davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-09-13
GO[EY'S CAM"
ESCAPES INJURY
FritzieS Shell Field When They
Were Bidder, But They
Come Out Whole

The second letter from Corporal
Joseph Z. Coley, of var teiiihs
Of his experiences in the battle OF
rhateau-Thierry, has been received
Nv his family and turned over to the
EVENING NEWS for publication. AS
the limit on the amount or Writihs
paper used by the soldiers IN corey .
hospital is still In force he was una
BILE to complete his description put
promises to continue in his next le''ef
home.
Corporal Coley has a way of writ
ting his letters with q vividness Whlch
takes the reader for the time to the
rpot where he and his American part
ners are making such a great name
for themselves.
He states in his letter that he Is
improving rapidly from the effects or
the gas to which he fell a victim dur
ing the battle.
His letter follows:
Base Hospital No. %, A. P. o. 75S,
France, Aug. %. 1918.
Dear Ma and Pop and the family,
Still in the hospital. Feeling hne-
Good eats and a real bed to sleep on.
NY eyes are perfectly OK. again and
on the whole 1 am pretty well rested
up. 1 suppose you wonder IN l
don't write more often, being as L
have nothing else to do.
Well, it is this way. The doctors
here are very busy and are Kept
pretty much on the go and besides
they have to censor u mail 80 1t Is
ND to us to give them a lift and not
write any more than is absolutely
necessary. Besides my eyes used to
pain a little and / had to rest them
as much as possible.
The last letter l wrote covered up
until noon of the first day of the Of
fensive. Did you receive 1T? l told
where l had met Holger Holm. etc.
We fixed Holger up with some chow
and he was around most of the al
ternoon telling US all about 1t.
About 5 p. NJ. l was sent to division
headquarters as a runner. l went
over and had 1t fairly soft as there
were few messages to be carried. I
was relieved about 2 A. NJ. by another
man and 1 rejoined the company. 1
found myself a shell hole and got a
little sleep. The company was awak-
ened at 4 A. M, received a cup of
coffee and waited. About 4:30 o'clock
the roar commenced again n the
second day of the offensive was on.
We hiked along FOR a while and
Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-09-13

reached what was the German line
yesterday. We continued on. l then
saw my first real picture OF q 0attte-
field. You all have probably seen pic
lures Of a battlefield or read about
them so 1 will not describe it to you
in fact l will never tell o about II
but as long as l live 1 will always re-
member 1t.
Our Journey now was over ground
that had been fought over yesterday
and even though the guns might stop
for a while all we had to do was TO
look around to realize that we were
at war.
We continued on and met some
wounded Americans coming in, also
a big batch of German prisoners.
They told us that Fritz was still on
the run and making Roadway to the
rear every minute
We kept going, past the artillery,
and finally halted where the German
artillery was the day before. 1 was
with the captain n four other run
ners and the first sergeant In an ar
tillery emplacement. 1t was just as
the Germans had left 1t. They had a
little bulletin with some notice in
German on it and there were a bunch
of unused shells all around. There
was q six-inch shell about two and a
half feet long and weighed about 100
pounds. The old Dutchman SUR did
lose a lot of ammunition and guns.
We made ourselves as comfortable
as possible, ate some of hard tack
and corned beef and took a few sips
of water. My canteen was about half
full and 1 was so thirsty that my
tongue was hanging out but you
never know what is going to happen
so 1t Is best to save the water.
About this time Fritzie got his re-
serves up as well as his artillery and
we started to catch hell. He threw
them into us pretty regular for about
two hours and my much needed rest
was spoiled. Our company was all
around the field in shell holes and the
Heinies shells landed right in among
us. When it quieted down we check
ed up and to our surprise not a man
was hurt.
The company behind, about fifty
yards away, were ten men less than
when they started. The gang remark
ed about 1t. They called it c Com
pan luck. We had been on the front
continuously since about the last of
January and had only lost two men
killed and about thirty wounded. Sc
we were indeed lucky but 1t is a good
thing that we can't look into the
future.
To be continued in our next issue.
Love to all,
JOE.
P.S.-Glve my regards to the gang
and tell them to write for I have
plenty of time to read mail.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-09-13

