davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-05-19
" HILE job hunting has always

wv been an occupation requiring
a maximum of leg power, car
fare, wind and patience, it might be
supposed that shopping for war work
is far different. Merely the simple
and glorious Offering of ones self
to ones country would seem to be quite
sufficient.
But if glorious, the business of aid
ing ones country in the winning Of the
war is actually far from simple in
most cases. Many persons are willing
to enlist in the various branches of
the military service, but do not know
which branch they are best fitted for.
Consequently, they go at the matter
blindly and 1t is matter Of fact that
many have made most unfortunate mis-
takes.
The same is true Of persons. un-
fitted for military service who wish to
aid their country in the various civilian
services which are necessary for the
prosecution Of the war. Nearly every
man who is willing to work for his
country has some special qualification
1t may be thorough knowledge Of
some language, Of transportation, or
expectation, of explosives, Of intensive
farming, Of a million other matters
which mean the quicker winning of
the war If his services are secured.
But he does not know where to present
himself that he may be most efficient.
| The Mayors Committee on National
Defence Is organizing clearing house
for such war workers, where they may
state their qualifications. 1t is sad
to contemplate a man. whose knowl-
edge Of Brazil, say, would make his
services Of great value to the War
Trade Board, wasting his time and his
talents as an Insignificant clerk in a
local draft board, just because the
latter was the only position he thought
of applying for. But the ESTABLISHING mt
of this clearing house for war workers
in the Municipal Building will remedy
this evil to large extent.
Recruiting Committee
Already at Work
Such a clearing house for soldiers
and sailors, to steer them into the
right branch Of the service, is al
ready in operation in the Hall of Rec
ords. Edward B. Cochem decided a
few weeks ago that the situation was
deplorable and that something must
be done. He told the Mayors COM
mittee about it and it got busy inn
mediately. Henry Macdonald was put
in charge. 1t opened Offices in the
Hall Of Records building and invited
all men interested in getting into the
war by the route of any branch to
come down and talk it over.
While this recruiting committee
was formed primarily for the bcne-
fit of men wishing to enter the
military service, for the moment it is
taking care Of non-military war work
also. Men who are not At physically
TOR active service, or over enlistment
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-05-19

shoulders, complimented them on their
nerve and told them to go back until
they were sixteen, when they might be
taken as drummer boys. They went,
and later two agitated mothers ap-
peared to inquire if their sous had
been there. The boys had hit the trail
so often and SO persistently for recruit
ing stations that their mothers could
just about guess where they would 60
every time they were missing for sew
eral hours.
Spanish War veteran came to the
Office the other day, cursing himself
for the age he bore and the three fin
gers he had lost. But the Mayors re-
cruting committee sent him to the
Young Mems Christian Association,
where he was taken into the transporta-
ton service and made as happy as a
fighting man ever could be in an Office
during war.
A Russian who had been in the war
since 1915 enlisted through the Mayors
committee because, forsooth, Russia
was no longer fighting and he loved to
fight. He had come clear to America to
enter the American army. Ishmael E.
Monteros, one Of Villas colonies in the
old hot days, appeared, to be accepted
as private, and was given cordial
welcome.
jeff Davis, the Hobo King, applied,
was rejected, and then he offered his
services for the speakers bureau. He
was accepted. William j. Roberts, tn.
crack steeplejack of Newark, had a bad
arm that barred him from the army,
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-05-19

our men have learned this truth now.
We walked faster, our boots sticking
in the earth as if some evil imp in the
mud was trying to unshoe us at every
step. At last we reached our haven.
Stopped by
Menacing Sentry
"Halt!"
A sentry at the entrance ditch had
showed his bayonet before the cap
tain's eyes. The command was low but
decidedly menacing. We stopped.
"Who goes?"
"Friend."
whats the PASSWORD"
The sentry asked this question in q
hoarse whisper, implying by his tone
that he expected whispered answer
for the Boche listeners might overhear
Denver" whispered the captain.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-05-19

captain led with sure and steady feet.
Twice we came to trenches across
which we had to jump. In the dark
ness these were blacker ribbons on a
black earth and deceptive to the eye.
Leaping across them with the war
paraphernalia strapped around me was
no simple matter. landed either in
deep mud on the other side after su-
per-effort or missed and fell part way
into the ditch, to be helped out by
Captain K, who assured me that If
I remained week would be able to
do as we'll as he.
Those trenches which had duck
boards across were even more decep-
tive, for the ladders seemed to float in
the air and getting across them with
boots oozing as witch soft glue was
like walking a tight rope over a ra-
vine. Suddenly
"Swish-!"
A big rocket came from the enemy
lines, leaving a comet tail of fire in it's
journey toward US.
'Freeze!" said the captain.
We "froze."
The rocket burst overhead, flew a
few feet, when its inclosed parachute
opened and kept the flying searchlight
moving with the breeze.
Acting Like
Blasted Trees
A million little shadows sprang about
us. Our own shadows leaped from our
feet like disembodied black spirits.
possessed with the power of life, and
roamed about, long, grotesque giants,
growing longer and longer, travelling
faster and faster as the fare came
nearer.
We stood exposed, like actors in a
spotlight, before the German lines.
"Let us hope we'll pass for couple
of blasted trees" the captain whis-
percd.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-05-19
talk over, a returned orderly is dis
patched on another mission.

