31 Jul 1918
Page 1
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Newspaper
The Mobile News Item
Location
Mobile, Alabama, United States of America
Date
Jul 31, 1918
Page
1
Reports from Alabama confirm Rainbow Division troops engaged in recent fighting east of the railroad near Mobile. The First Alabama men are noted among those contributing to the U S war effort as the city hears of American progress and mobilization.
General March reports brutal fighting as the Soissons Rheims corridor blunts allied aims. German retreat shortens front to about fifty miles while a 42nd division enters combat east of Green Tardenois. United States forces hold positions near Seringes amid night clashes and a German gas and shell barrage.
London report via Stockholm says Russian workers and peasants are poised to oppose Bolshevik rule as Social Revolutionary and Social Democratic leaders seek an international commission to investigate conditions in Russia. Russanoff and Axelrod represent their parties in Stockholm after a 1917 inter-socialist conference.
The famous Elbe hunger stone near Tetschen reappears for first time since war began as drought lowers river. Inscription reads When ye see me you will weep, seen by Germans who believe it foretells famine.
Federal War Industries Board issues a compulsory order directing newspapers to limit daily and Sunday reading matter and to remove certain content while aiming to stabilize retail prices. The directive seeks to restrict space used by specific topics and to control product and price disclosures across the press.
An Associated Press report from Amsterdam states Field Marshal Eichhorn and adjutant von Dressler were killed by a bomb thrown from a cab in Kiev. The assassin, a 23 year old, claimed orders from a communist committee linked to the social revolution movement.
Twenty Mobile selectmen have been called to enter Cass County and report to Board No 2 which is supplying the men. All but a half dozen are from the new draft registrants last month with the rest re classified. Names include George A Wheelery Haughton Baker Kimball Doody Gill and others.
Paris dispatches from July 31 report aerial observers noting signs of continued German retirement northward. French observers say the enemy is destroying material and large fires spread as fighting remains brisk. They cite German reserves as evidence of a strong effort to hold position.
More than a score of detectives joined the hunt for the bandit who held up an express messenger on a westbound Chesapeake & Ohio train. The raid occurred yesterday and the safe was robbed of valuables, with estimates over 100000 dollars. An engineer reported a man with a package near the tracks near Staunton, suggesting the suspect may have fled toward that city. Some notes stolen were unsigned.
Fort Worth July 31. Plying Weir of Gadsden is reported killed at the Teya flying field. Some see the accident as a tragic mishap while others note possible equipment failure. Authorities investigate the incident and identify witnesses.
In a circuit court hearing Judge N R Leigh Jr ordered Gertrude Collins to be taken from her father and returned to her mother after witnessing abuse claims. The mother Mary E Collins sought divorce from the father on grounds of infidelity and initially won custody before the order was reversed and then restored on reopening.
Spartanburg South Carolina July Private Hal Steffens of Company B 53d Pioneer Infantry was court martialed at Camp Worth Wadsworth on desertion charges. He received ten years at hard labor forfeiture of pay and allowances and dishonorable discharge. General Carleton reduced the prison term to five years. Steffens was absent ten months and will serve at Fort Leavenworth Kansas.
Provost Marshal General Crowder issued a call to 23 states to train 5,586 draft age grammar school graduates at colleges nationwide. Volunteers may join by August 6. any deficiency is to be filled. They are ordered to entrain August 15 with quotas listed for Southern states and universities including Florida Georgia Louisiana Maryland and Oklahoma among others.
French aviator Sarret achieves a record parachute jump from a moving plane over Gastar region. The nation applauds as the mission concludes with a safe landing and verification of the first of its kind in the area.
Partly cloudy tonight with possible showers on Thursday. The outlook calls for fair conditions tonight across Alabama and Washington with likely showers occurring the next day.
The Ziliak-Schafer Company won the city contract Wednesday to supply grain and feed to all departments. Bids listed hay at 31 per ton, oats 90c per bushel, white corn 1.90 per bushel, and wheat bran 1.0 per bushel. They offer a 2c per 100 pounds delivery discount from the warehouse. Other bidders were G. Mertz & Co. and Cleveland Bros.
The French military mission has arrived in Guatemala City to assist in training the approximate 95,000 strong Guatemalan army. The move aligns Guatemala with the Entente powers as it supports the war effort against Germany.
Harry Stewart, an escaped convict, is recaptured and sent back to Wetumpka Penitentiary Alabama after being seized in Mobile by a deputy sheriff. A reward was posted for his capture following prior burglary charges in 1918.
Spot middling cotton prices are listed around 27.25 on the local market. Trading notes indicate slight declines and market uncertainty as buyers and sellers reassess demand and prices amid steady supply.
The United States spends roughly 1.5 billion dollars monthly on war efforts, including loans to allies, which is about 50 percent higher than Britain’s 1 billion. Despite higher expenses, US war debt per person remains lower due to shorter involvement, and taxes are about half as heavy as Britain’s. A proposed revenue bill aims to adjust this balance.
Amsterdam July 31 Nicholas Romanoff former Russian emperor was told to prepare for his end within two hours. He collapsed in a chair after hearing the news and, guided by escort, reached the execution site where he could not stand and was killed as rifles fired.
The steamer M A Burke, formerly of Burke Transportation, purchased by New Orleans interests, has arrived safely in Cent City. News of the arrival reached Mobile on Wednesday. The Mutual Transportation Company bought the boat and plans to use her in the sugar and rice trade between Baton Rouge and New Orleans.
James Jarrison, parliamentary secretary at the War Office, informed the House of Commons that since March 21 this year the British have taken 14 500 prisoners on the western front.
Robert Cooke of Georgetown Alabama demanded a jury trial in the inferior criminal court on a charge of assault and battery. He was released on a $100 bond.
A Paris war department communique reports on July 31 that enemy counter attacks on the Ourcq line were renewed but repulsed. Our advancing troops held positions and improved lines in the sector.
The war office said German artillery showed strong action last night around Morris on the Flanders front and in the Kemmel sector, with clashes and raiding in the Lens region north of Bethune and along the Somme. Allied patrols captured several prisoners while repelling a raid southwest of La Bassee.
An eye report from the war office says American and French forces repelled four German attacks east of Oulchy le Chateau and maintained the line. Seringes et Nesles changed hands but was captured by American counterattack. raids occurred near Mesnil St Georges, Montdidier area, and Meuse sector with prisoners taken.
A fire captain was fined 15 dollars after being found responsible for a roadway obstruction while responding to an incident on a Thursday. The incident involved a south Romireet location and a collision with a curb.
Fragmentary text references German forces, retreats near a river, British positions, and a possible Bolshevik context with mentions of Kiev and an entente agency. Details are incoherent and names are partially garbled, making precise reporting unreliable.
The Red Cross as of July 1 to August records total collections. Secretary John c reports payments amounting to 87,426.11 in July and August due to a large number of members paying their dues.
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