davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-01-27
The Virtuous and
Their Small Reward

browsing over cigarette and broom
alter mess, Private Sping pondcrs upon
the shortsightcdnes of the virtuous
and their small reward the mistakes
OF the wicked which have led to their
undolng; the perverted vision of the
ambitious O'Donohuc. and other pleas
ant PHILOSOPHERS. And all the while
chaos is brewing in the peaceful out
lnss, Of his sphere, marked by the
symbol "x."
1t all happens with stunning sudden
ness; Private Spne is moved to stroll
on the end of the dock past which the
river swings. dotted with thousand
Kinds of craft. He wanders aimlcsslv
along the side of the big ship whose
renovation is in process, doubtless pre-
paratory to her departure on mysteri-
Gus duty. There is always to be d.
served some interesting alteration in
her majestic bulk. Suddenly. but
cautiously, figure raises itself from a
pile of paint pots and scaffolding at the
docks edge. There is an instant of
startled amazement and the figure
springs upon Private Sping with obyi-
Gus intent to forcstall inquiry and
alarm.
There ensues a mad scramble. which
collects a detachment of the guard .nd
prevents Private Sping from settlinc
the matter personally. Battered ana
swearing. he hauis off to INSPECT his
adversary.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-01-27
Private Sping
Sees the Light

But later. before the H. o., in that
terrible Office which Sping has often
swept. but before whose august occu-
pant no man is arraigned without some
quaim. Private Sping is brought to see
the light.
"spng," says the X. o. sravcly, show
many times have you undergone COM
pany punishment o''
IL don't just remember. SIR says
splng, with dignity.
think ?" ''-0N' e''P''e''
"No, sir" says Sping hopefully.
a. our sentence has about expired,
spmg, says the K. O. it'll emphasis.
our company commander has recon-
mehdea your promotion in view of the
ien'arNapie occurrences of this after
noon. You Will skip a grade, Sping.
and receive your appointment as ser
geant In your own company"
,, mere IS subducd twinkle in the
n, n. o.s Keen eye, which wanders to the
broom against the door. II think your
Gays or company punishment arc over.
oplng, he observes. Next time you
overstay your leave, sec that YOU are
prepared for a long and disagreeable
soJourn in the guardhousc. or possibly
a dishonorable discharge That is all,
rplHS.
Thank you. sir" The voice Of Ser
geant Sping has hollow sound He
Salutes and turns to go. pillar of the
army, crowned with the laurcls O'Dono-
nue. long has sought.
MS shoulders arc unconsciously
squared as he reaches the broad store
steps and looks out from under his
siantlng hat brim into the gathering
DUSK. With hoarse preliminary stutter
me bugles burst into "colors,'
triumphant blarc. sudden and chrc-
aatic. Sergeant Sping's lean form stif-
IONS automatically. Down by the gate
corpora O'Donohuc's rotund form is
Drawn to similar rgidity About him
"'s scntries are frozen.
inc bugles die away Sergeant Spins
relaxes and strolls toward the sentry
post to spread the news. There are swss'
ger IN his long gait and terrific angle
70 ms faded hat; his hands are bus!
with the "makin's."
From the window the X. 0. watches
ana smiles in almost paternal fashion
The dusk gathers and faint star APP
pears over the docks. The X. .. watche,
II brighten, and his cigar gows ara
fades regularly in the darkness he =
bordering upon the devious paths o.
promotion.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-01-27
The Sacred Fire
And Kitchen Duty

10 the seasoned non-com.. whose
progress has been achieved only bv
profound experience and its attendant
rich vocabulary, the star of promotion
mas left the ranks and hovcrs over n
temporary lieutenancy, and now even
'"e '"in bars of captaincy. Away down
the line, somebody's son (whosc enlist
ment was probably due less to the fires
OF patriotism than tendency toward
'he evasion of home ties) is STRUGGLING
WIN CALLING kitchen duty or the
'a'osyncrasles Of the army mule, and to
MN the star IS shooting affair largely
asplred to as an immediate relief from
the duties in hand.
Between these arc many ranks and
grades. and one which Private Snin,,
now mis- with exceeding grace. 1t bears
no name or insignia on any list of rat
ing, and must therefore be referred to
as the rank marked by the alrebraic
"x' 1t is in sense fluctuatjnp and
lies between any two grades. althouch
usually between those of first elias.
private and corporal. The bonors of
either are small, aud however lacking
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-01-27

