davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-02-23

An action took place on
Wednesday, the 18th of Feb
ruary, small in extent, but of
high historical Importance. 1t
was the first military operation
in which French and American
troops acted together upon any
considerable scale. 1t is known
as the action of Tahure, or the
Butte du Mesnil.
The action was for the capture
of sort of lump or slight height
in a rolling ground of the bare
and desolate Champagne coun-
try near what are now the ruins
of Tahure. All this district, lying
just to the west of the great Ar
gonne forest, is an uneven roll
ing mass of poor, chalky soil,
which had been planted during
the last generation with small
groups of pine trees scattered
here and there. In the neighbor-
hood Of the trench lines these
had long been shattered into a
dismal vista Of broken stumps
under the tremendous pounding
of the gunfre used by both sides
during the great French assault
against the German lines here in
September of 1915.
That assault, which failed aft
err weeks of effort to break
through the German line, ''crys-
tallized,'' as the phrase goes
that is, the lines after surging
back and forth, finally settled
down-on the last set of the
trenches in the Germans de-
Tense system. These. trenches
have kept almost exactly their
same CONFORMATION for the two
and a half years since that battle
ended.
The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-02-23

| tics of this sort were impossible
before the advent Of the quick
firing field gun tWenty-odd years
ago, when the French invented
the 75-millimetrc gun. Even a
very large concentration of the
old-style guns-such as the
French 90-millimetre, which pre-
ceded the present 75-and even
if that concentration were di-
rected against a comparatively
short line, would never have Civ
en- anything like the results of
the modern barrage fire.
This was for two reasons.
First, because the rate of fire of
the old, guns was not nearly
rapid enough, and second, be-
cause they could not be fired
with sufficient accuracy. The old
gun did not absorb the shock of
its own recoil it had to be relaid
and repointed after every shot
had been fired, since the recoil
from the shot drove the trail
deeper and deeper into the
ground and shifted the whole
position of the carriage. The
consequence was that the maxi
rnUm rate of FIRE was not even a
fifth or a sixth of the rate which
hit became possible to obtain
when q gun had been produced
which absorbed its own recoiI
without changing the position of
the carriage or the laying of the
gun and thus could be fred off
pretty nearly as fast as the car
riers of shells could reload it,
subject only to the heating of
the breech to a point where there
was danger Of premature explo-
sions Of the shells. The newest
French quick-frers are said to
have touched thirty rounds a
minute, and I myself have seen
them pass twenty rounds.
The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-02-23
New Gun Brought
Accuracy of Fire

1t will be clear that the accur-
acy of fire, as we'll as the rapid
ity of fire, was very largely in
creased by the use Of the new
weapon, for, since the gun alb
serbs its recoil and points after
each shot exactly as it did be-
fore, the error between the first
shot and the seond, that between
the second and the third, ETC..
would be nothing more than that
trifie due to some slight differ
ence in the charge, some imper-
ceptible movement in the trail
and its spade or some slight
change in the wind, whereas
when the old-fashioned gun was
being fired there came in the
personal error of the gun layer
The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-02-23

gree OL ptElCCllUll) Hnu CAdCGly
plotted for you upon a large map
the enemy's front trench; your
barrage fire began in front of
your own trenches along a line
corresponding to the shape of
your own trenches, but as it APP
preached the enemy's trench it
would take more and more the
shape of his line.
Greater Skill In
Creeping Curtain
The advantage of this new
perfection in methods was OBJ
vious, but it was also obvious
that it required much greater
skill on the part of the men hand
ling the guns than did the first
crude method of a mere straight
line of curtain fire. Each gun had
a separate task assigned to it; a
general order to the whole line
of guns to shift their fire by fix
ed steps was no longer possible,
yet this second phase was devel-
oped with great rapidity and
astonishing accuracy and is now
the universal method.
Considerably with this devel-
opment of the creeping barrage
came the idea of second bar
rage fire behind the enemy
trenches. This was designed to
cut off reinforcement. The bar
rage in front of the enemy blind
ed him and covered your adj
vance. The barrage blind him
prevented new men from coming
up, and also kept out messages,
ammunition and food. 1t often
cut his wires as well.
This, then, is the present meth
cd of attack: There is, first, "the
preparation" with heavy guns
which pounds the enemy 8
trenches, at the same time drives
him underground and fills in the
shelter which the trenches had
afforded. Then your infantry
leaves the trenches to advance,
covered by barrage which, be-
ginning with the shape Of our
own trenches, gradually con-
forms itself to the shape of the
enemy's trenches as it ap-
proaches them. Your men follow
behind the advance of the cur
tain fire. In the meanwhile an
other curtain behind the enemy's
trench is isolating him from sup
port, and when the operation is
concluded it conforms to fam
GUS formula OF which, l believe,
General Petain was the author:
/" To-day it is the artillery that
conquers, the infantry that oc-
cupies. "
The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-02-23
TheNotedBritiShC1iH Sees
Ground COmfo7tin Work
OfSan1n1ieS WiththeF1enc
(By HILAIRE BELLoC)


