davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The citizen., 1918-05-30

WHEN we took our position In the
wv front line trenches In Belgium
we relieved the Twenty-sixth
Canadian battalion. Scouts from that
organization came back TO the villages
OF Dlnkiebusch and Renninghelst to
tell US how glad they were to see US
and TO show US the way In. As we
proceeded overland. before reaching
the communication trenches at the
front. these scouts paid us the hos
pitable attention due strangers-that
is. one of them. leading "a platoon,
would say:
"Next 200 yards In machine gun
range. Keep quiet. don't run and be
ready to drop quick II you are
warned"
There was one scout TO each platoon.
and we followed him single file. most
OF the time along roads or well worn
paths, but sometimes through thickets
the scout would yell at us To drop,
and down we'd go on our stomachs,
while away off In the distance we
could hear the ''put-put" of machine
guns, the first sound of hostile firing
that had ever reached our ears.
ITS all right" said the scout. They
haven't seen us or got track Of us.
They're just firing on suspicion"
Nevertheless. when our various pla-
toons had all got into the front reserve
trenches, at about two hours after
midnight. we learned that the first
blood of our battalion had been spilled.
Two men had been wounded. though
neither fatally. our own stretcher
bearers took our wounded back to the
field hospital at Dinkiebusch. The men
OF the Twenty sixth battalion spent
the rest of the night instructing us
and then left US to hold the position.
We were as nervous as lot of cats,
and IL seemed To me that the Germans
must certainly know that they could
come over and walk right through US,
but outside OF few casualties from
sniping, such as the one that befell
the Fourteenth platoon man, which i
have told about. nothing very alarm
ing happened the first day and night.
and by that time we had got steady
ON our Job. We held the position for
20 days. which is the longest period
that any Canadian or British organ
ization has ever remained In front
line trench.
In none OF the stories I've read have
I ever seen trench lighting as II was
carried on In Belgium adequately de-
scribed. You see. you can't get much
OF an idea about u thing like that
making a quick tour Of the trenches
under Official direction and escort as
the newspaper and magazine writer's
do. I couldn't undertake TO tell any
thing worth while about the big issues
Of the war. but l can describe how
The citizen., 1918-05-30

a bomb raid. All night long, some
times until 2 or 3 o'clock In the morn.
ing. we rehearsed that raid, Just as
carefully as a company Of star actors
would rehearse a play. At first there
was a disposition to have sport out
Of II.
SWELL" some chap would say, rolling
into the hay all tired out, II got killed
six times tonight. S'pose it'll be eight
times tomorrow night"
One man Insisted that he had dis
covered in one of our aerial photo
graphs a German burying money, and
he carefully examined each new pic.
ture, so that he could be sure of find.
ing the dough and digging 1t up. The
GERS. however. the exhaustive care with
which we were drilled and. more than
all. the approach of the time when we
were to "gO over the top" drove all
sport out Of our minds. and ! can say
for myself that the very thought of the
undertaking as the fatal night drew
near sent shivers up and down my
spine.
A bombing raid. something originat-
ed In warfare by the Canadians, is not
intended for the purpose OF holding
ground, but to gain Information, to do
as much damage as possible and to
keep the enemy In a state of nervous.
ness. In this particular raid the chief
object was to gain information. Our
high command wanted to know what
troops were opposite US and what
troops had been there. We were ex-
pected to get this information from
prisoners and from buttons and papers
Off of the Germans we might kill. II
was believed that troops were being
The citizen., 1918-05-30

relieved from the big tent show up at
In Belgium for rest. Also Ii was sus-
pected that artillery was being with
drawn for the Somme. Especially We
were anxious TO bring back prisoners.
In civilized war prisoner can be
compelled to tell only his name. rank
and religion. But this is not u civil
ized war, and there are ways of max
ing prisoners talk. One of the most
effective ways-quite hSmane-is to
tie a prisoner fast, head and foot, and
then tickle his bare feet with feath-
er. More severe measures have fire.
quently been used-the water cure, for
lnstance--but I'm bound to say that
nearly all the German prisoners saw
were quite lOquaci0us and willing to
talk, and the accuracy Of their infOr-
nation. when later confirmed by raids,
was surprising. The iron discipline
which turns them into mere children
In the presence of their officers seemed
TO make them subservieDt and obedlent
to the officers who commanded us.
mean, of course. the privates. In this
way the system worked against the
fatherland. Captured German officers,
especially Prussians, were a nasty lot.
We never tried to get Information
from them. for we know they would
lie. happily and very intelligently-
well instructed In the art.
At last came the night when we
were to 20 'over the top" across No
Mans Land. and have u frolic with
Fritz In his own happy home. l am
endeayoring TO be as accurate and
truthful as possible In these stories Of
my soldering. and am therefore CON-
PEELED to say that there wasn't man
In the % who didn't show the strain
In his pallor ana nervousness. Under
orders. we discarded our trench helm
cts and substituted Knitted skullcaDs
The citizen., 1918-05-30
In the Front Trenches.

