davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Licking Valley courier., 1918-05-16
Out Of No Man S Land
By
HARRY IRVING GREENE

Father:
This wonderful letter that am writ
ing you--a miracle letter. ! was hurt
badly, but am going to get well, II
happened like this-you know ! am
NO, allowed to name place or date.
No Mans Land We were raidine |
II by night. three Of us--scouting, |
prowllng. II was as dark as the dun.
geons Of Inferno, but often they sent
up signal shells-roseate, bursting
things that bathed all that evil land
IN a blo0d.red light. when their glare
f,ared over us we had to stand as we
were caught, hand or foot upraised-
moyeless objects in the red glow until
the light snuffed out and all was dark
ence more.
We reached the German entangle-
ments and began cutting them Win
our oiled clippers, We were careful,
very careful, but we were not careful
enough. They heard u.s. Over came
two bombs.
The three OF US went down In row.
Jack aud Tom never knew what hit
them. was hurt too badly to he able
to get ap.
| lay there-all night-groanng-
calling for help Twenty feet away l
E could hear the boches in their trench
laughing at me, cursing me-
Morning! My last. ! could endure
II no more. | was dying-bleeding'
said my last prayer.
And then
Since the dawn OF time do not be-
lIeye the world has seen more glori'
ous thing. From the hill tops our ar
tillery laid down n box barlHge hre
and under L., heads raised like em'
perors and shoulders squared, came
six men, stretcher bearers As though
they had been on parade they came
forth In broad daylight into the very
teeth Of the enemy aud picked up
what was left OF Jack, Tom and me.
As though we had been their own
brothers they bore US back, swiftly
gently. Then do you know what those
Huns didt
Opeued fire on us-the dead, The
bearers Of the dead and man who lay
,ouiyaring AZ the threshold of death.
Two Of the n1 bearers went down
The other four brought them bacl
along with what was left Of Jack, Ton
aud me-
And when | awoke In the hospite
after the operation, IDENTIFY sick bu
hack from the nightmare'land ant
with the sunlight upon me, whom d.
Won think | saw bending over me, th
red cross apon her sleeve, habblinl
laughing, crying, kissing me'
JANBl
And had never known that she ma
rome Overt Had never got her lette'
! And we are mere together and al
going to get well. An hour ago sh
held out her hand, and upon one tnge
was stln the little ring ! gave her b
fore | left. | am gotng to nave stoi
aet IN lt-you know what that mean
Though somewhat dishgured ! am st'
IN the ring. ,
And 70 " jana s"'
Licking Valley courier., 1918-05-16
= = = = 4
ARMY BARRACKS
FOR NURSERIES
One Of Them Houses More
Than 800 Children
Under Ten.

Within sound Of the deep throated
guns Of the French firing line, guns
that are ceaseIessly telling the Ger.
mans thou shalt not pass" live hun
dreds Of happy, healthy children.
AT the beginning of the war the
buildings in which these kiddies now
live and play and study were barracks
for French boys training TO be sol
dlers. Today these boys-those who
are left of them.-are veterans. These
barracks are good modern buildings
and they are sci amid beautiful seen.
cry. There are several of these groups
OF barracks scattered throughout
France, and all Of them have been
turned into homes flor the nations
homeless children.
At one of the barrack-nurseries
Some are babies of a few days old,
and the oldest is not over ten years.
Most Of these children ure orphans.
Some few Of them have mothers who
are working In fields and factories to
help France win the war.
And these little folks are receiving
the first intelligent care of their lives
Skilled American doctors are In
charge Of the Kitchens. and expert
enced teachers are instructing those
old enough tc attend the barrack-
school. The older girls and boys are
being taught useful trades as well as
the usual classroom lessons, and with
II all these children are learning the
Joy In healthy play.
France laid upon us sacred service
In this care Of its children. And how
Snoble has been the response Of our
American Red Cross.
Licking Valley courier., 1918-05-16
Much Snake.

