17 May 1918
Page 1
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
This newspaper page contains 34 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
The Mobile News Item
Location
Mobile, Alabama, United States of America
Date
May 17, 1918
Page
1
The Red Cross march through Mobile moves at 5 30 with ten units ready. Fort Morgan band leads, followed by a hospital unit and soldiers bound for Greenville South Carolina. Local teams and civic groups line the streets while mascots and stunts are planned.
American units have arrived in the British zone of Northern France and begin training among Allied troops guarding the route to the Channel ports. British officers praise the volunteers as finest material and say they will make a strong show against the German advance. The arrival boosts Allied morale as cheers from British soldiers greet the new force.
William Connelly aged fourteen is described as a veteran newsboy at Burke's corner near The News Item. He has sold papers for four years and earns from eight to nine dollars weekly while attending St. Vincent's Boys' School in the sixth grade.
The News Item cautions advance payments in a War Savings Stamp contest for Mobile readers. It explains subscribers are trusted, no money is collected upfront, and prizes are awarded only after verification of agreements. Readers are urged to recruit two new subscribers, collect thrift stamps, and avoid asking for cash.
A number of Mobile boys from the old First Alabama Regiment are chosen for officers training at Camp Wheeler. The Mobile News Item mentions Sergt. Marion T. Gaines Sergt. Ashley W. Beatty and others including Hester Lyons Horst Metzger Stone Glover Bloch Edgar. Gaines and Beatty are former employees of The Mobile News Item.
A note describes a game used in the Liberty day celebration with a route from Beauregard and 8th street south on St. Joseph. The fragment notes movement through the streets but lacks full details of participants or timing.
Weather bulletin from Washington dated May 17 notes a forecast for Alabama. Details are missing or truncated in the source text.
Washington May 17 President Wilson authorized Secretary Tumulty to deny opposition to a Senate military committee aircraft probe and object to the Chamberlain resolution's covert aim. Senate leaders postpone action to Monday while negotiations aim at a limited aircraft inquiry and possible substitute.
The British front in Flanders saw a squadron destroy fifteen German aircraft and force six more out of control by 3 pm. Five additional hostile machines were reported as crashed. Meanwhile American aviators northwest of Toul claimed another German plane, with Lieut Edward Rickenbacher engaging three, shooting one down inside enemy lines. Rickenbacher, a Columbus native and former auto racer, was awarded the French war cross.
The Allied front remains tense with a potential German push expected soon. American troops are praised by allied officers for steady preparations and strong performance, boosting Allied confidence as Germany may maneuver to break through. Air combat and reconnaissance persist as both sides exploit daylight.
Nick Starvo, prominent Mobile Greek community member, applied for tank corps enlistment but was rejected for being over the age limit. He was also refused in other foreign service branches. Calvin Sellers of Seyrene Alabama was accepted for the quartermaster corps and departed for Birmingham.
A Berlin based issue in the Political Anthropological Monthly argues Germans should be allowed multiple wives to address a declining birthrate. It frames polygamy as a patriotic solution to population loss and a remedy for the father shortage.
Instructions for registering German women as enemy aliens received by United States marshal and J Brecker Thornton in Alabama. Officials told to collect approximate blank forms and conduct registration like the men, with the same age criterion of 1 year and over.
The 277 selectmen from Mobile in the new call for military service will entrain there on the 29th over the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. The men will de-
Mobile inspectors are active in Pensacola and surrounding areas. The effort focuses on building safety and compliance inspections, with teams arranging field visits and documenting findings for municipal review.
Amendments to the rivers and harbors appropriation bill provide an extra 140000 for Mobile harbor improvements as recommended by the senate committee. The bill totals 21571900, up 2344000 from the house version, with limits easing concerns over pork barrel funding by restricting allocations to existing projects and war measures.
Captain Antonio Resnati of the Royal Italian flying corps, famed aviator, was killed at Hempstead flying field while test flying an American built Capson bombing biplane with sixty bombs aboard. The aircraft climbed briefly to about 100 feet and then crashed. Resnati could not escape as a heavy engine crushed him.
The grand jury for the May term of the circuit court will convene Monday with the shortest docket on record. Only a few felony cases are scheduled and the session is not expected to last a week. Grand jury will be empaneled and charged Monday at 10 o clock by Presiding Judge Safold Berney.
