davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1918-11-28
LITTLE RAILWAYS
SPEED UP BATTLES
BY FRANK J. TAYLOR.
United Press Staff CORRESPONDENT

with The American Army iIe France
tby ma:D-The American railway en-
gincers played an important role in
no battle for st. Mihiel sector. They
DIDN'T get out and lake Germans, but
they ,nade IL possible for others to do
All up and down the American front
there is a nework of narrow gagged
railways, running to every point along
the front, and connecting the fighters
with their bases in the rear.
The Americans a developed rail-
a building along he front to a high
degree OF efficiency. They can law
a track through a wood or across a
field in almost no time, and soon little
engines specially built for the front
are chugging along dragging strings
OF cars loaded with shells, food and
other things the d%oughboys need.
The little trains look like toys, they
full grown railway outfits. They carry
enormous loads and wind along
through fields, woods, roads and viz
lagos with great speed. There isn't
any block system to keep trains from
meeting along tho way, but someway
genius of these American railway n
gineers Keeps lots OF trains going all
the time with seldom any congestion.
Switches and sidings help keep
roads clear. These are frequent as the
healthy foot of the little American
locomotives. The o. is modelled aft.
er that OF a full grown Baldwin, and
IS a sound which delights the dough-
frantic squeak they put on French
locomotives instead of q whistle.
Railways OF this type are necessary
to connect the rail heads of big wide
gagged railroads with the front. Sup
plies come surprisingly near the front
o n the big railways. From their stop
ping places auto trucks and narrow
gauges carry stuff to fighting range.
Ordinary roads often are crowded,
n:d in rainy weather are hard to
make speed owe The little narrow
gauge trains run all the time to re-
lieve traffic, doing most of the work
at night. They are quickly repaired
when blown up, and are extended in
few hours.
Following the recent advance. Of the
doGghboys across No Mans Land. the
railway engineers 500 had their
tracks laid and putting little engines
dragged chains Of cars loaded with
necessary supplies over to the infan-
try and artillery.
Once across No Mans Land the en-
giceers were able to hook onto rail-
roads left by the fleeing Germans. and
the Americans a a fairly extensive
temporary system already laid out for
them. They used captured German
engines and cars, toe. temporarily.
But the boche rolling, stock did not
compare to the cars marked u. s. A."
A great many Of the railway N
gineers are former railroad men who
have come into the army. Their
knowledge Of railroading and their
familiarity with speedy construction
and operation Of railroads learned in
''the States made them old hands at
the transportation end Of the army.
Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1918-11-28

your never De a soldier" THEY
cnuche1 this nltir,ntura in terms less
harsh than these bat the effec. was
tie gaI0c.
Tears began 20 stream down the
mans face. He STOOD at attention with
I'm effort. He saiuted.
Sir" he said. controlling his CULVER
ms chi:; with IN effort, for Gods
sake use me somewhere, Send me TO
France i: you car, but anyway let me
stay IN .he service and do what I
can. I've e. niece in France as n Red
Cross nurse. what win she think of me
Il ! stay &. home? WhatM happen to
her ii I'm not over there doing my
share toward projecting her?"
zach month the entire organization
Is examined and those men found to
have developed 20 the requisite stage
are transferred to units destined for
overseas service.
Beside The physical training, inetruc-
ton III English ami other topics Inowl-
edge OF which IS essential! TO an Amer
icaT roldier, is given the men. The
English classes, by arrangement with
tie war department., are handled by
the Z. VI. G. n. Mos: OF .ile teachers
are volunteers from the San Diego
pno.ic school staff. Both the Y. NJ. c.
=. and knights of Columbus have
buildings in the camp area and are
aiding, through the supply &C athletic
material and through the personal
work OF their secretaries, to build up
the men physically ans mentally.
Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1918-11-28
NUMEROUS CONNECTION
FACTIONS IN RUSSIA

