davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1918-06-30

France who are familiar with it are as use
full in their contact with the enemy as are
others having some acquaintance with
French in their association with our gallant
allies. If every American soldier spoke
French and German as we'll as English our
great army in Europe would be vastly more
powerful than it is. In many regrettab1e
instances the teaching of German in the
United States has been too closely identified
with race, politics and propaganda. D-
vested of those qualities and made educa-
tional for Americans instead of narrowly
encouraging for Germany and Germans, it
is needed now more than ever before"
The real danger in our schools, &C.
cording to more widespread belief, is
German influence that works through:
every branch of study. David Law
renee, writing in "The Saturday Even
ing Post" tells an appalling story of the
activities Of the National German-Amer-
lean Alliance in permeating our schools
with German propaganda, 50 that, as
Robert THEM, an American of German
descent, wrote in 1902, 'the future Ian
New-York tribune., 1918-06-30

dication of the proper American attitude
toward the German language. "Since the
war began it says, "the number of pu-
pills studying German in American high
schools has fallen off one-half, and the
other half persist chiefly because they
wish to finish the course they had begun.
Pupils are not beginning the study"
This attitude has not been unani
mously' accepted as the intelligent pa
triotic decision. "The Boston Post" in.
sists that the German language, rightly
used, can be turned to our advantage"
and that its exclusion from the schools
will result in building an intellectual
spite fence" that will cripple us and hurt
Germany not at all.
"The New York World" backs up this
attitude, and pleads for the German
language as tool of Americanism. It
says:
For the moment the German tongue is
In disfavor, and yet American soldiers in
New-York tribune., 1918-06-30
Real German Opinion

n NOTWITHSTANDING the gains
~ made by Germany in her spring
offensive and the consequent op-
timism of all utterances from the Ger
man military leaders and their Pan
German claque at home a different tone
among the German people themselves is
beginning to be noted by German writer's.
article in the "Frankfurter Zeitung."
The writer, setting out to review a new
book by Rudolph Pannwitz, "The Crisis
in European Kultur," begins with these
Introductory sentences:
"Our war literature has entered upon
new stage. 1t is no longer enthusiasm. ac-
,cusation and Justification that set tho tone,
but self-examination, pangs of conscience
and serious anxiety about the future. There
is growing recognition of the fact that
the war can no longer be looked upon as
purely political or purely national affair,
but that the future of Europe a. of the
entire civilization of European humanity
are at stake in this war. Walter Rath-
enau's book About Coming Things and
Leopold Zegler's People, State and Per-
sonality' are such books of the present day;
they are born of pangs of conscience, and
in them serious minded men are struggling
for clear outline Of the future Self
examination and reflection constitute the
pathos of these writer's"
The book by Pannwatz is then men,
toned by the reviewer as another ex-
ample Of such literature. That author
appears to regard the war as product
of the anarchy Of Europe" and he ad-
mits that Germany contributed it's own
portion to this anarchy. Thus the re-
viewer of the "Frankfurter Zeitung" re-
produces the views of Pannwitz:
ain sharp words he castigates the zigzag
movement Of our public life in every re-
spect, the obscurity Of our aims, our public
policy dictated merely by business, the
lack of any intellectual and spiritual power
of attraction in the German character dur.
ing the latter half of the nineteenth CEN
tury-and all this has brought us into the
frightful situation of this war against all
countries, and in particular has created that
atmosphere of distrust against us which
prevents even ,our honest efforts from hav-
ing any effectiveness"
New-York tribune., 1918-06-30

position of the conscientious objectors
sentenced in Texas with a lack of passion
that clearly marks the difference between
them and the purely German objector:
''The forty-fve men sentenced by court
martial in Texas to life imprisonment are a
small part Of the whole number who after
being called for service have protested that
their principles forbade them to bear arms.
Where others submitted to military dis
cipline they adopted an attitude of defiance
and refused to perform the duties assigned
to them. Even in their case the War De-
partment gives assurance that punishment
will be suspended until the sincerity Of their
motives has been thoroughly examined If
they persist they may be held as farm
laborers."
"The Detroit Free Press" however,
believes that these men were too harshly
dealt with. 1t says:
"Unless there is something much more Sc
rious withheld from the public behind the
cases of the forty-fve conscientious OBJ
jectors sentenced from Camp Travis, Texas,
to twenty-five years in prison, the punish
ment meted out to these boys is ridiculous
travesty of justice and one that demands
the immediate attention of the President
For apparently no less an authority than
he has the power to interfere with the army
procedure and prevent similar abuses
throughout the country.
"In almost every one Of the forty-fve
cases the men were members Of religious
order Of recognized standing long before the
war and imposing upon it's members as part
of their faith an opposition to all participa-
tion in any recourse to physical force. That
was the sole defence offered by the de-
PENDANTS.
president Wilson himself, early in the
war, defended the bona fde conscientious
objsetor, and . general rule has been laid
New-York tribune., 1918-06-30

