions in stricken Hall
fax are more appalling than was indi~
Gated by last nights reports.
This message was dispatched to
Governor Mccall this morning by A.
c. Ratshesky. manager of the Massa-
chusetts special relief train, after a
night spent in gathering bits OF infor-
nation from trainnen and others as
the train sped eastward.
The dead are everywhere, said
these reports. There is immediate
need of a great staff OF surgeons and
scores OF nurses.
Supplies and help of every kind will
be welcome. Ii has not been hui
manly possible to take care OF the
hundreds of injured and many per-
ished during the night.
In improvised morgues the dead
are piled high and unidentified.
Scores q these bodies never will be
claimed
Stunned by the magnitude Of the
disaster which has overwhelmed the
garrison city by the sea- the people
of Halifax today bent all their ener-
gies to relieving the injured, feeding
the hungry. shelteriug the homeless
and gathering their dead.
A heavy snowstorm set i'll today,
aud while this in measure inlpeded
the work Of relief and rescue, II
served TO aid the hremen i'll fighting
the flames which still burned ficrcely
in many places among the runs IN
the devastated district.
Estimate Two Thousand Lives Lost.
Reports from the improvised
morgues and from hospitals.
churches, schools and private resi-
dences seemed to bear out last nights
estimate that at least 1000 lives were
lost when the Belgian relief steam
ship limo collided with the French
munitions steamer Mont Blanc, caus-
ing the detonation of 1000 tons OF
,trinitrotuluol, one OF the most pow
erful explosives manufactured.
Help from outside began to reach
the stricken city today. Doctors,
nurses and medical and food cupplies
dIINeu On SpSCldl lldlHS IIoiil Ilulo
and Windsor N. s., and from None
ton, N. b. Other trains wereA ex-
pectcd to reach here during the day.
The special train sent from Boston
by direction of Governor Mccall of
Massachusetts, wal arrive this eve
ming. e
Virtually all business is suspended
and the schools are closed. while the
inhabitants generally are turning their
attention to relief work., Soldiers and
sailors, including seamen from ali
American warship, which rushed to
the port when it received word OF the
disaster, are patrolling the stricken
district and aiding in the-rescue work.
Fire Still Burning.
The Snowfall, however, comes as an
aid to the fremeu in quenching the
flames in the ruins.
Special trains, bringing doctors
(ContiDded on Page Three, Column 0ne.l
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-12-08


lines held and the entire party was
still on the mountain when the ye-
mainder of the Italian line fell back.
In another case one brigade of Ber-
saglieri lost number of officers and
men in the same proportion.
The extent of the enemy reserves is
shown by their concentration in the
average amount of a division for
every kilometer. The artillery fire
also has been the heaviest since the
new Italian line was formed.
? Conditions this morning were vir-
tually unchanged. Much depends upon
the ability of the Italians to hold the
passes to which they now have re-
tired, commanding the Brenta valley
aad the plains.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-12-08
Grocery Stores and Meat
Markets to Close Sunday

Beginning next Sunday, December
9, all grocery stores, meat markets
and bakeries must close by city ordi-
nance. The Sunday closing ordi-
nance goes into effect that day. The
fine for not obeying this ordinance is
SIS for the first oifense and $100 for
the second. The Grocers' and Butch
ers' association Of Omaha will watch
the situation closely Sunday for vio-
iations. Secretary J. J. Cameron of
the association says in all probabil-
ity any who keep their stores open
Sunday will be arrested. He says he
has heard rumors of few who in
tend to open for business in order to
test the validity of the ordinance.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-12-08
The Road To Wealth

Economy is the road to
Wealth. Particularly true in
War Times. All things that are
not absolutely essential to your
welfare should be sacrificed.
If you have any articles, Of
furniture, clothing. office fix
lures, musical instruments or
personal effects that have
ceased to be Of value to you
Trade Them
for something you actually
need by putting a small ad in
The Swappers' Column
of The Bee. You can count on
a rapid exchange.
Swappers' column rates are
25c for a 3 line advertisement
5 times, and Sc for each answer
you receive
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-12-08
WARS CARNAGE
PALES BESIDE
HALIFAX HORROR
Persons Under Debris Battered
Beyond Recognition; Parents
in Mad Frenzy Rush to
Find Little Ones.
(By Associated Press.)