Moscow tby mail.)-Bclshevist Lead
ers are divided as to h best means
OF perpetuating soviet Russia. One
faction wants a cal army to fight Ger
many and believes actual var with
Germany will be necessary. Another
fectjon, which Includes those who lean.
toward the social revoluticnists, would
wag guerilla warfare against Ger
many and attack Germans wherever
n whenever possible. The third and
predominant group urges the preserva-
ton OF the Brest peace and elings to
the hope that social revolution in Ger
many ana az the rest of the world will
be brought about by constant sasita-
tion. Such a revolution III Germany.
in the opinion OF this group. viii mean
the restoration 10 Ressia OF all its ter
ritory and the pe1lnanea,cy OF the soviet
government.
Many foreign Observers be,tav. the
flower OF ths Russian arm. and fha
best OF the otd officers. fell N tae ..rst
three gears OF ..,.e war. Other observers
are confldcn; lie ct.;cers md snen OF
the dispandsl :.-sn:. constitute !, nsass
out OF ws:t,;l q II sali4r army will ON
day be created 20 overthrow l:srmaa
9pp.asHiHr.
Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1918-11-28
"SHELL SHOCK" IS NOT
SUCH AN AWFUL THING

United Press Staff Correspondent.
With the American Armies III
France. (by mail.) - Shell shock isn't
shell shock after all.
It's war neurosis, so doctors have
discovered.
That takes all the prestige and dis
tinction out Of being shell shocked. so
much so that a lot Of people who know
about 1t won't even admit there's shell
shock any more.
Here's why.
Were you ever surprised speeches.,
thing going on within you as when YOU
have socalled shell shock. The fellow
who went time after time to u
to his girl and couldn't make his
tongue work, had the same thing. onlv
on q smaller scale than they do at he
front.
These discoveries about what thew
used to call she'll shock are interesting
and valuable. because they show that
the victim merely has lost control over
some faculty. He may stutter or his
head may shake or he may have the
trembles, but it's far from being incur
able.
Just as the chap who wants to pro-
pose finally gets his tonghe and gets
the idea over to her, so the shell! shock
patient gets back to himself again. The
psychology OF the word has been had.
say OoctOTS OF n dig army hospital
who have been working on the problemy
So they have requested hat the word
shell shock" be forbidden in the army
However, o can't prevent a man
from thinking what he wants to saw. Sc
he can't a it. and thinking is as bad
as saying. so a more practical group
got busy and figured out just how orr
binary shell shock is. Nobody is scared
OF 1t n more, since 1t can be cured.
sometimes in less than 10 minutes. no
1t really doesn't make any differences
whether you say shell shock or not.
The best cure, 1t seems, is to put your
mind on practical and concrete work.
Washing dinshes. saving q log. or knit
ting sox would be good for shell shock.
because they give you something YOU
can concentrate your MUD and your
hands upon.
In the shell shock hospital they work
on manual training objects. makdng
toys, building boxes, boats. or mallinC
designs. Anything one can concen.
trate on Is good.
Just figuring out what the proposi-
ton Is has taken all the honor and
Danger. out of shell shock, and since no.
body's scared Of it, everybody gets well
pretty. quickly. Most Of the boys 20
right back to the trenches and never
get it again.
Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1918-11-28
Fine Fighting Men.
Story of American Advance North of verdun-Praise
Engineers.
Engineers.

gun barrage was maintained by h
Americans on the village of FORCES,
which materially aided in deceiving
the Germans.
Three officers and 70 men were cap
tured in a dug out before they had
had advanced. All the defenses and
barbed wire in the VOC could not
stop the dashing Americans, n they
swept the place clear. They hen
swung UP the west bank Of the Mouse
and took Drillancourt and Gercourt.
D~annevouX was captured later.
The Germans. realizing their mis-
take, hurridly rushed up reserves to
Brieulles, on the Meuse. These were
seen by the Americans, and soon the
artillery was pouring shells into the
mass of railway trucks containing the
Germans.
How we'll the Americans have been
fighting recently is illustrated by the
work of a certain unit, the majority
of whose troops hail from Oregon.
This unit had never been under fire
before. Starting from just east of Vau-
Iquois. it astonished the whole army by
ad Vancing to the extent Of 5h miles
in the first day.
Very INT Epinonville fell to it, while
it met and defeated one of the guard
divisions on the way, and then again
fought with another guard division
held in support. Apparently it's prog
ress was irresistible. 1t reached and
fought owe a formidable system of
d%efenses. and, despite all the machine
gun fire and counter attacks, held
tenaciously to its gains, refusing to
yield anything under pressure. 1t only
finally withdrew a very short dis
lance to conform to the rest of the
line.
The men had to wade through the
Bots de Cheppy and the Bots de Very.
and then the slopes just south of Ep-
the slightest experience and without
being familiar with the sound of bull
let's and shells, could accomplish their
mission with such speed, serves to
show hat fine fighting men are ar
! irving from America.
Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1918-11-28
TOOK LONG CHANCES
TO MAKE HIS ESCAPE


