davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-10-25

two machine guns in trees, in a little
clump of woods to the left Of our ceme-
terry, and while Fritz was in the middle
OF his lesson, would open up and trust
to luck. By our calculations, it would
take at least week to pull Off the
stunt.
If Fritz refused to swallow our bait,
1t would be impossible to locate his
special gun and that's the one we were
after, because they all sound alike. a
slow pup-pup-pup.
Our prestige was hanging by n
thread. In the battalion we had to en-
dure all kinds of insults and fresh re-
marks as to our ability in silencing
Fritz. Even to the battalion that Ger
man gun was u sore spot.
Next day, Fritz opened up as usual.
l let him fire away for a while and
then butted in with my ''pup-pup-pup-
pup-pup-pup." 1 kept this up quite Il
while, used two belts of ammunition.
Fritz had stopped firing to listen. Then
he started in; sure enough, he had
fallen for our game, his gun vas trying
to initiate mine, but, at first he made a
horrible mess of that tune. Again |
butted in with few bars and stopped.
Then he tried to copy what l had
played. He was good sport all right,
because his bullets were going away
over our heads, must have been firing
into the air. l commenced to feel
friendly toward him.
This duet went on for five days.
Fritz was a good pupil and learned
rapidly, in fact, got better than his
teacher. l commenced to feel jealous.
When he had completely mastered the
tune, he started sweeping the road
again and We clicked it worse than
ever. But he signed his death warrant
by doing so, because my friendship
turned to hate. Every time he fred he
played that tune and we danced.
The boys in the battalion gave us
the "Ha! Hal" They weren't In on
our little frameup.
The originator of the ruse and the
other two gunners had Fritz's location
taped to the minute; they mounted
their two guns, and also gave me the
range. The next afternoon was set for
the grand finale.
Our three guns, with different eleva-
tions, had their fire so arranged, that,
The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-10-25
CHAPTER XIII.
Gas Attacks and Sniea.


Three days after we had silenced
Fritz, the Germans sent over gas. 1t
did not catch us unawares, because the
wind had been made to order, that is,
1t was blowing from the German
trenches toward ours at the rate of
about five miles per hour.
Warnings had been passed down the
trench TO keep a sharp lookout for gas,
We had n new man at the periscope,
on this afternoon in question; was
sitting on the fire step, cleaning nay
rifle, when he called out to me:
There's n sort Of greenish, yellow
cloud rolling along the ground ont In
front, It's coming"
But 1 waited for no more, grabbing
my bayonet, which was detached from
the rife, gave the alarm by banging
an empty shell case, which was hang
ing near the perlsrOpe. At the same
instant, gongs started ringing down the
trench, the signal for Tommy to don
his respirator, or smoke helmet, as we
call it,
Gas travels quickly, so you must not
lose any time; you generally have
about eighteen or twenty seconds in
which to adjust your gas helmet.
The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-10-25
Showing How Fritz Is Fooled.

opening up together, their bullets
would suddenly drop on Fritz IKE a
hailstorm.
About three the next day, Fritz start
ed 'pup-pupping" that tune. blew a
sharp blast on whistle, it was the sig
nal agreed upon; we turned loose and
Fritz's gun suddenly stopped in the
middle of bar. We had cooked his
goose, and our ruse had worked. After
firing two belts each, to make sure of
our job, we hurriedly dismounted our
guns and took cover in the dugout. We
knew what to expect soon. We didn't
have to wait long, three salvos Of
"whizz-bangs" came over from Fritz's
artillery, further confirmation that
we had sent that musical machine-gun-
ner on his Westward-bound journey.
That gun never bothered us again.
We were the heroes of the battalion,
our captain congratulated us, said 1t
was a neat piece Of work, and, conse-
quently, we were all puffed up over the
stunt.
There are several ways Tommy uses
to disguise the location of his machine
gun and get his range. Some Of the
most commonly used stunts are as fol-
lows:
At night, when he mounts his gun
over the top of his trench and wants
to get the range of Fritz's trench he
adopts the method of what he terms
getting the sparks" This consists Of
firing bursts from his gun until the
bullets hit the German barbed wire.
He can tell when they are cutting the
wire, because bullet when 1t hits a
wire throws out a blue electric spark.
Machine-gun fire is very damaging to
wire and causes many a wiring party
to go out at night when it is quiet to
repair the damage.
To disguise the flare of his gun at
night when firing, Tommy uses what is
called flare protector. This is a stove
pipe arrangement which fits over the
barrel casing Of the gun and screens
the sparks from the right and left, but
not from the front. So Tommy, always
resourceful, adopts this scheme: About
three feet or less in front of the gun he
drives two stakes into the ground,
abou4 Ave feet apart. Across these
stakes he stretches curtain made out
OF empty sandbags ripped open. He
soaks this curtain in water and fires
The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-10-25

