This Day In WWI
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This Day In WWI
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Remembering WWI through interesting events that happened OTD during WWI.
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Dakota County Herald Nov 19 1914 New hair style all the rage, The Triple French Twist Coiffure www.loc.gov/resource/201... bsky.app/profile/this...
Dakota County Herald Nov 19 1914 New hair style all the rage, The Triple French Twist Coiffure https://www.loc.gov/resource/2010270500/1914-11-19/ed-1/?sp=1&r=-0.946,0,2.892,1.317,0
November 22, 2025 at 7:55 PM
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Tacoma Times Nov 19 1914 "Russia Now Dry Empire... The strictest sort of a prohibition law is now in effect. As a result a population of 150,000,000 people are unable to obtain ... intoxicating liquors. The Russian people consumed annually $1,900,000,000 [$60 Billion in 2025] worth of vodka alone. "
The Tacoma Times Nov 19 1914 https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn88085187/1914-11-19/ed-1/?sp=1&r=0.393,0.474,0.747,0.34,0 "Russia Now Dry Empire The empire of the czar is dry today. The strictest sort of a prohibition law is now in effect. As a result a population of 150,000,000 people are unable to obtain a single drop of vodka, whisky, brandy, gin or any other intoxicating liquors. The Russian people consumed annually $1,900,000,000 [$60 Billion in 2025] worth of vodka alone. "
November 22, 2025 at 7:50 PM
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The Pickens Sentinel Nov 19 1914 publishes this Sid Greene cartoon of the God of War getting ready to "shave" Italy.

Grand Forks Herald Jun 16 1919 publishes this cartoon by William Charles Morris talking about the dismemberment of the Austro-Hungarian Empire bsky.app/profile/this...
The Pickens Sentinel Nov 19 1914 publishes this Sid Greene cartoon of the God of War getting ready to "shave" Italy. https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn93067671/1914-11-19/ed-1/?sp=1 Grand Forks Herald Jun 16 1919 publishes this cartoon by William Charles Morris talking about the dismemberment of the Austro-Hungarian Empire https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn85042414/1919-06-16/ed-1/?sp=1&q=
November 22, 2025 at 7:36 PM
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The Daily Missoulian Nov 19 1914 publishes this cartoon by E. A. Bushnell:

The Kaiser's Threat

Notice HMS Niger. She was sunk by Imperial German Navy U-boat SM U-12 on Nov 11 1914. The portly man is "John Bull " UK's Uncle Sam chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83025...
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The Daily Missoulian #OTD Nov 19 1914 publishes this cartoon by E. A. Bushnell: The Kaiser's Threat Notice HMS Niger. She was sunk by Imperial German Navy U-boat SM U-12 on Nov 11 1914. The portly man is "John Bull " UK's Uncle Sam http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83025316/1914-11-19/ed-1/seq-1/
November 22, 2025 at 7:25 PM
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Bisbee Daily Review Nov 21 1914 "Germany infantry deflected from Ghent and Bruges passing through Blandenburghe [Blankenberge] just outside the city of Ostend, now occupied by the Kaiser's forces."

Also on the cover of Ring of Steel by Alexander Watson bsky.app/profile/this...
Ring of Steel: Germany and Austria-Hungary in World War I Hardcover – October 7, 2014 by Alexander Watson https://amzn.to/48bfCst https://maps.app.goo.gl/sSvrSGXDL1PXH8sr7 Bisbee Daily Review Nov 21 1914 https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn84024827/1914-11-21/ed-1/?sp=1&r=0.328,0.843,0.625,0.284,0 Photo shows Germany infantry deflected from Ghent and Bruges passing through Blandenburghe [Blankenberge] just outside the city of Ostend, now occupied by the Kaiser's forces. These troops lately pushed on toward Dixmude, where they were stopped by the Allies.
November 22, 2025 at 7:19 PM
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Arizona Republican #OTD Nov 20 1914 reports that wife of the US ambassador, Anne Weightman, was awarded the Grand Cross of the Austro-Hungarian Empire for her work among the sick and wounded soldiers of the dual monarchy. In 1914 USA was neutral in #WWI en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_We...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Weightman Arizona Republican Nov 20 1914 https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn84020558/1914-11-20/ed-1/?sp=1 " [ASSOCIATED PRESS DISPATCH] WASHINGTON, Nov. 19.-Official announcement of the award of the grand cross of the Order of Elizabeth by Emperor Franz Josef to Mrs. Frederick Penfield, wife of the American ambassador at Vienna, was cabled to the Austro-Hungarian embassy here. Mrs. Penfield has been indefatigable in her work among the sick and wounded soldiers of the dual monarchy. The message of the embassy said: "The emperor has conferred on Mrs. Penfield the grand cross of the Or- der of Elizabeth. Newspapers emphasize the importance of this distinction as conferred for the first time on a lady not connected with the imperial family, as showing appreciation of the extraordinary personal merits of Mrs. Penfield which brought about her decoration on account of her care of soldiers."
November 22, 2025 at 6:52 PM
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The Tacoma Times Nov 20 1914
www.loc.gov/resource/sn8...
An Englishwoman, dressed in a priest's garb, was arrested here. She was taken to the barracks of the German troops, tried by drumhead court marshal, and executed as a spy, according to a report made today bsky.app/profile/this...
The Tacoma Times Nov 20 1914 https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn88085187/1914-11-20/ed-1/?sp=1&r=0.312,0.772,0.432,0.197,0 An Englishwoman, dressed in a priest's garb, was arrested here. She was taken to the barracks of the German troops, tried by drumhead courtmarshal, and executed as a spy, according to a report made today
November 22, 2025 at 6:44 PM
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The Illustrated War News Nov 18 1914:

Siege of Tsingtao

In Hungary, Russian cavalry storms an Austro-Hungarian force

Prince Heinrich is the only son of the late Prince Francis Joseph of Bavaria, first cousin of Prince Rupprecht, fought "with the greatest fearlessness and extraordinary dash."
The Illustrated War News Nov 18 1914 https://www.gutenberg.org/files/18333/18333-h/18333-h.htm GERMANY'S EASTERN STRONGHOLD WHICH SUFFERED THE FATE OF LIÉGE AND ANTWERP: MEN OF THE GERMAN GARRISON AT TSING-TAU. It is said that the German garrison at Tsing-tau, which surrendered to the Japanese and British on November 7, included five battalions of infantry, fire battalions of marine artillery, one battalion of mechanics, and about 2500 reservists. After the surrender of the garrison a number of German soldiers are said to have escaped in native boats, but were recaptured. The defences were under naval control. Tsing-tau was strongly fortified and had about 600 Krupp guns of various calibre. The photographs show men of the Third Sea Battalion. (1) On the march in Tsing-tau; (2) and (3) Entrenched with a machine-gun. Our correspondent states that the photographs were taken since the siege began; otherwise the dark band round the helmet-covers might be taken for a manoeuvres badge. The Illustrated War News Nov 18 1914 https://www.gutenberg.org/files/18333/18333-h/18333-h.htm THE VICTORIOUS RUSSIAN CAVALRY IN ACTION: A CHARGE BY THE GALLANT FORCE WHICH CROSSED THE CARPATHIANS INTO HUNGARY. In the recent victorious operations of the Russian Army the cavalry have taken a conspicuous part. The Headquarters announcement from Petrograd of November 10 said: "To the east of Neidenburg near the station of Muschaken (in East Prussia, about two miles from the frontier), Russian cavalry defeated a German detachment which was guarding the railway, captured transport, and blew up two bridges over the railway. On the 8th inst. our cavalry forced one of the enemy's cavalry divisions, which was supported by a battalion of rifles, to retreat towards Kalisz (near the border of German Poland)." The above drawing shows an engagement in Hungary between an Austro-Hungarian force and a body of Russian cavalry who had crossed the Carpathians from Galicia. TELLING THE TALE IN GERMANY!—A GERMAN BATTLE-PICTURE SHOWING PRINCE The Illustrated War News Nov 18 1914 HEINRICH OF BAVARIA LEADING A CAVALRY ASSAULT. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/18333/18333-h/18333-h.htm Early in the war, the Kaiser commissioned various painters to produce battle-pictures of German prowess. The royal house of Bavaria has apparently followed suit. More recently the Kaiser expressed a wish that the British might meet the Bavarians "just once" and his wish was gratified. In depicting a Bavarian cavalry fight with French dragoons, the Bavarian artist naturally represents the enemy as going down like nine-pins. Prince Heinrich, who figures in the drawing, is the only son of the late Prince Francis Joseph of Bavaria, first cousin of Prince Rupprecht, the Bavarian Crown Prince, who recently exhorted his troops to conquer "our most hated foe." He also highly extolled the Bavarian cavalry, who, he said, have fought "with the greatest fearlessness and extraordinary dash."
November 22, 2025 at 6:34 PM
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The Illustrated War News Nov 18 1914 prints this photo of Germans in Cologne, Germany with machine guns on temporary mounts to counter Allied air raids.
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The Illustrated War News Nov 18 1914 prints this photo of Germans in Cologne, Germany with machine guns on temporary mounts to counter Allied air raids. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/18333/18333-h/18333-h.htm WHERE ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNS ARE NOT: GERMAN MACHINE-GUNS, ON TEMPORARY MOUNTINGS, FOR USE AGAINST WAR-PLANES. The Germans, according to paragraphs from their newspapers reprinted here, sneer at the way London is guarding against hostile aircraft by mounting quick-firing guns and searchlights and putting out many street lamps. They are doing much the same themselves, however, in the cities nearest their western frontier. At Cologne, ever since August, there has been constant nervousness as to possible air-raids, and searchlights from elevated points in the city have swept the sky nightly, and machine-guns have been set up on tall buildings. At Düsseldorf when our airmen destroyed a Zeppelin, the aviators were fired at by machine-guns from all over the city. Our illustration shows German machine-guns in temporary use as anti-aircraft guns.—[Photo. by Photopress.]