duty to hang on to the German trenches
and infict the utmost possible losses
on those who hold them until they have
had enough of it. an enemy push. in
dicative of Impotence, would be just
our game. 1t would mean that once
more time, the most doubtful Of allies,
would be on our side. The Germans
would be once more in hurry to win.
But without in any way disputing the
general expectation Of this push on the
West, must point out that strategy
which the enemy advcrtises is not al
ways the strategy which he intends to
adopt. He sometimes discloscs plans
which he has no intention Of pursuing.
alude to this little artiice, not be-
cause any risks should be taken in the
West, but because there are other risks
further east which ought not to be
overlooked. If the Western front is
not to-day the most impregnable ram
part on all our lines, then there are
generals, both French and English, who
should be visited with the attentions
described not long ago by that stalwart
orator, Mr.. Kahn. Germany does not
always strike where her enemies are
strongest. She sometimes strikes
where her foes are weak.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-01-27
shoulders his broom and wanders
toward the gate, where change of sem
tries is taking place.
Corporal O'Donohue
A Willy Diplomat

Across the yard drift a few of
Sp'ng's contemporaries in service, old
soldiers, with good deal to talk over
and crlticisc at this off moment after
drill and before mess.
"Therell be news from the front.
Sping?" inquiries Corporal ODonohue
humorously.
"Wha'd'ye mean, 'front.'" demands
Private Sping, ominously, hitching his
belt
Corporal ODonohue is one who
clings tcnaciously to his rank, without
an A. W. O. l.. or breach Of rcgula-
tions on his record.
Il mean yell be havin' bit O. Cos
sip from headquarters, son." conciliat-
ingly. "The K. on be telephoning his
girl, maybe, or something-or maybe a
new order?"
Not an order, just--but there's this. y
says Private Sping doubtfully. His
tone drops to the confidential and there
is gathering of the clan about him
for he is the acknowledged mouthpiece
of headquarters. "The X. O.'s ravine
over the idea we'll be gettin' Russian
Some guys gone an started the idea
the army amt democratic. Says officers
should be saluted by their own outfits
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-01-27
ate Spng Rises From Cherished of DISGRACE to Seroeon Cbo1

cussing promotion, which is customary
at this hour. Never in the course of
Private Spng's eighteen years of SER
vice and periodical broom detail have
the X. 0. and his adjutant, or any other
two officers, failed to discuss promo
ton at this hour of the day.
But since the war things have had a
new aspect. Used to be, as Spng fire.
quently pondercd, that a fellow knew
what to expect, but "thcse days things is
new box of tricks" Like as not a fell
low skipped I; grade for no reason at
all, or stayed where he was while a
recruit on kitchen police got to be ser,
eeant on account of bit of learnin'
Manlfestly unfair. But not Sping's TO
reason why. For him the lodcstar of
ambition glitters afar.
The paths Of promotion are devious.
Outside the olive drab confines Of the
army, the topics of most popular inter-
est are political, whcatlcss and meat
less in character, but in that strange
world which Private Sping nhabits and
whose gates are closed to civilian ewes
the topic of the day is only relatively
war and specifically promotion.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-01-27
The Prospect of a
Drive Through Greece

do not suggest that this is the case
IN Greece. / do not pretend to know
But on one Of my last days in the
House OF Commons l saw Mr.. Venizelos
sitting in the distinguished strangers
gallery, and it is reasonable to suppose
that his views Of the situation are be-
fore the Allied Councils. A German
advance through Greece to Athens
would restore Constantine and Sophie
to their throne, break the Venizelists.
isolate if not capture Salonica and
establish new bases for submarines in
the Mediterranean. If it be accepted
that Falkenhayn at Aleppo has failed
to organize the Turks for retaliation
against Jerusalem and Bagdad-and
enemy reports are TO be believed with
great caution--then it follows that
otfensives in the East, even though
they may have broken down, have been
part Of the German plans for 1918
Speaking generally, it is obvious that
our estimate of prospects in the West
must not lead us to ignore possibilities
of q highly interesting character in the
East-possibilities which claim no in
considerable and, indeed, an increasing
draft on Britain's man power and the
man power Of her dominions
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-01-27
A Dream That Lies
Nearest the Heart

