davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1918-04-12
Where Is The Limit?

If projectile has actually beer
hurled distance of sixty or seventy
miles, in what we are now compel
ed to recognize as juvenile perioc
of scientific development, we must
seriously ask ourselves if there is
any limit to the possibility of ami
hilating space by weapons of des
tructiOn. The astonishment of the
human race could not be greater al
hearing that a bomb shot out of a
gun in Berlin had exploded in the
heart of New York City than it was
at the announcement that a shell
from a cannon within the German
lines had fallen into Paris. A
week or so ago the one event would
have seemed as impossible as the
other. Today is seems as likely.
If the invention of this hellish
implement of destruction does not
extinguish the last spark of the love
of war in the bosom of the human
race we shall believe it the victim
of an incurable mania. Nothing
but unreason, insanity madness can
account for a willingness not to say
desire, on the part playing at a
game so dreadful The disposition
to settle controversies by brute
force was irrational enough when
the weapons of war were no more
deadly than bludgeons or bows and
arrows, but in day when the great
est buildings can be blown to atoms
by a single bomb, when the greatest
ships can be sunk by a single tor.
pedO, when a city can be wrecked
by an airpiane in the heavens, an
army blown into eternity by the ex
plOsion of mine. a regiment of
men cut down by a machine gun as
a swath OF meadow grass is cut by
scythe, and projectile filled With
dynamite or giant powder hurled
threescOre miles and ten into the
heart of crowded city-in such a
day. we say, any man or any nation
OF men who defends war as a virtue
or necessity is fool, madman
or a monster.
The German nation has done
both. 1t still does both. II it con
tinues to do so after the war is end
ed it ought to be exterminated.
There has been some little charity
due them in the past. In the future
they will be a thousand times less
deserving of it than Demonstrators
and tigers None but devils from
hell could be willing to see these
scenes repeated. and not only re-
peated, but reproduced with un-
predictable new horror.
1t is time to speak out in meet.
ing. We must call a spade a spade.
The continuance of war under the
inevitable conditions created by
IN Odern science means racial sui
'Cide. Its advocates must be dealt
with as the enemies of human life.
Consider the fiends who will de.
liberately pull the trigger of gun
that will throw charge of dyna-
mite into the homes of innocent
women and children seventy. five
miles away! The time has come to |
Shudder such monsters out of the
world.
Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1918-04-12

People are getting the spring
planting well along and we are now
advised that the acreage in this
county will be the largest in our
history. This is an excellent out
look. Big crops this year mean
more than ever before because
prices as certain to be high and
there will be an active demand for
about everything that can be pro.
duced.
Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1918-04-12
Missionary Meeting.

The Missionary society of the M
E. Church South met at the home
of Mrs Brooks Friday afternoon
April 5th The meeting was opened
by the president Mrs. Margaret
Thiehoff AT the request of the
presiding officer each one present
read a scriptural verse bearing on
Time as applied to our life and
responsibilities" Mrs. Halle Lynn
having asked to be released from
office, the President declared the
Office of the End Vice President va
cant and appointed Miss Lena Don
ley to fill the vacancy. The society
having decided to send delegate
to our Annual Missionary Conven.
ton which meets at ChiIlicothe, in
June, Mrs Thiehoff was elected
delegate and Miss Eta Bodkins al.
ternate. Mrs. Eliza Hornback as
leader for the afternoon had ar
ranged an interesting literary pro-
eramme. A leafet Miss Melvina's
Liberty Bond" was read by Miss
Bodkins. Selections on our work
in China were read by Mesdames
Jackson and Tuley. The meeting
then closed to meet the first FRIDAY
in May with Mrs. Nellie DeLash-
mutt. Press Supt
Shelby D. Adkins murdered bis
16 year old wife and her parents, Mr..
and Mrs. Nolen McCown with a shot
gun, near Mexico, Mo-, early Sunday
morning. After the deed Adkins
committed suicide by shooting him
self with the same gun. Adkins and
his young wife had separated and
she refused a reconciliation which
probably caused the husband to
commit the awful deed
At this season of the year. with
house cleaning in full swing, it is
we'll to pause and reflect over
whether or not you ever gave any
thing to the junk man you didn't
need before the year came to an
end.
Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1918-04-12

With the rhubsrd pie season at
fband. some means ought to be
found TO get hold OF that 100000
tons Of sugar that is said to be stor-
ed away in Java. 1t would provide
at least 100000 pies.
Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1918-04-12
American Strength In France.

