--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 20 number: 11 published: 1917-09 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations, \"Passing Events,\" *Improvement Era* 20, no. 11 (September 1917): 1033–1038." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera20011unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera20011unse start_page: 1033 end_page: 1038 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1917-09) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera20011unse publication_year: 1917 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1917, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Passing Events iHlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllj^ iiiiiiiiiiiiiii hiiiiniiiiirr PASSING BVXNTSl The diet of Finland, on July 19, declared a complete independence of that Grand Duchy from Russia. The German casualties for July were 89,863, including killed 21,389 be- sides prisonersand wounded. The total since the beginning of the war exceeds 4,500,000. A peace offer to the belligerent nations was promulgated by Pope Ben- edict from the Vatican Aug. 15. It is of German origin through Austria, and London papers consider its proposals impossible. Whiskey and distilled spirits for beverages will not be manufactured in the United States after 11 o'clock on ths night of September 8, the food control law passed September 10 so providing. The Entente Allies continued during August to make great gains in driving the Germans back on the Western front; and the Russians gave some hope of more strength in Galicia and the east, though the Germans gained much ground there. Prohibition in Utah went into effect on August 1, 1917. In Salt Lake City, during the month, the officers discovered and confiscated more than $10,000 worth of liquor that had been cached in and about the city. Prem- ises occupied by saloons were virtually all rented before the middle of the month, for other purposes. Frank Little, an I. W. W. leader, was taken from his boarding house at Butte, Montana, on the night of August, 1917, and hung to a railroad trestle by masked men. So far no clew has been obtained to the lynchers. It was stated that I. W. W.s from all parts of the west had centered in Salt Lake City to the number of 1,300, and that many had come from Butte after the lynching. German air raiders killed 23 persons, including nine women and six children, and injured 50 persons at Southend, in Essex, forty miles east of London. This air raid would have been much more serious if it had not been for the preparedness of the British defense. Before the Germans ar- rived the British machines were in waiting, and their excellent fire nulli- fied the offensive operations of the invaders to a great extent. Four tons of bombs were dropped on Venice Aug. 16. King Alexander of Greece took the oath of office on August 4, 1917, amidst great pomp and ceremony, in the city of Athens. The king rode in a carriage drawn by four horses and preceded by a troop of soldiers to the hall of the chamber of deputies, the streets being lined with cheering citi- zens. The oath was taken upon a Bible handed him by the officiating bishop of the Greek church, and when this ceremony was concluded the people shouted: "Long live Alexander," "Long live the constitution," "Long live Venizelos." The king then read the speech from the throne on the future attitude of Greece towards the belligerent powers. John A. Helstrom, born in Sweden, on the 22nd of March, 1853, died at hishome in Salt Lake City, July 23, 1917. John Helstrom worked as a bookkeeper in the Z. C. M. I. for the past ten or fifteen years. He came to Utah about fifty-five years ago, and in 1890-1-2 visited his native land and IMPROVEMENT ERA Scandinavia on a mission, spending the most of the time in the office at Copenhagen as translator and writer, under the direction of Edward H. Anderson, then president of the mission. He was a faithful, painstaking man, true to the Church and the work of the Lord. He was married, and six children and his wife mourn his passing to a better world. The Sunday School Red Cross Fund of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to an official report published in the Juvenile Instructor for August, amounted to $9,565.36. Sunday, July 1, was des- ignated as the day upon which all Sunday School officers, teachers, and members might have the privilege of contributing to the worthy cause of the Red Cross. The result was the handsome amount named. The largest amount, $387.79, came from Granite stake, which has a Sunday School population of 5,337, but Woodruff stake with a school population of 2,002 contributed $357.50. Sixty-nine stakes out of seventy-three forwarded con- tributions. China became a monarchy on the 1st of July and a few days later again became a republic. A governor of one of the northern provinces surprised Peking by seizing the palace of the president and declaring himself dic- tator and announcing that Hsuan Tung, the boy emperor, was restored to the imperial throne. President Li Yuan-Hung refused to resign his office, and took refuge in the Japanese embassy. Two or three days later the repub- lican army surrounded Peking and assisted by the vessels of the Chinese navy, which remained loyal to the republic, overthrew the monarchy and re- established the president of the republic. On August 14 China declared war on Germany and Austro-Hungary, the 17th nation against the Central Powers. — A "Flame-throwing" Attach. The latest diabolical warfare to be intro- duced was originated by the Germans. It is called the flammenwerfer, or flame-thrower, and instead of spreading gas it actually throws flames. Thin remarkable photograph shows the French troops making a rushing attack Copyright by Underwood & Underwood, N.Y. The Flame-thrower PASSING EVENTS 1035 with the flame-throwers. The air is filled with smoke and flames, which is deadly to the foe. The weapon was first brought out by the Germans. The Allies perfected the machine, and used it on the enemy with great success. The Germans did not like their own medicine. The latest destroyer of life looks somewhat like a fire-extinguisher, while an extension that is held in the hands throws the flames. Premier LloydGeorge and His Daughter's Wedding Group.