davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-05-12

of President Wilson's extremely one-sided
neutrality. The President had sought to
attain his object not merely by directly pro-
noting the interests of our enemies, but by
trying to bring about peace in which there
would be neither conquerors nor conquered.
The failure of our peace offer, as we'll as
his attempt at INTERPRETATION in December,
1916, and January, 1917, led him to doubt
whether this could be attained. The sub
jugation of Rumania and the proclamation
of the unrestricted U-boat warfare prob
ably also good information about threaten
ing events then impending in Russia,
caused him to fear that Germany's victory
was near at hand. But all these motives in
fuenced only the President and a small cir
Gle of political thinkers. The American
people undoubtedly wanted to keep the
peace; and powerful shock such as the
unrestricted U-boat campaign gave to pub
lie opinion, was actually needed in order
that the peace will of the people might be
overcome by even such uncommonly skill
full demagogism that of the President"
Finally, answering the question, What
effect the entrance of America into the
war has had the "Frankfurter Zeitung"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-05-12

argues that the Russian breakdown
would have shaken the determination of
the European Entente to continue the
war but for the fact that "the hope of
American help had inspired them with
the strength to hold out further" And
the paper thinks that it remains quite
doubtful whether America did the
European Allies good service by enter
ing the war and thus probably prevent
ing peace by understanding in the
year 1917"
After contending at great length that
American help has been slower than was
expected in reaching the Allies, the
paper concludes thus:
"The Entente must still let their ally be-
yond the Atlantic have time. Can they hold
out to do this? The first answer to the
question is now being given on the battle
fields of France. But even if the entire
Entente can and will keep up its madness of
a war of destruction against Germany ever
so long, it will never live to see the death
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-05-12

despite one or two promising tenden-
cies Parliament has been unable to find
steble policy. AS things are the resump-
ton of the sittings of Parliament would
not improve the situation, but would only
sharpen political antagonism and thereby
endanger the fultilment of those economic
tasks on the successful solution Of which
everything depends.
"Untl the reassembly of Parliament,
which will take place at the earliest posi-
BILE moment, the government will devote it's
entire strength to the economic problems of
the day, especially to the task of arranging
for the nations food supply, and will try
in every way to create conditions which are
required to enable the population to hold
out"
The long and short of which is that
people suffering such pangs of hunger as
the Austrians are said now to be en-
during must necessarily renounce all
thoughts of political character.
But this adjournment has not ended
the governments troubles According to
a~Copenhagen dispatch three members of
the Cabinet resigned at the end of last
week. The Socialists, too, have by no
means accepted the adjournment in a
submissive spirit. A committee of their
Deputies, according to statement of the
"Vienna Social Demokratische Core
spondenz," decided to publish manifesto
containing this ominous sentence:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-05-12

closing of Parliament as coup detat,
and adds: "That he Emperor Karl has
had to have recourse to such a desperate
measure is proof of the hopeless posi-
ton of the Austrian Empire" After as
serting that Karls inspiration came from
Berlin ''The Post" concludes:
"Now is the time for the Allies to act.
Let them come out fiatfooted with a dec
laration that the deathknelI of the Aus
TRAN Empire has struck and that they will
make it their business to see that Poles,
Czechs, Jugoslavs, Italians and Rumanians
shall be forever freed from the Austrian
yoke and given their freedom and indie
pendence. The day they do the 'Mittel-
europa which the Central Powers have for
the time being called into existence, will
be shattered and become once more the
stuff that dreams are made on"
"The Cleveland Plain Dealer" also
thinks that the young Emperor acted un-
der Berlin influences, and believes that
"Karl lacked the courage to face the wrath
wrath of his own people, trusting to the
support of the German Austrians and to the
continued efficacy of big promises"
"The Pittsburgh Dispatch" captions its
editorial "Back to Absolutism," while
"The Boston Globe" says this:
"The dust cloud which swirls over Aus
tria is too thick to permit US to judge how
far the internal struggle is going. But it is
sharp and may be Desperate
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-05-12