City, and at the Pratt in75itute, Brook
lyn.
The attendance at these schools to
date has been more than 3,300
The course of instruction is based
on the premise that the man taught
is already a thorough mechanic. In
structiOn is given him in the things he
would find hard to pick up by rule of
thumb experience.
Some of the schools hold day ses-
siOns only, others have evening class
es in order that the students may fol-
low their usual occupations by day.
Subjects for Intensive Study.
In day school, as at the Massachu-
sets Tech" the forenoOns are usual
~ devoted to lectures and the after
Moons to laboratory and demonstration
work.
The men are tested first In simple
mathematics and given a text book to
aid them. They are then instructed in
such subjects as the action of salt wa
ter under heat, chemical tests of wa
ter, the character and use of fusible
plugs for boilers, capacity of conl bunk
ers, the character and combustion Of
coal used on ships, the relation of coal
consumption to speed, the character of
propellers, the element of "slip,"
pumps, valves, gauges and Indicator
cards.
For demonstrating work the class of
sixty or seventy members is divided
into small groups, each under an in
structor, who conducts the tests. These
for the first week include engine de-
The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-10-25
Technical Training Of Seasoned Mechanics Solves Problem Of Keep
Ing Up Adequate Supply Of Licensed Men to Drive New
Shlps-Land- Trained Engineers Taught Secrets
of Engne-Room Practice on Salt Water

new idea for training engineers. Pro-
fessor r. f. Miller, head Of the engln-
eering section Of that high-cass instl-
tuition, holds II marine engineers IL
cense, and Is an authority on marine
practice In engineering.
The first shipping board class at
"Tech" approved Of Professor Miller
and the college stuff' so decidedly
that 1t had not been at the college n
week before the value of the new sys-
TEN was fully demonstrated.
Professor Miller had been designated
by the board as It's chief instructor in
marine engineering. and classes were
started at other technical { lleges in
Guiding Tulane university Mt New Or
leans, Armour Institute at Chicago,
the Case School Of Applied Science,
Cleveland, University Of Pennsylvania,
Philadelphia, Johns Hopkins university,
Baltimore, and Washington university,
Seattle. Later schools were started at
the University of California, Berk-
eley), in New York City ana Jersey
The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-10-25

vriOprd since the war began. This
system is entirely novel and distinctly
American. Under it no outside talent
has been required to provide instruc-
tors and no student not Il citizen has
been given instruction.
When the war began the board pro-
ceedcd on the theory that there was
plenty of material in the country for
an adequate supply Of marine engin-
GERS. 1t estimated that there were sew
eral thousand men in the engine rooms
and tirerOOms of existing merchant
ships-Oilers, water tenders and fire.
men-whO could be made into engin-
eers by little encouragement and in
structiOE. It estimated also that there
were many hundreds Of marine en-
gineers following other pursuits ashore
when the war began, who could be in
terested by the government in propo-
sition to return to the sea.
Finally it estimated that there were
thousands of stationary engineers, To-
cOmOtive drivers and machinIsts who
had worked on marine engine cOnstruc-
tiOn or repairs ashore who could be
quickly trained to become marine en-
gineers. These men were known to
have the groundwork of knowledge
necessary for handling marine en-
gines. 1t remained merely a question
Of teaching them the things they should
know about saltwater practice in en-
gineering and to give them their 'sea-
legs" before starting them off on vOy-
ages in the new merchant fleet.
"CoIIege Stuff" Makes Its Bow.
OF the many revolutionary training
practices growing out Of this war, none
was more striking than the shipping
boards plan for giving these men tech
nical drilling. The plan originated in
Boston with Henry Howard, the
boards director of recruiting. Mr..
Howard. is Il graduate of the Massa-
chusetts Institute of Technology and Il
firm believer in the value of technical
training to every kind of mechanical
worker.
His idea was to give the men needed
as marine engineers Il short, intensive
course of training at the best techni-
cal colleges before sending them to
sea.
The idea was so novel that the
grimy-handed mechanic was little
inclined to shy at it. college stuff
seemed too "hifalutin' to be worth
much. The old-fashioned engineer got
his knowledge in the same way as the
boys in the DothebOys hall, by manual
demonstration. He was Showed" by
his superior on the job. That had be-
come the accepted way of training ell.
gineeIrs on American ships.
But the new method had not long
made its bow before mechanics SEEM
ed to see something in it. The firemen
and oilers took to it; and they came
out with second or third assistant en-
gineer's licenses in such a surprisingly
short time that the method of their
advancement commanded respect.
The Massachusetts Institute of
Technology was chosen to launch the
The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-10-25

