davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-12
WOMEN BRAVE IN PERIL

London, Feb. 8.-Revised figures in.
dictate that the loss Of life on the Tus.
CANA probably was considerably in
excess of yesterdays estimates of 1O1.
1t is now believed that complete re-
turns will show the number to be
nearer 200 than 100.
Reports received at the American
embassy yesterday indicated the loss
of 101 lives, while the British admir-.
alty's estimate was 21O.
JOINT MILITARY FUNERALS
This discrepancy now appears to
have been due to the fact that the fig
ures supplied to the embassy evidently
did not include the missing, of which
there are still many.
1t was announced today that ar.
rangements we're being made by Brit
ish and American officials jointly for
great military funerals for the Tus-
cania's dead.
COMMANDER IS SAVED
The correspondent of the Press as
ISOLATION at an Irish port says the sur
vivors Of the Tuscania who are there
were greatly relieved to hear of the
safe arrival elsewhere of Major Ben
jamin F. Wade, of Washington, COM
mander Of contingent on the
steamer and hundreds Of American
troops.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-12
MEN
v0WvENGEANCE.
Rain of Shells Is Sent Into
German Trenches BY
Americans.
Associated Press Summary. I

ASSOCIATED Press Summary
On the American sector in France
the artillery is endeavoring to even
the score with the enemy for the sink.
ing of the Tuscania by bombarding
heavily German batteries, trenches
and other military targets. German
guns were silenced when they at
tempted to reply.
The American gunners succeeded
in dispensing large body Of Ger
mans, estimated at two battalions.
and inflictng losses on the detach-
ment.
GERMAN RAIDS REPULsED.
German efforts against the French
lines at Verdun and in Alsace are
growing stronger. The infantry at
tacks have taken the place Of raids
but the latest German attempts were
repulsed with loss by the French.
Small raids and the usual artillery
actions have occurred on the British
front.
In Italy artillery activity has been
slight.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-12
MANY KILLED
ON HIGHWAYS
OVER TWO HUNDRED ARE DEAD
FROM ACCIDENTS DURING
THE YEAR OF 1917

Des Moines, Feb. S.-According to q
summary made by the Iowa state
highway commission there were 281
people killed and $50 injured in acct
dents on Iowa highways in 1917. Rail-
road grade crossings, the automobile
and auto cycle speedster, drunken
and careless automobile drivers are
largely responsible for the gruesome
record.
The highway commission record
was compiled from newspaper clip
pings and it is possible. the commits
sion states, that more than this num-
Der Of deaths and accidents occurred
as the commission probably did not
receive all the clippings.
OF the 281 total deaths there were
219 on the highways and 62 on rail.
road crossings. There were 500 ac'
cidents in all.
Every few of these accidents, if the
accounts in the newspapers are ap-
proximately correct, can be attributed
to unavoidable accidents" states the
commission. at would appear from a
study Of these accounts that ordinary
care and observation and reasonable
speed condition Of trafhc and road
considered, would have prevented al
most every death.
TT would seem that there can be
no reasonable excuse for this waste
of human life or for the suffering. pain
and agony, not only Of the 5000 in
jured, but Of the dependents. relatives
and friends of both dead and injured.
The wild mania which posses many
drivers of motor vehicles the moment
they get behind the steering wheel, to
travel at a high rate Of speed, utterly
their own safety and that
of other users Of the highways, causes
most Of the deaths and injuries. The
awful toll of dead and injured is the
price Iowa is paying for not curbing
this mania either by the self control
of the drivers themselves or by curb
ing them through the law and officers
of the law.
In just four months time during
the summer and early fall when most
of the driving was being done there
were 1853 people killed.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-12
ROOKIE FLYER
DOWNS B0CHE
Missourian, In First Air
Fight Shoots Down
German.
[By Associated Press Staff
COrreSnodenf-1

