davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-20
AMERICANS DRIVE
ON DESPITE FIRE
OF MACHINE GUNS
Sweep Mile Forward OH Scissors
Front, Displaying Bril-.
liant Courage
By the Associated Press

By the 4SSOCIdfed freSS
With the American Army Between
the Aisne and Marne, July 20.
American troops participating in
the Franco American advance late
yesterday for about a mile and a
quarter on the Soissons-C Chateau
Thierry front went forward against
strong machine gun fire over ground
covered with German dead.
Near Dommiers, about six kilo-
meters southwest of Soissons, the
Americans swept into action in the
forward movement. The advance
was well organized and the system
worked we'll from one end of the line
to the other.
Under barrage fire from 75s and
SOS, American infantry and machine
gunners advanced through ripening
grain fields. trampled by the retreat
ing Germans Thursday, and reached
their detectives according to sched-
ule despite the fire of German ma
chine guns. The bombardment of
the big German guns was feeble at
this point.
The Americans started from a
point just west of the Paris-Soissons
road, near the shell-shattered village
of Missy-auxBois, advancing their
lines everywhere with brilliant cour-
age.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-20
WILL PUBLISH FISH PRICES
New Jersey Commission Adopts
New Plan to Stop Pro6teering

Trenton. July 2O.-ln order that any
profiteerng in the sale of fish in this
State shall be brought to the attention
Of the public. the New Jersey State Fish
Commission, which was created under
an act of the last Legislature to sell
fish from the fishermen to the people
at low price, so as to out down on
the high cost of living. intends to have
the prices received by the fshermen,s
together with the prices charged by rep.l
resentatiye markets. published weekly or
sesni-weekly, according 70 a statemsnt'
issued today by the commission. 1t u
stated that the commission will then
know clearly whether more than a fair
profit Is being charged. and will plan
FOR the purchasing of the fish and the
marketing of the commodity by concerns
ready 10 handle this kind of food for
the State.
II is further stated by the commission
that 1t has positive evidence that the
commission. following its inquiry and
surveillance. has deferred profiteering,
which, IL Is alleged, has existed In some
instances in the last year y
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-20
MOUNT GRETNA MEN
CELEBRATE VICTORY
News of l.. S.-French Success
Against Germans Stops
Camp Exercises

Camp General Thomas J. stewart, Mount
Gretnn. Pa, July 90.
The officers and men of the pennsyl-
Vania reserve militia who are Complet-
ing a week of training here. participated
in one of the most inspiring demonstra-
tions ever witnessed here upon receiving
the news of the Franco-American victory
in France.
Governor Brumbaugh, mmander-in-
chief of the states military forces. was
watching the men being put through
calistheniC exercises in front of general
headquarters when Adjutant General
Beary received the news from Harris
burg. The exercises Immediately Were
stopped. and more than 5000 men. led by
the Governor. Cheered and sang, cirClng
the big parade grounds with the national
and State emblems at the head of the
column
Governor Brumbaugh, Adjutant Cen
eral Beary and regimental commanders
responded to cries for a speech
The routine work of the week ended
today with regimental drills. Benjamin
Demming, chief clerk in the Adjutant
Generals department. brought over S52,-
600 in cash and paid off the men. The
last routine duty of the camp consisted
Of a brigade review last night, which was
witnessed by the Governor. All COM
maRds left this forenoon for their home
stations.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-20
SOISSONS UNTENABLE
FOR GERMAN FORCES
By the United Press

Washington, July 2O-The War De-
partment today expected news that
troops have actually
entered 'Soissons.
that the city had been rendered un-
tenable to the Germans was followed
by dispatches that the Allies could en-
ter scissors almost at will. Diplomatic
reports yesterday that the city had
fallen still lacked War Department con-
firmation early today.
The situation around Scissors is
somewhat vague. Military authorities
here declare that the line of fighting
indicated in the reports is very irregu-
lar about the city and perhaps the
Allied troops have delayed entering the
city for strategic reasons.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-20
ALLIED DRIVE REAPED
GRIM DEATH HARVEST
Battlefield Won by Americans
and French a Scene of
Carnage
with the American Army on the Aisne-
Marne Front. July 10 (NighD-- By


