davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The weekly Alaska citizen., 1918-05-20

After more than two months Ot SQuab- bling and opposition, the administration forces have finally succeeded in passing the Overman reorganization bill, asked for by President Wilson. This measure is one of importance, and the delay in its passage has been d costly one for the country
 The fight which was made on it originat- ed ill the senate military committee under the leadership of Senator Chamberlain, who de- sired to force the passage of his own reorga- nization measures, which were disfavored by the President, since they were designed to split up instead of center responsibility.
 With the Overman bill law, it is now possible for the President to coordinate or reorganize the different departments and bu- reaus in any manner considered advisable by him, and will give him freer hand in carry ing out the war program than has heretofore been possible.
 The object of the bill is to increase eff ciency of government methods in handling war problems and allow the President to switch organizations to meet conditions at they arise Under the law it will be possible to do away with endless red tape which has entangled certain departments to such an extent that it has almost killed their usefulness.
 The entire country has long since been convinced that measure of this nature was badly needed. The Chamberlain war cabinet and ordnance bureau legislation was designed for this end, but was considered by the Presi- dent as unsuitable for the purpose
 There has been sentiment throughout the country for letting Mir. Wilson have his way in this matter, and the country generally is satisfied with the outcome of the fight. It is confident that the President will be able to accomplish more under measure planned by himself than under that desired by the oppo- sition. The victory of the administration in this case cannot help but strengthen the posi- tion of the President.
The weekly Alaska citizen., 1918-05-20
ILL-TIMED INVESTIGATIONS

The general investigation ot the admins tration's war organizations and other activi- ties as proposed by Senator Chamberlain is so poorly timed that it is apparent that the greater part of the American public is not in- clined to sympathise with the move. The tone and indicated purpose of the investiga- ton as revealed by Chamberlain's resolution shows lack of confidence in the various de- partments which is not justified by the achievements conceded to have been accomp- lished and at variance with the general feel ing of confidence in President Wilson and his ability to handle the situation which is prevalent in all sections of the country.
 The administration has no objection to, and in fact is already proceeding with, an investigation of the aircraft production situa- tion. But there has been and is now no de- velopment in any other branch of war prepa- rations which calls for a general investiga- tion such as Senator Chamberlain proposes to institute.
 This attitude of the senate military com mittee has been in evidence for months. It was exhibited in his attack upon the war de- partment, and that it was unjust was proven by the failure to make a case against Mir. Baker in the alleged breakdown in the ord nance bureau, which did not exist.
 Despite this, the senator attempted to force through his war cabinet and ordnance bureau measures. The defeat of his efforts in this connection may possibly account for hi, apparent determination to continue the fight on the administration.
 l. is generally agreed by all those who ~c in a position to know that generally speaking, the immense preparations being l:.+de by the United States are progressing sars factorily. If this program is to continue satis tactory there must be unity of effort. Any factional fight is sure to clog up the wheels of the machine and slow down ma ,:raly the speed which is SO essential at -tlS tlme
 Certain charges have been made in con- ..tt ion with the alleged failure of the old aircraft production board to produce desired r.oults, among the charges being some of a criminal nature It is proper that such charg- eo be investigated, and either proved or dis proved. The government is doing this That there Is going to be no attempt made to 'whitewash' the board is clearly shown by the fact that President Wilson has named Charles Evan Hughes as investigator of the criminal charges. The country has confidence in Mir. Hughes as an investigator and will be satisfied with his verdict.
 But there are no other charges against any of the remaining boards or bureaus There is no ground for them. To attempt a general investigation at this time will un- doubtedly tend to weaken our confdenc and in so doing give material aid and comfort to the enemy.
The weekly Alaska citizen., 1918-05-20
FISHERIES INVESTIGATION