— Miss Olwen E. Lloyd George, was wed to Captain Carey Evans of the British Army at a simple ceremony which took place at the Welsh Baptist Chapel, London. The premier, Mrs. Lloyd George and many prominent personages were present. Owing to the war there was no bridal procession or elaborate dis- play. Nevertheless, a great crowd gathered about the chapel and gave hearty greeting to bride and groom. Miss Lloyd George was showered with bo- Copyright by Underwood & Underwood, N.Y. quets by many girls and ladies. The photograph was taken after the wedding and shows bride, bridegroom, the prime minister, and Mrs. Lloyd George and others in the party. They are, kneeling, Miss Gwendy Armstrong Jones, and Miss Megan Lloyd George, flower-girls. Premier Lloyd George is seated second from the left, and Mrs. Lloyd George, second from right; Captain and Mrs. Carey Evans, the bride and groom, are shown standing in center of the group. To the right is Major Richard Lloyd George, eldest son of the premier. The National Guard of Utah, consisting of about 1500 men, wenl mil of state control on Sunday, August 5, and were mustered into the service of the United States, becoming a part of the regular army. The units of the Guard reported at 10 o'clock, at Logan, Ogden, Salt Lake and Provo, and in a short time were transferred to the regular service. The unit that gathered in Salt Lake City met in the Orpheum theatre for chapel services. Col. IMPROVEMENT ERA R. W. Young, regimental commander, complimented the men on their prompt appearance at the armory and introduced Chaplain B. H. Roberts, who made a strong appeal to the young men to guard their morals and abstain from intemperance and unchastity. He added: "These are the two great evils which hasten the decline of nations. If you stand true and square in regard to them you will establish a reputation of which Utah will be proud and of which the nation will take note. This is the day you have given proof of your love and devotion to your country. Make it also one of resolve to keep your thoughts and language always pure." On Tuesday, Aug. 14, the new soldier boys of the Beehive State concentrated at Fort Doug- las, for further training, where they will remain until the command moves early in September to the cantonment at Linda Vista, Cal. In the meantime the drafting for the selective army continued, beginning Aug. 5. "Tommy" and "Sam- my" Guard International Bridge, Niagara Falls.— A British and an Amer- ican soldier guarding the International Bridge at the boundary line be- tween the United States and Canada. The bridge crosses at Niagara Falls. The two guards are al- ways on duty guarding their side of the bridge to prevent any malevo- lent persons from com- mitting acts of destruction and violence. The pho- to was taken recently. The picture gives an op- portunity to note the dif- ference between the Brit- ish and American uni- forms. It said the is American soldier objects to being called "Sammy." Crop .conditions in the Corn Belt States are the best in history, for the year 1917. The ex- ceptionally fine corn weather, during the latter part of the spring months and the early summer has practically assured the entire Corn Belt of the most extraordinary and largest yield of corn as well as other small grain Photo by Underwood & Underwood, N.Y. in the history of the dis- trict The Union Stock vlards i r f r* u r u „ - Lo., ot Omaha, informs the Era that statistics show that the corn crop of Nebraska and neighboring states is fully 30 per cent greater than normal; and the practically assured record-breaking crop of corn will cause livestock feeders in Nebraska, Iowa, Northern Missouri, and other PASSING EVENTS 1037 nearby states to scramble for cattle and sheep to fill their lots this fall. The outlook is that there will not be anywhere near enough stock to fill the lots of the intending feeders. In connection with the marketing of range stock it is suggested that with the good grass prevailing practically in all localities in the range territory, there should be no necessity for marketing stock in great bunches as has been done in some former years, as uniformity in prices will best be maintained when marketing is dis- tributed over the entire range season. The Quartermaster's Corps of the National Guard of Utah, the first unit of the Utah organization to leave home and to be called into active service, left Utah on August 10 for the United States army concentration camp, at Petersburg, Va. Major H. M. H. Lund warned the soldiers against gambling, the use of liquor, and other evils which are so apt to tempt the soldier away from home. He concluded: "Utah wishes you God speed, and a safe re- turn without a mark against the good name of the corps." When the Utah National Guard, in company with the guard of other states, passed out ol state control on Sunday, August 5, 1917, into the service of the United States, the quartermaster's corps of the guard received orders from Washing- ton to proceed at once to Petersburg, Va., for intensive training. The corps numbers nineteen men and has been in training twenty-one days a month for some time, and are therefore considered in very good shape for service. The Belgium Commission to the United States, headed by Baron Ludvig Moncheur, visited Ogden and Salt Lake City in Utah on the 17th of July on their 12,000 mile tour of the United States. The commission was feted by civil and military authorities in Salt Lake City at a banquet at Hotel Utah, and witnessed a review at Fort Douglas. At Fort Douglas 7,000 specta- tors looked on and cheered while the visitors were escorted through the fort and witnessed