military
Copyright Association cThe Trbune).
The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-02-23
u. s. Gunners
Prove Their Worth

The training Of the gunners
therefore, is everything to this
method, and the action on the
18th Of February was, as / have
said, a trial Of the degree of ex-
cellence which our newly arrived
American allies have reached in
their practice of this new tactic.
The operation was completely
successful, and so was Of good
augury for the future.
For the benefit of those who
have no large scale maps Of the
district available / may say that
the point where this first COM
bined operation Of American and
French troops took place viii be
found upon any general map Of
France between seven and eight
miles west Of the River Aisne,
where the upper course Of that
stream runs along the western
border Of the Argonne forest
about the middle Of the length OF
that forest or, again, it ID a spot
just twelve miles due northwest
Of the town Of ST. Menehould,
some ten miles north and q tribe
west Of the battlefield of Valmy,
almost exactly thirtyone miles
dueeagt from the city of Rheims.
The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-02-23
A Good Place for
First Joint Attack

Upon a ridge between two
muddy streams-the sources of
the Dormoise to the north and
of the LITTLE Marson to the
south-a portion Of the German
defensive system established at
that time jutted out from their
general line, making a small
rectangular salient, three sides.
Of which inclosed the somewhat
higher roll Of land of which /
have spoken. Tt was once cover
ed with small pines. Now only
their shattered stumps remain.
It's summit is about two hundred
feet above the water level Of the
brooks, which run rather more
than a mile on either side of it.
This rectangular salient was
not quite mile long and was
rather over half a mile in depth,
German observation posts on its
summit were able to command
excellent observation over the
French trenches upon either side
of it, and the salient thus pos
sessed the power of causing
special annoyance to the French
whenever the enemy chose to use
1t for that purpose.
But this was not the reason
the higher command determined
to wipe out the salient. 1t was
chosen rather because it was
good place upon which to prac-
tice the first experiment in COM
hinatiOn between the new and
old troops. This combination in
this particular experiment con-
sisted in the supporting Of
French infantry by American
artillery using the fire of their
field pieces in what the French
cali q 'fbarrageM and the Eng
lish curtain fire. " The point
was to test the degree Of perfec-
ton which the newly arrived
American gunners had reached
ia this novel and extremely del
icate and specialized tactic,
which was utterly unknown be-
fore the present war and has
been entirely developed by it.
BarTage Impossible
With Old-style Guns
s'Barrage, or curtain fire"
signifies creation Of a line, or
rafher a narrow belt, Of shell
bursts in front Of advancing
troops or over trenches, which
shall Be SO continuous as theo-
retically to prevent the posi-
bility of any living thing pass
ing through, and which actually
iii practice shall render such
passage 80 dangerous and ex-
pensige 81 life that 1t will hardly
The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-10-22
q Have-Have You"

Have you seen the signs Il Have
Have You?" and do you know
what they stand for? They mean
that every graduate nurse, every UNI
der-graduate Nurse, every student
nurse, every trained attendant, ev-
cry practical nurse, every midwife,
and all those who have taken Red
Cross courses in Home Care of the
Sick or Home Dietetics or First Aid
are supposed to respond to this sur
vey. 1t also means if you are not a
nurse, have you offered your servi-
ces in helping to get those who are
nurses to fill out the QUESTIONABLE?
The Surgeon General of the Army
has asked the Red Cross to make
this nation wide survey Of the nurs-
ing resources of the country in Or
der that a sufficient number of grad
uate nurses may be withdrawn for
| military service with the least pos
sible detriment to the civilian popu-
lation. 1t is up to the nurses to re-
spond willingly and it is up to every
| one to see that the survey is COM
pleted rapidly. Therefore, let us be
UP and doing for the sooner the sur
vey is accomplished, the more OF
the men who are fighting for us will
be saved.
The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-10-22
The DAILY BANNER
CAMBRIDGE. MD. OCT. %. 1918
Brief Local News