November 22, 2025 at 6:21 PM
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The Tacoma Times Nov 21 1914 "The act of the Turkish batteries in firing on a launch from the cruiser Tennessee in the Gulf of Smyrna [Near the Ottoman city of İzmir] was not hostile but "A bit queer at any rate" www.loc.gov/resource/sn8... bsky.app/profile/this...
The Tacoma Times Nov 21 1914 "The act of the Turkish batteries in firing on a launch from the cruiser Tennessee in the Gulf of Smyrna was not hostile but "A bit queer at any rate" https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn88085187/1914-11-21/ed-1/?sp=1&r=0.019,0.467,0.523,0.238,0
November 22, 2025 at 5:55 PM
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Bisbee Daily Review on Nov 21 1914 photo of Egyptians mobilizing to stop Ottoman invasion ... if "an army of wild and fanatical Kurds is to be sent against Egypt. If this is done, the equally wild and fanatics' Sudanese troops will be sent against them."
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Bisbee Daily Review on Nov 21 1914 photo of Egyptians mobilizing to stop Ottoman invasion ... if "an army of wild and fanatical Kurds is to be sent against Egypt. If this is done, the equally wild and fanatics' Sudanese troops will be sent against them." https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84024827/1914-11-21/ed-1/seq-1/ Bisbee Daily Review on Nov 21 1914 Egyptians hate sultan, will fight invading Turks, says Lord Milner Top, Kurds mobilizing for invasion of Egypt; bottom, Egyptian troop who will resist invasion. That the people of Egypt, although good Mohammedans, will fight the Turks if the latter attempt an invasion, is the statement of Lord Milner, England's governor in South Africa at the time of the Boer war, and previously a British official in Egypt It is said an army of wild and fanatical Kurds is to be sent against Egypt. If this is done, the equally wild and fanatics' Sudanese troops will be sent against them. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84024827/1914-11-21/ed-1/seq-1/ https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/634957 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Obrazowa_historya_wojny_europejskiej_1916_(20693099).jpg
November 22, 2025 at 5:45 PM
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Bismarck Daily Tribune Nov 22 1914 Japan proposes entering the Triple Entente Alliance of France, Russia, and United Kingdom. The UK is proposing that Japan 500,000 Japanese soldiers be sent to the Western Front. Russia is against the soldiers and Japan joining the Entente
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Bismarck Daily Tribune Nov 22 1914 Japan proposes entering the Triple Entente Alliance of France, Russia, and United Kingdom. The UK is proposing that Japan 500,000 Japanese soldiers be sent to the Western Front. Russia is against the soldiers and Japan joining the Entente https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn85042242/1914-11-22/ed-1/?sp=1&r=-0.098,0.068,1.166,0.531,0
November 22, 2025 at 5:34 PM
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Nov 21 1917 Zeppelin LZ 104 (L-59) sets off from Bulgaria in an attempt to supply German forces fighting in their colony of German East Africa (GEA). Since the Airship couldn't be refueled in Africa it was planned that every part of the ship be cannibalized for use by Lettow-Vorbeck's GEA's military
November 22, 2025 at 5:15 PM
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This film clip, IWM NTB 274-1, is released #OTD Nov 22 1916. Shows an Australian mobile wireless station, with a horse-drawn generator, operating in Salonika, Greece.