Obviously he has something on hi.
mind, which is interesting because
there is always the possibility of sud
den orders to foreign service, dream
which lies nearest each mans heart
But nothing of the sort apparently.
Down the street comes graceful wom-
an form. smartly gowned She reaches
the gate. and is admitted by the adj
mirlng Corporal O'Donohue at special
instruction from the 0. d., who dis
tlnctly announces his intention of
hanging his side arms on the obiging
adJutant and taking her across the
street to lunch. This is certainly a
slight breach of regulations, but then
there is always that possibility of sud
den orders, and foreign service cannot
be said to be the nearest thing to a
woman's heart
They arc but few yards away when
Sp'ng and his contemporaries fall as
enc man upon the new order. But it
has nothing to do with salutcs. It
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-01-27

eniy-nobody else-what dye know,
about that"
There is great deal to say about il.
Corporal O'Donohue expectoratcs We
hemently, and is of the opinion tina.
the servlce'll be SEEM no more Of him
and his stripes if any such damfool
Idea goes through, an it won't. comm
as 1T must from the militia or the new
national bunch, and what's more. youl.i
nc De passln' young STRIPPING of a
shavetail, one O. them as is humpe1
ever like banana, without givin, him
z snappy salute, to show him his place
as might be said? Go on wild We.
there's not one in a thousand as would
know the rcgs if it wasn't for his non
com, an if he falls on his job, where ii
the army get to? Go on wild We.
'TenSHUN!"
A pair of leather leggings, which
eventuatc on closer scrutiny into the
officer of the day, approach.
With the subject of their recent con-
versation hot within them the group
by the gate is galvanized to such mill
tary rigidity that the 0. d. raises his
eyebrows slightly and looks them over.
He turns over to Corporal O'Donohue
thin sheet of paper, the manifold
copy of newly issued order. He lin
gers for an unmerciful period about
the gate, scrutinizing the passcrsby in
a ruminatiye fashion.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-01-27

commands and rhythmic shuf7inp
sound. These indicate that another
part OF the company is performing in
tr'catc drills which, Private Sping
reels, are more important to the pro-
1esslonal experience of the shavetail.
recently assigned, than their own train
ing. Private Sping grins wry, con-
tented grin at group of small bow.
VINO eye him shyly through the fence.
whats that dope about a spv?"
queries the adjutant within.
grunt from the Il. O.
Cad, I'm glad you spoke of that"
ne cXclaims. "Gct out an order for
the guard, will you? Wait. Here's a
description Of the chap
A rustling of papers follows. and
Private Sping trains an ear with atten-
tive interest.
Height, five feet eight, slight build.
1a'r halr, blue eyes-nothing very def
mite about that-'bearing upright and
military, complexion clear, slight scar
caused by sabre cut across RIGHT
cheek -
The bugle sounding "Recall' inter-
rupts and browns the K O.'s voice.
recall being usually attended by con-
siderable general activity and the sub
sequcnt approach of mess, Private
Sping arises slowly and assumes his
broom. He plies it artistcally, raising
a cloud of fine coal dust from the door
step. at which roar bursts from the
n. Us office and the adjutant appears
at the window. Private Sping salutcs,
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-01-27

