davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-04-18

WASHINGTON. April l7.-Director
General McAdoo tonight ordered that the
Erir and New York state barge canal
system b. taken over lay the railroad
administ ration and that fleet OF bhrGes
b. constructed Immediately and operated
there und.r tn" direction Of G. y. Tom
linsou. OF Duluth. Minnesota. 10 relieve
freight congestion.
This is th" first inland waterway
whose operations under the railroad
admInist ration has been definitely de-
cidcd upon aS Il result of tho extensive
investigation made hy the committee on
inland waterways of The railroad admin
isirallon. Within Il fcw weeks. however,
the director general is expected to order
several Other canal systems and navig-
able rivers. including tn" Chesapeake
and Ohio canal, the Black Warrior river
in Alabama and sevcra! Atlantic coast
waterways used actively hy the railroad
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-04-18
FRENCH TROOPS CONE To AID Of
PRESSED ALLIES ON FLANDERS
FRONT; LINES REMAIN UNBROKEN
Retirement in Ypres Sector Does Not ure the British Po
sition Stategcally-Frightfu Losses Inflicted
Upon the Germans.

LONDON April 17After gaining footing today in the VII
lagos Wychae the British were forced to make
retirement according to Field Hag report from
France tonight 49,.
French troops added reinforced the British lines
The text of the statement reads
morning intense bombardmen opened by the enemy
ON practically the Lys battle 'front.' and from the ores
of Neppe to Wytschaete followed by infantry attacks AL
attacks been epused and considerable losses inflicted on
the enemy -
I'm attacks reported in the morning comunique our
succeeded entering villages Meeen and
but in the hostile attacks unable to MAINTAIN
French troops cooperating with the British on this front
son the remainder of the battle there nothing report
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-04-18

OUT OF inc CldOS Ol lue ~ SH'~i'-
dous battle along the Lys river,
south and southwest Of Ypres, the
thunder Of which may be heard forty
or fifty miles away, there have come
during the past day reports which
are more encouraging to the allied
powers. The British not only have
held all the ground which they were
defending on Tuesday, but re
struck back 50 powerfully that let
eren and part Of Wytschaete we're
re-taken and held for time. Only
after heavy attacks did the British
retire again from the villages.
The most disturbing news has
been a report from Berlin that Poel-
capelle and Lanaemarck, north Of
Ypres, have been taken by the Ger
mans, and the admission from Lon
don that the British have retired
from certain of their lines in the
Ypres salient. The retirement here
was expected, for the advance Of the
Germans at Neuve Eglise and Ball
leul left the positions in front OF
Ypres open to flank attack. It is
officially stated that the retirement
was orderly, and it is probable that
it will have more of a sentimental
than a strategic effect. Just how
far the British lines have been with
drawn is not known. It may be,
however, that the German claim Of
taking PoeIcapelle and Laneemarck
was the result of the British retire
ment-
The battle, now in its ninth day,
has deepened In intensity at many
points along the curved front from
Messines ridge to Meteren. There
have been reports that the Germans
have occupied the village Of St Eloi,
which lies less than three miles to
the south of Ypres, but these have
not been confirmed. II also was
said that they have taken positions
on the south slope Of Mt. KENNEL,
which is about two and a half miles
north Of Wulverghem. This, also,
has not been confirmed.
On all the rest Of the front from
Messines ridge southwestward the
Germans have flung themselves
against the granite wall Of the Brit
ish defense. Official and semi-offi-
eial dispatches have told Of the
frishtful losses inflicted on the at
tacking masses of troops by the
British rifle and machine gun fire.
Continued on Page Twelve,)
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-04-18
'BE[G|ANS REPE[.
GERMAN THRUST;
TAKE 500 HUNS.
GAINED FOOTHOLD s.
BUT SOON EXPELLED
Enemy Attacked Along Ypres
Railroad in Wave After
Wave.

