davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-28
CoLORED TRAINING CLASS
Judge Fort and Dr. Bloomfield Speak
 to Class at Baptist Church

The negro military training class
 was addressed at the Sixth Avenue Bap- tist church last night by Judge w. F.
 Fort, president of the Civic association, and Dr. J. c. Broomfield of the Y. M. lC. A. service. Dr. Broomfield has seen Iservice in France and spoke eloquent ly of the United States troops and told
 of the hardships borne by the men lover
 there.'' Judge Fort commended the class for its patriotic spirit and gave some practical suggestions.
 E. w. Howell, color sergeant in charge
 of the class made fitting response to
 the addresses of the two speakers. The following are the other officers of the training class S. Starks, first sergeant; Rev. F.. W. Williams chap lain; Dr. M. H. Freeman, Jr.. physician,
 Meetings are held at the corner of Six
 teenth street and Second avenue at IS o'clock on Monday. Wednesday and
 Friday nights. All colored men are cordially invited to attend
 The colored people will be led by
 the class in the Liberty Loan parade this afternoon, Color Sergeant Howell car rying the colors presented by Mrs. Swope last Sunday. Tomorrow the
 class will hike" to Ensley and att tend religious services. conducted by the pastor. Rev. William Craig at the Ensley African Methodist Episcopal church at o'clock p. m.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-28
STEADY PROGRESS

With the American Forces Southwest of Verdun, September 27.-( (Reuter)-It was impossible to view the progress of the battle without exhiliration. Warned by the strenuous character of yester- days attack the enemy, though still resisting stoutly in places, appeared to not have reached the limit of his re- tirement, as the Americans were making rsteady progress northward
 The American front from Bannevoux to Eclisefontaine now has broken through the Segen position and the,<Folker posi- tion, which were the enemy's subsidiary defenses behind the Hindenburg line and between Nantillois and Mont BlainvilIe the Americans are less than a mile from the head of the enemy's three standard gauge railroads
 On the ground of the advance the Americans captured scores of miles of light gauge railway. It will be interest ing to see what sort of a stand the enemy will make to cover his railheads, or whether he will withdraw behind the much talked of Krimhild position some little way beyond them. By their failure to check the American advance the guns of the Germans seem not yet to have reached settled positions.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-28
MARTIAL LAW AT yLADIvosToK

Vladivostok, Wednesday, September 25-(By the Associated Press. Mar tial law has been decreed at Vladivos- tok and in the district of Vladivostok by Colonel Butenko, provisional com mander of the armed forces of the maritime province in accordance with the Russian field regulations and leg islation governing fortresses in war time
 The decree has been authorized by the allied commanders, and they will aid in enforcing it, if necessary. The measure is directed against enemy agents, traffickers in arms and anyone attempting interference with the mili- tary operations. It had long been con- templated by the allied commanders, who deemed it requisite in view of the lack of reliable civil and police ad- ministration. Colonel Butenko has suc- ceeded Colonel Volstoff.a who recently resigned, and has the recognition and confidence of the allies
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-28
ENEMY DESTROYING DUMPS

With the American Army Northwest of verdun, September 27.-(By the As- sociated Press )-Early this morning
 the starlit sky was illuminated for miles by the explosion of ammunition dumps of the enemy, who also ise re- ported to be blowing up works and bridges, indicating intentions of a fur ther retreat.
 Five thousand prisoners had been taken early today. It was not large total, considering the ground aban- doned. In getting his guns back to fresh positions the enemy will have the ad- vantage of sounder ground, for the whole region around Verdun has been smashed by the years of smelling and is lin an undescribably torn-up condition. The Americans had a great day in the air yesterday.
 The enemy's morale seems better than at the St. Mihiel affair, and At places he has fought sternly. This was es- pecially noticeable yesterday when all the strong places were turned instead of being taken by frontal attacks.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-28
EXTENSION EXPECTED

