davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-08-02

1t was covered with thorny trees of the
acacia family, which no doubt made it even
more sacred, since the Aztecs practised self
mutilaton with thorns, in Precipitation of
their gods on the summit Of this hill stood
the Temple Of Xiuhtecutl the Fire God, his
sacred fire cold and dead.
Suddenly a chanting was heard, as a
solemn procession Of priests began their slow
ascent of the hill Each priest wore the bril-
liant habiliments of the god TO whose service
he was dedicated. Upward they climbed their
way lighted by torches in the hands of slaves
The stars shone brilliantly and fatefully-
for the procession was timed to reach the
temple on the summit just certain stars
crossed the meridian, at which time a new
cycle began, bringing a new lease of life
and hope to the earth and its people.
The instant so tensey awaited came at
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-08-02

which the Aztecs believed that the earth
would be visited by some dire catastrophe.
The new cycle always began on February
18th, Of the year Two Reed During the last
five days Of the old cycle, the nameless,
unfortunate days" there was weeping, fast
ing and lamentation All the household fires
we're eNtinguished and the people destroyed
their furniture and utensils and woe betide
anyone who stole a skillet from the city
dump
Even the sacred fire in the temple Of the
Fire God. which had been burning contnu-
ously for 80 years was put out by the priests
II was a period Of mourning for the nation.
At sunset on the last day the drama
dcopcned. The populace gathered in silence
and awe az the foot OF the "Hill of the star"
an extinct volcanic cone in the valley of
Mexico, which could be seen for miles around.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-08-02

furnishings must be replenished; new temple
vessels supplied; special food cooked for the
coming feast Rejoicing was universal; for
now the Aztec nation could settle down to
another So years of fighting and feasting!
The last ceremony of New Fire was cee-
brated in 1907. For years prior TO that
date, the prophets and OWNERS had been
foretelling dire events; so that, even the
beginning of this new era which should have
filled each breast with gladness could not
dispell the general feeling of impending evil
Nor had even half of the new cycle passed
before the gloomest predictions were real
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-08-02

attending the event along with their families
Each person has mask OF maguey leaf 10
ward off the evil demons that were said TO
prowl about at this time seeking TO devour
the inhabitants. The men in the picture are
armed against the demons and the women
have masked the infants like their parents.
Near the house we see a pregnant woman
shut up in an enormous grammar over which
an armed warrior stands guard since preg-
nant women were thought to be in especial
danger from the ferocious demons at this
time.
And here are the very first doctors OF
old Mexico They are Oxomoco and Cipsc-
tonaI who were believed by the ancient Next
cans 70 be the prototypes of magicians and
medicine men. They were also credited with
discovering the Calendar since this was the
chief basis for divinationS and prophecies.
In ancient Mexico, as today fortune tellers
were in great demand and did rushing busi-
ness The results to the public were about
as unsatisfactory as they are now. though
more often fatal.
And down at the bottom of the page you
see a procession of four merchants. Among
the Aztecs apparently, there was never
dull moment, even for the humbest citizen.
The year for them was a continuous round
of fast days, feast days and celebrations in
honor or Precipitation Of their innumerable
gods
The wealth Of the Aztec traders was pro-
verbal so it is not surprising that their patron
god YacatecutH should be represented as
always clad in rich attire His image bore
also pack upon his back and carried in his
hand the walkng-stick of the merchants.
Weeks before the day of departure, the
priests had been consulted as TO the luckiest
day to set out: the merchants had been busy
assembling their wares for barter. ban
quet had been given to the older members OF
their guild who no longer could undertake
the hazards and the hardships of a traders
life.
The whole city turned out TO bid them
godspeed and the people, returning to their
homes, thought with excitement of the day
when the merchants would return and a
great feast OF rejoicing would be held
So the group of intrepid traders began
thor travels, as shown here
THE AMERICAN WEEKLY
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-08-02

last; the summit was reached The
priest skilled in such matters, quickly
kindled new fire in the breast of a
captive freshly sacrificed. This was
done by placing in the cavity from
which the still palpitating heart had just been
torn a small board of soft wood and twirling
rapidly upon this drill of much harder wood
Instantly the great temple altar blazed
forth again with fire which would not be
extnguished for another 50 years! Shouts
of rejoicing rose from the happy throng.
Swift runners. bearing torches lighted from
this sacred fame sped down the Hill Of the
Star and scattered to all the towns and viii
lagos TO reght the affairs in lesser temples
whence eager men would carry torches in
their turn to the humblest home in the land.
Day brought great activity Household
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-08-02

