davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1918-09-08
p eproaching Those Who
AN Garry Rumors

Further confirmation of the general
depression may be found in the fact
that General Won Stein. the Prussian
Var Minister, last week found it neces-
sary to fill more than three columns in
the Berlin newspapers with reproaches
to the people who credit and repeat fan
tastic rumors of disasters.
One Of the causes for the discomfort
of the people is the growing suspicion
that the official bulletins of the General
Staff do not tell the whole truth about
the fighting from day to day. Out Of
striking tendency to invent stories Of
much greater disaster than has actually
struck the German armies. 1t has been
recently circulated in Germany that
Hindenburg had committed suicide and
that the Germans had lost 900 pris-
oners in this latest fighting. This oc
CURED in some way through betrayal,
according to these stories.
That the bulletins dc not give full
and exact account Of the course Of
by intelligent people in Germany as by
foreign readers Of the bulletins. Thus
the "Franl<furter Zeitung" of August II
had this to say about the official reports ::
eve all expect from the official bulletins
clear and calm information SO far as
this is practicable, but we know that
severe restrictions arc imposed upon
them by The necessity of preserving mill
tary secrets. Confidence IN the strate-
gica decisions is so great that tie public
can very we'll do without objective reports"
The latest German papers TO arrive
in this country contain much interesting
discussion OF the earlier phase Of the
present offensive Of the Allies, beginning
AUGUST with the attack Of the British
and French on both sides Of the Sonme.
The official bulletin of that day merely
admitted that enemy forces had entered
the German positions. without saying
anything whatever about the extensive
loss Of territory, prisoners and artillery.
New-York tribune., 1918-09-08

ard Moscow and opened negotiations with
the Bolsheviki for safe passage on the
Transsiberan railroad to Nladivostok
at was granted them on condition that
they surrender their arms and munitions,
wn ich belonged to the Russian government.
They had 400 machine guns 20 each regi-
ment good rifles, aeroplanes, large supplies
Of hand grenades and plenty OF ammunition.
They gave up everything but their hand
grenades and one rifle for every ten men.
Then they eptrained for the journey across
ASIA
"They had difficulties about getting en-
gines ana cars. They Communicated them.
They had troubles with the engineers. They
put guards or the locomotives with persua-
sive hand grenades When everything else
failed. they found locomotive engineers in
their ranks, ran the trains themselves, and
when they needed fuel they stopped the
train, cut down trees and filled the tender
with wood.
"As they got further into Siberia they
New-York tribune., 1918-09-08

--Ch,1stian Science Mon "The New Torl,
ttor
Evening Sum
this new body in the comfy Of nations,
this strange, homeless comet in their galaxy,
is composed of men who were all born some
whore Of most of them Bohemia was the
native land land now submerged in deep
est Deutschtu7n, yet long free and famous
for her motherhood Of the ideas that later
changed the religious aspect Of Europe
from Rome to Nova Zembla; famous for her
arts; famous for her misfortunes"
1t is to Professor Masaryk, sixtynine
years old, ''the grand old man Of Bo-
hemia," that much of the credit for the
success of the movement is due. For
merly teacher in the University Of
Prague and Deputy to the Vienna Par
lament, he left Bohemia few months
after the outbreak Of the war to come to
America.
To-day, as chairman of the Czecho-
Slovak National Council, recognized as
New-York tribune., 1918-09-08

mans. The Austrian Emperor sent them an
offer Of amnesty if they would return to
Austria and promise Of autonomy for their
people upon their return. They refused to
treat with government that had betrayed
them too often. They decided to fall back
to the Transsberiar railway, to negotiate
with the Bolsheviki for a passage across
Siberia TO Nladivostok. and there to obtain
ships from the Allies to carry them to
France. They had no sooner come to this
decision than they learned that while the
Austrians were trying to hold them with
offers of amnesty, a German army had been
sent TO cut them off from the railroad in
their rear.
They were we'll supplied with munitions
of war They had gathered together in their
camp the equipment OF the Russian armies
that had deserted their lines after the revo-
luton. But, like the Russians themselves.
they had no food, no shoes, no fodder for
their horses, no proper clothing, no camp
kitchens. Their horses were too weak to
New-York tribune., 1918-09-08
Whose Poor, Simple
Il Minded Soldiers!

