davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-10-15

sEtIF-LIl
glorious dash before st. Mlhlel, the tide
OF soldiers sweeping on IN Ine distance
from the region OF erdun, the wounded
coming back.
Our Boys Magnificent
Our boys are mag nificenJ," he ex-
claimed after The nrSt greetings.
1t Is smiling army, this American
army. Even the men VINO suffer in the
hospitals behind the lines, smile. Ali
over France IS their smile. 1t has
spread the conIagIon of good cheer" he
said.
Everywhere you go in France, you
see the men IL knaki-clean-snaVen
youths mostly between 20 ana so, In
contrast 10 the musJached British or
the bearded poIIu or the mboche. Ana,
the dlnerence STANDS out largely in the
ages, for England and france nave been
called upon 20 inject men lar more ma
ture than the American.
You can see the smiling face right
mere he continued, waving to a group
OF battered boys about him. And lC
ISL merely the JOY of Homecoming
tnat brings that smlle-for you see Ii
The secretary's' journey across and
pack was not without its thrill, for
outward bound they made a detour TO
avoid submarine believed to be the
one which later Iorpedoed the Mount
vernon, and again, hOmebound, the big
last snip had TO swing wide of its course
10 dodge two reported submarines gu
Has TWO Souvenirs
MI. Baker was proud of two souvenirs
one a piece % a shell from the Ger
man long range gun that Shelled Paris
another The picture OF General IaFaY-
cite given him by Count de Chambrun
great nephew Of the famous French
man. Cnambrun piloted him through
81. Mihlel the day after it was cleaned
uD by the AmerIcan-French drive and
from the ruins of the exquisite Cham
orun villa collected the picture Baker
prizes.
Speaking of the St Mihiel drive. Mr..
Baker revealed that more than 1000
guns were concentrated there His OBJ
scene, trembled as though it were In
full motion.
Mr.. Baker viewed the business pur-
poses of his trip as highly successful
He had perfected arrangements for i'm
proved docking and transportation
facilities.
Under the stress of war" he said.
| loading and unloading machinery in
stalled, warehouses erected, and similar
facilities for handling huge supplies
provided almost overnight. Wholly new
systems for efficient and speedy distrI-
| button have been perfected."s
An interesting SldeHght upon the eff
| feet American-allied victories and peace
+ talk are having with the German SOL
der came from an officer of the party
They say that if peace is coming to-
morrow, why should they stand and be
killed. he declared. If an armistice
| IS to provide for their withdrawal from
France and Belgium, why should they
! light and die to hold onto what their
rulers are ready to evacuate. / do not
believe the German army can ever be
/ forced to make an effective stand
against the allies"
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-10-15
LAON, ANCIENT ROMAN
FORTRESS, BATTERED BEFORE
BY ELgEET J. BENTON.
FAMOUS American Authority on Euro
pean History

Laon. a bastain in Hindenburg's
western line, has fallen TO the allies.
Laon stands on g hill-aS a town
should to be seen of men, The visitor
climbs 2G3 steps and several inclined
planes to enter the town from the low
lands around it.
The remnants of an old fortress, the
courthouse. the cathedral and other
public Buildings are clustered about
the top of the hill.
1t is a natural stronghold that has
had a large part in the history of
France.
When il was n Roman fortress. the
inhabitants here checked three Sepa-
rate inVasions of the ancient Germans
that of the Franks. the BurgundianS
and the NanGalS. In the early middle
ages ,-aon stopped the advance Of the
earlier Huns into western Europe 1t
was an event of great consequence to
Europe for these barba TianS, Nike the
modern Huns, threatened to DESTROY the
civilization slowly builded up by man.
kind.
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-10-15
FRENCH ACROSS OISE
ARE NORTH OF ORIGNY

WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN
FRANCE, Sunday, Oct. 13.-(NighL)
CBy the Associated Press. Reports
received at British headquarters from
the French front tonight show the
French across the Disc river north of
Origny, seven miles southwest of Guise.
They are holding the railway on the
easterly side of the river on front of
about a third of a mile.
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-10-15
Frenchmen Isolate
Influenza Germ