press" warns us it is ever active, and
often crops up in patriotic guises. The
propagandist, says the Express"
"in many cases assumes to be loyal to the
country which he calls his home, but is
ready to stab it in the back whenever the
opportunity offers. He will go as far as he
thinks it safe to go in sneering at the ma
tional administration, at the accomplish
ments Of the various war boards and the
ineficiency, if nothing worse, of all the
agencies that are employed against the
Huns. His speech may not be absolutely
disloyal, but it is constructively so, for the
intent is to create dissatisfaction and dis
content and to weaken the morale Of those
who may be affected by it."
But upon the whole German propa-
ganda has been costly failure, says
"The Philadelphia Evening Telegraph:
"The German press frankly admits defeat
here in America. Thus the 'K6lnsche
Volkssetung' complains: The German press
is nearly crushed out of existence in America.
The greater part of the German schools are
closed. The German associations are re-
quired to strip themselves of all vestiges
of Germany
New-York tribune., 1918-06-30

sition in public estimation. A man who
is willing to go to prison or die if need
be for his conscience has always claimed
some respect from Anglo-Saxons
Naturally, however, military resent
ment mounts high in the presence of men
who will not bear their share in opposing
the country's enemy. On June 10 forty
five conscientious objectors were given
twenty-five-year terms-reducd from
life sentences-by military court mar
tial at San Antonio, Tex Most of the
men were religious objectors, Mennonites,
whose faith forbids them to bear arms or
take any military orders.
On June 21 seven more conscientious
objectors were sentenced In Brooklyn to
twenty years. imprisonment. These men
were Russellites, followers Of the former
Pastor Russell.
In addition, groups of objectors in
various camps, some religious, some So
cial, have been subjected to courts mar
tial.
These cases which have already arisen,
along with the cases of six hundred or
more other objectors in different camps,
will doubtless be reviewed by the special
board appointed by the War Department
for that purpose. Under the ruling Of
the department men found by the board
to have honest scruples against warfare
will have a chance to do agricultural
work rather than any sort of military
service.
Newspaper opinion is in accord as to
the justice of Secretary Bakers verdict
New-York tribune., 1918-06-30

proven a double-haaded problem
IA for the government to solve.
There are two main classes Of
objectors to war terming themselves
conscientious" There are several sub
classes. Each has different status un-
der the law or in practice.
First of all there is the pro-German
conscientious" objector. He has, frank
ly, no status at all. Public opinion and
the law are undivided in holding that
the man who doesn't mind war as such,
but objects only to war against Ger
many, should have short shrift at the
hands of the government.
Several such young men have lately
been given prison sentences, ranging
from eighteen months to twenty years, by
the military authorities. None of them
even pretended to have any scruples
against killing as such. Several who
claimed to have relatives in enemy
armies against whom they could not
bring themselves to shoot admitted that
they had never even met them. Their
sentence was confirmed by Secretary
Baker, who added:
"lf after this war is over, some process
can be devised by which these entirely un-
desirable citizens can be returned to the
countries Of their preference it would be
highly desirable from the point Of view of
the United States"
Quite different are the conscientious
objectors who come under various re-
ligious classifcations OF who are Social
lists. These men have definite position
in the law and not so dishonorable po-
New-York tribune., 1918-06-30

unhappily confirmed in the American news
papers that have recently arrived.
"The effects of the prosecutions to which
the German-Americans are subjected by the
authorities and the mob unfortunately
becoming visible. The columns of the news
papers TEEN with letters in which American
citizens with German names asseveratc
their loyalty Especially do men in posi-
tions of responsibility appear to be under
the necessity of taking such step. The
Associated Press, under date of April 27,
reported such a case from Boston, where
eighteen professors of German birth issued
an appeal to all American citizens of Ger
man descent"
New-York tribune., 1918-06-30