Lieutenant General Baron Won Ar.
dcnne discussed the new offensive in the
"Berliner Tageblatt" on August 10, re.
verting also to the first Foch counter
offensive OF July 1S. He noted that the
long "drUmfire" Of previous years has
been displaced this year by heavy bom
bardment of only few hours duration
or by "an attack Of five splitting dragons.
which the English have called tanks
He goes on TO say: This tank attack is
something astounding, demoniaca
Our siinple-minded soldiers had (on July
1S) first to accustom themselves to the
putting and bowling Of this most modern
war machine before they could begin a
cool-headed fight against it. But before
they had recovered the possession Of
their souls the fire roller had passed over
thenl, followed by thick masses of storm.
ing infantry. In the fighting of August
the beginning of the attack appears TO
have been qu:tc the same"
On tho day after the evacuation Of
Alontd;Gicr the "Frankfurter Zeitung'
discussed the two oGensives in q rather
frank and objective manner 1t admitted
that Foch's counter offensive was icon.
ceived on large lines and was we'll pre-
pared" 1t said further that the Ger
man campaign lad been interrupted
that a reverse (SciIoDpe) had occurred,
and it warned the German people against
the view shat ''thc Germans need only
to appear upon the battlefield to score a
victory 1t regarded the "Schlappe' as
a regrettable incident. but added the
comforting remark that 'tlle last word
in the campaign of 1918 has not yet
been spoken
In which opinion people on this side
will heartily concur, having in mind the
Developments at the front since Angus.
II and the promise contained in them
Of still better events Just ahead Of us.
New-York tribune., 1918-09-08
THE Kaiser Now Talks of
Il A "Successful Defence"

But the latest German defeats appear
to have spread confusion even in the
highest quarters. The Kaiser himself
has suddenly dropped into the minor key.
After having continued up to three
months ago to talk about German vic
tories as sure to compel the enemy to
submit to German peace, he now speaks
Of the determination of the German peo-
pie to preserve their land and Kultur by
Successful defence"
His bestowal of the Red Eagle Order
upon eX-Secretary Of Foreign Affairs
Kuhlemann also involves changed view
regarding the means for bringing the
war to termination. or does it only sig
Nifty confusion in the imperial mind? Two
months ago Kihlmann was dismissed
in disgrace because he said that the
war could not be ended by purely mil
itary decisions; and now he is decorated.
"The New York Evening Post" after
calling attention to this dualism in the
operation of the imperial mind, remarks:
"What all this vacillation and evidence
of perturbation may bring forth in the
future only wise man in his own conceit
would undertake to say positively. But the
present evidence that the German morale
is breaking one can fail to see to be
conclusive and full Of hope for the righteous
cause of the Allies"
But the Crown Prince has evidently
been talking with his imperial papa and
now also chimes in upon that minor
strain. He gave out an interview in which
he frankly abandoned all hope Of seeing
Germany force military decision. The
interview caused the "Vorwarts" to
print It's most striking passage in deadly
parallel with kihlmanns admission;
and then the paper commented thus:
"Non Kihlmanns words reused q storm
of anger from the pan Germans, and vet it
must be said that the words of the Crown
Prince. as matter of fact, 80 far further
than those Of kUhmann Won kUhl
mann did not expect peace BY purclv
New-York tribune., 1918-09-08

further remarked that the German =.
fence was not so successful as prev;on.
experience had given grounds to exn.s.
and, characteristically enough, it fons,
the explanation for this fact in ~
Kuhlmann's speech in the Reichstas ~
mtting that no military decision couI5
bring peace. Its effects can non, l
seen" wrote the paper, "and the on;n;.N
entertained at the general headoua,...
as to its probable effects upon the f;yht;n
spirit of the troops can now be e,s;ls'
understood. It hopes that this aef...
viii teach the statesmen at Berlin -.
to work at cross purposes again With -.
army command.
The favorite German theory % =.
how the attack Of the Allies scored s,.l
big success on August is that If ~.
owing to heavy fog. The "Kolnjscbs
Zeitung" said that the thick fog Of u.
morning enabled the enemy to launch
surprise attack with squadrons of tants
Moreover, the German front, it con.
tinued, was not fortified line like .bo
Hindenburg line, but the troops on thu
two sides stood opposed to each Other
upon open ground. Then the editor exc.
cutes q somersault by saying that tho
Germans were expecting an attack there
as shown by the fact that they had ius.
withdrawn their troops to the east bank
Of the Avre and Ancrc. He had inst
claimed that the attack was surprise,
The "Berliner Neueste Nachrichten,
also alleged 'an exceedingly thick veil
of fog" at was so thick" said the
paper. ''that the Anglo French tank
squadrons, after sudden and powerful
bombardment, were able to pass the
German anti-tank guns without danger
and we're able in part to break into the
German artillery positions"
New-York tribune., 1918-09-08
ssThe First Serious Reverse
4 Of the War"