As the drive progresses, it is believed the French front beyond the Suippe river will become involved and the operation will be extended to the more open coun- try before Rheims. The cutting edge of the great attack, however, appears to be the American advance on the Mouse. It will require, many officers think, only a comparatively further stride forward here to compel the enemy to undertake a great withdrawal
 Under terrific British pressure in the north,N it is improbable that the Ger mans have been able to shift any troops from this point to stem the new tide ican advance exposed a salient for a counter blow at the Hanks. The drive up the Mouse is in reality an extension of the line General Pershing set up when he smashed out the St. Mihiel salient. A straight line, \. standing in naturally strong positions. faces the enemy ali along the front from the apex of the new drive at the bend of the Mouse to a point far east and south at Pont-A- Mousson, where American troops also were on the line at last reports. There is Nttle chance for counter strategy to relieve$he pres- sure in the center. Should the Germans fail to withdraw. as is predicted, it Is pointed out that the two new offensives are so designed that every advance by the British in the north or the Franco American forces in the Champagne might form the beginning of a gigantic pincer movement
 Once past Eanlbrai and St. Quentin, it is conceivable that the British thrust would head toward the same general goal as the eastern drive, and continued vic- tory would mean the pocketing of all the German forces between with only limited means of communication behind them
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-28
Americans Continue Drive
Ccontineud From Page one)

Germans were still holding out at MoEtfaucon at 2 o'clock this afternoon, but in all probability that stronghold has since fallen
 Haig's maximum advance today was three miles. The Hindenburg outpost defenses were crossed at several points At o'clock this afternoon the British line ran southwest of Gouzeaucourt, east Of Beauchamp, west of Marcoing and east of Graincourt where some of the enemy were still holding out. Thence it ran between Anneux and Cantaing and east of Bourbon and the Bourbon wood, a thousand yards west of Raillencourt and along the road to Marcoing. It is not known whether the British or the Germans. hold Marcoing.
 The capture of Bourbon is of the high est importance, because 1t is the bulwark of Cambrai. It was captured notwith- standing the water line in front of it, the whole of which has now been crossed
 The British are in a good position to capture Cambrai. Even now the en- emy cannot use the town. as the rail- way, roads and junction are under the British fire
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-28

The country about Mont Faucon and the Argonne forest was the scene of desperate contests The Germans left masses of machine guns and it was against such formations that the Ameri- cans were forced to advance. In the Argenne forest the fighting often de- veloped into an almost hand to- hand character as the men reverted to the preliminary principles of warfare and crowded forward through the dense growth. It was fighting without artil- lery, for the eombatants were too close together to permit the use of guns and they were left to fight it out They still are in the forest, but reports in- dicated steady progress.
 Apparently theirs was fight alone but along the Hanks, even to the north, units of Americans had advanced stead fly, making certain the eventual with drawal of the comparatively small part of the enemy's force stationed in the woods to delay the general advance.
 TANKS COOPERATE
 Tanks again CO., operated in the opera tions while airplanes contributed ma terially to their success after the heavy clouds which followed the rain of e early morning had disappeared. Muddy roads hindered for sometime the bring ing up of artillery but by noon the guns were in position. They soon re- versed what had appeared up to that time to be q slight advantage for the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-28
BREAKING HUN ARMIES

With the British Army in France, September 27.-(Reuter. 1.-The British to- day put their teeth into the Hindenburg line in the Cambrai sector in more determined manner than heretofore. The cleaning ups of recent days have been but preliminaries to the blow launched at 5:20 a. m today. The British no longer attach the old significance to "ob- jectives."
 They now are engaged in breaking down the German armies on the western front. Whether the final crack comes Tn the line of the Mouse or the Rhine IS not very material The capture or places now is mainly interesting as showing landmarks of the British progress. The enemy's casualty lists count far more than recovered territory.
 The battle which opened today already has broken down long chain of Tor midable resistance.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-28
DEFENSES TAKEN

ating on the extreme right of the Brit ish this morning captured a series Of trenches and fortified farms forming the outer defenses of the Hindenburg system southwest of Lecatelet, north of St. Quentin, according to the official re- port from Field Marshal Haig tonight.
 The report from Field Marshal Haig tonight gives the first intimation re- ceived here that American troops were operating in the St. Quentin sector. At the beginning of the offensive, how ever, American troops were brigaded with British around Arras, but have not been mentioned in the fighting since then.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-28
STRONG OPPOSITION

