davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-11
RETIRING GERMANS BEING FOLLOWED,
 REPORTS BERLIN
Germans Retreat Step by Step to New Positions, Fighting All Way, Says
 Announcement

Berlin, October 10.-British and American troops followed the retiring Germans on both sides of the Roman road in the direction of LeCateau, says tue official statement issued today by the German army general staff The Germans retreated step by step to new positions, fighting all the way.
 On the battle front between Cambrai and St Quentin the statement adds, i've occupied positions in the rear. We have evacuated Cambrai.
 The statement reads:
 "On the battle front between Cambrai and St. Quentin we occupied positions in the rear. We have evacuated Cam brai
 Southeast of Cambrai by means of sue cessful counter attacks supported by tanks which in the evening of October $ put up in possession of Seranvliers and the heights on both sides of Esnes, Ba- varian and Rhineland divisions primarily. as we'll as troops of the German Jaeger division, rendered essentially easier dis engagement from the enemy
 fsI)uripo tho co,,r.o enemy with strong forces followed us LID on both sides of the Roman road in the direction of LeCateau. Here our ad- vanced troops repulsed the enemy,s cav airy, which attacked, supported by tanks.
 Tn the face of strong infantry att. tacks our troops retreated Step by step toward new positions, fighting all the way. In the evening the enemy stood east of the Bertrey Busigny- -Bohain line.
 Tn the Champagne enemy partial att Jacks, on both sides of St. Etienne were repulsed.
 Between the Argonne and the Ornes ridge American troops in cooperation with French forces again advanced in uniform attacks on the eastern bank of the River Mouse.
 "On the border of the Argonne forest attacks failed with heavy losses for the enemy. Cornay, into which the enemy penetrated, twas recaptured.
 Main thrust attacks, delivered be- tween the Aire and the Mouse, were di- rected against Sommerance and Ro- magne and east thereof as far as Cum nel were driven back
 "On the eastern bank of the Mouse we repulsed the enemy at and to the eas< of Sivry. We recaptured Sivry, which had been lost temporarily. Northwest and east of Beaumont assault of the enemy failed before the lines held by the Austro-Hungarian Chausseurs and Rhineland regiments :,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-11
FRENCH AERIAL STATEMENT

Paris, Wednesday, October 9.-The Of fieial report on aerial operations tonight says: nsa
 "On october 8 unfavorable atmospheric conditions for flying permitted us to car ry out only restricted work. Three en- emy planes were brought down and two captive balloons were burned.
 During the night the weather im- proved and our bombing squadrons took this into account. They dropped more than 26 tons of projectiles on the sta tions at Marie, Montcornet, Rethel. As feld-La Ville, Juniville and Chatelet-S Sur Retourne, and on the railroads between the stations. Fires and explosions were caused at various points,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-11
AIR FIGHTING INTENSE

With the American Forces Northwest of Verdun, October 9.(By the Associat- ed Press.1-There was intense aerial ac- tivity over the whole of the American front today Lisutenants Irwin ana I1asterbrook, while on a Jason mission encountered a boche plane near EXer- mont and forced it to retire A few minutes later they met German bplane and a monoplane over Narennes ana they drove the biplane down out of con trol The airmen next encountered two biplanes and forced them to retire. start ing onward again, they encountered a biplane which they engaged and crashed The Americans then finished their mis- sion of locating d certain unit. Return ing home they fought a big Haberstadt but without results.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-11

