STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS il I I i i will: H:iiiiOWJi aass_=iJfoj4iJ. Book - £)T£- CoppgMI?- COfMRICSHT DEFOSIE Stories of the Great War for Public Speakers BY WILL H. BROWN Author of "The Call of Service, " "The Legacy of the Golden Key, "The Sex Life of Boys and Young Men, " "Illustrative Incidents for Public Speakers, " " Wit and Humor for Public Speakers, " "Poems of Pep and Point for Public Speakers, " "Patriotic Illustrations for Public Speakers, " Etc. CINCINNATI THE STANDARD PUBLISHING COMPANY Copyright, 1919 The Standard Publishmg Company ^'d^-/- ©CI AS 29448 \ DEDICATION To Every Home Where Service Stars voere Seen during the Great World War; to Every Loyal Son of Uncle Sam Who Donned the Uniform of His Country in Defense of the Right Against the Wrong, for the Protection of the Weak Against the Strong. CONTENTS INTRODUCTION PAGE The Great World War; Its Beginnings; Germany Was Eeady; Opposition to Be Crushed; Belgium Blocks the Way; Sinking of the "Lusitania"; ''Hands Across the Sea ; ' ' Declarations of War ; Diplomatic Relations Severed ; Submarines and Aeroplanes ; Awful Sacrifice of Life; When Thrones Crumbled; Another "Scrap of Paper"; Unparalleled Naval Spectacle; America's Part in the War; Truth Stranger than Fiction 7 CLASSIFIED STORIES SUBJECT PAGE Achievement 25 Activity 27 America 28 Appreciation 31 Autocracy 39 Brothers 40 Brotherhood 44 Camouflage 47 Character 51 Cheerfulness 59 Childhood 62 Coincidence 62 Comradeship 71 Confidence 73 Contrast 74 Co-operation 78 Courage 88 SUBJECT PAGE Cowardice 106 Cruelties 107 Dependents 115 Disappointment 116 Disease 117 Duty 120 Economy 121 Efficiency 123 Egotism 133 Emblems 134 Equipment 136 Failure 142 Faith 144 Faithfulness 145 Fate 147 Friendship 151 Greed 154 6 CONTENTS SUBJECT PAGE Helpfulness 156 Home Ties 158 Honor 162 Hospitality 164 Humiliation 166 Ignorance 171 Industry 172 Influence 174 Initiative 175 Kindness 177 Letters 180 Loyalty 182 Mistaken 188 Mother 189 Music 191 Names 195 Negroes 197 Optimism 198 Patriotism 199 Perseverance 201 Personal 213 Precaution 217 SUBJECT , PAGE Preference 218 Preparation 219 Prisoners 221 Progress 222 Propaganda 226 Protection 228 Punishment 230 Eeligion 232 Remembrance 242 Reminders 244 Sacrifice 247 Service 253 Slackers 263 Strategy 268 Sympathy 271 System 275 Temperance 276 Thoughtfulness 279 Treachery 281 Unselfishness 285 Victory 287 Cross-referencea 291 INTRODUCTION THE GREAT WORLD WAR. ITS BEGINNING. On June 28, 1914, Gabreel Principe, a Serbian student, eighteen years of age, assassinated Areliduke Francis Ferdinand, Austrian heir apparent, and his wife, in the city of Sarajevo, Bosnia. The assassin was seized by the Austrian authorities and deported to the fortress of Theresienstadt, near Prague, Bohemia, nearly five hundred miles from the scene of his crime. Here he died of tuberculosis, April 29, 1918. Immediately following the assassination, Austria, openly sup* ported by Germany, and in spite of the efforts of the great leaders in England, France and Russia, sent an ultimatum to Serbia, making certain demands, all of which were complied with but one. This was so humiliating as to be beyond the possibility of acceptance by any self-respecting nation. Austria claimed that Serbian subjects were parties in a plot which resulted in the murder of the Archduke and Duchess, and demanded that the suspected conspirators be punished. To this Serbia promptly agreed, if, after investigation, any of her sub- jects were found guilty. As though determined to bring on a conflict, Austria then added the insulting insinuation that the Serbian courts could not be trusted to try the suspects, and demanded the privilege of sending Austrian judges to officiate with the Serbian judges at the trial of those accused of conspiracy. Naturally, Serbia refused to submit to such humiliating sacrifice of national right and dignity, and thereupon Austria declared war. This was on July 28, 1914. 