Marne Front, July 10 (NighD-- By
l. y. s..
The battlefield over which the French
and Americans began their big counter
Rivers presents a scene of frightful
carnage.
Correspondents were allowed today to
visit the newly captured terrain, reach
ing the scene even before all of the
dead had been buried Searching par
ties We're still combing the wheat fields
seeking wounded
Whenever corpse was found rifle
bayonet was stuck into the ground with
the butt showing above the grain, giving
a signal to the grave diggers where
work was to be done.
German equipment Uttered the fields
and disabled tanks were strewed about
like lighthouses Wrecked wagons and
carts covered the plain.
There was mute evidence of the death
struggles where German machine gun
ners tried TO stand out against the ad.
vancing hosts a sunken road was filled
with German corpses. These men had
been caught under an enfilading fire
NIeH an american gunner WoTNtu Hls
piece into a position to NOW them down,
Amid these CHASTITY scenes the troops
worked bringing up ammunition and
supplies and organizing reserxe defenses
while batteries were ready TO supporl the
infantry Allied artillery was making
preparation for new attack.
A creeping barrage rolled forward over
the summit of the heights east of Sos
sons and the highway as the storming
columns leaped forward to the assault
Dimly and family the shadowy forms
of the doughboys were seen advancing
slowly. Then Colored rockets shot VI
from the German trenches, as our pre-
rminary guutire had cut the Germans
telephone wires These were the signals
To drop a harrage.
Suddenly more rockets were fired, thi
| time by the Americans. indicating tina
| the Allies had reached their objectves,
! The artillerymen heightened thei
fuses, meanwhile keeping up harassine
! fire against the enemy, dispensing hi
| re-enforcements,
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-20
JAPAN DECIDED !
UPON SIBERIA
Reply to Communication of
United States Expected
Daily in Washington
FAVOR WILSON'S VIEWS
Action Taken at Toxic at Con.
ference Of Emperor and
Advisers
Washington, July 20.

The reply of Japan to the comuni-
cation of the United States regarding
military action in Siberia is expected
daily in Washington. The Japanese
Cabinet. the foreign advisory council.
the elder statesmen and the Emperor
have considered it and the views Of
Japan's military and naval experts
have been obtained.
The communication. IL was said.
marks a modification of President
Wilson's views expressed to japan
three months ago in response to the
invitation from Japan to discuss the
Russian situation, the United States
at that time being opposed to military
intervention, not so much in princi.
pie, but believing it would be unwise
at that moment
= The new communication, II is under.
Stood Is based on the developments
occasioned by the remarkable exploits
of the Czecho. Slovak forces in Euro
pean and Aslatic Russia, the dangers
confronting those in western Siberia
and European Russia and the neces-
sity of sending into Siberia and possi-
bly, to European Russia an expedition
to relieve them.
Japanese Reply Believed Favorable
Neither the State Department nor
the Japanese embassy will authors.
ize any statement upon the SUBJ
ject of the exchanges taking place
between Toxic and Washington. At
the Department it was learned that
the conversations have not been con-
cluded The Japanese Goernment has
not yet replied to the American pro-
posal. but reports from Toxic indicate
the reply will be favorable, possibly
with some notifications. to President
Wilson's proposition.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-20
RISKED LIFE TO SAVE
SAN DIECO'S FLAG

New York, July 20,--Donald H. Clark.
of the New York World, teegraphed
from Point O. Woods, Fire Island, the
following account OF the sinking Of the
cruiser San Diego:
Twenty-seven survivors came ashore
at this summer resort with the first
news that the cruiser San Diego had
been sunk.
They said the San Diego was struck
on the port side .amidsEips by tor
pedo twenty miles off here at ll:lO
o'clock yesterday morning. The explosion
blew up the boilers. The wireless i'm
mediately went out OF commission. A
powder magazine exploded moment
later.
The guns on the port side, were use
less because the ship instantly had
listed heavily this way. The crews
manned the starboard guns In trice,
however, ahd soon began to fling high
explosive shells.
Some of the sailors here said they
were sure they saw submarine. Sew
eral asserted positively that they saw
a shell hit 1t. But an officer said he
doubted these stories. He said that the
high explosive shells used left thick
brown smoke on the surface of the
water and that this probably led to the
stories Of the men having seen sub
marine.
The San Diego fioated for fifteen min
utes and the gunners and others stuck
to their stations till the last moment of
safety. and some of them stayed too
long. their comrades said.
Many of the members of the gun crew
were forced to dive through the open
gun ports into the sea. Scores OF sailors
walked off the decks when they were
flush with the water of the calm sea.
The first lifeboat arrived here at 3:15'
p m. II beached in front of the Point
O. Woods Hotel.
Guests of the hotel and cottages along
the shore. who had heard the detonation
at 11:i0 a. m. and then the firing after
ward, ran down on the sand and with
life guards helped the exhausted sailors
ashore
Fifteen minutes later the second boat
beached. II was marked s. ID. 2. The
first one had been marked s. ID. l., This
marking gave rise to a first report that
the South Dakota had been the warship
destroyed.
When the survivors left here in
patrol boat about 8 p: m. one of the
lads held up a bundle which. unrolled
revealed the damp but still bright colors
of the flag OF the San Diego,
He risked his life to save that - one
of his fellows called. And the throng of
cottagers and hotel guests who had lined
up to cheer got all choked up and
clapped their hands.
The San Diego was alone when she
was struck. She had passed two tramps
bound west an hour before.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-20
BergdOlPs Capture
Is Matter of Hours
Continued from Page One