Yet the newspapers at home were rot
wholly deceived By This strict abstinence
on the part of the General staff. On the
very next day the "Doutsches Zeitung.'
of Berlin. the pet organ Of the Father
land party and tie pan-Germans, ad
mitted that the battle of the Sth was
''the first serious reverse of the war;
the editor having evidently never heard
Of the Battle Of the Marine. The parer
admitted that the Allies had succeeded
in carrying out surprise which threw
the German infantry into disorder. 1t
New-York tribune., 1918-09-08

Allies They have bettered their lot anc
that cf suppressed peoples generally. Inc
New Y ork Tribune comments:
"Gratitude and policy therefore combine
to sanction our recognition Of the Czech0
Slovak nation Austria Hungary is po'-
cal monstrosity. Il is one OF the chief STUN
bling blocks in the way OF the paclhcatN'
o. Central Europe Its race antagonisms AM
rcpressivc policies mad much 10 do with bring
ing on the war its structure must be reess
and rationaliZed in the interest OF tranqaA
lity and progress. And out OF this recas'in'
elements like the CZccho-Slo the foes
the Jugo- Slavs, the Italians and the ku
manians, which have for generations SUI
cessfully resisted Austrian OF Hungarian a.
simiiation VIII come into their own.
The New York Times" thinks tfs
recognition points the way to the cres
tion of buffer states between Russia snO
Germany:
The Czecho- Sovaks have earned tneH
freedom and the Jugo-Slavs must be ss'
free with them.
'Whcn the time is ripe a logical ex'e'
sion of the policy Of recognition OF 'r'
Czecho- Slovahs would demand equally la'
recognition OF Poland. The Polish peope
are at present under the Prussian heel w.
they must be delivered, as Russia must ''
delivered. very brief survey Of the may
o. Europe will bring home TO the mind '''
wisdom of establishing between Germs'
and the new Russia barrier of indepenasn'
states. The Czecho- Slovaks with their :.
100000 people the Poles, with some 2VVV'
600 in the territory they aspire 70 call re
Poland, the Lithuanians and Firms, w0'.'
serve an important end in sheltering kus''
from German designs of domination
A typical instance Of the marVel'0''
Czecho- Slovall perseverance was %
pressed on banner carried in the y
radc Professor Masaryk led through i"
streets of Chicago:
"Ckeer up, America! we nav
been fighting them for thomsd"'
gears.
New-York tribune., 1918-09-08

ceedcd at first in penetrating by surprise
our front infantry and artillery lines at
isolated points and in pressing our lines
back. In the afternoon our line divisions,
together with reserves which had been
held in readiness, frustrated the cnemys
attempts TO break through" etc.
Offensive cast Of Amiens, begun on
August S. This was justly described
in cable dispatches as the worst German
defeat Of the war. On the first day the
Allies advanced TO maximum depth of
eight and threc-quarter miles on a twen-
tymilc trout, taking 1000 prisoners and
more than 100 guns. On the 9th there
further maximum advance Of four
and onehalf miles, and the British official
bulletin reported total of 1900 prison
crs and 900 to 300 guns for the two days
BY the 10th the number Of prisoners had
exceeded $4,000, and the guns captured
400 On that day the French, attacking
southeast of Montdider, scored a maxi
mum advance of six miles North of that
city the maximum gain was five miles in
the centre
The German official bulletin for August
g. I'm an attack by the English between
the Ancre and the Avrc the enemy has
forced his way into our postions.'
The night bulletin said: "The enemy is
continuing his attacks betweaa the Somme
and the Avre'
August 8, day bulletin: "Betwesn the
Ancre and the Avre the enemy attacked
yesterday with strong forces. Favored
by thick fog, ne forced his way with
tanks into our infantry and artillery
lines. Between the Somme and the Avre
New-York tribune., 1918-09-08
Excusing the Recent
H. Retreats