To-day Pershine has an army in
France at least twice as great as
that army which Grant commanded
when he set out for Richmond in
the spring of 1864. So much NJ.
Andre Tardieu. the French Hieh
Commissioner. told us weeks ago.
1t is probably three times as large
as Meade's army at Gettysburg or
Field Marshal French's army at
Mons, at the Marne, or at the Aisne
1t is not, like those armies, made
up of trained troops. can hardly
reach the effective battle strength
of the British army in its second
campaign of the present war, this
year. But it may prove of no little
value before the campaign is over,
even if its firing-line strength. does
not exceed the numbers already in
France in January.
Everyone outside of military cir
Giles has been little dazzled by the
fashion in which numbers have
been discussed since the outbreak
of war and the millions of men
mobiliZed reckoned as firine.line
units. The truth is that neither the
British nor the French have ever
had many more than a million
troops in their regular organized es-
tablishment at any one time; and
the Germans, who now have on the
western front about 1885 divisions.
or approximately 100000 men
have never used more than 22O di-
visions, which is the strength of
their army, the organized strength,
as contrasted with the troops main
tained in the depots to replace losses
the troops in training camps design
ed to hs2ai. 6ther Wastaee, and the
troops guarding communications.
If by the end of next winter we
are able TO put half a million in the
field and provide the reserves to fill
the gaps made by battle and trench
attrition. we shall make a contribu-
ton Of very real importance and or
respectable proportions. Such an
army, too, could hold seventy-fiye
or a hundred miles of front, if the
artillery were forthcoming, if the
French could supply any gun. short
age on our part, as they probably
could, temporarily at least What
this would mean to the French can
not be exaggerated, for the British
can do little more in the way of
taking over French trenches. The
section which they took over the
other day, that from ST. Quentin to
the Disc, probably represents their
last extension, and this leaves the.
French with more than two.thirds
of the line still to look out for
George Robertson, while blowing
on his farm, eight miles east of
Fredericktown, Saturday, unearthed
a tin chest containing a counterfeit.
ing apparatus which was composed
of two dies. one for molding half
dollars and the other flor quarters,
bearing dates of 1894 and 1895.
Two counterfeit half dollars and
counterfeit 25,cent piece and materi-
al used in making worthless coins
also were found in the box. All in
cations prove that the chest was
Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1918-04-12

Miss Eueenia Cranston of East
St. Louis Ill. is spending a week
With relatives in and near this city.
Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1918-04-12

County Collector, A. C Deaver
transacted business in Monroe
Tuesday.
Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1918-04-12

Miss Libbie Hickman spent the
weekend iu Paris the guest of
friends.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-01-01
Intensive Drilling at Sea.

The plan fer preparing these men for
service at sea is based on the best ex
periencetof America and other maritime
nations. 1t calls for the use of a squad
ron of training ships. to take men to sea
for intensive drilling in the duties of
the mercantile mariner.
One ship already is in commission,
another is being prepared for service
and steps are being taken to secure a
third for service in this squadron,
which will have a home station at Bos
ton. 1t is planned to extend this train
ing service, if circumstances permit,
to the gulf and the Pacific coast, with
in each of these sections.
1t is expected that six weeks of inten-
sive drill at sea will fit a man of
ordinary intelligence for duties as sea-
man and month for those of fireman.
These are the two arms of the service
in which there is the greatest need Of
capable men.
Careful thought was given to employ
ing the most effective method of train
ing, and it was decided that assigning
a trained man of long experience to
squad of ten men, and making him re-
sponsible for their satisfactory adj
vancement, was the best method to
pursue.
None but American citizens may enter
the shipping boards training service,
and the enthusiasm with which the
actual work of training is being car
writes. to assure an-American crews
for the new ships. such have SO long
been the dream of all true friends of
the merchant marine
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-01-01
NATIONAL ARMY COLONIES IN
Il COMMAND AT CAMP MCCLELLAN
Succeed National Guard Officers, Who Are
i Expected. to Go to the School at
Fort Sam Houston.