tails, Sllde-vaive settirg, gauge testing,
! Indicator card taking and finally indi'
Gator card reading, which involves
familiarity with a special instrument
the planlmeter.
During the week every man 10 the
class has his special practice in these
matters. In the second week the sub
icctS are measurement of horsepower
lining up Of engines, piston valve set
ting and the condenser and mir pump
the third week the laboratory sub
jects are the sainomcter, duplex pump
water column and safety valve, while
in the last week there are exercises
with injectors, turbne-driven pumps
and an afternoon spent in large sta
tionary power house.
Special Courses for Special Work.
This is the course at Massachusetts
Tech" II may vary at other schools
hut the underlying principles Of in
Struction are the same. In the school
mt Philadelphia, the largest in attend
&nce, now holding its sessions in the
Bourse building with a class well over
hundred, special attention is given
to rcfrigerating machinery.
1t is part of the plan of the board 70
train men IN Il knowledge Of every
Kind of special equipment carried In
the mechanical outfit OF a modern ship.
Turbine ships, for example, must
have specially trained engineers. The
latest development in these wonder
machines for driving ships are in the
geared turbine, a complicated and high
ly delicate piece Of mechanism.
70 provide a proper proportion OF
turbine engineers 10 meet coming de-
mands the shipping board has sent
picked men to the works where most
&C its turbines are made, with inStrUc-
tiOns that the meh "scc-oE' up with their
engines" An engineer so instructed Is
supposed to watch his engine gro"
from the castings to its final assem-
bling in the shop, and then follow II
aboard ship, superintend its erection
there and run it when finally the ship
is ready for service.
The same idea of special instruction
is applied in the case of Watertube
boilers, the engineers who are to han
die them being given a special course
in the works where the boilers are
made.
One of the most recent developments
in the driving machinery of ships be-
ing the so-called Diesel type of crude
oil engine, the shipping board is now
planning to instruct Diesel engineers
in addition to those trained to handle
the ordinary types Of engine.
In order to reach the men it wishes
for training, the shipping board re-
cruiting service employs officials In
various parts of the country known rs
section Chiefs who supply ipforma'
ton to constantly growing number
of applicants. Much of this IS contained
in a pamphlet entitled How to Be
come an Officer in the Merchant Ma
rine." National headquarters of the
recruiting service is at the custom
house, Boston.
The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-10-25

Washington-"Where you going to
get engineers for all them ships2"
This somewhat colloquial inquiry
was directed many times to represen-
tatives Of the United States shipping
board recruiting service when the big
ness Of the plan for bridging the At
lHntic with American cargo carriers to
supply our armies and allies in Europe
first projected itself upon the lay mind
Of the country.
The public had been told there were
not even enough marine engineers who
were citizens to man the ships flying
the flag In peace times. SO the man
In the street could not see where the
supply was coming from for the thou
sand ships to be manned as merchant
men out Of the 1000 to be built by the
shipping board for the new merchant
marine.
The shipping board has provided,
and continues TO provide, an answer to
the question through training system
for marine engineers which t has de-
The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-10-25
A o y J
FEW o
LITTLE
Nc1QlES
$50
-; rs.1Is..k
JUST TO PLEASE HER.

