The Punitive Expedtion: The withdrawal commences. January 27, 1917.

U.S. forces begin their withdrawal from Mexico., thereby starting the process of leaving the country that they first entered in March, 1916.

While I've already commented on the decision to withdraw in an earlier post, and while it doesn't square with the general commentary regarding the U.S. decision to withdraw, positing this in Century Delayed Real Time has made me wonder what the sense of the event was in 1917.  Perhaps the rising specter of American involvement in the Great War greatly overshadowed to the extent it was largely consumed by that, but the news of the past week, with American National Guardsmen engaging Constitutionalist troops in combat on the border (and as we will see, the Utah National Guard actually crossing into Mexico, as well as upcoming events in the next few days, give this story a real Fall of Saigon retrospective feel to it.  It really has the aura, looking back, of collapse.  But perhaps not at the time?

Friday Farming: Army Ranger to rancher: Reinventing ranching with Wagyu beef

Army Ranger to rancher: Reinventing ranching with Wagyu beef

Beacon Street house being demolished, Boston, January 27, 1917.

Note the wood being scavenged.

Firewood location, City of Boston, 1917

On this day, in 1917, in Boston.

Firewood in Boston. . . something that wouldn't be a daily occurrence now.

Scenes of Child Labor in Boston, 1917.

Very young newsie.

On this day, in 1917.

Street vendor

 

Selling oranges

  Selling celery

 Selling balloons.

Selling bananas.

Selling firewood.

Selling fruit.

Collecting bags to be mended.

Selling lemons

Selling lemons.

Selling lemons.

Selling lemons.

Utah National Guard clashes with Mexican forces on Arizona border. January 26, 1917

Cavalrymen from the Utah National Guard skirmished with Mexican forces along the Arizona border, resulting in ten Mexican casualties. This was the third, and last, skirmish that the Utah National Guard would engage in during the Punitive Expedition.

This unit would have been the 2nd Utah Cavalry, which remained on the border until March when relieved by the Regular Army's 10th Cavalry.

Note:  An item posted on Reddit's 100 Years Ago subreddit from the New York Times reports that this incident started off with cowboys trying to drive cattle away from the border at which time they were fired upon by "Mexican Troopers".

It's unclear in whose service the troopers were, but this gives a new dimension to the story.

San Francisco cracks down on prostitution

San Francisco cracked down on prostitution in the city with the result that about 200 houses of prostitution were closed on this day in 1917.

The White Star liner Laurentic sunk by mines

White Star's SS Laurentic struck two mines on this date in 1917 and sunk off the coast of Ireland.  The mines had been placed in that location by a German mine laying submarine. The Laurentic was on her way to the UK from Halifax.

She had not originally been scheduled to be in that area but had stopped at a British naval base in Ireland to disembark four passengers with symptoms of yellow fever.  354 passengers lost their lives in the sinking.  121 survived.  Bodies washed up on shore for weeks.

The teenage dress makers, January 25, 1917

Marie Vancanvenberg, age 15.

Angelina Guinzali, 15.

Teenage labor in the bed spring factory. January 25, 1917.

USS Mississippi launched, January 25, 1917

The USS Mississippi was launched at Newport News on this date in 1917.

 Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels and others.

Sponsor Camille McBeath, who was a local girl chosen to perform the honor of breaking the bottle of wine on the hull.  This ship was unusually subject to a controversy on whether to use wine or water, given Virginia's recent enactment of prohibition. The choice was at one time left up to Miss McBeath who wisely deferred to Newport News, who had built the ship.

She would serve until February, 1956.

The Office Girls

Seems shocking.  A girl employed as a typist at age 15.  The LOC title reports: Ethel Selansky, 15 years old. Typist for Standard Neckwear Co., 91 Essex Street. Location: Boston, Massachusetts / Lewis W. Hine.  This photo dates from January 24, 1917.

As shocking, I suppose, as this is, my own mother was pulled out of school at age 16 to work in a similar role due to the Great Depression.

 Malvina Amundsen, age 15.  Office girl for Eastern Talking Machine Co.

Mary Creed, store clerk. Age 14.

All from January 24, 1917.

The Delivery Boys

 Small boy, big bucket.  Delivery scenes from this day, in 1917, in Boston.

Frank Hastings, 14 years old.

Louis A. Caulfield, age 16, typewriter.

 Delivery boys hitching a ride.

The Wyoming Tribue for January 23, 1917: Villa Ready To Regain Territory

While the other Cheyenne and the Casper papers were silent on this topic, at least on the first page, the Wyoming Tribune was sounding the alarm about the impact of American withdrawal from Mexico.

The weather and speeding were also in the news. And a cartoon complained about the price of the Danish West Indes.

The Child Newsies

Morrison Foster, 12 years old.

Boston newsies, four of whom were under 11 years of age when this photo was taken.

Newsie, age 11.

January 23, 1917.

U.S. House of Representatives House Rules Committee standing on the steps of the Customs House in New York City.

On this date, in 1917.

The Messengers

G. Leary, age 14.  $5.00 per week wages, $2.50 per week tips.

 Edward Williams, $5.00 a week.  No uniform.  Note the classic working man's newsboy cap.

Joseph Amico, 14 years old, $5.00 per week, deliverer of shoes.

January 23, 1917.