would replenish their tonnage in this

would replenish their tonnage in this
way, and he then proceeds:
HE ii. e., the political thinker) was in
clned on general principles to regard
Americas accession to the ranks of our OPP
ponents as aggravating considerably the
tasks Of our army and navy 1t was pretty
clear to him from the beginning of the war
that the natural policy of the United States,
which is based upon the idea of the allied
AngloAmericans, would be to strive as
far as possible to prevent any defeat Of
England. Accordingly, the decision of the
authorities at Washington had to be ex-
pected as soon as the proclamation of the
U-boat campaign seemed to bring in sight
the checkmatng of England
with US people were at times disposed
to take little account of Americas part in
the war. partial change of that view
has already occurred. Nobody
who noted the enormous military power
that slumbered, scarcely suspected, in the
different countries in this war entertained
the opinion that North America would not
be able to create enormous military forces
on land and at sea. Many persons, how
ever, assumed that the creation OF such mil
itary forces would require an extraordina-
rily long time and, accordingly, that they
would not participate in the struggle at the
right time.
"This idea of participation at the right
time is connected with the hopes raised
by the resumption of the Unrestricted
U-boat campaign. Hasty judges expected
that 1t would reach it's goal within six
monthss but at present nobody doubts
that it would 90 no harm to clip the wings
of fancy that had painted too highly col
ored pictures of what the U-boat cam
paign would accomplish Those who find It
hard to undertake this clipping operation
are setting a new date for the fulfilment of
their prophecies; they say it will be this
summer.
will North Americas activity in the war
have reached by this time such proper
tions as to be of substantial Importance for
the Central Powers? That North America
Is able, in view of its population and re-
sources, to muster army numbering
millions is not subject to any doubt How
long time it will require to do this and
what the fighting power of these troops
shall be are other questions which, under
the existing circumstances, cannot be an
swered. 1t 10 certain, however, that North
America will succeed at no distant period
in putting in the field troops and other
things that will prove of quite valuable as
sistance for our enemies. We know that
American troops are already lighting on the
Western front, but we are withoutsauthentic
! information as to their number"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-05-12

WAS inevitable that the Germans
should take stock of Americas first
= year in the war, for there are no
people more given to celebrations and
no editors reader to write yearly
survey Of any movement whatever than
tie Teutons.
On April the "Frankfurter Zeitung"
printed an elaborate survey of our first
year at war, giving special attention to
Me causes that induced us to go to war.
Inc paper rejects the view of extreme
biologists of the unrestricted U-boat
warfare, the pan-Germans, Fatherland
erty and all that ilk, who say that we
would have attacked Germany even if
uefe had been no submarine campaign,
aence the unrestricted submarine proc
anation had nothing to do with the
natter.
The paper is willing to admit that
Na declaration only gave occasion or
"s only the pretext for which we went
y war, but the decisive point is, it says,
uas probably no other pretext could
aase" been found, in view of the fact
mat there was strong opposition among
= american people going into the war
al. President Wilson, the paper
1anks wanted to join the Allies, but he
vac not yet succeeded in finding an
sument sufficiently strong to justify
'acn course before the American peo-
He: the U-boat declaration supplied him
'sa What he wanted.
1arning to what it regards as the real
seses that induced our government to
1'are war, the "Frankfurter Zeitung'
sues that the first cause was fear
~ q German victory, which would
~ Germany dominating position in
/. world; also the fear Of having in
.'sre % stand alone in the world against
many without the support of other
ls. This is the real feeling, thinks
itcr, behind such phrases as max
e world safe for democracy--a
4 which, he argues, rests upon two
ne imperialist, the other pacifist
~ Qen1cratic. The imperiaiist idea Is
United States would find vic
zmany IN her way in South
lAmerica and in the Pacific;
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-05-12

tary criticism" Apparently, the Pre-
mier did not waste many words in argu-
ing his case; he bluntly told the party
leaders that unless they adjourned volun-
tarily the government would prevent the
further sessions by force.
The President of the lower house at
tempted to parry this bludgeon blow by
claiming that the bad conditions prevail
ing in the country, together with the de.
mands of the larger political parties for
the resumption of the sittings, made a
further postponement impossible. Never
theless, the party leaders agreed to the
postponement, against the protests of the
Polish and Socialist groups.
Apparently, leading motive of the
Premier in sending the Deputies to their
homes was the expectation that mill
tary victory would at an early day clear
Austria's political skies and facilitate
the solution Of the pressing problems at
home. "Our entire military and political
situation has reached a Climax" he said.
1.-The next few months will bring a big
decision. / am firmly convinced the de-
cision on the battlefield will be in favor
of Austria and her allies"
A semi-official defence of the adjourn
ment printed by the "Wiener Journal"
contained this comment:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-05-12

alton of the oppressed non-German and
nonMagyar elements the monarchy, with
its present organization, would hardly out
last the war"
The conclusion of "The New York
World" is that Austria is ruined. Gun
like Germany" it adds, "she knows it.
That is the secret of her political crisis.
And in the imperial system there is no
cure" "The New York Sun" said:
"The different races have been so long at
daggers' points that these strifes and con-
tiicts among them are not in themselves an
indication that revolution impends in Aus
trla-Hungary. Neither do they present any
reason for believing that Austria is about
to desert Germany They are, however, I'M
mistakable signs of the increasing weakness
of the Dual Monarchy. There is new
alignment of forces that must be considered.
The Germans are being driven for their
own protection into the arms of Berlin and
a Slavic power is developing strongly an
tagonistic to Germany and German aggres-
sions."
"The Boston Evening Transcript" with
some hesitation picks it's steps among va
rious contingencies to reach the conclu-
sion that
"there is no rashness in asserting the pos
sibility of Austria Hungary going to pieces
about the time the German armies are
rolled back in fragments from the impas-
sable rocks of Allied resistance. That time
will surely come"
"The Washington Post" regards the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-05-12
Astra Hard Pressed by Famine Shows Symptoms of Revouto