the pivotal point fin the enemy's known next defense line and 10 miles to the south the city Is out fianked at SOlesmes.
 Meantime, the French and Ameri- can armies on that part of the line running from northwest of Rheims to the Mouse river are still press ing forward in the cOnverging movement with the armies in the west and gradually are forming the entire war theatre into huge sack. The Americans continue slowly to advance up the eastern side of the Mouse, while west of the river, in conjunction with the operation of the French, they have all but obliterated the great ArgOnne forest as an enemy de- fense position. To the west of the forest in the Aisne valley and stiil farther westward the French also have made further gains.
 Throughout this entire region the Germans still are offering stub born resistance, mainly with ma chine guns, realizing the importance of holding back their foes while their armies in Belgium and fur ther south make good their retro grade movement.
 Both in the Macedonia theatre and in Palestine the allied forces are pressing the enemy hard. AL bania is fast being cleared of the AustrO-Hungarian troops, while in Serbia the enemy is yearing Nish, harassed by the Serbiaus. At last accounts General AlIenby was stiil driving the Ottoman troops north- ward in Palestine.
 So Iightning-Iilxe are the maneu- vers of the allied armies on the ya- riOus battle frOnts-frOm the North sea to NerduD. in Macedonia md in Paiestine--that except to the war expert and his military maps con stantly before him it is almost inn possible to visualize the situation and realize the swift strides the a1- lies are making in defeating the common enemy. In France and Bell gium in three weeks five import ant cities which had been in Ger man hands for four years have beem'' recaptured. Dixmude, Armentieres, Lens, Cambrai and St. Quentin are now in allied hands, while Lille, DOuai and yaIencennes seemingly are all but captured. Serbia short ly is to be fully reclaimed, and the Turks soon will know the Holy Land no more.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-11
Daring Canadians Captured
 Destroyed City of Can1brai

With the Canadian Forces in France, october 9.-(Wednesday By the Asso- ciated Press. .)-The Canadian troops which penetrated Cambrai early today now are In complete possession of the city. Thus is fulfilled the legitimate am- bition of the Canadian corps for the achievement of which ;s has been fight ing, hard ever since it stormed the Canal Du Nord and took Bourbon wood on September 2. Even if the imperial troops who yesterday advanced so gal lantly south of Cambrai had had the good fortune to capture the city, it's fall must still have been attributed to the sledge-hammer strokes of the Canadians, before which the defense of the enemy crumbled.
 The capture of Cambrai fttingly crowns the brilliant record of the corps since August 8. Cambrai fell to night at tack. We kicked off at 30 The morn- ing was pitchy dark, but the careful preparations resulted in all the troops getting to their destinations without a hitch The third division had the honor of crossing the canal and penetrating into the city.
 ENEMY SURPRISED
 The element of surprise assisted in overwhelming the enemy defense in the streets. Once the Place d'Armes was reached they spread out over the entire area and by daylight had passed through the city to the southeast while on the southwest they had established them selves at the corner of the Boulevard De La Liberte and the Porte De Paris. Some enemy elements apparently were caught between the city and the inn perial forces furthsr south.
 Our troops began at once to try to save the city from the fires that broke out. The allies have not fired single shell into Cambrai and these fires must have been incendiary.
 Meantime our third division swept out due east to the line of the Scheldt canal, obtaining all the bridgeheads as far as Eswars and capturing Families, Elicourt and Cuvillers. There victory was complete and glorious.
 It fell to the lot of troops originally recruited from Canadian mounted rifles to be the first to enter Cambrai. The Canadian engineers established a pom toon bridge over the canal at a. m., aided by an effective barrage laid down by the British artillery
 REAR GUARDS HELD CITY
 The Germans held the city with their rear guards, which the sudden onslaught
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-11

Allied troops are in force 1000 yards south of the Le Cateau road and have captured the towns of Estoumei and Ig- niel Les Fritzettes on the highway The British are still reported to be progress fantry bridges over the Scheldt river have been blown up by the enemy.
 British cavalry east of Cambrai seems to be working forward Late last night they signaled from Beaumont and they were said to be making good progress.
 It was Tennessee and North and South Carolina troops who captured Busigny after overcoming only slight opposition. They then went forward
 This morning the British were we'll to the east of Hohnechy and Troisviller
 Northeast of Cambrai additional inn portant gains have been made. The Germans in this section are offering hard opposition with their rear guards. But this may break at any time, as it did to the southeast of Cambrai.
 There are signs that the Germans are preparing for g general retreat, as they must do, now that such wide gains have been made to the southeast of Cambrai and cavalry and patrols are working far forward.
 Airplanes report increased confusion on the roads east and northeast of Le : Cateau The British guns have again been moved up and are pounding the Fleeing Germans heavily. Low flying British airplanes are out in great num- bers despite the bad flying weather, bombing and machine gunning bodies of troops and fleeing transports They are doing tremendous damage to the terrified Germans
 The drive, in. addition to menacing the Germans north of Cambrai, is rap- idly leaving their entire positions south- east of the River Suippe in a pocket If the British go much further east and the French and American drive up the Germans undoubtedly will be obliged to evacuate all this vast stretch of terri tory
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-11
|U. s. AND JAPANESE
 VESSELS TORPEDOED
ocontinued from Page one,

