davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-02
of the "Lost Battaion"-A Yankee Epic

the food parcels dropped by the airplanes
They had encountered German outpost
and five were killed, the remainder wounded
or captured. During the afternoon a figure.
dirty and bedraggled, carrying an unloaded
rife to which a white rag had been tied.
was brought to Major Whittlesey. The
battalion commander was comforting with
Captain McMurtry and Captain Holderman
at the time. The man was survivor of
the food patrol and he bore message from
the German commander:
TO the commanding officer, - Infantry,
nth American Division
Sir: The bearer of this present, Private
-, has been taken prisoner by us.
He refused to give the German intelligence
officer any answer TO his questions and is
quite an honorable fellow, doing honor to
his fatherland in the strictest sense of the
word.
He has been charged against his viii,
believing that he is doing wrong to his
country, to carry forward this present letter
to the officer in charge of the battalion OF
the Nth Division with the purpose to rec.
commend this commander to surrender with
his forces, as it would be quite useless to
resist any more, in view OF the present
conditions.
The suffering Of your wounded men can
be heard over here in the German lines and
we are appealing to your humane senti-
ments to stop. A white flag shown by ons
of your men viii tell US that you agree
with these conditions. Please treat Private
-- an honorable man. Fl IS quite
soldier. We envy you.
"THE GERMAN COMMANDING OFFICER"
Whittlesey read the note and PASSED il "a
McMurtry. The latter read and passed IL
to Holderman. No one spoke. Whittlesey
passed out OF the dugout and picked UP
some white panels placed on the ground
to attract American acroplanes. White flags
were repulsive. He reentcrcd the dugou;
Soil no one spoke. Clearly tho appeal to
humane sentiments" hadn't penetrated.
Contrary TO many reports, Whittlcsey did
not write note and send it back saying,
AGO to hell" He sent no note. But a ego
to help sentiment was that which spread
over the hillside az the news of the German
message was whispered from foxhole to
foxhoe. Weakened voices yelled it into
the German lines, and they yelled worse
What they yelled wouldn't set well in print
but it was the sentiment, the American
sentiment.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-02

hell and worse Chilled through and without
any sort of covering, weakened physically
from lack of food and water, subjected to
bursts of hateful fire which seemed to
rake every yard of ground they occupied,
all suffered torture. The man killed out
right by a bullet or she'll fragment was
cnvied by his comru, eho was struck and
lived Bandagcs exhausted early.
and it was necessary for tho two remain
ing mcmbcrs OF the medical detachment
to search tho dead for their emergency
dressings They did this, hcrocally
crawling from corpse to corpse until they
found sufficient material. then back to the
wounded to dress their hurts, sometimes
gaping she'll wounds which they knew it was
useless to touch.
On October 5, an American airplanc
had been placed on the ground near Major
Whittlcsey's shelter, but through the trees
it seemed improbable that the aviator
might see them. Some time later, however.
American artillery fire from guns miles
away began to crash on the ridge of the
hill to the south, and creeping slowly down
the slope the barrage plainly caught a
mass of the enemy gathered there pre-
sumably for an attack. Their bodies and
pieces thereof were hurled into the air
and wild screams sounded in the din of the
explosions. 1t was a cheering but equally
anxious moment for the survivors of the
NLost Battalion" huddled there on the
opposite slope.
The barrage which played stationary for
some time in the enemy position moved
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-02

sheliholcs below with machine gun fire. and
to get water at night meant death in the
majority Of cases.
Many The brave youths crept from
their foNholes after darkness and wormed
their way slowly down the ravine side.
Some returned with their canteens full
which they shared with their nearest com
rades but others paid with their lives and
daylight saw them down there stark and
stiff in death on the edge of that devilsh
stream
Throughout those last few days the
officers and men suffered all the tortures of
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-02

