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 JUNE 3, 1918

There will be clear skies today and the warm temperatures will continue. The high will not reach the 90 degree mark like yesterday but will still be a warm 85° with a low of 73°.

Down at Camp Dix in Wrightstown, New Jersey 364 alien soldiers have taken the oath of citizenship. The men chose not only to obey the laws of the United States but also swore to live moral upstanding lives and make their comrades in arms proud of them. The group was mostly composed of Italians but also included 5 Germans, 1 Spaniard, 1 Portuguese and 5 men born in the Ottoman Empire.

News has reached the city of the death of another Philadelphia man. John McIntyre, 809 East Harper Street in Kensington, has been killed in action. Private McIntyre was born in Ireland and came to America a few years ago. He enlisted in the signal corps last July. A second Philadelphia soldier, Private Louis J. Goldman of 3612 North 5th Street, is reported missing in action.

John McIntyre

On the international social scene, from England comes the news that Jennie Jerome of Brooklyn, New York has married. Miss Jerome is better known as Lady Randolph Churchill and is the mother of Mr. Winston Churchill former First Lord of the Admiralty and presently Minister of Munitions. The groom is Mr. Montagu Phippen Porch a member of the British Civil Service. This is Lady Churchill’s third marriage. Her husband Lord Randolph died in 1895. She divorced her 2nd husband, George Cornwallis-West, in 1914. Interestingly, Mr. Porch is 3 years younger than her son Winston.

Lady Randolph Churchill

Also in international news, The American Ambassador to Spain, Colonel Joseph Willard, has become afflicted with the mysterious malady which is sweeping through that country. The disease resembles the flu or the grip but its effect has proven to be much worse. Over 40% of Spaniards have reportedly caught the disease. King Alfonso had previously been struck down with the illness but reportedly his condition is improving.

WAR NEWS 

Germany has brought the war to our doorstep. At least 7 American ships have been sunk by German U-boats between 150 and 75 miles off the coast of New Jersey. All the attacks took place within the last 24 hours. Reportedly 2 tank steamers were sunk off Sandy Hook at about 8:00pm last evening. Two schooners, the Edward Cole and the Jacob Haskell, are also reported sunk while a third, the Philadelphia owned Isabelle Wiley, was attacked. Also attacked was the steamship Carolina which was carrying 220 passengers from Puerto Rico to Boston. The fate of the Carolina is unknown. The Port of Philadelphia had been ordered closed late last night but was reopened this afternoon. The Port of New York remains closed.

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