MilIard Bowling, who is farm
ing on Charley Franklin's place
on Spaws creek, reports that he
killed a black snake which meas
ured 81 feet in length. He
skinned the reptile ard has its
hide to show any doubling Thom-
ases, but what we would like to
know is where he get the
bran with which to stuff the
skin. Someone suggested that
he used sawdust, which is more
plausible.
Licking Valley courier., 1918-05-16
What the italian Premier Thinks of
the American Rcd Cross

prec'nuon and with admiration for the
magnificent dash with which the Amer.
isap Red Cross has brought ny power.
tul ala II om recent misfortune. We
attribute great value to the ro-opera
ION which viii be gwen Us against the
common enemy by the prodigious
Gctivlty and by the exuberant and con
sls,ent force which are peculiar to the
American people"
And this, mind you, WIS only little
over a mouth after the American Reu
Cross made Its triumphant dash into
ltalyl
Licking Valley courier., 1918-05-16

When the Austrinns last October
routed the Italian Army by r'eEery
and drove before them half a mlllloh
refugees, the part which the American
Red Cross played in tins Stupeado"'
tragedy will 20 down In the history at
Italy and the world us one OF the mos.
magnificent dashes OF relief work thu,
has ever come to light
Listen 10 what the Italian Premier
said Of this work In his address at the
opening OF Parliament early Inst De
cember;
"0ur soul ls stirred again with ap
Licking Valley courier., 1918-05-16
Women Give S36,OOo,oOO.

Thousands OF patriotic women In all
parts of the United States are freely
giving their time to make surgical
dressings. knit goods, hospital gar
ments, comfort kits socks and sweat
ers. The value Of this labor given by
American women Is estimated at S6'
C0OOOO u year
Licking Valley courier., 1918-05-16

The Red Cross operates In France a
motor truck transportation service
with 80 motor rueks
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-03
VETERAN "NEWSIE" IS DEAD.
'Ionny" Wilson Had Sold Papers
in Chicago for Half Century.

CHICAGO. May 3.-'Lonny" Wilson.
for nearly fifty years a news vender at
ono corner in the downtown district.
died yesterday after an illness of three
weeks. Before the great fire in 1871 he
sold papers with the late John r.
Walsh. banker: William Lorimer. once
In the United States Senate. and Mich
ael Kenna, alderman for nearly thirty
years in the first ward. The latter. in
paying a tribute to his old.tims
"newsie" associate. said:
He was the fellow who hung the
name Of Hinky Dink on me. Before
the IRE bunch Of US newsboys used to
60 swimming in tho lake at the foot Of
Washington street. One day eight or
ten Of US started for the beach. and
Tagged behind. Some one of the bunch
missed me. and. not knowing my name,
asked. Where was the little guy?
Who'dye mean, Hinky Dink.' Lonny
said-and I've been Hinky Dink ever
since"
vilsea -was bashsIee and smassed
Q competence selling panaIA
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-03
BISHOP FOR ARMY AT FRONT,
Pope Nominates Rt. Rev. Patrick
Hayes of New York,

ROME. May 2.-The Pope has nomi.
mated Rt. Rev. Patrick J. Hayes. auxil-
larry bishop Of New York, as bishop Of
the American Army at the front.
Rt. Rev. Patrick J. Hayes was born
in New York in 1867 and received his
early education in the parish schools
there. He was ordained priest in 1892
and was appointed chancellor of New
York and president Of Cathedral Col
lege in 1908. He was domestic prelate
to Pope Plus x in 1907, with the title
of reverend monsignor. He was named
auxiliary bishop Of New York May 81,
1914, and was constituted titulary
bishop of Tagaste October 20. the same
year.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-03
women AS WORKERS
ON FARMS DEBATED
Variance Of View Develops,
But Department of Labor
Negatives Proposition.

Should women rush to farms to take
the places Of male farm hands who
have been called into military service?
NO." say officials of the Department
Of Labor.
"Yes." say many organizations and
even state colleges and universities,
which are planning to establish sum-
mer schools to instruct women in the
less arduous and more skilled processes
Of agriculture.
To give some sort of an oficial an
swer to the question. which shall indi-
cate what the government policy to-
ward woman farm labor is to be. the
whole question has been laid before the
he is expected to issue statement
upon which colleges and other insti-
tutions and organizations may work.
Policy of Other Nations.
Effort has been made to ascertain
what policy has been adopted in other
warning nations. In France. in Eng
land and. in some extent, in Italy Wom-
en- are employed on farms. In France
the preponderance of farm work long
has been done by women. children and
old men.
But in Canada, where it is asserted
conditions are more comparable to those
in the United States. ttaFxas found that
employment Of women On farms is not
encouraged.
Canada has worked in three ways to
repienish her farm labor. One source
was groups of employees in cities. mostly
Of sedentary occupation. who had had
farm experience In their youth. A
larger group was that released by man
ufacturers. q plan already being
worked out In New England. A third
country, Of course, has nowhere out
side its own borders from which it can
replenish its farm labor supply.
See Harm in Movement.
Omciais at the Department of Labor
do not doubt the sincerity of many
persons who are seeking to get women
to go to farms. But they believe the
movement will do harm, in that it is
considered women are not able to do
farm work under the conditions in this
country, nor is 1t needful for them to
attempt it so long as better plans may
DO devised to relieve the shortage en-
tailed by the draft.
The new plan Of labor administration,
drawn up by the advisory commission.
| headed by John Lind, includes a di-
vision of employment for woman. but
no head has been appointed to the Sec
| ton nor has it yet been organized.
When this is done the whole subject
Of women in industry, on farms and in
wartime work in general will be
studied.
Plan Tried in Maryland.
One Of the efforts made nearest to
Washington last season to train women
for farm work was at the Maryland
State COl1eEe. formerly the MARYLAND
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-03

