How Falkenhayn 'Got In Bad'

1916

Advice to Kaiser Said to Have Led to His Dismissal.

LONDON, England. — According to reports from Germany received here, says a dispatch from Berne, Switzerland, the dismissal of Gen. Erich von Falkenhayn as chief of the German general staff was due to his suggestion of a complete change in Germany's war plans, which Emperor William indignantly rejected.

Predicting the complete downfall of Bulgaria, as the result of converging attacks from the north and south, and in the end a consequent interruption of communications with Turkey, General Von Falkenhayn urged that the whole Balkan campaign be abandoned, that the Eastern line be shortened and that the occupied territory in France be evacuated.

The general expressed the opinion that the transformation of German strategy into a purely defensive campaign on a shorter front would paralyze the Entente Allies and make it impossible for them to crush Austro-German resistance unless they fought with unlimited resources and then for years. Persistence in the present plan of campaign, he said, would lead to disaster.

Field Marshal Von Hindenburg denounced this advice as childish, cowardly and unworthy of the Germans. Emperor William took Von Hindenburg's view and dismissed Von Falkenhayn.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Sept. 16, 1916, p. 2.

New Methods of Fighting

1917

Modern Warfare Is Carried On Under Water, Under Ground and in the Clouds

"Digging in" has a new and important significance and the fantastic legend of Darius Green is long forgotten in the light of practical achievement by the bird-man of today. The cavalry of the earth has been supplanted by the cavalry of the air. The actual fighting of modern warfare is conducted under water, under ground and far up among the clouds.

Yes, there have been drastic changes in military tactics and military equipment since the old days when we used to drill in the armory over the grocery store in the little old home town. What we tried so hard to learn of military lore in those days would be classed as low comedy by a recruiting officer of this changeful period. But all the same, one can't help wishing that one were somewhere in France at this minute with good old Company C regiment of the National Guard, and we'd make a reasonable wager that of the survivors of that organization, if given an opportunity to go, there wouldn't be a slacker in the bunch. — Exchange.

Shields For Modern Warriors

1900

Recent experiments at Sheffield, England, suggest the possibility that in the twentieth century shields may once more form an important part of the equipment of an army.

Steel shields, three millimetres in thickness and about 150 square inches in area, have been devised, which afford complete protection against bullets fired from the service rifle at a range of 400 yards. The small size of the shield, which weighs only seven pounds, requires that the soldier shall lie prone on the ground in order to be sheltered.

Each shield has a loophole for the rifle, and studs at the sides so that a series of them can be linked into a continuous screen. The idea is that by the use of such shields the necessity of digging trenches may often be avoided.


Decline of The Yellowstone Geysers

Prof. E. H. Barbour of the University of Nebraska, after comparing his own observations in 1895 with those in 1899, and collecting the opinions of other visitors to the National Park, expresses the fear that within a decade many of the scenes now most attractive in the wonderful Yellowstone Valley will have disappeared. He gives details showing that nearly all the hot springs and geysers have declined in activity.

"Old Faithful" geyser still does honor to its name, but the interval between its eruptions, formerly an hour, has increased to 75 or 80 minutes. Meanwhile there seems to be an increase of ebullition in the water of the greatest of all the geysers, the Excelsior, whose outbursts have always been separated by irregular periods, covering years at a stretch, and there is hope that it may be preparing another exhibition of its power. — Youth's Companion.

The Philippine-American War

1899

Recruiting for the new volunteer army has been successful. The Secretary of War feels justified in saying that before the end of the rainy season in the Philippine Islands — the first of November — there will be fifty thousand American troops in the field. The President believes that the force will be sufficient to end the war. Otherwise he would have called for a larger number of soldiers.

It is a matter of common comment that the people are tired of the conflict, and wish to see it ended. Those who regard the war as an immoral attack upon a people who deserve their independence have been reënforced by politicians who think they see in the Philippine difficulty an opportunity for party success. Beside these two classes are many supporters of the administration who are apprehensive lest their political opponents are correct in their estimate of the effect of the war upon the result of future elections.

On the other side there is no enthusiasm for the war. It is merely regarded as a painful national duty. The number of those who would withdraw the army and navy and leave the Filipinos to decide their own fate is probably very small. Unless the body of the people should accept their opinion, the only practicable course is to prosecute the war vigorously and to end it quickly.

Carrying on a distant war, carrying on any war, is new business to the American people. They do not like it, and only accept its cruel, distasteful burdens when they must. Must is an uncomfortable word in its relation to some of the experiences of life. Many a peace-loving citizen cannot see how a proud nation can perform the duty to the world which it undertook in the Treaty of Paris, without first overcoming opposition to its authority in the Philippines. It is here that the imperative most seems to force acquiescence.