Germany would see for herself that
autocracy is not essential for an cf-
fcient and consolidated modern Euro
pean community. On the other hand,
there would be removed from Germany
that fear Of Russian militarism which
has been used by the 1ohenzollerns for
the last fifty years as weapon for
crushing all that is stalwart and inde7
pendent in Liberal and Socialist
thought among their people
To encourage Russia in the path Of
reconstruction is thus one way Of
furthcring those war aims Of the Presi-
dent in approval Of which the whole of
the Allies are enthusiastic; but such
encouragement should include fear
less handling of Russia's financial stu
alton. Her creditors must agree on a
policy which will secure what is fair
and just without nhicting humiliation
and provoking resistance on the part of
the somewhat idealistic debtors.
Gauging Effect on
Germany and Austria
If spiritual factors have dominated
the military factors in Russia, to what
extent, it at all, have they penetrated
into Germany and Austria Hungary? I
should be sorry if anything that / say
on the subject should lead any one to
expect an early termination of the war.
That is one OF those decisions which,
by weakening national effort. defeats
itself. But if it be true that Germany
has dccrced the death of spy for any
one who is caught dropping Allied lit
crature within her lines, then we have
the measure of Importance which the
greatest experts in propaganda attach to
the exclusion Of the Presidents mes
sages from the armies of the Central
Powers. Germany knows that by cor
ruptlng the spirit of the Italian troops
she shattered the ramparts of the
lsonzo. She fears the strategy of
determination which she herself de-
viscd. If Allied statesmen are gifted
with sagacity they will cstablsh-in-
deed, they have established auxil.
larry branch in their war services-an
organization which shall cndeavor by
every means that can be worked out to
spread among enemy nations the hone
OF new world, where peoples will be
governed according to their own racial
desires, secure against the aggression
of stronger neighbors and relieved
from the weight Of expenditure on ar
maments.
| do not suggest that the Prussians
are ready at this moment to exchange
their tribal philosophy for any such
league OF nations. Time alone will
show bow far the Kaiser and the vic
tins Of Kaiserdom still stand together
against the movement Of all other civil
llzed societies toward the light. We
must not forget that, under Frederick
the Great, Prussia fought for seven
years and suffered far more cruel
losses, IN proportion to her territory and
numbers, than she has yet suffered in
the present war. But Prussia was thon
lighting among nations inspired broad
~ by her own notions Of statecraft and
conquest. She was, possibly. moro eff
cent IN arms--a more apt disciple of
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-01-27
Will the Crumbling
Stop With Russia?

And this brings me to my last point.
What have called the spiritual factor
does not affect Germany only, or even
mainly, at this particular phase of the
war. The solidarity Of allies on both
sides in this mighty conflict has been
truly astonishing. In all history there
has been nothing like it. Apparently, it
is due to the elaborate machinery Of
civilized states which holds the people
together in its grip and prevents a
breakaway. But at least Russia has
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-01-27
By Caroline Dawes Appleton

THE SUN is warm outside head
quarters. The sky over the
rambling docks is blue, pencilled
with sprays of snowy smoke from the
busy tugs plying the river beyond. The
crone of river traffic, punctuated by
tho sharp snort of ferry whistle or a
prolonged roar from big ship crawling
seaward, blends lazily with the wintrv
sunlight which floods the cobbled ward
The red brick house which was once the
office of the German steamship line
now houses the K. O. and his staff
over the roofs of the docks loom the
tunnels and rigging of the ray-painted
prisoners of war, long since interned.
fechristened, manned by United States
olueJackets and guarded ashore by a
strong detachment of regulars recalled
from the border.
From the half open window of the
n. Us office come the murmur of con-
versation and Whit of fragrant to-
bacco.
Private sping, emerging from the
n"''"ay' pauSes on the topmost of the
three broad stone steps, broom in hand.
"a bears careful evidence of fatigue
"hich is unnecessary, since there is no
one to observe him. Private sp:nc is
long and lean, and his uniform has that
worn' comfortable look of belonging to
MIN which characterizes the regular
and his garb. The blue cord of bic
campaign hat is bleached to a cravisb
white, and the black hair beneath tho
raklsh brim is streakcd with gray. His
o'ack eyes are deep set in weather.
worn face of almost Indian tan. There
is that in the humorous twist of Pr.
vate Sping's wide mouth which speaks
OF long. profitable and tolerant study
OF his fellow man and fruitful knowl-
edge OF the wayside and it's stones.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-01-27
Japan May Choose
To Collect by Arms

The question thus arises whether, in
her own interest, Russia should be per
mitted to throw her obligations to the
winds. TO Japan she owes a large sum,
and Japan is a new country, which may
be inclined either to collect her debts
or seize some quid pro quo in the form
of territory.
From the messages of President Will
son it is clear that in Russia, as in
Mexico and Venezuela, American policy
is directed toward keeping the ring
until nasccnt democracy can struggle
to its feet A strong and virlc Russia.
consisting of associated, but more or
less autonomous states, and freed from
foreign intrigue, is, take it, one fun
damental objective of American state
craft. The United States of Russia. so
conceived, would react on Germany in
two ways which could not fail to benefit
the world as whole On the one hand
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-01-27
An Odd Weapon
In a Soldier s Fist

