davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-12-07
TO FREE MANY YANKS
Work of Bringing Prisoners Out
of Germany Rushed.
Swiss Hospital Trains to Be Sent to
Rastatt Prison Camp Where $500
U. S. Soldiers Are Held.

Paris, Dec. 4.-The work Of bringing
American prisoners out Of Germany Is
being hastened by the American Red
Cross with the cooperation of the
Swiss government.
Arrangements have virtually been
g0ihpFsteu " rsgFIa flaFas siwiss asasRisafs
trains to the Rastatt prison camp IN
Germany where there are $500 Amerf-
can captives, mostly privates, said adj
vices from Berne.
1t is planned to concentrate practi-
calIy all of the American prisoners at
Rastatt.
The repatriation Of all American
civilian prisoners from Germany
through Switzerland has been ap-
proved by General Pershlng, by the
chief of the American committee on
permanent relief, by the inter-allied
commission at Spa, by the American
Red Cross and Swiss commissions
and the German high command.
The Swiss government is furnishing
fully equipped trains, including hos
pital cars, with complete sanitary
service. They will cross through Con-
stance to Berne and thence to Belle
garde on the French frontier.
The American Red Cross In Switzer-
land is arranging with the American
government to pay all the cost while
the Swiss government undertook to
obtain the approval of the German
government for the repatriation of the
Americans, at the same time request
ing the French government that the
Swiss trains entering France be al
lowed to proceed without interruption.
The American Red Cross has Sc
cured permission for Americans to
enter Germany to work among the
Yankee prisoners. Previously only neu-
trails were allowed to enter Germany
! for that purpose.
PRESIDENT TO CALL ON POPE
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-12-07
MAY HOLD UP TOBACCO CROP
Raisers Object to Prices Offered at
First Sales of Season at
Owensboro, KY.

Owensboro, KY, Dec. 4.-Angered
by what they considered inadequate.
prices offered at the first sales of the
season here on the Owensboro loose
leaf tobacco market, several hundred
farmers adjourned to the courthouse
and held an indignation meeting, at.
which resolutions were adopted urgings
other farmers to withhold their cropY
from the market until better prices
are offered. The sales totaled about
100000 pounds at an average price Of
S14.10 per 100 pounds, as compared
with $16.68 per 100 pounds at the OPEN
ing sale last year.
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-12-07
p; ::II TO CALL ON POPE
Milson Will Go to Vatican From the
American Embassy, According to
Rome Dispatch.

Rome, Dec. 4.-President Wilson,
when he is in this capital, Will visit
Pope Benedict it is announced by the
newspapers here He will go to the
Vatican, it is said, from the American
embassy instead of from the Quirinal,
where the president and Mrs. Wilson
will be the guests Of the king and
queen in Rome.
(The Quirinal and the Vatican have
had no relations since the Italian gov
ernment's seizure of Rome In 1870, de-
priving the pope of temporal powerO
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-12-07
Mead Mot Account for sweaters

( Washington, Dec 4.-The war de-
.partment rescinded it's order requiring
soldiers upon discharge to account for
All articles Of wearing apparel issued
by the American Red Cross and other
charitable organizations.
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-12-07
United States Joins in Plan for
y Trial of HohenzoIIern as
Pirate.
DEMAND MADE ON HOLLAND
President Wilson Helps Draw Ultima
tum for Surrender of Former
RuIer-Has No Legal Status
as Result of his
Crimes.

Oosterland, Holland, Dec. Al
have not renounced anything and |
have not signed any document what
ever" the former G. IAN crown prince
declared to cor. adent.
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-12-07
CHILEAN RESERVES CALLED
Commander, Of Steamer Palena Denies
Peruvian Consul Was Ordered
Home on His Ship.

