davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-05-19
RICHMOND TO SEE
THE BLUE DEVILS
Valient French Fighters Ar
rive for Tour of the City
Tomorrow Morning.
WILL COME 1o5 STRONG
Visit to Historical Spots and
.Battlefelds is Planned-To
Speak in the Capitol
Square Later.

The spirit OF France-indomitah
France. that has withstood the on
slaughts of the Hun at Nerdun.
Amiens. the Marine, and on the fields
of Picardy-will be injected into the
streets and homes and heart OF Rich
mond tomorrow when one hundred
and FIVE BLUE Devils" the stalwarts
of fair France, Will come here. They
will be under the charge OF Leuten-
ant lie Noel. and will be accomp panied
by Corporal Ormerod. of General
Pershings' expeditionary forces.
The French Blue Devils will arrive
here bright and early tomorrow morn
ing over the Richmond, Fredericks-
burg and Potomac railroad at Elba
station. The private car in which
they are travelling Is expected to
reach Richmond at A. NJ, where
they will be met by the Rotary club.
The Rotarians. who were asked TO
care for and arrange matters for the
soldiers. will have motor cars at the
station to meet the honored guests.
Breakfast will be served at the
Business Mems club for the French
men. From there they will go on an
automobile tour of the city. They
will visit all tho battief1elds and other
historic spots around the city.
Only about six OF the hundred and
Eve visitors are acquainted with the
English language well enough to
speak and understand II, and this is
one of the difficulties that has to be
met at every stopping point. French
interpreters will be needed tomor-
row morning to meet the soldiers and
accompany them on the tour OF the
city and explain the interesting places
The directors in charge have asked
that every person in Richmond con-
versant in French meet the Blue
Devils and accompany them on the
tour.
The French visitors will come To
greetings will be extended by Mayor
Ainslie and Governor Westmoreland
Davis Speeches will also be made
by several OF the visitors. At 3 o'clock
the French soldiers will leave for a
short stop in Petersburg, and then
they GO on 10 Camp Lee, where they
will make tour of the cantonment
This legion of the French soldiers
were early named by the Germans
Blue Devils" because OF the fierce
fighting they exhibited at the Marine
Each OF the soldiers bears some
physical mark Of the war. as they are
all veterans. although young In years
Lieutenant Roger Cluzeau. of the
famous Fourth Zouaves. and Lieu
tenants Podevin and Marcel Levie will
also be with the visitors. Severa
French buglers are in the number.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-05-19
China and Japan
Agree on Joint
Plan of Defense

Washington. May 1s.--Tnited States
Minister Reinsch, at Pekin today in
formed the state department that
Japan and China have at last signed
definite agreement ito preserve the
peace of the Far East" against Ger
man aggression through Russia and
Siberia
At the same time there reached
Washington through press and diplo-
matte channels indication that Japan
and China are preparing to muster a
powerful army along the Manchurian
border.
The purpose of the movement, ac-
cording TO a well informed reflection
OF entente sentiment, is to deter Rus
STA from lending German manpower
for use on the western front
There has ben no change in the at
titude of the United Tates against
intervention in Siberia, it was autho-
relatively stated here today. But there
are many Indications that the en-
tente powers are viewing the situa-
ton in an entirely new light. II is
further indicated in both diplomatic
and press dispatches from Europe
that England. France and Italy have
given their approval II not actual en-
couragement to the Japanese plan.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-05-19
Scores Dead, Hundreds injured When :.
Pittsburg Chemical Plant Blows Up
Of 500 Men Employed by Aetna Company ITO Are Believed
to Have Killed and Practically All the Others Hurt
Rescuers Kept at Bay for Hours by Acid Jamestown
Described As Living Hell.