With the American Forces in Lor- raine, September 27, p. m.--(By the As sociated Press.)-German artillery oppo- sition grew increasingly stiff toward the end of the afternoon today. There were indications that the enemy was moving endorsements to the edge of the Ar gonne forest and the western and cen- tral portion of this sector, especially was under fairly heavy fire.
 West of Dannevoux the Americans cap- tured 12 ITS, which are now being useo against the Germans, a large amount ot ammunition also having been captured.
 German artillery today threw gas shells on DssQeville and on other towns in this section, but the infantry action was slight.
 The American patrols were active in all sections of the Lorraine front, but they encountered the Germans only once,
 Squads from American negro units were engaged this morning guarding and transporting hundreds of German prison CTS to concentra ton camps.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-28
COUNTER BLOWS DELIVERED

With the American Forses Northwest of Verdun, September 27, 10 p. m.-(By the Associated Press. 1.-The Germans de- livered counter attacks northwest of Va rennes and between Ivoiry and Mont faucon late today, but achieved no gain.
 There was heavy artillery firing west of Mont Blainville and southwest ot Charpentry this afternoon, further 1n- dication that the Germans are making an effort to stabilize their line. hTe en- emy is known to be massed in Cierges, and the forest of Cierges and the Forest De Mont All those places are heinz heavily shelled tonight.
 The counter attacks of the enemy failed to make any impression on the American front, the whole line of which was slightly advanced during the day It included tonight the villages of Char pentry, Very, Epinonville and Iviory. The resistance of the Germans, how ever, has steadily increased at almost every point. Apparently they are mak- ing desperate efforts to hold their newly established positions.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-28
Germans Attempted to Make Stand Along Whole American Front But Steady Hammering By Yankees
 Forced Retreat

American Forces Northwest of Verdun September 27 By the Associated Press )Aong the entire American
 front the Germans made stand today but in spite of their de- efforts hold their positions yielded after other steady hammeng The sweeping advance of the first day slowed down. but tonight the line had been moved forward far enough satisfy headquarters and win the praise the French Jason officers closely observing the narafio
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-28
BIG ARTILLERY HAUL

With the American Forces Northwest of Verdun, September 27, ?. m.-(By the Associated Press .)-General Pershing's troops in their drive between the Mouse and the Argonne forest made a great haul of German artillery in the region Of Dannevoux. The Americans capture included four big 210 mlimeter guns and eight 150 milmetre pieces, and 15 trench mortars, 10 field guns and S4 machine guns.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-28
PROGRESS MUCH SLOWER

With the American Army Northwest of Verdun, September 27-(By the As- sociated Press 1.-The second days progress of the American troops in the new offensive was slight when com pared with that of Thursday, because the bad weather and the well-nigh im- passible roads slowed up all kinds of transports and made it nearly impossi- ble for the Americans to move their heavy artillery. The bad weather also seriously hampered aerial work and the movement of tanks.
 Simultaneously sthe enemy stiffened his resistance all along the line.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-28

, Germans. It was evident, however, that the enemy had recovered sufficient ly after the first staggering attack yes terday to establish his line along the secondary defenses. These positions are
 good and it is expected that from them
 the Germans will offer stubborn re- sistance in an endeavor to at least check the offensive
 Hopping up the country on the Amer
 ican left involved stiff fighting in the region of Charpentry, which continued until late in the day. The Germans left strong attachments of machine gunners flanking the position and it was con sidered wise to supplement the infan- try's work with that of artillery, which was placed in position at midday.
 ARTILLERY HAMMERED
 The big jump yesterday, combined with rain-soaked roads and the Ger mans destruction of their lines of com
 munication interfered with the move ment of artillery Upon the arrival of artillery in positions near the town the situation slowly changed, result ing in the withdrawal of such of the Germans as were able to escape.
 In the same part of the field better fighting eliminated in victory for the Americans along the road between Mont Blainville and Eclisfontaine. Strong positions about Mont Blainville were reduced by the Germans availing them selves of excavations across the road l left there as a sacrifice a heavy force armed with machine guns. The oppos. ing lines in some cases were not 10( yards apart The enemy's effort to hold l the position cost them dearly
 l The Argonne forest witnessed further German sacrifices. They left a heavy
 force of infantry behind with the usua complement of machine guns. Almost every thicket masked guns while from scores of trees streams of fire con. fronted the advancing Americans. | Prisoners brought from the Ameri can left gave information indicating 1 that the Germans are reinforcing theil lines. Among them were troops iron
 two guards divisions. one more thar 1 hitheto accounted for.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-28
TAKE SECTOR BY STORM

