Government to take over U.S. railroads under McAdoo
President Wilson proclaims government possession and operation of all railroads and steamship lines for the war effective noon December 28. William G McAdoo becomes director general with rail policy supervised by a five member railroad war board. Congress to guarantee earnings averaging three years, estimated near 100 million dollars, with funding from higher freight rates if approved by the ICC.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
Wilson
Railroad War Board
McAdoo
Gregory
Congress
Interstate Commerce Commission
American Soldier Killed by German Captors in France
A U S sentry was found with his throat cut, officially deemed killed after capture. Bulleted reports describe German savagery and were read to troops and posted for official notice.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
France
Kelly Field Aviators Set National Flight Record
Aviators at Kelly Field piled up 21 hours in the air last Saturday to establish a new national record for flying. The total was reported to Colonel W D Chitty by Major Pau Ferron, officer in charge of the flying department, and reflects the sum of hours and minutes logged by all flyers.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
San Antonio
Kelly Field
W D. Chitty
Pau Ferron
Eliminate Red Tape Ordered by President in Wartime Effort
President Wilson directs all departments to speed up procedures and forget prewar methods. Secretary Redfield’s letter to bureau chiefs urges immediate action and warns that German delays cannot be allowed to slow the war effort.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
Wilson
Redfiled
Air battles rage across Italy as Verdun fronts hold
In Italy air duels persist over the Asiago plateau and the Brenta Piave area as Austro German squadrons fail to bomb Treviso and Monte Belluno. British and Italian aircraft support repel attacks with minimal damage to the defenders.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
London
Verdun
Courieres Wood
Asiage
Brenta
Brents
Piave
Treviso
Monte Belluno
Agreement Reached on War Prisoner Exchange
An official note announced a Paris agreement between France and Germany to repatriate noncommissioned officers and men aged 40 and over who have been in captivity more than 18 months. Officers in the same category will be interned in Switzerland. The pact also improves mail parcels work discipline for those still held.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Paris
Switzerland
German Troop Transfers Reported To Fronts
The commander in chief says Germany is moving large numbers of troops to the western front against the Allies and to the southwest Russia front. Trotsky alerts the peace delegation to this development. Brest-Litovsk dispatch notes Germany not yet ready to answer Russian peace terms.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
France
Petrograd
Chie
Russia
Leos Trotzky
Brest-Litovsk
Runaway Street Car Kills Eighteen in Pittsburgh Tunnel
Eighteen people died and many of the 114 passengers were injured when a streetcar bound for Knoxville ran away in a tunnel linking Pittsburgh south side downtown with the south hills. The car dashed nearly a mile, exited the rails, turned over on its side, and trapped shoppers. Hospital doctors say the number of injured may not recover.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Pittsburgh
Knoxvill
South Side
South Hills
Minister A L Andrews Wife and Son Die in Dalworth Crossing Crash
Fort Worth pastor Dr A L Andrews longtime Texas church leader his wife and son Will corporal in the army stationed at Camp Bowie were killed when the T and P Sunshine special struck their car at Dalworth crossing. The auto wreckage hurled Andrews 150 feet. The deaths occurred as the party returned from Dallas where they had visited friends. It is thought the curtains on the car windows blocked their view of the tracks. There were few obstructions to the track sightline at the crossing.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Fort Worth
A. L. Andrews
First Methodist
Texas
Will
Camp Bowie
T. & P. Sunshine
Dalworth Crossing
Dr. Andrews
Dallas
Federal Control of Roads Welcomed
Washington reports that after railroads fell under government regulation Director General McAdoo issued orders to end competitive conditions and pool traffic equipment terminals and trackage while retaining current officers and staff. Traffic will be rerouted over shortest lines and common use of terminals will maximize efficiency.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
McAdoo
Southwestern Red Cross drive aims for 3 million members
The six states Missouri Kansas Oklahoma Arkansas and Texas unite for the Red Cross in a regional push. Red Cross headquarters estimates the southern division may have its best Christmas Eve drive yet, with chairman Johnston aiming for 3,000,000 members, nearly triple Washington’s quota.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
St.Louis
Missouri
Kansas
Oklahoma
