davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1918-09-14
Tanks and Lost Heads

The tanks have won new glory at st.
Mihiel and they have won, too, grudging
recognition from the enemy. The World
publishes an interesting cable purport-
ing to be report of General Ludendorff
on the causes of the German disaster. It
is of date of August 8 and based upon
reports from officers sent to the front to
find out the reasons for the defeat. At
the head of the findings stand these high
~ informative paragraphs:
First That the troops were surprised
by the massed attacks of tanks and lost
their heads when the tanks suddenly ap-
pcarcd behind them, having broken
through under the protection of natural
and artificial fog.
"Second-That the artillery support
was utterly insufficient against the enemy
and against his tanks
And among the recommendations we
find this:
Far more must be done than hereto
fore has been the case in the construction
of defences against tanks. The dislike of
the troops for trench digging must be
combated by all the means possible"
This is, so far as we know, the first Of
cal recognition on the part of the en-
envy as to the decisive role of the tank in
thc initial blow, and likewise in following
Up the success thereby attained. All this
agrees with Stockholm cable to The Sun
As to what is being said in Berlin, that
the German retreat in the West was due
"a .he Allies superiority in tanks and
airplanes and to the Germans lack
in artillery ammunition and anti-tank
weapons.
The evidence seems fairly conclusive
now, first, that the construction of a
huge number of tanks by the French and
the English found the Germans quite un-
prepared with means to resist them. and.
second, that up to the present time the
Germans have not, apparently, under
taken to meet tanks with tanks. In other
words, toward what may prove to be one
of the biggest, if not the biggest, new
things in the art Of warfare the German
New-York tribune., 1918-09-14
Fighting Parsons

There may be those who still hold to
the theory that the war spirit of Amer
lea had slept so long that it was not and
could not be awakened when the Lus-
tania went down. and that the President
had to keep us out Of war nearly two
years in order to awaken ii. But even
they can hardly deny that it is very
lively spirit just now A significant il
lustration Of the desire of all sorts and
conditions to take hand in the great
conflict is offered by the action of the
Methodist ministers Of Philadelphia and
adjacent towns in New Jersey. They
have met and resolved that they do not
wish to be exempted from military ser
vice because Of their CLOTH
They appreciate the intention of the
government, they say, in excmpting
them, in accordance with q custom
wherein the memory Of man runneth not
to the contrary. They admit the need
of sustaining moral and spiritual
forces at home" But the red blood in
them cries out for active service at the
front. They desire "to share with all
men of all professions full partnership
in the task of making the world safe for
democracy and little children"
None would say that the clergy have
not been doing their share The long
list Of army chaplains and Y. M. c.. A.
workers would give the lie to such an
assertion. Nor are these by any means
without the danger line, as many tales
of simple heroism have shown. But the
Methodist brethren are quite obviously
very militant members of the Church
Militant That reference to ''litte chill
dren" shows what they are thinking of.
1t is the dearest wish of their hearts to
play a personal part in visiting Ven
geance upon the murderers and ravish-
ers who have sent hundreds of little
children to death in sinking ships or
0ren boats and who have made sham
bles of Belgium. At ordinary times
they would shrink from the shedding of
blood. They would think it unbecoming
TO the cloth They would not appeal to
the example of Leondas Polk. the fight
ing bishop of our Civil War, or to the
remoter one Of Henry Spencer, Bishop
Of Norwich. who took arms to put down
Wat Tyler's rebellion. He met and de-
feated the rebels in the field took them
prisoners, gave them absolution and
sent them to the galows.
This combination Of the spiritual and
the secular arm was unusual even in
those days, though more than one medi-
aval prelate served his time as soldier.
No doubt the fighting parsons of Phla-
delpha will be willing to pray for the
Huns, but the character Of their resou
1ion seems to show that they are far
mere anxious to kill them.
New-York tribune., 1918-09-14

