davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Norwich bulletin., 1918-07-17
THE NEW DRIVE.

Much the same sort of an opening as that which characterized the drive southwest of Noyons has been made by the Germans in their latest attack cn both sides of Rheims. They have encountered stiff opposition having found the allies prepared and waiting with the result that they have suffered severe losses and gained an insignifi- rant amount os ground.
 From all indications the purpose of this drive appears to be to eliminate the Rheims salient and capture some Of the important railroad and supply Centers between Paris and Verdun for the aid which would thus be given to future operations directly against Paris. In this instance ss in others Germany is avoiding a direct attack upon Rheims. Tt is endeavoring to surround the city and force the re- trement from that point but 1t has ,hus far male eo little progress that unless greater efforts ire coming the entire operation must go down as the worst failure in the whole five drives. But 1t is Of course too early to pass judgment upon the unknown. Ger many has many reserves which have not as vet been employed and until the whole available war machine is tried out the continuation Of the thrust can be expected.
 IL is a most gratifying showing which has been made thus far by the American troops. Not only have they forced back the enemy over the ground which they secured at the first i'm petus but they have captured many prisoners as well as a brigade staff and eXacted price from the enemy which indicates the type of fighters which they are. They have shown what an insignificant army can do and he best of it is that they are ready 70 do more. The we'll trained and or ganized German army makes a poor showing in coinRa Fison thus far.
Norwich bulletin., 1918-07-17
PLANS CONTROL OF BELGIUM.

It was only day or two ago that Chancellor von Hertlinq was quoted as declaring that Germany does not and had not planned to retain Bel gium. This was looked upon in some quarters as evidence that d new pol
 icy had been arrived at and that the imperial German government was cognizant of the fact that it could no longer permit the idea to prevail that it intended to annex that country and make it 6 part of Germany.
 But now it seems that only half the story was told While Chancellor ven IIertling was quoted as declaring that ir was only being held as a pawn to be used in the final settlement only half the actual statement which he | made was put forth and when the Whole story is told it seriously mars the high polish which was given to the abbreviated statement
 There can be no question but what Germany will get every ounce of beAe-
 fit from Belgium that is possible. That is Germany's policy and practice So that when Count voR Hertiing speaks in reference to the evacuation of that country and says that i've must have guarantees against being isolated" and should secure the best guarantee 1 against future perils from England and | France by way Of Belgium" it is quite
 evident that it is GermanY's intention
 TO keep a strangle hold upon the lit-
 tie nation whose neutrality 1t so SOL
 emnly promised to respect. That is what the chancellor really said and
 what he meant and that is just what the allies are determined shall not pre-
 vail however long it takes to restore 1 Belgium.
Norwich bulletin., 1918-07-17

fuence with the Belshevik leaders in odessa to secure their approval.
 Speedy action was necessary, for it was known that orders had already been given to the Bolshevik troops to begin hastilities on a large scale, and it was felt that once serious fighting had begun, the chances of an amiea- ble adjustment would be much di- unfinished
 The necessary papers were hastily prepared and signed, and Colonel Boyle metored t6 an airdrome near Jassy where a Rumanian pilot was waiting. The weather on the day of Colonel Beyle's departure was stormy and threatening and several aviation experts advised rim to postpone his journey He declined to be dissua ded and left Jassy about noon. arriving safely at Odessa shortly before sun set.
 The flight was made at a height of about 5000 fset across rough noun i tainous country and in the face of a driving sleet storm. The machine twice developed engine trouble, but this was overcome and a landing was made in an open fieid, not far from the water front at Odessa. By mid night Colonel Boyle had secured the signing of the peace treaty and the i cancellation of the erders for a Bol- shevik offensive against Rumania.
Norwich bulletin., 1918-07-17