With the American Army in Franco,
Feb. 7.-(Delayed) 1.-The young Amer
lean lieutenant who had the honor Of
shooting down his first German air
plane while accompanying a French
escadrilla on a bombing expedition
Tuesday night, never had operated a
machine before in his life while in
flight and never before had been over
the enemy lines. He got his man over
the German city of Saarburg.
The bombing squadron was over
Saarburg and in the act Of dropping
bombs when enemy airplanes were
seen approaching rapidly.
FIGHT $4,000 FEET HIGH
BY the time the bomb dropping had
been completed the enemy was close
at hand and the French formation
which this American and another
American aviator had accompanied
was at an altitude Of 10000 feet.
The lieutenant, who is a Missourian,
took off his gloves so that he might
operate his machine gun more effec-
lively when he saw an enemy plane
driving in from the side and firing its
gun. The bullets whizzed close to the
French machine before the American
acting as gunner, could get his piece
into action.
HUN MACHINE SHOT DOWN
Then he turned stream of bullets
into the enemy, and before the first
drum was exhausted the enemy ma
chine toppled and started to spiral.
Then 1t topped and fluttered down
with fare of smoke and flame in its
wake. 1t crashed to the ground a
short distance from the German city.
The other American aviator, also
lieutenant, was not so lucky as the
Missourian, for the machine he picked
out to engage lodged away quickly
and he was unable to get in any ef-
fective shots.
COLD BUT HAPPY
When the squadron returned, the
Missouri lieutenant's hands were
swollen to twice their normal size
from the cold, he having lost his
gloves during the encounter. Other
wise he is today the happiest officer
in the American expeditionary forces.
He has been in France only short
time.
WENT "FoR THE RIDE"
The incident shows how quickly
things may happen to a flier. The
Missouri lieutenant had no thought of
making a flight until just before he
actually started on one, having come
to town from a camp to see dentist
In the street he met the other lieu
tenant, who already had been assigned
to accompany the bombing party.
This officer who is from Atlanta, after
that he was going on
bombing raid over Germany with the
French, asked the Missourian to come
along and see him off. The Missourian
agreed and went to the field.
The Albanian had climbed into his
when one of the French
pilots discovered that his observer
was missing. Only one suggestion
necessary to cause the Missourian to
telephone for and receive permission
to go. He explained his inexperience
but the Frenchman said it made no
difference. Thus he began the flight
in which he brought down the Ger
man machine.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-12
Kenyon Demands
Aliens Be Denied
Vote BY States

XYYASHlNGTON, D. c., Feb. 9.
" Introducing a constitu-
tionaI amendment requir-
ing all persons who vote for mem.
bers Of congress and presidential
electors to be American citizens,
Senator Kenyon Of Iowa Friday
called the senate's attention to
seven states-Arkansas, Kansas,
South Dakota, Nebraska, Mis-
souri,, Indiana and Texas-which
he said permitted aliens to vote.
This condition he said 10 "ratirer
shocking"
Vice President Marshall OBJ
served that he thought the mum.
Der Of such states was nine.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-12
MEN
PUBLISH PAPER
COMMANDER OF AMERICAN
FORCES WRITES FOR
FIRST ISSUE.

Paris, Feb. S.-The first number Of
The Stars and Stripes" tho odicial
publication of the American expedf
tionary forces, appeared today. It II
weekly newspaper authorized BY tho
commander in chief and written and
edited by officers and enlisted men.
All the profits win be used for tho
benefit Of the enlisted men.
The paper has eight pages Of or
binary size and 1000 words Of cable
news will be sent from the United
States for each issue. Besides read
and line illustrations.
MESSAGE FROM pER9&aGfeo.
Today's issue has on the drst
page this message from General
Pershing:
1.-The commander in chief Of tho
American expeditionary forces e1.
tends his greetings to the editorial
staff and to the readers. from the inst
line trenches to the base ports. Tho
readers mainly are men who have
been honored by being In the drse
contingent Of Americans to fight On
European soil. It is an honor AID .
privilege which makes them fortu
nate above millions Of their fellow
citizens at home.
SPEEKs YANKEE SPIRIT.
commensurate with their privilege
in being here is the duty which IL
laid before them, and this duty win
be performed by them as have been
other duties by Americans Of the past,
eagerly determined and unyieldins
to the last. The paper written by the
men in the service should speak the
thoughts Of the new American army
and the American people from whom
the army has been drawn.
"t n your paper. Good luck to Ns
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-12
UNIVERSITY AIDS
-, IN COAL FAMINE

