davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Cordova daily times. [volume] (Cordova, Alaska) 1914-1947, 1918-01-11

OPEN HOUSE FOR
SOLDIER BOYS
IN WEST
tBy Associated Press)

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 1.-THE
! latch string of the west is out to tn,
enlisted men and all others in III,
fighting forces of the United States
The territory from the Canadian lint
to the Rockies and from the Pacific
ocean to an underlined line thousand
or so miles inland, is one big "oper
house" for the entertainment of the
uniformed forces. At the head OF the
welcoming hosts is the war cainp com
munity service
The open house" consists in the
equipping of clubs and other recrea.
ton places, and the throwing open
of countless private homes to the
soldiers. The most elaborate of the
clubs is located in Seattle, where a
modern seven story fireproof build
ing has been converted into a meet
ing house for soldiers and sailors. In
Tacoma a four story building has
been secured for a like purpose. Here
the men from Camp Lewis meet fire.
quently
The Seattle building has a swim
ming pool, billiard hall, gymnasium.
dining room, reading room and three
stories devoted to dormitories for the.
accommodation of 800 men. Other
clubs are located in San Francisco,
Menlo Park, PaIo Alto, San Jose, Val
lejo, Los Angeles, and San Diego, Cal
ifornia, and Salt Lake City.
Clubs are under construction in
Portland and Astoria, oregon; and
Vancouver and Benicia Washington;
Oakland and San Pedro, California
This Wit add six more clubs to the
eighteen already established.
The clubs are but one feature of the
war camp community service. The
service has set out to supply recrea-
ton in place of the commercialized
amusements which do not always add
to the moral and phyisacI fitness of
the fighting men. Toward this end
it has recruited the homes of the west,
where the men may attend dinner
parties, dances, week ends and other
innocent amusemeuts. These pleas
ures are supplemented by automo-
bile rides, football, baseball ana 9TH
err games, entertainments in the camps
and like events Each householder is
asked to become a unit in the service.
The service does the work outside
the camps that the Y. NJ. c. A., and
the Knights of Columbus are doing
with them. In this way the very best
influences are guiding the recreation
of the fighting man, and showing him
at the same time that the country is
grateful for his sacrifice.
Catoctin clarion., 1918-11-14
VICTOR OVER CHINESE DRAGON
mericanMade Motortrucks Are Win
ming Way to Popularity in Land
of Conservatism.

Way back before the year l they
the cities in China to keep out the eX-
ponentS Of civilization. Today they are
tearing down these walls, breaking
them up into fine pieces. and using
them to build highways that will en-
able their now progressive govern
m"nt to make the best use of the
AmericHn-lnHdp motortrucks which
China is beginning to utilize.
This is, perhaps rs striking Il com
mcnt on the economic and political
changes that are taking place within
this interesting country as has come
out of China in II long time. The cred
II for such progressive policies is given
in the main to Ir. George f. Morris,
famous explorer and political adviser
to the Chinese republic, an exchange
states. Doctor Morris has succeeded
in substituting Il lot of new American
ideas for the Sup"rStitions and cOnser-
vatiSm of the Une-time "heathen Chi
nee" And now it is the mOtOrtruck
that has gained his championship.
a considerable number of trucks are
now in use in thina and they are do
ing everything" required Of them with
remarkable efficiency, In spite Of the
difficulty Of securing skilled drivers
and competent mechanics in that part
of the world.
Catoctin clarion., 1918-11-14
GRATEFUL FOR COLD WATER
Thirsty Fighters Went on Their Way
Blessing the Thoughtfulness Of
That Rcd Cross Worker.

There was plenty of water in y, but
tin mug of il vas more deadly than
a German machine gun. It's impoSsi-
bic to push two or three hundred thou
sand soldiers back and forth over a
locality, especially when half of them
are Germans and there isn't time to
clean up after they have been de-
feated, and keep the water supply I'M
affected. And when as is the case
often, the water wasn't very pure to
begin with, it's not at all wise to daily
with the idea of drinking it. But what
can you do when you've been out all
day fighting and pursuing Germans
and your canteen's empty and the roof
of your mouth feels like Il vulcanized
scrubbing board?
That's the thought that came to
Red Cross field service man during
the hottest fighting in August. 1t was
hot in two senses. The bullets flew
ana the sun melted And the Red
Cross man took orlt his largest mar
mite and filled it with water that was
cool and purified. He kept it full all
day and every soldier that passed that
way had II Iin, cf water. 1t was
water they wanted just then. A little
initiative on the part of one man made
the soldiers as he himself put it "ab-
surdly grateful But after struggling
across fields and roads all day in the
hot sun, well-Well men do become ab-
surdly grateful for drink of cool
water-From Red Cross Scrapbuok.
Catoctin clarion., 1918-11-14
ADOPTS WAR ORPHANS
ohio Regiment Now Holds Record In
This Work.