the largest guns he ever had seen on .
 submarine One of the engineer officers. he said whose room was pierced by a shell from the submarine, declared that
 the shell was an eight-inch projectile. Heretofore only sx-inch shells have been reported on submarines.
 The survivors, who were adrift for four days before they were picked up, said that raft with five wounded men on it had put off from the Ticonderoga and that they had attempted to tow it with them but that it broke away dur ling the night and disappeared.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-11

of the Canadians rapidly brushed aside. Tn pushing out east of Cambrai after the capture, very brilliant work was done in effecting the first crossing of the canal at the demolished railway bridge. Two men swan across the ca nal, bombed the enemy out of his bridge head and then linked arm in arm, the leading men of the company scrambled over the wreck of the bridge.
 In a short time practicable cross ing was connected up. The enemy fin ished his evacuation at midnight. Tile Canadian occupation was completed at o'clock the next morning.
 ONLY SMOKING RUIN
 Cambrai tonight is a smoking ruin The Germans have probably never per petrated a mora ruthless nor more pre- meditated vandalism than this destruc- ton of Cambrai.
 .sFrance can never forget nor
 forgive this,, remarked n French
 officer.
 "Torch in hand, the enemy comes
 offering peace."
 When the Canadians entered Cam brai, the great public square of the Place d'Armes was virtually intact. Now it stands a mass of ruins.
 The explosions began at g o'clock and have continued ever since.
 All day, in every part of the town, there were explosions of incendiary bombs with time fuses attached and these were followed by outbursts ot fire In one street, dozen houses simultaneously burst into flames.
 CATHEDRAL RUINED
 The town hall, the bishops palaca and other buildings were blown to pieces. The cathedral still stands, but only with it's ruined chancel.
 As the hours went by the universal character of the holocaust developed. The sun was obscured partly and 1t seemed like a fiery ball in the smoke and thick dust of falling walls.
 The Canadian engineers sought to pen in the confIagration by dynamit- ing the buildings but the flames broke out at the backs of the soldiers
 There remains in the city Father Thiez, a priest of the church of St. Drucn. Two days ago he was or dered by the Germans to leave the city. He refused because he had to attend to dying woman.
 The Germans threatened to shoot him, but he persevered and today he is caring for civilians who had hidden for 10 days in the cellars.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-11
ITALIAN STATEMENT

Rome, October 10.--The official report from Italian Headquarters today says:
 'On Sella Tonale one of our parties marched through snow and surprised small enemy outpost, destroying 1t. The party returned with prisoners and ma terial,
 "A large enemy patrol was driven back in the Val Arsa. "
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-11
Eastern Star Meeting

Mrs Theo Osborne, worthy matron, announces that because of present health conditions and the warning and request Of the health department, there will be no meetings of Llewellyn chapter, Order of the Eastern Star. until change has come from present health conditions. Due notice will be given when meetings will be resumed
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-11

The reported torpedoing of the Lein- ster on her regular voyage from Dub lin to Holyhead, would indicate that the German C-boats have again succeeded in getting into St. Georges channel. Nothing had been reported of U-boat operations in that water for long time, and 1t was reported that extraordinary precautions had been taken with respect to this channel, as well as the English channel The gross tonnage of the Leinster is 2646. Her owners are the City of Dublin Steam Packet company. She was built at Birkehead in 1893.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-11
I.abor Situation