Emooldened by the inactivity on the
American side the Germans began to nre-
pare for another attack. This time they
came out of their cover, their forms Sill
houetting hazily over the top of the ridge
suddenly an order was given on the Ameri-
can side, and every rifle cracked. Howls Of
anguish were heard from above, and it was
evident that the enemy's boldness had been
the undolng of at least several Of his num-
Der.
The stabs of light from the American
rifles was q signal awaited bv enemy ma
chlne gunners on the opposite side of the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-02
( aughf i'm a
Ditch

imagine email ditch such as q plough
"'Ent make, with broken, irregular sides
ana a. the bottom trickling, muddy stream,
I'll" 'hcn magnify that in the imagination
'sfnaps million times, with scraggly but
'"''@ Dfushwood On the slopes, and you have
"'ms idea Of the raync Of death where the
'"ss Battalion" experienced it's six day
nightmare. The rayine proper was per
"aSs 300 yards long, plugged at the upper
'"a oy another slope which made 1t actually
vs fay'ne at all but a sort Of gigantic
'sSspsd blind alley, the lower end of which
''sSsa out into nat stretch of marshy
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-02

ground, interrupted quite some distance be-
yond by another wooded hill.
On the northern slope of the V-shapcd
blind ravine a wagon road leads into the
rocky soil, leaving a steep slope upward
from the trickling stream, fed by spring
somewhere in the hills, TO the road Then
upward from the road again is almost a
perpendicular rocky wall to the crest some
twenty feet above.
It was on the northern slope and into
the sides Of the rocky wall along the road
the Viergette- Bnarvile road it Is called
that most of Whittlesey's men dug their
foxholes for the night
Machine guns were posted to sweep the
valley and protect the TANKS, and, though
no man had carried either blanket, pack or
overcoat, all were fairly comfortable and
unmolested by the enemy
Each man had carried but one days ra-
tons and at daybreak the following morn
ing, October 3, small bodies Of men were
sent toward the for food Two COM
panies Of the battalion, possibly at reduced
strength, numbering 250 men, had dug in
on the opposite side of the ravine for the
night. Consequently company in com
mand of Lieutenant Wilhelm was sent back
to attack toward the rear, thus aiding the
other two companies to advance.
Patrols were sent out in other directions
with the mission of ascertainng the
strength and position of the enemy. They
returned, one by one, with reports Of Ger
mans everywhere. No liaison was possible
Later Lieutenant Lcnke returned With
eighteen men from the company that had
been ordered to attack toward the rear
with the report that the company had been
surrounded by the Germans. little later
Lieutenant Wilhelm returned with few
men making the same report
Shells had now been falling in the ravine
position for some time but doing small
damage. The men were we'll protected in
their foxholes on the slope. The two COM
panies across the ravne had joined the main
body when a German trench mortar opened
fire at close range.
A number Of men we're sent out to locate
and destroy the trench mortar, but they
returned to report that heavy machine gun
Gra Lo1l 4bo,
brought back prisoner who verified for
the first time that the enemy in strength
had taken up positions between Whittlesey's
battalion and the rear. This meant that
the men sent back for food would not
return. Further information told that the
liason posts-smal groups Of men dropped
from time to time by any advancing troops
to carry out communication with the rear
had been broken up.
1t was as plain as day that the battalion
was surrounded.
1t was then that hollow square
formed, fringe of men on all four sides
of this boxed- in ravine to ward off attack
from all directions. A carrier pigeon was
loosed to report the situation to regimcntal
hcadquartors This bird was the "Lost Rat
talion's" only liaison-~the only hope for
what proved during the next five days to
be an island Of heroic grit completely sur
rounded by savage enemies
EnffnroIc Ernr,, tho
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-02
Guffurais From the
Darkness

AS darkness settled down that night en-
emy voices were heard. Dark forms were
seen fitting through the underground
around the sides Of the hollow square. 1t
was evident that the enemy was binding his
hold on the position by bringing up rein
forccments, and men in OR ranks who un-
dcrstood German asccrtaincd from the gut
turals that the enemy was preparing to
attack.
1t was from the crest above the La Vicr-
gctte Binarvile roadway that much of the
talking came through the darkness. From
this point it appeared that action was com
ing. And it came after two or three cultural
commands in the form of scores Of hand
grenadcs thrown from above into the fox
holes on the slope below. The fusllade
continued for some time. The Americans
under orders passed down the line. re-
NAMED steady, but each man was ready.
with his rife loaded and finger on the trir
ger. Many had been wounded and some
killed in the hand grenade attack, but the
former as effectively az tho latter stilled
their tongues.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-02
CHATEAU VILLAIN, France,
Headquarters 77th Division)