We got into Poperinghe at Z n. m.,
and the scouts had led US into the
front trenches at 2 the next morning.
Our position was to the left Of 81. Elol
and was known as "the island" be-
cause II had no support on either flank
On the left were the User canal and
the blum which forms Its bank. On
the right were 300 yards OF battered
down trenches. which had been rebuilt
twice and blown In again each time
by the German guns. For some ren-
son. which ! never quite understood.
the Germans were able to drop what
seemed tolerably large proportion Of
the output of the Krupp works on this
particular spot whenever they wanted
60. Our high command had concluded
that II was untenable. and 40 we, on
one side OF II and the British. on the
other, had 10 Just keep II secuted and
protect our separate fianks. Another
name they had for that position was
the bird cage" That was because
the first fellows who moved Into II
made themselves nice ant cnmfy and
put up wire nettings to prevent any
one from. tossing bombs IN on them.
Thus, when the Germans stirred up
the spot with an accurate shower OF
"whiz bangs" and ''coal boxes" the
same being thirteen Founders and six
inch shells, that wire netting presented
q spectacle Of utter inadequscy which
hasn't been equaled In this war.
They called the position which we
were assigned to defend "the grave
yard OF Canada" That was because
OF the fearful losses OF the Canadians
here IN the second battle OF Ypres.
from April q to June I. 1915, when
the first gas attack In the worlds his
tory was launched by the Germans.
and. although the French on the left
and the British ON the right fell back,
the Canadians stayed where they were
put.
Right here I can mention something
which will give you an idea why de-
scriptions of this war don't describe IL.
During the first gas attack the Cana
dlans, choking 10 death and falling
over each other In a fight against n
new and unheard OF terror In warfare.
found wny-the Lord only knows
who first discovered IL and how he
happened TO do Ito stay through a
The citizen., 1918-05-30

BUSCH" and a couple Of seconds later,
when some prominent landmark OF
Dinkiebusch would disintegrate with a
loud detonation. some one else would
remark:
"Train's arriyedr"
About the only amusement we had
during our long stay In the front
trenches was TO sit with our backs
against the rear wall and shoot at the
rats running along the parapet Poor
Macfarlane. with a dash Of the old
humor which he had before the war
The citizen., 1918-05-30

'FRONT.' trench.
gas cloud and come out alive. II isn't
pretty 10 think OF. and it's like many
other things In this war which you
can't even tell of In print, because the
simple description would violate the
nice ethics about reading matter for
the public eye which have grown up In
long years OF peace aud traditional de-
cency. But this thing which you can't
describe meant just the difference be-
tween life and death TO many OF the
Canadians that first day of the gas.
Official orders now tell every soldier
what he Is to do with his handker-
chief or a piece OF his shirt II he Is
caught In u gas attack without his
mask.
The nearest I eau come In print to
telling you what the soldier Is ordered
20 do In this emergency IL to remind
you that ammonia fumes oppose chic
rtne gas as a neutralizing agent and
that certain emanations OF the body
throw on ammonia fumes.
Now that I've told you how we got
from the Knickerbocker bar and other
places TO a situation which was Just
$50 yards from the intrenched front
Of the German army Ia Belgium I
might as well add couple OF details
about things which straightway put
fear Of God into our hearts. At day
break one Of our Fourteenth platoon
man ata ndin0 nm tha t{rlng atan nuah
The citizen., 1918-05-30
lover the Top and Give 'Em heIIl'

The English Tommy's battle cry as he
breaks from his trench. The bomb raid
and what happened. OF sixty that start
ed forty-slx failed TO return because the
Germans had prepared a surprise for
them. Graphic description OF Sergeant
McClintock's terrible experience.
The citizen., 1918-05-30

that day, got him under the rim OF his
helmet, and his career with the Cana
dian forces was over right there. And
then, as the dawn broke. we made out
a big painted sign raised above the
German front trench. II read:
The citizen., 1918-05-30