So here is one Of the
most interesting old odd
Gods OF Mexico. He was
the Fire God and they
called him Xiuhtecutli.
And he was very i'm
portant indeed.
The cere m ony of
New Fire. pictured here,
was by far the most
profoundly solemn and
important celebration
Of the Aztec calendar.
1t inaugurated the be-
ginning of each new
cycle, or ffty-two-year
period, at the end Of
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-08-02

Here ] copy a very
remarkable painting
from the CodeX Bor-
bonicus, the original
OF which disappeared
and nobo dy now
knows where il is.
In the center we
see the temple of tho
Fire God which stood
upon the Hill Of the
Star. Attendants are
feeding fuel TO the
New Fire. To the
left is the procession
of priests in the cos
tunes Of various
gods. each bringing
his contribution Of
wood for the flame.
The footsteps lead
ing down from the
Hill are those Of the
runners, who, with
their torches. dis
tributed the New Fire
throughout the whole
land. To the night Of
the temple is shown
a house in which
have assembled the
iuDortant DerSOnagcs
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-08-02

lied in the coming Of the ruthless Spanish
conquerors and the complete destruction OF
the ancient civilization of the Aztecs.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-08-02
BY KATHARINE BIRDSEYE LANG

By hAIHARlNE BIRDSEIE LANO
4 HAVE heard so much about those two
I pages on the odd Gods of Old Mexico
y you printed CEd.'s Note: So did WEI, that
here am, with still another.
Maybe there were people who weren't
interested, but if So they didn't write; while
those who were interested have kept calling
for more-like Oliver Twist
The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1942-08-18

Faced with a critical shortage
of teachers on one hand and
transportation difficulties on the
other, County School Commits
sioner Will L. Lee today sought
a solution to a problem that
must be solved before rural
schools reopen on Sept. 9.
Lee still needs 20 teachers to
round out his 130-man staff
and unless he gets them at least
seven one-room school houses
may close for the duration. If
those schools close, Lee points
out, transportation will likely be
lacking to take them to schools
in nearby districts.
Fourteen teachers are needed
in one-room school houses which
normally enroll $50 pupils, Lee
said. Of these schools seven last
year had an enrolment of less
than Is pupils, Lee said, and the
problem of consolidation would
be relatively simple, but for the
current tire shortage and the
threat of gasoline rationing.
The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1942-08-18
Sheriff's Flying Squadron
to Serve in Emergencies
SpeeioI DetoiI to Receive Mi|itory
Troiufna for Duty in Moeomb County

xster- or emergency the sheriff
said that his new unit, to be
made up largely of ex-service-
med will receive intensive
training in their projected duties
add will be commanded by Capt.
Otto Rowalt, of Warren, FORM
er serviceman and present re-
serve army officer.
ALL VOLUNTEERS
The squadron. Sheriff Theut
pointed out, will be composed
entirely of volunteers spotted
about the county in jobs where
they will be readily available
for service and organized for
rapid assembly in case of need.
Citing the recent rush call for
deputies when parachutists were
seen descending upon Sunny
brook Golf club the sheriff said
that his regular staff would have
been wholly unable to cope with
such a problem had the 'chut-
lists (who were Civilian Air Pat
r~l men on practise tumps)
turned out to be Of q more sin
lister nature. He pointed, too,
to the fact that explosions, &C.
cidents or acts of sabotage In
war plants would undoubtedly
call for a sizeable body Of well
See SQUADR0N-Rags 8
The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1942-08-18
j. ). Bombers
Maui Tobruk
MotFuh BIosted
BY Yonk Filters

CAIRO, Aug. 1912 Mid
die East headquarters of the
United States Army air forces
announced today another series
of successful operations by the
heavy bombers against Tobruk
and in the Mediterranean Aug.
IA and Is and disclosed that for
the first time American medium
bombers had gone into action
with a raid on Matruh.
The heavy bomberS set fire to
an Axis merchantmen guarded
by two destroyers, and hit To-
bruk harbor installations and a
wreck which was being used to
moor torpedo-boats there.
"All our airplanes returned
safely" from all missions, the
American announcement said.
1t also disclosed that since the
first series of attacks by German
and Italian fighters on American
bombers, there had been no cas-
es of enemy fighter interception,
the foe having met with more
than he bargained for.
Use of the medium bombers
which scored several hits at Mat
rub brought to within a step of
fruition full participation of the
United States Army heavy
bomber, medium bomber and
fighter air forces in the Egyp-
tan fighting.
See BOMBERS-Page 2
The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1942-08-18
Seek Solution to Critical
Shortage of Teachers
transportation Difficulties
d.