TIME news from Austria for more
than a week strongly empha-
sizes the conclusion that the sit
uation there, both economically
and politically, is growing daily more
and more precarious. The Austrian gov
eminent itself gave warrant for the
worst conclusions abroad by peremptorily
adjourning the Parliament last week.
The young Emperor. in authorizing the
Premier to make the adjournment, also
instructed him to "inaugurate measures
to render impossible the resumption of
its activities"
This return to the methods of despot-
ism, after Austria had for some months
under the influence of Czernin been Civ
ing promise of more liberal system of
government, appears to have been decided
upon as the only means for meeting a
most critical situation "a desperate
remedy for desperate disease. Pre-
nier Dr.. Won Seydler, according to one
dispatch, motivated the adjournment by
alleging the serious economic and food
Conditions, which made it imperative for
ne government to be spared parliamen
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-05-12

There has been much editorial discus
sion of Austro Hungarian affairs in the
American press within a week. While
the general tendency is to regard the
latest developments as very encouraging
for America and the Allies, there is also
marked note Of scepticism on the part
of editors who recall previous cases
where Austria seemed on the point Of
breaking down. "The New York Times"
adopts this cautious tone. 1t writes:
"The situation in Austria must be more
serious than had been supposed when the
government finds it necessary to prevent
Parliament from meeting. To say this,
however, is far from saying that the situa-
ton is necessarily desperate or that things
have come to extremes. Nevertheless,
though the situation may be far from des-
perate, it is certainly ugly. No government
can afford to present itself to the eyes of
the world in such light; none would do it
except when driven by need"
The Tribune thinks that the crisis at
Vienna has been primarily political and
only secondarily economic.
"1t was brought about by an acute revival
of racial antagonisms and ambitions. The
whole structure of the Dual Monarchy has
been undermined by the war. The
war has put an impossible strain on the
loose joints of the Dual Monarchy It's
bonds are being loosened. Even were the
Allies to abandon their plans for the ]iber-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-05-12

"If absolutism be reestablished, the mani
festo says, out of regard for pan German
ism, which is prolonging the war, if it be
intended that Austria shall again be gov
erned after the manner of Count Stuerghk
the working classes will be forced to fight
for their rights"
Meanwhile, the Premier's difficulties
have been augmented by his decision to
attach certain districts of Bohemia and
the Tyrol to Germany temporarily in the
matter of food distribution, and by the
demands of the German reactionary
press for strong measures for crushing
rebellious tendencies among the Czechs
and Southern Slavs, and the latter in
particular are represented as being in a
furious state of mind.
And in all this unrest and turmoil the
pangs of hunger would seem to be the
driving force. The young Emperor re-
Gently visited Bohemia, and the Socialist
"Arbeiter Zeitung," of Vienna, printed a
letter describing some things that he saw.
Its correspondent wrote:
Everywhere the Emperor was met by
Populations, who described to him the
dreadful scarcity of food and starvation
suffered by the popuace.
"At Schluckenau a deputation stated that
80 per cent of the population was underfed
and large proportion of the people were
unfit for work. There is great deal of
hunger, typhus and tuberculosis"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-05-12

and then the authorities began to act.
They had decided that one substantial
many of the force having been called into
the army. They remedied this by adding
reinforcements. Soldiers temporarily
exempt from military duty were also as
signed to the police force. In this way
patrolling parties of police Or soldiers
secured the streets throughout the night
The result is that Berlin is now COM
paratively free from night robberies.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-05-12
All Russia Wants to Read

n HE Leipsic book trade has expert
enced an unusual revival since
peace was made with Russia. 1t was
soon discovered that there was a big
demand for books in Russia which Rus
sian publishers were not able to meet.
The Ieipsic publishing houses saw a big
opportunity in this situation. They ac-
cordingly hired as many printers as
they could find among the Russian pris-
oners, and proceeded to print Russian
books as fast as they could. According
to report shipment is already being
made in carload lots.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-05-12
Up and Dozen the Columns of the German Press

formerly Secretary of the Interior. He
said that the period just preceding the
war would long be looked back to by
Germans as lost paradise. He thought
that shipping tonnage must now be built
as fast as possible in order after the
war to bring in raw materials at once.
The rationing system for distributing
food would have to be retained for some
time. Agricultural production must be
increased. The Mitteleuropa scheme in
an economic sense would bring Germany
moro injury than advantage
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-05-12

and it is said that complaints about food
and other perishable goods spoilt
through delayed delivery have wholly
ceased. Special cars have been built
for the use of the postoffice, and these
move on the tracks at all hours of the
day
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-05-12
Parcels Post