talk over, returned orderly is dis
patched on another mission.
Night in
The Trenches
There is no rest. And all the while,
in the viscera of the earth, the bonn
bardment Of many miles away is
pounding in our ears. EARLY that
evening, at nine o'clock, we had made
a night trip through the trenches, the
captain inspecting his front. We had
put on our helmets, swung our gas
masks into the "alert" position, strap
ped on revolver belts and stepped in
to the dark.
Night Is kind to the American battle
field. She had covered all the days
stark ugliness, all the days wounds
and tragedy, with her quiet and patient
hands. For minutes she gave US the
semblance of peace in the trenches
Suddenly, through her far-stretching
fingers, the star shells shot upward,
their fierce whiteness putting the stars
to flight, making the torn and raw
aged earth more CHASTITY than under
the rays Of the war sun.
Right and left, on the hills and in
the valley between, there were quivers
of light, vibrating and dying, spring
ing up and falling slowly away. We
were yet too far away to be caught
by these demon eyes of the enemy.
The air was heavy with damp and
the odors of earth. A gentle breeze
bore tidings of green spring
"Finc air for a gas attack" said
the captain. eff the breeze stays quiet
Fritz1l probably try it. If the wind
increases it spreads the gas out too
thin-harmless. I've sent out a spe-
cial warning to watch for gas"
Mysterious
Night Trail
The trail we used by day had become
mysterious, maze by night, but the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-05-19
Bring Back a Pair of
Prisoners and aLarge
Collection of Tro.
phies for Wilson
By George II. Seldes
THE AMERICAN FORCES

MYTH THE AMERICAN FORCES
w in Lorraine. May Eve are
going to raid Fritz tonight"
said the captain. eve are going to
put over barrage from 3:45 to 4:05,
and then go over. You may stay if you
like"
Barrage is the chief terror Of this
terrorizing war. Barrage is murder
the murder of all nature. 1t is earth
quake and volcano and lightning or
dcred and standardized on little charts
and tuned precisely by human hand.
Past midnight, and we are here in
the dugout waiting for it. 1t is going
to be an American barrage, one Of the
first on this quiet sector Of quiet Lor-
raine where American units recently
took over the trenches and the guns
with which they are now writing their
history with fire and flame.
There are three rooms in this hole.
In the first there is a table made of
few stray boards, and bunk on
which three or four men are sitting,
talking and smoking. At the table
three others, the orderlies, are play
ing with greasy pack Of cards. There
is some laughter, and the converse
ton 10 not of the parlor variety.
In the middle room Is the captains
desk, with his cardboard folder con-
tanning all his confidential papers. his
orders, the maps and the plan Of the
German line facing him. To the left
is the stove. To the right two bunks.
ono above the other, for the captain
and lieutenant; but as one Is awake
all night the extra sleeping place Is
used sometimes by the French liaison
officer or a visitor. Tonight it is as
signed to me. Opposite the entrance
is the door to the telegraph and tele-
phone room, where four men are busy.
They have a varied time of it, listen
ing sometimes to the Germans talking
in their trenches, sometimes to our
own observers reporting on the effects
Of our barrage.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-05-19
FINDING THE RIGHT JOB FOR NEW YORK WAR VOLUNTEERS