Ptttsburg. Pa. May 1S.-in the
greatest and most Kaleidoscope eX-
plosion catastrophe in the history OF
the Pittsburg district. which occurred
this afternoon at the plant of Aetna
Chemical company, at Oakdaie. l7e
men OF the more than 500 workmcn
employed in the plant are believed TO
have been killed. Practically all the
others were injured, most OF them
seriously.
fhe first explosion occurred In the
soda house of the plant, tho impact
SETTING OF a tank of trinitrotoinol.
which was beng manufactured for
the government.
Frustrated for several hours by tho
sulphuric acid fumes which per-
meated the air within n radius of one
half mile aking death in that radius
highly probable, together with the
heat of the fire, the work OF rescue
was handicapped. Doctors and nurses.
both hospital and Red Cross. were
unable to aid the injured. who were
lying on the ground with burning
embcrs falling about them.
The first and second explosions
came while about eighty men were
eating lunch In the r. n. L. house,
and 1t il believed all these were kill
ed. The explosion occurred few
seconds later. destroying the entire
plant.
Following the third explosion. resi-
dents of the heights about Renner-
dale saw bodies of men shot into
the air The arm OF man was found
along the railroad tracks near Rem
nerdale, three quarters OF mile
away.
Hundreds of persons hurrytng, tow
ard the plant after the shocks OF the
first blasts came upon a scene OF awful
desolation Great columns OF smoke
rolled up from the wrecked plant.
driven by the wind. Woods on the
surrounding hillsides were ignited by
the flaming debris and were burning
in all directions,
Fifteen buildings were leveled.
fifteen tanks OF explosive acid blown
to bits and great crater was filled
with burning debris and buildings
wrecked for a mile around. On this
thirty acres occupied by the big plant
nothing remained tonight but Ave
tanks OF acid standing isolated on n
hill. In the valley which held the
buildings the devastation was COM
piete.
Death was. not confined to those In
the plant Rsscuers rushing to ram
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-05-19

The opening of the campaign for
this citys share OF the second sloo,
600. geo Red Cross war fund will be
featured by Red Cross parade this
q fternoon in which $4,000 people Will
take part. The parade will precede
the actual solicitation of funds, which
starts tomorrow and lasts until May
81.
A monster mass meeting will begin
in the city auditorium as soon as the
parade reaches there this afternoon.
Although Richmond's quota in the
drive has not been announced yet, IL
will be. perhaps. at this meeting. John
Kerr Branch. chairman Of the finance
committee OF the Richmond Red
Cross chapter: Coleman Workman,
chairman OF the chapter. and DR..
Douglas Freeman will be the principal
speakers at the mass meeting. The
meeting will undoubtedly attract a
crowd that will quickly All the build
ing to its capacity, and enthusiasm is
expected to run high.
What promises to be one OF the
most impressive demonstrations of the
kind ever staged in Richmond has
been planned by H. Carl Boschen.
chief marshal. and e. Milford Crutch-
field, chief of stat. who are in charge
OF today's parade. That Vt will far
surpass. the Red Cross parade given
last year seems apparent, When the
first parade was staged comparatively
handful of members belonged to the
Richmond chapter. More than "A
900 belong to the chapter today, and
there has been corresponding
growth in the interest which Rich
mond Is taking in the work OF the
Red Cross,
To prove that they believe in the
assertion that the Red Cross is the
largest organization Of any kind in
the world and the greatest force for
good" thousands OF patriotic. earn
est and sympathetic Richmonders
will have a part in today's pageant.
The appearance in the parade of va
rious military organizations and
handsomely decorated floats, In ad-
dition to long lines OF civic bodies,
will give 1t a picturesque and color
full appearance AS the parade passes
through the streets thousands OF
school children will sing, and instru-
mental music will be furnished by
several bands.
Leaves Capitol Square.
The parade leaves Capitol square
at $50 O'clock 1t forms at o'clock
and those who will participate In 1t
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-05-19
PRESIDENT OPENS RED CROSS DRIVE FOR MILLIONS;
SlNN FEM REVOLT CHECKED; SCORES DEAD in BLAST;
ALLIES CONTINUE AIR SUCCESSES; HUNS HESITATE
HUGHES STARTS AIRCRAFT
PROBE WITH MUCH XIGOR

Washington, May 1S.--Charles
Evans Hughes started his peoDe
into the charges OF dishonesty in
alrS:rall production today with the
SAME ,isor mat brought Inn n.i-
,iolal lame und uncovered the
artill INSURANCE. scandal stIne years
ago.
tie arrived at the department of
Justice al g:A6 O'Clock and with
tire .assisiain,e OF Atorne, General
Gregory and Assistant Attorney
General lrieruon worked until
5.l5 T.. NJ. without stopping for
luncheon. Afler u short walk and
light Duncr tho former supreme
court justice returned to the de-
partment and remained until
shortly before his train left Tor
New York ai midnight
During the short interim be-
tween the afternoon and evening
sessions of conference, Mr.. Hughes
made this statement to the news
paper men:
Il was called into this investi-
CATION suddenly and unexpectedly.
have several matters Of import
ance In New York that must be
closed up before | can give my
unreseryed attention to the work.
i have been with Mr.. Gregory all
day and will return for a further
conference this evening.
II shall leave for New York to-
night. but / promise to return a.
early rs possible next week, and
make a thorough investigation of
this situation in accordance with
President Wilson's request"
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-05-19