Mr.. John H. Burgess, Jr., of Bal
timore, is spending few days this
week in Cambridge.
Mr.. and Mrs. Virgil A. Seward are
receiving congratulations upon the
birth of fine boy, who was born
Sunday.
The regular meeting of the Coun-
ty Commissioners was held today.
Two members of the Board, Commits
sioners Mears, of Linkwood, and
Hackett, of the Fork, have been i'll
with the Flu" since the last meet
ing of the Board.
Julia Stewart Lockerman died at
her home, AIS High street, Cam
bridge, on October 18th, and was
buried on Sunday, in Bethel ceme-
terry The deceased was a highly re-
spected colored woman, and was we'll
known in the community, having
many friends both among the white
and colored residents of the city. She
was in the 59th year of her age, and
is survived by one brother, Dennis
Stewart.
The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-10-22
Sweet Potato Seed

Be sure to save your own sweet
potatoes for seed from your field, or
one in the vicinity. Don't sell your
crop, and then buy seed next spring.
for those bought from dealers in the
spring are brought in from Delaware
and New Jersey. These Delaware
and New Jersey seed, as rule, have
the stem rot, one of the worst sweet
potato diseases. 40 per cent. of
sweet potatoes in New Jersey and
Delaware are diseased, and only 5
per cent. of the crop is diseased in
Maryland. Don't buy seed from
Delaware and New Jersey because of
the danger of getting diseased pota-
toes.
Last spring Mr.. Cox, of Federals-
burg, sold Geo. Rock. F. E. LOOMS,
Dan Corkran and others seed sweet
potatoes from Delaware. They were
so badly diseased, that a greater part
of the crop was lost, as well as the
farmers had the ground ruined by
getting this disease in it. Save your
own seed by careful selection. 1t will
pay you.
The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-10-22
GOVERNMENT TAKES
CONTROL OF LINES
Federal Orders in Vogue on b.. e..
& A. And NJ, ID. Il V. Systems
Murdoch May be Director.

| There is no longer any doubt that
the United States Railroad Commits
sion, of which William G. McAdoo is
the director general, controls the
Baltimore, Chesapeake and Atlantic
and the Maryland, Delaware and
Virginia steamboat lines, for the Of
| fetal government signs with instruc-
tions signed by Mr.. McAdoo are now
posted about the wharyes and on
the various steamers of the two lines.
This situation brings about a prac-
whether these two lines which mean
so much to Baltimore would be taken
over by the government. About a
month ago the directors of the roads
were notified by Mr.. McAdoo that
the government did not want to as
summe federal control of these two
lines A meeting of the directors of
the two lines was held in Philadel-
phia in the office of officials of the
Pennsylvania Railroad, which cor
poration controls the two lines. At
ter some correspondence, the Rail
road Commission notified the dlrec-
tors not to consider the refusal to
take over the lines as final. Nothing
further has been heard of the mat
ter, but the appearance this week OF
the Railroad Commission signs about
the property here and at other Whar-
YES and on the steamers apparently
settles the question and makes it APP
pear definite that the government is
now controlling these lines with 9TH
er coastwise lines which ply between
this port and various points in the
counties of Maryland and Virginia.
Following the death of Capt. Will
lard Thompson, former vice-presi-
dent and general manager of the
two lines, Turnbull Murdoch, former
general freight and passenger agent,
was selected to fill the vacancy. Mr..
Murdoch is a nan of the old school
of the steamboat business. and the
two lines are now being operated di-
rectly from Washington through Mr..
Murdoch. 1t is predicted by persons
in close touch with the situation
that Mr.. Murdoch will be appointed
federal manager of the lines.
A few days ago there was an in
crease in salary ordered nv the gov
eminent for the clerks on the wharf,
with certain arrangements made for
overtime. There was about the same
time an increase ordered for the en-
gineers and their assistance ON the
steamers. This placed these latter
named men on the same basis as the
men now working under government
control.
The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-10-22
TOO LATE TO CLASSIFY.