Santiago, Chile, Dec. 4.-Military re-
serves of the class of 1917 have been
called to the colors. The commander
of the steamer Palena has officially
denied that the Peruvian consul was
ordered to come back on his ship.
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-12-07

Oosterland, Holland, Dec. ii
have not renounced anything and l
have not signed any document what
ever" the former Gan = crown prince
declared to a cor adent.
Paris, Dec t.-French citizens are
lodging complaints with Attorney Gen
eral Lescouve regarding crimes COM
mitted by the German armies under
William Hohenzollern, the former en-
peror. Several persons who lost rela-
tives in the bombardment of Paris by
the German long range guns have filed
their complaints.
In the case of Nine. Prieur, whose
husband was killed on the torpedoed
mail steamer Sussex the attorney gem
eral declares that the steamer was an
extension of French soil and cOnse-
quently the French authorities are
competent to make an investigation.
A decision with regard to the COM
plants against the former emperor
will be reached within few days. If
it is decided that French tribunals are
competent to open proceedings, a
Judge will be appointed.
One of the first acts of the judge
will be to ask for the extraditlon of
William Hohenzollern.
Allies to Demand Surrender.
Lon fEan. Dee A dasnlaEasl far ths
surrender Of William HOhenzollern VIII
be submitted to the Netherlands gov
ernment in the name of all the allied
cabinets, according to the Express.
The views of France and Italy have
been fully communicated to the Brit
ish government and President Wilson
has made suggestions relative to pro-
cedure in the case.
Authority is claimed by the Express
for the statement that although there
are some little differences as to points
Of law among allied jurists, Mondays
conference in Downing street, revealed
unanimity relative to the bringing Of
the former German emperor to am
swer for his crimes.
The opinion Is held that Holland will
not be disposed to put obstacles in the
way. She will not be asked to deliver
Hohenzollern under the ordinary eX-
tradition laws, but his status will be
considered analogous to that of pi-
rate or slave trader who is not regard.
ed as entitled to sanctuary in any coun-
try.
1.-THE German government is still un
decided as to how to deal with the
former emperor and the other Hohen
zollerns," said Hugo Haase, secretary
for foreign affairs in the German cab
met to a correspondent Of the Express
on Sunday.
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-12-07
Lake Vessel Sinks During Gale.

Watertown, N. Y.-Eleven men COM
posing the crew of the bow section of
the freighter Mineola are believed to
have been drowned when that section
Of the boat went down in Lake On-
tario near Duck Island, in a terrific
gale and blizzar
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-12-07
NEED MODE. I.
COAST Dl1fENSE
To GUARD u. S.
Report From Chief Of Engineers
Now in Hands Of Secretary
McAdoO.
TO ADD TO FORTS EACH YEAR
Overhead Cover on Seacoast Gun En-
placements Must Be Strengthened
to Guard Against Long-Rsnae
Fire and Airplane Bon1la

Washington, Dec. 4.-shere IS an
imperative need for immedif " e0a-
struction Of modern coast FORTH lieatiqna
to safeguard American harbo Hgalli
ailflIEe enemy AS SliI fllisis. e
A very large percentage Of American
seacoast batteries are now at least ~
years old, and the recent rapid advance
in range and power Of guns has lett
many of these fortifications obsolete.
Report Given to Baker.
This warning from the chief of en-
gineers of the United States army is
today in the hands Of Secretary OF war
Baker. The report characterizes as
wrong the former policy of merely add
ing to the seacoast defenses without
revising the elements Of the fortifica-
tions each year to meet modern condi-
tions.
1.-THE future policy Of the United
States" the report advises, should De
based upon the principle of replacing
each year certain percentage OF each
element of the defense and to do the
work progressively and at fairly uni
form annual rate, so that in general all
of our seacoast fortifications will be
fairly up to date and batteries ana
other elements of the defense will be
replaced before they become entirely
obsolete"
Boards Recommendation.
The engineer department, TO meet
new elements of warfare that have
been perfected during the world war
makes these recommendations
1-Overhead cover on seacoast gun
emplacements must be strengthened
to guard against the plunging shots o.
very long-range fire and against ar
craft bombing attacks.
2-The increase in the rapidity o.
the fire of new guns should be met bS
changes such as may be possible in oui
ammunition service, SO as to increase
the rapidity Of fire of the American
seacoast guns.
3-The increase in the expenditure
of ammunition in the newer guns
should be provided for by increasing
our magazine space and by firing oul
seacoast guns only with such charges
as will increase the accuracy life O.
the gun.
1.-The development of portable
mounts for large modern guns shoul'
be followed in seacoast defense by in
stalling some of our seacoast gun'
upon portable mounts moving on rail
road tracks, and certain Of the new
types of fire should be adopted in th'
handling Of seacoast guns.
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-12-07
STOPS EXPORTS TO GERMANY
Netherlands Government Takes Action
In ReprisaI for stoppage Of Coal
to Holland.