7 8 INTRODUCTION The fact that Germany encouraged every action taken by Austria, and within a week thereafter declared war on Eussia, France and Belgium, compelled unprejudiced persons to believe that Germany was instrumental in bringing on the war for which she had been preparing for many years, as later developed. In fact, the belief was strong in the minds of many that the murder of the Archduke and Duchess was itself inspired by Germany, in order to afford an outward excuse for the beginning of hostilities. Notwithstanding the civilized world sympathized with brave little Serbia, Eussia was the only great power that made a move to come to her rescue before the conflagration began, and save her from annihilation by her powerful antagonist. The Eussians, largely of the same race as the Serbians, demanded that the Czar intervene. And so Eussia began mobilizing her armies, whereupon Germany immediately declared war against Eussia, on August 1, while the two great empires were yet at peace, and five days before Austria herself had declared war on Eussia. France, bound to Eussia by a defensive alliance, began mobil- izing her armies near that part of her frontier which bordered on Germany. The latter promptly declared war on France, on August 3, and began moving a large army toward Paris, but, instead of attempting to cross the boundary between Germany and France, which was strongly fortified and guarded by the French, the first German army entered Belgium and tried to force that peaceable little country to permit the Huns to march through her territory. Had Belgium consented, it would have been an act of war on her part against France. Belgium refused, and on August 4 Germany declared war on her. She appealed to Great Britain for protection. England gave Germany her choice of promptly evacuating Belgian terri- tory, or adding Great Britain to her list of active enemies. Germany would not yield, and at once attacked Liege, one of the large and important cities of Belgium. INTRODUCTION GERMANY WAS EEADY. The proof that Germany wanted the war, and had been pre- paring for it, is set forth in "Conquest and Kultur," a book of 154 pages, issued by the Committee on Public Information, with the approval of the U. S. Government, soon after America entered the war. This committee was composed of the Secre- tary of State, Secretary of War, Secretary of the Navy, and George Creel. The book gives the ''Aims of the Germans in Their Own Words," and is a translation from Germany's war literature covering many years. This is from the introduction: It is a motley throng who are here heard in praise of war and inter- national suspicion and conquest and intrigue and devastation — emperors, kings, princes, poets, philosophers, educators, journalists, legislators, man- ufacturers, militarists, statesmen. Before them is the war god to whom they have offered up their reason and their humanity; behind them the misshapen image they have made of the German people, leering with blood- stained visage over the ruins of civilization. Here are quotations characteristic of the entire volume: The whole German race is called to bind the earth under its control, to exploit the natural resources and the physical powers of man. — Lud- wig Woltman, Noted Socialist, 1903. France must be so completely crushed that she can never again come across our path. — F. von Bemhardi, in "Germany and the Next War," 1911. The wDl to war must go hand in hand with the resolution to act on the offensive without any scruples. — 'General Keim, October 16, 1912. Land, more land, is the old battle-cry which has reverberated without ceasing throughout the ages of German history. A nation which tries to acquire land exclusively by peaceful means can not hope for success or for permanent possession in the general struggle for "a place in the sun." — Berliner Neueste Nachrichten (a weekly), March 29, 1913. OPPOSITION TO BE CRUSHED. That Germany had full confidence in her ability to carry out her plans for world supremacy was shown by many utterances and publications during the first few months, when her armies, prepared and equipped to the last detail for such a mission, were daily striking nearer Paris. Here are a few of the quotations: 20 INTRODUCTION Germany is now about to become, mentally and morally, the first nation in the world.