Military: Sign of the Times = 1917-1918, Natchitoches Parish La
Submitted by: Suzanne Shoemaker

Many Thanks to the Natchitoches Times for allowing the LaGenWeb to use this
article.


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The Natchitoches Times article.
Sign of the Times
Natchitoches Times September 24, 1999 issue.
Information supplied by members of the Natchitoches Genealogy and
Historical Association.
By Shirley Porter

SIGN OF THE TIMES
     
June 1, 1917
WAR NEWS OF THE WEEK
     An appeal to every city in the United States to lessen the cost of its
government to survey and mobilize its resources within the next 10 days has
been made.
     It is urged that women be selected for new appointments to municipal
positions, wherever possible, so as to leave the men free for military
service.
     A variety of war legislation is to come before Congress this week.
     The intention of the German government to sink all Entente hospital
ships in the entire "barred zone," with the exception of certain ships from
Salonki to Gibraltar, is semi-officially announced in Berlin.
     Conclusion that the United States must "strike Germany through the air"
has been reached by the government's aircraft production board and the Aero
Club of America.
     Entente and American military authorities who have studied the subject
agree that the addition of 10,000 aviators today to the Allies present
aerial forces would ensure blinding German batteries and preventing German
aviators from conducting operations over or near the Allies' lines.
     
January 4, 1918
SOLDIERS ORDERED TO A BASE THAT DOESN'T EXIST
     An astonishing situation developed at Raritan, N. J., Saturday when
soldiers began arriving from all parts of the country.  They were
unexpected and no provision had been made for their reception.  They said
they expected to find an ordnance base, declaring that they had been
ordered to Raritan by the war department.
     The mayor telegraphed to Washington that there was no ordnance base
there.  A reply was received stating that there must be a base at Raritan as a
report had been received that it had been established.

February 15, 1918
U. D. C. MEETING
     A regular meeting of the Natchitoches Chapter U. D. C. was held in the
Police Jury Room of the Courthouse Monday.  There was business old and new
transacted and several new names were handed in for membership.
     The chapter has sent help and cheer to several sick veterans and is
always eager and ready to give aid wherever needed by worthies.
     One hundred dollars has been donated to the Red Cross by the
Natchitoches Chapter.  All members of this organization are asked to join
those who have already helped so diligently in the Red Cross by the
Natchitoches Chapter.  All members of this organization are asked to join
those who have already helped so diligently in the Red Cross work at home and
at Red Cross Headquarters.
     The following report of U. D. C. for the month of January will show
results of the effort made by the members.  This report is sent monthly to
the War Relief corps-Louisiana Division U. D. C. Knitting:  5 pair wristlets,
9 mufflers, 4 sweaters, 2 pr. Socks, 10
hospital bed shirts, 55 abdominal bandages, 500 4x9 gauze compresses.