davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-25
Northeastern France
 Is Flooded By Rains
By Associated Press

Paris. December 24-Continuing rams have flooded the rivers in the northeast ern section of France. causing the fac tories st Reniremont to shutdown, ana riisns above tho bridges at Belfort, cut tinr thc roads and interrupting wire com munication. Much damage to property has occurred.
 Yesterday the wind blew over the vic- tory statue at Nancy. which was. dedi- cated by President Poincare. Several fish ing vessels have been wrecked by the storms off the north and west coasts and several drownirgs have been reported
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-25
CYST OF THE NEWS
GENERAL

Fourtee art
  bullh firmu up Dates boxing announced
  Dstingus ed s dead andsco wh No cuefo foundto Q Chrstma and peaceful Coffp prices aref fIolta sales were ire machine
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-25
PARTY OF EIGHT BELIEVED DEAD
 OF STARVATION
By As.ociatsd Pres,

Duluth. December 24.-Capt. E. A. oberg, his two sisters and five children are believed by Edward A. Gates, keeper of the lighthouse at Passage Island. in Lake Superior, either to have died of starvation or to have been drowned near Tobin's harbor, Isle Royale. in an attempt to leave the island. The Oberg party spent part of the year fishing at the Isle Royale.
 Gates, who was taken off Passage Island on December 19 by tug which plowed through heavy ice. and arrived here today. declared < that .he. Obergs on November 25 were practically without food. He had a small power boat and Gates expressed the belief that 1t would be able to break out of the ice which formed around the island after Ndvem- Der 19
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-25
SENDS GREETINGS
 TO THE DISABLED

Indianapolis. December 24-Frankln D, Offer. national commander of the Amer ican Legion, today sent Christmas greet rgs to the war disabled men and women throughout the country, which he ad- dressed to Corp. J. F. Butte Walter Reed hospital Washington. Corporal Butte rep resented the disabled veterans in the re- cent conference of department command CTS of the legion in Washington
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-25
CHRISTMAS DEMONSTRATION
 Ry REDS ANTICIPATED

New York December 24-A reminder that even the spirit of Christmas has no influence on the spirit of anarchy was given New York tonight when or ders were issued for special police de- tails to guard the homes of wealthy and prominent citizens tomorrow.
 Members of the "bomb sauad' have Teen assigned to watch radical hea41uar- ters throughout the city in order to fore stall a possible demonstration by friends of the reds deported, on the trans ncrt Buford.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-25
FAIR WEATHER FOR
 CHRISTMAS PROMISED

Washington.' December 24-Fair wealth CT for Christmas day and Friday gener- ally in all states east of the Mississippi river was forecast tonight by the weather bureau with lower temperatures for to- morrow throughout the Atlantic and east gulf states. Rising temperatures in aii districts east of tho Mississippi river except along the south Atlantic coast is predicted for Friday The disturbance that was over the great lakes Tuesday n.,..t moved eastward increased in in- tenslty and tonight it's center was off
 tcentinues = Page T-<u,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-25
COMPANIES WILL BE RELEASED
 AT THE SAME TIME,
 PRESIDENT STATES
Due to Absence of Agree ment By Congress, Rea- sonable Time Before
 Proclamation Becomes
 Effective Necessary
By Associated Pres,

Washington, December 24. President Wilson tonight an nounced he would return the railroads to private ownership March 1.
 The President also am nounced that the railway ex- press companies would be re- turned at the same time.
 Failure of Congress to enact remedial Legislation was given as the reason for extending by two months the time necessary for rciinauishing government control of the railroad properties. In his message to Congress last May. Pres ident Wilson said the roads would be turned back at the end Of the calendar yenr.
 ''No agreement having yet been reached by Congress- Secretary Tum ulty said in announcing the proclama- ton, "it becomes necessary in the pub lie interest to allow reasonable time to elapse between the issuing of the proclamation and the date of it's ac- tually taking effect. The President is advised that the railroad and express companies are not organized to make it possible for them to receive and man age their properties if actually turned over to them on December 3l."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-25
ALL EUROPE SHOULD. COMBINE RESOURCES AND QUELL UNREST, GEN. BLISS STATES
Suggests Pooling of Neces- sities and Raw Materials Under Director Gen.
 eral of Supplies"
 As Vital Need
By Associated Pres.

