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 – THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 1918

The Third Liberty Loan begins this coming Saturday. The campaign will last until May 4^th. And the inmates at Eastern State Penitentiary are promising to do their bit in the big loan push. According to the Warden, “Fighting Bob” McKenty, his boys will surpass their totals in the two previous campaigns. The Warden pointed out that in the first campaign his 1400 “guests” donated $1,000.00 and in the second they reached $1,500.00 and this time he is sure they will top that.

The fair and bazaar for the benefit of the pension fund for the city’s firemen opened last night at the Moose Hall, 1314 North Broad Street. The fair will continue for the next 10 days. Two floors of the Hall are filled with booths offering all manner of gifts for sale. The items have been donated by Wanamaker’s, Lit Brothers, Snellenburg’s and Gimbel Brothers. The firemen’s band will be providing music each night. Please come out and support these brave men.

WAR NEWS 

American troops near Toul have been subjected to a sustained gas artillery attack over the last 24 hours. The gas was sometimes accompanied by high explosive shells. According to reports little damage has been done by the bombardment and few casualties are reported. In Picardy, the Germans are moving heavy artillery pieces into place in preparation for a new assault in their offensive. In Eastern Europe, German troops have landed in Finland to give support to the Finnish White Guards in their battle against the Soviet Bolsheviks. According to reports from Sweden, Tammerfors in Finland has been taken from the Bolsheviks by the White Guards.

Also in Eastern Europe, the devastation of Warsaw, Poland caused by the German army has made life there for adults almost unbearable. Its effect on children is even worst. But now a solution has been offered, the Germans are offering to buy the children of Warsaw. The German Governor General of the city has issued a proclamation offering Polish mothers 150 German marks for every boy and 100 marks for a girl. This information has reached America from Mme. Helena Paderewski, the wife of famed pianist and Polish patriot Ignacy Jan Paderewski (shown below). Mme. Paderewski also reports that 100,000 families have been driven out of Warsaw by the Germans and during the occupation 30,000 young men have been hanged throughout the country for refusing to enlist in the German army.

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