YER in the Argonne
Wood to-day, in a
deep ravine, there is
q small stone marker,
erected by the 308th
Infantry regiment, to
locate a spot where
American h ROT m
c r e a t c d something
that will live to COM
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-02

forward down toward the bottom of the
ravine, and it appeared that it would mount
the opposite slope into the American fox
holes. But something interviewed at that
moment. The barrage lifted as if guided
by an unseen hand, and hopping" the
northern slope completely came down again
with multitude of crashes on the crest
OF the northern slope. Here again it caught
the enemy-the jeering grenade throwers
atop the clF-and it scattered them as il
crept northward. Their howls were heard
for some time afterward in the American
line, and these were the howls of agony
and death.
Even now it is still unknown to survi-
vors of the Lost Battalion" here whether
that American airplane saw and reported
their exact position, or whether it was lust
plain Providence which directed that mar
VeilOuS DdrTaBe.
On the previous night faint ray of hope
sprang into the breasts Of the beleagured
men as they distinguished the faint "tat-
tat-tat" Of Chauchats-the light machine
gun adopted from the French-somewher
to the south. The Chauchat has distinc-
tive sound, a different "crack" from other
machine guns, and these sounds seemed to
tell that relieving force might be on its
way. But by daylight the crack of Chau-
chats died away and no achievements
came.
Following their experience in the American
barrage, the Germans moved scores of addi-
tional machine guns to the southern ridge
and started barrage Of bullets across the
ravine into the American position which
seemed intent wiping out all life.
Showers OF leaden pellets chewed up the
rocky soil, searching almost every foot,
penetrating the shelters, killing and wound
ing many.
That night weakened men, further weak
ened by wounds, filled the darkness with
uncanny moans-they couldn't help it.
Things seemed to be nearing the end.
Ammunition, like food, was practically ex-
hausted. Men were beginning to take des-
perate chances for food. One crawled into
the enemy line and came back with a morsel
of black bread he had taken from an enemy
corpse. Another found a strip of bacon
rind in his pocket which he had carried to
soften some scratches on his hand. He
divided it with a companion and they ate
their first bite in several days. Others dug
roots from the hard soil and tried to get
nourishment from them
October dawned with an overcast sky
and eventually rain. II was Sunday. No
one knew it was Sunday, but it was a day
of near despair, when it took strong men
to believe that anything remained but death
From information I have gathered here in
Chateau Villain, however, / am convinced
that not one man thought of surrender
The firing from the south seemed trhe
nearer that day, but there were many things
to indicate that reinforcements could never
arrive in -e American airplancs doomed
over the Zine occasionally, dropping par
cells OF food, but never in the ravnc itself
With terrible regularity these parcels fell
in the enemy lines, and it wns too plain
that the aviators were MISLEADING the Ger
mans positions for American. They were
feeding the Roche. Starving Americans
were being denied American food,
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-02

ralned, as on previous OCCASIONS and from
the TWO Sides and rear machine guns
opened up if by given signal. But for
the steadiness of officers and men, who saw
through the fake retirement Order, many
would have been standing erect, easy tar
gets for that simultaneous fuslade Of
lead and high explosives.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-02
Nothing i'm American Military History Su1as Magnificent Stand
Major Now olone) WhiIeev and Ills 700 Men Beaguere
Argonne Wood Here First Told in Detail

By Wilbur Forrest
So0 Correspondent The 1ucran Forces abroad
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-02

A Ruse That
Failed
Later false gas mask order was shouted
from the left. 1t was so obviously Of
Gilpin observer., 1919-10-30
colorado Coal confiscated.

The United States Railroad admin.
istration has issued orders to all of
the railroad companies in the state to
cOnfiscate all Ignite coal In transit
and to be mined in northern coal fields
of Colorado the rest of this week for
emergency use of the railroads
The order of the railroad admins
tration does not affect the companies
operating In fields in the southern and
western part of the state as bitumin-
Gus and anthracite coal is mined in
that region.
Every coal company operating in
the northern part of the state received
the order from Hale Holden, regional
director OF the middle Western region
for the United States Railroad admin
lstratiOn.
Gilpin observer., 1919-10-30
MOTHERS

