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 – WEDNESDAY APRIL 10, 1918
Philadelphians thought they had finally escaped the grip of winter but we were wrong. Overnight and this morning snow came again and the weatherman says it will continue today and into tomorrow. The snow will be mixed with freezing rain and ice and although not much accumulation is expected here in western parts of the state over 8 inches have fallen so far. Today’s high will only reach 40° while the low will be about 33°.
The saloonkeepers of this city do not intend to pass on to their customers the $2.00 per barrel tax recently imposed on beer. However, most saloonkeepers did say they will begin serving beer in smaller glasses. But the price per glass will not be raised. The retailers say they will absorb the extra costs themselves.
Women will be hired to work at the airplane factory at the League Island Navy Yard. Secretary of the Navy Daniels has approved a plan to hire women and to pay them the same salary as men. The decision was made after being assured that women were performing mechanical operations at airplane factories in Britain and doing just as good a job as men. A second reason for the decision is the Navy does not want to hire men of draft age unless absolutely necessary.
In sports, the Penn Relay Carnival is on April 26 and 27 and as of today 391 teams are set to compete. The Philadelphia Parochial grade schools sending teams are: St. Malachy; St. Joachim; St. Ludwig; St. Ignatius; St. Peter; Holy Angels; Epiphany; St. Teresa; St. Columba; Annunciation; Most Blessed Sacrament; Transfiguration; Assumption; St. Gregory; Our Lady of Mercy and St. Gabriel’s.
WAR NEWS
The War Department today published the American casualty list covering April 3 to April 6. The list contains 447 names in total. Eighteen men were killed in action, eighteen died from injury or disease, over three hundred were wounded and twenty were taken prisoner. The home towns and addresses of the men were not released.
On the western front, the German army is attempting to split the British line in Flanders opening a route to the channel ports. The British positions near the Ypres-Comines Canal are suffering under major bombardment. However, further south the British have recaptured Givenchy which was lost earlier in the offensive. On the southeastern end of the battlefront, the French are offering stiff resistance east of Noyon and south of the Oise River.
GET YOUR COPY BY CLICKING HERE: PHILADELPHIA: THE WORLD WAR I YEARS