With the American Forces in France
--(by Mail1-Private Edward F. Baker.
OF Pittsburgh. Pa. is one of the few
Americans who claims to have been a
prisoner in Germany and then escaped
back to the line OF his comrades. Here
is an outline OF the story told by Baker
when he came into Fismes lats ore
night soon after the Americans took
possession OF that town: EARLY one
morning. there had been strees fighting
liz Fismes. and in an encounter seyeral
Germans got the drop on Baker and
marched him back to their lines. 9
Before noon the Germans had Bakey
working in trenches. and they kept him
digging in ON place or another most
OF the afternoon without as much al
wen suggesting that he might want
something to a t Late in tba after
noon the An'sripaps started an at
Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1918-11-28

tack. preceding it with a heavy bar
rage from the artillery. Naturally this
caused quite a commotion among the
Germans on the hills north of Fishes.
When the German guarding Baker
turned his head to look in the direc-
ton of the whiz Of an American shell
Baker seized a stick of wood and struck
ran TITO a nearby wood toward the
Americans. None of the Germans fol-
loved him. although several soldiers
fired with their rifles as he disappeared
in the brush.
Baker reached his companions that
night just IS hours after he had been
taken prisoner, and he had nothing t
eat all day.
Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1918-11-28
From the London Times. October 8.

The American army is consolidating
it is improving roads with an energy
that promises to solve one of the most
difficult problems they are confronted
with.
Their first difficulty was to cross
the marshland at the FORCES Brook
and TO penetrate the dense FORCES
Wood covering one side of a formid-
able height.
The Germans dismissed the posi-
hility of an attack over the marshes
and massed their troops behind FORCES
village, southeast OF the wood, where
they thought the firm soil would at
tract the United States troops in pre-
ference to the brook.
But the doughboys. with great au-
dacity, crossed the marshes and the
brook and sent two columns forward.
one 20 swing to the right through the
wood behind the Germans and the
other in a direct line for Gercourt.
The operation was a complete sue
cess. The Germans were taken by
surprise. and this accounted in a great
degree for the haul of over 1000 pris-
oners in this section and many guns.
But. striking as the tactics were, the
plans were equally fine. In the dark
engineers laid down ~duckboards and
avenues of laced twigs. by which. the
Infantry could get a firm foothold on
the marshes. Small bridges were
thrown over the brook, and when the
infantry crossed engineers standing in
the water held them up to prevent
them from giving way under the
tramp Of thousands of feet. The in
fantry started out in a thick fog. They
had to pass through 100 yards Of
barbed wire and then cross marsh
land. Following a trail Of ropes and
duckboards they cached the brtSok
5000 strong. Many crossed over the
bridges, but the majority waded the
water. n in face of the ene,ny's fire
followed close behind their owl bar
rage up the wooded height where
Forges Wood is. p
AT the same time a heavy machine
Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1918-11-28
PENSIONS
VERDUN PIGEONS
BY FRED S. FERGUSON.
United Press Staff CORRESPONDENT