called for the registration Of all enemy
alien women over the age of fourteen
The registration proceeded with few
bitches and almost no unpleasantness. A
few protests were made in behalf of
American women who, by marrying Ger
mans, have lost their American citizen
ship. With the law as it is they were
forced to register with the rest. "The
New York World" commenting on the
situation, says:
"Among the enemy alien women who, az
German subjects, are required to register, it
is inevitable that there should be some
cases where the governments orders seem
to operate unfairly. American women who
have married German husbands and German
mothers whose American sons in the
service are not uncommon, but in their
favor no discrimination is possible. 1t is
not even a question of loyalty or personal
sympathies. The law knows only aliens and
citizens, and for all who are German sub
jects an in1exible rule applies.
eff it were not for the offences Of few
of their countrymen who have found shell
ter in the United States German women
without distinction would not have been
obliged to present themselves for registra-
tAVh. EVEN 81, tuSy arc SupJcCtc0 u uu
hardship or even Inconvenience. In effect.
precautionary measures adopted by the gov
ernment serve as a means Of protection for
them, and unless they fail to do their duty
they need fear no unpleasant consequences"
Even German music is coming more
generally under the ban, on the theory
that music speaks a tongue and breaches
a philosophy as well as words. 1.-THE
Los Angeles Times" explains why the
schools of that city have banned all song
books containing any German music:
"Whatever there may be of good in the
German music will not be lost; but certainly
the present is no time to cultivate in the
youth Of America a taste for that music
that has played s~own part in bringing
about the discord in the harmony of the
world, nor to develop in our young people,
through the medium of seductive, deceptive
sounds, an unguarded and sickly sympathy
for nation that has shown neither SYM
pathy nor honor in its dealings with the
peoples of other nations. German music as
whole, Is dangerous in that it breaches
the same philosophy, or rather sophistry,
as most of the German literature. It is the
music Of conquest, the music Of the storm,
of disorder and devastation.
There is one problem connected with the
enemy within our gates which is neither
vexing nor difficult to solve. That is the
problem Of the German or Austrian SUBJ
ject who wants to fight Germany or Aus
tria. Singly he is refusing exemption and
joining the American army. In a body he
intends to fight for freedom as "Slavic
Legion"
The Slavic Legion should prove rally
ing point for this valiant element of op-
position to the Central Powers. Ths
Tribune notes that it enables the United
States to avoid the impropriety of draft
ing enemy aliens for service against
their own governments"
New-York tribune., 1918-06-30

down for the classification Of such men as
might offer such convictions as an excuse
for refusal to participate in the war. 1t was
said that men who, at the beginning of the
war, were regular members Of religious or
ders enjoining passive resistance upon their
adherents would be protected in their faith
ITO have decided otherwise at that time
would have been nothing less than religious
persecution. And to act now as If men in
such faiths are not in an entirely different
class from those who merely use the cloak
of a new-found conscientious objection to
evade service is totally to ignore the very
basis Of the religious freedom which Graded
our country and upon which our American
ism is built"
There is one class of objector, neither
enemy nor American, which so far has
escaped even the need of declaring itself.
This is the Allied subject of draft age
who has failed to come forward and join
either the American army or his own.
ut is a manifest injustice" says "The
Oswego Daily Times" "that hundreds
of thousands Of alien residents can now
step into the jobs that our own young
men have left to go to war. The aliens
are practically Americans They get
all the benefits of American life. Yet
if they retain citizenship in some other
country they escape service in their ma
tive country. and they can't be drafted
here"
But "the United States" says sThe
Portland Eastern Argus"-
"is closing in on the aliens Of draft age
who do not join tho army Of their native
land or the army Of the United States"
New-York tribune., 1918-06-30

IN regard to the German objectors, and
nearly every paper is careful to point out
the difference in status between these
men and the bona fide conscientious OBJ
jector.
"The Cleveland Plain Dealer" sums it
up by saying:
Certainly not all conscientious OBJ
jectors' are towards. No less certainly the
plea is often used merely as a cloak for
cowardice. 1t would be a happy solution of
the problem, so far as it relates to this par
ticular class of 'objectors,' if, as Secretary
Baker suggests, they could be deported after
the war and returned to the country which
they now pretend to esteem so cordially
Meanwhile, bean soup, black coffee and dry
bread served behind bars will be good for
their debilitated courage"
The same opinion is urged by "The
Savannah Morning News" and also by
"The Charlotte Observer" which re-
marks:
"In approving sentences of imprisonment
imposed upon a dozen privates who refused
military service at Camps Upton and Cor
don, Secretary Baker made it clear that
mems 'consciences' are not to be allowed to
select the nation against which they will
fight. 1t seems that In the case of these
young men they had no religious scruples
against war in itself, they had no conscien-
tious objections to fighting for the United
States, if only America were at war with
Mexico or Great Britain, but when it came
to fighting against Germany. Of which coun-
try some of their relatives are citizens or
subjects, and probably soldiers, their con-
sciences would not allow them to become
American soldiers, lest on the field Of bastls
"a bullet fired by them might find mark in
the body of relative. Sacred consciencei"
"The New York World" discusses the
New-York tribune., 1918-06-30
rica's Enemy Alien Problem Is a Formidable Hydra