PARIS, April 17.-Attaekino in
massed formation in wave after
wave, the Germans obtained foot
hold in the Belgian trenches in the
Yprcs sector this morning, but we're
soon expelled In counter attacks,
and left 600 prisoners in the hands
of the BeIgians. ~
The French official statement to.
night says: -
belgian communication: This
morning the Germans attacked in
force our system Of advanced posts
between lebIanekaert pond and
the Ypres railroad and succeeded
In securing a foothold in number
Of our positions, but energetic
counter-attaeks by our troops drove
them out. About 900 prisoners re-
main In our hands,"
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-04-18

of Ypres indicates the belief of the
German commanders that their po-
sition will be untenabIe unless they
can widen it in that direction.
Press dispatches to-day noted the
growing fury Of the bombardment
along the whole line, No expiana-
ton Of the purpose Of the gunfire
was made. Il was regarded here,
however. as possibly significant.
The allied commander in chief, Gen.
eral Foch, may have ordered the
bombardment preliminary to a coun-
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-04-18
GOVERNMENT RAIL DIRECTOR HAS ).
TAKEN OVER n. Y.)bARCE CANAL

administration to relieve traffic on the
rail lines. Construction Of bargcs with
in two OF three months and their inten-
sive use in the late summer and fail Is
planned Investigation. now Is being
made Of the practibility of concrete
hnrEcs. which. 1t is said. can be built
quickly and cheaply.
Several hundred steel barges Of about
100 tons each will be ordered Immediate
ly from construction companies on the
Great lakes. and the first Of these will
probably he completed in five or six
weeks. Each will cost about $4,000.
Most Of the old equipment will not be
used TO any great extent.
The canal system running from Buff
falo to Waterford, near Troy, on the
Hudson river is capable Of carrying
about I0,000.000 tons OF freight a season
and probably half Of that amount will
be hauled this year.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-04-18

as they might be needed to get their
comrades out Of periIous sItua.
ton if wide retirement became
necessary.
There was little effort to disguise
the fact that the Ypres situation is
viewed with apprehension. The fact
that a readiustment Of the British
lines to the east was made neeessa-
ry was regarded as proof that the
position had been shaken under the
weight Of the German attack. The
extreme caution with which the
British are now framing official re-
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-04-18
TORNADO At
CAMP SHELBY;
SOLDIER DEAD

HATTIESBURG. Miss. April IT,
Private Vaughn Dcckman. of Mariuu
Indiana was killed and score or more
soldiers and civilian workers were in
jurcd. some seriously. late today. when
a tornado struck Camp Shrlhy. near
here Tho men injured were struck by
flying debris.
Tho tornado swept patch seventy
feet wide through tn" camp. dwelling
small buildings and nflicting property
damage estimated NJ several thousand
dollars.
The ordnance building of tho ISIS
infantry. n Y. N. G. 4. hut and IL partly
constructed wing Of the base hospital
were destroyed. according to reports
given out tonight.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-04-18
THE WEATHER.

WASHINGTON, April 17.-Forecast:
Western Pennsylvania-R and cool
er Thursday; Friday unsettled, contin-
neG COOL
West Virgtnia-Thunder showers and
cooler Thursday; Friday unsettled, prob
ably sho yers.
Ohio-Unsettled, probably showers
and cooler Thursday; Friday showers
and continued cool.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-04-18

mile front, with the Ypresi posi-
tons as the hinge Of the movement.
That hinge now forms broad sali-
ent into the German lines, which
they are trying to flatten out.
Should the German effort fail, it
is believed here the British will be
left in strong strategic position.
BY a counter-attack from Ypres they
might ce-conQuer all the ground lost
in this northern extension Of the
battle front. The desperate nature
of the attacks aimed at the capture
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-04-18

SANTA FE, N. NJ, April H.
Four hundred convicts in the State
penitentiary this afternoon tarred
and feathered and led around with
a rope about his neck Major John
M. Birkner, of Camp Cody, Demna,
N. NJ, held in the penitentiary as a
Federal prisoner. He is charged
with violation Of the espionage act.
Major Birkner, who was born in
Nuremberg, Germany, but who has
been in the American military
forces for more than thirty years,
was arrested last Friday at Camp
Cody, where he was an officer In
the 127th Field Artillery. His home
is in Lincoln, Neb.
Birkner was allowed out in the
prison yard for exercise with the
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-04-18

LINCOLN, Neb., April 17-Major
John M. Birkner, who was tarred
and feathered by eonvicts at the
New Mexico State penitentiary to-
day, was prominently identified in
the Nebraska National Guard for
more than thirty years. At one time
he acted as assistant adjutant gen.
eral.
Major Birkner's wife, who resides
in Lincoln, to-day said that she re-
Gently received d letter from the
major in which were statements
showing that he was loyal. She de-
cIined, however, to make the letter
public.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-04-18
Snedeker Sounds Warming
To Liberty Loan Workers
West virginian Among
SO to the Battlefront
Special Dispatch 10 Thu IntrllEcncer'