There is no question as to the wisdom of the proposed investigation of the establish ment of canneries along the lower Yukon river. Nor has anyone, either the canners or AlaSkans, any reason to fear injustice be- ing done If the investigation IS conducted as has been suggested from various sources.
 There is-no disposition locally to protest against the operation of the proposed plant if assurance can be given that the supply of fish will not be cut off from the upper reaches of the Yukon and Tanana rivers Locally there has been shown a desire to play fair in the matter, and if the canners will meet the spirit in kind there will be no difficulties that cannot be smoothed out
 All that any Alaskan desires is to pre- vent the depletion of our fishing resources. If the establishment of cannery at the mouth of the Yukon river does not threaten this or will not open the way for even larger inroads by other companies, it can be easily demon strated by the proposed investigation and the matter will be disposed of without delay.
 But there is not much reason to doubt that, if one plant can be established, others can also. The government will hardly issue permit of this nature to one company and deny it to others It has also been the his tory of the fishing industry that, where no means are provided for propagation, any stream, no matter how potentially great its resources may be, can be worked to death in a few years.
 If there is danger of robbing our streams by permitting extensive fishing operations un- der present conditions, the permits should be withheld until arrangements can be made for propagation. There is no desire to lock up the resources of the country among Alaskans. Everyone desires to see them utilized fully, but there is and always will be an objection to seeing these resources exploited and future prosperity sacrificed for present paltry profit.
 Representatives of the cannery to go in on the lower Yukon have claimed that the operations will not stop or decrease our pres ent fish supply. On the other hand, experi- enced fishermen are inclined to believe to the contrary. Experience in other districts seems to prove differently. If the claims of the cannery are well based, they should have no trouble in convincing the bureau of fisheries of that fact
The weekly Alaska citizen., 1918-05-20
SUBMARINE LOSSES

The submarine situation is not SO clear as had been hoped for several months back, although there is every reason to be gratihed with the results which have thus far been obtained. The monthly losses to allied mer- chant fleets are still heavy enough to cause a big drag on the shipping problem. In the main, however, there is no. cause for any uneasiness.
 The charts published by the British ad- miralty continue to show that the rate of losses to merchant vessels grows smaller each month. On the other hand, the number of submarines being destroyed by the allied anti
The weekly Alaska citizen., 1918-05-20
THE RED CROSS DRIVE

When the history of the present war is written, in every phase of it, on every page of the volume, will appear the name of the Red Cross. When the survivors of the ter rife battles reach home and tell of their ex- periences, the tongue of each will sing the praises of the Red Cross.
 No language is rich enough to adequate ly tell of the great work that this organiza- tion of mercy is doing, nor is lifetime of support too long to devote to this organiza-
The weekly Alaska citizen., 1918-05-20
CONTRACT FOR
 SUMMER MAILS
 NOT MADE YET

At the end of the present month the contract existing between the Northern Commercial company and the government for the carrying of the mails between Fairbanks and Chitina will have ended. The last mail to leave Fairbanks for the coast will be sent out on May 29. The last incoming mail will leave Chiti- na on the morning of May 31. With the delivery of these mails the obli- gations of the company will have been fulfilled and the bondsmen re- leased. On the release of the bonds men will be the culmination of service that has filled the wants of the interior for many years, and whose departure will be felt by those residing here.
 The new mail contract, awarded to John Brewer, of Nome. and others, will not so into effect until the first day of October. 1918. From that date the mails will be carried for a period of four years during the months of October to May. inclusive, of each year. It Is stated that the new contractors will engage in the freight and passenger business also on about the same lines as did the old company
 The new contract will not become effective until October 1. Between the last day of May and the time stipulated for the commencing of the winter deliveries there remain several months in which the mails are carried over the trail between Fairbanks and Chitina. The con tract for the carrying of the mails during this period has not been let as yet, or at least no information bearing on the subject is at present available. Inquiry on the matter re- vealed the fact that the contracts for carrying the mail during the ouALuSI ulOutuS IS udnQleu Dy CnleI Clerk Alvah Flames at Cordova, and up to this time the Fairbanks office has not been notified as to any con- tract being let for this summer.
 This may be construed that no mail contract will be let for the en- suing year or that the matter of re. porting the letting of the contract to the local office has been over looked by those in charge at the other end. Should there be no con tract let, Fairbanks faces a diff. culty in it's mail matters for this year The navigation company's con- tract calls for weekly service, which during the season is not am. pie to provide for the business rela. tions of the merchants of the interi. or and the Outside. The curtaiment of the trail service would work n hardship on those who live along the trail and depend on Fairbanks for their mail and other commodities
The weekly Alaska citizen., 1918-05-20
AMERICANS AT FRONT
Seattle Post-Intelligencer)


