The Great War – Some Where – 7 April 1918

Wartime Wednesday

By Don Taylor

New York Times – April 7, 1918

One of the interesting images from the New York Times of 7 April 1918 is an image of Lady Drogheda. Her 1918 flight over London, dropping leaflets urged people to buy British War Bonds, is reminiscent of Donna flying over Revere Beach three years earlier dropping banners and tickets for the movie she was in. (See Donna Montran Biplane Flights – 1915 for details). Apparently, this mode of advertising was quite the thing in the day. Of course, I can’t imagine anyone doing it today as it would be viewed upon as littering. Times have changed so much over the past 100 years.

Another fascinating image of the period is one showing English Girls, playing baseball at a Y.M.C.A. Hut, in England. American Sailors are looking on to help and British Soldiers are watching from the background. I wonder if the women had ever seen a Baseball game before. Although baseball was introduced in England in 1890, it fell into low attendance during subsequent years and then dissolved altogether in 1898. American baseball wouldn’t return to England until in the 1930s.

(Western Newspaper Union.)
New York Times – April 7, 1918

When the Great War began, the Y.M.C.A. launches a program of morale and welfare services that served 90% of the American military forces in Europe. It was an amazing organization and aided the servicemen of the Great War so much.

I too remember the Armed Forces Y.M.C.A. being an important part of my military life. When I was stationed at Treasure Island, in San Francisco, I would take the bus into The City. From the bus station, I would walk down to the Armed Forces YMCA, which was only a few blocks away.  There, I played table tennis and met the girls at the occasional dance. It was a great place to hang out and a pleasant respite for the homesick sailors. Thank you to all of the volunteers at Y.M.C.A. facilities that have brought joy, happiness, and play into the lives of so many soldiers, sailors, and marines. Well done.When the Great War began, the Y.M.C.A. launches a program of morale and welfare services that served 90% of the American military forces in Europe. It was an amazing organization and aided the servicemen of the Great War so much.

This week, I continue with images from the New York Times. This time, they are not from “over here” nor from “over there,” but rather, they are from “somewhere” else — in this case from England. An image of the entire page in context is available from The New York Times pages on Newspapers.com.  My images for this date are here.