Paris, September N.-The army of Gen eral Gouraud has just taken by storm the sector between the Suippe and the Argonne not only his old positions, but all of the German first positions, says an official review of the Franco-Ameri- can operations issued today.
 A large portion of the old front here had been stabilized since 1915. The bar rier behind which the enemy thought his army was absolutely safe, the state .ment adds, has been shattered and cap-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-28
FRENCH ON PY RIVER

With the French Army in FTahce. sep tember 27.-tBy the Associated Press.) Arrival of French infantry on the banks of the Py river marks the suceessfui termination of the first phase or the attack which is being pressed with un- remitting vigor in spite of strengthening enemy resistance. The line now runs almost directly west to east from south of the. somme-Py to south of the Ger
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-28
AMERICANS CApTURE 5000

With the American Army Northwest of Verdun, September N.-(By the Asso- ciated Press. .)-The number of prison CTS thus far captured by the Americans in their offensive is now placed at 5000. of whom 125 are officers. The captured material includes more than 100 guns, 12 of which are of heavy calibre, many trench mortars and hundreds of ma chine guns
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-28
IMPOSSIBLE FOR GERMANY TO AID
 BULGARIA, THINK
 U. $. OFFICIALS
tcontineud From Page One,

was startling in view of the difficult and broken country through which the drive was made and gave further evidence Of waning German man power and also that German generals again were outguessed
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-28
Firm IncOrpOrates

Montgomery. September 27.-(Special) Papers of incorporation for the Lauder dale Bonded Warehouse company of Florence were received Friday by the secretary of state. The capital stock is
 5000, $l250 of which is paid in.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-28
DEATHS

Dave Howard-Son of Mir ana Mrs Georga Howard. North Highlands. Pratt City. dropped dead yesterday morning while on his way home from work at No 1 shaft. Funeral ar
 engagements will be announced later.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-28
MUST DISARM
 AND SURRENDER
tcontineud From Page one)

might quickly affect the attitude of
 Turkey. Neutral diplomats in Wash
 ington appeared, if possible, even more
 impressed by this prospect than the
 representatives of the allies. They
 spoke of the Turkish debacle in Pales-
 tine, predicting that overtures from the
 Ottoman government might be expect led at any time now. Some even went so far as to express the opinion that since Bulgaria has dared to defy her master Germany's more powerful col
 league, Austria, may gather courage to disregard German pressure and come out with an unqualified proposal for cessation of hostilities.
 The United States is not at war with Buluaria and the Bulgarian minister still occupies his legation hede. There fore, directly and formally the Amer lican government has nothing to do with the proposal made to the French gen. eral commanding the allies in Mace- donia. Actually, however, the Bull garian affair must be considered as an important phase of the world war sit uation, so the announcement from Paris that not only the entente governments but the United States government must
 be consulted before Bulgarian proposals are CoHSiueIeQ was not surprising.
 WILL CONSIDER OFFER If the Bu1garfans really are ready 1 to quit the war on the entente's terms, there is little doubt that her 1 offers will be entertained. There 1 will be no ssround table" peace dis- cussiOns, however, with opportuni- l ties for sercret German machina- l tiOns to confuse the issue and bring about such situation was hoped | to create through the recent pro- I posal from Austria.
 l The allies all along have indicated a
 determination to deal separately with , each of the countries with which they
 are at war when it came to peace ne- j, gotiations, and if Bulgaria can meet the | test of sincerity, the time has come 1 when she may find safety in dropping Iout of the alliance with the central bowers.
 | At the Bulgarian legation it was said that no official news regarding tho armistice had been received from Sofia member of the diplomatic corps con- versant with Bulgarian affairs said the news was no real surprise to him, as 1 he had anticipated such a move on the part of ths Malinoff government He was of the opinion that Bulgarian re- sistance has been weak either because the soldiers of their own accord re- fused to fight or because the army was directed by the government to give way so that the people might be told that peace must be sought on the best terms possible.
 When the news of the Bulgarian pleas
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-28
Americans Adua11ce j1 Face Massed Mac1,ine Guns