rotary OF Labor Is not yet known. By
the attitude OF officials in his depart
men: II il considered likely that he
women at this time.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-03

Agricultural College. under a plan in
which Mrs. Flora Mcdonald Thompson
hof this city. who has spent much time
abroad. was instrumental in formulat-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-03

other state universities. and many
private organizations In large cities
hive sought to encourage the utiliza-
ti6n of women on farms.
The policy to be outlined by the Sec
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-03
|HARDSH|PS CITED
BY HOME RENTERS
"Buy or Quit" Policy Said to
Extend to Families of Ab-
sent Soldiers.
REPORTS UNDER INQUIRY

That the buy or quit" proposition to
renters Of houses Is widespread Is shown
by the increased number of reports be-
ing received at the housing and health
division Of the War Department, 71s
18th street northwest. Capt. j. I. Pey-
ser, Q. NJ. r. c.. who is in charge of the
investigation of these reports, said yes
terday that the practice has affected
not only civilian residents of Washing
ton. but men who are now in the mill
tary service Of the government. some of
them who have but recently been sent
abroad. and even the families Of some
who have already felt the shock of bat
tie and are being sent home for hos
pital treatment.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-03
See Harm in Movement.
Plan Tried in Maryland.

One OF the efforts made nearest to
Washington last season to train women
for farm work was at the Maryland
State College. formerly the Maryland
Putnam patriot., 1918-12-06

half pound Of meat ia his nosses-
sion. Even to possess milk incurred
thousand mark fine and liability of
Imprisonment When the Huns I'm
any withdrew, they took all the Ia
oie-clothes. bureau covers. and all
'ne clothes of the people. young and
oid' except those they wore. The
"ermans had raised poor wheat.
American Relief societies had sent
the Belgians good wheat. This the
Germans, for the most part, kept. giy-
ing the Belgians their own poor
wheat
Yet We Americans have Jared
We'll IN Belgium. For two days we
were billeted cosy as could be with a
Belgian peasant woman who had
three cows still which the Germans in
their haste had overlooked. Then We
Toasted on milk, butter, and cheese
as we had not for many a day. Bel
GUM is a pretty country with its red
tile roofs and its wide green fields.
How glad We were to leave No Mans
Land behind. All is level, fertile
land now where turnips grow more
abundantly than in almost any other
land. ! think the Belgians have lived
on potatoes and turnips for the last
four years, they have so many But
our coffee is ready now-and enough
for Madame and her family. too. So
| will close and learn a little more
French and German from one who
can speak both, yet prefers neither,
but rather her own good Flemish
tongue.
"Avec plus qu'un peu d'amour.
Truman"
Putnam patriot., 1918-12-06
WANTED TO BE LOCKED AWAY
FROM TEMPTATION
John Peehie, So. Present, Pitiful Oh.
jeet In City Court