st, John, N. B., Dec. livery pub
lie school student in the city was
asked to bring to his school today a
bit Of clothing for some destitute
child Of Halifax. Tonight 10000
pieces of clothing we're icounted as
representing the response of the
city's youth.
A. St. John distributing depot has
been opened in the devastated city
and frequent trains will keep 1t sup
piled with donations collected here.
RECOVER 1900 BODIES.
Persons arriving here on steam
ships sfrom Halifax added to the story
of death and sufferina Thomas
Trainor, pilot, said that 1000 bodies
had been recovered. He had seen
several steamers in the harbor that
had been damaged and said that the
number of seamen killed was large.
c. P. Frizzil>reported having seen
50 charred bodies in Campbell road.
While walking from Halifax to Need
ham, he counted 400 bodies scattered
in the nelds.
Another arrival said that in a
school at Richmond 200 children had
met, death. v-
The battlehelds OF Europe do not
provide a parallel to the scenes wit.
messed at Halifax, in The opinion OF
Duncan Grey, who arrived today.
This is his story:
Worse Than Wars Carnage.
"I have been in the trenches in
France. ] have gone over the top.
Friends and comrades have been
shot in my presence. ! have seen
scores of dead men lying upon the
battlefield, but the sight that greeted
me yesterday was a thousand times
worse and tar more. pathetic. \,
II saw people lying around undel
debris; some battered beyond recog.
milton and others groaning III thcii
last agonies. es+E
Rushing here ,andthereI / struggled
TO assist them and as near as | car
remember, pulled q men and children
from under the %reckage. AS | was
right in the affected district, / wit
messed the full horror of the situa
tion. Partly blinded by the smoke
from burning dwellings, | gropec
around assisting some of the pooi
mothers and little ones who were
running about screaming and search
, ing vainly for lost ones. Death wa'
everywhere.
A Living Hell.
"Flames were sweeping wide
pathway for themselves. Doomet
structures were belching forth. grea
volumes of smoke from doors ant
windows. The district was living
hell. Some of the bodies were with
out clothing. Many were so rnutil
ated that it was difficult to realiz'
that they were human. Some mel
were virtually demented. -
Thinking only of their wives ant
children they dashed about in TIL,
burning debris hazarding their live
with the single thought of rescuins
their own. =
Parents in Frenzy.
81 shall never forget how | felt ii
that hour. I saw little childreS run
ming along. some with blood stream
ing from them. All were crying TO
their parents while fathers and moth
ers raced about in frenzy. | hav'
Enever seen anything so pathetic evel
OIL the battlefield"
Right Rev. E. A. Leblanc, th
Catholic bishop here, today received
word that all the children of tn,
Sacred Heart convent and at st
Mary's school in Halifax, escaped.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-12-08
Count Czernin Says Peace
Will Follow ArmiStiCe

Amsterdam, Dec. 7.-The Vienna
correspondent of the Berlin Lokal
Anzeiger says that Count Czernin,
the Austro- Hungarian foreign minis
ter, alluding to a newspaper report
that the delegations would adjourn
owing to thu peace negotiations, told
a committee of the Hungarian delega-
ton that the government desired that
peace negotiations should follow the
Mmistice. and in that case my de-
parture to participate in them would
be necessary and nobody will deny
that it is my duty TO be there"
The correspondent adds that the
question whether the delegations will
adjourn 10 still undecided
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-12-08