The broom upon which Private Spinp
leans nonchalantly is an odd weapon in
his lean, brown fist. He leans it
against the door jamb and settles down
upon the warn. stones, his fingers busy
with the "makin's," his hat cooked
against the sun and his ear attuned to
the bits of news or gossip which drift
from the h. O.'s window.
The + 0. and his adiutaut aye dis
A.e~
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-01-27

, crumblcd under the strain. Are we
quite sure that the crumbljng will
stop there? Crumbling starts at the
circumference. not at the heart, and
] should not expect it to commence at
Berlin. Doubtless Berlin has suffered
this prolonged war. But in appor-
tonng food and in arranging employ
mcnt We may take it as certain-in-
deed | know it by direct evidence
that the Hohcnzolerns have done their
utmost to preserve the capital, where
are their palaces. from revolutionary
tendency But Berlin is not Turkey,
nor Bulgaria, nor Austria Hungary,
with all her associated nationalities.
Berlin is not even Bavaria, nor Wur-
tcm5erg, nor Saxony. Mtteleuropa is
not one uniform desert of Teutonic
tyranny. Ir Mittclcuropa many Ian
guagcs are spoken, many forms of the
faith flourish, many economic dis
tinctions acccntuate the grievances of
war. Hungary, governed by her Mag
var reactionaries, holds up her wheat
reserves, while ier neighbors go forth
on hunger strike. Opinion in Ham
burg, bercft of the shipping which was
her glory, is certainly cmbittered. One
naval mutiny is acknowledged by the
German government-Dr. Michaelis
hoped, az Chancellor, to use the dis
closure for his own purposcs-and
there are rumors of others of easy
captures of enemy water craft. Some
Of these rumors may be, doubtless arc,
fairy tales. But on general grounds
Of reciprocity you cannot have Ger
many spreading the poison gas of scdi-
ton and conspiracy in Russia and
Italy without whjffs of the volatile
fumes returning to choke her own best
laid plots. Her propaganda Of liberty
has been insincere and has been fol-
lowed by military excuses of the usual
type. But words are words, whatever
motive may underlie them, and in using
the words Of revolution Germany has
played with fire in its most perilous
form for her own despotic institutions.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-01-27
Superiority of Defence
Over Tactics of Attack

Moreover, it is not only Germany
that we arc fighting. At the moment
all attention is devoted, and perhaps
rightly. to the Western front We are
assured as an accepted prophecy that
terrible blow will fall before very
long on the Franco British lines and
that American achievements must be
and will be available for assuring the
frontiers Of Latin civilization against
this imminent peril. A defeat of the
Allies on the Western front would be
a calamity so grievous that every pos
siblc safeguard must be provided
against it. 1t is evident that British
man power is being utilized to the last
unit. But, without indulging in any
outburst of confidence, may perhaps
give my own reasons for avoiding a too
pessimistic mood. What is the chief
lesson taught by this war on every
front alike!
1t is this: Wherever you look at the
helds OF operation-w whether on the
Eastern, the Western, the Salonican.
the Palestine or the Mesopotamian
llnes-you cannot but be impressed bv
the enormous superiority Of defence
over attack. Given equal courage, SIM
liar equipment and sufficient ammuni-
ton, you may say that never in this
war has an offensive proceeded very
tar. 1t looked as if Venice must fall
before Christmas, but Venice still re-
mains secure. British troops hold Je-
rusalem and Bagdad, but they have
still to effect a junction with one an
other at Aleppo. The varying fortunes
revealed at Cambria, where a brilliant
advance was followed by not less
startling reverse, shows how wise was
the foresight of Bloch when he cnun-
ciated his famous doctrine Of stalcmate
or static warfare. The very difficult
ties which discourage us when we seek
to drive Germans out Of France and
Belgium will face the Germans whom
they seek to drive their wav deener
into French territory. An onslaught on
France should never be taken lightly.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-01-27
And if the Attack
Should Fail

And if it fails it will have been. like
Verdun. the best thing that could hap
pen to our cause. German failures arc
always expensive failures. In petty
and daily warfare they are careful of
their men-sometimes more careful
than we are. They do all that thew
can to reduce the number of occa sional
casualties along their lines. But in q
push they spare nothing. Troops are
poured into the melting pot and are
seldom trusted to attack except in close
formation. According to the theory
the very grim thcory-that it is ou1