PARIS, Oct. vas.)-Two
French scientists have succeeded in iso-
Iating the infectious agent which causes
Spanish influenza, according to Tunls
dispatch to the Matin.
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-10-15
FRENCH KEEP CONTACT
WITH R7ETREATTNG FOE

PARIS. Oct. 14.-French troops last
night continued to keep in contact with
the retiring Germans, the French war
Office announced today. The French re-
pulsed the remaining enemy troops
Showing resistance on the north bank of
the Aisne canal south of Chateau-Por-
Glen.
The French statement reads:
French troops last night continued
to keep in close contact with the enemy
infantry on the entire front South OF
Chateau Porcien. the French repulsed
on the north bank of the canal last
night the remaining enemy elements
Offering resistance.
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-10-15

official statement issued today. French
cavalry have occupied the Bella Palanka.
The settlement reads.
Yesterday afternoon the enemy
ope1cd . hcavv bombardment on a wide
front north OF La Catead. Under cover
Of this artillery fire strong infantry
attacks were launched against our posi-
lions east of the Selle river IN the
StiT fighting.
"Other attacks in which tanks were
employed to support infantry assaults
were delivered by the enemy yesterday
without success against our positions
opposite the village OF Haspres (south-
west OF NalenCienneS)
Our patrols pushed forward in the
points south and north of Douai. We
aimed ground and took prisoners"
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-10-15
OANH IT = NNNI -NNRJHN
AND OTHER POINTS

LONDON, Oct. 14.-After capturing
Nish on Saturday, Serbian forces took
possession of the enemy positions north
of the town, according to the Serbian
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-10-15
BRITISH ARE PRESSING IN
ON ROTH SIDES OF DOUAI

LONDON, Oct. 1.-THE British are
Field Marshal Haig's official state
ment today reports gains of ground
pressing in on botn sides of Douai-
neighborhood of Solesmes. These at
tackS were successfully repulsed after
both north and south of the city.
These attacks were delivered in force
on a wide front north of lie Cateau,
following a heavy bombardment
Other enemy attacks, supported by
tanks, were also broken up.
Northeast of SoleSmeS British pa
trolls pushed forward to HaspreS, seven
miles southwest of NalencienneS.
Ground was gained at a number of
points north and south of Douai. .
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-10-15
INTENSE ARTILLERY
BATTLE ON MEUSE
NV PRANK J. TAYLOR

WITH THE AMERICAN FIRST
ARMY, Oct. 14.-An intense artillery
battle is raging between the Aire an l
the Mouse. 1t continued throughout the
night and was growing in violence this
morning.
The American guns apparently domi-
mated the situation. The solid mass OF
machine gun nests, which oppose QUE
advance between the two rivers, was
rapidly being blasted to bits;
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-10-15
France Breaks Off
Relations With Finland

PARIS. Sunday, oct. 13.-France has
hToEen off the semi-official diplomatic
relations which have existed with Fin
land. IL is officially announced This
action was taken because the Finnish
diet. having BY a coup 'detat substitute
ed a monarchy for a republic, called a
German prince TO the throne. French
interests in Finland will be in charge Of
a consular agent at Helsingfors.
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-10-15
PRESIDENT CONFERS
WITH HOUSE, BAKER
AND OTHER OFFICIALS
Continued from Page y

dent could consider it. If the opinion
of the man in the street IS reflected by
editorial comment coming from every
corner OF the country. the people already
have made up their minds that there
should be no temporlzing with an enemy
whose word is worth only what the vic
torious allied armies make it,
1t is assumed that since Saturday
night at least informal exchanges have
taken place between Washington and
the capitals OF the co-bell;gerentS. In
formed of the views of the allied pre-
micrs. the president may determine be-
fore the day is over whether his reply 20
the German request that he propose an
armiStice and peace negotiations, shall
be "A refusal to make any such proposal
at the instance of the present German
government, or a renewed statement o.
the conditions under which peace must
be restored.
1t was suggested that the president
might ask for a joint session of the
house and senate to communicate m,
decision and the reason tor il to con-
greSS, the country and the world.
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-10-15

