davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-12-10
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smashed a lieutenant's trunk, convert ed some of the Regiment band instru- ments into war relics, and cratered the platform. French aviators chased the Boche observer away, the excitement ceased, and the Marines laughed.
 The first detachment of Marines to ''go in"-the one whose welcome from the Boche has just been described was of the first regiment of Marines which landed in France. The men were hardened by eight months of strenuous training in summer heat and rain and mud, and in the snow and cold of winter.
 Hard As Nails And Fit To Fight
 At five o'clock on a certain after noon a battalion of Marines swung through the winding streets of the village, where they had been billeted while in training. They sang and whistled the Marine Corps hymn From the halls of Montezuma to the 1 shores of Tripoli." The inhabitants of the village, from the old folks tc the kiddies, lined up to bid them fare well.
 The marching column passed by i Brigade Headquarters, where the Brigadier General commanding the Marines, and some of the officers ot his staff, were standing outside; ther out of the village, and up the road tc 1 the next town to entrain. Sunset ant dusk, and no longer the sound o. marching feet. The first outfit o. United States Marines was going in.
 The trains were made up of the usual French troop cars, and tht movements of troops, especially a! they approached the front, took plact at night, so that the train entered tht war zone toward evening. SteaminG hot coffee was served at station and the train went forward. Now al doors and windows were careful. shuttered to conceal all lights. Tn rumble of the big guns could be heart long before midnight. Some of tht Marines, especially the youngsters were fascinated by the novelty ant
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-12-10

representatives of unorganized women for the purpose of forming state di- visions and electing officers and executive committees. Each State Division is intended to include all the women of the State.
 Twelve Departments
 The war work of the women of the Nation has been divided into twelve departments by the Woman's Commit tee of the Council of National De- fense, each member of that commit tee serving as a director of one or more of these departments. It is the duty of this director to analyze the problems presented to her depart ment, to formulate an elastic plan of work, and, as far as she may, to supervise the execution of the work. The twelve departments into which the work of the Woman's Committee is divided are: State Organization. Reg istration, Food Production and Home Economies, Food Administration, Women in Industry, Child Welfare, Maintenance of Existing Social Serv- ice Agencies, Health and Recreation, Education and Propaganda, Liberty Loan. Home and Foreign Relief and News.
 State Organization Department
 Some idea of the scope of these departments of endeavor may be gained in a brief summary. The es- sentials of the plan of State Organiza- ton outlined at the first meeting of the Woman's Com m ittee have been com piled with in the States with few ex-
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-12-10
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down to comparative calm, with only desultory firing during the remainder of the night.
 "The members of the party returned to the lines in small groups, the last ones coming in just as dawn was breaking. One Corporal was missing. During the subsequent search his body was recovered as well as four Germans who were shot and killed during the encounter.'
 The baptism of fire that the Amer ican Marines got when they moved up to the front was not without its humorous element. One dark night when the first detachment was de- training in the yellow mud of sta ton not far from the line, a Boche aviator spotted them and tipped off his artillery that troops were arriv- ing. The Marines got the signal too, and they discreetly evacuated the plat form before the first shell dropped. It missed widely, the second came closer. The third found the platform,
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-12-10
The Marines Make Raid Into No Man S land Story of the First Man Killed
 In Active Conflict