There are six articles In this re-
markable series by Sergeant McClin-
took. Two have already been printed.
and the third will appear soon. 1t Is
the most interesting one of the series
thus far and is entitled:
The citizen., 1918-05-30

Sergeant McChntock Is an American
boy OF Lertn0fon. ky.. pho has seen
service IN France. ,oos decorated for
bravery. ROUNDED. fnvohded home and
noto Is returning to accept a commits
sion. THIS Is the second article IN the
series. In the frst article he de-
scrioed his training up TO the point
where ne reached the front line
trenches.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-06
STOCK MARKET
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

New York, Feb. -Opening.-Minor
issues were the only features of inter-
est at the opening of today's stock
market, important railroads and IN
dustrials being backward and irrcg-
ular. Western Pacific shares hard
ened on declarations of the dividend
for the current year and Mailing COM
mon and preferred gained l IA to
2 IA points respectively on reports Of
the comanys probable liquidation
Heaviness ruled among steels, cop
pers, oils, motor and shippings. Lib
erty LIS were active on lower
range.
Noon-Prices continued to recede
during the first hour, investment rail-
roads, steels and active equipments
losing one to two points with various
war specialties Conditions were part
" reversed later on a sudden inquiry
for shippings led by Atlantic Gulf and
Pacific Mail which gained Az and 3
points respectively. California Petro-
leum, American Snuff, Beet Sugar and
American Sugar also registered ex-
IRENE advances of one to four points.
Liberty S1hs sold at 1914 to 98.O6, the
first As at the new low of 1928, and
the second. As at $3.50 to $3.50.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-06
SAVINGS STAMPS
SIGNS FOR ALL
US. BUILDINGS

Hartford, Feb. - Authorization
has been made by the post office de-
partment at Washington. according to
word received today by State Director
Of War Savings Howell Cheney, per-
uniting signs advertising the war say
ings campaign to be placed upon all
buildings owned or rented by the gov
eminent for post Office purposes. The
treasury department has also author
lied the installation of similar signs
on sites of completed or occupied fed
eral buildings used by this depart
ment or on the buildings themselves.
Regulations accompanying the author
ization permit the displays of signs as
large as $50 feet square.
Mr.. Cheney has written to local di-
rectors in all the towns and cities Of
the state asking them ia point out
the provisions of these authorizations
to postmasters and other federal Off
Gals in their towns or cities with a
view to making plans for the posting
of large advertising signs calling the
attention of the public to the war
savings campaign. It is expected that
number of striking posters will be
displayed before long on post Office
buildings throughout the state.
A large sign on the central post
Office building in Washington reads:
SAVE AND SERVE.
DO YOUR DUTY. DON'T DELAY
BUY WAR SAVINGS STAMPS
AT ANY BANK OR POST OFFICE.
STAMP OUT KAISERISM"
Carroll county, Missouri, has adopt
ed unique plan for stimulating
greater interest in the sale of thrift
stamps by rural free delivery carriers.
A blackboard has been erected on
each post office on which the daily
and total sales of each carrier are
posted so that the public can see
which carrier is doing the best work
in selling stamps. The result is not
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-06
SHAPIRO GIVEN
HIGH HONOR in
hebrew ORDER
Shapiro District Vice Presi.
dent-Next Convention
in Bridgeport.

Word has been received in this city
that at the annual convention Of Dis
trict Grand Lodge, No. 1, Independent
Order Bnai Birth, held in New York
recently, Attorney Charles H. Shapiro
of this city, was elected first vice pres
ident. Mr.. Shapiro, who has been
identified with the work of the order
for many years and is widely known
throughout southern New England for
his fraternal activities, is a member of
Harmony Lodge. He has been chair
man of the committee on the district
court, a member of the general COM
mittee, chairman state board of depu-
ties, and second vice president His
elevation to the first vice PRESIDENCY
is a fitting recognition of his tireIess
and devoted efforts for the order.
The district, which includes New
York state, the New England states
and the eastern part of the Dominion
of Canada celebrated its 18th ami
versary at Temple Emanuel at which
Governor Whitman, Justice Irving
Lehman, Rev. DR.. Joseph Sf1verman,
Hon. Charles Hartman, Hon. Joseph
Rosenzweig, Hon. Maurice P. David
son and Hon. Joseph H. U1lman and
other noted speakers delivered ad.
dresses.
1t was voted to hold the next con-
vention in 1919 at Bridgeport and the
Jewish residents of this city have al
ready began making elaborate prepa-
ration for that event, this being the
first time that the convention of Bnai
BIRTH will be held in this city.
The order has nearly 900 members
in this city and an effort will be made
during the coming year to largely in
crease its membership.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-06
N, Y. Live Stock Market