H. & McDonald examiner al the MO bile office of the United states elu niovment service. was in Birmingham vesterday consulting with State Direc- tor George E. Tarrant relative to ms work Mir. Mcdonald stated that our- ing the mouth of September, 1917 per sons were given employment throusn his office, and in the first week oi this month 652. "
 He reports the labor scituation n Mobile satisfactory. With about enougn common labor to supply the local de- mand.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-11
RAILWAYS BOMBED

London october 10.--British aviators last night bombed railways at Mezeres. M Metz -Sablons and Thionvile and air droines at Frescaty and> Mohange ac- cording to the statement issued by the air ministry tonight. Metz-Sablons was attacked today
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-11
OyERTUREs TO CzECHs

Washington, October 10-Overtures by the Germans to the Czechs are report ed in dispatches today from a neutral country to the state department. Only vague account of the movement is given, but the Germans are said to be making conciliatory promises to Czech leaders in an effort to align them with the Teutonic peace programme.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-11
MAIL BOAT SUNK

London, October 1O.-The Dpblin mail boat Leinster has been tOrpe- doed, according to Exchange Tele- graph company. The steamer was making a trip from Dublin to Holy Head.
 Four hundred persons perished In the torpedoing of the Leinstcr. ac- cording to q report which has not yet been confirmed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-11
GREATEST AIR OFFENSIVE


 Washington, october 10-Word of the first great American air raid against the German camps north of Verdun sent a thrill through war de- partment officials today, although no official report had been received to furnish details of the exploit. So far participation of 250 machines in this one enterprise marks it as the great est air offensive yet undertaken on the west front. No record could be discovered here tonight showing either allied or German bombing raids on anything like similar scale.
 No official comment could be ob- tained pending the receipt of the for mai advices. There is every reason to portion of the bombing planes used were Dehaviland day bombers, built in the United States and equipped with Liberty motors. Shipments of these machines to France have reached con- siderable portions and recent perform- ance reports from France have been encouraging.
 BRITISH AND FRENCH AID
 The language of the account of the raid permitted to pass by the Ameri- can military censor is taken here to indicate that the operation was partic- ipated in by British and French. The reference to 50 triplanes as included in this great air fleet found no ex- planation here. If they were operated by American pilots, they are French built machines. and no details of the equipment have been released for pub- lication.
 The fact that only 32 tons of bombs were dropped by such q force struck some of the air service officers as sur prising. The ordinary bomb capacity of fleet of this kind described for such a short trip probably would be 10 times that it was said.
 PLENTY OF PLANES NOW
 The most significant feature of the first great American raid, outside of it's possible place in the great stra- tegic game on the western front, IS that 1t indicates that the United States has now taken its full place beside the allies in the air as well as on land and sea-. The bombing squadrons which made up this air fleet probably represent the first definite American unit of major importance in the inde- pendent air forces which are being built up by the entente powers.
 This navy of the air is to be ex-
 banded until no part of Germany is
 safe from the rain of bombs. It is
 thing apart from the fighting.
 observation and bombing squad-
 rOns attached to the various army
 corps. The work of the independ-
 ent force Is bombing munitiOn
 works, factories, cities and other
 important centers far behind the
 German lines. 1t has been specifi-
 cally promised that eventually
 Berlin itself will know what an air
 rnid means, and the whole great
 project is direct answer to the
 German air attacks on helpless and
 unfortified British. French and
 Belgian towns.
 Another striking point about the size of the American raiding fleet is the fact that it is only rne first Amer ican blow from the air in this cam- paign The very size of that force is a warrant for the overwhelming char acter of the American air fleets that will come in time.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-11
LUDENDORFF QUITS

Washington, october 1o.-From one of the European neutral countries today a report reached the state department that General Ludendorff has suffered phys ical collapse and relinquished command of the German army
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-11
AUSTRIAN STATEMENT