belongings, identity tags and all other marks of Identification with their company commander, the party left the front line trenches, went over the parapet, crawled through the path cut in our barb wire entanglements and entered No Mans Land shortly after midnight.
 "The night was particularly dark, only the lurid flares of an occasional star shell appeared on the distant horizon, not sufficient to penetrate the inky blackness of the portion of the sector in which our party was operat- ing. Save for the dull rumble of heavy artillery, many kilometers dis tant, no sound could be heard. Ac- cording to the preconceived plan of action, certain members of the patrol were posted at important points, to prevent any surprises by the enemy. The remainder of the party proceeded cautiously across No Mans Land
 ''The utter darkness, favorable to the success of the undertaking, also has it's disadvantages and makes prog ress across the shell holed area diff cult The party moves slowly, each man in a stopped position, half walk, half crawl, ready to drop flat into the mud should the whizz of a rocket an- nounce sudden illumination. Every few feet or so they come. to a halt and everyone listens intently. There is no sound except a slight swish as a trench rat scoots through the mud.
 From somewhere out of the dark ness comes the slight noise of a muff1ed cough. They stop and listen. It was one of the party and the officer mutters damn" under his breath. They move on again. slowly. Further down the line Q machine gun splits out half a dozen shots in rapid sue cession. Then absolute silence. After short wait the party proceeds once more and so, for two hours, they work ahead. through the darkness and the silence.
 Caught Between The Barrages
 Tt was about two o'clock when a
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-12-10
allies are struggling.
 Liberty Loan Department

The chairman of the Liberty Loan Department of the Woman's Commit tee in each State is nominated by the National Woman's Liberty Loan Com mittee of the Treasury Department and the Woman's Committee of the Council of National Defense. These State Chairman organized their States for action in connection with Liberty Loan ard War Savings Stamp cam pligns.
 Home And Foreign Relief Department
 Cooperation in Red Cross activities have been largely the work of Home and Foreign Relief committees in every State. An effort has been made to stimulate the adoption of French and Belgian orphans, and assistance is being rendered the wives and chi!- dren of American soldiers, where need has been felt. This committee is largely clearing house for existing war relief organizations. 70
 News Department The organization effected by the Woman's Committee is the medium of direct communication between the Government and the women of the country. The plan of organization provides such a union of the State, city, county and local units that ir general any order or piece of informa- ton issued by the Government through the Woman's Committee may be delivered to individuals in any part of the United States twenty four hours after it is issued.
 As medium of communication be- tween the Woman's Committee and the women in the club or in the home, the News Letter is issued fortnightly from the Woman's Committee heads quarters in Washington. Through this Committee messages from Govera1 ment officials and offices are conveyed to the women in every section of the country, and through it's agency vafu= able ntercommunication has been maintained among the women work5 CTS of the various States and betweea the women of every section and the Woman's Committee. --4
 The fact that the women raised oyer 10 per cent of the latest Liberty Loan stands as it's own evidence of the splendid cooperation with the Goveras ment effected by the Woman's CotnJ mittee of the Council of National Des fense. Sss
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-12-10
Food administration Department

The Food Administration Depart ment was organized for the purpose of cooperating with the Food Adminis- tration in assuring an adequate supply of food for the Army, Navy, the Ma tion's Allies and the people of this country. The food pledge campaign, which has aimed to enlist every family in the land in the food conservation plan, was carried on largely in some States by the machinery established by the Woman's Committee
 Women In Industry Department
 In many States the Department Of Women in Industry is composed of experts in that field. An effort is made to obtain the highest standards for the welfare of women employed in industrial plants, and to enforce laws for their protection.
 Child Welfare Department
 The Department of Child Welfare is cooperating with the Children's Bureau of the Department of Labor and the General Medical Board of the Council of National Defense to pre- vent the breaking down of existing laws for the protection of children and the exploitation of child labor, also for increased public health service.
 Maintenance Of Existing Social Service Agencies Department
 The Department of Maintenance of Existing Social Service Agencies was organized to safeguard existing char ities at this time when new needs are making demands and may defect con- tribution for their support.
 Health And Recreation Department The work of the department of Health and Recreation has been to furnish entertainment and recreation of soldiers in camp; to maintain pro- tective agencies for girls, and to dis seminate knowledge of social hygiene.
 Education Department
 The Department of Education is primarily interested in patriotic propa- ganda. Classes in Americanization have been started in practically every State. While history, civfcs and Eng fish are the subjects largely taught, an attempt has been made to convey to citizens of foreign birth and par entage Hn understanding of the Flu ropean background of the war. why we are at war. and the democratic ideals for which this country and its
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-12-10