der what assistance they could were
slaughtered in a series OF new en-
plosions which followed the first
Crowds from the hills tonight watch
ed while flames completed the work
of destruction.
Since the Aetna plant was frst built
at Oakdale its history has been SIN
lister one, Explosion has followed ex-
plosion. Today's loss with the COM
plete destruction of the operating
plants, equipment and most of the
acids in storage may exceed $780,
oto of itself
The burning embers tgnted the
roofs of houses In districts adjoining
Oakdale and the occupants, armed
with buckets. carried water to the
roofs and extinguished the flames.
Many injured workmen who could
not be assisted to places of safety were
forced to lie out In the fire area and be
slowly asphyxiated by acid fumes.
DR.. ], A. HANNA, surgeon of the
Pennsylvania railroad, who was In
charge OF the relief train which car
ried the injured to this city. described
the town as a living hell. He told OF
children lying dead on htllsides mile
away from the explosion.
Red Cross nurses, dressed to par
ticipate In the parade here, uRon
learning of the disaster. left immedi-
ately for Oakdale to do what they
could in the way OF rescue work.
Stretchers destined for use on the
western battle front were COM
Wandered for service. They were
removed from the headquarters OF the
Red Cross.
Automobiles. trucks. wagons OF all
kinds and even wheelbarrows were
used to convey the injured from the
plant to places where they could be
given medical attention.
Miss Marlin Ashleman. a nurse
from st. Johns hospital. who was
hurried to the scene of the explosion.
had her right leg severed at the knee
by piece OF pipe which was hurled
through the air In the sixth blast.
Patrick Roberts. who was at work
In the plant when the explosion oc-
Cured, was found unconscious along
the road half mile from the scene
of the explosion.
Although 1t is not known that the
explosion was due to any alien enemy
activity, special agents of the depart
ment of Justice were sent to the scene
at once, and the probable cause Il
also being investigated from other
anglia
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-05-19
PLOT N|PPEO IN BUD
Five Members Of Parlia-
ment Among Those
Under Arrest
DUBLIN IS QUIET
Uprising Planned to
Take Place at Moment
of Hindenburg s Next
Big Drive.

London. May Is.--Onc~ again the
long arm of the British govern
ment has reached out and H'pp@a Ia
the bud "a gigantic German pilot In
Ireland.
This time IL was able to strnnRle
the serpent before Ia got n chance
to raise it's head.
Fully $40 men and women, IL Is
estimated late tonight. most of
them Slim Feiners. have been
rested without bioodshed In all
parts OF ireland.
Dubiin In quiet. In front of the
Sim Fetn headquarters In Har-
court street hangs II big poster
"bustness as usual"
High and low are among the
prisoners. Practically every man
and woman leader of the Slim Feiu
movement. many of them chief
tains in the Dublin Easter revolt
two years ago, are under lock and
key. Five members of parliament
are held.
Names that are inseparab1e from the
very sound Of Sin Fein are on the
prisoners roll-Da VALERA Arthur
Griffith the countess Of Markiewicz
mr. Thomas Dillon. General" MslIowes
Cosgrave, Pat" OKeefe and
SO on.
So far no formal charges have beer
lodged against the prisoners, They
will range from disorderly conduct te
communicating with the enemy" anc
high treason.
Documentary evidence In In ths
hands OF the government OF a sinr
Fein conspiracy with the Germans fol
open revolt Only those high In tbs
councils OF Sin Feinisn are believed II
be directly linked with the Berlin In
spired scheme; hundreds OF others
were mere dupes blindly following
their leaders In the hope that the hour
OF freedom" was about to strike.
A general official communique or
the circumstan prompting the gov
ernments measures is expected at any
moment. The full story. however. viii
not be told for some time, IL is be.
iieved
ToniEht's Dublin dispatches quote
some Irish press voices as ossertine
that arrests were made by the govern,
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-05-19
Giant Spectacle This Afternoon
lnaugurates Red Cross Campaign
Thirty Five Thousand Persons Expected to Be in Line of
March When It Leaves Capitol Square $50 O'clock.
Children, Nurses, Doctors Soldiers and Everybody Win
Lend Hand to Great Drive

