City Schools Are Closed by Grip Fighters

• Public schools will be closed today by order of Davis, after he met with his bureau heads, Davidson, and Burns yesterday; students and teachers will assemble this morning to receive instruction in personal hygiene and flu prevention• The closing order, quoted at length by the Gazette-Times, provides the following rationale: “The closest possible analysis was made of the best figures obtainable in reference to conditions in the schools. There has been a very great increase in the number of absentees in the last two days….It is reasonable to expect that this absenteeism will increase until the feeling of fear has grown less. Under these circumstances, it is not possible to maintain through the schools the medical supervision that would have been possible had the attendance remained standard. This removes the only reason for keeping the schools open…”; in the order, Davis also issued instructions to keep children off street cars, to keep them off the streets and inside their own homes, and to prevent their gathering in groups for play or other purposes• Closing orders to be issued to parochial and private schools as well• Davis and advisory committee met to discuss the question of general inoculation, but did not come to a conclusion; Woods issued a statement that announced continued efforts to produce serum, but offered a disclaimer regarding its unproven efficacy; Dr. Jones advised that all Red Cross volunteers be offered the inoculation• Millvale schools closed; Millvale, Sharpsburg, and other local towns take measures to create emergency hospitals• Lieut. Donald G. Trow died of influenza, first death among S.A.T.C. instructors at Carnegie Tech and U. of Pitt. • Army medical corps, under Gen. Day, increased by arrival of 3 new officersNewspaper Article1,