Arkansas
Texas
Red Cross
Johnston
United States
Washington
British Forces Gain Ground in Palestine Near Jaffa
A War Office statement reports General Allenby’s troops crossed the Nahr El Auja at midnight on rafts and light bridges and seized Khurbet Hadrah Sheik Muannis Teer Bekket and FE Nakhras near the river mouth. The gains occur at two pockets in Palestine, with control of commanding ground about three miles north.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
London
Allenby
Palestine
War Office
Nahr el Auja
Jaffa
Mediterranean
Khurbet
Hadrah
Sheik Muannis
Teer Bekket
Fe] Nakhras
Texas Phone Rate Revision Tied to Dallas Merger
The Southwestern Telephone Company issues a new rate schedule for Houston amid talks of a merger between Dallas carriers. If the merger fails, Dallas is expected to adjust rates, with city officials anticipating uniform treatment across Texas cities.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Dallas
Southwestern Telephone Company
Houston
Informed of Ship Movements by German Prisoners
Enlisted American navy men aboard a British liner arriving at an Atlantic port report German submarine prisoners said their vessel learned a large steamer carrying army officers had left the United States and that the submarine lay in wait to sink her. They claimed the convoy's insurance saved the ship from attack.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Atlantic
United States
England
British Ships Destroyed in Week Report
The admiralty report shows 12 British ships lost this week including 11 merchantmen over 1600 tons sunk by mine or submarine and one under that tonnage plus one fishing vessel. Arrivals totaled 2,366 vessels and departures 2,460 with 12 unsuccessful attacks recorded.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
London
Admiralty
Ten Die as London Bomb Raid Hits Bar Scene
London reports ten killed and seventy injured when air raid bombs hit a bar area. Raids targeted central zones with some bombs landing near military sites, though no major targets were damaged. The War Office says raids from 15 and 10 aircraft reached London, with five actually succeeding in bombing the city and one fighter shot down.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
London
President and Mrs Wilson Stay Home Christmas Day
Rain kept the president and Mrs Wilson indoors at the White House on Christmas Day. A Christmas tree was lighted for the president's grandchildren during the day.
Five Schooners Sunk by Germans
The German U boats reportedly sank five schooners in the war zone weeks ago. Two passenger captains Andrew Knudser and William A Morgan of the American schooner Ruby witnessed the sinking. Their vessel was not destroyed. they were becalmed 86 miles from the French coast when the others went down.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York
Andrew Knudser
William A. Morgan
Ruby
Peace Proposals Get Scant Consideration
Washington notes that American aims are deemed clear from Wilsons reply to the pope and his congress address. The US will not elaborate further unless German and Austrian talks with the Bolsheviks yield new developments. Britain and France insist the Teutonic terms are insufficient and seek a continuation of war to defend democracy.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
America
Wilson
Congress
United States
Great Britain
France
Lloyd George
Pickon
Labor Blamed for Shipbuilding Delays in War Effort
Raymond B. Stevens vice chairman of the Shipping Board told the senate commerce committee that wartime labor troubles delayed the shipbuilding program. He reported 536,99 working days lost to strikes and disputes since the U S entered the war, affecting about 20,000 men for a month. He added that the situation is improving.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
Raymond B. Stevens
Shipping Board
Senate Commerce Committee
United States
Stevens
Mr. Stevens
Czernin Announces Peace Terms At Brest Litovsk Talks
Petrograd reports Austro Hungarian foreign minister Czernin declared at the peace conference that the central powers will seek an immediate general peace without forcible annexations or indemnities. The term general peace covers all nations at war.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Czrernin
Petrograd
Count Czernin
brest-Litovsk
Centra
Kaiser's Narrow Escape at Mannheim During Raid
Dispatches report the German emperor narrowly escaped danger during a British air raid on Mannheim December 25. His special train left the station after bombs tore up tracks and damaged the line, delaying communication north as the emperor departed with his staff.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Geneva
Mannheim
Meonbeyp
U S Soldiers pursue bandits into Mexico raid at Brite Ranch
Marfa Texas reports American cavalry chased Mexican bandits across the Rio Grande after a Christmas morning raid on the Brite ranch and store. Eighteen bandits were killed. three civilians died including one American and two Mexican-Americans. One American soldier and one civilian wounded. 25 horses abandoned in quicksand and two pack mules killed. German involvement denied.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Brite Ranch