EFFECTIVE AT sos P. NJ
The resolution, the response Of con-
gress to the presidents request in his
address Tuesday, is similar to that
passed April 6, declaring war on Ger
many. 1t became effective at sos p.
m. today, when it was signed by the
executive without formality. An
executive proclamation will follow
shortly.
SEJATE'S VOTE UNANIMOUS.
After but one hours debate the
resolution was unanimously adopted
by the senate with an affirmative vote
Of "a. 1t was approved by the house,
365 to |, Representative London, the
New York socialist casting the only
dissenting vote.
kfew minutes later Vice President
Marshall and Speaker Clark had
signed the document and sent it to
the White, House, where President
Wilson attached his signature with
Secretary Tumulty and Assistant Sec
retary Forster as the only witnesses.
ne TESoluIloHs IVlLONo.s 4
Joint resolution.
Declaring that state of war ex-
lists between, the Imperial and Royal
Austro-H Hungarian government and
the government and the people OF the
United States and making provision
ito prosecute the same,
Acts Of War Against U. 5.
Whereas the ln1pa arial and Royal
Austro- Hungarian government has
committed repeated acts OF war
against the government and the peo-
ple of the United States of America;
therefore be it,
Resolved by the senate and house
Of representatives of the United
,SsateS Of America in congress assem-
M that a state of war is hereby de-
clafed to exist between the United
States of America and the Imperial
and Royal Austro-Hungarian govern
ment and that the president be and
he is hereby authorized and directed
to employ the entire naval and mill
tary forces Of the United States and
the resources Of the government to
> carry on war against the Imperial and
Royal Austro- Hungarian, govern
ment: and to bring the conflict to a
successful termination. All the re-
sources of the country are hereby
pledged blythe congress of the United
States.
"CHAMP. CLARK,
Speaker OF the house OF repre-
sentatives.
THOMAS r. MARSHALL,
ufNice President Of the United
SSNat.s and president of the senate.
"Approvej7th December, 1917.
"WOODROW WILSON.
Turkey and Bulgaria Deferred.
In accord with President Wilson's
suggestion, action in respect to Tur-
kew and Bulgaria, Sermany's other
allies. was left to the future. Wide
spread demand in congress for their
inclusion in the declaration was indi-,
Continued on Page Two. Column 0ne.)
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-12-08
5 UGlHS IcPSdtSU NO0"y'
STRONG COOPERATION.


STRONG COOPERATION. '
1t has been established that while
Field Marshal Gonrad Won Hoetzen-
dorff is directing the movement Gen
eral Won Krobatin's forces also are
cooperating. In addition to the su-
periority in numbers the Austro-Ger-
mans. are taking advantage of the
backward season and are striking be-
fore the mountain SHOWS impede oper-
atiorls. -s.. '-'.... - 4
The weather this year happens to
be favorable, to the enemy. The
snow is only few inches deep,
whereas in December the snow rsu-
ally reaches a depth of from four to
10 feet. One such snowfall now
would be worth divisions. Gray skies
today indicated snow, but the fall was
light. 49,. .. y
Russian Prisoners Released.
Austrian prisoners taken in the last
few days say that the release of Rus,
sian prisoners held in Austria began
10 days ago. Austria took the intia-
tive in this without waiting for Rus
sia to release Austrian prisoners.
Each Russian prisoner was schooled
carefully in Austria's desire to end
the war and the whole body of these
Russian prisoners was returned to
Russia as sort of a propaganda for
terminating the struggle.
The importance of the fighting
around Asiago is not underestimated,
but it is believed the line of resist
ance On which the Italians have tre-
tired is capable of holding the Fran
celia and Gadena passes leading into
the Brenta valley and the open plain
some miles below. The fighting has
been of the most desperate charac-
ter and while the enemy has paid
dearly for its success the Italian
losses also have been very heavy.
An eyewitness from the scene OF
operations gave the correspondent de-
tails of the extent and bloody nature
of the carnage. Enemy reserves were
poured in until the Italians were far
outnumbered. They continued to
struggle desperately, however, and in
one case small detachment of Ber-
saglieri met the shock of an entire
Austrian regiment. Austrian kaiser
jaegers displayed unprecedented fe-
rocity, using stilettoes as well as
bayonets in fierce hand to hand fight
ing.
Bravery of Bersaglieri.
But the ,greatest single instance OF
feroism and loss was in the case of
several detachments of Alpini, which
held Monte Castelgomberto against
overwhelming odds until surrounded.
Thus encircled, they made repeated
charges, but the heavy surrounding
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-12-08
Find German Clique
Here for Defense

New York, Dec. 7.--Letters in
dicating the existence in this coun-
try of German military organi-
zation for defense" were seized by
agents of the naval intelligence bu-
reau today when they examined the
effects of Otto julius Merkel,
German writer and lecturer. who
was arrested last night and interned
on Ellis island on orders from the
government authorities. According
to these communications, Merkel
was at the head of this German
body.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-12-08
LATE WAR
BULLETINS
MONTE SISEMoL TAKEN.