are urged TO report at their forma-
ton stations promptly on time. In
structfons will he given the marchers
10 form in lines of eight, each line
four PAGES in the rear OF the preced-
ing line.
Commanded by f. NJ. Crutchheld
the first division will include a police
escort, band, allied flag bearers allied
army representatives from Camp Lee,
the governor. mayor. committee OF
one hundred. f1oat and one thou
sand Red Cross nurses. The division
forms in Capitol street. east of Ninth
street. Division No. will be COM
manded by Mrs. A. H. Christian, Jr,
and will be made up of the mothers
of soldiers and sailors and floats. This
division will form in Capitol street,
east of Eleventh street.
Adjutant- General 10 Lane Stern
and jor Lawrence T. Price will
command the Third division in which
will be found a band and a detach-
nent OF military. The division forms
In Twelfth street. north of Capitol
street In Charge of the Fourth di-
vision. which forms in Twelfth street,
north OF Broad street. will be Charles
l.. Weaver In the division will be
Boy Scouts. Scout drum corps and
floats. The Fifth division. made up of
fathers OF soldiers and sailors and
floats, will be commanded by Harry
NJ. Smith. Jr. 1t forms in Eleventh
street north OF Capitol street.
The Sixth division. including floats
and delegations of business men, will
be commanded by ]. J. Marcuse. 1t
forms In Eleventh street, north OF
Broad street. Major Stuart Mcclure
will command the Seventh division,
which will include the Mcclure base
hospital unit and a foat. The d.
vision forms In Tenth street. north IT
Capitol street. Miss Alene Stokes will
be in charge Of the Eighth division,
EN- bracing II taiai. toats, war relief
association and the Y. w. c. A. The
division forms in Tenth street. north
of Broad street. Tho Ninth division
will be comt.ande6 - J. III. Binford.
In II will he the John Marshall High
school cadets, cadet Drum corps, floats
and white school children II forms
in Capitol square. Rev. w. T. john
son will 1onimaud the. T:n,l division.
which includes colorad Red Cross
members, colored fathers and moth
ers, colo~ed school children, a band
and floats The division forms In
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-05-19
To OBSERVE
TTALY'S WAR ANNIVERSARY

Washington. May ia state
ment by President Wilson. made
public tonight. calls tine attention
OF the country to the third an
niyersary OF Italy's entrance into
the war, which is May "a. The
president asks that til" Italian flags
he displayed and other means be
used to show our honor to Italy.
The statement reads as follows:
May -. 1918, marks the third
anniversary OF Italy's entrance into
the great war. The president calls
the attention of his fellow citizens
to the burden which Italy has
borne SO heroically during these
three years--to the valiant struR-
gle OF her armies. to the no less
valiant struggle OF her civilian
population, TO her fortltudc in de-
feat and her moderation In victory.
He suggests that on this ami
verSary the people Of the United
States. by the display of Italian
flags on public and private build.
ings. by meetings and dcmonstra-
tions and ny all other appropriate
means. show their devotion 10 their
great hearted brothers I'm arms
and their gratitude for their SER
vices In the cause of universal de-
mocracy."
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-05-19
One and Half Million
Dollars for Foreign
Evangelization
MILLION FOR HOME
Delegates Largest in
History, and Sunday
School Board Passes
High Mark.

Especial to The Richmond Eirginian.)
Hot Springs. Ark. May ls-This
session of the Southern Baptist con-
vention is a record breaker in several
respects. The enrolled delegates now
number .,263, the largest in the con-
vention's history The appointment
for foreign missions next year is one
and a half million dollars, and a mill
lion for home missions. These are
record breakers.
The Sunday school board surpa ssed
all records in business by over twenty
thousand dollars. The education com
missions report will be read Sun
day by DR.. j w Cammack. of Rich
mond. and calls Will be made for Sis
eea,oao for Christian education, TO be
raised In Eve years,
Nirginia's part OF this Is $1,000 900
The convention voted 10 raise $780,
600 to start a negro theological sem
mary
The great event of Saturday was
the report OF the committee on world
crisis The report was written by
DR., r, II. Pitt. of Richmond. and
read by DIR, George W Truett. The
report pledged entire and amending
loyalty to the government 10 win the
war for freedom The central event
of Sunday will he the mass meeting
on Christian education. addressed by
Or w. I McGlothln. Of Kentucky.
and Or. Truett Of Texas
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-05-19
SEEKS WORTHY VICTORY
Peace Can Come No
Other Way, Declares
President
LAUDS RED CROSS
Giving to Support Its
Mission Creates Com
radeship IN Service
to the World.