Relatives all dead, no friends, with
out a home, and unable TO resist
drinking intoxicating liquor, John
Pechie, 90. born in Putnam and al
ways lived here but for periodical
trips away, presented a pitiful sight
in the city court Saturday morning,
where he pleaded guilty to being an
habitual drunkard.
1t was by his own violition that
John appeared in court. Friday at
ternoon. while still intoxicated after
sereval days of drinking. on the verge
of delirium tremens. according to his
own story. he approached Sergeant
Julius Cordier and asked to be put
where iron bars would protect him
from his being able to obtain more
drink
Officer Cordier said Pechie was
very drunk and said that if he was
not locked up he would break a large
plate glass window. The officer
found that he had no home or friends.
Pechie begged to be put in cell so
that he would not die on the street.
In court Pechie said. II have been
drinking pretty hard and told the Of
ficer 10 do something with me as
didn't want to fall on the street"
Pechie said in reply to Judge Gels
sler's questions that he had not been
in court for three years, and that
sometimes he went six months, some.
times a year, without drink and then
would 60 into a saloon and get in with
the boys" -
Judge Geissier told Pechie that he
could not understand why he took the
first drink when he, Pechie, knew
what it did for him. He said he could
understand how man would want tc
fill up after he had taken the first
one, but did not see how he took thu
first one knowing what it meant, HI
said that he could send Pechie to the
State Farm for Inebriates or to jail
He did not think man who went I
year and six months at a time II
subject for the farm.
''Just put me where | can &c
straiyhtened out" said Pechie.
Il sentence you to 60 days in jail,
said his honor.
Putnam patriot., 1918-12-06
PUT RETURN ADDRESS ON LET.
TIERS TO SOLDIERS

Under instructions issued by Post
msster-General Burleson, no letter
mail will be accepted by postoffiees in
the United States for delivery to
members of the American expedition
airy forces without a return address
on the envelope. The order was is
sued at the request Of the war depart
ment so that proper disposition may
be made Of mail reaehing France FOR
members of the expeditionary forces
who have returned to the United
States.
Putnam patriot., 1918-12-06
GENERAL EDWARDS
SAD PARTING
Tells His Troops Goodbye and
Cracks Jokes, Although His
Heart Is Saddened and There
Are Tears In His Eyes
His Only Daughter and Hi. Aide Died
Shortly Before He Was Recalled

General Edwards of the 26th divis-
ion has returned to the United States
and was recently welcomed home TO
Boston with big celebration.
George A. Vaughan, Jr., son of
Mr. and Mrs, George A. Vaughan.
Brookline, Mass, formerly of Put
nam. is a member of the division. In
letter he wrote to his parents he
gives a touching pen picture of the
generals parting from his troops in
France, which shows how he is loved
by the men of the division he brought
to a high state of perfection. The
letter is as follows:
"A sad event took place here the
other night Our General Edwards
who came over with this, the 26th Di-
vision, trained them, and has led
them to victory, making name for
us and himself. has been called back
home Only few days before, he
received word that his only child, a
daughter about 20 years of age, had
passed on. Then came the death of
his aide, a man who had grown up
with him from the ranks and whom
General Edwards loved. This broke
him all up. and in the midst of il came
the order calling him back to perform
more valuable work, they said. but it
surely did break him up terribly and
the night before he left, he called all
the fellows of the Headquarters Com
pany together and gave US a little
talk
at was my good fortune to be very
near him and it did make one feel a@-
fully blue TO hear him trying to crack
Jokes with tears in his eyes. and he is
one grand leader, none better to be
found anywhere on earth, and he
loves every man in his command. He
left US and think every man will do
hi best for him even though he is not
leading us now He said he hoped to
muster us out when we returned and
to shake the hand of every man IN
the division which he built up, and
certainly hope can have this pleas.
ure when that time comes.
Putnam patriot., 1918-12-06
HUNS STEAL
AMERICANS PAY
Following on Heels of Retreat.
ing Germans, Yankees Find
Devastation Everywhere
Fine or imprisonment If Caugb, WIZ
Meat or Milk In Their Posse..io,

The following letter written bv Tn.
man Woodward to has parents, Rev
and Mrs. W. D. Woodward Of A++o
waugan, tells how the Belgians bavs
been preyed upon by the Hun and
cannot understand why American sol
diers pay for what the Germans ,ooI.
without asking. He writes.
November 4th. 1918
Dear Folks -
IT Is IN most comfortable quarters
that / write you this letter tonight A
candle burns in the center If .ho
large kitchen table. At my back ;s i.
CHEEKY fire in the stove at which the
good Belgian lady is preparing coffee
for my two comrades and me. On tho
further side of the table little Bel
glan boy and girl are looking at pic
ture postal cards, another small lad is
alseep with his head on the table. ar
my left. And 'Smithy' and .Scotty'
are writing letters at my right.
This Is how it all came about. Said
'Smithy and 'Scotty' to WOODY /,
Let's 60 for walk We went. Said
Woody to '5mithy' and 'Scotty.'
There's stove and a tea-kettle and
a woman can see in that house. Let's
go in and ask for some coffee We
went in. Surely the good lady would
be glad to make US some coffee Or
so she said, and ere long we drank
two cups apiece But the coffee was
really ehiekory, and the sugar had
come from the American Relief As.
sociaton. A little more 'parlez-vous-
ing and we arranged to return this
evening. bring our own coffee, our
own sugar, and, as turned out later,
cur own milk.
I'VE who have followed fast on the
heels of the retreating Germans have
seen much of Belgium. Almost ev-
erything which the natives owned
was taken for the 'Vaterland" That
is, il the Kaiser's hordes could use II.
The Belgians can hardly understand
US Americans who insist on paying
even for the cooking of our own cot
fee, The Huns just helped them.
selves. Even now it seems odd to see
the little children and old women sa-
lutte US as we pass by They do this
because they are used to making ODE
stance to soldiers, having been made
to fear the Teutons.
'She who is cooking our coffee hid
her two small boys in an attic closet
when the Germans evacuated the
town, and thus they were not taken
from her. She states that there was
a fine of two thousand marks if a
civilian was caught with as much as
Putnam patriot., 1918-12-06
MRS. SCHOONMAKER TO BE THE
SPEAKER