Lines to Be Remembered.
Good nature will always supply the
absence of beauty, but beauty cannot
supply the absence Of good nature
Joseph Addison.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-09-13
EQUALITY
Smoked
Ham

1t is the honest hardwood
smoking we give these hams
at Gobel's X t c b e n s that
makes them so delicious.
Only the best young hams
are chosen for the process.
The curing is done with care
and accuracy. The result is
tender, fragrant, flavory ham.
These are perfect hams for
baking whole, or you can buy
Gobel's Smoked Ham by the
slice for broiling, frying, and
baking. There is no finer
meat for lunches and dinners.
Ask for Gobel's Quality
First" Smoked Ham at good
delicatessen and food stores.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-09-13

P.S.-Glve my regards to the gang
and tell them to write for l have
plenty of time to read mail.
The Dolores star., 1918-08-02

There were dozens Of other why's
which we considered. One man would
be for endeavoring to make his way
right through the lines. Another
thought the safest plan would be to
swim some river that crossed the lines.
The idea Of making ones way to
Holland. n neutral country. occurred
to everyone, but the one great obstacle
in that direction. we all realized, was
the great barrier Of barbed and eiec-
trically charged wire which guards ev-
cry foot OF the frontier between Bel
gium and Holland. and which is closely
watched by the German sentries.
This barrier was a three-foId affair.
1t consisted first of n barbed wire wall
six feet high. Six feet beyond that
was a nine-fOot wall Of wire power
fully charged with electricity. To
touch 1t meant eiectrOcution. Beyond
that, ut distance of six feet, was
another wall Of barbed wire six feet
high.
Beyond the barrier lay Holland and
liberty, but how to get there was a
problem which none of us could solve
and few of US ever expected to have
chance to try.
Mine came sooner than I expected.
The Dolores star., 1918-08-02

of my life II could have gotten away
then and fooled that Hun-he WINS SO
cocksure.
Later We were marched to the train
that was to convey us to Germany. 1t
consisted of some twelve coaches,
eleven Of these containing troops going
home on leave, and the twelfth re-
served for US. We were placed In a
fourth-class compartment with old.
hard. wooden seats. a filthy floor and
no lights save candle placed there
by a guard. There were eight Of us
prisoners and four guards.
As we sat in the coach we were an
object of curiosity to the crowd who
gathered at the station.
Hope you have a nice trip!" one Of
them shouted sarcastically.
Drop me n line when you get to
Berlin, will yOu?" shouted another in
broken English.
"when shall we see you again?'
asked a third.
Remember me to your friends. will
you? You'll find plenty where you're
gOing!" shouted another.
The German officers made no effort
to repress the crowd, in fact. they
The Dolores star., 1918-08-02
CHAPTER VI.
A Lean for Liberty.

I had been in prison at Courtrai
nearly three weeks when, on the morn
ing OF September 9th, l and six other
officers were told that we were to be
| transferred to a prison camp In Ger
many.
One Of the guards told me during the
day that we were destined for a re-
prisal camp In Strassburg. They were
sending US there to keep our airmen
from bombing the place.
He explained that the English car
ried German officers on hospital ships
for a similar purpose and he excused
the German practice of torpedOlng
these vessels on the score that they
also carried munitions! When I
pointed out to him that France would
hardly be sending munitions to Eng
land, he lost interest In the argument.
Some days before. had made up my
mind that II would be q very good
thing to get hold Of map of Germany.
which knew was in the possession Of
one Of the German Interpreters, be-
cause I realized that II ever the op-
portunity came to make my escape.
such a map might be Of the greatest
assistance to me.
With the idea Of stealing this map,
accordingly. a lieutenant and l got In
front of this interpreters window one
day and engaged in a very hot argu-
ment as to whether Heidelberg was on
the Rhine or not, and we argued back
and forth so vigorously that the Ger
man came out Of his room, map in
hand, to settle 1t. After the matter
was entirely settled to our satisfac-
tiOn, he went back into his room and
I watched where he put the map.
When. therefore. learned that I was
on my way to Germany. realized that
1t was more important than ever for
me to get that map. and with the help
Of my friend, we got the Interpreter
out Of his room on some pretext or
another. and while he was gone con-
fiscated the map from the book in
which he kept it and concealed 1t in
had anticipated, 1t later proved of
the utmost value to me.
got 1t none too soon, for half an
hour later We were on our way to
Client. Our party consisted Of five
British officers and one French officer.
At Client. where we had to wait for
several hours for another train to take
us direct to the prison camp in Ger
many. two other prisoners were added
to our party.
In the interval we were locked In q
room at hotel, a guard sitting at the
door with rife on his knee. It would
have done my heart good for the rest
The Dolores star., 1918-08-02
sNANT PAT O'BRIEN