Hertling, too, admitted about the
same time in a speech that he was ''anx-
ious about the outlook for the future"
He referred to the tendency of the Ger
mans to criticise the government, which
intensified party antagonism, land there
in is undoubtedly danger" He excused
the recent retreats of the army as neces-
stated by strategical reasons.
The most recent discussions Of the
German military writer's are much more
outspoken. Thus, Lieutenant General
Baron Won Ardenne wrote on August
2S: "The German army and nation now
face dark hours. May God protect the
Fatherland The period from August
20 to % has been one of the trying tests
of this hardest of wars
The writer goes on to explain how it
was possible for Foch ITO pass suddenly
from the defensive to a tempestuous
and, as far as territorial gains are con-
cerned, successful offensive and he ac-
counts for it in this way:
"The solution Of the riddle lies in the
fact that the Entente states will to ami
hilaton enabled them, after unparalleled
exertions, to gather together powerful
numerical superiority in all arms
after three great annihilating blows ad-
ministered to the Entente by the German
offensive, the belief accepted on the
German side that Foch's reserve or manou-
vre army, estimated at sixty divisions was
prematurely used up, to a great extent in
local defensive counter attacks AS united
operating force it was declared that it need
not be taken into account any longer This
view was supported by semi official reports.
The belief, however rests on error and it
is we'll to acknowledge that"
New-York tribune., 1918-09-08

facto belligerent government,
clothed with proper authority to
direct the military and political af-
fairs of the Czecho-Slovaks.
The Government of the United
States further declares that it is pre-
pared to enter formally into rela-
tions with the de facto government
thus recognized for the purpose of
prosecuting the war against the
common enemy, the empires of
Germany and Austria-Hungary.
New-York tribune., 1918-09-08

found that the German and Austrian pris
oners OF war quartcred in Che villages had
taken advantage Of the revolution to work
their way into the confidence of the peas
ants They had obtained places on the local
Sovets under pretence Of being interna-
tional revoiutionists. German and Austrian
officers, representing themselves as opposed
to militarism and sympathizing with the
peasants, had obtained great influence over
the unsuspecting natives. They made dil.i-
cuties for the Czecho- Sovaks. The latter
avoided open conflict until they reached
Irkitsk
New-York tribune., 1918-09-08
The Official Explanations

our counter attacks brought the cnemy's
advance to a standstill. We suf-
fered losses in prisoners and guns"
August 10, night bulletin: During the
night we Withdrew our troops fighting on
the Avre and Dom Brook TO the rear lines
east Of Montdidier. Southeast of Mont
ddier we repulsed strong partial attacks
OF the French.
yesterday the British and French,
bringing strong reserves into action, con-
tinued their attacks on the whole battle
front between the Ancrc and the Avre. On
both sides Of the Somme and ast1dc the
Foucaucourt Nillers- DretonneuX road We
threw the enemy back by counter attacks.
He suffered heavy losses here
On September 2 and the British capt
ured the famous "Wotan Line took
Qu1ant, numerous villages and vast mill
tary stores, and reached the new switch
line six miles behind the "W otan Line"
For the two days the capture Of $4,000
prisoners was reported.
The German day Bulletin fer September
, said: "Bctwccn tho Scarpc and the
Sommc the British are continuing their
attacks on front of forty-iv kilometres.
The effect of our artillery frc against
troops placed in readiness by the enemy
southeast of Arras on both sides Of Ba-
paumc appreciably contributed to- their
rcpulse.' with other details that give
no idea Of the important British success y
September 3. evening bulletin: "Be-
tween the Scarpc and the Somme the day
passed quietly. Movements commenced
cordance with our plar.'
New-York tribune., 1918-09-08
LII the news coming out Of Ger
n many within the last ten days
indicates plainly that the Sc
,.ionSnncS &c %l,a n,ilifnrxr Sit1la-

robustness Of the military situa-
tion is seen to be growing clearer every
day. Not only the newspapers but also
men in authority have spoken out in
tones Enthusiastically recognizing the gray
ity of the moment Words have been
spoken by both Hindenburg and Hertling
which were designed to alay the growing
alarm and anxiety of the German people.
Hindenburg, in telegram to Hertling
at the end of last week, said that the
German army is already con the battle
fields of France and Flanders defending
the sacred soil of the Fatherland" Ger
many, he said, sis fighting bitter bat
tie" He predicted that Severe battle
is still to be fought" and pleaded for
unity among the people in a way to show
that he is aware of the dangers in his
own rear caused by the reverses of the
German army
New-York tribune., 1918-09-08
\ Battle That Lasted
~ Four Days