- — Pastor W. Lehmann, in a Sermon m August, 1914. The whole world shall stand open to us, so that, in untrammeled ri- valry, we shall unfold the energy of the German nature. — Otto von Gierke, Professor of Law in the University of Berlin, 1914. Let no man say that every people has a right to its existence, its speech, and so forth. If the peoples in question have nothing Germanic about them, and are essentially alien to our culture, then the second question is in place: Are they in the way of our expansion or not? If not, let them develop even as their nature bids them; if they are, to spare them would be folly. — Bronswrt von Schellendorf, 1914. Aside from many public utterances on world conquest, the speed with which Germany moved, proved that she was fully prepared. Her armed millions were ready to advance at a moment's notice. Eegardless of rights, treaties, or other obliga- tions, she rushed into the fray with the insane folly of a mad- man. The world stood dazed as one move followed another in rapid succession. If further proof was needed that Germany was now in the war she had desired, it was found on every hand during the first few weeks of the conflict. Documents taken from captured German of&cers showed that the details had been worked out so carefully, evidently even before the assassination of the heir to the Austrian throne, that the exact day and hour had been set for marching triumphantly into the historic city of Paris. It soon became clear that it was the definite purpose of Ger- many, after the conquest of France, to attack Great Britain; that the subjugation of England was to be followed by sending a fleet of ships to the United States to bombard and, if possible, capture some of America's great cities on the Atlantic coast, levy several billion dollars, and make such other demands upon the United States as Germany in her fantastical fancy might wish. BELGIUM BLOCKS THE WAY. The first cheek to the Kaiser's ambitious plans was the stand taken by Belgium. This plucky little nation would not violate INTRODUCTION H its position of neutrality by permitting the Huns — ^who tlien referred to the German-Belgium treaty as nothing but "a scrap of paper" — ^to march across its soil to attack France. At onco manning the fortress at Liege, the Belgians, though weak in numbers and resources as compared to the enemy, succeeded in wrecking the plans of the Germans, thus giving time for the mobilization of the French soldiers, which were hurried to the front by every means possible. This was followed by the landing in France of several thou- sand British soldiers as quickly as ships could carry them across the EngKsh Channel. They continued to pour into that country in ever-increasing numbers. On August 8, Lord Kitchener called for 1,000,000 men. They were enrolled in ten days. By May, 1916, over 5,000,000 British subjects had volunteered, and when the war ended Great Britaia had 7,500,000 men under arms in different parts of the world. Even though cheeked for a few days, the Germans moved steadily forward along the great battle-line, gradually drawing closer to Paris, imtil within twenty miles of that city at the nearest point. This was the first German objective. So nearly did it approach realization that on September 3 the seat of the French Government was moved from Paris to Bordeaux, as a precautionary measure. The French, aided by the brave Belgians and the persistent British, fought with a desperation and courage that simply woidd not longer give way to the powerful attacks of the enemy. The decisive blow in stopping the Huns' initial move toward Paris was struck under the leadership of Joffre, on September 6, when, in what has been termed the first battle of the Marne, French troops turned back the Kaiser's soldiers. In the meantime, Turkey and Bulgaria had entered the war on the side of Germany and Austria-Hungary, constituting what were known as the "Central Powers." Their opponents were designated as the "Allies." 12 INTRODUCTION On May 23, 1915, Italy declared war against Austria- Hungary, and on August 20 of the same year, against Turkey, thus uniting the force of heroic Italians also with the Allies. SINKING OF THE "LUSITANIA." The United States maintained a position of neutrality until Germany proclaimed her policy of submarine warfare within certain limits around the British Isles, known as a "war zone." This was announced on February 4, 1915, to go into effect on February 18. On February 10 the United States Government sent a note to the German Government stating that the latter would be held strictly accountable if any vessel of tjie United States was destroyed or any American lives were lost by this procedure. On May 7, 1915, the steamship "Lusitania" was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine, with the loss of 1,154 lives, of whom 114 were Americans. Protests, explanations and diplomatic correspondence con- tinued, as did the sinking of more ships and the loss of more lives, until, on January 31, 1917, like a bolt of lightning from a clear sky came the proclamation from the German Government that it would Inaugurate "unrestricted submarine warfare" in certain specified zones. This ended the prolonged controversy for America, On Feb- ruary 3 the United States severed diplomatic relations with Ger- many, and on April 6 of that year declared war. ''hands across the sea." On May 26, or just fifty days later, American soldiers, imder the command of Gen. John J. Pershing, landed in France, and on November 3 had their first clash with the Germans. When the war came to a close the United States had in round numbers about 2,000,000 soldiers in France, besides 200,000 in other INTRODUCTION [3 foreign countries. The largest number sent overseas in any one month was 307,000, which was in July, 1918. As the war continued, other countries were drawn into the maelstrom of destruction, until the Allies numbered twenty-three, the list being as follows: Belgium, Brazil, China, Costa Eica, Cuba, France, Great Britain, Guatemala, Greece, Haiti, Honduras, Italy, Japan, Liberia, Montenegro, Nicaragua, Panama, Portugal, Eussia, Rumania, Serbia, Siam and the United States. The Official United States Bulletin, at the close of the war, gave a complete list of the declarations of war and severances of diplomatic relations in connection with the giant struggle. The list, as given herewith, shows that a number of nations severed diplomatic relations with each other, but did not declare war: DECLARATIONS OP WAR. Austria vs. Serbia, July 28, 1914. Austria vs. Eussia, August 6, 1914. Austria vs. Montenegro, August 9, 1914. Austria vs. Japan, August 27, 1914. . Austria vs. Belgium, August 28, 1914. Belgium vs. Germany, August 4, 1914. Brazil vs. Germany, October 26, 1917. Bulgaria vs. Serbia, October 14, 1915. Bulgaria vs. Eumania, September 1, 1916. China vs. Germany and Austria, August 14, 1917. Costa Eica vs. Germany, May 23, 1918. Cuba vs. Germany, April 7, 1917. Cuba vs. Austria, December 16, 1917. France vs. Germany, August 3, 1914. France vs. Austria, August 12, 1914. France vs. Bulgaria, October 16, 1915. France vs. Turkey, November 5, 1914. Germany vs. Eussia, August 1, 1914. 14 INTRODUCTION Germany vs. France, August 3, 1914. Germany vs. Belgium, August 4, 1914. Germany vs. Portugal, March 9, 1916. Germany vs. Eumania, August 28, 1916. Great Britain vs. Germany, August 4, 1914. Great Britain vs. Austria, August 13, 1914. Great Britain vs. Turkey, November 5, 1914. Great Britain vs. Bulgaria, October 15, 1915. Greece (Provisional Government) vs. Germany and Bulgaria, November 28, 1916. Greece (Alexander Government) vs. Germany and Bulgaria, July 2, 1917. Guatemala vs. Germany, April 21, 1918. Haiti vs. Germany, July 15, 1918. Honduras vs. Germany, July 19, 1918. Italy vs. Austria, May 24, 1915. Italy vs. Turkey, August 21, 1915. Italy vs. Bulgaria, October 19, 1915. Italy vs. Germany, August 28, 1916. Japan vs. Germany, August 23, 1914. Liberia vs. Germany, August 4, 1917. Montenegro vs. Austria, August 8, 1914. Montenegro vs. Germany, August 9, 1914. Nicaragua vs. Germany and Austria, May 6, 1918. Panama vs. Germany, April 7, 1917. Panama vs. Austria, December 10, 1917. Portugal vs. Germany, resolution authorizing intervention aa an ally of England, November 23, 1914, and military aid granted May 19, 1915. Eumania vs. Austria, August 27, 1916. Russia vs. Germany, August 7, 1914. Russia vs. Turkey, November 3, 1914. Russia vs. Bulgaria, October 19, 1915. Serbia vs. Germany, August 6, 1914. INTRODUCTION 15 Siam vs. Germany and Austria, July 22, 1917. Turkey (Holy War) vs. Allies, November 11, 1914. Turkey vs. Eumania, August 29, 1916. United States vs. Germany, April 6, 1917. United States vs. Austria, December 7, 1917. DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS SEVERED. Austria vs. Serbia, July 26, 1914. Austria vs. Japan, August 26, 1914. Austria vs. Portugal, March 15, 1916. Austria vs. United States, April 8, 1917. Belgium vs. Turkey, October 30, 1914. Bolivia vs. Germany, April 14, 1917. Brazil vs. Germany, April 11, 1917. China vs. Germany, March 