 More than one hundred thousand strong fully equipped and ntensvey trained in the schools of mod warfare. American troops. under command of the gallant Pershing joining the battle lines northern France and reinforcing the unconquerabe British and French sodiery in the mighty combat with the legion of Huns.
 Thus this nation. within year of it's intervention for civilization and humanity. offers it's it has prodgiousy given and is still giving its moneyed and today has part-a proud and glorious part-n decisive engagement already fraught with appalling slaughter that inevitably shape the end and hasten peace.
 Pitifuly small the more than one hundred thou. sand strong American troops appear. visuazed with the millions of their allies and the enemys wemar shaled hordes Pity is this great and resourceful nation did not sooner and sense the handwriting the and become prepared for this crisis. with fighting multiplied many fold! Pity the failure furnish in the battles of the air! Pity and shame the denquencies that found America at the outset of this unacceptable unprepared!
 But. plying and deploring these deficiencies. well may the nation give thanks and be joyous in the fact the statesmanshps and of anti.war pachsm- it has done amazingly we'll To have equipped and transported and trained these more than one hundred thousand" American troops under the adverse condi tons besetng nation when it glimpsed its duty to itself and the world short is achievement worthy the awakened nation. And the spirit anmang this army in khaki-the indomitable American spirit dominant on batteneld-will give it a strength not to be measured by numbers
 All the news from the front is heartening.
 Americas participation means to America speeding up of the war work at home. and to every loyal Am erican it means dutydong service and sacrifice. un compromising to Flag and country and instant suppression of sedon and treason wherever it shows its rebelous head traitorous hand in quarter
 It is for America to be made up of fighting Americans all That is the meaning of it all
 THE world is longing for peace" says Hertlng
The weekly Alaska citizen., 1918-05-20

THE world is longing for peace" von Herting We violate no confidence in stating that it Is also fighting for h.-Exchange
Norwich bulletin., 1918-08-12
GERMANS IN FULL RETREAT
 IN DIRECTION OF PERONNE German Reserves Not as Important
 or Numerous as Supposed.

Paris. Aug. 1.-The allies tonight are fighting their way forward and the armies of Generals von der Mar witz and von Hutier are in full re- treat in the direction of Peronne, Nes- les and Ham. Important rear guards are being sacrificed by the Germans 10 insure the safety of the main arm ies and there is q well defined feeling among military critics here that the German reserves are not as import ant or numerous as was originally thought The recklessness with which the crown prince threw them into the battle of the Marne, drawing also from the stock of his royal cousin, Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria, is be- lie~ed to be causing General Luden- do-f some worry
 Back to Hi1denburg Line.
 A temporary lull may be expected in the fighting on the present lines as the Germans are desperately striv- ing to save their material and retire their troops to the old Hindenburs line and reach the front where they interd to make their stand.
 Confident of Victory.
 This is the fourth Sunday since ths allied high command wrested the in itiative from HindenbUrg and Luden dorff, and apparently Paris is already becoming as calmly confident in vic tory as it was dignified and stoical il times of reverses. The newspaper contain no egotistical comment nov that the immediate danger to Paris i removed, but express contentment a the turn the operations as regards tn conduct of the war in general i taking
Norwich bulletin., 1918-08-12