Berlin, Dec. -Four thousand
more Italians have been captured in
the new Austro- German offensive on
the northern front, bringing up the
total to $4,000, according to today's
official communication. Monte Sise-
mol was captured by storm, the state
ment adds.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-12-08
R-rULSE AT VERDUN.

Paris, Dec. 1.-TWO attempts were
made by the Germans to attack the
French lines east Of the Meuse in the
Verdun region last night, after
heavy bombardment. The attacking
forces, the war Office announced to-
day, were driven off by the French
Gre
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-12-08
PRESIDENT SIGNS BILL
DECLARING GERMANY'S
ALLY AMERICAS ENEMY
Congress, With One Dissenting Vote, Adopts Resolution
in Response to Epochal Speech Of Tuesday; Eftec'
tive at 5:03 P. NJ Friday When Chief Execu-
tive Affixed Signature to Document.
fRy Associated Press.l

(By Assocat
Washington Dec War between the United States and
Austria. Hungary wa. formally declared today.
Congress- with dissenting vote in the house. adopted
stence Of state between the Imperial and Royal Aus
trt and the government and people OF
the and authorizing the president to employ the
nations armed forces pedgg its to victory
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-12-08
NO REPORT TO TRoTZKY.

London, Dec. 1.-THE Russian am
bassador at London has decided not
to reply to the telegram Of Leon
Trotzky, the Bolsheviki foreign min
lister, ordering him to resign unless
he was willing to follow, the Bolshe-
Wiki peace policy.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-12-08
ITzLYHOLDS NARROWPASSES:
TERRIFIC ONSLAUGHTS FAIL
Takes Advantage of Unusually Mild Weather and Attacks
With Unprecedented 'Ferocity, Meeting Determined
and Bloody Resistance From Bersaglien and
y Alpini Which Preserve Italian Line.

Italian Headquarters in Northern Italy, Thursday, Dec g.
The big operation which the enemy attempting in the
north virtually repetition of the turning movement he
ecued weeks ago the great offensive above Gorza At
that broke through the upper end Of the line and thus
endangered the lower end This exactly the situation which
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-12-08
SNOWFALL COOLS
BURNING RUINS
IN STRICKEN CITY
Havoc Wrought by Great Explosion Not Fully Estmated
Dead Number Thousands; Property Loss Runs Into
Millions; American Sailors Patrol Streets
Red Cross Dispatches Relief Train.

Halifax, N. s., Dec. 7-Five thousand casuaties200O
dead 5000. others injured.
This tonghs official estimate of the toll exacted in hui
lives and suffering by the explosion and fires Of Yesterday
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-12-08
BATTLE STILL RACES.

Rome, Dec. 7.-"On the Asiago pla-
teau the battle is continuing without
interruption" says today's official re-
port.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-12-08
NEW CHIEF.OF-STAFF.

Petrograd, Dec. General Bouch-
Bruyovitch, former commander-in-
chief, has been appointed chief-of-
staff,
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-12-08
Comparative Local Record.

Temperature and precipitation departures
from the normal:
Normal temperature .,................ 80
deficiency for the day. y.................. "a
Total deficiency since March 1.......... .240
Horr,.l nrecipitation ......... -.03 inch
Total rainfall since March 1....2I52 inches
Deficiency since March 1....... 7.o2 inches
Deficiency for cor period 1916. IL. .47 inches
deficiency for cor. PERIOD 1915. 1.s0 inches
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-12-08
The Weather

For Nebraska-Fair. ~
remneratnres at Omaha Yesterday.
The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-11-09
TAX NOTICE.!