The One Hundred and Sixty-sixth
regiment Of infantry, mostly Ohloans,
are leading in the contest OF adopt
ing French orphans. Already this
regiment has adopted "a boy orphans.
More than 500 French children, made
fatherless by the war, have been
adopted by the various American army
units In France, and 1t Is expected that
this number will soon be increased to
1000.
One little orphan, whose father, a
French lieutenant was killed In the
Argonne in 1915, always signs her
letters to her godfathers: "Votre mas
cotte affectionne." Her letters never
fail to express the wish that the
Americans who have consented to aid
her are not injured.
The Stars and Stripes, the official
A. Il. +. newspaper, launched the idea
sGme weeks ago and since then every
unit In the army has responded. The
men who ask to become gOdfathers to
the orphans send funds to the Ameri'
can Red Cross, which attends to the
needs of the children.
Catoctin clarion., 1918-11-14
THREE YANKEES
WIN HIGH HONOR
Decorated As ChevaIier Of Legion
of Honor by French.
SHOW Nerve and DARING
Lieutenant Bender Faces Hun Barrage
to Discover Whether Germans Were
Hurting Gas shelIs-captain Cook,
Wounded, Leads His Men for Two
Hours Under Heavy Fire-cay-
Qill's Heroic Deed.

It took nerve and plenty Of 1t to
perform the feat that won Second
Lieutenant Daniel w. Bender, one Of
the first decorations as Chevalier of
the Legion of Honor awarded an
American by the French.
Bender was gas officer Of battalion
during the heavy fighting in the Forest
de Retz, on the Marne front, on July
Is. The Germans were laying over
terrific bombardment. There was
suspicion that the torrent of high eX-
plosives from the enemy's guns con-
tained also mixture of gas shells.
Thick smoke filled the forest, neutral
izing any odor that might have eman-
ated from poisonous shells;
Situation Is Dangerous.
The situation was extremely dan
gerous. Bender volunteered to find
out whether or not gas shells were
coming over and deliberately left COW
er and walked about exposed ground
In search of German "duds"-shells
that had failed to explode. He found
two "duds," cOolly examined both
while German barrage was raking
the forest, and sent back his report.
A bursting shell wounded him as he
rose to continue his search, but he
made his way on through the under
brush, looking for more uneXploded
shells until he was wounded Il second
time and fell in u faint through loss
of blood. When he regained con-
seriousness he sent word back to his
battalion commander, explaining his
failure to return.
1t was In the same battle that Capt.
f. A. Cook of New York city, won the
same decoration. Cooks citation
reads as follows:
"After being severely wounded he
retained command Of his company and
gallantly led his men more than two
hours under heavy artillery and ma
chine gun fire. His company being
depleted, he went to the rear for re-
endorsements and brought them up
into position himself and did not re-
turn from the lines until forced to do
so through exhaustion caused by the
loss of blood"
Deed of GaIantry.
The citation of First Lieutenant
Harry w. Caygill, who was also made
Chevalier of the Legion of Honor,
follows:
"Ile led his company with most dis
tinguished gallantry on July 18th and
10Th near VierZy. Accompanied by
one man, he went forward with Il pis-
tol and in personal combat Overcame
and captured II machine gun nest ar
resting the advance OF his company"
Catoctin clarion., 1918-11-14
DYING, LAST THOUGHT
IS OF HIS FAMILY
Michigan Man, Wounded to
Death, Writes Letter to
His Mother.

A slender Michigan lad Of not more
than twenty emerged from an ambu-
lance which drew up at dressing sta
ton. 1t had just brought him back
from the field dressing station at Ju-
vigny.
what you got?" asked one Of the
crowd of Orderlies and stretcher-
bearers, standing there.
"Machne gun-in the chest" replied
the youth.
He was led inside and placed on a
stretcher on the earth floor. A sur
geon came along and looked at him.
He shook his head. The Michigan
boy was becoming weak very rapid
ly, and his face was turning the gray
leaden color which always precedes
death.
IT want to write letter." he told
the doctor. "Got any paper and an
envelope?"
The stationery and pencil were
given to him. He scrawled off short
note to his mother, his movements In
writing becoming weaker and weak
er. When it came to addressing the
envelope his strength failed. He
could not do 1t.
An. orderly was standing near by.
He volunteered to address the en-
velope according to the mortally
wounded lads directions. The letter
was addressed and sealed, and the
wounded man tried to grOpe for his
wallet to find stamp.
"That's all right, Buddy; I'll stamp
II for YOU" said the orderly.
"And, say; have it censored for me
and mailed, will your" asked the
Michigan boy. Then he keeled over.
They buried him in the little grave
yard which grows beside every dress
Ins station and hospital in the war
zone. The officer who read and CEN
sored the letter said that there was
not n word In 1t about war; that 1t
was all about the health Of the boys
mother, his father, his brothers and
his sisters-and his sweetheart.
Catoctin clarion., 1918-11-14
On MARRYING Aviators,