the thrill of it. Discussion and con lecture were rife. But the old timers took advantage of the chance for a sound snooze on the blankets and straw.
 It was disappointing to the noviti- ates to find no trenches or barbed wire entangIements at the detrainirg point. But when the Boche artillery made a perfect hit on the bass drum, they were convinced that they were headed right. The villages here were in ruins. Civilians were nowhere Automobiles, motorcycles, bicycle couriers, picturesquely camouflaged ambulances and ammunition wagons swarmed the roads, with occasionally an officer on horseback.
 Dust rose in clouds and lay thickly over everyone and everything. Into this whirling cloud the Marines plunged eagerly, and did their last bit of hike to the goal. And so they got to the front. To the dust and mud and hardship of trench life they adapted themselves good-naturedly. They were happy and determined At last they were ''in." And from the time that they went in. and through their | classic share in the second battle of the NIarne, they have given the cor respondents cause to employ once again the well-known phrase, "The Marines have landed, and have the situation well in hand"
 "In Fine Shape" General Said After the Brigadier General com manding the Marines in France had made an inspection throughout the l trenches in the sector occupied by the regiment of his brigade, he said: "The men are in fine shape physical ly, seem in the best of spirits, and have adjusted themselves remarkably well to their new mode of living in the short time that they have been here. I am pleased with the weg the men have taken hold and the cIoss >s- | operation between them and the French forces. Things are working very smoothly"
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-12-10
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to do but to separate and crawl to shell holes and wait for the end of the rain of shells. A sentry at one of the outposts took in the situation and inn mediately sent up the necessary signal for a counter barrage, which was promptly furnished. And between the two fires, fiat on their stomach in such shell holes as might furnish protec- ton, were the members of our patrol.
 Marines Exact Heavy Toll
 Star shells, which seemed to turn night into day, fared up, hung sta tionary in mid-air for a moment, and died out with splutter. The drum of the double barrage increased and changed into continuous roar. Ly- ing in the shell holes it seemed as if the pandemoniUm lasted several hours. But the luminous dials of the officers watches showed that just twenty minutes had elapsed from the time that the first rocket ascended un- til the firing ceased. Things settled
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-12-10
War Work of the Women of the Nation ; Divided Into Twelve Departments
 Much Accumulated in First Year

the committee was appointed is to ascertain the woman power of Amer ica for the purpose of:
 1. Coordination and standardization of the organized forces of the women of the country.
 2. Enlistment of the cooperation of the unorganized women of the coun- try, in order: (a) To ascertain and report the patriotic work now being done by women and women's organ 1 izations; {b) To secure greater eff ciency in defense work which women may do for the nation Co To secure i the cooperation of all the women of the country in economic measures which the Government inaugurates from time to time: CD By furnishing a direct and speedy channel between the different departments of the Gov ernnent and the women of the coun- | try. CD By impressing upon them the vital importance of these weapons of economic warfare in the winning l of the war.
 No Salaries Paid
 It is to the credit of the whole | womanhood of America that when the  | Council of National Defense selected nine of the most prominent women of the country to form the personnel of this committee not one hesitated, but each one dropped her personal 1 affairs and went directly to Washing ton to take up her new responsibility in connection with the Government It is also to the credit of all the wom. en that pecuniary remuneration was neither offered nor asked nor has ever been given this group of women ap- pointed to represent the whole Amer. ican sisterhood in behalf, of the Gov
 ernment. That first group of nine
 women was later increased to eleven
 The eleven women chosen to act as
 the agents of the Government in in
 terpreting it's wishes to the women ot the country are Dr. Anna Howard
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-12-10

~INCE THE United States Marines first went into the trenches in
 Y France and took over front line S@ sector, fragmentary accounts have been reaching this country to tell of the way in which the leather necks"-now devil dogs" if you please--have been living up to the glorious traditions of the Corps. and making a new chapter of it's romantic history.
 A thrilling description of an en- counter in No Mans Land when the first Marine was killed in active con fllct with the Hun has just been re- ceived from an eye witness, and is here published for the first time. With characteristic daring the Marines went through with their raid. and, true to the sea-soldier law, they eX- ; acted heavy toll of the enemy for the loss of their man. The correspondent writes:
 France, at the Front: The first Marine to be killed in No Mans Land in an active encounter with the Boche was Corporal Charles K. 10th, belong ing to a patrol party, which left our lines for the purpose of collecting in formation regarding the enemy's ac- i tivities. The party spent five exciting hours between the German first lines and our barb wire, part of the time in shell holes under a barrage. Upon their return, just before dawn, the ! Corporal was missing. His body was recovered the following night after a , search. and it was found that he had been shot through the head with a machine gun bullet. Four Germans were killed and brought back as a result of the nights work.
 Out Into No Mans Land
 Numerous patrols have been out since the occupation of the sector by the Marines, and all of them returned safely, experiencing various degrees of success. Not any of them, however, encountered as much action as this detachment. Following the usual preparation preliminary to this risky work, and after leaving all personal
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-12-10

A tho Council of National Defense E is probably the most remarkably &sF endowed body of women in the world, and it was appointed under unique conditions and circumstances Consisting of eleven members it de- signs to bear close and cooperative relation to every one of the 44,000,OOO women in the United States.
 The Woman's Committee was or ganized to coordinate the war acJivi- ties of women and advise and direct the development of the work of Amer ican women in this war. Its year of work stards as it's own tribute to the manner in which that work has been accomplished. Not woman in the remotest corner of any one of the forty-eight States of the Union. or of its territories, but has had oppor- tunity to do her share of the Nations war work. There is none but has had a chance to obtain information In re- gard to her Governments part in this, its greatest crisis, and none but has had a way open to make connection with that Government in whatever line of war work she may choose and for which she may be fitted.
 \ Three Sided Question
 Today -one hears again and again the three-sided question, What are the specific functions of the Woman's Committee of the Council of National Defense; why was 1t organized, and who are the women composing it?" -
 The answer takes one back to 2 month preceding the entrance of thi: S country into the world war and the organization for business of the Coun ell of National Defense on March 1917. The Womans Committee was ap pointed by the Council of Nationa Defense. April 21, 1917. in accordance with it's powers to create committee of specially qualified persons for de fense purposes. The object for whicl
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-12-10

DIE WOMAN'S COMMITTEE of the Council of National Defense
 is probably the most remarkably
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1918-01-24
37,5oo NURSES NEEDED

corps Is about $500. Increasing the
enrolment by nearly 1000 per cent in
year is the task confronting the
corps.
Daily numbers of nurses are being
called for to meet immediate needs
in army hospitals In the United States
and for duty overseas. The pres
ent rate of enrolment does not meet
the demands. Hospitals ut National
Guard and National army camps still
need 81 nurses to bring the quotas Of
all up to the minimum considered
necessary-65 each.
In order to get the enrollments up
to the needed number some of the re-
quirements heretofore imposed are be-
ing waived. According to estimates Of
the nursing committee of the general
medical board Of the council Of nation
al defense, there are between $4,000
and $4,000 registered nurses In the
country and about 100000 other gradu-
ate and practical nurses.
Just us soon us immediate needs Of
cantonment hospitals have been cared
for reserve of 100 nurses will be or
ganized for emergency service in the
United States. Lakewood hotel. Lake
wood, n. j., has been leased by the
government for use as a general hospi-
tai for the army and provisions will
be made for housing the reserve nurs-
es there. This hotel has not yet been
turned over to the war department.
but will be In week or so. The nec-
essary alterations will be made rs soon
us practicable and the 100 nurses for
the reserve will be needed in addition
to the permanent nursing staff of the
hospital.
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1918-01-24

families to be served and bring them
into touch with the community re-
sources which can help to strengthen
family life. Trained workers will be
required to cope with the abnormal
situation in which the war has placed
the wives and children of the men ut
the front"
The Red Cross institutes consist of
six weeks course which follows a
syllable prepared by Porter Lee of the
New York School of Philanthropy.
Particular emphasis is placed by
Mrs. Ufford upon the value Of the
work outlined in the syllabus, not only
to relieve the stress Of war difficulties.
but to meet the needs of recOnstruc-
ton that is to follow the war. Only
through scientific effort, Mrs. Ufford
believes, can an adequate attempt he
made to readjust the economic and So
cial relationships when disabled sol
diers and sailors come back from the
front.
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1918-01-24
TO DO RELIEF WORK
Red Cross Trains Women for
Civilian Service.
serIes Of Institutes In Home Science
to Fit Them as Social Serv-
Ice Workers.

Washington.-Scient training and
efficient service are the keynotes of
the civilian relief work which has ju st
been inaugurated throughout the cOun-
try by the American Red Cross.
Contrary to the popular belief that
most of the Red Cross is being done by
unframed volunteer workers, the lat
est venture of the organization is char
acterized by a series Of institutes in
home science for the purpose OF train-
ing women to do social service work
among the families Of our fighting men.
Financial aid for the families Of
our soldiers and sailors is only small
part of the problem which these fam
lies will have to fuce." said Mrs. Wal
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1918-01-24
PROTECT FOOD BILLIONS;
DESTROY RATS AND MICE

We have billions of bushels
Of food worth billions Of dollars.
Let's protect these billions. We
need all Of them. Let's not al
low rats and mice to take their
toll of millions this year@$2OO,-
100000 Is their annual bill of de-
struction. Trapping. poisoning.
and rat-proofing buildings will
help reduce this enormous food
loss. Organized rat hunts by
communities are effective. In
one Ohio town n few years ago
each of two organized teams
killed more than 5000 rats. and
a dinner for all the hunters was
the penalty for the losing side.
Boards Of trade, civic societies,
and citizens associations in
towns, and farmers and women's
clubs in rural communities
should find this matter worthy Of
their efforts. Farmers Bulletin
S96 tells how individuals and
communities can fight rats and
mice. Write to the United States
department of agriculture for 1t.
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1918-01-24
GREATER EFFORTS NEEDED
SAYS SECRETARY HOUSTON

That the farmers Of the nation
have generously responded to
the appeals for increased pro-
duction, and that much has al
ready been done to insure large
supply of food and feedstuns'
justifies no let-down in their ac-
tivities or in these Of all agrf-
cultural agencies. On the con-
trary, even greater efforts must
be put forth In the coming
months IL we are to meet salts
factorily the domestic demands
and the needs of the nations
with which we are associated IN
this struggle. There must be no
breakdown on the farms, no fall
ure of foods, feedstuffs, or cloth
ing. I cannot emphasize too
strongly the urgent necessity Oh
doing everything possible TO
bring about a still further IN
crease in the production OF all
essential commodities, pardcu-
larly of the staple crops and 1--we
stock.--Secretary Houston.
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1918-01-24


Mississippi river on per cent. and the
section west Of the river 13 per cent.
The smallest share Of the total value
Of the 13 crops remains to the North
Atlantic states and to the Western
states, tn per cent each.
The relative standing Of the various
divisions Of states in value Of chief
crops may be better understood when
1t is remembered that the corn crop Of
1917 has an estimated value Of $4,O54,-
100000. cotton lint 81 ,452. 600. 900. hay
$1,359, 100000, wheat $1,SO7 .OOO.O 600,
oats 81, ,O81 .OOO. 900; and that the North
Central states enormously produce
corn. wheat. oats. and hay. and the
Southern states cotton. with strong
support from corn. tobacco. sweet po-
tatoes, and rice.