WANTED-Young lady wouldlike
Address N, care of Banner office. 223t
The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-10-22

WANTED - Experienced saleslady,
good opportunity. State wages want
ed. Apply in own handwriting Har-
rington & Bayly 10-S-tf.
The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-10-22
Allan W. Gordy

Allan W. Gordy, a young man only
twenty-five years of age, died at his
home on Hughlett street last night
at twenty minutes after ten O'Clock,
from pneumonia, following an at
tack of Influenza. with which he was
stricken just one week ago.
Mr.. Gordy is survived by his wife
and two small children. He is also
survived by his parents, Mr.. and
Mrs. William M. Gordy, and two sis
tiers, Misses Ruth and Helen Gordy,
and three brothers, Irving. Roland,
who is in the service, being attached
to the U. S. Navy, and William Cor
dy, Jr.
The funeral services (private) will
be held from his late home tomorrow
afternoon, with interment in the
Green Lawn cemetery.
The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-10-22

Advertise in The Daily Banner.
The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-10-22
HOW TO SEND XMAS
PACKAGES OVERSEAS
Army And Postal Authorities Issue
Rules For Sending Gifts-Must be
Mailed Early.

Mail your overseas Christmas pack
ages early.
This advice is given by Army and
postoffice officials in reference to
sending packages to boys in the SER
vice.
After November 20 no packages
will be accepted with the guarantee
that they will reach the boys by
Christmas.
The following rules have been is
sued for the sending of packages to
sailors and Marines:
To Sailors-All packages sent by
parcel post must be inclosed in SUBJ
top.
Boxes must not weigh over 20
pounds and must be of wood
No perishable food products other
than those inclosed in tin cans can
be sent
All mail matter hsould be address,
ed in care of Fleet Supply Base,
| Twenty-ninth street and Third ave-
nue., South Brooklyn, N. Y.
All boxes must be marked in plain
lettering as to what the contents are,
for instance, Xmas box, or Xmas
package.
The supply officer at New York
will cause each package to be open
ed so that a search can be made for
explosives, etc.
The shipment Of all packages for
those abroad should be no later than
| November 18th.
Packages for Marines: The War
Department regulations for Christ
mas parcels for soldiers overseas will
be observed in the case of any ma
rine whose address is A. E. F. This
Indicates that the marine is serving
overseas in an army capacity and tenn
lporarily detached from the Navy.
For all other marines navy reegu-
lations will govern.
The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-10-22
Julian Tubman

Mr.. Julian Tubman, son of Mrs.
Jennie A. and the late Harry I. Tub
man, died at his home at Golden Hill
Thursday, Oct. 18th, after a brief
illness of influenza, followed by pneu
monia
Mr.. Tubman is survived by his
mother, Mrs. Jennie A. Tubman, and
the following brothers and sisters:
Misses Marie and Ethel TGbman, OF
Washington, D. c.; VIM. F. Tubman,
of Baltimore, and Lloyd Tubman. Of
Golden Hill.
He was thirty-four years of age.
The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-10-22
Annita Brannock

Little Annita Brannock, daughter
of Mr.. and Mrs. John H. Brannock,
died at their home ON Cedar street
this morning, aged little over a
year. The funeral services (private)
will be held from the home tomorrow
with interment in Cambridge ceme-
terry.
The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-10-22

Spain. according to lie Temps
(Paris), has decided to seize $4,000
tons of German shipping in order to
indemnify her for submarine losses.
German influence in Spain declines
noticeably as Germany asks for peace
from the Allies.
AS an alibi Hinderburg might point
to the report that he was dead when
the big drive failed.
The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-10-22
War Gardens

The War Garden report cards,
mailed out by the County Agent,
must be answered and returned by
Saturday evening, Oct. 26th. The
prizes will be awarded on Monday, so
the report cards must be filled out
and returned to the County Agent at
once.
The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-10-22
NOTICE TO PARENTS.

Your attention is called to the
fact that it is a violation of the
Ordinances Of Cambridge for chill
dren to shoot cat or other rifles or
sling shots within the corporate linn
its of Cambridge. A number of boys
are violating this ordinance, appar-
emily with the knowledge of their
parents, and in order that all may be
duly forewarned. hereby give notice
that on and after this date, all boys
found shooting rifles, pistols, or
slingshots, will be arrested and
osecuted.-Daniel E. Brannock,
Bailiff.-Adv. G1-3t
The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-10-22
Ne IwUife You