or pocket, designed TO narrow the mouth
and thus compel the enemy in the salient
to retreat. But in the case of st. Mihiel
the pocket was so narrow at the mouth
that successful advance of half dozen
miles, made quickly, would threaten all
the troops in the salient with envelop-
ment and capture. This is what has
happened.
Thus Foch, having regalned the initia-
tive as a result Of his Marine counter of
fenslve, has successfully attacked Luden-
dorff in all sectors where the German po-
sition was unhappy. In each case he has
assailed a position taken by the Germans
originally as a Jumping off place for fur
ther offensive operations and obstinately
retained after the chance of continuing
the offensive had failed.
The object of all these various often
sives, taken together, is to disorganize
the enemy, break down his morale, put
severe strain upon his reserves and ex-
haust his materials. These are the pre-
liminary steps to the engaging in that
{,
and without which no military decision
can be had. No one of the defeats so far
inflicted upon the enemy has DESTROYED an
army or shaken the organization of anv
single army. Collectively the various
victories have obviously weakened Ger
man morale on the front and behind it
and forced the German to accept de-
fenslve ti2ht-the end of which is in
evitable defeat.
We are bound to avoid the familiar
mistake of fixing upon geographical OBJ
Jectlves as the aim of our commander in
chief. These geographical detectives.
frequently discussed, are but incidental
foch is not striving to take Metz, the
Brley IRON mines, Cambria, Douai or
Lille RE IS not even largely concerned
with turning the Germans out of France
and Belgium
On the contrary, Foch is the exponent
and has always been the teacher of the
doctrine of absolute war; that is of war
directed against the armies of the enemy
Tor the purpose of bringing them to bat
tie, lnf1lctlng upon them a decisive de-
teat which shall win the war, a defeat
like Jena, Sedan, Waterloo, from which
no organized enemy force shall escape.
And 1t is in this light that we must look
at recent victories, the local successes of
Mangin, Rawlinson, Horne and now Of
Pershing; they are details in the LARGER
strategy which can only be realized when
the main German forces have suffered
complete defeat.
In this strategy French. British and
American armies have now played their
assigned roles. Our army is now unit
in the system of armies Our first sen-
arate victory is in an engagement bigger
than Gettysburg or The Wilderness
Henceforth our army is to count in q
new sense; we are no longer the reserve
OF our Allies; we are one of the three
great machines in France whose COM
bined energy, directed by single brain.
is to bring victory.
New-York tribune., 1918-09-14
The All-Highest at Krupps

With more lf-pity and slushy sent
mentalism than Werther--the great en-
bodiment of German neurotic emotion
alsm-ever showed, the All-Highest of
Potsdam has again exhibited his mental
and moral calibrc to the world.
The stage on which he chose to post
ure as devoted friend of peace, driven
to draw the sword in self-defence by the
vaccinations of evil neighbors, was an
appropriate one 1t was a workshop of
the Krupps' establishment - an enter
prise in which he is large stockholder
and from which he has drawn enormous
personal profits through the decades in
which it was preparing Germany to
gamble for military mastery Of Europe
and of the world.
After four years Of desperate fighting
and of many temporary German triumphs
the Teuton dream of world conquest has
faded 1t is up to the Kaiser to square
himself with people weary of hardships
and facing defeat.
Can he do it? There is no intellect
ual hypocrisy. no moral and emotional
perversion, Of which the race Of Wer-
ther is not capable. What is decadent
German philosophy philosophy Of
Nietzsche and Trcitschke-but cloak
to cover reversion Of Kultur to bar
barism? What is the piety Of German
officialism but hdeous insult to all
believers in a God of justice, right
eousness and mercy?
The All-Highest is himself a philoso-
pher and petist. He explains the
lamentable origins of the war with all
the profundity of Mephistopheles dis
cussing theology with Faust or of Will
helm Meister discoursing Oh the enigmas
of Hamlet's character.
Here is his last word of self-commis-
.ration and exculpation:
I have thought long on the matter
and have come to the following answer:
In this world good clashes with evil
That is how things have been ordered
from on hgh-thc yes and the no; the
no of the doubling mind against the yes
of the creative mind; the no of the pes
simist against the yes of the optimst;
the no of the unbelievcr against the yes
of the champion Of faith TIE yes of
heaven against the no Of hell
Nothing could be more colossal in its
sumption Of the sanctity of the Ger
man cause and of the complete harmony
Of German militaristic designs with the
purposes Of the Ruler of the Universe
Nothing could be more "ccht deutsch'
In the very factory in which the guns
were made which battered down the
forts of Liege-the prelude to the long
drama of German infamy in Belgium
the Kaiser classifies himself as the cham
pion Of faith against the fathess. In
the same room, maybe, in which the
Big Bertha" was forged which slaugh-
tered Good Friday worshippers in Paris
church he prates Of Germany's repre-
senting the eyes of heaven against the
no of hell'
Could moral arrangement and be-
sotted egoism go further? Could even
the German mind sink to lower depths
Of hypocrisy and sophistry? Werther
and Mephistopheles would both have
hung their heads in shame if they had
stood there in the great Krupp war tenn
pie and listened to William the Seconds
revolving homily.
New-York tribune., 1918-09-14
The Battle Flag-A Song