From among her many suitors Merry Dayton had chosen Judd Bentley. an honest, capable and dependable young farmer, and they were very happy as together they came one afternoon In October, when the woodland trees were blaze of color, to the Homestead farm, where they were to live after their wedding in the spring, and began clearing the grounds by pulling up cornstalks, squash vines and tall weeds and placing them with other unsishtly rubbish in piles ready for the torch Merry loved the old place, and after tugging at the last huge cornstalk and placing 1t with the others she looked about the fields and then said thought fully; Judd, do you know that to me the Homestad farm. with it's fine old trees and it's giimpses of the shining ever moving river. is the prettiest spot in all the world?"
 He strengthened up from his work to look at her, and with clever nlimicry his dark eyes twinkling roguishiy cried Merry. do you know that to me, you with your pink cheeks, blue eyes and the little yellow rings clus tering about your temple. are the prettiest girl in all the world?"
 Merry's happy laugh was contagious, for Judd laughed, and little bird daintily swaying on nearby bush burst into shower of melody. Soon after they started for home, and at Merry's gate Judd said good-by, as he was to start that evening on a busi- ness trip which would keep him away for week
 On the evening he was expected home long before he came in sight Merry sat at the window watching behind the curtains and smilingly
 waited at the open door as he came up the gravelled path, but the gay wave of the hand, the bright smile, and the happy, eager look in his eyes tc
 which she was accustomed were miss, ing His greeting appeared to ht forced and anxiously she asked, Are you ill?" No" he replied, but con versatien Jagged and she was still rs- garding him with puzzled eyes wher l he abruptly asked, Where is your en-
 gagement ring, Merry?" In his eyes
 appeared to be smoldering spalks anu l in his voice tone which was strange to her. Glaneing at her ringless hand' her face reddened. but she answered quietly, T cannot tell you" "Canno 1 or will not" he queried. Cannot,
 smoldering no longer, were ablaze witl anger, as he said hearsely: "Thel ] I'll tell you!a Ray Collins has it anc 1 today he told me that he had taken i from your finger with your consent
 ''Is it se?" His eyes begged her t deny it. but mastering herself with al
 effort which made both face and lip
 white. she said calmly, You have mad
 a statement which you evidently be
 lieve to be true. but you are yer.
 angry. Let US talk about it at ane ther time Let US talk now" h
 said protestingly. Tonight I go ava,
Norwich bulletin., 1918-07-17
4 PASSING CLOUD

again for a few days" I cannot talk now," she said and in few days the matter may adjust itself" Please, Judd, let me have my way she en- treated, and even more than her words the appeal in her soft blue eyes moved him, and he could not refuse.
 Very well.' he said quietly, "ez- pect me. next Wednesday," And soon after he went away.
 I have never gwen him reason to believe such a thing of me-" Merry sobbed and how could he speak so angrily to me-" But soon she said softly and hopefully, T will search again for the ring. All may yet be Weli
 Trying days passed, but Wednesday afternoon found Merry at the window, both longing for, yet dreading Judd's coming Again she was surprised; for he came up the path with sprinSing step and smiling face. and caught her in, his arms. "Judd!" she exclaimed joyfully, you have found out the truth about the ring?" Wrong" he cried with smiling in- l difference. T haven't seen or heard of it since I saw you. but l have been thinking, and | know you are not the sort of a girl who would do thing like that"
 T hoped you would say that" Merry said happily. and now I will tell you what l can about the ring"
 Not unless you choose" he quickly interrupted. For you and me the affair is settled. but I shall soon see Hay he added grimly. l The evening you went away she l began, T finished doing some canning and preserving I had begun and I had l put away the jars and carried out the 1 fruit and vegetable waste before 1 missed my ring. Since then 1 have searched every where without finding l it. Rays sister must have told him ] of my loss, and although I did not think of it while you were here, the | greater part of his story is probably 1 true'
 He looked at her inauiringly, and blushing; she continued:
 Ray once brought ring to me, and slipped it on my finger. while he pro- posed. but I refused. and asked him te remove it. It was very nearly or per haps exactly like the one you after ward gave me"
 Judd broke the silence by saying:
 You will never forgive me-
 "Yes I will" she returned cheerily and now let us go to the Homestead
 farm, We are always happy there" Having arrived they set fire to the
 rubbish pile, and in the furrow from
 which Merry had pulled the last huge stalk, they found the glistening ring
 Judd caught t and placed it on hel
 finger. T have been all kinds of $
 feol," he declared, If ever I cut U!
 like that again. just hold up tha
 finger"
 Twas but q passing cloud. Let U!
 forget it and enjoy the sunshine, Merry said.-Boston Post
Norwich bulletin., 1918-07-17
ON THE MuRMAN COAST.