Washington, December 24. The fate of Europe is so closely interwoven with that of Ger many that the other European nations should lend her every
 ssistance in the organization and maintenance of stable government, Gen. Tasker H. Bliss, American representative on the supreme war council, said today in talk with news paper men.
 Present unrest in Europe is due almost entirely to unfavorable economic condi- tons, General Bliss said, but these could be. rapidly and wholly corrected if all Europe combined resources in the effort
 General Bliss suggested the pooling Of necessities and raw materials under one man who would be designated director general of distribution to see that sup plies were apportioned where most urg- nntlxx naadad
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-25
HoMEwARD BOUND
By Associated Press

$ New York. December 24-Fifteen years ago Miguel s. Alvarez imported many casks of wine bequeathed him by his father from Spain, and transported them across the American continent to his home at Pasadena, Cal. Today he accompanied 4S of those same casks containing vintages from 20 to 35 years old-ons the steamer Antonio Lopez. bound back home from these prohi- bition shores.
 Senor Alvarez said he was taking the casks home to guard against possible chance of losing them through legal action" in the United States.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-25
FAMINE UNLIKELY

Declaring that food production in Flu
 rope this year would be from 80 to S3 per
 cent of normal, General Bliss expressed
 the conviction that there would be enough
 for all if properly distributed, and that.
 therefore, there was no real reason for
 famine in any part of Europe.
 General Bliss said the fear of a revival of German militarism had been greatly exaggerated; that no reports which had
 reached him indicated the return or
 iunker domination, and moreover under the terms of the peace treaty the Ger tman army and intuition facilities were lsso reduced as to make her come back 6xa a combatant hopeless
 \ Discussing the operations of the war 4council, General Bliss expressed the opin- ion that the successful outcome Of the ' war was directly attributable to the adop- ation of unified command. If this had hccn in 1914, he said, the war wuld have been materially shortened, the Russian revolution probably prevented and mil lions of lives saved in unsuccessful nili- tary operations undertaken by each of Athe allies acting alone.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-25
NEW ATTACK LAUNCHED

Trenton, N. J., December 24.-Another legal attack on prohibition was launched here today when Elihu Root. as chief counsel for Christian Feigenspan, brewing. corporation, filed bill of com psaint in the United States district court asking for an injunction restraining United States District Attorney Bodine- ana Charles Duffy, collector of internal revenie from enforcing the prohibition law. The bill declares that both the Vol
 (Contfnued on Page Two)
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-25
CHRISTMAS IN WASHINGTON

WI ktO IN W <AAahAA VI ON'
 Members of the Presidents official fam il1 will spend tomorrow at their homes, many famhy gatherings having been ar ranged Vice President and Mrs Mar shall went to Indianapolis early in the week for the holidays Secretary and Mrs Lansing left today for Watertown, N Y to spend several days with mem bers of the secretary's family, and Sec retary ana Mrs. Glass are to spend the day at their home at 1.ynchburg, Va. Other cabinet members will be in Wash ington.
 All departments of the government by legislative order closed at noon today until Friday morning to permit officials and emnoyes to enjoy the holiday.
 Officers and men of the army
 whether they be in camps in this coun-
 try in Europe, in Siberia or in the
 island possessions. had received to-
 night the wishes for a Merry Christ mas sent out by Secretary Baker. A
 Christmas dinner, more varied in it's
 na ture than that of year ago because of the lessened war restrictions will be served in all camps and canton ments.
 Special preparations have been made for Christmas in the navy, the navy de- partment today predicting that it's men, whether in home waters or in remote parts of the world would have the mer- Iriest Christmas in the navy's history.
 Ship supply officers. 1t was said. be-
 gan earlier than usual this year to pre- part for the occasion so that every man is assured of a turkey dinner. En- tertainments have been arranged, many
 of them for tonight. l For the men of the army. navy and
 marine corps convalescing in hospitals from war wounds, most elaborate prep arations have been made both by the military authorities and by grateful | citizens of the communities in which ] the institutions are located. MESSAGE TO PEOPLE
 Secretary Lansing issued the following people:
 l "Chrlstendom on the 18th day of De- cember celebrates the anniversary of the birth of an era which gave to mankind | a divine message of peace and those prin- 1 ciples which have been the foundation stones of modern progress and civiliza- i tion.
 Today it is heralded abroad that we have entered upon new era of peace and of higher standards of international | and national life
 1 Tt is not new era, but the old era. which was ushered in by the birth of Jesus, perfected by His teachings and iconsecrated by His death. the old era, to
 which We return after a time of mad ness. of agony and of evil. Clothed in the ancient peace proclaimed over 19 centuries ago on the hills of Bethlehem. 1 the world, with conscience adakened by | the world. with conscience awakened by passed. should find renewed hope that Christian principles will triumph and be- | come the dominant force in the affairs of men and nations"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-25
AGREEMENT EXPECTED