stretcher. For seven days. he told us.
he had lain in a shell hole, wounded.
and he was almost famished, and we
were mighty glad to share our ban
quet with him.
We called on each man for speech,
and one might have thought that we
were at a first-class club meeting. A
few days after that our party was
broken up and some Of the men, I sup
pose, l shall never see again.
One of the souvenirs of my adven-
tnre is n check given me during this
banquet" by Lieut.. James Henry
Dickson of the Tenth Royal Irish Fu-
sileers, a fellow prisoner. 1t was for
20 francs and was made payable to
the order of ''Afr. Pat O'Brien, 2nd
Lieut." Poor Jim forgot to scratch
out the London" md substitute
"Courtrai" on the date line, but its
When he gave 1t to me he had no idea
that would have an opportunity so
soon afterward to cash 1t In person,
although I am quite sure that what
ever financial reverses l may be des-
tined to meet, my want will never be
great enough to induce me to realize
on that check.
There was one subject that was
talked about In this prison whenever
conversation Jagged, and suppose 1t
Is the same in other prisons too. What
were the chances Of escape.
Every man seemed to have q differ
eut Idea and one way, suppose, was
about as impracticable as another.
None Of US ever expected to get
chance to put our ideas into execution.
but 1t was interesting speculation. and
anyway one can never tell what op-
portunities might present themselves.
One suggestion was that we disguise
ourselves as women. "O'Brien would
stand better chance disguised as q
norse" declared another, referring to
the fact that my height Il am six feet
two inches) would make me more con-
spicuOus as a woman than as q man.
Another suggested that we steal q
German GOtha-a type Of airplane
used for long-distance bombing. It is
these machines which are used for
bombing London. They are manned
by three men. one sitting in front with
n machine gun, the pilot sitting behind
him and IN observer sitting In the rear
with another machine gun. We fig
ured that. ut pinch. perhaps, seven
or eight of US could make our escape
in u single machine. They have two
motors OF very high horse power. fly
very high and make wonderful speed.
But we had no chance to put this idea
to the test. ,..s.
I worked out another plan by which
I thought might have a chance II /
could ever get into one Of the German
airdrOmes. 1 would conceal myself In
one Of the hangars, wait until one of
the German machines started out, and
as he TAXED along the ground would
rush out, shout at the top Of my voice
and point excitedly at his wheels. This.
l figured, would cause the pilot to stop
and get out to see what was wrong.
BY that time would be up to him, and
as he stopped over to inspect the ma
chine, l could knock him senseless.
jump into the machine and be over the
lines before, the Huns could make up
their minds just what had happened.
1t was fine dream, but my
chance was not to come that way.
The Dolores star., 1918-08-02