1t is noticed that the dear girls are
marrying aviation lieutenants more
than any other class of soldiers. This
Is not because so many of them are
killed, but because the service is the
most romantic, and if there is any
thing a well-balancCd girl likes more
than anything else it is romance. And
to have a husband who sails the blue
skies and goes hiding in the clouds
makes Il girl very proud. She has
right to be. He is looked upon as a
superman who gets beyond the domain
of gravitation and wanders in the re-
gi0nS where the angels are supposed
to fly. When such Il one gets back
to earth and sits with his wife before
the cordial fireplace, and talks to her
of stars, sunsets and dreams, could
there be more delightful company?
Who would not be an aviator and face
all the perils Of aviation for such an
experience? No wonder the govern
ment has more aviators than 1t wants.
Ohio Stnte journal,
Catoctin clarion., 1918-11-14
Blind Bows on JOY Ride.

A little engineering ingenuity has
made dozens of blind and deaf chill
dren in Manila happier
Deaf and blind children are some
times hard to amuSe. A man who
fashions some plaything that can
make perpetual darkness and silence
q little easier to endure adds jewel
to his heavenly crown.
The merry-go-round that has been
placed Mt the disposal Of the children
in the Deaf and Blind school in Ma
Mia is simple enough for the hand-
capped boys and girls to operate with
out nsSiarance.
The whirling structure comprises
triangular framework of wood scant-
lngs pivOted on stout wood post in
the center At each point of the tri-
apgle Is seat ;Sd wheel The
wheels travel on a circular iron track.
Legs and arms supply the motive pow
er.-Popular Science Monthly.
Catoctin clarion., 1918-11-14
LIKE OTHER ORIENTAL TOWNS
Joppa Since Earliest History Has
Been More or Less the Plaything
Of Conquerors.

In the tribute lists of Thothmes III
king of Egypt. who held his court on
the banks of the Nile, some 1900 years
before the Christian era, there figured
the town of Joppa. Thothmes III was
mighty warrior He fought no fewer
than seventeen successful campaigns
In Syria, twice captured Kadesh and
was one of the greatest builders and
administrators Egypt had ever known.
So, although nothing is certain about
the matter, he probably. captured Jop.
pa and laid tribute on the inhabitants,
who then, rs today, built their houses
over the grounded hillOck" which, from
the sep, forms gracious landmark.
That was 3,40V years AGO and every
now and again during all those cen
turies, the old city, which looks out
over the Mediterranean toward the
coast of Africa, away beyond Egypt,
has stepped into and out of the history
of the world.
Catoctin clarion., 1918-11-14

infantry ,na av;ators fEe"a,"..-. -
men and flew SO low that they couio
hail the advancing fighters.
One wounded man lying on the
ground even turned over and waved
cheerily to an airplane as 1t flew close
above him. One Of the machines when
sighted big group OF Germans
swooped down upon it. The machine
gun jammed just as the aviator was
about to fire. The airplane turned so
that the observer might fire from an
other position when it was discovered
that the Germans We're prisoners III
the hands of five American soldiers.
Another aviator saw a group OF
prisoners 60 by under escort OF hand
full of Americans. The Germans were
manfully doing the goOse-step at the
bidding Of their captors.
One pilot had 50 narrow an escape
from death that glass eye-piece was
shot out of his goggles. Putting up his
hands to adjust the goggles another
bullet grazed both his thumbs.
Still another pilot received an ex-
plosive bullet through the front Of his
outer fur coat, setting it on fire. He
was not wounded.
Pigeons Bear News Of Victory.
Carrier pigeons have proved them
selves to be of ineStimable value in the
offensive by supplanting telephone and
telegraph wires connecting the nd.
vanced posts with the bases at the
rear. The birds have been used free
ly and have repeatedly flown from out
posts to the-divisional or corps head
quarters with messages of vital i'm
portance, such as calls for a barrage
fire, news of unexpected difficulties, or
word Of an advance.
The birds were carefully trained and
tested before tho beginning Of the of,
fensive. They were fed especially well
at the base stations and were under
fed and neglected at the front, so that
they would return to the bases gladly
when released,
Part of the pigeons are from the
French army and part from the Amer
ican. Some birds were taken over by
mistake from the French and it was
believed that they had had too little
training to permit them to travel more
than five miles. They were released
from the front line with important
messages for point IL miles away
Despite their youth and inexperieuce
the pigeons all succeeded in reaching
their stations.
BY means of the pigeons generally
has come the first news of the capture
of towns and important positions.
Catoctin clarion., 1918-11-14
Novel Contribution Box.