That the allies have recognized the importance of getting there first and taking possession of the supplies which have been sent there for the benefit of the Russian people. but which have not as vet been moved because of lack of transportation facilities and other reasons, is indicated by the sending of larger forces to the Murman coast of Russia and the occupation of tm- portant points on the Arctic ocean and the White sea.
 The people of that section are in sympathy with the allies. They have SO declared and not a little assistance can be expected from them in defend- ing the railroad line and the stores. Because the Murmansk people have Fevolted the holsheviki are now ir1- sisting that the British and American forces should be withdrawn at ence. To comply with such demand would simply mean that the allies would be not only giving way to the unstable government in Russia which is play ing into the hands or Germany but they would be abandoning territory which is sought by the German and Finnish forces now operating in Fin land which of course would like noth- ing better than to get hold of the sup plies which are known to be stored there-
 The only answer to the bolsheviki can be a firm and positive refusal. That important entrance to Russia must be kept open. for It would cer- tainly. be promptly closed were the allies to consider for a moment the request to retire. The policy of the allies toward Russia may not be fully decided upon but there can of course he no thought of abandoning that northern coast. The forces there should be increased rather than di-
Norwich bulletin., 1918-07-17
Views of the Vigilantes
A Soldier of the Legion.

By Emerson Hough of The Tigilantes.
 He lay silent in his white bandages. It was his first return to consciousness. He thought he was in another world
 Presently he heard a gentle signing the signing Of many men repressing their pain for the sake of others Else wise the place was silent, save that from some distant place came music soft and gentle. Again the thought came to him that it was another world that world of which one never spoke in the trenches. He was sure of this, since now he saw approaching him a creature in white
 She came and stoci by his bed passed hand across his forehead, looked t7n at him with gentle eyes.
 Well, Marbon of the Legion" said she. 1t comes on, eh?"
 He smiled suddenly, his even white teeth showing between his bearded lips.
 So then" said he, "you are not an angel"
 "oh, no, Marbon I am but the nurse. " She touched the badge of the Red Cross on her cap.
 What is it-your organization ?" he asked. "In the Legion we do not knew Of it: Who brought me in? Did cry out?"
 The bearers brought you You did not cry out. You were close to the wire of the objective An the LAsioM Always it is the Legion which must do the impossible"
 We did it, then?"
 Yes. It was glorious. But there is nc Legion new!"
 She wiped away the tears that gath IY1 hi 4iao i.s I. l known within his memory.
 T am of the Legion!" he r1urmured
 Why did you join, Marbon?" she asked of him.
 ITO fight" he said simply. And to ferget?"
 Why. yes. That is best attained in fighting, you see"
 And you came to France-for some one's sake?"
 We do not speak of such things in the Legion" he said simply. "Bui what matter? am broken and done It is our creed to leave such where 1 they fall. Who, then, are you. to vio- late ors' efeed-yeu with your uniform I of white and it's insignia of red?' Tt is the white of a clean faith Marbon of the Legion. It is the red of hearts bleeding in sympathy witf StHSI IGGA lS Oli dll Iuc notAS oA al the world. That is our creed" It is folly" said he gruf1y, tryine to turn beneath the white eounterpane When man falls he Is done if he cannot rise of himself. Tn the Legior one kills a man sometimes in mercy I have done as much-many times. lacked that--this time" We do not kill the wounded. Mar bon. We save them. Could you no 1 devote yourself to my creed? Yol l see"
 1 T see that you are brave as an! or us. But what you ask is the i'm possible"
 | Tt was the impossible that alwayI was asked of the Legion, Marbor. is the impossible that always is asket
Norwich bulletin., 1918-07-17
THE DRY GOODS BUSINESS