London, Dec. 4.-The Dutch govern
ment, according to an Exchange Tele-
graph dispatch from Amsterdam. has
decided to stop all exports to Germany
In reprisal for the stoppage of the ex-
port of German coal to Holland.
The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1918-02-26

6id not matter. On one SIDE Of the
disk was inscribed your rank, name,
number and battalion, while on the
other was stamped your religion.
c. of E., meaning Church of Eng
land; r. c., Roman Catholic; W., Wes-
leyan; p, Presbyterian; but if you
happened to be an atheist they left 1t
blank. and just handed you a pick and
shovel. On my disk was stamped G. of
f. This is how I got it: The lieuten-
ant who enlisted me asked my religion.
I was not sure of the religion of the
British army, so I answered, "Oh, any
old thing" and he promptly put down
C. of e.
Now, just imagine my hard luck. Out
of five religions was unlucky enough
to pick the only one where churcn
parade was compulsory
The next morning was Sunday.
was sitting in the billet writing home
to my sister telling her Of my wonder
full exploits while under fire-all re-
cruits do this. The sergeant major pu'
his head in the door of the billet and
shouted: &C. Of E. outside for church
iparade!"
kept on writing. Turning to me, in
a loud voice, he asked, "Empey, aren''
you C. Of E.?"
answered, "Yep."
In an angry tone, he commanded
;"Dont you yep me. Say, Yes, ser
geant major"
tT did so. Somewhat mOllified, he
ordered, "Outside for church parade"
I looked up and answered, Il an
not going to church this morning"
He said, "Oh, yes, you are!"
I answered, ooh, no, I'm ot!-Bu,
i went.
We lined up outside with rifles ane
bayonets, 120 rounds of ammunition
wearing our tin hats, and the marcf
to church began. After marching abou
five kilos, we turned off the road into
an open field. At one end Of this fielt
the chaplain was standing in a timber
We formed a semicircle around hlm
Overhead there was a black speck cir
cling round and round in the sky. Thi:
was a German Fokker. The chaplain
had a book in his left hand-left eye
on the book--right eye on the airplane
We Tommies were lucky, we had nc
books, so had both eyes on the air
plane.
After church parade we were
marched back to our billets, and played
football all afternoon.
The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1918-02-26

a nser and d,Sembari:ed. I had at,
tanned another one OF my ambitions.
was somewhere in France" We
slept in the open thai night on the side
of the road. About six the next morn
ing W., were ordered to entrain.
looked around for the passenger
coaches. but all I could see on the sid
ing were cattle cars. We climbed into
these. On the side Of each car was
q sign reading "Hommes 40, Cheveaux
s." When we got inside of the cars,
we thought that perhaps the sign
painter had reversed the order Of
things. After 4S hours in these trucks
we detrained at Rouen. At this place
we went through an intensive training
for ten days.
The training consisted Of the rudi-
ments of trench warfare. Trenches
had been dug, with barbed wire en-
tanglements, bombing saps, dugouts,
observation posts and machine gun en-
placements. We were given smat-
tering of trench cooking, sanitation,
bomb throwing, accommodating. listen
ing posts, constructing and repairing
barbed wire, carrying in" parties,
The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1918-02-26

a major, two of them were exploring
their shirts, paying no attention to the
occasional shells which passed over
head. The major was writing letter;
every now and then lie would lay aside
his writing-pad, search his shirt for
few minutes, get an inspiration, and
then resume writing. At last he I'M
ished his letter and gave it to his run
ner.' was curious to see whether he
was writing to an insect firm, so whep
the runner passed me I engaged him
In conversation and got glimpse at
the address on the envelope. 1t was
addressed to Miss Alice Somebody, in
London. The runner Informed me
that Miss Somebody was the majors
sweetheart and that he wrote to her
every day. Just imagine 1t, writing
love letter during "cootie' hunt; but
such is the creed Of the trenches.
The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1918-02-26