London Women Rolling Cigarettes for Soldiers

1915

They Abandon Knitting for a New Fad for Relief of Men

London. — Rolling cigarettes for relatives, sweethearts, and friends in the fighting line is just now the occupation of many women here, who believe tobacco in this form will be more appreciated than packages of cigarettes manufactured in the ordinary way.

It is not an uncommon sight to see women rolling cigarettes in the lobbies of some well-known hotels, and many have temporarily given up knitting to make cigarettes. Symmetry, of course, is not much in evidence in these productions, which often swell toward the center like cigars, but Tommy Atkins will probably be able to smoke them despite their shortcomings.


Piquet War in Trenches

Soldiers Have Regular Championship Matches Along the Battle Lines

Paris. — Piquet, says the Figaro, is the favorite diversion of the French troops in the trenches along the battle lines. Some remarkable games are played between the crack players of the different companies.

Many of the contests are broken off suddenly by the bursting of shrapnel in or near the trenches. Not infrequently a game ends in a "dead" hand when some unfortunate player "passes out" forever while holding the winning cards.

Modern Bullets More Humane Than Those of Past

1915

Wounds Quicker to Heal — Soldiers Not Long Absent from the Front

The bullet covered with hard nickel now in use make the surgeon's task very simple, as a rule. Formerly, when large bullets of soft lead were used, the soldier's lot was not a very happy one. These often broke up inside the body, shattered bones, and frequently remained embedded in the muscles, bones and other parts.

The result was slow-healing, festering wounds which kept the soldier ill for a long time. The modern long slender bullet generally passes through the body without doing any vital injury. Even when it goes through the intestine, the stomach, the kidney, etc., the wound closes up without any very serious after-consequences. A good deal, however, depends on circumstances. If the soldier's stomach is empty — as it generally is in a battle — so much the better for him when he gets a bullet through it.

When he is tired and half starving, however, the shock is very great, and he may become utterly helpless from a slight wound. A curious fact, difficult to explain, is that a bullet fired at a range of 300 to 600 yards has more penetrating power than one fired at a range under or over that distance. In the former case it passes through the bone without doing very much damage; in the latter it shatters the bone and makes recovery slow. A ricocheting bullet causes a very bad wound as a rule. Small as it is, if a bullet strikes a large bone, like the hip, it gives a blow like that of a crowbar.

We are hearing a great deal about dum-dum bullets in this, as in all wars, both parties making charges against one another. The probability is that neither side is using them. The bullet now in use consists of a core of lead covered with a hard nickel case.

Two Women Stopped Selling Books, Feared Pro-German

Ohio, 1918

GIRL STUDENTS WERE CANVASSING FOR A PRO-GERMAN BOOK

Sheriff Charles Swank was called to Hanover last Friday to make an investigation of two young women, of Mt. Vernon, who were selling a book, said to be pro-German. They were in the village in the morning of that day and the sheriff did not receive the call until the afternoon and by that time they had left.

Yesterday they were again reported to him and he found them on the road between Hanover and Purity. He gave them orders that no more of the books were to be sold in Licking county. Both of the young women were students and were canvassing to make a little extra money during the summer vacation, and were perfectly innocent of doing anything out of the way. Upon the advice of the sheriff they returned to Newark with him and returned to their homes at Mt. Vernon from here.

The title of the book was "A World In Perplexity," and the substance of it was that the American people wanted peace at any price. The book was put on sale by J. C. Castle, head of the Ohio Tract Society. They also were taking orders for another book, "The Prophesies of the World," but had no copies of it in their possession and were selling it from a prospectus. The Sheriff carefully examined this but found nothing that pointed to the fact that this was pro-German, nevertheless the sale of both books will be prohibited in this county hereafter.

—The Newark Advocate, Newark, Ohio, June 11, 1918, p. 5.


TWO MORE GIRLS FOUND SELLING FORBIDDEN BOOK

Sheriff Charles H. Swank was called to the south-eastern part of the county yesterday afternoon to make an investigation of two young women who were selling books in that vicinity. He met them one-half mile north of Brownsville and found they were selling the same books as the two girls found near Hanover, Monday. They gave their names as Earline Trapp and Violet Murphy, both of Mt. Vernon, and were working for the same people as the other two girls were.

The books are being put out by J. I. Castle, head of the Ohio Tract society of Mt. Vernon, and the one book, "A World in Perplexity," has been found to have pro-German tendencies and the sale of the same has been forbidden in Licking county. The other book, "Our Day in the Light of Prophecy" was carefully examined by the sheriff and he found it to be alright, with nothing in it detrimental to the government and gave them permission to continue selling it.

The girls were entirely innocent of any wrong doings and were very much overcome when the sheriff told them that the one book was pro-German. The had sold a number of copies of the book, which met the approval of the sheriff and as soon as the information spread over the community, orders were canceled over the telephone practically at the very house they stopped at. The girls had worked hard in making the sales as they have walked the entire distance over the county and to find that their work had been all in vain was quite a blow to them.