Thomas was succeeded by Col. Fred G.
Stritzinger. once a major In the 5oth
Infantry. Regular Army. Col. Charles
A. Little Of Maryland. head of the 115th,
was replaced by Col. Frank b. Watson,
formerly major in the 26th Infantry
Col Hansford l.. Threlkeld took charge
of the 10th. in place OF Col. Robert r.
Leedy of Virginia. All of the replaced
colonies are continued as attached to
their former commands, in addition to
the four colonies.
Three artillery lieutenant colonels
have joined the division, one for each
regiment in the artillery brigade They
are: Lieut.. Col. w. S. Wood. who is at
Col, N. B. Rehkopf, with the 10th; and.
Lieut. Col, e. B. Martindale, who. 1t ID
expected. will Join the 111th.A Their
work here will be somewhat In the
given permanent commands of their
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-01-01

CAMP MCCLELLAN, Ala. January I.
1.-The four National Army colonies at
taehed to each of the four infantry
regiments OF the blue and gray divi-
sion have begun their first week OF
control. The National Guard colonies.
at is expected, will leave some time
this week for an officers school at
Fort Sam Houston, Tex. Their orders
have not come through, however. nor
50 II known officially that they are
going to the Texas training camp. Or
Asrs concerning their supercessicn
we're made public, together with the
statement that the change was tempo
rary.
Col John D. Frazer of the 18th In
fAatry gave way to Col J. E. Wood
ward. formerly in the adjutant gen.
erals once at Washington. Col.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-01-01
CREWS ARE BEING TRAINED
FOR u. S. MERCHANT MARINE
Henry Howard, in Charge of Recruiting.
/ Writes to The Star That Plenty
\ of Men Will Be Ready.

When the merchant ships Uncle Sam
now Is building are ready to put to sea
there will be trained officers to corn
nand and able crews to man them,
according to Henry Howard director
OF recruiting for the United States
shipping Board Writing from his
headquarters in Boston to the editor
of The Star. Mr.. Howard tells of what
already has been accomplished toward
providing all-American crews for the
merchant fleet.
Free schools for the training of
oflcers have been established at vari-
Gus ports on the Atlantic and Pacific
coasts and the great lakes AT these
schools about 600 men term are being
trained. the engineering term being.
one month and the navigation term
about six weeks. On graduation these
students are sent to sea as reserve
OMcers of the merchant marine for
further training, preliminary to their
being licensed as mates or engineers.
By this method enough men have been
trained in the last six months to keep
pace with the demand arising from in
creased merchant tonnage, not less
than 5000 licenses having been issued
by the steamboat inspection service,
which examines all candidates for
licenses under exacting requirements
an to their experience and fitness. No
man without proper sea experience can
be licensed
The supply % manpower from
which these officers were drawn has
by no means been exhausted" says MIR.
Howard. Our training schools for Of
ncers today going on with their
work with well filled classes"
locations of Schools.
The navigation schools are at Rockland
and Portland. Me. at Cambridge Mass.
New York, Philadelphia Baltimore. New
port News. Norfolk. Jacksonville. Mobile,
New Orleans. Galveston, San Diego. Los
Angeles. San Francisco. Portland. Ore
and Tacoma and Bellingham Wash.
Free engineering schools are in opera
tion at the Massachusetts, Institute of
Technology. Cambridge the Stevens In
ntitute. Hoboken; at Philadelphia at Johns
Hopkins University. Baltimore; at the
Case School of Applied Science, Cleveland
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-01-01
NEED NOT RETURN TO q: s.
Americans Subject to Draft Will Be
Examined in London.