Owing to the scarcity Of horses and
~ auto trucks the German postoffice
has recently begun to haul parcels from
one railway station to the other in Ber-
parcels are already hauled daily in this
way. Great advantages have already
been derived from this system. Parcels
are, handled much more expeditiously;
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-05-12

night, and some thieves even chose the
daytime for their operations. An occa-
sional murder accompanied their ex-
PLOTS. Things finally became intolerable,
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-05-12
A Dearth of Nocturnal
MelOdrama

DERLIN reports an ebb in the wave of
- crime that was observed there in
March. At that time the newspapers
were filled with the daring ventures of
burglars and thieves generally. Houses
were broken into right and left every
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-05-12
Nice, Juicy Camel Meat
II ARD times in Germany occasion
ally bring unexpected good
IL luck, as the inhabitants Of

found. Hagenbeck, the we'll known AM
NAL trainer of Hamburg, recently went
there to show his menagerie, but he did
not strike the hay" because there was a
dearth Of that article. In short, there
was nothing to feed the camels, and for
that reason four of them were sold at
auction. A thrifty "horse butcher" Sc
cured the prizes and sold the meat across
his counters. "The camel meat" says the
report, found ready sale. 1t is said to
taste like beef, but is much more juicy"
The Raymer enterprise., 1918-08-01
WHAT CAN
| - Xb5$ XbSt
Red Cross Work in German Prison Camps

chapters and given an opportunity to
enroll.
In Central dlylsion-Illinois, Mlchi-
gan, Wisconsin. Iowa and Nebraska
there are about 100000 members of
the Junior Red Cross. Manifestly this
group Of workers Is big factor In
the Red Cross organization.
The junior members are members
Of $4,000 auxiliaries to the 568 Red
Cross chapters. Virtually every school
is an auxiliary.
Red Cross Pig Clubs.
The Red Cross Pig club Of Carroll
county. NO.. was organized lust fall
with practically the entire population
Of the county constituting the mem-
bership. O. f. Turner, the agricultural
county agent. asked $500 pers ,ns to
raise one pig each, to be known as the
Red Cross pig. Although the county
has only 1000 registered voters. 5000
persons answered the call. A few days
ago the department of agriculture an
nounced that 5000 porkers represent
the output Of the club.
The Raymer enterprise., 1918-08-01
WHOSE BOOTS DO YOU BLACK7
BY HARRISON RHODES
Of the vIaiIantes.

The bootblack Is one of our greatest
national institutions. In Europe he Is
both rare and incompetent upon the
public streets. Here, to sit In COM
fortably padded chair on a sunny cor
ner and watch the world 60 by while
strong and willing toiler polishes
your foot coverings till they reflect
your handsome face in them Is one Of
the American experiences which makes
the average citizen feel. temporarily at
least, like god, at ease with the
world and superior to 1t.
But what about 1t now? Just how
are these strong and willing toilers,
the bootblacks, helping to win the war
against Germany? Isn't their job un.
necessary? Wouldn't they, fighting In
the front line, or working In the fac.
tories or toiling In the wheat fields. be
helping America more than by polish.
Ing your shoes and mine?
Couldn't We, in fact, polish our owni
People used to. There were things
covered over with a square Of gaudily
colored Brussels carpet, which were
called boot backing boxes, usually
In every home. And pater familias
and the boys at least shined their own
shoes. When they went on trips there
was a compact travelling kit which they
put into their bag. Perhaps the boots
weren't done quite so well. perhaps
they didn't reflect your handsome face.
But which, to put 1t briefly, is more
important, to have your boots polished
for you or to whip the Germans?
Does this sound ludlcrously trivial
to you? 1t Is true that all the boot.
blacks In the country released for the
real services of war time would be
but little part of our military or ci-
william army. But 1t cannot be said
too often that nothing Is too trivial
nowadays to be worth paying atten.
tion to.
Think 1t over! Would you rather
polish your own boots. or lick the
Kaiser's when he gets here?
The Raymer enterprise., 1918-08-01
WHAT FARMER THINKS
OF THE COUNTY AGENT.

The states relations service of
the United States department Of
agriculture has on file thou
sands of letters from farmers
telling Of help they have re-
ceiyed from county agents.
The following Is quoted from
a letter written by W. II. Har-
vey, a farmer of Long Beach,
CAL:
"Farmlng is no longer a blum
derlng job. 1t is growing into a
science. To succeed, organiza-
tion, method. system and scien-
tific knowledge are needed.
These steps are developed and
brought about or made possible
by the right kind Of a county
agent. He Is, therefore, a
trained. skilled man In personal
touch with the farmer to help
solve the thousand and one
farm problems as they come up
and has at his beck and call the
scientific men Of this great
country"