Special Di=pa ch 10 Tho IntrlliEcncer
CHlLLlCOTHE, Ohio, April IL
Second Lieutenant Clyde ". Hague,
Huntington, W. Va. was among fifty
lieutenants today selected for active
overseas service. the desire being to
get them To the front before the tlS
German drive is over.
The men joined Il replacement divi'
sion which is forming at Camp Cor.
don, Ga.
Col r. w. Means. former command.
er of Jefferson and Harrison county
boys in the 332d Infantry. also goes
across TO Join In the big battle.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-04-18

ter-stroke. Its extent would make
the actual front on which he pro-
posed to launch his effort problem
attic.
There was nothing otherwise in
the days dispatches, however, to
indicate that a counter-bloW was
coming. Many officers we're doubt
ful that such a move could be at
tempted along the British front un-
til the Ypres situation has been sta
biIzed. The menace at that point
is too immediate, they believe. to
permit the employment Of reserves
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-04-18

WASHINGTON. D. c., April w.
For the moment the German drive
a. the British line has localized on
IN. sector running from Railleul
around to the eastward of Ypres,
and military men here are watching
with eager interest the British eoun-
ter-attacks on this narrow front,
where further enemy successes prob
ably would mean the evacuation OF
a LARGE stretch Of territory.
While British official statements
that the lines east Of Ypres had been
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-04-18

400 convicts. The warden knew
nothing of what was. going on until
he heard loud cheering and rushed
out into the yard to find Birkner
stripped and covered with tar and
feathers. The prisoners, with loud
boots, were leading him about the
yard by a rope around his neck.
Assistant Superintendent Ougan
rescued him. The prisoners, evident
Iy in accordance with a pre-ar-
ranged plot, had secured the feath-
ers from their pillows, but where
the tar came from is mystery.
Birkner is alleged to have made
disIoyaI utterances, such as "You
can't beat the Dutch" and "The Ger
mans will sink American transports
as fast as they are sent over
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-04-18
CAPTURE OF YPRES VITAL TO GERMAN SUCCESS

ports transmitted for publication
also was noted as possibly sionih-
cant.
None Of the statements, Allied or
German, carry any explanation Of
the events they report, which shows
the significance attached to them.
When the British fifth army was
badly cut up in the initial German
onsIaughts, as since disclosed 70 par.
Lament, nothing appeared In the
British statements which indicated
what was transpiring, or the ef0UD
danger that threatened tA
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-04-18
sPAN1ARDS TO HvEET.

HARRISBURG. W. va, April IL
Spaiiurds of this section were called
upon in a notice issued to-day by 3.
Mcrndino of this city. vice consular
agent Of the Spanish government for
West Virginia. to invest their money in
Liberty bonds. -.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-04-18
GOOD PROGRESS BUT
QUOTA NOT IN SIGHT
Counting ''Prospects," There
Still Remains a Million Dol
lars to Be Gathered In.

The workers in N'heelinEs Liberty
Loan drive nrn doing their best 10 put L
over In record time, yet they need the
corporation Of everybody in doing IL.
while tho results So far arc cnc"ur-
aging, tho hard work Is yet 10 come.
This was the emphatic statement maze
by Albert Sncdeker. chairman or tho
solicitation committee on the Liberty
Loan. last evening.
We have figured up tho SUBSCRIPTIONS
sn far made and the prospects we nave
In sight, continued Mr.. Snedektr, aha
there Is still over = million dollars +"
be raised. Wheeling and Obi" county
must buckle down and subscribe thtS
money. snd We must not loose any time.
We must not slackcn our efforts ! am
afraid TINT tho impression has gotten
abroad. due To our initial success. that
the total Of Ohio county subscriptions
WAS going to hc made easily ana thlt
no special effort need be cXrrtHd. Ih!S
is not the cnse.
Bearing other Burdens.
"A number Of our larger manulactur-
ing plants that have heavy income ana
cyccss profit taxes 10 pay in Jun" may
not be able to Subscril" rs iih"rHilE l"
IN. Third Liberty Loan aS they did
s56 Iud SfaR subscriptions 10 make ur
for the subscriptions which We may
lose from this source. 1t is not tor mo
nr for this general committees To attempt
tn dictate to anybody. hut men VINO are
mile tc rurchaSe s., ,Dhn or $lG,H0p should
no1 subscribe IL thousand nr two thnn-
sand. We cant put the loan over that
way.
A Patriotic Duty.
This Is not merely II matter "f tho
nridc of Ohio county, but il is the mat
r.r or n solemn 4 sacred ami Il pairintlc
,Iutv. and the man who docs not q" ms
duty tc the limit now cannot anu ohEht
pot hc allowed to tXcuSr himself because
he subscribed iu tho previous h"nd
issues. Our hnys oyer in the tr"h'hrS
can't win battles this year. with the
gun. the ammunition. aud III" courage
and the. sacrifice that Wrr" uS"h last
ycor. We hay" tn k"rp IN giving. ana
we must give until il pinch"S.
VIII Be Put over.
"Our spccial sales cnnmttt"" Will hc
getting on the juh within the E"Nt day
ar two for the purpose "f rounding up
thc camrnign and some people VII"
have already subscribed will l." called
urou again We are going To rui tn"
hnud issue over. hut "" want tn impress
on all workers. that "" ar" not YET
through. It will require Il great deal
nf effort und W" still have Il big job
ahead of MS.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-04-18
RE1cHsTAG MEETH.