Iowa City, Feb. 8.-Hit BY q coal
famine, and saved by Iowa univer.
sity. Iowa City people are deeply
grateful to the state.
The coal supply was utterly ex.
in town, and what would
have happened II the state institution
had not come to the rescue of the
public, the fuel board does not know.
Everybody is grateful for the as.
sistance that came SO OPPORTUNITY,
from the university's great tonnage.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-12
11s SOLDIERS MISSING,

washington, d. c., Feb. S.-Advices
to the war department accounting for
all except 113 of the 2,156 American
soldiers who were aboard the Tus.
CANA when she was summarized Tues.
day night remained unchanged today
and officials anxiously await addition.
al details expected to clear up the
conflict with foreign figures on the
losses.
Cabled press dispatches from an
Irish port last night saying that forty.
four bodies of American soldiers, bat.
tered beyond recognition, had been
washed ashore fifteen miles from the
scene OF the torpedoing dampened
hope that the troop losses would prove
very small.
NO LIST OF MISSING.
No attempt is being made thus far
to prepare list of the lost or miss
ing. Only the names of a few sur
vivors have. been received.
The report from the Irish port,
which also said that army identified.
ton tags found on the bodies of the
soldiers washed ashore bore no names
or mum ers making Identification i'm
possible, caused considerable specula-
ton. Army regulations require iden-
tification tags bearing name, rank,
company and regiment of the wearer
U-BoAT's FATE A PUZZLE.
Reports that the British destroyer
which was conveying the Tuscania
pursued and sank the submarine lack
confirmation and the report of the
British admiralty is awaited eagerly.
Navy officials are inclined to the view
that the Tuscania incident is an iso-
lated case and say they have no reason
to change their view that the subma-
rine menace has been overcome.
2,17 SOLDIERS ON BOARD
The committee on public informa,
ton made this announcement today:
1.-THE passenger list Of the Tuscania,
compiled by the war department at the
port of embarkation, shows that the
vessel carried 2,177 military passen-
gers and two civilian passengers. The
military passengers consisted of 1T
officers and 1000 enlisted men,"
2.o35 ACCOUNTED FOR.
The navy department today an
nounced that latest reports Of the sur
vivors of the Tuscania show 76 Off
GERS and 1874 enlisted men of the
army have been landed at Buncrana,
Ireland; that 16 officers and seamen Of
the crew have been landed at Larne,
Ireland, and that approximately $40
officers and enlisted men of the army
have been landed at Islay, Scotland
in addition" the department an
uncement continues, approximately
SO soldiers and embers Of the crew
are reported to be in hospitals. Six
members of the crew and 70 soldiers
are in the military hospital at Lon
donderry. Ten soldiers are in Tough
Foyle hospital at Londonderry and 8
soldiers and of the crew are in the
county infirmary at Londonderry"
NO EXPLANATION OF TAGS.
War department officials are unable
to account for the statement made in
news dispatches that blank Identified
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-12
M'LEAN IN CHARGE

London, Feb. S.-The captain Of the
Tuscania was Peter Mclean, not ]. l..
Henderson, the Times says. Captain
Mclean last month was awarded the
order of the British empire on the
recommendation of the board Of trade.
He has been in the service OF the
Anchor Line for twenty years and dur
ing the war has carried many cargoes
of munitions and food stuffs safely
through the zone.
An official statement issued yester-
day said that Captain J. L. Henderson
was in command of the Tuscania.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-12
KILLED
IN RIOTS; SLAV
MODS PLUMBER
Thievery and Anarchy Re
new Carnival In
Petrograd.
ALEXIEFF MAKES NEW
WAR ON BOLSHEVIKI

London, Fab. 8.-Fresh outbreaks Of
riotfng and looting in Petrograd are
chronicled in special dispatches from
the Russian capital. Wine cellars, Jew
elry shops and clothing, food and drug
stores are being plundered.
Troops employed to suppress the dis
turbances did much shooting, in which
1t Is estimated that 12O persons were
killed. By firing on the mobs tho sol.
diers have been able to quell the riot
ers at intervals during the last three
days and nights, but the orgie begins
again elsewhere.
cossAcks DIVIDE STRENGTH
Fighting between the bolshevik and
the cossacks is said to be increasing
IN the south of Russia where the cos
sacks are joining the bolshevfki In in.
creasing numbers. Generals Kaledines
and Alexieff are reported to have quar-.
relied and General Kaledines has disap-
peared from cossack headquarters al
Novtorchek. General Alexieff is act.
Ing Independently and is said to Be in
command Of 10000 men, who are
marching northward.
PEACE MOVES YELLED
Silence concerning the negotiations
at Brest-Litovsk continues, except for
unconnrmed rumors in the German
newspapers. 1t is reported without en-
PLANTATION that deputation Of Russian
troops from the Bukowina front il on
It's way to Brest-Litovsk.
A Copenhagen dispatch to tho Elk.
change Telegraph company quotes
message from Sofia, Bulgaria, as say.
ing that a newspaper there has an.
nounced that Rumanian revolutionists
have seized ships in the harbor OF
kelia and proclaimed new republic
In the estuary Of the Danube.
UKRAINE CLAIMS VICTORY
The Ukrainian information bureau
at Stockholm has received a report
rom the Ukrainian delegation at Brest-
L1tovsk tina THE Ukrainians have won
a great victory over the bolsheviki.
taking 200 machine guns and zoo, 900
rifles. 1t adds that bolshevik attempt
to capture Kiev failed, the bolsheviki
losing 10000 men.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-12
RUSH GRAIN ABROAD
u. S. RAILWAY ORDER