Justice, refused to make public the
identity of the occupant of the house
or its exact location.
The second house raided was the
home of the missing mans mother.
Mrs. Emma Bergdoll, Fifty-second
street and Wynnefield avenue.
Those agents are crazy" Bergdolrs
mother said when informed that her
son was reported In this city,
d. Clarence Gibboney, counsel for
Mrs. Bergdoll, declared he knew nothing
of the whereabouts of Bergdol and said
he had not heard that he was or had
been in this city recently.
Armed with search warrant, Special
Agent Mallett and three other officers
burst into the home of Mrs. BergdolI
and ransacked the place from top to
bottom.
The Government agents searched
every room. every nook and corner in
hopes of finding discriminating papers or
communications that might lead to the
discovery of his hiding place.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-20
CzERNIN POINTS Way TO PEACE
Says British.Cerman Understand.
= ing Would End War
By the Associated Press

Amsterdam. July 20.-Count Czcrnin
tormer Austro-H Hungarian Foreign Min
ister. discussing in the upper house the
recent speech of Doctor Won Seydler. the
Austrian Premier. said
sThe war is at the bottom of a duel
tetween Germany and Great Britain.
xhe moment they can come to an iin-
deretanding the world war is at an end,
despite the French and Ralian utopia of
conquest.
The Imperial Chancellor. Lloyd
<0eorge ard our Foreign Minister are
<aU, according to their declarations in
oltned 10 examine peace proposals but
1880 of them will make them.
The way on Of this dilemma would
! - u each of the two groups OF Powers
Wt1A communicate their peace pro-
Als to a neutral Power, which. by
= <tmparing the peace proposals Of both
GoG could form an idea whether an
/, ,&&feement was possible. IL only there
X1ots the slightest prospect of an un-
U1fgtanding an attempt should be made .
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-20

over the great part of the line be-
tween the Aisne and the Marne the
French and Americans are still push
ing eastward. Their most pronounced
new progress appears to have been
chiefly on the more southerlv part of
the line, the dash in the northern
sector have apparently slowed up
somewhat.
The Allied forces control the.
plateaux to the southwest of Soissons
This important town. however. is still
holding out
Further south the Allied advance
has established itself at the village
Of Nierzy, has passed the Maulov
Wood east of Nillers-Helon. and has
driven to the towns of Neuilly-St.
Front and Licy-Clignon The cap
lure Of Neullly-St Front. one of the
most important towns in the field of
the advance south of the Ourcq, was
of'icially announced this morning.
Great Battle Impending
Dispatches said the fighting today
was spreading southwark toward
Chauteau-rhierry Indications were,
II was stated. that a great battle all
along the AisneMarne line seemed
to he impending the Germans hav-
ing brought up r"-enforCements I'm an
effort to stop the steady push of the
Allies.
South of the Marine there has been
tightening of the defensive arc
along the flfteen-mle line between
Fossoy and Oeuilly. where the Ger
mans are fighting with the river at
their backs. Attacks by the French
1np lob. -. 60, 60
back st further along this line
During the fighting early this week.
American troops rctook Fossoy and
We're mentioned as being engaged in
the battle along the heights east OF
that place. They are, therefore. prob
ably engaged in the advance officially
reported from Paris Oeuilly marks
the approximate point where the Ger
man lines cross the Marine and turn
northeast over the rolling hills toward
Rheims
Pursuing the policy of conservatism,
the French War Office makes no ex-
treme ella inns of victory along the
Aisne- Marue front The front. as de-
lineated in official reports, leaves the
Clignon River near Torcy, runs north
through Licy-Clignon and Neuilly-St.
Front turns slightly to the east to
MaulOy Wood. thence north to Nier2y
and up over the higher ground to the
hills southwest of Soissons.
May he Further Fast
There have been reports Of Allied
forces being far to the east of this
line hut they have not been officially
confirmed 1t seems probable that
the German tenure of Soissons has
been greatly weakened, and II is
quite possible that some Allied forces
are further east than the positions in
dicated in the official reports
The actual results officially an
nounced as achieved however, with
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-20
GERMAN ARMY ON MARINE
MAY HA We BEGUN RE7REA T
Retirement From Salient Endangered by Driue Of Americans
and French Indicated-Like Retrogradc More.
ment of Ausrians Piarc