the review of a regiment of American soldiers. They remained in Salt Lake City six hours. At the banquet in Hotel Utah, Baron Moncheur said, referring to the reclamation of their stricken kingdom, that the Bel- gian people will be sustained by the example and the ideals of the Pio- neers of Utah, by whose achievements the barren wastes of this intermoun- tain country were changed into the present state of flowering Utah. He said, concerning the Pioneers of this land: "We wished to come here to renew our courage by the sight of the wonderful results which have been accomplished here through the brave — work and the force of character of your early settlers those brave men who blazed the trail of immigration into this country, then an arid desert, and who went, as it were, into voluntary exile for the sole object of preserving the principles of their belief and their religion. These men transformed the waste places into a garden, and formed this state of which the agricul- tural prosperity and the industrial activity are for us objects of wonder and emulation. The citizens of my beloved country will be inspired by this same courage, by this same ardor, in the reconstruction of Belgium, whose riches and whose resources have been almost annihilated by our enemies." The fourth year of the great war opened with statements by the vari- ous nations as to their position, and considerable peace talk. The great war entered upon its fourth year with peace no more discernible to care- ful observers than when the first shots were fired. The war lord of Germany said that the thoughts of the German people were to "stand resolute in the determination to prosecute this righteous Avar of defense to a successful termination." He then told his soldiers, "We are invincible, we shall be victorious. The Lord God will be with us." German peace hints are now generally prefaced with assertions that the Teuton armies in Belgium and Roumania are fighting a defensive war. At first they fought for "a place in the sun." IMPROVEMENT ERA Austria seems ready for an honorable peace, whatever that may mean. Russian desire for peace and Russian military weakness have played a large part in German peace proposals. Notwithstanding the great losses in Galicia during July, by the Russians, and the withdrawing of their armies, pursued by the Germans, a reassuring message comes from Russia in mid- dle August, announcing that under the rule of the new regime, with Ker- ensky as supreme director, the army will continue with renewed courage the great work of restoration, as well as the preparation of war for the coming campaign. Premier Ribot of France said, "Until the people with whom we are at war finally awaken and free themselves from the detestable regime that oppresses them nothing will stop the allies in their efforts that will bring back peace to the world by the triumph of their arms." Lloyd George stated that he saw in the new German chancellor's speech (Michaelis) "a sham independence for Belgium, a sham democracy for Ger- many, a sham peace for Europe," and declared that "Europe has not sacri- ficed millions of her gallant sons to set up a sanctuary for sham." Mr. Balfour expressed the idea in Parliament that the peace of Europe could not be secured until Germany was "either powerless or free." As to the aims of America in this war and the American determination to see it through, no clearer statement has been made than was expressed in the speech made by Secretary of State Lansing at Madison Barracks, New York, on July 29. From his speech the following is quoted: "A great people, ruled in thought and word as well as in deed by the most sinister government in modern times, are straining every nerve to supplant democracy by the autocracy which they have been taught to wor- ship. When will the German people awaken to the truth? When will they arise in their might and cast off the yoke and become their own masters? I fear that it will not be until the physical might of the united democracies of the world have destroyed forever the evil ambitions of the military rulers of Germany and liberty triumphs over its arch-enemy. * * *This is no war to establish an abstract principle of right. It is a war in which the future of the United States is at stake. If any among you have the idea that we are fighting others' battles and not our own, the sooner he gets away from that idea the better it will be for him, the better it will be for all of us. Imagine Germany victor in Europe because the United States remained neutral. Who, then, think you, would be the next victim of those who are seeking to be masters of the whole earth? Would not this country with its enormous wealth arouse the cupidity of an impoverished, though triumph- ant, Germany? * * * Do you think that they would withhold their hand from so rich a prize? Let me then ask you, would it be easier or wiser for this country single-handed to resist a German empire flushed with vic- tory and with great armies and navies at its command than to unite with the brave enemies of that empire in ending now and for all time this menace to our future? Primarily, then, every man who crosses the ocean to fight on foreign soil against the armies of the German emperor goes forth to fight for his country and for the preservation of those things for which our fore- fathers were willing to die." Paris was raided for the first time in a year and a half, on July 28, by German aircraft. Only two bombs were dropped, and they did little dam- age. Venice also received several tons of bombs one day in early August. The Food Control bill was passed by the senate on July 21. It provides for a board of three to direct the distribution of the food supply of the United States, and also for a large congressional committee to advise the executive officials on war expenditures. On the same day the senate passed a bill appropriating $640,000,000 for a great fleet, and the President signed it on July 23.