AMSTERDAM. April 1.-THE German
reichstag re-asesmbled on Tuesday.
when the new taxation bills approved by
the bundsrath were introduced. The
proposals include u spirits monopoly and
beer and wine taxes.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-04-18
COMMANDER OF
MISSING NAVAL
SHIP. NATIVE OF
GERMAN EMP IRE
WIFE DECLARES THE
CYCLOPS NOT LOST
Navy Department lnhmates
Big Collier May Be Cap
tured By Enemy. ,

, Edward Leo Blake. n Bcnwood
I boy, was 4 rnachiniSt's mate on
! the naval collier Crclop$. mis-
! sing since March l3. and which
/ it is now int!matcd may have
{ been captured by the enemy.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-04-18
BRITISH MAKE COUNTER STROKE
as Come ord But Fail to Hold Their Gains in
Disloyal American Army Officer
Tarred and Feathered By Convlcts

Brkner claimed the charges were
spite work by subordinate officers
whom he had disciplined.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-04-18

In the previous week only six FrI'iSh
merchantmen wcr" sunk 10y minc or
submarine. four Of them Of murr than
500 tons.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-04-18
BIG JUMP IN The
SUBMARINE LOSSES

l.ONlnN. April Il.-Thc losses TO
British shipping hy min" nr sWnniarln"
in the past week tutall"d il. according
to the admiralty r"p"rt Tonight. Eleven
Of the merchantmen sunk wcr" $40
tons or over and four under that 1"nn-
acc One fishing vessel also WAS sunk.
Twelve vessels w"r" UnsucC"SSfh httE
attacked. The arrivals numbered LII
.ai!nes, 2.i56.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-04-18

Continued on Page Teu.)
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-04-18
Him By Buying Liberty Bond
THE WEATHER.

Rain and cooler Thursday; Friday IN
settled; continued cool.
Norwich bulletin., 1918-06-11

two weeks for the improvements to be made to the frame building on Bank st. belonging to the City Coal Co. It is proposed to strengthen and remodel the build ing. with two stories on the ground floor. having plate glass and cop per front and metal ceilings. On the two upper floors there will be three tenements each, two Of five rooms and one of four, with baths. All Improvements will be provided, including electric lights and bells, etc.
 RiVerview Avenue Houses.
 The foundations have been laid on Riverview ay. for the first of several houses to be erected there by Walter A. Smith. The house will be 31x36 feet, of frame con- struction, containing seven rooms All improvements will be provided, including steam heat, electric lights, etc. All the work will be done by the day by the owner The other houses will be similar to this one, and will be started in the near future.
 Government Hospital Buildings.
 Plans are being prepared at Washington for hospital buildings
Norwich bulletin., 1918-06-11
Learning a, Little French.