tance we could see their flashes, which
lighted up the sky with red glare.
Against the horizon we could see
numerous observation balloons or "sau-
sages' as they are called.
On the afternoon of the third days
march I witnessed my first airplane
being shelled. A thrill ran through me
and I gazed in awe. The airplane was
making wide circles in the air, while
little puffs of white smoke were burst
ing all around it. These puffs appeared
like tiny balls of cotton while after
each burst could be heard a dull
'"plop." The sergeant Of my platoon
Uniformed US that it was German air
plane and wondered how he could tell
from such distance because the plane
seemed like a little black speck In the
sky. I expressed my doubt as to
whether it was English, French or Ger
man. With look of contempt he fur
ther Informed US that the allied anti
aircraft shells when exploding emitted
white smoke while the German shells
gave forth black smoke, and, as he ex-
pressed it, "It must be an Allemand be-
cause our pom-poms are shelling, and
I know our batteries are not off their
bally nappers and are certainly not
strafeing our own planes, and another
;piece of adyice-don't chuck your
weight about until you've been up the
line and learnt something"
I Immediately quit "chucking my
weight about" from that time on.
Just before reaching reserve billets
we were marching along laughing, and
singing one of TOmmy's trench ditties:
The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1918-02-26

7 want to go home, want to 90 hovna,
I don't want to go to the trenches 81
Where sausages and whizz- bangs srs en-
lore.
Take me over the sea. Where tbs AEer--
mand can't get at me,
Oh, my, don't want to die.
/ want to go home
when overhead came ''swfsh" taEsS'7s;ssssks
the air, rapidly followed by tEee aza>s-
ers. Then about two hundred yards s1'a
our left in a large fiel6. four cosEzass
OF black earth and smoke rose snEsa essS''
air, and the ground trembl led from Fz1sI
report-the explosion OF four GesEf2sas
five-nine's. or "coalboxes" "a sssegR
whistle blast, Immediately folfo1Ts& ~
two short ones, rang out from tie EsasSl
of our column. This was to taSs' eFf
artillery formation" We divided fn7s
small squads and went into the hs,saas
on the right and left of the resa,- aeat
crouched on the ground No esssssE
shells followed this salvo. 1t was ssar
first baptism by shell fire. From SaszR
waist up was all enthusiasm. but fgssnA
there down, everything was missing Il
thought I should die with fright
After awhile, we reformed {nfu> c:isEs>
umns of fours, and proceeded en-. a2a'
way.
About Eve that night, we reached aesz~
ruined village Of H, and got zse'
first sight of the awful destHncndHs.
caused by German Kultur.
Marching down the main street E1zs'
came to the heart of the village sE8s
took up quarters in shellprOee ee4sssss
(shellproof until hit by shellJ- Shea
The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1918-02-26

I have taken bath and put on
! Erand-new underwear; in fact. com
j plete change OF uniform, and then
turned in for the night. The next morn
ing my shirt would be, full Of them. 1t
is common sight to see eight or ten
soldiers sitting under tree with their
shirts over their krees engaging in ii
shirt hunt
At night about half an hour before
"lights out" you can see the Tomnlies
grouped around candle, trying, in it's
dim light, to rid their underwear o.
the vermin. A popular and very quick
method is to take your shirt and draw
/ ers, and run the seams back and for
ward in the fame from candle ana
burn them out. This practice is dam
[ gerous, because you are liable to burn
holes in the garments if you are not
careful.
Recruits generally sent to Bhghty
for a brand Of insect powder adver-
, tised as Good for body lice" The ad-
vertisement is quite right; the powder
! is good for "cooties;" they simply
thrive on it.
| The older men of our battalion were
wiser and made scratchers out Of
! wood. These were rubbed smooth with
a bit of stone 6r sand to prevent splin-
ters. They were about eighteen inches
long, and Tommy guarantees that a
scratcher of this length will reach
; any part of the body which may be at
tackled. Some of the fellows were lazy
! and only made their scratchers twelve
inches, but many night when on
guard, looking over the top from the
FIRE step Of the front-line trench. they
would have given a thousand "quid'
for the other six inches.
Once while we were in rest billets an
Irish Hussar regiment camped in an
open field opposite our billet. After
they had picketed and fed their horses,
q general shirt hunt took place. The
troopers ignored the call Dinner up"
and kept on with their search for big
game. They had a curious method Of
procedure. They hung their shirts over
a hedge and beat them with their en-
trenching tool handles.
I asked one of them why they didn't
pick them off by hand, and he an
swered, eve haven't had bath for
nine weeks or change Of clabber. Ii
I tried to pick the 'cooties' off my shirt,
I would be here for duration of war"
After taking close look at his shirt, /
agreed with him; it was alive.
The greatest shock recruit gets
when he arrives at his battalion in
France is to see the men engaging in a
,,"cootie" hunt. With an air of con-
tempt and disgust he avoids the COM
ipany Of the older men, until a couple
lof days later, in torment Of itching,
he also has to resort to shirt hunt,
or spend many sleepiess night of
misery. During these hunts there are
lots of pertinent remarks banded back
and forth among the explorers, such
as, "Say, Bill, I'll swap you two little
ones for a big one." or, "1've got a
black one here that looks like Kaiser
Bill"
One sunny day in the front-line
trench, saw three officers sitting out
side of their dugout ("cooties" are no
respecters of rank have even noticed
suspicious uneasiness about certain
well-known generaD, one Of them was
The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1918-02-26
MACHINE GUNNER SERVING M FRAMEE-
SYNOPSIS.