The friends of good citizenship are
invited to attend a meeting to be held
at the parsonage of the Congregation
al church on Woodstock Hill Dec. II
at 2.30. Mrs. Nancy Schoonmaker
of New York, most entertaining and
instructive speaker, will tell of the
courses of study in citizenship which
are being given throughout the state.
All are cordially invited to come to
hear her.
Putnam patriot., 1918-12-06
VICTORY DAY
In FRANCE
First Real Holiday In Five
Years
Putnam Boy Sees War End on For.
eisn Soil
Letters from John T. Ryan. France
November II, 1918.

Letters from John I. Ryan. France
November IL, 1918.
Dear Mother
Il received a letter from Francis
yesterday which was dated Sept 18th
and sent from Key West, Fla. in
which he told me about Cousin Char
lie being gassed and in base hospital
here in France: and that he is still on
board the sub-chaser 800 and still in
home waters, where | hope he stays
as the war is about over and he can
probably get home long before me.
as the service am in may keep me
here on foreign soil long while af-
ter everything is over and settled.
But who cares, so long as ! will get
back home to the good old u. S. A.
one day. / am sending you another
little souvenir and hope you will like
it. | have been here almost three
months now, and in January | will
get my first service stripe, which is
gold and is worn on the left arm near
the wrist; and will in all probability
have my second one when | get home
Also received a home paper and was
sure glad to get it. Will close now.
From your loving son.
PVT John T. Ryan
November IL, 1918.
Dear Mother
II am writing to tell you that peace
was declared yesterday, but l suppose
YOU in America knew it almost as
soon as we over here. No one really
could describe the scenes that took
place here last night, for the people
waited until they. were sure OF 1t and
then all the street lights were lit for
the first time since have been here,
and the band played in the public
SQUARE. The restaurants and wine
shops were crowded with civilians
and soldiers, and everybody made
merry. 1t was the first real holiday
these people had in nearly FIVE years,
and was something | never would
want to miss, for anyone who was
here will never forget it. A national
holiday was declared today. and flags
and iack-o-lanterns of all colors are
hanging from the windows.
"At this writing have not receiv-
ed any mail direct to G. R. 5, but
have got seven letters which were ad-
dressed to 322nd Supply CO., and no
doubt there is mail now at headquar-
tiers for me which will be brought to
me on the next truck from there.
Don't forget to send me the home pa
ners: send them once a month if you
Putnam patriot., 1918-12-06

want. or each week; il makes no diff.
ference when get them. as ever
though they are three or four weeks
old, like to read about the doings in
the old home town.
Hoping that the day is not far
of when l will be at home again. and
that everyone is we'll at home. | re
main
your loving son,
PVT John T. Ryan"
The Alaska daily empire., 1918-12-17
ROLL CALL FOR RED CROSS IS
 GOING AHEAD
Lists Are Out and Member ship Is Being Signed Up Rapidly in all the
 Stores.

The campaign for membership in the Red Cross will continue as ar ranged except that the committee will depend upon the lists placed in the various business houses for sub scriptions and they hope that all the people would arrange for their sub scriptions at these places
 Inquiries have been made of mem bers of the committee as to whether more than one member of family should join at this time. The Ma tional organization of the American Red Cross wishes to have every adult in the United States enrolled as a member The school children will be enrolled as members of the Junior Red Cross. With this in view it is expected that in cases of mar ried people that both the husband and wife and any grown children will become members.