Many teachers deserted the
profession for better paying war
jobs while others quit to stay
home until their husbands are
drafted.
Of the teachers already given
contracts, three receive sos
per month for nine months; only
one, the principal of five room
school as much as S225. Thirty
eight of the teachers receive
from $500 to $3.50 annually,
seven others get $3.50 and one,
a teacher in a one-room school,
gets $1,000.
The teacher shortage in Ma
comb county, Lee said, reflects
exactly the situation faced by
other countries. Most of them
are still short from Is to 20
teachers he commented.
Lee still lacks six teachers to
serve in schools employing from
one to six teachers. Here. too,
the problem is serious because
the remaining teachers cannot
bear the additional burden.
A possible solution may lie in
the lowering of educational re-
quirements for teachers. ~ pres
ent, two years of college training
is required for rural teachers.
The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1942-08-18
Mystery Man
to(aI|Aqain
WoIks City Streets
on Wednesday

It's not that War Bond or War
Stamp purchases need an add
ed incentive TO buy, but the
Mystery Man who brings .
bonus to lucky patriotic buyers
will appear in Mount Glenn
ems again tomorrow.
The Mystery Man made his
first appearance here on July Is
as a part of a novel plan for
bringing War Bond and Stamp
purchases an immediate return
of their investment. Under the
plan, those buying bonds from
retailers displaying the official
Mystery Man display cards viii
receive q receipt and be eligible
for one of the 81 to s. cash
prize awards. The Mystery Man,
who will roam city streets start
ing at 9 a. m, will distribute -
total of $50 in cash to holders
Of the receipts.
With a goal of $4,000 set for
tomorrow as a part Of the Au-
gust quota, the Mystery Man r.
making his return appearances IN
order to aid the drive. Only elie-
Utility rule is that purchasers of
War Bonds and Stamps save tho
receipt given them at the store
Those stopped by the Myseo9y
Man will receive fom 81 to -
il they can produce their r.
ceipt.
AS on previous War Savih0e
Stamps days, the clerks Of H.,
city will play an important rolo'
in distributing stamp album0. -
connection with the drive -
morrow, merchants are of6ogln1
attractive bargains IN todoyb ~
sue Of The Daily Monitor L. !
er. designed - attract ~
buyers. -. sess.'
The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1942-08-18
Yanks Sfep-Up
Aerial Raids
Growing Tide Of American
Air Power Beginning to be Felt

oxygen was almost constantly
necessary, the fortresses hardly
broke formation throughout the
run. American ground crews
waited to cheer them as the
fortresses skinned in to a land
ing here after tie raids.
The bombs which tangled up
the railroad yards at historic
Rouen, 81 miles northwest of
Paris. poured out of sleek ships
bearing such designations as
Baby Doll, +" Peggy D" John
ny Reb," Birmingham Blitz-
krieg," Big Pur x" and Der
lin Sleeper" General Eaker's
See AIR WAR-Page 2
The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1942-08-18
Charles Withe
Is Candidate
New Haven Man
Eyes Clerks Office

Charles r. Withe, 66-year old
resident of New Haven, today
formally announced his candi-
dacy for the Democratic nomin-
alton as Macomb county clerk.
Withe, who is a member of
New Ravens governing body,
the board of trustees, is former
Lenox township justice of the
peace, and is widely known
throughout the county.
For II years prior to his entry
into the monument business,
which he now operates in New
Haven, Withe was employed by
the u. S. Railway Service.
The candidate lives with his
wife and one child at 2845 Divi-
sion street, New Haven.
Withe, who says that, if elect
ed he will render the most bust
nesslike, efficient service pos
sible, has resided in Macomb
county for SO years.
The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1942-08-18
Expect Brazil
.toEntef
Sinking Of Ships
by U-Boots Deeried
BY DAVID ]. VIII SON