A Minnesota man has invented
novel contribution box for churches.
II person drops in quarter or more
there Is silence; If he contributes
dime bell rings; nickel sounds
whistle. If an unfortunate pretends
to be asleep when the box is passed,
1t wakens him with watchman's rat.
tie. 1t is said that Nebraska man
has perfected an invention which en-
ebles the user Of a party telephone
to identify any other subscriber who
may be listening to his conversation,
Even the midcr transgressiOns are
becoming impossible.
Catoctin clarion., 1918-11-14
WHEN k1AKING OUT A CHECK
Take Time Enough to Write Legibly
and Be Sure Amount Is Indicated
Clearly in Writing.

Do you know how to write a check
so that it cannot be successfully tam
pered with? Experts declare that
carelessncss in that small matter is
responsible for the loss of millions of
dollars annually, the loss falling some
times on the individual and sometimes
on the bank. There are mechanical
devices to prevent the raising of
checks. hut their use is not general,
partly because of the expense, but
more particularly probably, because it
adds one more to the multitude of
things to be done.
For those who are daily taking
chances William &. Pengely, hand
writing expert in a recent paper, of.
ferS some valuable advice in the draw.
Ing of checks. His first suggestion is
to take enough time for the process to
be sure of doing Il good job. In filling
in the space for the amount in nu-
merals write in lcgihle figures, begin
ming close to the printed dollar mark;
don't leave space for the insertion of
another figure. Then write the amount
In words, preferably beginning with Il
capital, at the left-hand end of tn"
line; don't write it so that the amount
stands in the middle of the line; hav.
ing written the amount properly, draw
heavy line from the last letter to
the word Dollars" at the right As
he says, "block the words in" SO that
additions cannot be easily made either
ut the beginning or at the end. When
the words are written clearly and with
an initial of unmistakable identity, the
checkraiser has little opportunity for
his work.
Another safeguard Mr.. Pengelly sug-
geSts is the writing of the amount of
the check, either in figures or words, in
red ink, above or within the signature
at the bottom. In his experience he
has found this to be Il successful safe
guard against fraud. But the al-im.
portant things are legibility of hand
writing and proper location of the
written amounts. Don't be in Il hurry
in writing check. 1t is haste that
makes tr0uble.-Columbu Dispatch.
Catoctin clarion., 1918-11-14
WORRIED ABOUT INDIANS
Complaint of an AutomobiIlst Who
Was Contemplating Tour.

Many are the questions that come
to the touring bureau of the California
State Automobile association, and some
OF them are passing strange Like, for
instance, one that was received few
days ago from an eastern city. The
writer was contemplating cross-coun.
try tour and, after asking many ques.
tons about the various routes and the
condition of the highways, concluded
with the question:
is there any danger of encounter:
ing Indians en- rOutcW
Matt ?. Barnes, the secretary, wrote
the very best letter he could, in reply,
md assured the gentleman that he
would be more secure from harm on
the western plains and mountain pass
es today than on some Of the streets
of New York or Chicago,
Catoctin clarion., 1918-11-14
Haircut Costs $25.

DR.. George Nelson Dolbeck of New
York city got a haircut in Port Chcs-
ter, N. Y, recently for which he paid
$25. He told the judge who fined him
that the New York city BARRIERS could
not cut his hair to suit him, so he
came to Port Chester. After the
"trim" he met old friends who recall.
ed that beer would not be manufac-
tured after December l.
Catoctin clarion., 1918-11-14
lookouts Develop New Disease.

eye WORK is perhaps the biggest
part of submarine hunting" writes
William G. Shepherd, In Everybody's.
"and 1t has its evils and penalties
Woe to- the man on Il destroyer who Is
gifted with that strange, uneXplain-
able talent of being able to see by
night. There be such. His Is almost
q 24-hour-a-day task. And he finally
gets the 'periScope eye and is sent
ashore TO get well, if he can. His
eyes weep tears Of pus by day and,
after sleep, his lids are glued togetheI
with granulation. 1t Is new disease
of this mad century.
"You keep looking through those
high-powered binoculars like an old
lady repding through her spectacleS
one of the boys explained to me, until
finally they seem to he pulling your
eyes out of their sockets"
Catoctin clarion., 1918-11-14
Preacher Traded Leo.