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November 22, 2025 at 5:06 PM
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Le Petit Journal #OTD Nov 19 1916
Mitrailleuse roumaine dans un champ de maïs
Romanian machine gun in a cornfield

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Le Petit Journal #OTD Nov 19 1916 Mitrailleuse roumaine dans un champ de maïs Romanian machine gun in a cornfield https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k717236h/f5.item
November 19, 2025 at 6:40 PM
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Nov 9 1915 In the trench near Zornizcze, Austro-Hungarian photographers take these photos of BH IR. No.4. Colourized by Histoire de Couleurs

Typen des bh. IR N 4 im Schützengraben südwestl. von Zornizcze. Aufgenommen am 9 November 1915
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Nov 9 1915 In the trench near Zornizcze, Austro-Hungarian photographers take these photos of BH IR. No.4. Colourized by Histoire de Couleurs Typen des bh. IR.Nro.4 im Schützengraben südwestl. von Zornizcze. Aufgenommen am 9. November 1915. https://onb.wg.picturemaxx.com/?16756386081222671803 https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=793866560698159&set=a.696454460439370
November 16, 2025 at 9:37 PM
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Nov 19 1916 — Anglo-Indian Army defeats 6,000 Afghans; Aided by Aeroplanes, Drive Mohmands from the border post, Kill 100. Afghan raids were a thorn throughout #WWI culminating in the Third Anglo-Afghan War in 1919 nytimes.com/1916/11/19/a... bsky.app/profile/this...
Nov 19 1916 — Anglo-Indian Army defeats 6,000 Afghans; Aided by Aeroplanes, Drive Mohmands from the border post, Kill 100. Afghan raids were a thorn throughout #WWI culminating in the Third Anglo-Afghan War in 1919 https://nytimes.com/1916/11/19/archives/british-defeat-6000-afghan-tribesmen-aided-by-aeroplanes-they-drive.html
November 16, 2025 at 9:31 PM
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Nov 17 1918 #OTD At the La Rochelle aerodrome, US Signal Corps photographer Pvt. J.W. Morse takes this photo of a French Astra Torees (AT. 4) dirigible balloon.