age, women who want to do patriotic
work and loyal Americans with Ger
man names are among the petitioners
who drift in down at the Hall of Rec
ords to see if the recruiting committee
cannot do something about their case.
Men who are able to finance their own
war jobs are often looking for place
to offer their services. These last the
Mayors Committee on National De-
fence very often takes into its own
circle, for its twelve working COM
mlttees need the services of highly
trained business and professional men
who can give their time.
The others the recruiting committee
IS not prepared to take care Of at pres
ent. 1t sends them on, however, to the
proper agencies and organizations.
Anarchist Tries
Nineteen Times
The first day the recruiting commit
tee was formed it was rewarded by q
visit from an awful-cyed gentleman
afflicted with mild case of anarch-
ism. He had "hoofed" it to nineteen
different places to try to get himself
$50 month and good chance of get
ting "shot to hell" said he, in no
ambiguous language, and he didn't
know that his government needed. to be
so uppish-he wasn't such poor speci-
men! and SO forth, in the same strain
for about twenty-five minutes.
Then when he came up for air he
was invited to sit down and tell his
story, after which he was told ex.
actly the requirements in all branches
of the service and sent to his prope,
destination, the War Service Exchange
which for some duties will take mer
not qualified for more active service
When he had left, tanned and rea.
sonable creature once more, Mr.. Co.
chem and his recruiting officers looked
at each other and smiled broadly. He
was just the man they were looking
for. They knew their committee was
going to find work for him to do.
And it has, for ever since that frs,
day men and boys have streamed te
them by the hundreds-nearly nine
thousand week-to tell their story
and receive quick and accurate infor.
nation about everything military un.
der the sun. At the committees of.
fees there is recruiting officer iol
every branch Of military service, and
then and there the applicant e. turned
over to the officer in charge Of what.
ever branch he is best fitted for. Fol
physical examination he is sent to the
recruiting station, but for all the pre-.
liminaries the Mayors recruiting com.
mittee takes care of him, scheme that
has already saved many hours for both
the applicants and the recruiting of
6eAss and has put many men into the
service who might otherwise have be
come discouraged and quit before they
were finally accepted.
Mr.. Cochem's Office sends no maj
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-05-19
Mysterious
Night Trail

The trail we used by day had become
mysterious, maze by night, but the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-05-19

We fell fiat on our hands, trying to
make ourselves invisible, seven hud-
died, black masses, our faces close to
the earth, for we had not blackened
them and their wilderness was betray-
ing. Like mirrors in the glare" the
captain put it.
Three times on tho way to tho wire
the rockets stopped Us. Three times
we "froze." Each time We expected q
sniper's bullet or the hullabaloo of q
machine gun.
"Tsst! Far enough. Come back"
"Fritz is sending up too many rock.
cts" the captain said when I crawled
In. He led into dugout and told me
in whispers the plans for the raid.
Volunteers wanted for raid"
This word had been passed down the
groups of reserves, not tonight, bat
several days ago, and although every
man who heard it volunteered, a small
number was selected and especially
trained for this event, instructed to
AO1AOV OOA O0AAdSc o1OWAy, tOIQ WHcIt
the German pill-boxes and strong
points were and the roll Of the land
These men arrived in our trenches BY
twos and threes so as not to excite
Fritz unduly. They were boys of the
same regiment and received an envious
but low-keyed reception.
Furious Fire
From Our Guns
At $3.50 the captain led me to the
cave where the telephone reports fol-
the artillery were to come in. Oul
guns were still silent, but everything
was ready.
At 3:45, stop-watch time, and in the
captains own words, "Hell broke
loose"
Earth and heaven shook with our
guns. From somewhere, from many
somewheres, the monsters reared their
heads slowly, belched their projectiles
at the unoffending stars and slid back
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-05-19
Dropped Bombs
On the Boches

Everything was smashed up to hell
and back again." one of the raiding
party said 1--WE found some men in .
dugout, and when they wouldn't come
out, even after we Galked Boche to
them, we dropped some grenades In.
That finished them. These fellows came
out like lost lambs. In one part of the
trench we found pieces of uniform and
bits of flesh scattered around. But
most of the Boches ran when our mrs.
guns opened"
Two men were disputing the owner
ship of prisoner. -,
II tell you he is my Bochc," said
the first. ~ can talk Boche to him,
and he says he's mine" :,
But l got my hands on him first,
the other commended.
"Take the prisoners to headquarters
for examination" the lieutenant. wnS
had gone over. now orders. ANY Oh
four men hurt"
"Bloodied up a bit by the wire.
Nothing else"
YHad my puttees torn off Of me-"
buck private is complaining. Got !"
have a new pair tomorrow
The raiders and their booty movs
out into the open behind the trencnes
and away to headquarters. while Ssi
guns continue ~" pos d.
rumble. Fritz, too, is continuing n's
fire. His rockets grow numerous AGAIN
Lets call it night" says iaeu-
tenant. -.
In the captains dugout ! am gwen gwen
his bunk for few hours sleep. ins
captain answers my protests WIN ". ~
statement that he is going to stay ~
all night. Fritz might try ltfie
vengc strafe before daylight" he says:
But no strafe comes. The mornins
dawns red and serenely. The eapts;!a
prepares for his sleep BY. removing ~, s
gas mask from his shoulders, his oocss
and his coat. We shake hands.
l have seen part Of the Amefless
army completing its training IN
quiet sector in France"
Copyright. 1919. BY Edward AArsAai'
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-05-19