the Disc have made gains exceeding six miles, over a front of twelve miles.
 Retreat Not Ended.
 The stiffening of the German de- fense does not, in the minds of ob- servers on the battle front, indicate that the retreat of the enemy has ended. Rather, it is assumed that these manoeGvres are similar to those carried out over the Marne front, when strong rear guards covered the retire ment of the crown princes armies northward-
 The smoke of large fires continue to be seen far behind the enemy's lines and the movement of long transport columns eastward are considered evi- dence that it IS the intention of the enemy ultimately to retreat to new lines of defense Aviators have de- stroyed all the bridges across the Somme from the region of Peronne southward and with the enemy's com municating lines either in the hands of the allies or dominated by their guns, the retrograde movement neces sarily must be slow. Therefore strong rear guard actions are required to save large numbers of men and guns and enormous quantities of stores from capture.
 Encirciing Rove.
 The allied troops gradually are en- circling Rove, and it's capture, which seems imminent, will greatly heighter the difficulties of the Germans in fall ing back
 intensive air fighting is proceeding over the battle line. In Fridays bat ties 39 German machines were de stroyed and 22 driven down out e1 control The British war office ac- knowledges that 23 British machines are missing. Unofficial estimates bring the number of prisoners taker by the allies up to 9s,00O and the number of guns captured to more thai l 500.
 On the vesle front the Germans or the northern side of the stream ar reported to be entrenching and string | ing barbed wires over the territor. where they are facing the French ant ! Americans.
Norwich bulletin., 1918-08-12
STORY FROM BERLIN TELLS OF VICTORIES
Admits Allies Reached New Fighting
 Line East of Montdidier.

Berlin, via London Aug. 1.-The official communication issued by the war office today follows:
 Between the Yser and the Ancre, the fighting activity decreased during the day, but was revived at many points in the evening. Strong enemy thrusts on both sides of the Lys were repulsed.
 "On the battle front the enemy has extended his attacks as far as the Oise."
 Between the Ancre and the Somme 1 they collapsed before our lines. Di- rectly south of the Somme the enemy | infantry remained in action after their failures of August g. Strong partial attacks of the enemy near Rainecourt and against Lihons failed as the result of our fire and in counter attacks.
 "The main strength of the attacks yesterday was directed against our front between the Ancre and the Avre.
 East of Rosieres and on both sides of the Amiens road and Rove we repulsed many times repeated en- emy attacks. In the fuctuating battle against the masses of ar1nored cars the unshakable strength of OUT infan- | try agaln made itself fully felt al this point. On many occasions the enemy's assault broke down even as our result of our artillery fire.
 Before the sector of a single di. vision alone more than forty armor. ed cars are lying destroyed. Between the Avre and the Oist the enemy, after violent artiller! preparation, made strong attack: against our old positions from Mont didier as far as Outheuil. He was no able to reach our new fighting lin' east of Montdider, which we announc ed yesterday.
 Our rear guards received the enc my in our old positions with stron; fire then yielded, fihting beyond tn line of Laboissiede, Hainvillers, Rae quebourg and Marest.
 There has been very lively aeria activity over the battlefield We hay shot down twenty-three more enem airplanes and one captive balloon.
 "On the Vesle the enemy was re , pulsed between Fismens and Courlan doin.
 Tn Champagne, west of the Somme Py- -Souain road there were local en aagements in which we took prisoners.
Norwich bulletin., 1918-08-12
By The Associated Press.)