With the American Army in France
(by maiD-War pigeons have person.
allty. In their way they are as con-
%scientous in playing their part in the
war as are the men they are aiding.
The proudest pigeons in France are
the Pigeons of Verdun." During the
dark avs when Germany threw all her
weight against the famous French
stronghold and sacrificed thousands Of
men in an effort to break the line
there. pigeons furnished the only
means of Communication with the fort
resses for weeks. They flew through
the storm of German bombardment day
after day. Many were killed. But when
the tight was d with victory for
the French. the survivors of the pig
cons of Verdun were honored, along
WIN men with whom they fought.
The pigeons of Verdun are now PEN
stoned. They do not have to risk their
lives in battle flights again. Being of
the finest strain many of their sons and
daughters are now in the battle service
OF France, but the older birds-the real
pigeons of Verdun-are living a life of
ease, growing fat and shiny and strut
ting proudly when exhibited.
odd S~atchelback' is a pigeon in a
certain American cote. that is a con-
slant source of amusement to the men
in charge Of the flock. "Satchelback"
has almost human characteristics that
apparently include a sense of humor.
He isn't what may be called a good
bird. He isn't as fast on the wing as
others in h cote, but he is valuable
for h influence he has on the other
pigeons.
Often when a pigeon has flown
through she'll fire to bring back a
message from the front. it will be
nervous and unstrung. The bird will
circle over the cote, but will not alight.
Then Old Satchelback" is called on.
He is released. and circling about the
other bird. will head for the vote. If
the newly returned pigeon fails to fol-
low The first time "Old Satchelback"
tries again. On the second or third at
tempt he usually brings the other bird
back with him.
take flying seriously. The most seri-
GUS charge against him is that If he
Is given q message. and gets tired on
his way home. he quits flying and
walks.
The engineers tell a story on "Satch-
elback" he'll have a hard time living
down. It happened on the Vesle. The
stretch OF road and the engineers were
out to make repairs. "Satchelback' was
at the front, and on being sent back.
had one OF his tired experiences. He
steered over toward the road, made his
landing and started to walk. Then he
came to the stretch OF road that had
been shelled. It was full Of holes. The
engineers were filling them up. and
this is their charge against "Satchel-
back"
He looked the road over. nav it was
being repaired. and then sat down and
waited until the engineers had all the
shell holes filled. Then he strutted
majestically over the new made high
way.
Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1918-11-28
ANNE MORGAN CITED.
From the WASHINGTON Tin

Mrs. Annie Murphy Dyke, president.
and Miss Anne Morgan, vicn president
OF the American committee. for relief
in the devastated regions cf France.
have been cftei in orders OF the day BY
General Deghutto. commanding the
sixth French amy.
Miss Morgan FOR more than q year
have c~onsecrated themselves with I'M
telligent activity! and admirable deyo-
ton to restoring, French firesides dew
astated by the enemy"
The citation adds that the women.
Obliged by reason Of the battles at
the end Of March and the end OF May
to leave villages the enemy was again
to destroy, retired only az the last mo-
ment and always under the fire Of the
enemy"
Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1918-11-28
DESTROY TUNNEL TO
HINDER THE ALLIES

Moscow (by mail)-Sovie.
papers were enthusiastic over the news
Of the destruction of Tunnel SO on the
Trans Siberian railway east Of Irkutsk
IN h Lake Baikal section, and de-
clared the hindrance would delay
American and Japanese troops from
six months to m year in their moye-
ment 60 relieve the Czech Slovaks,
The Izvestia say the soviet forces ex-
ploded 1,040 pounds OF dynamite in the
tunnel and destroyed II completely.
which carries the railway through the
bases Of mountains and Mills jutting in
tC Lake Baikal.
Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1918-11-28
PLANS BIGGEST RADIO PLANT.
From a Bulletin of the japan Society,

Japan is to have the greatest wire.
less plant in the world, according to
a report in the Japan Advertiser. It
Will be built in Fukushima prefecture.
and will cost S60. 900 yen ($430, OOO). The
dispatch station will be at Hibariga-
nara. near Haria-macAi, and the re-
cetving station will be .ht Eosoya-cho.
Survey work has been started by en-
sineers of the department.
The direct distance between this new
office and San Francisco is 1900 miles
while that between the Funabashi Of
ice and Honolulu is $3.50 miles. Ser
vice will moi be opened for two yeara-
The new office will communicate direct
with San Francisco without relay in
Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1918-11-28

A contemporary calls Russia .
chameleon. changing easily from red
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1918-04-05
CHAPTER Xxx.