November 17 1918-11-17
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astra-T... x.com/ThisDayInWWI...
Nov 17 1918 #OTD a US official photographer takes this photo, IWM Q 58520, of a French Astra Torees (AT. 4) dirigible balloon at the La Rochelle aerodrome. November 17 1918-11-17 https://iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205307712 National Archives Identifier: 55225194 Local Identifier: 111-SC-33022 https://catalog.archives.gov/id/55225194 National Archives Identifier: 55225188 Local Identifier: 111-SC-33019 https://catalog.archives.gov/id/55225188 Nov 17 1918 #OTD Signal Corps photographer Pvt. J.W. Morse takes this photo Astra-Torres AT-1 at an air show in 1911v
November 16, 2025 at 9:29 PM
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The Evening World #OTD Nov 16 1915 publishes this photo of the Imperial German Camel Corps in the colony of German East Africa. Germans hope it will defeat a 25,000 strong South African invasion force www.loc.gov/resource/sn8... bsky.app/profile/this...
The Evening World #OTD Nov 16 1915 publishes this photo of the Imperial German Camel Corps in the colony of German East Africa. Germans hope it will defeat a 25,000 strong South African invasion force https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn83030193/1915-11-16/ed-1/?sp=1&q=
November 16, 2025 at 9:26 PM
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Arizona Republican Nov 16 1914 prints this Willy Stöwer illustration showing the return of German U-Boar SM U-9, on return to Wilhelmshaven, Germany bsky.app/profile/this...
Arizona Republican Nov 16 1914 prints this Willy Stöwer illustration showing the return of German U-Boar SM U-9, on return to Wilhelmshaven, Germany https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn84020558/1914-11-16/ed-1/?sp=1 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:German_submarine_U-9,_on_return_Wilhelmshaven,_Germany,_Artwork_by_Willy_Stower,_1914_(30175417300).jpg
November 16, 2025 at 8:57 PM
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Nov 17 1914 #OTD Omaha Daily Bee publishes this photo of sinking of the dreadnought battleship HMS Audacious. She struck a mine 08:45 Oct 27 1914. British covered up the sinking and didn't admit the loss till Nov 14 1918 even though US press reported on it bsky.app/profile/this...
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%27Saving_the_Crew_of_%22Audacious%22%27;_as_she_sinks_after_striking_a_mine,_27_October_1914_RMG_PW1831.tiff Nov 17 1914 #OTD Omaha Daily Bee publishes this photo of sinking of the dreadnought battleship HMS Audacious. She struck a mine 08:45 Oct 27 1914. British covered up the sinking and didn't admit the loss till Nov 14 1918 even though US press reported on it NAID: 45511447 Local ID: 165-WW-328G-9 https://catalog.archives.gov/id/45511447 Nov 17 1914 #OTD Omaha Daily Bee publishes this photo of the sinking of the dreadnought battleship HMS Audacious. Passengers on the SS Olympic saw the sinking from their ship https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn99021999/1914-11-17/ed-1/seq-1/
November 16, 2025 at 8:39 PM
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William Rider-Rider photo (O-3339) w caption "Canadian Scot observing the movement" of Germans, Oct 1918. New-York Tribune #OTD Nov 17 1918 w caption "Warm work, and apparently a warm day. What wouldn't a boy give for that huge alarm rattle near his foot?" bsky.app/profile/this...
New-York Tribune #OTD Nov 17 1918 publishes this William Rider-Rider photo (O-3339 & Item ID: 3522294) that was originally taken with the caption, "A Canadian Scot observing the movement of the Germans. Advance East of Arras. October, 1918". The New-York Tribune captions the photo, "Warm work, and apparently a warm day. What wouldn't a boy give for that huge alarm rattle near his foot?" https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Home/Record?app=fonandcol&IdNumber=3522294&new=-8585644412918848245 New-York tribune November 17, 1918 https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn83030214/1918-11-17/ed-1/?sp=5&r=0.396,0.679,0.544,0.254,0
November 16, 2025 at 8:24 PM
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Harrisburg Telegraph #OTD Nov 17 1914 prints this incredible claim that the Austro-Hungarian Empire buried 40,000 of its dead in a mass grave 6 and a half feet (2m) wide and 4 miles (6.5 km) long with bodies stacked 3 deep bsky.app/profile/this...
Harrisburg Telegraph #OTD Nov 17 1914 prints this incredible claim that the Austro-Hungarian Empire buried 40,000 of its dead in a mass grave 6 and a half feet (2m) wide and 4 miles (6.5 km) long with bodies stacked 3 deep https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85038411/1914-11-17/ed-1/seq-1/
November 16, 2025 at 8:22 PM
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NZ Evening Post #OTD Nov 17 1914 reports that French have new strategy. They retreated from a village, luring hundreds of Germans into the village. Then the French set off the mines in the village, "Several battalions of the enemy are dead in the ruins."
FATAL ATTACK ON A VILLAGE (Received November 17, 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, 16th November. The Daily Telegraph`s correspondent mentions that a village in North France was attacked on both sides. The French General ordered a retreat The Germans, noticing this, hurriedly poured battalion after battalion into the (Village, whereupon an explosion shook the countryside, the French having mined the village. Several battalions of the enemy are dead in the ruins." https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19141117.2.53#image-tab
November 16, 2025 at 8:15 PM
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Tacoma Times Nov 17 1914 H. C. S. Heynemann found himself in France when war broke out. 1st arrested after trying to get fruit. In Germany arrested after police thought he was British spy. Back in France arrested a 3rd time but a childhood friend Miss Florence Lacase saw him and able to get released
The Tacoma Times Nov 17 1914 GIRL SAVES AMERICAN CONDEMNED AS SPY https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn88085187/1914-11-17/ed-1/?sp=1&r=0.427,0.17,0.622,0.283,0 SAN FRANCISCO, Cal., Nov. 17.-Thrice arrested as a spy and twice condemned to death, then rescued by a girl whom he married afterward are the thrilling adventures of H. C. S. Heynemann, architect to this city. "I was in Tarascon, a little town in France, when the present European war broke out," said Heynemann. "After the war begun supplies of food ran very low in this village and for three days I had nothing to eat. I saw some pears hanging in a tree near a railroad station and climbed up to get some of the fruit. A squad of soldiers discovered me, ordered me down, court-martialed me and ordered me shot on the spot. Fortunately as the firing squad was forming an officer of higher rank came along and examined my papers whereupon I was set free. "Later I was arrested in Germany as a British spy but managed to convince them that I was an American citizen. Getting back in France I was arrested for the third time and again sentenced to death. I persuaded the officials to send me to Paris where I was sure I could prove my identity. "While I was being marched through the streets of Paris I saw Miss Florence Lacase, with whom I used to go to school in California. We recognized each other and it was due to her efforts that I was released. "When I was freed I discovered that I loved the girl who had saved my life and we were married and returned to America."
November 16, 2025 at 8:09 PM