I have issued executions on all
unpaid personal taxes, and have ap-
pointed Mr.. Z. II. Garland Of Lake
land Fla, as my deputy to collect
same, he will collect both taxes and
costs. The law prescribes that the
deputy may collect the following
costs: "On amounts of less than So
taxes. his fee shall be fifty cents: on
amounts of over S. and less than
Sic taxes. his fee shall be Is cents:
and on amounts over $40 taxes he
shall receive fee of one dollar"
]. P. MURDAUGH,
6SSO Tax Collector.
The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-11-09
SHIPPERS OF FANCY FRUIT
SEE RUIN OF TRADE IN THE
RULING EXPRESS COMPANIES
Box Fruit Shipped East Of Missis-s
sippi and North of Potomac and
Ohio Rivers at Shippers Risk
tOrlando Reporter Starr

WI iahuo ltCPoi tCl
Local shippers of fancy fruit to the
north who have worked up a con-
siderable box trade, see in a recent
ruling of the express companies the
serious crippling of their business,
if not the ruination of it.
The express companies will accept
fiuit only at the shippers risk, in
territory east of the Mississippi and
north of the Potomac and Ohio riv-
els.
Several of the local shippers of fan
ty box trade have taken up the mat
ter with Mr.. Royal C. Dunn, rail-
road commissioner who has taken up
the matter with the Interstate Com
merce Commission. Mr.. Dunn's let
ter to the commission reads az fol-
lows:
The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion. Washington, D. c.
Gentlemen:
The Southern Express Company
has notified shippers of citrus fruit
in Florida that they will accept shiu-
mcnts Of citrus fruit during the com.
ing season for shipment to points
north of Washington, ID. c., only at
shippers risk.
There are quite number of citrus
fruit shippers in Florida who make
a specially of box shipments into the
northern pOints-a business which
has proven quite lucrative to them
in past seasons. They advise this
Commission now that If this rulinE
of the Express Companies is allowed
; to stand. that it will amount to
practically an embargo of their ship.
n,cnts this year, and will thus de-
strcy business which they have
been number of years in building
up. The Railroad Commission of this
State would like to have you inves-
tigate this situation and advise If
there is no way to remedy this trou
BILE.
1t would seem that If an Express
company is to be of any service to
the country at all, it must be valu-
able in the handling Of those prod
ucts which the public desires to be
handled quickly; and. while the pub
lie cannot demand nor expect unreas.
enable things Of any transportation
company, yet 1t would seem that Il Is
the duty of the Express companies
of the country to accept shipments
offered to them without making an
exception on the express receipts
which puts the entire risk for loss or
damage, account transportation, on
the shipper of the article.
Your prompt handling of this mat
ter with view of correction will
certainly be very much appreciated
by the fruit growers of the State oi
Florida and by this Railroad Com.
mission
Yours very truly,
ROYAL, C. DUNN,
Commissioner
The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-11-09
STATE RED CROSS CON.
VENTION IN JACKSONVILLE
ON DECEMBER s AND 6

jacksonville, Nov. S--The Flor
ida !. ed Cross convention will be
held in Jacksonville on December .
and 6, and the attention Of all mem-
bers of the organization is called to
this change in dates
With the additional time in which
to plan for the event, it is believed
an even moro profitable convention
will be assured.
A, this convention there VIII De
addresses on various phases OF Reo
Cross work by the directors II the
several departments of the Southern
fGiyision.
mo Windsor hotel has been desis-
mated headquarters for the conVen'
tion and the conferences viii be
held there.
On the evenings of December . an"
&c mass meetings will be held IN the
Duval theater. when all Red Cross
members and the public generally
will he invited to attend.
The directors of the Southern ~
,ision are endeayoring to secure
sneaker of note for each of thes'
niabts. and in addition there WI
be talks on influential Red CroS'
workers There will be an address
ped Cross worker who recently
returned from Europe who can give
ar accurate picnlre Of the eFer-in
lcreasing needs across the sea. :.
Every member of the Red Cross $. IL !
Tao ,s invited to attend, and it il
asnaciaIly urged that officers OF TN
Ipad cross organizations attend