important territory taken and more
than 1900 prisoners and 360 guns
captured, constitute themselves de-
cidedly brilliant success for the
Franco-American drive to date.
In the Aisne- Marine drive there APP
pears to he an effort. which is seem
ingly succeeding. to straightcn the
front all the way north from the Gig
non River. about FIVE miles northwest
"f chateau-Thierry The movement
does not at present appear to be n
great cncrCling operation. 1t is
rather methodical pushing all along
the western side of the Soissons-C Cha
tcau-Thierry Rheims salient.
As such, it must still be considered
defensive action that is going on.
Its character may change to an often
sive stroke at any time, hut nothing
so far officially reported would indi-
cate that General Mangin's advance
seeks to do more than relieve the
pressure against Rheims
Foe Imperiied Below Marne
The advance of the Allies south of
the Marnc. from Fossoy to Oeully.
as officially reported. may be decidedly
significant The German front is here
10 extended that II il not improbable
that the enemy has begun II retirement
from the perilous position into which
he had advanced Monday and Tues
day.
II has been pointed out that the
situation of the Germans from Cha
teau-Thierry eastward to the point
where their line crosses the Marne is
dangerous in the extreme If the Allied
effort on the front NORTH of Chateau
Thierry makes further progress
If the Germans are really rctreating
from across the Marine, the situation is
very similar to that which ensued
when the Austrian advance across the
Piave was checked and the retrograde
movement began.
Along the line from the Marne to
Rheims and east of the Cathedral City
into the Champagne region the battle
has seemingly died down. as no re-
ports of fighting come from those Sec
tors.
British Advance Grows
In a sudden attack in the Bailleul
sector, on the northern side of the
r.ys salient. in Flanders, the British
have advanced their lines over a front
of two and a quarter miles and swept
the Germans from the village of Me
teren. the scene of stubborn fighting
during the days of the German Of
fensivp in Flanders early in April.
Further south, on the front between
Albert and Arras, the British have
advanced their line over a mile front.
their attack taking place south of He
buterne
This operation should relocate the
British front very near the town of
Serres. A successful raid has been
carried out by the British at Beau
mont -Hamel. just south of Hebuterne.
this operation probably being in con-
junction with the greater attack fur
ther north.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-20
Allies Drive Foe Back on Marne
Continued from Page One

Continued from Page One
characterized the first days of the
attack.
The attempts of the Crown Princes
generals TO rally their forces to meet
the steady movement of the Allies has
resulted in such strengthening of the
opposition as to indicate that the bat
tie is approaching the point when the
armies will soon he locked in a giant
struggle.
Bo;n on the northern end of the line
and further south the REINFORCED Ger
mans are making a desperate effort to
hold their positions.
The weather was clear this morn
ing, and this gave some satisfaction
to the thousands of men engaged on
the Allied side. The indications, how
ever. were that the condition would
be one of exceptional heat.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-20
TIUO Sons of City
Killed in France
Continued from Page One