Washington, D. c., Feb. 9.-To facil-
itate the movement of grain for the
allies and home consumption, Director
General McAdoo today ordered prefer
ence given to grain shipments through
out all the principal granger states.
The order directs that preference
be given in loading grain cars in Illi-
nois,, Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin, Mime
sofa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Ne
braska, Kansas, Missouri and Okla
homa
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-12
Drew S. Ryan, 230 Grand Avenue,
Member of Aero Section,
Sailed For Europe On
Doomed Ship
BODIES ASHORE; UNIDENTIFIED
0TTuMWA BOY ON TuSCANIA

~REW S. RYAN, o
- BY whether
those saved
under the af and enlisted at the local recruiting
1917 being month IS
Davenport by sere finch and there assigned the
Prior enisting l..
and his father employed
relp
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-12
COMMITTEE
AMENDS RAIL BILL

Washington, D. c., Feb. 9.-The ad-
ministration railroad bill, amended to
limit government control to two
years after peace; to vest ultimate
rate fixing powers in the president and
to safeguard the short line railroads
against loss by diversion of freight
revenues to government controlled
lines, was ordered favorably reported
10 the house today by the interstate
oonuerce committee.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-12
sRr1ohs COUNT ON U. s.

London, Feb. 3.-That the sinking
of the liner Tuscania will stimulate
the United States to even greater re-
solve and sterner efforts on behalf of
the fight for democracy is the opinion
generally expressed in editorial COM
ment in the morning newspapers.
Satisfaction is expressed and con-
gratulations are extended that this,
the first disaster to many, American
transports show the emptiness of the
German boast that the submarines
would render the transportation Of
the American armies impossible and
would intimidate the Americans.
MAY NOT BE LAST.
Nevertheless, it is declared it is too
much to say that the Tuscania will
be the last victim, though the convic-
ton is expressed that the American
nation realizes fully the difficulties
ahead and is prepared to meet them.
Some of the editorials say that the
submarine menace has not yet been
mastered and remains a grave prob
lem to which the allies, especially
Great Britain and the United States,
must devote all their energies in view
Of the imperative need Of keeping the
Atlantic route open.
NO CAUSE FOR ALARM.
The Daily Telegraph says:
1.-THE Americans have defed the
pirates all these months and we are
convinced that the sorrow and anger
which the loss of life on the Tuscania
will occasion will only steel the hearts
Of the people to persevere and deep
en- their resolve. There is nothing in
the incident to occasion alarm, but 1t
constitutes warning to us and the
Americans to concentrate on the de-
tense of the Atlantic"
"A thousand men will step forward
to fill the gap left vacant by each Of
the dead" says the Daily Mail.
Americans are looking the task
straight in the face and dangers and
difficulties, even disaster, will only
serve to stimulate and steady them"
"REMEMBER THE TUScANlA."
The Daily Express declares that
the U-boat that sank the Tuscania
did bad days work for Germany.
It adds:
America will shed proud tears,
then her heart will harden. Re
member the Tuscania' VIII be the ir.
resistible call to the colors. It will
be also the battle cry Of victory"
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-12
WOMEN HELP WITH BOAT