The EsSch -Cumlnine bill. designed to meet conditions incident to the return of the roads now is in conference, with the prospect that an agreement on diff ferances between the House and Senate will be threshcd out before March 1. While one provision of the bill would oi der the return of the roads at the erd of inc ca, ndar month ir witch tlie bin WAS approv-d # WI. considered hardlyt likely that an agreement would be reached quickly enough 10 put t'r2 roads back February l, or one early than ordered by the President. There are indications of a lively fight before either house adonts the others position oil anti-strike clauses of the bill or the question of continuing the government guarantee to the roads until they can obtain increased rates to meet advanced operating costs. Also it was said to- right in congressional quarters that be- cause of the Presidents decision. z attempt would be made to rush through the necessary legislation
 Inasmuch as the staffs of the various systems have been retained virtually intact by the railroad administration the return of the railroads to private control will involve legal and financial rather than operating questions. Those departments of the rairload administra- tioh will remain in existence with in creased personnel for months after the crera ting officers have left the govern ment service Swager Sherley. former chairman of he House appropriations committee, and now director finance for the railroad administration. proba- bly, will be the man chosen to wind UT the governments business In railroad ing.
 BIG EXPRESS PROBLEMS
 Eva h itror lal pr af mt 70 ox. press companies. Consolidated into one system under government operation. the four original corporations are reported {" have asked the department of justice if there would be any violation of the Shes- man antitrust law in their remaining a unit.
 In two years of physical possession of the railroads, the government has en- countered a deficit of approximately sG46, 900, 900. according to estimates sub mitted by MT. Sherley to Senator Cum mins.
 When the roads were taken over Jan uary l. 1918. Congress guaranteed them a rental of s9Oo.00O00o annually, based on the average income of a three-year test period.
 Operating revenues in 1918. fell s3s6, .0n below the standard return and this year will be about $25O.000000 under that amount The remainder of the deficit has been incurred in expenses of ad- mlnistration. in land waterways, etc.
 Two appropriations have been made by Congress. one of $50,000,00O and the othef of s75o00O 00o, much of which has been used as revolving fund by the railroad corporations and for the purchase of iiew equipment, These amounts will be re- paid to the government.
 After the Presidents proclamation was
 (Continued on Page Ninetcen)
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-25
By AssoeIalsd Press

Washington, December 24-With peace a defacto, if not a dejure, condition, the American people tonight began the cele- bration of Christmas in pre-war spirit,
 Evidences of the nationwide return to the spirit that dominated the American Christmas prior to 1914 when the war although then confined to Europe, cast a reflection across the Atlantic, has been noted in unprecedented buying of gifts according to reports to the headquarters of mercantile associations. Christmas mails-one of the exact indications or national participation in the spirit Of the holiday-have been the heaviest on rec ord, it was said tonight by postoffiee de- nartment officials.
 President Wilson, owing to his illness will spend tomorrow quietly, although his Christmas eve was marked by announce nent of his decision with regard to re- turn of the railroads to private owner ship. Because of Mir. Wilson's illness tie grandchildren Of the family will not be at the White House tomorrow, and for the first time in the Wilson admin stration there will be no Christmas tree. The interior of the White House tonlSht' however, was decorated throughout in Christmas style, Mrs Wilson during the day having supervised the placing Of evergreens, holly and other Christmas decorations
 Restrictions on the Presidents diet have been removed by his physician, Rear Admiral Grayson, and he will eat his Christmas oinner in his room. Unless the weather should prove disagreeabie' he will follow his daily prescribed GUS com of spending a part of the afternoon in wheel chair on the White House nnrfico
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-25
John NJ. Walker Dead By Asse1iatpi Prpas

Macon. Ga. December e4-John M Walker. es. secretary and treasurer Of the Southwestern railroad. died Albany, Ca. today
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-25
ALLiPLANTs RAzEp

Direct damage to the textile industry is estimated. by the ministry of, recon struction at 2o,o0o. 900 900 francs Tn this section of France. the heart of-the indus try. mills for the most part were knocked to pieces and the rest were damaged All cf the electric machinery. belting, shafting and similar equipment were
 tContinued on Page Two)
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-25
HOLD BRIGHTER VIEW

Reconstruction of the textile industry was declared by manufacturers few months ago to be almost hopeless task. Ali least. they said it would be so slow that France would lose her world trade in textiles Now. however, a brighter view is being taken. and government fig l.res show tie industry has reached two fifths of normal production. Manufac- turers concede that the output Is at'least one third of that before the war. All agree that rehabilitation is proceeding more radiply each month, as the footed machinery is being returned from Ger many or new installations are coming g from England and the United States.
 Some of the equipment was not re- moved, but merely damaged by the Ger mans, and this is being repaired.
 This industrial recovery which seemed .rnimposing at first, has been made through the combined efforts of the gov ernment and plant owners against diffi- cuitfes that appear more formidable the Al raxra r,,d
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-25
WITNESS TELLS OF WORK OF RObbER.
 GANGS IN LEMANS
Former Assistant Provost Marshal Testifies at Court martial of Captain
 Detzer
ax As,ocIatod arcs,

New York, December 24,-Murders and robbcries committed in LeMans by gangs of American and French soldiers, using women as decoys. were described today by Maj George Armstrong, a De- torit efficiency engineer, who served as assistant provost marshal in the American troop area
 Major Armstrong was called by the tial on Governors Island of Capt. Karl who is charged with cruelty to prisoners while directing criminal Investigation work in LeMans, Lieut.. Thomas Heffernan. defense counsel, is attempting to show that these charges were brought by ring" out to 'get" Detzer, and he has attacked the credi- bility of virtually every government witness.
 Major Armstrong testified that he had direct charge of 2200 M. P.'s in Le- Mans from August. 1918. until January 1919, and that during this period 1,500 900 Americans passed through the area A large lawless element was at work. he said, and while he was in LeMans 25 murders were committed and chateaux robbed of thousands of dol lars worth of furnishings. The thugs he said were known as the river gang.'' chateau gang" "iewelry gang. and other designations denoting their speciality" One French count alone. he said. lost s25,0OO through the oper- ations of the chateau gang
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-25
WOMEN LURE VICTIMS

The river gang he testified. made practice of using women to lure vic tims to robbery. All the thugs, he said were arrested by the military police and now are serving sentences of two to fifteen years. Notwithstanding tho of the men with whom they had to deal. he said, all M P.'s in the aera were ordered not to strike prison esr except in self defense.
 Capt. Arthur J. Laurin of Brookline, Mass, a member of the military police service, assigned as special investi- gator to watch out for welfare of pris- orers in the guard house at the classi fleation camp at LeMans, testified that one of the witnesses for the prosecution had been once before him charged with murdering Frenehman who before he died whispered that he had been as saulted by an American soldier Laurin stated that the government witness in question had escaped from the guarc house that day.. that he had been ar rested while intoxicated and with his clothes stained with blood, and that he had admitted having had row with a Frenchman. Laurin added. however that as there were no witnesses to the assault the charge against him was dropped
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-25

scensiaues = 1sse T-<u,
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-08-10

chance. am sick OF this black bug
aboo.
Chairman White: If we can't run
the board I'll step down and out, and
let Macgibbon do it. Let him 90 and
do it,
Mr. Macgibbon. I don't oee why !
can't get advice without men, women
and children running in and roasting
me- am going to be heard by the peo-
pie. Here. Mr.. Reese tells you that
| appointment OF health officer is iIle-
gal. Have I a right to talk about
that? I want the road supervisor to
o. X. bills and 1 mean it, 1 don't
care if we pay SO day if it is right.
! II it is best. Ill gladly pay it. want
no time anticipated. don't want the
pay rolls coming in for 10 or IL hours
! long before the close of the day when
1t might storm or rain. don't want
that kind Of business. I'll tell the
Weller too.
Commissioner Candy (protesting):
This has not been done.
Mr.. Macgibbon: The pay rolls show
it. You can not go backwards like a
Chinaman. If you don't know how to
make pay roll better than that then
you ought not to be making pay oil.
You had no right to anticipate the pay
roll. 1t is mystifying IL nothing else.
Another thing I don't like is buying
from tumble down grocery stores fer
the poor farm when supplies might
be obtained from wholesalers in~town.
I'll take up the running where / left
off. If can't talk to you as auditor.
I'll talk to you as a taxpayer. Many
valuable records might be ruined by
leakage in the court house. Clerks
have to move around and out in tubs
to catch the rain water. i am given
no more of a 1ook-in here than rab-
bit: / have to get through a consti-
tutional amendment to see the janitor.
don't open my mouth here without
bringing down torrent.
Commissioner Soderlind: II road
work is tied up we'll lose the gov
ernment's services which have
amounted to $4,000.
Mr. Macgibbon: II the board sees
fit to employ an engineer at $500
month, then he should be there. I re-
serve the right for a legal opinion
from my lawyer before signing the
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-08-10

both freight and passenger traffic on
many roads still is seriously affected
as a result of the shopmen's strike
conditions are gradually improving
He expects a majority of the strikers
will be back at their posts by Mon
day.
Although officials OF the Chicago
district council of federated railway
shopmen insist that 275,00O men are
out and that not more than $4,000 have
returned, railroad officials declared
that the total number of men on
strike does not exceed 10000. They
say that the men are returning in
small groups throughout the country
but are unwilling to estimate the num-
Der who have gone back.
Officers of the international unions
who came to Chicago yesterday to
urge the men to return to work, con-
tinued their efforts today. Officials
of the shopmen's union declined to
discuss the situation further than to
deny that large numbers of the men
have returned to work.