LONDON. January 1.-Robert p. Skin
ner, the American consul general. has
notified Americans in England who are
subject to the draft that they will not
be compelled to return to the United
States to Join the Army II called. but
may be examined here and report to
tbs London recruiting Office, from which
thay viii be assigned to Army units
.eu this side.
rFeviously ths mon had been advised
- return home at their own expenses
81 5ptn Army units thsre. Many Of the
e1195b3ss regarded this ~ . hardship.
y 1uWber Of Americans already have
- examined and passed and sent 70
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-01-01

distributive systems and methods. be-
cause the great productions of last year
sun remain to be equalized in their ap-
portionment for the benefit of the gem
eral public. There are sections where
Irish potatoes were raised in great
quantities, and where they are lying
Idle because there is no market and no
place to which to ship them, while
other sections are paying higher prices
for these same goods than il II were
possibissto have smore general and
equitable distributien-"
The high price OF sugar. the report
states. led to the extensive planting of
saccharine. sorghums and sugar cane
ana an effort to increase the production
OF money. This was hanlpered however
by the mild weather during the sum.
mer.
Feed Helps Increase.
The live stock situation is very prom
islng, according to the report, except
IN the drought-stricken sections Of the
country. Despite the high prices for
meat animals" it goes on, and the
close selling Off of live stock by some
farmers. there still seems to be an
increase in their numbers, and this will
pc helped from now on by the abund-
ance of feed and by constant growth
IN the number of silos being built, This
is true especially in the south, as the
infested areas are being cleared of the
cattle LICK
The committee believes that the high
price OF hogs stimulates production.
and that fortunately under favorable
conditions the entire hog population
can be doubled in twelve months Es-
peciaily is this true, the report states
because of the almost total absence Of
hog cholera.
OF the labor shortage. the committee
reports:
Labor shortage is everywhere marked
in sya nd 80 Har
manufacturing and in every phase of
distribution. The familiar feature now
in this connection is the steady substi-
tuition of women for men in ali manner
of employment. After the initial train
ing they are usually found very faith
full In their duties, Industrious, and are
usually less troublesome than men, even
though they do not in all cases possess
mans Initiative
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-01-01

at Washington University. Seattle, and at
Tulane University, New Orleans.
The recruiting service Of the shipping
board Is now engaged in an extension of
its work to embrace the training of crews
for the new ships. including seamen. fire
men, oilers, water-tenders, cooks and stew
ceived from the board December Z.
American seamen came forward at once
to enter the new training service, not less
than 500 applying at Mr. Towards Office
in the Boston customhouse in the first
five days after the plan was announced
for service in the rank and file of the new
merchant crews Applications came from
all parts OF the country and from Ameri
number of applicants gave evidence of
education, and some stated they were col
lege graduates All counted it an honor to
serve their country in its commercial
fleets
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-01-01
BECKONS AS 1918
DAWNS ON UNITED STATES
Nation Steady, With Heavy Reserves, Says
Report of Archer Wall Douglas.
Gives Synopsis.

Despite demands made upon America
during 1917 for foodstufs and other COM
modities. the dawn of the New Year finds
tho "nation steady and with heavy re-
eesves." according to the annual report Of
Archer Wall Douglas of St Louis, chair
man Of the committe on statistical exports
81 the Chamber Of Commerce Of the United,
0enAea -
Tho attitude Of the business world to-
ward the future" reads the report, seems
TO depend more upon local conditions than
upon any general sentiment In those sec
dons where the crops were poor therepis
great deal of natural conservation and
caution In making purchases and com
usitmants: for the common sensAl of the
buyers generally prefers to await the re-
suits OF tho coming crops
I'm some sections of the east there is
moro or less Of this same hesitation and
doubt. despite much industrial activity.
4ud apparently because Of drastic economy
asnOng the purchasing public. also the
pinch OF the high cost of living. and the
reAlization that all of wars burdens are
vt to be felt
Greater Than Ever.
portion Of the country the buying power
Of the many Is greater and more wide
spread than ever before, so that the
general view seems to be = sustained
tempered by the realization
that no one can possibly divine what
rfhe future holds in store for us, and
all purchasing is for
suoedB and wants. with the element of
EGDeculation almost entirely eliminated.
apparently. the general volume of bust
meas seems assured at something like
its present status during the coming
winter months
The report gives synopses of crop
.oonditions in the various sections of the
country. bringing out the need for
maintaining equal distribution. about
which the report states:
las might have been expected. we
have encountered serious proposition
! in the lack of efficient and economic
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-11-07
ST. LOUIS