London, Feb. 9.-The only two wo-
men on board the Tuscania, the Press
association correspondents account
says, Mrs. Collins and Mrs. Parsons,
went down ON a rope into life boat.
The former said that when their boat
left the Tuscania many of the troops
had been thrown out in lowering the
next boat. q
1--WE were Immediately surrounded
BY men in the icy water wearing life
belts" she said. 1--WE had only two
men in our boat who could manage
the oars. They did their best, and as
we came across swimming or float
ing man we gathered him into the boat.
Soon the boat was very full We wit
messed many distressing scenes. Even
tually we got on board destroyer. /
don't remember harder bit Of work. !"
PRAISE FROM SOLDIER
A soldier who heard Mrs. Collins, a
stewardess, tell the story said:
Eyes, and you did as much as the
best man in the world could have
done. l was in your boat and saw
YOU
A young officer. answering a ques-
ton as to what the soldiers did while
waiting for the destroyers after the
first excitement was over, said:
"Oh, we soon steadied down,
lounged about and smoked. but we
didn't venture below to gather up our
belongings for fear the ship would
capsize suddenly.
CHEERS FOR DESTROYER
1--WE talked about the misfortune Of
crossing the Atlantic only to be
caught on the last lap We cheered
the first destroyer which came along
side and it's men cheered US. Their
work was magnificent, and only when
they saw they could save no more
lives did they leave the scene. 1t was
thought well to make for different
ports and here ! am. among people
who have overwhelmed us with kind
ness"
A young trooper, when asked what
he thought of the experience, said he
would not have missed It for any
thing.
CALM IN FACE OF DANGER
81 was on deck talking to my chun"
he went on. when l heard a bang,
and up went a whole heap OF wreck
age and water over our heads. / was
drenched to the skin. Nobody
but you can imagine how it
felt to stand shivering in the dark
ness not knowing whether we would
get another shot that would send the
boat to the bottom"
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-12
y iowa BOYS ABOARD

Des Moines, Feb. S.-A special dis
Patch from Washington to the Des
Moines Capital gives the names OF
twenty-five Iowans who we're aboard
the Tuscania, sunk by submarine of
the coast of Ireland.
The personnel of the soldiers aboard
the vessel was given out by the wal
department, the dispatch says, and In
cludes the following of the Twentieth
Engtneers( foresters) from Iowa:
Herschel w. Reich. Moravia; D. c.
Hazlett, West Liberty; c. H. Ineck,
Ames; Herbert F. Gustafson, Curlew;
Ralph A. Fletcher, Marshalltown;
Carl Vinquist, GIL West Fifteenth
street. Des Moines; Harrl D. Long,
Norway; Lewis B. Rist, Algona; Harry
8. Blewett, Dubuque; John H. Evans,
State Center; Verne B. Herrier, Bat
tie Creek; Robert Dorset, Crescent;
Corporal c. C. Smith. Monroe.
oTTUMWA MAN IN LIST
Iowans Of the 10th supply train in
eluded
Corporals Henry VIM. Werner of La
porte City and Wesley Leroy McCalley
Of Walker, and Private VIM. D. Law
renee Of Webster City.
Iowa members of the 15sth aero
squadron were Privates VIM. w. Wing
Ter of Riverside; Drew S. Ryan of Of
tumwa: Guy Morris of Bedford; Sam
Heller Shaw of Swea City, and Cooks
Vernon n. Mann of Maquoketa and
Clyde C. Pelley. 1411 Washington ave
nue., Cedar Aapids.
Hazlett and Ineck are known to
have been rescued, their names being
included in the first list of survivors
received from Scotland
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-12

~OvERNOR E. l.. Philip Of Wis
= consin issues this dare to Senator
Robert M. La Toilette: "Come
back to Wisconsin and submit your
case to the people OF your own state"
Phillip is making the statement in
speeches which are regarded as his
campaign oneners for third term.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-12
ROSTER LOST WITH SHIP.

An Irish Port, Feb. 8.-As the list
OF Americans on board the Tuscania
was lost when the vessel went down,
1t will be impossible to ascertain the
names OF those lost until the names of
the survivors have been cabled to the
United States.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-12

forty-four American soldiers washed
ashore.
Even if the men had not been def
nitely assigned to an organization the
army regulations require that the tag
bear on one side the full name Of the
wearer. When the soldier is assigned
the number of his regiment, the des-
ignation of his company and his in
dividual number in that company are
supposed to be added Immediately to
the other side of the tag.
FACE DANGER BRAVELY
London, Feb Show American SOL
Gers behaved when they found that
the boats assigned to them on the
Tuscania had been smashed is told
by an American officer who landed at
an Irish port. The officer said that
his men behaved as he had expected
them to. Two full boatloads under his
command assembled on the deck
when the torpedo struck the liner and
marched to the boats assigned them.
Arriving at their station they found
that both boats had been destroyed.
AWAIT RESCUE SHIP
"The men lined up on deck at at
tention," said the officer, land all
preserved the utmost composure until
a destroyer came alongside and az
fected the transfer from the gradually
sinking deck.
1--WE stood alongside until the last
man was taken off, who as might be
expected was the commander Of the
ship. The patients in the ships hos
pital, including several cases of scar
letina and fever, were among the
first to be taken off,