In the making Of rulings at Wash ington regarding the many things which it is necessary to regulate in connection with the war it has been found that many of them have called for modification after the proper amount Of thought has been given to them and it has been understood how they work out when it comes to put ting them into actual practice. There has likewise been a disposition to make such changes after the situa- ton has been fully explained and there seems to be no reason why such should not be the case in regard to the way in which the line has been drawn between the essential and the non essential business during war time.
 Attention has recently been called to the situator which the dry goods houses of the country face by the placing of that business in the non- essential class as far as 1t is involved In the work or fight ruling, since the male portion of the employees in both retail and wholesale departments are held. to be engaged in non essential employment, and it is not surprising that the Connecticut Merchants asso- ciation should forward an appeal to the provost marshal that there be q modification of the order. The point is well taken by this organization when 1t is shown that the manufac- ture of wearing apparel is classed as essential while the retailing and wholesaling of it, is on-essential There is a certain number of men re- luired in the dry goods business and when proper reconsideration is given to the matter it seems only reason able to believe that such a view will De taken of it in Washington.
Norwich bulletin., 1918-07-17
KICKING RUSSIANS AROUND.

Germany is using much the same
 methods in regard to that section of Russia which is now under German
 control as it is doing with Belgium. It is demanding from those provinces that their whole effort shall be put forth in behalf of Germany, that the official language shall be German and that as quickly as possible an in-
 demnity shall be paid to Germany of three and a half billion. That is kick ing the Russians around with a ven- geanee and it Is not surprising that the representatives of the Esthonian diet should forward a protest to Ger many against the manner in which the occupation of that proviece is being maintained. When they are made to respond to the taxation which will be
Norwich bulletin., 1918-07-17

for herself, Already the black chel- era is getting hold in Germany as well as in Russia. The Asiatic cholera can be checked by modern sanitary meth ods. but for the black cholera. caused by hunger, there is no cure without food, the one thing that doesn't exist in the stricken regions. Germa,.v may seize the coasts. the province, the
 fleet, even the inhabitants, but she cannot relieve her hunger. At the same time her military weakness is being more clearly shown. Not only are the allies in possession of Viadi- rostok but American and British forces have landed on the Murnan coast and will hold the ports and the railway against the Germans. A be- ginning seems to have at last been made toward the rescue of Russia and the reestablishment Of the eastern
 military front must ultimately follow
Norwich bulletin., 1918-07-17
OTHER VIEW POINTS

Every rent prefiteef. then. is a friend or Germany. The city fathers could act. More than a year age word came from the city hall asking for reports of extortionate rents and threatening repFisals through taxation. But noth- ing came of that. Indeed nothing came of that. Indeed nothing much could come of such a scheme but the back fire upon the renter Landlords at the time of increased taxes and valuations indeed used tha texcuse for raising rents. Property which came under an increased taxation of per haps s1e 9er year gave the owners a chance to raise rents to ten times this sum. That taxes had gone up was the ipvafiable excuse at one time
 This question is always in the hands Of the authorities in war time. If the administration finds no legal ground for action they can at least initiate the movement which will bring fedora supervision. But to permit this thing to go so far as to bring down upon us federal regulation would be to the dis grace of the city and it's war admin istratorS Telegram.
Norwich bulletin., 1918-07-17

If New York only looks after it's own work slaekers even as it did in arresting a Boston fireman there on his vacation, there can be no com plaint about enforcing the law in the metropolis.
Norwich bulletin., 1918-07-17

The Italians and French are steadily advancing northward in Albania but they can get to Montenegro no quicker than the conditions In that country demand.
Norwich bulletin., 1918-07-17

From the improvements which have taken place there since the British oe- cupied it. it would not be surprising if the. people of Bagdad often express ed the wish that the war had opened at still earlier date.
Norwich bulletin., 1918-07-17

Inasmuch as the Americans are now using mustard gas it is to be expected that the Germans will renew their pe- titien to have gas attacks called off.
Norwich bulletin., 1918-07-17

The man on the corner says: While conservation is going on in other di- rections we may yet be forced to re- sort to the home made barrel stave hammock.
Norwich bulletin., 1918-07-17