40 you think, darling" she asked
when they had returned from their
wedding trip, 'it is possible for any
body really 10 love more than onceT
mo, sweetheart" he replied.
You are not saying that just to
make me happy, are yOuT
"Of course not"
But you would say 1t 20 make me
happy, even if you didn't believe it,
wouldn't you, dearestT
Certainly. I'd do anything or say
anything TO make you happy
There, now I shall never be able
to believe anything you tell me. Oh,
why-why did ever marry liarT"-
Dayton News.
The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-10-25
Acts Of Herolsm ReeoQnIzed.

Twenty-four acts of heroism were
recognized by the Carnegie hero fund
commission in its fourteenth annual
meeting. In seven cases silver medals
were awarded, in II cases, bronze
medals. Ten of the heroes lost their
lives, and to the dependents of nine
of these pensions aggregatlng $4,560
a year were granted. In addition to
these money grants, in two cases, ST.
100 was appropriated for educational
purposes, payments to be made as
needed and approved, and in II cases
awards aggregating $1,000 were made
for other worthy purposes. Pay
ments in these cases will not be made
until the awards have been approved
by the commission.
The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-10-25
EMPEY AND HIS COMRADES MAKE THEIR MACHINE
GUNS PERFORM SOME MARVELLOUS TRICKS.

synoPssFred by the sinking Of the Lusana with the loss OF
American lives Arthur Guy Empey American living in Jersey CITY,
England ensts private British After
experience recruiting train
he sound Of big and
makes the acquaintance "cooes After brief period training
he takes
his while the bullets wz overhead Empey
learns cOmade falls that death turks always the trenches
Chaplain distinguishes himself wounded under hot
With shovel Empey has experience trench digger
Exciting experience listening post detail Ex
citing work observation duty Back 5ies Empey
successful play
the top successful
German lines.
The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-10-25
Empey is assigned to the
intelligence department, but
finds it is not the "soft" snap
that he anticipated. The next
instaIIment tells OF some of his
experiences in his new job as a
spy-catcher.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
DEMOCRACY VS.. FINE WRITING
The Latter Is, Beyond All Question,
Dependent Upon the Respect
of the Former.

do not agree with the pesslmists
who think that a democratic civlllza-
ton Is necessarily an enemy to fine
writing for the public. Henry Seldel
writes in the Century. Such critics
underrate the challenge which these
millions Of minds to be reached and
souls to be touched must possess that
writer's, like actors, are inspired by a
crowded house.
But the thought Gnd the labor and
the pain that lie behind good writing
are doubly difficult in an atmosphere
of easy tolerance and good natured
condescension on the part Of the
readers Of the completed work.
The novel is the test case for demo-
cratic literature. We cannot afford to
pay It's practitioners with cash merely,
for cash dlscrlminates in quantity and
little more. Saul and David were
judged by the numbers Of their thou
sands slain; but the test was crude
one for them and cruder still in fiction.
We cannot afford to patronlze these
novelists as our ancestors did before
US. Not prizes or endowments or
coterze worship or, certainly, more ad-
vertislng Is what the American novel
lst requires. but a greater respect for
his craft.
The Ellzabethan playwright was fire.
quently despised of the learned world,
and, If a favorite, not always a re-
spected one of the vulgar. Strange
that learned and vulgar alike should
repeat the fallacy in dispraisIng the
pre-eminently popular art Of our own
times To Sir Francis Bacon Hamlet"
was presumably only a play actors
play. If the great American story
should arrive at last, would we not
call it "only a novel;?
The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-10-25
Negro Soldier Furnishes New Title for
One Of Auxiliary Organizations
at the Front.

Paris.--It took the shining light Of
2 crack negro regiment in the A. f. F.
~ furnish new title for one of the
auxiliary organizations working at
tie front with the YankS.
what's thar X Q, mean, mani"
,uerled tbQ dusky warrior when he
The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-10-25
To Entertain Herself.