Joined in the general laughter which
followed every sally.
called to a German officer who was
passing our window.
You're an officer, aren't you" I
asked. respectfully enough.
''Yes. what Of itT he rejoined.
swell, In England" I said, 1--WE let
your officers who are prisoners ride
first class. Can't you FIX it so that we
can be similarly treated, or least be
transferred to second-class compart-
ment?"
IF I had my way" he replied. you'd
ride with the hogs!"
Then he turned to the crowd and
told them of my request and how he
had answered me. and they all laughed
hilariously.
This got me pretty hot.
'That would be a D. sight
better than riding with the Germans ~
I yelled after him, but If he consid-
cred that a good joke, he didn't pass
it on to the crowd.
Some months later when I had the
honor of telling my story to King
George, he thought this incident was
one Of the best jokes he had ever
heard. don't believe he ever laughed
harder in his life.
Before our train pulled out, our
guards had to present their arms for
inspection and their rifles were loaded
in our presence to let US know that
they meant business.
From the moment the train started
kept coming to my head that unless I
could make my escape before we
reached that reprisal camp I might as
well make up my mind, as far as l
was concerned. the war was over.
1t occurred to me that If the eight
of us in that car could jump at given
signal and seize those four Hun guards
by surprise, we'd have a splendid
chance Of besting them and jumping
off the train when it first slowed down,
but when I passed the idea on to my
comrades they turned it down. Even
If the plan worked out as gloriously
as I had pictured, they pointed out,
the fact that so many of US had es-
capped would almost inevitably result
in our recapture. The Huns would
have secured Belgium till they had
got us and then we would all be shot.
Perhaps they were right.
Nevertheless, was determined that,
no matter what the others decided to
do, was going to make one bid for
freedom, come what might.
AS we passed through village after
village in Belgium and 1 realized that
we were getting nearer and nearer to
that dreaded reprisal camp. con-
cluded that my one and only chance of
getting free before we Reached it was
through the window! would have
to go through that window while the
train was going full-speed, because if
I waited until it had slowed up or
stopped entirely, it would be simple
matter for the guards to overtake or
shoot me.
I opened the window. The guard
who sat opposite me-so close that
his feet touched mine and the stock
of his gun which he held between his
NSS oSSoSiohoiiJ .stiuSh "y loot~
made no objection, imagining no doubt
that found the car too warm or that
the smoke, with which the compart-
ment was filled, annoyed me.
As I opened the window, the noise
the train was making as it thundered
along grew louder. 1t seemed to say +:
You're a fool If you do; you're q fool
if you don't-you'rs a fool if you do
you're fool If you don't"-and I said
The Dolores star., 1918-08-02
Vibrations Ear Can Detect.

The ordinary human ear can detect
tone whose vibration rate is at least
25.OOO vibrations second, willis .he
whistle will produce $4,000 second.
This upper limit varies with the age
of the individual to such an extent
that, If the upper limit at sixteen
years of age were $4,000 vibrations. at
sixty years of age 1t would be about
$4,000 a sccoud.
The Dolores star., 1918-08-02
(TO BE CONTINUED)
Spanish Cedar Sawdust,

Spanish Cedar SaWouSt.
Some curious uses are found for
the better kinds OF sawdust. One of
these pertains to the Spanish cedar
sawdust, which is Of extreme light
ness. 1t is employed for packing cheap
chemicals contained in glass and ship
ped for long distances. In this rela-
ton there must be taken into consid-
Grafton the question of weight and
freight charges, and SO Spanish cedar
sawdust enters the equation.
The Dolores star., 1918-08-02
FROM THE WINDOW OF A TRAIN RUNNING 35 MILES AN
HOUR, 0'BRlEN MAKES LEAP FOR LIBERTY.
pyrisht. lsis. by Pst Aivs o'srIen

oBrien.
service In the Mexican 1916
joins the British Royal FLYING corps Canada and after brief train
ing period is France He assigned
service the He
flyers from which
German OBrien
death by miracle, awnkes find himself
hospital. q q the
hospital. he is sent a prison Courra.
The Dolores star., 1918-08-02

Travelling at night and hiding
by day, subsisting on raw veoe-
tables stolen from gardens,
o'Brien erawis through Ger
many and Luxembourg toward
Belgium. Some Of the terrible
hardships that he endured and
the perils that he encountered
are described in the next in
stallment.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-08-03
MAY CULTIVATE FIG TREES.
Berlin Papers Jest at Threat to Sack
Wardrobes of Germany.