William Chapman and wife, OF
lansing. Ernest J. Humphrey and
familv Of Lansing, Erwin Dersham
"a wife. of Forest Hill and FLOYD
smith and family Of s.. Louis spent
sunday AT the home of X. q. mum
nhrey celebrating the birthday OF VT
humphreys daughter, Miss Stella
Humphrey. H. c,ooL
,ybo recently died in Detroit, was
brought here Monday for burla, ~
Oakgrove cemetery. Mr.. ana W" ~
shook were former residents VI o.
There was q slight fire at one OF
re residence on North street lhurs-
law night. The fire department was
called out and soon got the trouD''
under control. CT.
The three children Of Hallet Curtis
yvro lives a mile east and H ~,
soyth Of St. Louis, are seriously III
Mrs. Frances +. Burns, the grea'
lafy commander Of the MaccaDees
~, ,ac,ed 10 leave for Chicago OF
h.sin.ss. either Sunday night OIL
Monday morning. -
Mr. and Mrs. Levi Beckwith. w vi,I
emily lost "A two year old chlio
WITH spinal meningitis, have t"'
o-6er children confined with sickness
Ward Haines, who has beer .sl
In this city for the past two months =,
has gone to Cleveland from wner !, o ~
vii be sent 10 one Of the government
.pyards. either in Ohio or Pennsy y
vsnia. 20 work as materiai u"
Miss Anna Clegg, who teaches II
Go ;s home because OF the IN
Auenza epidemic in that city. -.
Mss Carrie Merritt, principal o
tie ST. Louis high school; was con
fred 20 her rooms several DAYS las
week with illness. Mrs. Tom bre"e'
trok her place at the school -,
Arthur Root has just moved hei'
from Elwell.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-11-07

Mr. and Mrs. Il. Belts and Mrs.
Carrie Welch and daughter. Theda,
were week end quests Of DR.. and
Mrs A. +. Mulder of Clare.
Mr.. and Mrs. NJ. c. Lake and three
sons left Saturday morning for a
motor trip TO California where they
will spend the winter months.
A meeting was held at the home of
Mr.. and Mrs. Frank Convis Thursday
evening and Miss Verna Elsinger Of
Chicago field representative of the
Home Service section of the central
division of the American Red Cross,
was present TO explain the object Of
this department. In Detroit begin
ming November 4th there will he held
six weeks training course for
workers in this department.
Ralph Petit has been elected jan
itor of the court house to succeed
Fred Hunter, resigned. Mr.. Petit
will receive a salary of 500 per
month and will be required TO do all
the plumbing, the material to be
furnished by the county.
Otto w. Pine, son OF ). +. Pine Of
Ithaca, has received a commission as
first lieutenant at Camp Jackson,
S. C.. Austin l.. Pine, brother, is
company clerk for Company 13 at
Camp Custer, and Vernon c., the
Youngest member Of the family, is a
member Of the s. A. T. c. at Albion,
Another brother, DR.. Ralph, of the
Harper hospital staff of Detroit, was
also i'm the draft but failed to pass
the physical examination and very
recently has received the appoint
ment as superintendent of the hos
pital to succeed DR. Stewart Haml-
ton, who leaves this month to enter
the medical service Of Uncle Sam.
Mrs. Belle Yeagec of Grand Rap
ids is spending few days with her
parents, Mr.. and Mrs. L. Il. Crandell,
East Center street
The school opened Wednesday af-
ter being closed nearly three weeks
as a precautionary measure against
influenza.
Mrs. George Smith of North Star
came Tuesday TO visit her daughter
and husband. Mrs. +. +. Hoffman.
Miss Edna Pine has been appointed
executive secretary of the home
service section of the Gratiot county
chapter of the American Red Cross.
Marriage licenses have been issued
as follows:
Lewis A. Carpenter, 81. lonia;
Seviena Rocka, Is, Alma.
Mrs. j. c. Trumble went to her
home in Grand Rapids Wednesday
after spending the past three weeks
at the home Of her son, A. Macarthur.