Now that British soldiers have been sent to help Russia it looks as if that country did not intend to let any ad- vantages slip by without using them.
Norwich bulletin., 1918-07-17

Thus far the weatherman does not appear to be in league with the fec man but the little fellow is thankful for most any kind of favor these days.
Norwich bulletin., 1918-07-17

The experience in this latest drive must make Chancellor ven Hertling feel like talking peace more than ever.
Norwich bulletin., 1918-07-17

If Germany was anxious to get a demonstration as to how Americans can fight there can be no question but what it has received it and we dare say that it was impressive.
Norwich bulletin., 1918-07-17

When those Turkish troops mutinied and killed their German officers they showed most eenvineingiy who their worst enemies are.
Norwich bulletin., 1918-07-17

Under an order in council of June 1S. the Canadian War Trade Board assumes control of the exportation of hides and skins, viz. the hides of cattle, buffalo. horses, eaifskins and kips, whether of Canadian or fereign origin. Licenses, issued by the Com missioner of Custome at the request of the board. will be required for all exports of these products. with no exceptions in favor of any country.
Norwich bulletin., 1918-07-17

If the activities of the Russians are not sufficient to force Germany to give them attention it is time that they were given the help which would force it.
Norwich bulletin., 1918-07-17
EDITORIAL NOTES.

Even Hayti has decided that it can not remain passive in view of the German menace to civilization.
Norwich bulletin., 1918-07-17

:. Congress is considering preparation fer the next census in 1920. Shall ii be the usual elaborate enc, with de-
 tailed statistics of many things, or modest counting of numbers only: How is the war to affect it-with mil lions in armies abroad, and popula- toin all punched in eongested spots of war activity and moved away from their natural hcmes? Politics will determine everything. The democrats want to use teis big machine in their presidential election business that year, as the republicans have always had it for years.-Waterbury Repub- liean.
Norwich bulletin., 1918-07-17

A man might be getting a little more than ten per cent. and yet not be a profteer. But if he is getting ever so much more-tWice as much, for in- stanee-we begin to get at the root
 of the reason for housing difficulties
Norwich bulletin., 1918-07-17

in Bridgeport.
 If the iandlerd says: Tt is true that I am getting twenty per cent. but in reality my property is worth twice as much as, appears in the. tax rec ords,' he is in an untenable position.
 lie cannot excuse himself from being a profiteer by setting up the plea that he is a tax dodger. The two are birds of feather. The effenses, in war time, go hand in hand. as twin evils
 The governor of the state of Com necticut. the State Council of De- fense, the War Bureau in Bridgeport various patriotic organizations throuSheut the nation and the national government itself have all set them selves on record THAT RENT PROF ITEERIMG IN TIME OF WAR IS AN UNPAFRT0TIC ACTION.
 It is MEAN in any ease; nov it ie MEAN AND UEAMERICAN, both Bridgeport Standard American.
Norwich bulletin., 1918-07-17

Why the difference7 Was it the lowered morale of the enemy which even increased artillery preparation could not offset; was it the renewed confidence Of the French who had hurled back the Germans from before Compiegne; was it the superior knewi- edge possessed hy Foeh Of the locality of the German drive; or was it the Americans, who for the first time were not of the reserve slut were already in position on the front line? Surely each of these factors contributed it's part toward the first day of German failure, but while the other factors were the natural result of months of hard fighting and bitter experience, the new fact that stands boldly cut is that for the first time American troops had endured the most fFightful rain of explosive and gas that the Ger mans had yet produced and were still in condition to meet and drive back the advancing infantry.
Norwich bulletin., 1918-07-17

The government is going te sst that the price of sugar is capitalized That is a good plan, for if it were not for the government control ir the scarcity it would be fifty cents 6 pound-Merjden Journal.
Norwich bulletin., 1918-07-17

With the government regulating the styles of women's clothes what il the need of the "A sA9.000 sample trunks that are said to have consti- tuted 30 per cent. Of the baggage car r:ed free by railroads last year. Salesmen should find 1t easy to grant the governments request to reduce their aggat5e.-Watei teitbury. RepubN- can.