Beeves-Choice steers, s1o.5o@
$13.65 100 lbs; 2 extra, $l4; bulls, 81
@$12.25; cows, $4.5O@ $3.50; a few
tops, $10@$1O.25. Beef Is Il @19c for
native sides city dressed.
Calves-Common to choice veals,
15@$18.75 100 lbs; few at $40; cuIls,
$11.50@ $14.5o; barnyard calves, $3.50
@$9.50; yearlings, $6@ss. Country
dressed veals, 19c@25c; city dressed
21c@27c.
Sheep and Lambs-Common sheep
50 per 100 lbs; common to prime
lambs, $17.50@ $1e.25. Dressed NUT
ton, 18c@211kc; dressed lambs, E3c@
26c; country dressed dollhouse lambs
$10@$12.
Medium, weights, SIT per
100 lbs; roughs, SIG; pigs, $I6.25 q
$16.75. Country dressed hogs, 21c0
25c
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-06
DATE FOR NEXT
LIBERTY LOAN
DRIVE NOT SET

No decision has been announced as
to the date, amount or terms Of the
next Liberty Loan. The Secretary Of
the Treasury has offered Tor sale
$500, 00O, 900 of Treasury Certificates.
bearing 4 per cent. interest, due April
22nd and convertible into the Third
Liberty Loan, which has been taken
as indicating that he expects to have
the loan closed before that date, and
will probably open the campaign not
later than March 18th.
The Secretary has repeated the
! statement that the treasury will have
to raise $4,000, 100000 by loans be-
tween now and July 1, and in view of
huge tax payments which come in
June the bonds will apparently have
TO be sold in one campaign. Tire total
amount of Treasury Certificates per-
mitted to be outstanding at one time
hnder the existing law is S4,0O0,00O,
700. and of these more than $1,000
100000 are due on June 25th. The
Proceeds of these have been received
/. lnd disbursed. This leaves only about
l3 900, 10000 CT the certificates
VALUABLE to apply q the $1,000, 000,-
loo requirement, but Congress may
Increase the authorization.
It is assumed that there viii be new
financial legislation before the next
tond issue is announced. The amount
Il bonds remaining unsold under the
Existing authorization is only $685.
t33,S5O, and, moreover, it is not like
\ that another offering will be made
in q
aspects The Second Liberty AS are
low selling on the market at about
Is IA, and with the further decline
opinion has grown that it will be ad-
tisable to raise the rate, or in any
kvent change the terms in some man
her which will improve their status
At 90 IA they yield a little under
A.25 per cent to the purchasers. A
new issue might carry per cent. but
Ibe redeemable at a premium, or the
thine might be shortened and the rate
raised.
The total sales of the Second AS or
! the stock exchange since the trading
4 in them began on November 8, up tc
and including January 26, was $780,
23S.OOO, and the total sales of first
As converted 3 1-2's was $2,31S,0O
The aggregate sales of both classes OF
As, therefore, was $92,556,000. These
comparatively small offerings have
broken the market, because norma
demand was already more than salts
fled. The figures will show the error
of thinking that the individual WHIT
sells his bond below cost is merel!
making patriotic sacrifice at his owl
expense, and go far to answer tn
query whether a person should sub
scribe to help make up quota ant
with tho intention of selling as soo1
as subscriptions are closed. 1t is jus
as important to keep the bonds as l
is to subscribe for them, and nothin;
is gained by not meeting the money
raising problem face to face. We sa,
this with full appreciation that thes
subscribers who expected to sell an
accept loss were actuated by a YER
ccmmendable desire to help the cause
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-06
MANUFACTURER
BURNS TO DEATH