.
Amsterdam, July Is Cby mail). -
Threats Of coming confiscation OF the
contents of herman wardrobes, Yin
order to collect 1000, 900 civilian suits
for war workers, are the subject Of
satire in many Of the newspapers in
Berlin and elsewhere.
The Vorkwaerts chuckles over the
possibility that Won Hertling may have
to appear at court in patched pants
and that Won lKuehlmann may arrive
at the peace conference with holed
elbows. One humorist suggests thar,
tor saveN clothes. all persons over SO
years OF age be ordered to remain IN
bed until eighteen months after the
war Another recommends wide
spread cultiva; zion of the fig tree.
The threats have, however, had ef-
feet. In Munich, 1t is reported, 10000
complete suits have been, given up al
tho only 1850 were demanded.
Berlin is still hopelessly behind and
many complaints Of unfairness are
nade about the number Of suits re-
quired from the metropolis, eight times
more than was demanded from Mum
ic1 whereas Berlin is only four
times the size Of Munich.
Complaints are manifest of hard
SHIPS on the lower and middle classes.
Radical newspapers accuse the author
tiles Of undue consideration to the
wealthy classes.
On the other hand. one Of the en-
perors court t'humberlains Indignantly
writes to the papers that he offered a
good suit with the lining somewhat
damaged but 1T was refused and he is
now wearing 1t himself daily.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-08-03
DISCOVER HISTORIC LANDMARK
Site Of Washington Windmill, Near
Northampton, Located.

Correspondence Associated Press.1
Northampton, England. July IL
American participation in the war has
greatly stimulated interest in those
historic landmarks near Northampton,
which are associated with the English
Washingtons, the ancestors of George
Washington. On both Memorial day
and the Fourth of July. Anglo-Ameri-
can pilgrims to these places were in
formed that new Washington land
mark had been discovered within the
previous few weeks-the site of
windmill which the Washington family
operated as business venture Tor sew
eral years during the sixteenth CEN
fury.
ut is we'll known" said Earl Spen-
Ger, chairman OF the Ang.o-American
Peace Centenary Committee. that the
Washingtons were millers at one time,
but the site of the mill had completely
disappeared and no one knew where 1t
was located. Recently. however the
site, has been discovered,-a small de-
preston on the road leading from
Brington to- Flore, where excavations
are expected to reveal the foundations
of the old Washington windmill The
site has been marked and will be cared
for henceforward."
The celebration of the Fourth Of
July in the Washington district was
centered at Althorp House, where the
great-great grandfather Of George
Washington was frequent visitor. Al
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-08-03

r a
Insensibly, however my work in one
experience in international affairs lea
to my being consulted on war arrange
ments having any International bear
ing, such as the armament Of Tur-
keyF
Dr. Muehlon went on to tell OF hts
growing dislike to the war work and
his final determination to give UP all
association with it even at the sac.
rtfice of one Of the most important
business careers In Germany. DIR.
Muehlon has brought with him a large
fond Of material bearing on the causes
leading UP to the war. Much OF it
is documentary with letters from per-
sons and Organizations in high posi-
tion. This may reach the, public in
due time, and become part of the
historical data hearing on the respon-
sisilay for bringing on the war. For
the present, however. DIR. Meuhlon
said he Is avoiding further controver-
sial questions which would be likely
to arise il this mass Of data was made
public at once. The only departure he
has made from this policy is In assem-
bling pamphlet Of day-by- day notes
made at the outset Of the war giving
his personal impressions on various
phases Of the var. This Is not in the
line Of disclosures or revelations, but
rather Of vigorous personal. criticism
OF German official and military meth,
DDS, he said. One OF his references &c
German conditions is as follows:
THE general feeling of the people
since the outbreak of the war is thai
German diplomacy has failed every
where. Many assert that 1t has been
due to day to day policy of oppor-
tunism without far reaching plans.
My opinion is that IT could not have
done better with the controlling infiu-
ence and continual interference exer-
cised by the >lsaiser. Only he who
bowed to every wish Of the kaiser
could retain his place, and all wanted
to stay There are few people In
Germany with convictions so strong
that they will give up magistrates
and offices in order to uphold thelI
convictions. They all ask: How shall
do to get on and retain favor?' not
Does it correspond with my owl
judgment?'"
DIR. Muehlon takes gloomy view Of
what would become Of Europe If Ger
many secured the /ascendence. With
Germany sovereign over Europe" hi
says, there would be a general scat
tering and flight of European races
and population to get away from
German rule. The remotest corners
OF Europe would become asylums o.
refuge. An immense shifting Of life'<
forces would occur. Aud with Ger.
] many paramount In Europe there
:, would be real migration to the over.
seas countries"