nay woods. We hold the town of Ger nay
 The line thus indicated marks an ad- vance of from five to six miles over extraordinarily difficult ground, covered with trenches and deep barbed barriers. Early in the attack few prisoners were taken, but the loss of the line of buttes cost the Germans very heavily in killed and prisoners.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-28
OVER 16.OOo PRISONERS

London, September 27.-The number Of Germans taken prisoner by the Ameri- cans and the French in their drive on the Champagne and to the east exceeds 16,0O0, according to a Paris dispatch to the Exchange Telegraph company.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-28
Whisky Canfiscafed

About 50 quarts of whisky, packed in two trunks. were confiscated by Off cers Mcfarland and Dobyns at the Ter minal station last night. The owner
 of the whisky has not been located.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-28
Local Data

first reached Washington in press dis patches through Berlin, some officials were quick to suspect new move in the Teutonic peace offensive. The read mess of Berlin to give the information to the world aroused distrust, although it was conceded that the German gov ernment might have realized the situa- tion was too serious to permit sup presson and took this means of break ing the facts gently to its people.
 The official announcement from Paris and later an official intimation to the state department of what had happened cleared the air. Instead of a scheme to start peace conferences to which Ger many and Austria might be admitted the move now is seen as the beginning of the process of dissolution of the cen- tral Alliance.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-28
BAKER VISITS FRONT

With the American Army in France September 27, 1885 D. m.-(By the As sociated Press. )-Secretary of War
 Baker passed today through villages in the rear of the lines on his return
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-28
GERMAN STATEMENT

Berlin. September 27-(Yia London.) Between the roads from Arras and Pe- rome towards Cambrai and against the Siegfreid front to the west of Le- Catelet, there have begun powerful English and American attacks with large forces, according to the German official statement issued tonight.
 In the Champagne, as well as be- tween Argonne and the Mouse, there was renewed vigorous attacks by the French and the Americans.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-28
THE WEATHER
Weather Forecast

Washington. September 27.-The fore cast is as follows:
 Alabama: Rain Saturday and probably Sunday.
 Florida: Rain Saturday; Sunday fair in south, rain in central and north.
 Mississippi Cloudy Saturday, rain in south; Sunday probably fair and warmer.
 Tennessee: Cloudy Saturday, probably rain at night or Sunday in central and east, cloudy in west.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-28
OFFER GENUINE

The Berlin version describing the re- quest for an armistice as a coup by Premier Ma1inoff without support from
 King. cabinet or army, apparently was completely disposed of by the report of the French general commanding in Macedonia that the peace envoys were the Bulgarian minister of finance and the general commanding the Second army
 Military men are already thinking of what might be done with Bulgaria and Turkey out of the war and under ai- 1 lied surveillance. Entente forces might open the Dardanelles and the Black sea to their warships and transports and prepare the way for the re-estab- lishment of the armies on the eastern front, thus Surrounding the Germanic powers with an iron ring comparable to that through which they broke when Russia collapsed. It is hoped that Ru- mania may again take a hand with a reorganized army Thousands of Jugo l Slavs may De counted upon to desert Austria and join the entente forces
 and these elements with additions from
 the disaffected Ukraine and other
 sources may furnish material for a vast force.