Sheriff Swank gave them one of his personal cards, stating that the text of the latter named book was alright and that it met with his approval and allowed them to continue the sale of the same, but the distribution of the other book will be prohibited in this county.

—The Newark Advocate, Newark, Ohio, June 13, 1918, p. 6.

Note: "A World in Perplexity" was by Arther G. Daniells, published by Pacific Press or Review and Herald, which are names for the Seventh Day Adventist church folks' publishing house. The other, "Our Day in the Light of Prophecy," was by William Ambrose Spicer, same publishing info. I don't know these particular books, but I've seen books like them, in which they size up all the bad news of the day as signs of God's work of judgment and final deliverance. Even "progress" is seen for its negative aspects, how families are broken up, girls go off the the city and are disgraced, etc. I would guess they would portray Germany as being very formidable, lots of men, lots of armaments, since these big battles at the end of the world can't be minimized, and that's the problem for the Sheriff, and that they don't actually take a "pro-German" view. Their business was religion and conversion, not politics or sedition. As for Brother Castle, the one article definitely gives a "C" for his middle initial, the other is hard to read but looks like an "I."

Socialist Learns Not To Discuss Politics During War

Indiana, 1917

THIS IS NO TIME TO DISCUSS POLITICS

Thomas McGuire, Socialist, Learned a "Bit" on Friday

When a common purpose wells in every man's breast is no time to argue politics, admits J. T. McGuire, 2017 Walton avenue, carpenter and socialist.

McGuire leaned heavily on the bar of a down town saloon Friday night and boisterously mentioned that the young men who are flocking to the colors in answer to the war call are "dubs, because they don't know what they are going to fight about."

Several citizens attacked the man and Patrolman Brandt arrived just in time to quiet talk about forming a lynching party. McGuire was taken to jail on a charge of intoxication, pleaded guilty to the complaint in police court Saturday morning and was fined $5 and costs. He paid his fine.

"I am through talking politics until this war is over," McGuire told reporters after the court session. "This is no time to start an argument."

Henry Bair, who was also taken on an intoxication charge and who admitted that he attacked McGuire, "for insulting our loyal lads," was released by Judge Kerr.

—The Fort Wayne Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, April 7, 1917, p. 18.

Sages' Words on War

Let war be so carried on that no other object may seem to be sought but the acquisition of peace. — Cicero.

In war the olive branch of peace is of use. — Ovid.

There can be no tranquility of nations without troops, no troops without pay, no pay without taxes. — Tacitus.

Who asks whether the enemy were defeated by strategy or valor? — Virgil.

The conqueror is not so much pleased by entering into open gates, as by forcing his way. He desires not the fields to be cultivated by the patient husbandman. He would have them laid waste by fire and sword. It would be his shame to go by a way already opened. — Lucan.

And I know we're at war, see — I knew it then, and the enemy has, unfortunately, proved me right because they continue to attack. — George W. Bush.

Mother Goose Rhymes for War Purposes

1918

Columbia, Mo., April 9. — Mother Goose is going to "do her bit" to help win the war. Several of the most renowned nursery rhymes have been adapted to war purposes by G. F. Nardin, graduate of the University of Missouri, and are being illustrated by posters made by students of the Art Department of the university. Two of his rewritten rhymes follow:

Kaiser Bill went up the hill.
To whip the American nation;
Bill fell down and lost his crown.
He stuck on conservation.

Sing a song of thrift stamps,
War bread made of rye
Saving, too, the shortening,
We used to use in pie
Weeping all the porkless days.
And eating meatless meals
It makes a lot of difference,
The way a fellow feels.

Patriotic posters, designed at the university, decorate all Columbia.

—The Ada Weekly News, Ada, Oklahoma, April 11, 1918, page 2.

Forgotten "Good-by, Dolly Gray" Composer All But Forgotten

1922

Meteoric Careers

Who today remembers the name of Paul Barnes? It took the tragic news of his death, blind, insane and destitute, to recall him to a generation to which his talents had no longer an appeal.

Yet his song, "Good-by, Dolly Gray," not so long ago, was a national war song. In the stirring days of '98 it was whistled and hummed and vamped and soloed and barber-shop-chorused and orchestraed and military- banded in camp and field and city by thousands of the boys in blue; it was a gentle solace to mothers in quiet cottage homes, a farewell token from many a young soldier on has way to Cuba or the Philippines.

Just a wisp of melody and a scrap of verse — pleasing and popular for the moment because it struck the keynote of a sentimentally aroused patriotism — entirely out of tune with the jazz and tension of the present day.