"ln that way they approached the railroad
junction only to find German army be-
tween them and any further progress. When
their whole force had come up. they at
tackled. The battle lasted for four days
Then the Germans asked for an armistice
to bury their dead. When the armstice
expired, they found that the German army
had retreated, leaving only rear guard
that fell back before them. They reached
the railroad. They advanced along it tow
New-York tribune., 1918-09-08

purposes in the present war, con-
Hded supreme political authority to
the Czecho-Slovak National Coun-
Gil,
The Government Of the United
States recognizes that a state of
belligerency exists between the
Czecho-Slovaks thus organized and
the German and Austro- Hungarian
empires.
1t also recognizes the Czecho-
Slovak National Council as de
New-York tribune., 1918-09-08
Aidn't Think Enough
~ Of the Americans

few days later the military critic of
the "Frankfurter Zetung" said this:
The two main factors of the German
defeat were the understanding OF the enc
my's strength and the unity of command.
We attacked too exclusively the reserves,
which we defeated in three great thrusts
toward Amens Armentieres and the Marne.
New-York tribune., 1918-09-08
The Official Text of Secretary Lansing's
Announcement of Recognition

TIME Czecho-Slovak peoples
having taken UP arms
against the German and
Austro Hungarian empires, and
having placed organized armies in
the field, which are waging war
against those empires under officers
of their own nationality and in ac-
cordance with the rules and prac-
tees of civilized nations; and,
The Czecho-Slovaks having, in
prosecution of their independent
New-York tribune., 1918-09-08

The boundaries
OF their realm
have not been de
lined. Their pop
ulation can only
be estimated. But
their remarkable
q d V e n ture in
shaking Off the
domination of the
Central Powers
has won them an
enduring place
wherever free
dom is cherished.
In the words of
New-York tribune., 1918-09-08

pull their wagons. They pulled the wagons
themselves and ate the horsemeat They
lived on dogs, cats and frogs. when we
came to pond they say, the frogs greeted
us with q chorus. When we had passed
there was not frog to be heard They
roasted barley to make themselves coffee,
and rolled it out with bottles TO crush it.
and when they had drunk the coffee they ate
the rrOUNdS
New-York tribune., 1918-09-08
Strange, Homeless Comet i'm the Galaxy of Nations

NLOVAKIA, nation of exies. already
sponsored by Great Britain,
~ France and Italy. has at last been
recognized by the United States.
After centuries Of aspiration, the
Slovaks, we now officially agree,
have won the freedom they cherished.
New-York tribune., 1918-09-08

tary Developments is abundantly evil
denced. The Essen "Allgemeine lei
tung" was saying the other day that the
surrender Of territory was encouraging
the tribe Of grumbers at home to lament
New-York tribune., 1918-09-08

"our desperate situation" and it con-
tinued thus:
How those who cry 'Enough.' would
have us stop lighting without making our
situation worse we do not know
New-York tribune., 1918-09-08

military decision, but in the expectations of
the Crown Prince a military decision does
not enter at all"
That deep depression has been caused
among the people at large by the mill
New-York tribune., 1918-09-08

This acHl giue a good idea of
the acay Germany reports her re-
rerses. We instance here some
of the recent drives and engage
n1ents, 2Cith their actual results,
foUoaced By the official German
reysion.
New-York tribune., 1918-09-08

~ N JULY 18 Foch launched his first
e.; 4: ;:'':: S;::;s ;'::;' ::s 1%:;,.:: Ss :
advanced ON a twenty-five mile
front to depth of three to six miles,
occupied more than twenty villages, took
thousands Of prisoners and enormous mil
tary stores. The French official report
Of July 10, summarizing results for two
days, said more than $1,000 prisoners and
above $50 pieces of artillery had been
taken.
The German Official bulletin (day) for
the 18th merely said: "On the north bank
OF the river (Marne) the enemy also en-
deavorcd vainly to contest our successes
y The night report added this: "Betwecu
the Aisnc and the Marne the French at
tackled with strong forces and tanks and
captured some ground. Our reserves
which were held in readiness, took part
in the battle" No mention of Americans
taking part in the drive.)
Tho day bulletin of the 18th said: "The
battle has blazed up again between the
.Aisne and Marine. There the French have
begun their long expected counter often
sivc BY the employment Of extremely
strong squadrons Of tanks the enemy sue