Bushong, Kans. ~ am the mother Of
four children and from my experience With
DR.. Pieroe's Favorite Prescription I fully
appreciate its value and can highly recon.
mend it to prospective mothers as It helps
TO alleviate ones suffering. During my
first expectancy suffered untold pains, 90
the second time was determined that I
would avail myself Of some means to lessen
the agony. and l can say without any hesi-
tation that the 'Favorite Prescription
carried me through that trying time with all
the desired ease and comfort. Later on,
however, I made grievous mistake in
believing that I could dispense with the
'Favorite Prescription during motherhood
and did 30 to my sorrow. It will always
be my standby hereafter.
Il hope that through this statement
some other woman may be relieved Of the
dread Of motherhood. MRS. v. W.
ROWLEY, Route l.
DR.. Pieroe's Favorite Prescription is Q
non-alcoholic remedy that any ailine wo-
man can safely take because it IL prepared
nom roots and herbs containing tonic prop
srtses OF the most pronounced character.
Send 1Oc % DR.. Pierce's Invalids' Hotel,
Buffalo,. N. Y, for trial package Of any d
his medicines,
Gilpin observer., 1919-10-30
conore.. Of workinowomen Meet.

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. from practi-
cally all the leading countries Of the
world gathered here for the opening
Tuesday morning of the International
Congress Of Working Women, the
first Of Its kind ever held and which
has as Its object an interchange OF
ideas and experiences OH subjects
which most Intimately affect women
Legislation concerning employment,
child labor, care of mothers and pro-
lection Of their sex in hazardous In
dustrIes.
Gilpin observer., 1919-10-30
If STATE TROOPS ARE NOT FUR.
NisHED ON DEMAND. FED
ERAL WILL BE.
VETO IS sURMOUNTED
sENATE's VOTE PREVENTS SALE
OF MORE THAN M PER
CENT ALCOHOL.
Western Newspaper Union New. Service.

Pittsburg, Kan, Oct. 29.-Pittsburg
coal operators have received tele-
grams from the National Coal AssO-
ciatiOn at Washington saying that
government officials there had prom
ised protection to any mines wishing
to operate during the threatened coal
strike. 1t was stated that the nation
at any time operators deem protection
for their properties necessary they
are to call upon the governor of their
respective states for troops, and IL
troops are not supplied within rea-
sOnable time the War Department
will handle their requests.
Washington, Oct. 2S.-How to deal
with the soft coal strike, in event the
miners, ignoring President Wilson's
command to stay on the job, walk out
Friday night, has been definitely
agreed upon at Il meeting Of the
cabinet.
The plan of action was not dis
closed, but 1t is known that the cab
met stood as one man for protection
of the rights of the public which
would suffer with the closing of the
mines in which ordinarily more than
SOC, 900 members of the United Mine
Workers of America are employed.
But while steps already taken and
which might be regarded as drastic
were approved, Secretary Lansing,
who presided, brought word from the
meeting that the situation was not
hopeless. All day the belief had grown
that the International executive board
at Indianapolis would postpone the
strike at least
WashingtOn.-The Senate has passed
the prohibition enforcement act over
the Presidents veto and made imme-
diately effective machinery for pre-
venting sale of beverages containing
more than One-half of one per cent al
chol
The vote was So to 20, or eight more
than the necessary twO-thirds major
ity While there was wrangle over
taking up the measure in place of the
peace treaty. which had the right of
way, there never was doubt as to how
the Senate stood. 1t was overwhelm-
ingly "dry," like the House, which re-
err the President had vetoed 1t.
Gilpin observer., 1919-10-30
PershIns viii Come West.

WashingtOn.-General Pershing an
nounced he was planning n tour of
inspection Of the war industries built
up during his absence in France for
the purpose of formulating recon-
mendatiOns to Secretary Baker as to
what portion should be maintained
against another national emergency.
His trip will take him as far as the
Pacific coast, and while away he will
visit his home In Missouri.
Gilpin observer., 1919-10-30
Eases
Colds
At oncel Relief with
'Pape's Cold Compound

The first dose eases your cold Don't
stay stuffed-up! Quit blowing and
snuhiing! A dose of "Pape's Cold
Compound" taken every two hours un-
til three doses are taken usually
breaks up severe cold and ends all
grippe misery.
Relief awaits you! Open your
clogged-up nostrils and the air pass
ages of your head; stop nose running !;
relieve the headache, dullness, fever
ishness, sneezing. soreness and stiff
ness.
"Pape's Cold Compound" is the
quickest, surest relief known and costs
only few cents at drug stores. 1t
acts without assistance. Tastes nice.
Contains no Quinine. Insist on
Pape's ADV.
Gilpin observer., 1919-10-30
Averse to Borrowing trouble.