To look at our store windows to see
the photographs OF Dorchester Boys that are
now in the service of Uncle Sam. Many
have been on the firing line and have stood
the acid test with great credit. No town or
county can show better specimens of young
manhood than Dorchester and these boys
are proving it.
The Fourth Liberty Loan was over
subscribed. The American people can al
ways be depended upon to meet every con-
dition in these war times. We must sup
port and help these boys who are now
making our fight. Write them bright, newsy
letters and buy THRIFT and WAR saw
ING STAMPS. Uncle Sam needs every
dollar you have.
The Oskaloosa herald., 1918-06-13
e NAMES ON ROLL
NEW SHARON HAS BIG HONOR
sLIsT AMONG BOYS

New Sharon, June 11.-Ben Mccain
who went into Military service in Feb
ruary has returned to his home from
Camp Upton on Long Island, N. Y.
he having been dicharged on account
of disability.
Mrs. Charles Baughman has moved
her household goods from Ames to
New Sharon and has stored them for
the present, she and her two children
having gone to. New York where they
expect to join the husband and father
for a visit. . 90.
Harold Sheridan sends word to his
home folks here that he has reached
the other side safely and this indicat-
es that the New Sharon boys are get
citing into the fight over there and will
make as good a record as any of them.
70 names are on the Roll ofEHonor
of New Sharon and this is an excep-
tional record for population of 1900,
and it means that this little city has
sent out an average of nearly to the
service for every IL persons in the
place and this with the possibility of
others going later. This record is note
worthy.
The Oskaloosa herald., 1918-06-13
OTTUMWAN KILLED IN ACTION
Soldiers GRANDMOTHER Suecuribs To
Stroke Of ApopIexy Following Re
eeipt Of Telegram. 10. "A.

Ottumwa, June 1.-THE first death
in the ranks of G company since IT
entered the fight In France, was re-
ported Saturday afternoon to the
grandparents of the gallant young
hero. William G. Lindsay, when the
following message was received By
Mr.. and Mrs. J. Wheatley, 1855 Ma
bel street: a 81
I'VE regret to inform you that your
grandson, Private William c. Lind
say, was oficially reported killed in
action June s."
Shock Causes Apoplexy.
The news of her grandsons death
is believed TO have caused the stroke
of apoplexy suffered by Mrs. J.wheat-
ley at the Ottumwa hospital this
morning. The aged woman has been
undergoing an operation for csta-
ract on one of her eyes and this
morning when given her bath, she
suffered a stroke. \. The fact that
Private Lindsay and his brother
Otis, somewhat his junior, have been
raised by their grandparents since
the death of their parents. and the
added fact that the departed young
hero was among the G. Company boys
Injured in action March 8. was proba
bly, too much for the grandmother tc
bear. She died at 1880 An aunt
of Private Lindsay was buried sim
day al Dream, making three deaths
The Oskaloosa herald., 1918-06-13
TEXAS DROUGHT is BROKEN
Western Part of State Gets It's First
Good Rains in over
Two Years.

Dallas, Texas, June 10.-The long
drought which has prevailed in West
Texas for two or more years. caus1g
little less than disaster to the cattle
raising industry of Texas, has been
partly, If not wholly broken. Three
good soaking rains fell in that district
within seventeen days. Grass is now
coming out, water holes have been
partly filled and general spirit OF
optimism prevails with the cattlemen.
many of whom staked fortunes on the
effort to hold out.
Ranchmen who had waited from
month to month for the rains shipped
thousands of head of cattle out of this
district TO other ranges. Many dollars
we're spent by the stoekmen on feed
to keep alive those few cattle that re-
NAMED on the ranges. They declare
that had the rain been delayed another
six weeks the plains of Texas would
have been practically deserted of cat
tie.
All of Texas west Of line drawn
nOItn anu SOutH through San AulOuiO
constituted the drought district. prae
ticalIy all Of which is devoted to the
cattle raising industry Part of the
district, however. contains some agri-
cultural land, devoted mostly TO truck
farming. Little cotton or corn is
grown.
The drought began in some sections
late in the summer of 1914 and almost
ever since the cattlemen have had a
| fight on their hands TO save the herds
with which the ranches We're populat-
eG at that time In 1915 the situation
I grew more serious and the rainfall was
\ far below normal. Early in 1915 large
/ part OF the district had fair rains. but
there were many. large areas which
had none, and others where the rain
fell so rapidly that II did little good.
Throughout the summer OF 1916, all
through 1917 and well into 1918 ccndi-
lions grew steadily worse.