~ 0h ~ vkA0ON
I&stsA Press staff Csrresl sndssa
RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 18-
W.D-A Brazilian declaration OF
war on the Axis was believed
only a matter of hours today,
as the government promised
swift and certain punishment for
the torpedoing and sinking Of
five more Brazilian ships - all
in Brazilian coastal waters, one
ship was loaded with troops.
The ship carrying troops was
the ABOLITION Baependy, sunk in
the $50 miles between Bahia
and Sergipe, to the north. I'm
official reports had said that 700
to 1000 men were lost, but the
Department of Press and Prop
uganda assertci late last night:
Photographic reports from va
rious points along the coast be-
tween Bahia and Sergipe state
that a number of lifeboats have
reached small localities which
leads to the belief that large
number of men aboard the tor
pedoed ships have been saved.
An earlier announcement has
said there was no basis for "re-
ports that there were high mill
tary losses to be regretted"
Baependy, en- route to the
north, presumably the Brazilian
hump, was being convoy d,
along with the other vessels, by
a United States and a Brazilian
warship, it was reported.
The warships were said to
have skirmished with the at
Hacking submarine or subma-
|'rines. and, perhaps. to be still
hunting them.
The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1942-08-18
200 Dead, Injured

LONDON, Aug. 18 - R -
Reuters News Agency quoted the
Vichy radio today as saying 200
persons were killed or injured
BY bomb explosion during a
religious ceremony at Bilbao,
Spain.
It said Gen. Jose Varela,
Spanish army minister, was
present but escaped injury.
The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1942-08-18
u. Envoy
to Tour


Norman Armour, I'm t c d
States Ambassador to the Ar
gentine, was due to arrive at
Selfridge Field this afternoon
for tour of the local air base.
Armour, who is to be. accom-
panied by r. c. Welles, has re-
quested army officials to dis
pense with ceremony and stated
that he merely wished to view
the base in it's normal routine.
The ambassador did not speci-
fly the time of his arrival in COM
munication with Selfridge offic-
ials.
The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1942-08-18
High School
Enrolment
Dates Set

All new Mount Clemens High
School students, including ninth
graders from rural schools and
pupils transferred from other
cities are requested to register
at the school next week.
Students may register morn
ing and afternoon next Monday
through Friday in Room 104.
The school will be open from 8
to IL a. m. and from to 3 p. m.
All new students must bring re-
port cards, eighth grade diplo-
mas or other credentials with
them. Entrance examinations
See SCHOOLS-Page 2
The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1942-08-18
Turning Point
for Barrier
Bases al Hand
NoxoI Developments
Attract Greatest
Attention in Zone

MELBOURNE, Aug. IL -lR
- Big sea battles still brewing
in bitterly contested waters Of
the Solomon Island chain may
prove the turning point in the.
fight for the barrier bases north
of Australia, a special CORES
pendent of the Melbourne Her
aid reported today from a south
Pacific port. q.
He said that although Allied
headquarters in the south Paci-
fic area was issuing no state.
ments about the progress of the
Solomon operations, it was clear
that naval developments in tho
islands are attracting the great
est attention.
SEA LANES VITAL -
Latest reports Of fighting
there. he continued, emphasixe
the cardinal truth underlying
the whole future operation: TINT
since the Americans now appar-
emily have established satisfac.
tory footholds in the islands, vic
tory must go eventually to the
side controlling the sea lanes.
The Allies. he said, cannot win
tho slAnds aS36ng 49, apnns -
fling in fresh forces; nor Ct
they maintain their hold there
unless they can keep the marine
supply lanes open.
His conclusion was that the
battles were likely to develop
rather than diminish in ms1ui-
tude once the Solomons were In
Allied hands and the operation
became increasingly an Allied
offensive.
MENACE TO yAPS
Japan's tenure in New Brit
ain and Papuan ports will BE-
come increasingly precarious In
such a case, the correspondent
said, and he predicted that the
japanese would not yield tho
Solomons until decisively de-
feated at sea in that area.
He said if the enemy did not
See SOLOMONS-Page 3
The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1942-08-18
Old Crowd Awaits
62nd Reunion

Old Crowd members led by
Walter J. Daily. president for
"just one day., today laid plans
for their 62nd annual reunion to
be held Thursday at Woods on
the mouth of the Clinton.
According to long-established
custom, members will meet at
$50 a. m. in front of the court
house. A half nc II later, Old
Crowd members. at least $50
strong. will march through scEy
streets behind the Old Crowd
Band, led by Henry Tryloff.
The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1942-08-18
Urge 2nd Front