Next morning the Orakzai Pathan
sat and summed himself in the cave
mouth, emitting worldly wisdom I'M
adulterated with divinity. AS King
went toward him to see to whom he
spoke he grinned aud pointed with his
th.mb, and King looked down on some
sick and wounded men who sat in a
crowd together on the ramp, ten feet
or so below the cave.
They seemed stout soldierly fellows.
Men of another type were being kept
OF distance ~ dint of argument and
threats. Away in the distance was Mu-
hammad Amin with his broad back
turned to the cave, in alteration with
a dozen other mullahs. For the time
he was out of the reckoning.
"Some Of these are wounded" the
Pathan explained. "Some have sores.
Some have the oellyaehe. Then again,
some are sick of words, hot and cold by
day and night. All have served In the
army. All have medals. All are de-
esvters. some for one reason. some for
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1918-04-05

take it! Sit! Yonder is ink-ttutt-
ttutt write, now, write!"
King sat at box and waited, as If
to take dictation, but the mullah, tug
ging at his beard. grew furious.
"Write thine own letter! Invent
thine own argument! Persuade her, or
die in q new way! will invent new
way for thee!"
So King began to write, in Urdu, for
reasons of his own. He had spoken
once or twice in Urdu to the mullah
and had received no answer. 1t was a
fair guess that Muhammad was ignor-
ant of the scholars language.
Greeting" he wrote. "to the most beau
tiful and very wise Princess Yasmini, in
ner palace in the caves in Khinjan, from
her servant Kurram Khan the hakim, in
the camp of the mullah Muhammad Amin
in the "Hills."
The mullah Muhammad Amin demands
surrender of Khinjan Caves and of all his
ammunition. Further, he demands full
control OF you and of me and of all your
men.
He threatens as preliminary to block
ace khinJan caves, unless the answer 10
ms prove favorable. letting none enter
Dut calling his own men out to Join him.
lhls would suit the Indian government
because while the Hills fight among
themselves they cannot raid India, and
whiie he blockadcs Khinjan caves there
Will be time to move against him
knowing that he dares begin and can
accomplish what he threatens, l am sor-
ry; because know 1t is said how many
services you have rendered Of old to the
government serve. We who serve one
raj are one-one to remember-one to for
get-one to help each other in good time.
1T may be that vengeance against me
would seem sweeter to you than return
TO your former allegiance In that case.
Princess, you only need betray me to the
mullah, and be sure my death would leave
nothing to be desired by the spectators
At present he does not suspect me.
BE assured, however, that not to be-
tray me to him is to leave me free to serve
my government and well able to do SO.
1 invite you to return to India with
me, bearing news that the mullah Mu-
hammad Amin and his men are bottled In
khinjan caves, and to plan with me to
that end.
IF you will, then write an answer to
Muhammad Amin, not in Urdu, but in a
language he can understand; seem to sur
| render to him. But to me send verbal
message. either by the bearer of this or by
some trustier messenger.
India can profit yet by your service II
| you will And in that case / pledge my
word to direct the government = attention
| only to your good service in the matter.
| 1t is not yet too late to choose. 1t is not
| impertinent in me to urge you.
| Nor can I say how gladly / would
subscribe myself your grateful and loyal
servant"
The mullah pounced on the finished
letter, pretended to read it. and
watched him seal it up, smudging the
hot wax with his own great guarded
thumb. Then he shouted for the Orak-
zai Pathan, who came striding in. all
grins and swagger.
! 'There-take it'll Make speedl" he
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1918-04-05
! KLNG-.o ITlIT
|KHYBE,p pTITS
ARomance Of Adventure s z7z;:;z
~ TALBOT T1UNDY '=sz :

another and some for no reason at all.
Bull-with-a-beard looks the other way.
Speak thou to them about the pardon
that is offered!"
So King went down among them,
taking some Of the tools Of his sup
posed trade with him and trying to
crowd down the triumph that would
well up. The seed he had sown had
multiplied by fifty in night. He want
ed to shout, as men once did before
the walls of Jericho. Possibility Of par
don and reinstatement, though only
heard of at second hand, had brought
unity into being. And unity brought
eagernes5.
'Let US start tonight" urged one
man.
"Nay!" the Pathan objected at
once. "Many of you can hardly march.
Rest ye here and let the hakim treat
your bellyaches. Bull-with-a-beard
babe me wait here for letter that
must go to Khinjan today. Good. !
will take his letter. And in Khinjan l
will spread news about pardons. 1t is
likely there are fifty there who will
dare follow me back, and then we
shall march down the Khyber like a
full company of the old days!''
King got busy with his lancet, but
the mullah came back and called him
off and drove the crowd away to a dis
lance; then he drove King into the
cave in front CT him, his mouth work.
ing as if he were biting bits of ven-
geance off for future use.
"Write thy letter, thou! Write thy
letter! Here is paper. There is pen