Vienna, october l0.-(Via London. )--J tall ian cavalry attempting to cross. the Skumbi river in Albania. failed yester- day, says the war office statement to- day Northwest and north of Leskovats. in central Serbia, engagements devel- oped
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-11

enemy, according to a statement by Winston Spencer Churchill, the minister of munitions. MT. Churchill showed the expenditure of such a vast amount of munitions was possible through the in- tense industrial organizations of the country, which had contributed a gen. erous supply of shells.
 The great scope of this organization was revealed by the minister through his statement that between 100000 and ! 5.000,OO0 persons were engaged in making munitions in Great Britain
 AMERICANS MOVE FORWARD With the American Army Northwest of Verdun, October 10, TAO D. m-(By the Associated Press )-Its way blazed over a wide area by aerial bombers, the American army moved slightly forward today in the territory held by the Ger mans. The aviators who participated in the brilliant offensive that began late yesterday flew over the enemy lines this afternoon and reported dozens of towns still smoldering and a significant quiet in extended areas, which until now have been the scenes of enemy activity. The aerial operations for the past 24 hours have been far the greatest ever attempted. They included bombing expedition of over $50 planes. The towns bombed included those from the point fartherest east ill the Franco-American positions beyond the Mouse to Metz. This expedition was carried out with the loss of only one man.
 Observers told the officers at headquar- ters tonight that they had been unable to see any movement on the roads over which ordinarily German transports are moving, and in towns where their pres ence had not even been reported other wise, American troops had been bivouac- ing. Here and there an enemy battery was observed, but all reports agreed that
 in the greater part of what had been the German advanced area the guns had been moved back.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-11
STIFF RESISTANCE ENCOUNTERED

With the Forces Southeast of Cambra Oc tober 1O NoonBy the Associated Press -Between Fres noy and Bohan where German machine gunners
 ated in force there the est kind of fighting today British tanks helped to clear the machine gun
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-11
TRAMwAY EMPLOYEES STRIKE

Paris, october 10.A majority of the tramway employees at Vienna have struck, demanding increased pay and war al lowance, says dispatch from Zurich. Switzerland, to the Temps.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-11
10000 TONS SHELLS DAILY

London, october 10.--(British Wireless Service. l--During 15 successive days re gently the British artillery hurled more than 10000 tons of shells a day on the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-11
THE WEATHER
Weather Forecast

Washington, October 10.-The forecast: Alabama: Fair Friday and probably Sat- urday, except light local rains in south west
 South Carolina and Georgia: Generally fair Friday and Saturday, not much change in temperature.
 Florida: Fair Friday and Saturday, except local rains in extreme north west.
 Mississppi: Fair in east, local rains in west Friday and probably Saturday. Tennessee: Fair in east, local rains sin west Friday and probably Saturday.
 Local Data
 For the 24 hours ending at p. m., October 10. 1918: Highest temperature ................... @S0 Lowest temperature .................. 55 Mean temperature ...................... bS Normal temperature .................... bf Deficiency in temperature since Jan uary ...,.....-.........' .'.*....' ....'.'. ." Ra1n1aH 'Vu Total rainfall since January 1........ .R. 1d Excess in rainfall since January l.. 2.2d Relative humidity a. m............. "a | D. m. .........-..-... ........ .......'.-'. " D. m. ..................-..... o'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-11
1O-Mile Aduance East of
 Cambrai Has Now Been Made
tcontinued from Page One,

affairs the first speech he has sight, but within He of Wilson's to the Germs
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-11
AMERICANS CONDUCT BIGGEST AIR RAID SINCE WAR BEGAN
Fleet of $50 Planes Drop g Tons of Bombs on Enemy. Washington Thrilled
 at the News

With the American Forces Northwest of Verdun, October 10.-12::30 P. M.-(By The Associated. Press. .)-An Amer ican bombing expedition, con sisting of more than 35G ma chimes, yesterday droppedthir ty two tons of explosives or German cantonments in the area between Wavrille and Damvillers, about 12 miles north of Verdun.
 The American bombing exploits marks one of the high spots in the air fleet operations of the war.tIn the expedition were more than 200 bombing airplanes, 100 pursuit machines, and 50 tripIanes.
 The bombing aircraft were given splendid protection during the aerial battle, which took place during the operation. Twelve enemy machines were destroyed. Only one entente plane failed to return.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-11

size of the American raiding fleet is the fact that it is only rne first Amer ican blow from the air in this cam paign. The very size of that force is a warrant for the overwhelming char acter of the American air fleets that will come in time