Attorneys represent Pedro Giovan ni, an Italian seaman, in habeas corpus proceedings seeking release from confinement. The case alleges desertion from the Italian army and is pursued in court.
Russell English a carpenter living near Prichard was sent to the county roads for six months for stealing 12 dollars from Ernest Burden. Burden testified the theft occurred Thursday from his person while in Burden's company near the area described.
Mobile teachers threaten actions after the school board adopts a wage scale. They will not present a petition at today’s meeting but plan a later meeting to determine actions and push commissioners to reopen the case for a higher raise.
E B Davia 29 W G Zabola 29 and A Woods 26 held after police arrest for operating a lottery tied to a club scheme in New Orleans. Judge set bonds at 190 and warrants were to be issued for the defendants. They allegedly ran a furniture selling club with weekly 25 cent shares and drawings awarding furniture valued at 19 75 to winners.
War camp unit hosted the Fort Morgan band and soldiers for a Red Cross parade. After the demonstration the men will visit the Soldiers and Sailors Club where Octagon Chapter Daughters of 1812 will serve refreshments.
J H Moore appeared before the recorder on a DOJ complaint charged with visiting the prohibited river front zone without a permit. Federal officers allege he claimed to be a federal officer and had no credentials. The case was continued until the 20th at government request.
Bethlehem Steel Sparrows Point plant workers led by Charles Knight drove 4,875 rivets 3/4 inch by 268 inches in nine hours, surpassing the previous 4,442 rivet mark from Scotland. In Portland Oregon the Northwest Steel plant crew claimed 4,089 rivets for a new American record in a pine wharf job.
Fortner, a former room attendant at the Battie House, sues S H Peck and the Peckboe Company for 20000 alleging embezzlement charge led to Fortner’s arrest and detention. A second suit claims Peck admitted forgery to police and prompted arrest leading to a one day police station detention.
Tampa Florida May 17 The hanging of Jasper and Ed Mimbs father and son for the murder of A D Bule has been postponed by Governor Catts to May 1 to allow their cases to be reviewed by the pardon board. May 28 is sought for possible commutation. Bule was killed by buckshot from a bush. The Mimbs were convicted a year ago and their appeal to the supreme court was upheld.
Washington May 17 Under a new ruling by Secretary Baker all fourth officers' training camp students who successfully complete the course will be eligible for a commission. The restriction limiting qualification to 50 percent of candidates is removed.
Richmond May 17 jury for the trial of Dr. Lemuel J. Johnson, accused of murdering his bride Mrs. Alice Knight Johnson, was completed after four venires were summoned due to opinions against capital punishment. Witness examination began.
Associated Press reports a disturbance by 2200 German prisoners at an internment camp in Springs, Ohio, after learning a plan to move them before July 1 to Fort Ogden and Fort McPherson. Guards boosted security as inmates protested and resisted relocation efforts.
Fragmentary wartime report notes American expeditionary troops and British forces shifting on the European front as part of a broader Allied operation. Premier Lloyd George referenced in passing, with limited readable detail on strategic goals or dates.
Paris reports Americans have arrived in northern France under British occupation. The joint statement praises cordial relations between British and American officers and soldiers in the zone.
London May 17 The War Office reports increased hostile activity in Flanders near Nieppe and Hinges. A raid occurred last night south of Arras in the region of Mennville with heavy artillery on both sides and heightened shelling near Moren.
A Paris report dated May 11 notes nightly bombardments around Amiens. German raiders near Mensil St Georges captured prisoners at Canny sur Matz, while French detachments repelled attacks along the south bank of the Oise near Varennes.
We want people to find what they are looking for at NewspaperArchive. We are confident that we have the newspapers that will increase the value of your family history or other historical research. With our 7-day free trial, you can view the documents you find for free.
People find the most success using advanced search. Try plugging in keywords, names, dates, and locations, and get matched with results from the entire collection of newspapers at NewspaperArchive!
You can also successfully find newspapers by these browse options. Explore our archives on your own!
Browse by location and discover newspapers from all across the world.
Browse by date and find publications for a specific day or era.
Browse old newspaper publications to find specific newspapers.