Jimmy has been rather unfortunate
lately In the way Of minor accidents,
and his mother has grown quite eau.
tious about his taking chances. One
day he came In and wanted to ride his
tricycle. down to his auntie's house.
His mother hesitated before consent.
Ing to his request. and Jimmy cut In
with the comforting assurance, MAY
be there won't be a thing happen.
mother. so don't make worry for
yourself till It does"
Gilpin observer., 1919-10-30
They're Practical Men.

"Would you call successful au-
thor one who makes from $4,000 to
$4,000 II year, but will be forgotten
II months after he dies, or one who
literally starves to death and Is fa-
nous ever after?"
swell, l would say the second type
was the truly successful author but
l fear his landlord. his butcher and his
baker wouldn't agree with me."-Bir-
mingham Age-Herald.
Gilpin observer., 1919-10-30
Success.

Life Is indefinite-a bundle of con.
tradictions. We men, with our ideas
strive to give 1t particular shape by
melting It into particular mold-into
the def1niteness Of success. All the
world conquerors, from Alexander
down to the American millionaires-
mold themselves into sword or mint.
ana thus find that distinct image Of
themselves which is the source of their
ess.-Rabindranath Tagore.
Gilpin observer., 1919-10-30
Germans Ate soapsuds for Cream

NS'"~"o Hec ooaPeuos 'oT STeAm.
The German public recently learned
that 1t had been eating soapsuds for
whipped cream. The information was
revealed by an order forbidding
whipped cream to be made from soap,
jam and sugar.
Gilpin observer., 1919-10-30
Many Cars in Japan.

The number of motorcars in the
Hyogo prefecture of Japan in 1908
was four. in 1912 there were II. In
1916 there were 30, and at the end of
1918 there were 2S2 cars registered.
The city of Kobe, which is located in
this prefecture, is said to have 1872
automobiles.
Gilpin observer., 1919-10-30
To Have a Clear Sweet SKIN

Touch pimples, redness. roughness
or itching. If any, with Cuticura Oint.
ment, then battle with Cuticura Soap
and hot water. Rinse, dry gently and
dust on a little Cuticura Talcum to
leave fascinating fragrance on skin.
Everywhere 25c each,-Ady.
Gilpin observer., 1919-10-30
Fertilizer. In tho Ne+herI.nd..

One source OF the demand for fer.
tiuzers In the Netherlands that one II
apt to overlook Is the fairly extensive
reclamation Of waste land. The proc
ess Of dyking and draining that has
won large sections of the country from
the sea and Its elimination In the prof.
ect to drain the greater part of the
Zuider Zee are well known.
Gilpin observer., 1919-10-30
Lady A.tor is Candidate.

London.-Lady Astor has accepted
the invitation of the Plymouth Union
lists to become a candidate for the
House of Commons for the seat In Ply
mouth vacated by the elevation OF her
husband to the House of Lords.
Gilpin observer., 1919-10-30
Bonus for vanks' Widows.

Washington.-A bill providing for "A
bonus of six months pay for the wild
ows and dependents of men killed In
the war was fnvorably voted upon by
the House military affairs commit
tee.
Gilpin observer., 1919-10-30
har With.

Wee Bessie on being told that she
would have to eat condensed milk on
her oatmeal exclaimed, :" wish that
old condensed COW would dis."-Bos.
ton Transcript.
Gilpin observer., 1919-10-30
HEARTBURN
Caused by
Acid-Stomach

That bitter heartburn. belching. food
repeating. indigestion. bloat after eating
AL are caused by acid-stomach. But they
are only first symptoms-danger signals to
warn you of awful troubles II not stopped.
Headache. biliousness. rheumatism, sciatica,
that tired. iistless feeling. lack of energy.
dizziness. insomnia. even cancer and ulcers
Of the intestines and many other ailments
are traoeable to ACID-STOMACH.
Thousands-yes, millions-of people who
ought to be we'll and strong mere weak
lings because of acid-stomach. They really
starve in the midst of plenty because they
do not get enough strength and vitality from
the food they eat.
Take DATONIC and give your stomach .
chance to do it's work right. Make It strong.
cool. sweet and comfortable. EATONIC
brings quick relief for heartburn. beiching.
indigestion and other stomach miseries. Inn
proves digestion-helps you get full strength
from your food. Thousands say EATONIC
ts the most wonderful stomach remedy in
the world. Brought them relief when every
thing else failed.
Our best testimonial is what EATONIC
will do for you. So get big boc box of
EAToNIC today from your druggist. use It
ave days-if you're not pleased. return It
and hack.