mixed commissions to make arrange
ments concerning an evacuation of al
lied territories. An armistice with the
central powers can be reached only on
conditions analogous to those accepted
by Bulgaria. The lesson for the asso-
ciated peoples and governments is plain.
1t is to hold firmly at home, while
President Wilson prepares that candid,
straightforward reply which it is his
avowed intention to make. We may
rest assured that the government of the
United States is as fully determined
as the people of this country that Ger
many in her present humiliation shall
abide by that arbitrament of force to
which four years ago she appealed in
her presumptuous pride. The sword
must decide. There is no other road to
neaCe."
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-10-15
FRENCH PASS BEYOND
LAON; CIVILIANS FREED

PARIS, Sunday. oct. i5.-SiNJy-.INe
hundred civilians were liberated when
the French troops entered the city OF
Laon, il was Orticially stated tonIs -.
The statement issued at the war OIlcG
says that the French have passed Tar
beyond the town on the whole front
between tho Disc and the Alette rivers.
The Official statement reads:
pursuing the enemy, our troops re-
sumed the advance this morning over
Cut-up roads, which the enemy eVacuat-
ed in haste, leaving quantities of ma
terial, shells, barbed wire and rail-
roads intact. At 10:45 o'clock our ad-
vancing guards reached the LaOn-La
Fere railroad, where they were met py
q violent machine gun fire coming from
BeSny-et-LoiSy and La Montague, which
were occupied my enemy rear guards.
AT IL o'clock all the st. Gobain for
est was clear of the Germans and the
cathedral. Our soldiers found over
$500 civilians who welcomed them with
JOY.
Continuing their advance, our troops
debouched from the Laon forest, at
SamousSy, which was taken. Marchals
was also occupied.
Towards > o'clock ,be enemy machine
gun reaction became most severe. AT
$50 o'clock an Italian brigade had
passed the town of Montaigu. At about
3 o'clock the advance. continued. There
is heavy fighting with rear guards,
which have fired upon us principally
from NivaiSe, COuvron-et-Aumencou
and dropped shells on the roads and
the roalrOad. We passed into SamOusSy
forest and continued the pursuit
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-10-15
WAR CABINET MEETING

LONDON, Oct. l4.-Lord Reading,
British ambassador to the United
States, was summoned to a meeting OF
the war cabinet this morning after a
conference with Premier Lloyd George,
presumably to give the cabinet his per-
sonal opinion regarding President Will
sons war views.
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-10-15
BAKER CALLS FOR
FULL WAR SPEED
Continued from Page u

the impress of things he had seen-tho
glorious dash before st. Mlhlel, the tide
OF soldiers sweeping on In Ine distance
coming back.
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-10-15
APPEALS TO WILSON

AMSTERDAM, Oct. 14.-The govern
ment of Luxembourg has appealed to
President Wilson for protection of the
rights Of that country, according to
official dispatches received here today.
Luxembourg demands that it's terri
tories shall be evacuated by the Ger
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-10-15
NIAX'S RESIGNATION is
LIKELY, HUN PAPERS SAYS

LONDON, Oct 14.-The resignation of
Prince Macmillan, of Baden, as German
imperial chancellor is probable, accord
ing to reports from Holland today. They
quote the Berlin National Zetung as
saying the Chancellor'S retirement is re-
garded in certain circles as inevitable.
- IIcI-IlC lrONZLNIl n AIHNA-uN
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-10-15
CKRAINIA MAY PROTEST
ON WILSON'S PROPOSAL

BERNIE. Switzerland. Oct. 14--It is
stated in Ukra inian circles that the gov
ernor o fthe Ukraine is about to send
a telegram to President Wilson draw
ing his attention to the consequences
to the Ukraine OF the application of his
program with regard to the evacuation
of occupied territories.
The Ukrainian cabinet, it is said,
considers the Ukraine to be occupied
territory and il holds that the article
of the presidents program regarding
this question would risk the infringing
of its SOVEREIGN rights.
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-10-15
FRANCE DETERMINED
TO DESTROY FOES POWER

