This is the 53rd installment of my Lowell in World War One series which commemorates the centennial of the entry of the United States into World War One. Here are the headlines from one hundred years ago for the past two weeks:

April 29, 1918 – Monday – Germans launch general assault on the British positions on Kemmel front southwest of Ypres. Crucial test of Allied holding power at hand. Need more men to fill gaps. Formal announcement that American troops have taken part in big battle. The French army awarded its war cross to 122 soldiers from Massachusetts who are members of the 104th Infantry regiment for heroism during a recent German attack. Lowell sends more men to Camp Devens. First quota of second draft left today with total of 157 men.

April 20, 1918 – Tuesday – .Great Allied victory. Allies make stand and halt Germans. Wave after wave of attacking forces mowed down by Allied artillery and infantry fire. Mass meeting at armory. A number of prominent speakers will address the crowd expected to gather at the State Armory tonight at 730 pm. Their topic will be “The moral aims of the war.”

May 1, 1918 – Wednesday – Lull all along the battle front. Huns reform battered forces and bring up reserves to hurl against granite allied forces. Stunned by severe punishment inflicted by Allies the Germans abandon attempts to advance in Flanders. New peace offer by the Pope. Pope Benedict intends to issue a new peace offer on Whitsunday (May 19) Cologne newspapers announced. The document will be of a more pressing nature than formerly and will contain concrete offers of mediation by the pope. Yankees win air battle. German airplane downed after lively duel over Toul sector. Captain Norman Hall and Lt Edward Rickenbacher return from battle unscathed. Woolen unions form woolen council. Delegates from the various woolen unions met at 32 Middle street last evening and formed what will be known as a Woolen council. All delegates seemed enthusiastic about the prospects of such an organization. Lowell boys qualify as second lieutenants. Three more Lowell boys have qualified at the third series of officer training camps. They are Harry Pilkington of 21 Otis street, William MacLeod of 44 Swan avenue, and James Hogan of 61 Agawam street.

May 2, 1918 – Thursday – Germans prepare for renewal of drive on the Somme battle front. Enemy artillery active around Amiens. Lull continues in Flanders. Germans set up military rule in Kiev. Eleven Americans killed in action. Convention to discuss moral aims of war. Convention to discuss moral aims of war. President A. Lawrence Lowell of Harvard university was the principal speaker at the opening session of a convention held in Lowell to discuss the moral aims of the war. The first meeting was a luncheon at Memorial Hall. Other meetings and talks will take place tonight and throughout the day tomorrow. To restore fishways at Lowell and Lawrence. The commissioners of fisheries and game announced today that they would require mill owners to restore fishways at the river dams at Lowell and Lawrence. Without these fishways, efforts to reintroduce Pacific salmon (Chinook) into coastal waters will not be successful. The Lowell Fish and Game Association received a shipment of 17,000 rainbow trout from the United States fish hatchery at Nashua this morning. The fish were placed in Beaver brook, Forge pond, Long-Sought-For, Spectacle, and Burgess ponds.

May 3, 1918 – Friday –  French launch attack and hurl Germans back. General Petain’s forces deliver telling blow near Amiens. While new German stroke is delayed, French take initiative. New England men in casualty list. 88 names on today’s list. 27 deaths. New England hit hard. Lowell man awarded gold medal. John Stevens of Lowell was presented with the gold medal of the national association of cotton manufacturers today. The medal is awarded annually to the individual who contributes most to the advancement of the cotton industry during the year.