81 did not lose my leg at Vimy Ridge.
l traded it for a CLEAR Gopscience,"
said Private Arthur X. Herman of tl,s
thirteenth Canadian Black Watch, in
addressing the Defiance County Teach
ers' institute at Defiance, o. Herman
was pastor of church at Milton,
Queens county, Nova Scotia, when the
war began. He could have gone as the
chaplain, with commission, but chose
to carry o gun as a private,
Catoctin clarion., 1918-11-14
WANTS TO GET EVEN
Aviator Shot Down by Boches Asks
for Anti-Aircraft Detail.

Arriving with Illinois draftmen at
Camp Wadsworth, Private Harold A.
I!oman asked special permission to
be placed in the anti-aircraft machine
gun battalion. He explained that he
had served with the British In the
aviation section and had been shot
down by the Boches and injured so
badly he was returned to Chicago.
II would like to get a chance to
get German aviator or twO," he
said, "s0 they will know how it feels
to be shot down."
you win," said Major Coffin, and
issued an order at once sending the
young man to the Fifth Anti-Aircraft
Machine Gun battalion,
Catoctin clarion., 1918-11-14
JACKIES GOOD SPENDERS
Men Of American Navy Are Popular In
Great Britain.

The American sailors wages are
equal to those of sub-lieutenant In
the British navy. He is loved in pro-
portion, being man Of great wealth
and liberality in any port Of the Unit
ed Kingdom.
Jackie travels first class In the rail.
ways, while his cousin travels third;
Jackie spends with fine disregard OF
everything but results, while the Brit
isf sailor is a careful and thrifty bar:
gamer.
Catoctin clarion., 1918-11-14
Kidding.

A buck was hauled up before the
G. o. for missing, reveille and asked
why he failed to get out of the hay.
"Why, SIR" says the buck, 81 had
Green sleeping on one side of me,
Brown on the other, White above me
and l am red-headed so figgered
was camoufaged and that the top
wouldn't see me"-Plane News.
Catoctin clarion., 1918-11-14
HUN FEARS COLD STEEL
Not Man In Yank Regiment Is
Boche Bayonet Victim.

"I've nosed around as much as !
could and not single man of this
regiment has been killed or wounded
by German bayOnet, SO far as | can
find out"
That is the testimony of private
in the old SiXty-ninth New York, the
fighting regiment that has been in al.
most every scrap in France. This
man used to be a reporter In New
York. He has taken some pains to
back up his statement.
"And | guess my company alone has
killed hundred or more Germans
with the cold Steel" he concluded.
Even the famous Prussian Guards
refused to stand to the steel of the
fighting SiXty-ninth.
Catoctin clarion., 1918-11-14
IRON CROSS WINS DOWRY
Fake Lieutenant at Hamburg Then
Disappears but Is Caught.

A young salesman named Hildebrand
donned the uniform of first leuten-
ant, pinned on his coat an iron cross
Df the first class, hung a few more
decorations on his manly chest and
paid violent court to the handsome
daughter of 0 rich merchant of Ham
burg.
The suitOr was accepted and obtain
ed part of the dowry, 5000 marks, in
advance, whereupon he disappeared,
accompanied by another woman. The
lieutenant Is now behind the bars.
Catoctin clarion., 1918-11-14
GERMAN SMUGGLERS FLEE
Vast Stores Of Foods and Tobacco
Found IN Dutch Line

Vast stores OF FOODS and obacco
Found on Dutch Line.
At Milingen, on the Dutch frontier,
q Dutch official surprised band Of
Germaa smugglers who fled when they
founG themselves discQyered. They
left behind 10000 packages Of ehocG,
lates, barrels of oil and liquor, vast
quantities of coffee, butter, fat, soap,
Shoes cigars, tobacco, etc.
IN u neigbboring town 10000 cigars
and other goods worth 10000 guilders
were confiscated by customs officials.
Catoctin clarion., 1918-11-14
Literally.

Ibid you see where big bombing
plane to show its capacity carried a
piano from Paris to London?"
"Well, that was music in the air."
Catoctin clarion., 1918-11-14
0UTDO MASTER Y
Y IN BARBAR|TY,
Austrians Repeat Horrors of BEL
gium in North Italy.
TOLD BY ESCAPED PRISONER

Forced to Endure Such Hardships
That Any Risk to Effect His Escape
Seemed Little Beside Life He Led
Brings Letters That Tell of Anguish
Of People In Territory Occupied by
Austrians.