MOSCOW, Aug. Ii - R -
Russian publications suggested
today that United Nations car
~ the war to Germany with
all their power and energy" and
devoted front pages to the
Kremlin conversations of Prime
Minister Churchill and Premier
Stain.
The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1942-08-18
Brussels Fined

LONDON, Aug. 18 - R -
The Free Belgian News Agency
reported today that the Germans
had fined Brussels another S.
100000 frnacs for eight armed
attempts" In ten days. One, Il
said, was q dynamite explosion
which damaged premises Of the
"black brigade" m.!:tarized
formation of the Flemish Mari
movement.
The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1942-08-18
Russians Attack

BERLIN (frOm German broad
casts) Aug. 18 - up - Russian
troops are attacking German
positions west Of Moscow, the
German High Command an
-nounced today, asserting that
since July 30, LOGS. Russian We
hicles have been destroyed in
"hard defensive battles"
The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1942-08-18
Nazis Retreat
in One Se(tor;;
Gain Near Don
Timoshenko Launches
Heaviest Assaults
Of Bitter Compoign
By EDDY GILMORE

MOSCOW, Aug. ID - P) -
Red Army troops counter-at-
lacking southwest of Stalingrad
were reported today to have
thrown the Germans into re-
treat and reoccupied an impor-
tant line even while the invad-
ers wedged into Don Bend de-
lenses above that area and fore
ed two more crossings of the
Kuban River in the KraSnodar
sector.
Military dispatches said the
Russian forces generally i'm
proved their positions in the
area above Koltelnikovski,
where a German task force has
been striking up the Stalingrad-
Novorossisk rail line toward the
Volga.
The counter attack appeared
the strongest Marshal Semeon
Timoshenko's men had under
taken since the invaders crossed
the lower reaches of the Don.
REGAIN MANY POINTS
Several miles lost by the
Russians were regained in as
saults upon enemy occupied
hills and the army newspaper
Red Star said several invasion
firing points were destroyed.
While shock troops occupied a
defense section which had been
hurriedly erected by the Ger
mans and their Rumanian al
lies, other Red Army forces
strengthened their positions
guarding the lower Volga and
Stalingrad.
Izvestia said Russian infantry,
artillery and tanks fulfilled
See RUSSIA-Page 2
The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1942-08-18
BY IVES GALLAGHER

AN AMERICAN 3 q nj Is + X
STATION IN BRITAIN, Aug. ID
- (P - A growing American
bombing offe~ sive to smash at
Nazi strongholds in Germany
and occupied Europe in coordi-
nation with the Raj until the
war is won was under way today
after a highly successful, all
American bombing attack on the
German-held railway yards at
Rouen, Fran :e.
Twelve flying fortresses, with
Brig. Gen. Ira c. Eaker in one
of tie leading planes, flew yes
terday trough all the anti-air-
craft fire the Germans offered,
mastered the best of Germany's
fighter planes and left their
target under "a great pail of
smoke and sand
Si:; other flying fortresses
executed diversion attacks on
Dunkerque and Cherbourg.
RETURN SAFELY
All eight en- Of the giant
bombers returned safely to their
base. They were escorted to
their targets by Raj, Canadian
and United States fighters and
two of these were lost. But the
fighters shot down two German
planes and 21-year-old Sergt.
Kent L. West of West Blockton,
Ala, "belly gunner" in one of
the fortrcsses, blasted another
German fighter out of the sky.
1t was en- American show and
from General Eaker on down
the boys were delighted. Flying
at heights where tank-supplied
The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1942-08-18
Detroit i'm Gear.

DETROIT, Aug. Is - (R -
Alvan MacCauley, president Of
the Automotive Council for War
Production, said today that the
automOtive industry was grind
ing out the weapons of war at
the rate of $4,000, 100000 worth
a year, exceeding its peak peace
time pace by more than 20 per
cent.
The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1942-08-18
Lake Claims
Young Victim,
Dearborn Youth
Dies Mondoy

Fred German, Is, of Dear
born drowned in Lake st. Clair
at p. m. yesterday when he
failed TO return to the surface
after diving from raft $500
feet off the foot of Is Mile road.
st. Clair Shores Patrolman
William Randall recovered the
body few minutes later. The
youth was swimming with his
brother, IRVINE, and friend,
Leland Stevens, also of Dear
born.
Coroner wfif4smC. SperIYcn
said the youth drowned because
he could not swim. -