CHAPTER I-Fired by the news Of the
einking Of the Lusitania by German
submarine, Arthur Guy Enpey, an AneTl-
can. leaves his office in Jersey City ana aa
British army.
CHAPTER II-After a period Of train
Ding. Empey volunteers for immediate serV-
ice and soon finds himself in rest billets
Somewhere in France" where he hrst
irnakes the acquaintance Of the ever-pres-
ent "cooties."
CHAPTER III-Empey attends his first
church services at the front while Ger
Ynan Fokker circles over the congregation.
CHAPTER Iv-Empeys command goes
into the front-line trenches and Is under
fire for the first time.
the motto Of the British Tommy, III you
,are going to get it, you'll get 1t, so never
worry"
CHAPTER vI-Back in rest billets, En-
ipey gets his first experience as a mess
orderly.
CHAPTER vII-Empey learns how the
British soldiers are fed.
CHAPTER vIII-Back in the front-line
trench, Empey sees his first friend Of the
trenches 'igo West"
CHAPTER IX-Empey makes his first
visit to dugout in Suicide Ditch.
6 CHAPTER x-Empey learns what con-
Istitutes days work. in the front-hhe
trench.
CHAPTER XI-Empey goes "over the
Ifon,, for the first time in charge on tne
hiGerman trenches and is Wounoeo Dy
)@mmpnet thrust,
kAPTER XII-Empey joins the sui
g club as the bombing squad Is called.
EHAPTER XIII-Each Tommy gets an
b5hcial bath.
y CHAPTER XIF-Empey helps dig an
: advanced trench under German nre.
n,,-S St1isfprinQ n0St''
No Mans Land.
CHAPTER XvI-Two artillerymen put
.ione over" on Old Pepper, their reginentai
commander.
CHAPTER xvII-E1npey has nasFcw es-
tcape while on patrol duty In NO MAN
CHAPTER XvIII-Back in rest billets
lF.nney writes and stages farce comedy.
CHAPTER XIX-Soldiers have many
lways to amuse themselves while ION their
own"
CHAPTER XX-Empey volunteers for
roachine gun service and goes back INTO
the front-line trenches
s CHAPTER xXI-Empey again goes
'over the top. in & caarge e nn1deS wmlca S0s' A's
CHAPTER XXIIlTrick with g. machine
gun silences one bothersome Fritz.
CHAPTER xXIII-Gerran attack, pre-
Eceded by gas wave, Is repuiseo.
CHAPTER XXIV-Empey is forced 10
take part in an execution ,as a member
Eof the firing squad.
! CHAPTER xXv-British prepare for
1.-THE Big Push-the battle Of the Somme.
CHAPTER XXvI-In q trench raid.
inreceding the Big Push, Empey is des-
t.rnersfely wounded and lies unconscious In
no Mans Land for 36 hours.
CHAPTER XXVII-After four months
Am a British hospital, Empey is discharged
las physically unfit for further war serV-
lice."
The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1918-02-26
CHAPTER w.
"lnto the Trench"

tulO lEIC StiNbs
The next morning the draft was In
spected by our general, and we were
assigned to different companies. The
boys in the brigade had nicknamed
this general Old Pepper, and he GER
tainly earned the sobriquet. I was as
signed to B company with another
American named Stewart.
For the next ten days we "rested," "
repairing roads for the Trenches, drill
ing, and digging bombing trenches.
One morning we were Informed that
we were going up the line, and our
march began.
1t took us three days to reach re-
serve billets-each days march bring
ing the sound Of the guns nearer and
nearer. At night, way of in the dis