On the trick plays of modern warfare. the
double pass and going around the end, the flag
bearer may be out of place. but there may come q
time when you must go straight through the CEN
ire. q direct assault. and such time happy IS
the nation that has preserved the traditions OF IFS
colorbearers, for will follow the flag of their
fathers to certain death if it will save the war;
o ripping, radiant, oraamme,
Full oft in battles breath
Thy light hath shone, on lives undonc,
AS q panacea for death
0 banner, blessed by woman's tears,
AS DER some hero's bier,
She wept in pride for him who died
Without reproach or fear.
0 memoir Of our deathless dead,
Proud scroll of sacrifice.
From every fold their tale is told
Their valor was thy price.
o gittering galaxy of stars,
Thy tales of glory tell
Of warriors wise and battle prize
And patriot sons who fell
0 futtering page of history.
Emblazoned by our sires.
To dauntless deed in nations need
Thy radiant light inspires.
PAUL BRANDON BARRINGER.
New-York tribune., 1918-09-14

W. 1TH It'll THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
w THE FIELD.-In spite of American
censorship regulations, made in
Washington American soldiers who take
part in battles arc sometimes wounded. 1t
is necessary to make this explanation be-
cause American wounded played promi-
ncnt part in piece of admirable American
medical enterprise which undoubtedly saved
many lives and eascd much suffering. When
men are wounded badly they must be
handled with extreme gentleness, some
thing not always possible in ambulanccs, in
advanced dressing stations and even in field
hospitals
Therefore on American battlefield,
which found itself near a navigable river
recently, the medical department rustled a
complete river hospital steamer from some
where and put it into immediate service 1t
Lad an operating room, comfortable beds
and all modern equipment and appliances
for badly wounded cases. The wounded
were forced to endure a short ambulance
ride and then staff Of doctors, nurses and
orderlcs aboard the "ship" did the rest
There no Earring; the boat gently
slid toward Paris and in most cases the
wounded arrived at destination in fresh
condition considering everything. With its
cargo unloaded the steamer would turn it's
nose uprivcr at top speed and gather an
other cargo. The trips were continuous
until the battlefield fed with the Allied ad-
vance too far away from the river to make
the use of the boat practicable.
Incidents which will probably become
more frequent as the progresses in
France are happening occasionally now in
sectors where American troops are engaged.
They arc the sudden meetings of soldier
relatives in unexpected places and under
unique conditions.
The meeting Of the Benson brothers j,
one.
Ralph Benson, thirty two, left Idaho for
New York ten years ago. He wrote letters
to his family for three years and then the
correspondence fiZzled. Benson was
wounded few days ago in France. He
was placed on a hospital train en- route to
a base institution near Paris He was
lying case-one Of those whose wounds
prevent walking. A young doughboy with
q wound in the arm passed through tho
coach on his way forward where the "sit-
ting cases were assigned. He stopped
when he came to Bcnson's berth and stared
at Benson j.
Hello, Jack. Where do you come from ?"
the youngstcr asked.
New York" answered Benson
Where did you live before New York ?"
the younger one persisted.
"ldaho," answered Benson "Why?"
My names Benson and I'm from idaho"
explained the youngster, "and you look like
brother Of mine"
Then the conversation became more init
mate and the hospital train lieutenant, who
told The Tribune about it, didn't catch the
remainder, but the fact developed that they
were the Benson brothers, ten years sepa-
rated and meeting on hospital train in
France. One was volunteer and the other
was drafted. They were allowed to ride
together all the way to the base hospital
and now they are both there getting we'll.
New-York tribune., 1918-09-14