I finances and so forth, and begged the
committee to force his enlistment i'm
mediately, so that she could get rid
of him before his turn in the draft
should come She also was sent bach
to the draft board for the committee
does not yet feel that it can take men
by the strong arm method
One Italian who came to the commit.
tee has found out to his everlasting
sorrow that the sins of the fathers are
indeed visited upon the second genera.
ktion. For although he is in reality
now thirty three years of age, his par.
ent swore to q false age for him when
they were admitted to this country
twenty-five years ago, and therefore he
now stands before the law as thirty
years old and will soon be going off to
war in the draft, grieved and unwill-
ing patriot.
The market for soldiers and sailors
varies, as does any other market, but
the Mayors recruiting committee al
ways has the latest information from
the Navy and War departments as to
the need for men. General recruiting
information which covers the present
demand follows:
Many Branches
Open for Enlistment
Navy-Apprentice seamen. Seventy.
FIVE week are taken. Age, 10 to 35
Minimum weight, 1913 pounds; minimum
height, feet inches. Eyesight, 1920
Pay, $3.50 monthly.
Naval Reserve-Second class seamen
Age 13 to 45, and for cooks, bakers
fremen, up to So years. Must be
i American citizens, with the exception
of cooks and mess attendants, who NAV
be friendly aliens with first papers
Colored men accepted for cooks. bak.
ers and firemen. Same physical re-.
quirements as above. Pay, $3.50. Elk.
pert stenographers also needed as veo.
men.
Marine Corps-Infantry, cavalry. etc
Age Is to So. Same physical require.
uSAIo as 0UOSc. MuSt De American
citizens. Forty thousand are needed
Immediately. Pay, $50.
Army-Cavalry, infantry, medical
corps, signal corps, tank corps. coast
artillery. field artillery, quartermas.
ter's corps and twelve branches of the
engineering corps. Age is to 81 and
81 to 40. This means that a man OF
draft age may not volunteer for the
army except by induction from his
draft board because of his special fit.
ness for certain branch of service
and readiness to 60 in Immediately
Merchant Marine-Apprentice sea.
men, firemen. stewards. Age 81 to 80
Pay, $50. Fifty per cent more for over.
seas service. Able bodied seamen re.
ceive $50 and the additional so per cent
flfty thousand are needed.
Naval Aviation-Second class seamen
or officer material. College men ar.
needed to enlist directly in Class s
Aviation, to train for commissions fol-
llighter-than-air machines. Non-college
men can enlist as second class sea.
men and put in their application to be
transferred. Radio operators, machin-
ISIS, plumbers, ETC., are also needed.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-05-19

but he was taken as a "stunt doer," tc
stimulate recruiting. Three ex-convicts
appeared after the recent decision re
Charles Francis Phillips. They wanted
to enlist to serve their country as long
as former fractures of their country's
law did not prevent. They were told tc
write to the proper authorities al
Washington.
But all these have been war enthu
siasts, anxious to do their share anc
heartbroken when they couldn't. The
Mayors recruiting committee has hac
other callers of an entirely different
| temper.
There was the dish faced fellow who
was SO chatty with all the Office force
He came very often and stayed late
and changed his mind twice day about
what his part in the war should be. His
part was decided for him, for he was
German spy and was nabbed rathe,
early in his game, and he is now play.
ing that part in strict confinement.
Stacker Made
Into a Patriot
One came calling the other day. He
was headed straight toward beinf
drafted, and he wanted to get "jot
where his mechanical ability could b.
used-on this side of the water-per
haps." His mechanical ability consist
ed in an ability-which must have beer
purely mechanical--in selling panama
hats all winter long to the village
haberdashers of the New England
coast. His powers Of persuasion were
not sufficient to induce Corporal Heal,
to make use of his mechanical ability
however, and the bright young sales
man was instead treated to a good dose
Of counsel about his duty as a patriotic
citizen. 1t was kind but stern talk
and the young man nodded slowly as
he listened and finally decided to "let
'em take him" when the draft came.
One Of the habits of Mr.. Cochem's
agents is that of kindness. They
have made an extremely human affai,
OF their clearing house. Every man is
treated like real person. Sometimes
the applicants are frightened, because
official government business Of any sort
Is always appalling to some people. One
man came in trembling in his awe of q
government Office, but the recruiting
captain he was assigned to was very
patient and gentle with him, and the
man went away glowing with the pride
OF being a man among men, even men
with brass buttons and red braid
There is no brusqueness, hurry or i'm
patience among the officers, so that
even the panama salesman was given
the benefit of quiet though forceful
lecture. and apparently he profited by it
Another Stacker came down to fix il
up about his exemption. 1t was not the
proper place for him to tell his story
SO he was sent back to his draft board
His mother came down the next day
and told on him." however. exposing
his sins as to grabbing the famil,