PARIS. Oct. 1I.-C12:05 p. Nj
France is unanimously determined not
to negotiate with Germany until the
latter'S power to do harm is complete
ly ended, it was semi-officially announc-
ed today.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-24

there is a clearance of only one twen- ty-fifth of an inch between 1t and the jacket, and the work must be donc quickly and accurately done in order to be a success. The parts remain in the pit for about two days to cool. Aft CT this the barrel and jacket are placed in one of the large lathes and turned down to receive the hoops which are shrunk on the jacket.
 The next process is rifling the gun for the shells. This means that spiral grooves must be cut inside the barrel in such way that the shell will be given it's rotary motion as the powder drives 1t forth to the muzzle The machines that does this cuts the grooves at just the proper depth, width and length, and a cut too deep or too long or anyways wrong would ruin the gun. Considerably more than s100,- GOO worth of metal has gone into the weapon, and the importance of care and accuracy can be easily seen.
 But it is impossible to describe the many things necessary to turn the product of the rough forges into the finished weapons of war The work of making the guns includes many in- dustries and the skilled mechanics use all sorts of tools. There are something like 200 machines employed to work on each gun before it's parts are made and assembled into the wonderful fighting machines of our great battle- ships. The machinery for loading and sighting the guns and that for firing them are wonders of mechanism. The weight of the gun is 134000 pounds and this huge mass must be raised and lowered and pointed this way and that with the slightest expenditure of man. ual effort. A single man can sight the gun and fire it, and the mount upon which the gun stands is so made that it will receive and absorb the tre- m endous force of the recoil without shocking or straining the turret of the vessel in which it stands. These mounts are made in another part of the gun shop and single piece of their bronze castings sometimes weighs as much as 10 or 12 tons. The construction of the mount is quite as important as that of the gun and the work ot making 1t, on account of the great number of parts employed, re- quires as great a variety of tools as Is to be found in the gunshop itself.
 Now come with me outside the shop
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-24

ing of big gun in all of it's details would not be permitted in this time of the war It Is sufficient to say that only the finest of materials are used and that the metals which go into it are assayed and tested in the physical and chemical laboratories until there is no possibility of any defect The steel is made in special way. It is often turned out at one of our great blast furnace plants and shipped to tho gun shop in hollow log of steel as bis around as the largest oak tree and as loEg as the barrel of the gun. This log is forged into rough shape before it IS sent to the works. When 1t arrives 1t is put on the lathe, a great boring ma chine which cuts it out in the center into a hole of just the right size. The lathe for the 14-inch gun is more than 100 feet long and it has swing of eight feet It cuts the hole in the log to diameter of IA inches, form ing the bore of the gun.
 The outside of the tube or barrel is now cut to the right size by the lathe, and after this a steel jacket weigh ing many tons is put on to strength the gun and great hoops are added. The jacket comes to the shop in the shape of a hollow ingot as high as a table, and so long that you could hard
 
 IS cut to the right diameter by the lathe and is, shrunk onto the barrel after much the same principle that a blacksmith shrinks a tire on wheel. This is done in such way that when completed the whole seems to be one piece of metal. This adds enormously to the strength of the gun, and makes 1t so that it will withstand a pfessure Of 16 to 20 tons to the square inch. Y. you will take rod of metal so long that it reaches so far up into the sky that it weighs 20 tons, you may have some idea of the amount of weight each square inch of steel in the gun is supposed to withstand, and still be safe from explosion.
 The fitting of the jacket is done by expansion of the metal produced by heat. The jacket is placed in a great pit in which is furnace and left there many hours until it reaches the right degree of expansion. Then the huge gun barrel Is slowly dropped into it, and, as the metal cools, it grips the barrel with an enormous pressure, which practically makes the two one piece of metal. As the barrel goes in
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-24

is made from a by-product of coal tar which, under ordinary conditions. is perfectly harmless. You can light it and it will burn with flame or if left out in the open it may be struck with a hammer. But if it is confined in the gun and detonated it bursts forth with a force greater than dyna mite, and this force gradually increases until it gives the enormous power which I have described. This growth of power starts the movement of the heavy shot without an injurious shock to the gun, but the force increases so rapidly that the destruction created is beyond imagination. It sends the enor- nous projectile I have described out with such force that it will blow through steel and iron, perforating the older ships as though they were so much paper. It will make it's way through foot or more of solid steel and the strongest combinations of metal cannot withstand it.
 Copyright, 1918, by Frank c. Carpen-
 !
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-24