Mrs. Redd-Im going to call on you
tomorrow afternoon.
Mrs. Greene-Very good; but l ex-
pect to be out for short time. If I
am not at home, entertain yourself un-
Ill my return.
''How am l to entertain myself,
pray?"
"Oh, you'll find five mirrors in the
parlOr."
The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-10-25
TX. C." MEANS KAISER CHASER

saw n man in khaki wearing that en-
biem on his right arm.
Cant you guess?" Queried the sec
retary.
The dark-complexioned gentleman
thought. Then 1t came:
"Why, nah goodness, man, GER
tainly was kinda thick that ah didn't
know 'medlately. You am one Of them
Kaiser Chasers. ain't your
The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-10-25
~COLLEGE STUFF DOES WONDERS
In SHAPING OUT MARINE ENGINEERS
HUN HATES COLUMBUS;
He FOUND AMERICA

Pittsburgh, Pa.-Rev. Daniel
L. March, Just returned from
the western front after n six
months visit, tells this story:
A German prisoner was out OF
humor and was being "kidded'
by the Americans.
"Why so glum, Frl.zieT ask
ed one doughboy, "Are you
sore at France?"
No. Frltzle waEI't sore at
France, nor England, Ypr Bel
GUM.
"Well, what's the mnt;erT
Pm sore at Christopher Co
lumbus," was the reply. HE
discovered America"
The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-10-25
crude Booths take Place Of diners.

Dining cars being unknown on GER
tain railroads along the west coast of
Mexico, crude booths are provided on
various station platforms, where food
is served. They consist of loose
pieces Of canvas supported by poles.
beneath which are tables and chairs.
The trains wait while the passengers
eat the none-tooappetizlng fare.-POD-
ular Mechanics Magazine.
The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-10-25
Girls Help in Harvest.

When the thrashing crew of the ma
chine at the J. p. Eyeler farm near
Jefferson City, Mo, was found to be
two hands short, Miss Aurelia Eveler
and Miss Louise Walleadorf climbed
to the top of the stack and, with pitch.
forks, kept the straw from re mouth
of the carrier. The young ladies stuck
to their voluntary job until the thrash
ing was completed.
The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-10-25

First FeIler-And you say both your
sons are making living by their
pens?
Second Feller-Judge for yourself.
One of them is the leading hog raiser
in the country, and the other writes
home from college
The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-10-25
Other Worries.

'Does golf improve your healthT'
'No," replied Mr.. Glithersby, de-
spOndently.
But l should think fresh air, exer-
else and the interest one naturally
takes in the game would help you for
get your business cares"
"Oh, 1t does, but play such a poor
game that my golf cares keep me In a
bad humOr all the time"
The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-10-25

Mrs. Giddigad-I head that Mrs.
Fusserly'S hair became white in a
single night. She must have met with
some terrible misfortune that caused it..
Mrs. NOatall-She did. She upset
her hair dye one evening while on a
camping trip, twenty miles from civil.
NzatiOn.
The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-10-25
Gettinn Even

Brown-Say, old chap, do you re-
member borrowing dollar of me a
month ago?
Smith-Yes, that's all l ever got on
hat 50 you borrowed from me u year
ago !
The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-10-25

"Ten years ago that fellow told me
he could never love anybody else but
me. I didn't accept him, but still"
'And has he since married?"
81 wouldn't wonder at that. But
he's been married four times"
The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-10-25

"Got another detective story?"
"Yes. Read 'em for relaxation"
Getting so excited you can't shut
the book up till three o'clock in the.
Inorning-d'you call that relaxation?"'
The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-10-25
Intact.

The VisitOr-And what makes you
think your son has lots of music in
himg
The Other-Why, no one has ever
got any out.
The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-10-25
Oh. P-f-f-fL

Tillie-Ah see, dey done found yo'
husban' guilty on fouah counts.
Mandy-Yes, and doano how they
done it, kase he's the mos no count
man All eber Sc in nah whole life.
The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-10-25
Getting His Measure.

as that new member a good talkerT"
"Well," replied Senator Sorghum,
he's a wonder for endurance. But
he doesn't class up very well for
speed"
The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-10-25

The principal sugar substitutes rec
commended by government chemists arc
corn sirup, maltose (sirup made from
potatoes), honey and high-grade retin-
ers' Sirup.
The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-10-25
An Audience in Themselves.

much Of an audience at the opening
performance of the new show?"
"Yes, all the cOllabOratOrs were
there"
The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-10-25
Physical Impossibility,

Unless broad thinking is your plan
You're doomed TO Some mistake.
It's plain a narrow minded man
Cannot be wide awake.
The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-10-25

Chicago daily wastes $1,000 worth O1
milk bottles.
The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-10-25

'Who's getting scoded in your house
n0w?"
"Nobody. That's Slst ma teaching
pa Il few reasons why women ought
to vote"