NESPlTE natural and justified
pride in our American achieve
ment on a single sector Of the
great Western front, it is essential that
we should now appreciate the larger
meaning Of the victory at st. Mihiel. 1t
is, viewed from this angle magnificent
example of the advantages Of unified
command, revelation of the military
genius of our Allied commander in chief
and a hopeful evidence that there is to
be no let up in the general Allied often
sive and no repetition of the costly OBJ
stinacy wh,ch has made earlier Allied
offensives such costly failures
Foch is following the larger strategy
of Grant in 1864. He is attacking all
along the line; he is attacking in Lor-
raine; he has attacked in Champagne, in
e-de-F'rance, in Picardy and in Artois,
and he will certainly attack in Flanders
Ludendorff has retired behind the Hin
denburg line with the expectation that
i OCH WOulu 1OllOW HIN anu wear OuL Ills
resources in a repetition Of the Somme
and Flanders campaigns Of 1916 and
1917. But Foch has shifted his field of
operations and inflicted a new defeat,
local, but costly.
AS result of our American victory,
the only break in the permanent line of
French defences on the Eastern frontier
has been repaired. The Toul-Verdun
railroad is reopened, giving the French
invaluable lateral communication behind
the Verdun- Toul front. In the same way
the Paris-Nancy railroad has been freed
from the surveillance of German guns
about ST. Mihel and forty mile detour
eliminated.
Two major profits for the future have
also been realized. Foch is free now to
launch an offensive in the direction of
Briey and it's great iron mines without
danger on his southern flank. He is
equally at liberty to strike eastward from
Nancy between Metz and Strassburg
without anxiety for his rearward COM
munications with Paris.
An advance to Briey would be a local
operation with purely limited objective
the iron mines. But an advance from
Nancy would be the beginning Of the
real invasion Of Germany, an invasion
certain to come next year, and, when it
comes, sure to compel the Germans to re-
tire out of Northern France and West
ern Belgium. In word the American
success in abolishing the St. Mihel sa-
lient solidly lays the foundation for
great American offensive into Alsace-
Lorraine, which is bound to be the de-
clslve feature of the campaign of 1919.
Looked at as a single operation, Per-
shings attack is wholly comparable to
that of Mangin against the Marne sa-
lient and Rawlinson against the Mont
dldler pocket. In both cases the attack
Was mainly on one side of deep salient
New-York tribune., 1918-09-14
Anthem Day
ldltor of The Tribune.

10 the Editor of The Tribune
' o'r: Will you please suggest through the
colulhhs OF your paper that not oniy on
anthem Day shall the people join in
singing the national anthem when PLAYED
oy bands at theatres, concerts, moving nict-
ure shows, etc, but that every one oin at
any time IN singing it? 1t has been sno-
ges'ed that 1T be so done Saturday. Sep
tember IA, and it seems to me il ouobt -
DC universally sung and that our voices
should not be mute when the st;rr;n,. ,,ai
calls. STEI1.C
New York, Sept IL, 1918.
New-York tribune., 1918-09-14
Naudevillan Note
IFrom Tn. Nl pceo ri,r