TIME enemy in our midst seems to be
complicated problem. with his
Il press and his schools and his
spies and his language. What
are we going to do with him and all his
works? In a survey of press opinion on
the enemy alien it appears that almost
every newspaper has it's own little an
gle of attack, but that the problem in
general looks too big and too widely
ramified to handle.
To be sure, we all agree that there are
too many of him, that his ways are OBJ
scure, and that something ought to be
done. The Tribune is as drastic as any
in its suggestions for handling enemy
aliens. Intern them all, it urges, and
gives cogent reasons:
"One German spy at liberty for an hour
might cost us a transport and 10000
troops.
"There are estimated to be 10000 enemv
aliens in greater New York. Most of them
are registered and fingerprinted and en-
joined to obey certain regulations. There
is no way of telling how many are unregis-
( tered; there is no way of keeping others
from entering New York unobserved es-
pccislly there is no way of watching the
$4,000 or $4,000 who are registered"
Questions of handling the German
language press, German music, the
teaching Of German in the schools, Ger
man propaganda through history teach
ing, enemy property, enemy aliens op-
posed to Germany. pro-Gerrnan "con-
scientious" objectors, all these conipli-
cate the Issue; and all these have been
taken up in isolated editorials in isolated
newspapers all over the country
A small tempest of controversy has
blown up over the question of teaching
German. "The Mount Vernon Argus"
says:
Immediate elimination Of the study of
the German language in our schools should
be possible. The defence of its continuance
that it is essential to regents counts or
qualifications for entrance into college may
- according to regulations, but we would
islike to think that any student would be
asprived of his other just progress because
the study of German had been stopped.
When the Germans conquered some Of
the little nations in the Balkans and took
possession it was observed that immedi-
asely the German language was made official
and that the native patois was discontinued
without notice or discussion. We do not
sountenance the ruthlessness Of the Ger
mans by any means, but we do insist that
- cannot combat German influences on the
minds Of our young people so long we
soieratc the study Of the language.
Eliminate German Immediately from our
schools. II the stopping Of it preciptatcs
:. question, let US be pioneers and invite
the test"
The Minneapolis Journal pleads the
4 xastence Of q Spontaneous boycott"
3 IA part Of school children as an in
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-05-15
PLAN FAREWELL TO DRAFT MEN
 GOING MAY 24

Plans for celebration in honor Of the 795 men that are to leave this city for Camp Upton on May 24 are being formulated. It is understood a band will be engaged and the city officials will be on hand to give the boys a send off. The matter Is being care fully gone over by the draft board of ficials and this morning Mayor Will son, said in all probability if such an affair took place some of the city, of fieials would take part in the cele- bratien.
 The contingent to leave is next to the largest from Bridgeport. A special train will undoubtedly ba made up at the local yards and will carry only the members of the six draft boards of the city and of Division Board 13.
 Orders have been received by the boards instructing them that all of the men to leave this city aU May A must be class one A. This will af- feet Divisen Beard 13 which has to send f47 to camp, It has been an- neunced that they haven't that many men available fer service, many young men ~he have been reclassif1ed on agricultural grounds will be taken. ac- eerding to the orders received.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-05-15
g TONS OF ETHER
 THAT'S ONE ITEM

Only the quickest action imaginable, which included the shipment of tre- mendOus quantities of hospital sup plies from Red CrosSstores in France, as we'll as large purchases in Italy, made the emergency work of the American Red Cross possible during the recent diEress in Italy brought about by the rout of the Italian army.
 No such mission for human help has ever seen the like of this heroic work by the American Red Cross in Italy,
 For the winter's needs it was found that 75o tons of hospital supplies were required, and these were ordered in America for immediate delivery to Italy.
 Some of the things ordered were an- aesthetics, surgicA instruments, rub ber 1bods, enamel ware, gauze, ab- sorbeat eotton and drugs, Just what such a shipment means is difficult for a layman to grasp.
 If you'd like to see your druggist lose all his senses at once just tell him about some of these quantities that were erSie1ed fer use in Italy.
 Tell him that 250 pounds of quinine were ordered. Since the war qpjnine has been difficult to get at any price.