Mrs Charles Ludwig of 99 Frank lin street has heard from her son, Corporal T. F, Ludwig in France. In part he writes:
 Dear Mother: am writing this to let you know that am in the best of health and worrying about nothing, for I am right to home with the ex- ception of the French lingo (talk) but will get away with it at that. I can say how do, good, night, nice day, yes, and I don't understand that is enough to keep them away. from me am including in this letter a hand kerchief as a souvenir
 also got letter from Whitman tic with clipping out of The Bull letin about the safe arrival. i was reading Bulletin the other day and in it was a piece telling about us landing. That fellow used to work ir PIaut- Cadden's and he saw us when we got off the boat. was talk ing to him. I also saw the piece
 Sergeant Fletcher put in about the Red Hat Cords" and that also is 2 fact, they said we were the toughest happiest. and !olliest bunch they haG taken oyer. think the censor vii call this letter and also is bed | time here, 7.So, although. it, is only tho middle of the. afternoon oyer. there ! Wishing you all the best of luck ant
 happiness, I remain,
 Your loving son CORP LUDWIG, ! Supply O., 56th Art Reg.,. l " c. A. C.. American E. F..
Norwich bulletin., 1918-06-11
CHENEY EXPLAINS THE
 WAR SAVINGS PLEDGE
Which is to Be Made on Registration
 Day, June 18th.

Howell Cheney, Connecticut State Director of war savings has issued the following explanation as to the mean- ing Of registration day to be held throughout the nation on June 2S:
 During the week of June 17th to 2lst, every individual will receive ad- dressed to him or her personally a call from the governor directing him to go to the nearest school house or other designated place on June 18th to register his pledge to save and economize and to invest in a specific amount of War Savings Certificates during the year.
 You should first ascertain where your nearest school house or other place designated by the local chair man Of the War Savings Committee is located at which you may register your pledge on June 2Sth.
 If practicable you should appear in person on that date. If the nature of your vocation, however, makes it i'm
 practicable, you may authorize the representative of the treasury de- partment, who will call on every household during the week of June 21st to 18th to register the pledge for you. by signing a coupon attach ed to the pledge which will be pre- scented to you.
 Ire pledge will require a state nlt mt as to the following matters: l. The individuals agreement to save and economize to help win the war
 g.. A pledge for the individual and those whom he or she represents. to invest ii 8 specific amount of War 1 Savings Certificates during the year i .. A statement of the number of in- l dividuals who are covered by the I pledge. 4. A statement, in case the lindi- Vidual desires to make it, of the amount of. War Savings Certificates
 already purchased.
 1 Having signed the pledge, and eith- i CT having registered in person or by 1 having authorized some individual tc
 register it for you, the full patriotic
 duty in connection with the War Say ings Enlistment Day will have beer cOmDlefed
Norwich bulletin., 1918-06-11
American Minerals Waters.

Before the war Americans traveled for abroad to see Alpine peaks, though here in our own country there are mountains and canyons and falls that surpass in grandeur even those of Switzerland: so also they imported great quantities of mineral waters TO- gardIess of the fact that the United States is surpassed by few countries in the number and the variety of it's mineral springs. Chemical experts of the United States geological surve.- department of the interior. say that after American springs have been moro fully investigated and exploited and provided with better accommodations for hydrotherapeutic- treatment .tLey can furnish. counterparts of nearly all the famous spring resorts in Europe. There is also a satisfactory assurar ce that if mineral waters are a wartime necessity in convalescent hospits, s they can be supplied from American springs, so. that the imports may be completely shut off without deprivation to patients in this country
Norwich bulletin., 1918-06-11
SOLDIERS AND SAIL ORS What Eastern Connecticut Boys Are Doing In Various Branches of the Service.
French Lik. American Tobacco.

Willimantic friends have received letter from Wagoner Elmer K. Gal
 May 6, 1918. Dear Friends: How is the ;, world using you? am well and hope you are the same We had a nice time on the trains and boats when we came across. We landed in France safe and sound. Send some of your good weather over 10 me, we. have rain all the time over here. We don't know what good weather is.
 would like to see the top of the old hill once more. But I guess it will be long time before I will see it. It is fun to see the French boys smoke, boys anywhere from five. years up to fifteen. They like the tobacco we use Tell Mrs Allen I am well and hap py. Expect to come back some day Don't know when would like to be up there and help clean up the yard But as it is I can't do it. This is some country over here.
 We are walking in mud up to our knees, and it rains every day.
 We have got the talking machine with us. It makes us think of home We keep moving from one place to another. When we first landed we stayed two days in one place; then we moved to another place and stayed three weeks. Now we have moved again, don't know how long we will stay here. Win close with best wish es, hoping to hear from you soon.
 ELMER K. GALLUP,
 56th Art. Reg, C. A. C.,
 - Supply Co.,.
 American Expeditionary
 Forces