Continued from Page One
4 Numbers supply house, Broad and But
4 tonwcod streets
John B. Freeth lived with his parents
: Mr.. and Mrs. John w. F'reeth, on North
Lawrence street prior to his enlistment
IN the Ninth Infantry last year. when he
was seventeen years old. He went to
st. Edwards parochial school and was a
m0mher of st. Edwards Temperance
Society and the Fairhill Boys Club
He was wounded July l at Naux. ac-
cording to telegram his parents re-
ceived from the War Department last
night, and is now in the American Hos
pital in London,
Freeth Born In London
Freeth was born in London and came
here with his parents when a small
boy. He became an American citizen
automatically when his father was nat
uralized.
Ereeth's brother. Thomas, tried TO en-
list with him. but was rejected, so he
joined the Canadian army and SO got to-
France The boys have three uncles ana
. cousin. Englishmen. in the war.
John J. Johnson has been in France
six months. He enlisted in the marine
corps In May, 1916. His mother. Mrs.
Irving Hill. has had oniy one or two let
t0TS lToIl WHICH,, NHlGH' sHoI''
showed a cheerful state of mind. Salmon
ie only little more than twenty-one.
He married shortly after he enlisted
and his wife lives in Jane street. Mana
yunk
Johnson went to the parochial school
Of the Nativity, but before he enlisted
he was deckhand on the tugboat Helen.
on the Schuylkill, under Captain Horace
Graly.
Mother Anxious
''Do you think he is very dreadfuIly
wounded?" asked the mans mother
tearfully. Perhaps there il mistake.
How can | be sure? There are lots of
mistakes, aren't there? And 1t is go far
away that there could very easily be a
mistake. Don't you think so?'
Mrs. Hill begins work Monday in the
Schuylkili Arsenal. She has been doing
government work before and is anxious
to be hard at it in her trouble. She is
proud of the boy that went over SO
jauntily and so gallantly, and believes
he will come back safely in the end
johnson has two sisters, one OF whom
II married. and little brother of about
! fourteen His father is dead
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-20
OFFENSIVE DEVELOPS
INTO FIGHT FOR ROADS
Desperate Struggle for All.Im.
portant Highway From Sois.
sons to Chateau .Thierry
BY the United Press
with the Americans Between the Aisne
and the Narue July 90,


with the Americans Between the Aisne
and the Marne. July 20.
The Franco-American offensive Is de-
velobing into a desperate battle for pos
session OF the all-important highway
from Scissors to ChateauThierry.
Some Allied units already have crossed
the road. especially French cavalry. The
Germans have been strongly REINFORCED
by reserve divisions. The element OF
surprise long since was lost TO, the
French and Americans. The fighting is
now man to man and gun TO gun.
the battle is particularly sanguinary
south Of Soissons, where It is raging
through villages. woods and fields of
grain. One American brigade captured
more than $500 boches in this region.
Foe Rushes in Guns
The Germans are attempting to rush
In artillery. men and supplies along the
whole front. under terrible shellfre con-
centrated on their lines of communities
ton by the Allied guns.
At the south end OF the battle line,
American units, in conjunction with the
French, advancing northwest of Chateau.
Thierry, capturing tdeleted).
= Latest reports declared the fighting
was increasing in intensity east Of
Courchamps.
Between Chateau2Ttierry and Rheims,
especially In the vicinity OF Dormans,
American units are helping to hold back
the waning efforts of the Germans to
push ahead. According to the latest ad-
vices the fighting there is now purely
local in, character. on scale hardly
larger than raiding The enemy efforts
there have been growing lighter and
lighter in tie last four days.
Withdraw Marne Troops
Prisoners report withdrawal of Ger
man artillery and 'infantry concentra-
tions north and northeast Of Chateau.
Thierry to meet the Franco-Americar
threat northwest Of the city.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-20
u. S. Red Cross Gives to Hospital
By the Associated Press

London. July 20.-It was announced
by the British Red Cross that the Amer
lean Red Cross had donated another
$3.50 900 to the Scottish women's hospi-
tails in recognition Of their very eficient
work at the front In France during the
past two months. The gift will be pay,
able in three tnstalmsnts. beginning Auj
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-20
Man Mangled as Crowd Looks On

Uniontown, July 20.-When he at
tempted to alight from a freight train
on the Pennsylvania Railroad here. Rob-
ert Fortune, of McKeesport, was thrown
under the wheels. dragged 100 feet and
ground to pieces. 7, A severed leg was
Thrown near a crowd of pedestrians. and
only few feet away the head Of the
man rolled out along the track Several
wonsn ~ th6 crowd fdintsd.