Such, however, is the inevitable fate of those whose talents are only for their own time and place. They have hitched their wagon to a meteor, not to a fixed star. Like the skyrocket, they burst into sudden splendor, and their fate is that of the rocket. The way of the artist is hard, especially of him who has but one arrow in his quiver. For him who persists in using bows and arrows in the days of rapid firing guns, of course the case is hopeless.

What shall be written over the tomb of the singer who gave the world "Dolly Gray" at a time when it was hungry for such poetic food? Surely something kindlier than the old cynical Latin inscription, "Sic transit gloria mundi!" — Los Angeles Times.

—The Nebraska State Journal, Lincoln, Nebraska, June 11, 1922, page 10.

Little Girl Pays 1000 Nickels For Bond

Just after the doors of the First National Bank swung open this morning a pretty, little girl walked up to the window and said she wanted to buy a $50 Liberty Bond. She had something heavy in her hand. As the receipt for the bond was handed to her, she lifted the heavy bundle to the window and the teller was surmised to find within the sack 1,000 Buffalo nickels, enough to pay for the bond. They represented the saving of over a year, all poured out on the altar of her country.

The little girl is Jala Guin, daughter of Z. R. Guin, who is in business on East Main street.

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Follow the Good Road.
Follow the good road, and it will lead to a good town and by many a good farm.

Dragging Public Roads.
It is not difficult to prove that dragging the public roads regularly at the proper time probably is the most economical method of highway improvement.

Road Dragging Up Ahead.
Even at maximum costs road dragging is ahead of other maintenance both as to result and for economy.

Use Full Width of Road.
Let the traffic to use the full width of the roadway.

--The Ada Weekly News, Ada, Oklahoma, April 11, 1918, page 10.

Socialist Agitator Tarred and Feathered

Elk City, Okla., April 9. - William Madison Hicks, erstwhile minister and socialist lecturer, whose most recent bid for notoriety, the promotion of "World Peace League," propaganda, won for him an indictment in the United States district court, is hurrying along the road east of Elk City tonight carrying upon his bare back and legs a generous coat of tar and feathers, unless he has braved the dangers of a bath in an open brook or scratched off a part of his burden upon some friendly fence post. His midnight journey of doubtful destination afoot, was undertaken upon the advice of 100 members of the Elk City council of defense who applied the coat of tar and feathers. "Any place outside Beckham County," was the counsel the council members gave him. He didn't wait for further instructions.

Hicks' latest trouble arose from the fact that for the past several days he has been working and talking against the purchase of Third Liberty loan bonds in the Ural neighborhood, a socialist stronghold, ten miles southwest of Elk City. At the instance of members of the council of defense, Hicks was: arrested by local officers and lodged in jail. Rumors of some impending difficulty at 10 o'clock tonight induced the officers to take Hicks from the jail and start with him for Clinton. They had not got far from town when they were overtaken by one-hundred citizens, most of them, it is understood, members of the local council of defense. The officers were gently separated from their prisoner and marched down the road a few rods, while the coat of tar and feathers was being applied. Hicks was released and told to leave the county. The last seen of him he was rapidly walking eastward.

--The Ada Weekly News, Ada, Oklahoma, April 11, 1918, page 1

Look Out for the Wobblers!

There are wobblers among us.

Everybody knows that.

Look out for them.

Don't let them fall over.

What's a wobbler? A wobbler is a person who is loyal as long as things are running smoothly with him, but who is likely to burst plumb into disloyalty the minute little old adversity shows up.

Don't let him fall. Get to him. Talk to him. Talk straight. Talk of sense and talk hard.

If he's leaning against the war because he doesn't like the fuel order, smash a hole in his logic. Show him that nothing on earth can mar the justice of our war aims, nothing on earth can remove the necessity for our entry into the war. And show him that as long as that is true no reason on earth is reason enough for refusing the last ounce of support for the war and for the government that we have set up to run the war!

If he's got a grouch on profiteers and is for that reason swinging against the war show him where he's wrong.

Show him that the thing to do is to get the profiteers but not to hamper the war. Get the profiteer because he stands in the way of our war strength -- But stand with the war and with the government to the finish!

There is no excuse for the wobbler. If he tries to frame up one don't let him get away with it.

Watch the wobblers.

Don't let them fall over!

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Swat the Profiteer.
The profiteer -- who is so nimble?

Who is so wily and so oily and so sticky?

Curses on him. Swat him. Soak him.

He helps the kaiser. He makes it hard for the working people of America. He is tricky. He does harm. He is a hog.

We've got to win this war; we are going to win this war -- and we don't want profiteers gumming up the machinery while we're fighting to win this war.

Down with the profiteer. Out with him. Swat him. Soak him. Take away his game so he can't play. For while he is in the ring he wins and we lose.

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Nearly 25,000 children in France are receiving aid from the American Red Cross at the present time.

--The Iowa Unionist, Des Moines, Iowa, February 14, 1918, page 22