 The Germans have materially stiff ened their defense against the British, American and French troops on the Picardy battle front, but they have been unable to stem the tide of ad- vance against them.
 Although the forward push of the allies has been slowed down some what. nevertheless they have made further important progress from the north of the Somme, where the Amer jeans and British are fighting together, to the northern bank of the Ooise river, where the French troops are engaging the enemy.
 Pressing the Enemy.
 The Americans and their British brothers in arms at last accounts were pressing closely upon Brasisur- Somme, aided by tanks and armored cars, which inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy as he endeavored to re- tard their progress.
 British Lost, Then Won.
 Across the river the Germans heav- ily engaged the British at Lihons and it's vicinity and at one point pierced the British line and gained the out skirts of Lihons A counter attack, however. entirely restored the British line and the enemy retired to posi- tions east and north of the village. Unofh ial reports from London have credited the British with entering Chaulnes and the British cavalry with a penetration of the enemy's territory almost 10 Nesles. These reports, how ever. have received no official veri- fcation.
 French Line Improved.
 By far the greater progress has been made by the French from the region immediately southwest and south of Rove to the Disc river. Here they have driven their line we'll across the Rove -Compiegne road and at Cambronne have reached the road leading from Compiegne to Noyon' Since the capture of Montdidier the French have penetrated eastward to Tilloloy, a distance of about seven miles. and to Canny sur Matz, more than eight and 9 half miles, and through the hilly region southward to
Norwich bulletin., 1918-08-12
MAXIMUM EFFORT MAY
 PREVENT COAL SHORTAGE President Wilson Asks Miners to Ac- cept Deferred Draft Classification

Washington, Aug. 11.-Coal miners and operators were called upon in a proclamation by President Wilson, made public today. to give their maxi mum effort to the production of coal to the end that threatened shortage next winter may be avoided. The president asked the miners particular ly to work full time and urged those who are essential to the industry to accept deferred classification in the draft.
 Prompt and Vigorous Action.
 'sThe existing scarcity of coal" said the proclamation, 'is creating a grave danger-in fact the most serious which confronts us-and calls for prompt and vigorous action on the part of both operators and miners. Without an adequate supply our war programme will be retarded: the eff fectiveness of our fighting forces in France will be lessoned; the lives of our soldiers will be unnecessarily en- dangered and their lrardships increas ed and there will be much suffering in many homes throughout the coun- try during the coming winter"
Norwich bulletin., 1918-08-12
SMASHING STRONG RESISTANCE
 OF REAR GUARD
FRENCH PROGRESSING
German Local Attack North of Kem- mel Was Repulsed-FIanders Front Position mproved-Entire Missif of BouIoene-La Grasse Captured and Line Extended to East of Bus Many Prisoners Taken,

With the British Army in France, Aug. 11-(By A. P, 3: 30 D. m.)-The allied forces continued their victorious advance all along the line last night and today, pushing n the general di- rection of the upper branches of the Somme. They were smashing the stiff resistance interposed by the rear guards of the retreating Germans. the bulk of whom according to reports considered reliable are fleeing in dis order. British cavalry are reported this afternoon operating close to the town of Nesle and six miles southeast of Chaulnes.
 Moreul-Lamotte Captured.
 Further south on the line, the French have penetrated the wooded area be- tween the Rivers Matz and Disc, reach ing in the region the envirors of La Beliere and Gury Moreuil- Lamotte has been captured and the French line has been pushed two miles to the nortf of CheviVcourt
 The text of the statement reads:
 During yesterday evening and last Eight the French troops continued their progress along the entire from between the Avre and the Disc. They captured the entire massif of Boulogne- be-CFdSS6 anu CdITleQ tt6IT uuSS u the east of Bus.
 Important Advance. Further south they penetrated thu wooded region between the Matz an( the Disc. reaching the outskirts of La l Berliere and Gury. They took MoreUil Lamotte and realized an advance O | three kilometers in the region to tht north cf Chevincourt."
 X German local attack north O l Kennel, on the Flanders front, wa repulsed after sharp fighting.
 Official Statement.
 'By a successful operation durin, the night we advanced our line nortl l of the Somme on the high ground be 1 tween Etmehem and Dernancourt. South of the river local fighting reported at different points.
 "Tlle French troops have made fur ther progress along the south bank c the Avre River and reached the out skirts of FEschelle- St. Aurin. | Early this morning the enem | launched local attack against posi- i tions north of Kemmel The attac was repulsed after sharp fighting, pri soners beng left in our hands.
 Hostile raiding parties were drive off north of the Scarpe
 We improved our positions shghtl east of Robecq CF1anders front.