From The e! Poso Times
The Slmp Sextet, composed of the six
precious sons of the German Casar, is now
appearing daily in the comic opera. "Kul-
tur." and are chorusng the following little
ditty: I'VE are all the sons of old Kaiser
Bill; we don't work nor fight, and by heck.
we never will"
New-York tribune., 1918-09-14
A Pledge

from Dirner Card at Kiiconis Ci,b - D.,
Minn) 49,
cross my heart and hope to die
If should ever, ever buy
Another thing on which sec
The trademark, Made in Germauy.'v
New-York tribune., 1918-09-14
What 1t Means
By Frank H. Simonds

(Copyright, 1918, New loyh Tribune Inc.)
New-York tribune., 1918-09-14
Flashes
By Wilbur Forrest

WV ITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
w THE FIELD.-In spite of American
New-York tribune., 1918-09-14

.ESPlTE natural and justified pocket, designed
pride in our American achieve and thus compel the
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-14
MONDAY-THE ROCK ISLAND ARGUs-JANUARY IA, 1918

the steady continuance OF their work.
the entire system OF the regular and
usual philanthropic Activities
throughout the country Is having new
and special burdens laid upon 1t. The
customary work Of our community
agencies is more urgently needed
than ever before. The subtle dis
organization of family life, the unrest
and emotionalism which affects young
men and women, the noticeable in
crease in Juvenile delinquency. the
presence of new dangers to public
health and vitality owing to made
quate food and fuel, the danger OF
lowered industrial standards. the un-
dermining of family economic well
being, due to increase Of prices beyond
wages-all these tendencies are re-
ceiving the most alert and constant
attention.
But" the statement concludes, 1.-THE
final and, aside from the great i'm
mediate ends sought in the war, the
determining consideration is the age
long Importance of the reconstruction
era, which at farthest soon will be
upon us. The European nations are,
at the present moment. in the last
depths OF the war, turning a substan-
tial> portion of their narrow reserves
to the task of reconstruction. Shall
We, with our only slightly impaired
national resources, be any less en-
lightened and downright"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-14
ADDRESS YOUR MAIL
TO EUROPE JUST so

London,-Americans who write let
ters to friends abroad should take spe-
cial pains to address the letters ade-
Quately. If an exact address cannot
be obtained and it is necessary for any
reason to address the letter care of
the American Embassy in London" all
possible details regarding the person
addressed should be given on the face
of the envelope for the assistance OF
the embassy authorities.
There are now Lying at the Ameri-
can embassy here hundreds of letters,
which have been addressed casually
"care American embassy" and which
the embassy officials have no way of
delivering. If the senders had even
indicated whether the person ad-
dressed was in the army, the navy.
the aviation corps, or the nature of
his business in London, there might
have been a chance of the letter find
ing its way, but without any such par
ticulars, the likelihood of it's reaching
its destination are rather remote.
Some people at home seem to think
that the American embassy in London
is small compact Office where is
kept a card index of all Americans
abroad. AS a matter of fact, the
American embassy in London has ex-
banded since the war until it occupies
a half dozen scattered buildings and
employs several hundred clerks and
secretaries. Americans who call at
the embassy usually have business
with only one -denartment and the
clerks who have charge of the casual
mail are extremely unlikely to hear
their names.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-14
ALL POSSIBLE DONE
HELPING PUSH WAR

Chicago-The utmost efforts OF So
cial agencies have been applied to-
wards the increase of national effic-
iency in connection with the war, ac-
cording to a statement ISSUED today
from the headquarters of the organi-
cation here by Robert A. Woods of
Boston. president Of the National Con-
ference Of Social Work.
MANY Of the principles of crgan-
lied social work have been more or
less formally approved by the govern
ment, as being necessary to the health,
efficiency and spirit Of the military
and naval forces" according to this
review. Great numbers Of leaders in
social work were instantly drawn into
the new forms of war time service,
and are today. everywhere recognized
as inseparable from the main defenses
of the country.
with many Of our agencies thus
ceprived Of those most responsible for