Riverside, Conn, Feb. civilian
G. Barker, manufacturer of hair
tonics in New York city, was burned
to death when his home here was de-
stroyed today. Mrs. Barker and the
r. rvants rushed out of the house
when the alarm was given, but Mr..
Barker made his way to a telephone.
Later his body, headless, with a fire
extinguisher at hand, was found near
the telephone.
The house had 20 rooms and had
been valued with its furnishings at
$751; 900. A defective kitchen fiue was
the starting point Of the fire.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-06
BAN SPECULATION
IN GREEN COFFEE

Washington, Feb. 6-Speculation in
green coffee on the New York coffee
and sugar exchange was ordered dis
continued today by Food Administra-
tor Hoover
The prohibition is effected by for
bidding dealing in green coffee on the
exchange at a price above s. Y cents g
pound for type No. Z on spot months.
The food administrators action
was taken after a conference with
members of the New York coffee and
sugar exchange in which dealers vol
unteered to take the necessary steps
to eliminate coffee speculation.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-06
SKATERS STORE
IS BUSY PLACE
ON DOLLAR DAY

Skaters Shoe Store, 1,12S Main street,
wishes to take this opportunity to
thank the public for the generous re-
Spouse to partake of the wonderful
bargains in shoes that was offered TO
them on Dollar Day. The manage
ment says: I'VE are sure that all
people that needed our offer were
pleased with the purchases that were
made. This store has at all times
shoe offerings that do not fail to ap-
peal to the most careful buyer. The
extensive business done on Dollar Day
went far in proving to US the firm be-
lief that people have faith in our ad
vertisements and we intend to keep
| it so by fair dealing to everybody"
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-06
Boston 1880 P. NJ. Prices Reportef
Over Private Wire to T. L.
Watson & Co.
HOLLYWOOD is MANAGER.

Frank Hollywood today became
manager of Bullen's cafe and grill in
Bank street, succeeding Wilbur G..
Barr. The new. manager was head
bartender at The Stratield hotel for
eight years, but has been assistant
manager at Bullen's for about twL
years. He was the recipient of scores
of congratulatory messages today and
has the best wishes of his many
friends for the greatest of sue
cess.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-06
SPECIAL NOTICES
STATE OF CONNECTICUT,
DISTRICT OF BRIDGEPORT, S
PROBATE COURT.

February 4, 1918.
Estate of Ernest Molnar, late of the
town of Bridgeport in said district,
deceased.
The Court of Probate for the Dis
trict of Bridgeport, hath limited and
allowed six months from the date
hereof for the Creditors OIL said
Estate to exhibit their claims for
settlement. Those who neglect to pre-
sent their accounts, properly attested,
within said time, will be debarred a
recovery. All persons indebed to said
estate are requested to make imme-
date payment to
WILLIAM H WEAVER,
l Administrator,
~ Jane 81 a*p
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-06
BRITISH REPEL FOE.

London, Feb. 6-"Raids attempted
by the enemy during the night in the
neighborhood of Mericourt and Avion
in each case were successfully re-
pulsed" today's official report says,
1--WE captured a few prisoners Ex-
cept for some artillery activity on
both sides in the neighborhood of
Hargicourt and south of Lens there is
nothing further to report"
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-06
Total $1,000, $40, 900 1914, ss4,oO

Total $1,OSO,S7O,OOO $s,141,ss4, 900
These figures do not include the
lesser agricultural exports. nor all in
manufactured form.
The effect on the price and value of
the more than billion dollars worth
of agricultural products of the United
States which found a market in Eu-
rope in the first 10 months of 1917,
had the United States tamely sub
mitted to Germany's insolent demand,
which would have denied them access
to these markets, can easily be in1ag-
ined. For lack of a market much of
these products would have rotted on
the farms or in warehouses or been
used in improbable ways.
The crimes of Germany against the
lives of American citizens and insult
to our nations honor fully justified
in fact, made perative-America' S
entry into the war. These figures only
show a portion of the tremendous
material loss which would have fol-
lowed Americas tame submission to
the war zone decree. Our whole ex-
ports to the European nations at war
with Germany amount to three and a
half billion dollars a year.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-06
Our Agricultural Exports.

The following unofficial estimates of
the value Of our exported agricul-
tural products, most of which went to
Europe, to the nations at war with
Germany, during the years of 1916
and 1917, show what effect obedience
by this nation to Germany's demand
in her war zone decree would have
had on the American farmer The
figures are for, the 10 months of 1917
ending with October and for the full
year of 1916: