davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-08-03
PEARL HARBOR DOCK
MARVEL OF KIND
Project in Hawaii Repre-
sents One of Most Difficult
Ever Undertaken

Washington, Aug. 1.-The official
opening of the navy dry dock at Pearl
harbor, near Honolulu, Hawaii, late
this month, will mark the successful
completion of one of the most difficult
engineering projects ever undertaken
by the United States government. The
immense dock, represents total in
vestment of more than s5,000,0O0 and
has been under construction for ten
years. Secretary of the Navy Daniels
will officiate at the christening of the
dock about August %.
The dock is completed just in time to
add a much needed facility for care of
the ships of the Pacific fleet. The first
vessel to enter the dock will probably
be one of the dreadnoughts of Admiral
Rodman's force, possibly the New
Mexico. The dock is 1901 feet in
length, S2h feet deep, ia feet wide
at the bottom and 1873 feet wide at the
top. 1t will dock the largest ship of
war now afloat or contemplated.
After the sections of the dock had
been finished and were being anchored
in their places in 1913 the water was
pumped out whereupon the bottom of
dock was forced upward by pressure
from the sides and the engineers and
workmen were forced to stand help
lessly by and watch the fruits of four
years labor and millions of dollars of
money crushed into a shapeless mass of
debris.
A new plan of construction on a much
greater scale was then adopted. Con-
crete sections sixty feet long and the
full width of the dock were cast one
al time and lowered to the bottom
of the dry dock security anchoring it.
Then the great structure was built.
Early in March this year the dock was
pumped out for the first time. The up
ward pressure of the bottom had been
overcome and the structure rose but
3-16 of an inch when perfectly dry.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-08-03
MEXICAN GERMANS
STILL BELLICOSE
|"Catechism of Hate" Is Prepared,
Setting Out That Day of
Revenge Will Come

Mexico City, July S--(Correspondence
of the Associated PressD-A Cate
chism of Hate" was printed in the
Deutsche Zeitung Won Mexico and re-
venge was threatened in an article ac-
companying it on the day when the
delegates of the German republic
signed the peace treaty at Versailles
The paper, printed in German. is gem
orally believed to voice the opinions
of the PanGerman, irreconcilable ele-
ment of the German colony in Mexico.
TRANSACTIONS in part of the article fol-
low:
THE day of revenge of the German
people is not far off. We shall do good
to practice patience until the day. of
revenge has arrived. Revenge must
be coldly consumated. In order to pre-
pare ourselves quietly for it, we need
Catechism of Hatred"
The twelve commandments" of the
catechism summarize in brief form
many of the protests which have been
heard from German sources. since the
terms of the peace treaty became
known. They deny that Germany
wanted war, assert that Germany was
right in invading Belgium, attack Eng
land for the blockade of Germany
aver that Germany's armies were never
defeated and declare that German honor
is insulted by making Germans sign adj
missions of their guilt.
In conclusion, the article says: These
twelve commandments will suffice to
prepare us mentally for the day on
which the hour of revenge will strike"
Asked if the sentiments expressed in
the Deutsche Zeitung's aarticle were
those of the entire German colony in
Mexico, one of the leaders of the Ger
man socialist party in Mexico declared
that they were held only by the older
and weather colonists, who dominated
both the paper and the colony but that
large part of the colony were willing
to accept the verdict of the war and
give their support to the new German
government and to reconstruction poll
cies.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-08-03
Misplaced Symnathv

From the Edinburgh Scotsman.
There were two Browns in the village,
both fishermen. One lost his wife and
the other his boat at about the same time.
The Wears wife called, as she supposed,
on the widower, but really upon the
Brown whose boat had gone down.
II am sorry to hear of your great loss"
she said.
"Oh, it amt much matter" was the
philosophical reply; ''she wasn't up to
much"
Indeed said the surprised lady.
YES" continued Brown, she was a
rickety old thing. / offered her to my
mate. but he wouldn't have her. I've had
my eye on another for some time"
And then the outraged lady fled.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-08-03
Looked Suspicious

From the Edlnburgh SCOTSMAN.
An American admiral used to tell
the following story against himself
He had a congressman for guest,
and having run out of his favorite
brand of whisky, made up with some
he could not guarantee. He explained
this, and added, Here, however, is
some brandy that I've kept untouched
for good deal more than 20 years.
Hand me over the whisky de-
canter," was the rejoinder.
"Why?" asked the admiral. whats
the matter with the brandyT'
That's what I want to know, Bob,'
said the guest; but If you have had
it untouched in your possession for
more than 20 years there must be
something pretty bad the matter with
it"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-08-03
"Seventeen-Year Locust"

Some of those who are unwillinsiy
entertaining the "17-year locusts' this
season. on their first visit since 1902
are not little puzzled by the mys-
terry OF disappearance that persists
for half human generation, and yet
ends with such precision. The fact
is that the insects visible stage is real
ly the final flash of a long career,
nearly all of which is spent under.
ground says Popular Mechanics maya
zine. This summer the female cicadas
will lay their eggs on the limbs Of
trees. and in a few weeks the Young
will hatch. fall to the ground. and i'm
mediately burrow into 1t, At subter-
ranean depths as great as 20 feet, these
larvae will pass the years. feeding
upon roots and gradually changing TO
the pupa form. In 1896 the fully de-
veloped pupas will come out of the
ground almost at the spot where the
larvae went In, and from them will
emerge the adult. winged cicadas.
During the last few months OF the war
as many as 100000 American soldiers
r,ac cod n ,o1,
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-08-03

During the last few months OF the war
as many as 100000 American soldiera
passed through England in month
New-York tribune., 1919-02-16
Mackay Predicts Early
Return of Cable Lines
Believes Public Dissatisfaction
Will Force Burleson to
Relinquish Wires

BOSTON, Feb Is. - Clarence H.
Mackay predicted to-day, at the annual
meeting of the Mackay companies, that
public dissatisfaction would soon COM
pei Postmaster General Burleson to re-
ilnqulsh control of the telegraph and
cable lines. Speaking with reference
particularly to the Postal Telegraph
and the Commercial Cable Company
lines, Mr.. Mackay said:
we look for an early return of our
lines Under the act of Congress they
are to be returned to US at or before
the proclamation by the President of
the ratification of peace, and we do not
think that is far off. Furthermore, in
view of the recent increase of tele-
phone rates by the Postmaster General,
with promise of further increases to
come and the threat to increase tele-
graph rates, there is a strong demand
that the lines be imme diately returned.
"The Post Office Department admits
it is losing money on its awards of
compensate nto the companies, and
that this will have to be made up by
increasing rates. The public resents
rate increases to make up for govern
ment Encouragement, and it is quite
likely that if the Postmaster General
does not eercise his authority Congress
will vote for the lines immediate re-
turn"
New-York tribune., 1919-02-16
Ground Hogs Veracity
Substantiated by Geese

THERE seems to be no oues-
= ton about it. The ground
hog was right recently when he
decided he might as we'll return to
his hole for six weeks nap be-
cause spring could not possibly ar
rive before the end of that period.
However, we people were not
the only ones the mild weather
fooled into hoping that spring was
at hand. A flock of geese was
sighted flying over New York yes
terday. These geese were headed
due south. They were winging a
pace which indicated that a radi-
cal change in weather might be
almost at their very tails.
The geese, presumably, had
been deceived by the weather and
had come north. Their change of
plans means impending blizzards
and a very late spring, amateur
weather sharps predict.
New-York tribune., 1919-02-16

less quality" than prescribed by law.
Said acts of complainant were il
legal and in fraud Of the. rights of
consumers under said statute of 1906,'
the commission goes on.
Replying to the company's plant
that its property had been undervalued,
the commission referred 20 a decision
of the United States Supreme Court
declaring the so cent law constitu-
tional, wherein a valuation of the COM
pany's holdings was placed at $55,612,-
435. While the company contends that
the valuation is far too low, the COM
mission takes the reverse stand.
Calls Estimates Unfair
The commission also objects to the
offering of the gross operating rev.
enues and the net income received by
the complainant during 1918, which, it
says, 'are not fair criteria of the
return heretofore earned and hereafter
to be earned" The wal conditions. 1T
is said. created high expenses. but fig
ures of other years show that the COM
pany learned reasonable and fair
average return upon the fair value o.
its property employed in the public
service"
"The Hypothetical cost of reproduc-
ing complainant's property in the year
1918. during the existence of said state
of war; the commi ssion continues, "is
not the fair value of the complainant's
property, and to base rates for gas
upon q valuation representing hypo-
thetical cost of reproduction in the
year 1918, or during the said was pc
riod, would be unlawful and manifestly
unfair and unreasonable"
The answer was served yesterday
upon Shearman & Sterling, attorneys
for the gas company, by Godfrey Gold
mark, chief counsel to the commission.
Attorney General Charles d. Newton
and District Attorney Edward Swami
are co-defendonts with the commission,
but were not represented in the com
missions answer
Application has already been made
to the State Legislature for an appro-
priation of 100000 to fight the suit of
the gas company.
New-York tribune., 1919-02-16
Forestry Expert Saw the
Death Warrants of II
Signed Without Reading
Common People Victims
Peasants Pray to Wilson for
Help, He Says; Armed
Force the Only Remedy
NerC York Tribune
Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15.-Life inside
q Russian prison under the Bolshevik
terror, as seen by an American official
yho, almost without hope himself,
yatche men go forth daily to DEATH
while those inside starved and could
Get neither trial nor permission to
: communicate with their friends, was
described to the Overman cocmittee to-
day.
Few of the men who suffered were of
the ric hor noble classes, against whom
the revolution is supposed to be direct
I, ed. Peasants, priests, mechanics, SOL
diers-these were the victims. Only
one man escaped and he was a rich
noble, who could pay the friends OF
the people for his life.
Two witnesses were heard-Roger E.
Summers, of Hagerstown, Nd, for
estry expert, who was gathering infor-
nation for the War Trade Board, and
William W. Welch, a member of the
sstsff of the National City Banks Petro-
grad branch. From them the committee
heard detail after detail of the horrors
t-horrors to every one in the room ex-
eept the "Reds" present, who smiled
tolerantly because, as one expressed
it. apeople seem to think a revolution
,csn be nice and tidy"-heard of the
vast hopelessness which has settled
over Russia, of the hatred of neighbor
for neighbor which is being system
atically fostered by the Soviet leaders,
and of the despair with which the suf-
tering people are looking to the Allies,
snd especially to America, for help.
Peasants Pray to President
"They even say the peasants are
playing to the American President
now" Mr.. Summers remarked.
Both witnesses told of the threat to
fhe rest of the world which the Boil
shevist propaganda holds, of the num-
ber of Jews from America they had
encountered, of the lies about Russian
conditions which they had found in
New-York tribune., 1919-02-16

consulate. He was true patriot. He
nad many chances to leave the city and
would not, because he said that Russia
needed all her educated men. He was
given one hearing. He was charged
with counter revolutionary activity
though ne had done nothing against the
Bolshevlkl. But he. refused to become
an agitator for them. He was sem
fenced to be shot.
"He came to my cot about O'Clock
one morning and said: Summers, for
Gods sake talk to me. Tell me about
Siberia, Russia, anything to keep nv
mind busy. | die at g. SO | went over
and tried to cheer him up. After a
while he wrote a letter, which I after
ward managed to deliver to his broth
ers in London. Then the guard ap-
peared in the formation we had come
to know meant an execution and he was
taken out. He walked to his death with
a resignation which was one of the
most pltlful things l have ever seen.
Prince Shot Without Trial
"There was young prince there, and
he was taken out and shot without a
trial. Few of them had trials. This is
not hearsay. You only read about these
things and perhaps do not believe them
l was there. An Italian official tells
me that he saw Peters, the chief COM
mlssar at Moscow, sign warrant for
the execution of seventy-onc officers
without reading their names. Peters
was nice looking young man, with a
pleasant manner.
zone day while I was there they took
out twenty one-no trials. heard that
was because they had twenty-six new
prisoners and wanted room.
IL i
preached against the immortality of the
bolsheviki, though he knew it meant
his death--a whitehaired man of sixty
fve. Before he was shot he told me
the people Of Russia were flocking into
the church more than ever before. He
told me, too,, if could get back to
America to tell them for Gods sake to
send help"
"What kind of help?" asked Senator
Nelson
Release from this terrible oppres-
slon-from the kind of men who have
come to the top.
Families Left Unprotected
Il could tell you any number of such
stories. | simply want to give you
enough so you will realize the condi-
tIons. And what became of the fam
lilies of these men? They had no
money, and man was always needed
to protect the family in those days.
Il wish | could make you hear, as
New-York tribune., 1919-02-16

later they were taken to another prison.
The food they had with them, their
blankets, toilet articles, everything but
the clothes they were wearing. were
taken away. In the prison their dailv
fare was quarters of a pound of
bread and two servings Of soup made
from dried fish,
Tried to Bribe Guard
Altogether they were in the prison
about eleven days. During this time
they were unable to reach any friends.
and finally Summers decided to at
tempt to bribe the guard, Lett, who
had been in America. Eighty rubles
had been smuggled in loaf of bread
to one of the sailors, the secretary had
succeeded in keeping 10 rubles from
the searchers and another man had 10
rubles. This 100 rubles he put in an
envelope, with letter to the Swedish
Consul General, still believing the
American officials were in Jail.
The Lett at first refused to take the
risk, stating that shortly before a
guard and man who had attempted to
brlbe him were both shot. But, after
some argument, in which Summers pro-
tested his innocence, he came back and
departed with the letter.
"Thirty-six hours elapsed, and | was
one one nervous map" said Summers.
Then got card from DR.. Huntington
commercial attache of the American
Embassy on which was written: Keep
your nerve. Well soon have you out
Four hours later he came with the
Swedish and American consul generals
and was released
an the first of these prisons | got my
first contact with the people the Boil
shevlki are prosecuting, and l was sur
prised. | had expected TO find mobiles,
men with titles, capitalists and people
of that calibre. But the great major
ity were of the middle class, mechanics,
printers, peasants-many peasants
soldiers, industrial workers, small shop
keepers, and some foresters and mill
men.
Cause of Arrests Unknown
"I felt this was a chance to find out
what was really going on, and through
all the days l was there | was in con-
stant conversation with them. l asked
each why he was there. Not one in five
had been able to find out. The arrests
were made without any cause being
given.
"There was lawyer named Valenkin,
who had been counsel at the British
New-York tribune., 1919-02-16

heard the terrible wall of the people
Wherever | went, on the trains, in the
streets, in the homes, but always under
the breath. There was universal con-
demnation.
why do they not organize and throw
or the weight themselves? How can
they? The Red Guard is all about.
There are daily examples of what hap
pens IT one even whispers.
This vail this plea to US, cannot be
disregarded. We are Russia's debtors.
She had the biggest casualty list of any
Of the Allies. And now she is in the
very throes of despair. They say the
peasants are actually praying to the
American President to help them"
Would they welcome our help ?"
asked ite5 Senator Sterling.
"Ihey arc praying for it,"
Armed help?"
"There is no other way, for they are
ruled by armed forces"
Mr. Summers began his testimony by
a description of conditions as he had
found them on his trip from Siberia.
New-York tribune., 1919-02-16

America and of the fundamental sound
ness and goodness of the Russian peo-
pie, which they believed gave assur-
ance that with fair start they could
build good and stable government.
Mr.. Summers story of his imprison-
ment, and the men who shared it, was
the most vivid picture of the exact
conditions under the terror which has
been told. He had been left behind in
Volodga when the other foreigners
were driven out because he was too i'll
to move, and when recovered went to
kedloff, the chief of the city commits
sion, for permission to leave. Letters
ordering all soldiers and officials of
the revolution to give him every assis-
tance were given him by Brouski, Chief
Commissioner of Commerce, Krylenko,
Chief Commissioner of Agriculture,
and the assistant commissioner who
had charge of forestry Kedloff looked
at these, said he could go anywhere
and was told he would be given a pass
in two days.
But the next day Kedloff issued Il
decree calling on all soldiers to shoot
on sight any Americans, Britons or
Frer chmen, saying these capitalistic
governments were enemies of the rovo-
luton. Summers, however, went back
for his pass and was turned over to
Eiduk, Lettish Jew, who tried to tear
up his passport, and had him arrested.
He was confined in car on the train
Eiduk used, which was very gorgeous
and was said to have been the Cars.
Portentious Threat Returned
Four hours later Summers secretary
again reached Eiduk, but returned
greatly depressed. He had been told
that all American officials at Moscow
had been thrown into prison (Which
was not true) and said "as to the
cause of your arrest, all you will ever
know in this world you will learn at
$3.50 tomorrow morning"
In the prison to which Summers was
sent was young Russian, an Oxford
graduate, who had come from England
to visit his parents, and had been
arrested because he was heard talking
English. Three guards took him out
about dusk, leaving his coat, and he
did not rsturn. Later Summers learned
he had been shot.
SummesS's secretary finally got to
kedloff with }stter telling of the sec
retry's work for the revolution, eleven
years exile, and service both to Keren-
sky and Bolshevik officials, and giving
references to high officials at Moscow.
AS a result Summers was sent there
for trial, but the secretary also was
arrested and sent along. This secre-
tary, Mr.. Summers added, had worked
for Albert Rhys Williams, an Ameri-
can now lecturing in America, and re-
ported that Williams was hired by the
Bolsheviki for this work.
In Moscow both Summers and his
secretary were thrown into prison,
where eighty-five men were confined in
a cell intended for thirty. A few days
New-York tribune., 1919-02-16
BLOUSES and
"BonteU" SHIRTS

Almost comprehensive collection of Bontell"
tailored shirts in white and high colors is
presented in the heavy woven slks-the kind
affected by men-diversihed types with
many odd and original forms of tuckinss.
tiutlngs and plaitings. Costume blouses of
Georgette crepe and net-many entirely
handmade after exclusive Bonwit Teller &
Co. designs reveal novel innovations that
I, are no. to be found elsewhere.
New-York tribune., 1919-02-16
New Submarine Launched

BRIDGEPORT, Conn, Feb. 15.-The
launching of the submarine So at the
Lake Torpedo Boat Company ways to-
state officials. The So, which is the
largest vessel of its kind built at the
plant, was named by Mrs. Philip
P. Brill, wife of the general manager
of the Lake company.
New-York tribune., 1919-02-16
TAILORED SUITS
for the 'Jeune File p"
and the Small Women
81. so to 5000

Featured are cylinder, straightline, box and
blouse modes as we'll as strictly tailored types
Of boyish directness in style-gilet, pastron
and cuirass walstcoats are emphasized, also
scallop treatments and border effects IN en-
brodered motifs. These suits are developed
in serge, tricotine, Poiret twill, vari-colored
checks. black-&-white checks and silk
duvetyn. Sizes 4 to 49,
New-York tribune., 1919-02-16
P. S. Board Says
ConsolidatedCasCo Go.
Tricked the Public
Commission, in Reply to
Suit, Says Lower Candle
Power Was Forwarded in
1913 Than Law Calls For

In its answer to the suit of the Con-
solldated Gas Company, which is at
tempting to have declared unconstitu-
tional the New York City 80-cent gas
law, the Public Service Commission
charges that the company does not
come into court with "clean hands,"
the answer charges, that it supplied
consumers with an inferior grade of
gas while being paid for better quail
ity.
One this score the commission al
leges that the company deliberately,
during 1918. violated the SO-cent law
by distributing gas of less than twenty
two candle power as demanded by the
statute. 1t was stated that this was
done in order to extract from the gas
tuluol, a principal ingredient of the ex-
plosive INT.
GAS result of said failur of COM
plainant to comply with the statute" ;"
the answer states, CONSUMERS received
gas of lesser heating and lighting value
than they were entitled to under said
act, and were obliged to, and did, pay
more for gas necessarily consumed by
them than they would have paid had
complainant complied with said act of
1906"
Tells Of Increased Cost
In its suit to overthrow the S0-cent
law the company contended that the
cost of manufacture had so increased
as to almost nullify its profits. To
further this contention it intended to
charge to its operating expenses during
1918 the cost of manufacturing twenty
two -candlepower gas. The commission
seeks to have this individual charge
omitted from the operating expenses,
as "the gas sold to consumers was of a
New-York tribune., 1919-02-16
Epidemic Feared at Sing Sing

OSSINING, N. Y, Feb. 15.-Twenty-
five prisoners confined in Sing Sing
Prison are suffering with Spanish in
fiuenza and have been isolated by the
authorities. who fear an epidemic. Sew
eral weeks ago there were ninety cases
of influenza in the prison, but Lieuten-
ant Amos o. Squires, u. S. n, the prison
physician, and his assistant, DR.. A.
Kossoff, saved all the patients
New-York tribune., 1919-02-16
RIDING HABITS
For Women and Misses

Models that are designed in exact accord
with the strict code of riding etiquette-and
which observe the accepted standards of the
most approved English riding togs. Added
to this is perfection of fit and precision
of tailoring not excelled by the finest to-order
custom work.