Metropolitan Opera House. New
York. May fs---president Wilson
tonight reiterated the purpose of
tt,c I5ur1i : :: ic III B.fn on -
mn honorable peace. Americas
duty is to win greatly and
wort lilly" said the president
Russia as well a. France must
hr projected by the peace which
sr,irninatc the w"r-Presidcnt
Wilson tnferred--''as far as an,
The purpose Of the United
States and the allies l. to ignore
nil offers OF peace which have an
insintere ring. the president de-
tiared. He charged that Ger
many has given evidence that she
intends to attempt to make
peace which Will assure her of
her conquests In the east.
There arc two dulles wi.f7
which we are face tn face"
President Wilson said. The first
duty il tn win the war. And the
second duty that goes hand In
hand with II Is to win n greatly
and wortiiily.''
President Wilson declared that
ne has asked congress TO name
no limit TO the size of the army.
II Is the purpose of congress- and
the nation to send every ship.
every voyage laden with men and
supplies
And we arc not TO re diverted
frots, the grim purpose OF win
ming the war by any inssncerc APP
breaches upon the subject OF
peace" the president declared.
President Marches I'm Parade.
The speech followed a great dem
including parade OF Is
90 persons with whom the pres
ent marched Economically, carryin
n American flag At the Metropo'
an Opera house tonight he vi
reeted by storm Of applause wnia
ontinusd long after his party ha
ound places on the stage. He SAFE
Il should he very sorry 10 thin
hat Mr.. Dawson IN any degree Gu
a Ned hts exceedingly interestir
peech for fear that he was postror
nS mine, because l am sure We
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-05-19
ARTILLERY BAND WILL
PLAY IN MONROE PARK

After the Red Cross parade to-
day. the band of the 81 18th feld
artillery will play in Monroe park
for an overflow meeting. Later
the hand will go to the state Fair
grounds TO play for the enlisted
men there for special training.
who are now undergoing the regu-
lation quarantine and will not
have part in the big demonstra-
ton.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-05-19
FORECAST

Washington, May 1s.&Forecast:
yirginia-Fair Sunday excert show
49, II extreme west portion: Monday.
fair.
North Carolina--Partly cloudy Sun
sNsv, showers in west portion: Monday.
faiN
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-05-19

Tag Dny Tomorrow.
Tomorrow Will he tag day for the
Restoyer Home for Girls and Boys.
The public has been asked To re-
spond literally TO this appeal
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-05-19

Continued on Second Page)
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-05-19

Continued on Second Page.>
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-05-19

tcontinusd on Page Six,
The Washington times., 1918-06-23

shlpment of arms BY the usual
Across the top of the lsttsr. in : Won
PApen's scrawlIng hand, had been
Won Lerta and ssspeAn. 1o:so.
IN. Y. c." New York Central. or
course. and they were leaving at
1920! Dixie glanced at her watch.
1t was a quarter after nine, There
were things she must do. too. Sud
denly she caught at the window frame
and gave q little moan.
Dixie MasOa's Ruse.
Won Lertz looked up in time to
see her slide Imply to the floor in
a faint.
Call a taxi and send her home, /"
Won Papen ordered sharply. as Won
Lertz rubbed her lifeless wrists.
I'm be back all right. Don't wor-
ry." Won Lertz's efforts to bring
Dixie back to consciousness were
meeting with success With bewIl-
dered eyes she sat up and looked
around her. then smiling weakly. she
staggered "a her feat
ly. Il don't Know what made me do
such q silly thing, l. must have been
tired out from everything ! did yes
tsrday. Can you take me homer"
AS the door closed behind him,
Dixie jumped to her feet with q sud
den access Of energy.
Goodness. I'll have to hurry like
everything" She told herself
She sat down at her desk and be-
gan to scribble huFriedly on a scrap
OF paper. Between lines she called
to Mamette-
"Mamette! Mamettei Where are
You? Hurry" Msmette appeared in
the doorway wiping her hands on
her apron in her sudden haste
IT have just about half an hour
want you TO go down the street in
that old second hand store and buy
me the articles on this list OF cloth
ing"
She handed Mamette the list and
some money Mamette seized them
and hurried out Dixie turned again
to her desk and scrawled letter
which two hours later was delivered
to Harrison Grant at the Criminology
Club by special delivery. The letter
read:
Have notified the chief of German
concentration camps along the bor-
der preparatory TO invasion OF Can
ada. Hold yourself in readiness for
a big raid on German headquarters
at Exeter. Will keep you informed
under name OF Randolph Bruce.
Operative 3e4.-
Grant turned to his card index OF