, would fly from New York to Chicago within 30 minutes and from Boston to San Francisco in less than two hours. If we could keep up the speed with which the shell starts out of the gun we might fire the shot in Boston in the early morning and within less than three hours drop the shell down or the palace of the Kaiser in Berlin. Or If we let it pass on, it would go clear around the globe and come back to Boston before we had yet gone to bed. These figures give you some idea Of the force with which these mighty bodies of steel are sent out from our great ships of war The muzzle energy is more than 70.00O foot tons; that is. 1t is strong enough to raise weight of 10000 tons to height of one foot. It will carry the shells q distance of more than 12 miles at one shot, and 1t will make them go through more than two feet of solid nickel or Har- veyized steel
 The projectiles used by the navy are different from those of the army. They have to be constructed so they will not break upon striking. They are so hard and so tough that they will pass through heavy steel plates which form the armor of battleship and explode inside, thus doing great damage, wrecking the machinery or disabling the boiler. They may break the pro- peller or set the magazine of muni- tions on fire. Such projectiles must be of the finest of steel and the all Joys which form their points are so hard that no tool will cut them. A point contains a lf'rge amount of car bon, and it's hardness is somewhat like that of the diamond, which will cut almost anything. The diamond is crys- tallized carbon.
 The gun and the shells must-be made so that they fit to a wonderful de- gree of accuracy The shell for the 14-inch gun is exactly IA inches in thickness. It is so formed that. when it goes forth. it whirls around with it's point always in direct line overhead This whirling motion is made by the rifling of the gun and the way the shell fits into it. This is of such a nature that the greatest of mechanical skill is required to make both guns and shells. In many respects both may be said to be built like watch.
 The powder used in firing the guns
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-24
BIG GUNS By Frank C. Carpenter

of brass and other metals used in ord- nance of various descriptions.
 Here we are in one of the shops. II covers more than an acre and the vast roof of glass is high overhead. The interior is maze of machinery and the noise which comes up makes you think of the confusion of Babel. You look this way and that, and there are so many new and strange things that your eyes are dazzled as in a kaleido- scope. About the shops in various stages of work are great logs of steel some as big around as the larHest oak tree and so long that if stood upon end they would almost touch the glass roof, which is 50 or 60 feet above where we are standing. Some of the steel logs are polished, showing the marks of the lathe which has cut them out into the mighty cylinders that form our big guns Others are as dull as the iron when it comes from the forges, where the tubes of these mighty rifles are prepared for the lathe. Other guns are being cut by the lathes. The hard steel is shaven off as though it were cheese and it drops in great spirals of silver upon the dirt floor.
 Here they are moving these huge
 
 Along the walls high up under the roof, are two railroad tracks which run the entire length of the building, and hanging down as it were from the cen ter Is mighty crane which picks up the steel and carries it as lightly as though it were matches, from one end or the shop to the other. That crane will lift greater weight at one time than 200 horses could haul if it were loaded on wagons. It's strength is equal to 220,000 pounds and 1t is so ar ranged that the man who rides in the cage just above 1t can carry a weight or that enormous size to any part of the shop, as he pleases By pulling a lever he could transfer a passenger To- ccmotive from one side of the shop to the other or lift up a train of cars loaded with coal As we watch him. he takes up 14-inch gun and carries it the full length of the building. He lifts It as easily as a stone mason raises a crowbar and carries it with greater manual ease than a bar of iron is moved by country blacksmith in his shop by the wayside
 The technical description of the mak-