On this page we will look back at life in the city during the war years. Here we will provide the visitor with the stories making the news, what was happening in sports and entertainment, city politics, the social scene and the prominent people at the time. So, check back often for new editions. To share your family or neighborhood stories, please email PhillyWWIyears@gmail.com

TODAY IN PHILADELPHIA – MONDAY JULY 15, 1918

There will be clear and fair skies today with moderate breezes from the west. It will be warm with the high temperature reaching 89° and the low tonight about 62°. Every evening over the next two weeks open-air motion pictures will be shown at parks and recreation centers around the city. The films have been made in the effort to stop the spread of tuberculosis. The films will be accompanied by lectures from members of the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Tuberculosis. Tonight’s film will be shown at Disston Playground in Tacony at Longshore & Dittman Streets.

All this week at the City Hall courtyard war-cookery demonstrations will be given by Miss Margaret Potts of the State College Department of Home Economics. This week’s classes will demonstrate the use of wheat substitutes and canning with and without sugar. A patriotic luncheon will be prepared including Scotch soup, barley biscuit, blackberry plummery and Scotch oat crackers.

On the sports scene, the weekend saw a lot of action in the amateur baseball leagues of the area. The standings of the Delaware River Ship League have Chester Shipyard in first place by 2 games over Hog Island. Next comes New York Shipbuilding, Harlan & Hollingsworth, Merchant Ship, Sun Shipbuilding then Pusey & Jones with Traylor Shipbuilding in last place. The Montgomery County League has Doylestown in first by 1 game over Souderton followed by Ambler, Fort Washington and Glenside.

The casualty list today from General Pershing’s headquarters contains 60 names. Fourteen are listed as killed in action, seven as died from wounds, seven died from disease, one died from accident, twenty-eight are listed as severely wounded and three as missing. Three Philadelphia men are listed as killed in action or as having died from wounds. They are Sergeant Clement C. Kite, U.S.M.C., of 7426 Boyer Street in Germantown, Private Tony Cimino, U.S.A., of 401 West Mt. Pleasant Avenue and Private Reuben O’Farrell Wright, U.S.A., of 5436 Market Street is listed as dying from wounds. Lieutenant Edward H. Wigton of Wissahickon Avenue & School Lane and Lieutenant Orlando H. Petty of 6215 Ridge Avenue are both listed as severely wounded. Two other Philadelphians previously reported as missing, Charles W. Preston of Wynnewood and William J. Wright of Chestnut Hill are now known to be prisoners of war.

WAR NEWS

The Republic of Haiti has joined the Allies in the fight against tyranny. Today in Port au Prince the Council of State unanimously voted for a declaration of war against Germany. Haiti is now the 22nd country to declare war on Germany.

On the Western Front the Germans have launched a massive assault across the Marne. The main attack is between Dormand and Rheims which encompasses about 25 miles. Crossings are also reported near American positions around Chateau-Thierry. At present French and American forces are holding their lines but German advances have been admitted and some villages have been captured.

[EDITOR’S NOTE: This offensive would become known as the Second Battle of the Marne. Germany would send 23 divisions against French and American positions from July 15 through August 6. The German hope was that British and French troops from Flanders would be sent to support the troops in the south allowing the German army in the north to sweep through and gain a decisive victory over the British Expeditionary Force. The plan failed as French and American troops held their lines. When it was over American causalities were 12,000 dead or wounded. The French suffered over 95,000 dead or wounded and the German estimated losses were over 168,000 killed or wounded and 28,367 taken prisoner.]

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