Marfa
Texas
Mexico
Rio Grande
George T. Langhorne
T. T. Neil
John Kelly
Brenham Red Cross Campaign Flogs Six Refusing Farmers
In Brenham a vigilante of prominent citizens dragged six German descent farmers from wagons and whipped them for not joining the Red Cross. A later meeting raised 250 dollars to buy memberships and acquire whips. Six who initially refused joined after the punishment. Washington county then surpassed its quota by 1,000 members.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Brenham
Red Crosse
R Cross
Washington County
State Bank Deposits Rise in Texas History
State banks in Texas report total deposits of 215,889,289 at the close of business November 20, 1917, up 60,364,483 from September 11, 1917. It marks the greatest increase in deposits between calls in the state bank history.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Austin
Texas
Texans Prove Steadfast Soldiers in France
John Granberg reports from France that Texas volunteers are proving good soldiers with the expeditionary forces. Texans lead in numbers and are eager to go to duty and hard work.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
France
Dallas
John Granberg
Texas
Lone Star State
Cadet Aviator Killed in Fall Near Camp Benbrook
Cadet Gordon Mott, a student aviator in training with the Royal Flynn corps, was instantly killed near Fort Worth when his aircraft fell from about 1,000 feet. The accident occurred near Camp Benbrook during flight training.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Fort Worth
Gordon Mott
Royal Flynn Corps
Camp Benbrook
Mannheim Bombardment Report By British Air Squadron
Mannheim on the Rhine was bombed by a British air squadron in the early hours of Monday. The attack on Sunday night caused several fires after bombs were dropped. all but one British aircraft returned.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mannheim
London
Germany
Rhine
Roosevelt backs nationwide prohibition in letter to anti saloon leader
Theodore Roosevelt states support for national prohibition in a letter to Rev. Ferdinand C. Iggwart longtime superintendent of the New York Anti-Saloon League whose work on the prohibition cause is well known The message frames a national policy stance aligning with reform movements.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York
D. Theodore Roosevelt
Ferdinan C. Igi¢Wart
Anti-Saloon League
Two Aviators Die in Air Battle Over Fort Worth
Two Royal Flying Corps aviators, a lieutenant and a cadet, died when their airplane exploded in flight above Fort Worth. The gasoline tank ignited the machine at about 5,000 feet, burning the aircraft and crews before it crashed to the ground.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Fort Worth
Royal Flying Corps
Guatemala City Devastated by Earthquake Collapse
News reports describe Guatemala City destroyed by a Christmas earthquake series. Hospitals, rail depots, officials buildings, and churches leveled with 125000 people in the streets. 86000 homeless and aid being organized by the Salvadorean government and American Red Cross.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sugar Milla
United States
Guatemala
Washington
Guatemala City
Httle
Navy Department
Walla
Central Americas
Press Censorship Rules Revised for American Press
Washington reports revised voluntary censorship guidance effective January 1. Changes withdraw three strict prohibitions on publishing names of line officers, unit identities, merchant ships and crews, and submarine defense details. Officials say universal observance is hard. such information might still be obtained by enemies. More minor changes follow.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
Americas
Committee On Public Information
Army
Chinese Defeat Russians at Harbin in Manchuria
A reliable report states Chinese forces defeated Russian Maximalist troops at Harbin Manchuria. Russians were rendered disarmed and taken prisoner as Chinese troops occupy the garrison.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Harbin
Tokio
Manchuria
Senator Newlands Dies in Washington Office
Senator Francia Griffith Newlands of Nevada died of heart disease at his Capitol Hill home after a brief illness. He collapsed at work in his Senate office building and was not seen as seriously ill until the heart condition worsened and a physician was summoned.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Newlands
Capita
Washington
Francia Grifith Newlands
Nevada
Senate
Lne
Also Mentioned on This Page
McAgoo
William G. McAdoo
Kelly Field Aviators
Georges Clemenceau
Italy
Venetian
Dalworth Park
Lieut. Gen. Young
Samuel Baldwin Marks Young
Czernin
Kaiser
U. S
Langhorne
Roosevelt
City
San Salvador
Capial
Republic of Guatemala
The
Americas Red Cross
Alfred Clark
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