14, 1917. Costa Rica vs. Germany, September 21, 1917. Ecuador vs. Germany, December 7, 1917. Egypt vs. Germany, August 13, 1914. France vs. Austria, August 11, 1914. France vs. Turkey, October 30, 1914. Germany vs. Italy, May 23, 1915, Great Britain vs. Turkey, October 30, 1914. Greece vs. Austria and Turkey, July 2, 1917. Guatemala vs. Germany, April 27, 1917. Haiti vs. Germany, June 16, 1917. Honduras vs. Germany, May 17, 1917. Japan vs. Austria, August 25, 1914. Liberia vs. Germany, May 8, 1917. Nicaragua vs. Germany, May 19, 1917. Peru vs. Germany, October 5, 1917. Rumania vs. Bulgaria, August 30, 1916. Eussia vs. Turkey, October 30, 1914. Eussia vs. Bulgaria, October 19, 1915. Eussia vs. Rumania, January 28, 1918. 2 16 INTRODUCTION Santo Domingo vs. Germany, June 8, 1917. Turkey vs. United States, April 20, 1917. United States vs. Germany, February 3, 1917. Uruguay vs. Germany, October 7, 1917. The first declaration of war was that of Austria against Serbia, on July 28, 1914, two days after the severance of diplo- matic relations. The last declaration of war was that of Hon- duras against Germany, on July 19, 1918. The months in which war was declared or diplomatic rela- tions severed, during the continuance of the great conflict, are here given, together with the number in such months: 1914 — ^July, 2; August, 20; October, 5; November, 5. 1915 — May, 3; August, 1; October, 5. 1916 — March, 2; August, 5; November 1. 1917 — February, 1; March 1; April, 8; May, 2; June, 2; July, 3; August, 2; September, 1; October, 3; December, 3. 1918— January, 1; April, 1; May, 2; July, 2. The nations at war, including their subjects in colonies and otherwise, had an estimated population of three-fourths of the world's inhabitants; that is, 1,200,000,000 people out of 1,600,- 000,000. SUBMARINES AND AEROPLANES. The war brought to the front two comparatively modem inventions — ^the aeroplane and the submarine. These were used effectively by the nations at war. For a time the German under- sea warfare was very destructive, but as nearly two hundred of her submarines were sunk or captured by the Allies, by the use of depth bombs and other means, the menace was practically at an end shortly before the war closed. Sir Eric Geddes, First Lord of the Admiralty of Great Britain, announced that 15,000 men of the Allies lost their lives due to submarine and mine warfare, and that 2,475 merchant ships and 679 fishiag-vessels were sunk. INTRODUCTION 17 In October, 1916, a German submarine appeared off the Atlantic coast of America and sank six merchant ships near Nan- tucket, Massachusetts. This created quite a sensation, bringing with it the realization that the undersea boats could go long distances from their base of supplies, but within a few days all fear of seri- ous damage was abated by the vigilance of our coast defenders. Air-fighting, while spectacular, did not result in a great num- ber of deaths, but more in the loss of property. For instance, notwithstanding the many air raids over London and other English cities, only 365 persons were reported killed in sixty-six municipal districts, while the wounded numbered 1,147 — casualties that would seem small when compared to just one big battle. The property damage from air raids in England, however, reached $4,500,000, and was also heavy in France. Allied air- bombers did extensive damage to German railway, ammunition and supply stations, in some places destroying great storehouses and whole trains of supplies. The large number of aeroplanes brought down in air battles also meant a considerable iuiancial loss to the different Govern- ments engaged. One important service rendered in flying was that of spying out and photographing the enemy positions. AWFUL SACRiriCE OF LIFE. The total number of deaths due to the war has been variously placed at from 8,000,000 to 10,000,000. The following table, based upon careful estimates and official reports, includes only the principal countries at war: Men in Abms. Lives Lost. Casualties. United States 3,764,700 58,478 236,117 Great Britain 7,500,000 706,726 3,049,991 France 6,000,000 1,071,300 4,000,000 Italy 5,000,000 500,000 2,000,000 Russia 14,000,000 1,700,000 3,300,000 Belgium 350,000 50,000 300,000 Serbia _ 300,000 150,000 200,000 Rumania . — 600,000 200,000 300,000 18 INTRODUCTION Men in Aems. Lives Lost. CASXTAXiTrES. G-ermany _ 11,000,000 1,600,000 4,000,000 Austria-Hungary 7,500,000 800,000 4,000,000 Turkey ... „ _ _ 1,500,000 250,000 750,000 Bulgaria 1,000,000 50,000 200,000 Total 58,514,700 7,136,504 22,336,108 If the bodies of those slain in the war could be placed in caskets, side by side, allowing only two feet for each, they would make a line longer than from New York to San Francisco. Should a person start out to take a last look upon the face of each of these dead soldiers, allowing only one minute for each, it would require nearly two whole years to do so, with never a pause in the sad mission. The foregoing table does not include the massacres by the Turks during the period of the war, which numbered 1,600,000. Of this number, 900,000 were Armenians and 700,000 Greeks. In addition, 200,000 mobilized Greeks were put to death by the Turks or died of their sufferings. The total cost of the war to the principal Allies fighting against the Central Powers was about $120,000,000,000. WHEN THRONES CKUMBLED. After the war had continued four years, three months and fourteen days, it came to a close with a glorious victory for the Allies. The last few weeks of the struggle were full of dramatic and sensational happenings. Events of- world-importance followed each other with a rapidity that was amazing. From about the middle of July, 1918, to the signing of the armistice, which meant the end of the war, there was one continuous series of defeats for the Central Powers. Seeing that the instigator of the awful carnage of battle was being so badly worsted, the other nations deserted Germany until Maximilian Harden uttered these desolate words: "We are alone." Bulgaria was the first to break away, surrendering on Sep- tember 30, 1918. Turkey followed on October 31, and Austria- INTRODUCTION 19 Hungary on November 4. Germany signed the armistice and surrendered on November 11, 1918. In the last momentous days, rulers abdicated their thrones one after another and fled for their lives as their monarchies crumbled before the fury of their long-suffering and oppressed people. Although the Emperor of Germany fled to Holland on November 10, he did not sign his abdication decree until the 28th of the month. ANOTHER ''scrap OF PAPER." The armistice was signed the day following the flight of the Kaiser, by four representatives of Germany, and the little ''scrap of paper" to which they attached their names was tantamount to full surrender; a confession that, after aU, German "kultur" had failed, and that the nation of supermen, as the Germans had thought themselves to be, were but the most pitiful of weaklings. Thus ended one of the most audacious dreams that ever ;^os- sessed a human being — considering the age in which it all occurred — a, vision of world-conquest, for William HohenzoUern, the Ger- man Emperor, who claimed partnership with God, had persuaded more than 150,000,000 other human beings to believe in his wild dream. This poor wreck of a man, who happened to be born of "royal blood" — ^blood with a tainted strain in it and which was supposed to have given him his withered arm — was finally com- pelled to hurriedly sneak away like a hunted criminal from the fury of his own people. Following the defeat of Germany's land forces was the dra- matic surrender of her great navy — "the Kaiser's pride and pet," as one writer expressed it. The Kaiser had said: "Our future lies on the water. Neither on the ocean nor across it in the distance can any great decision be again consummated with- out Germany and the German Empire. The trident must pass into our hands. ' ' 20 INTRODUCTION In 1890, two years after William Hohenzollern ascended the throne, the German navy was placed directly under this ambitious ruler's authority. It was by building this up that he expected to gain control of the sea, and thus help mightily in the realiza- tion of his dream. I UNPARALLELED NAVAL SPECTACLE. On November 22, in accordance with the terms of the armis- tice, the heart of Germany's mighty navy surrendered to an armada of allied vessels. Seventy-four German war-ships — six- teen great battle-ships and cruisers, eight light cruisers and fifty submarines — in a single line almost twenty miles long, appeared at the appointed time and place, and were led into the Firth of Forth, between double columns of British, French and American battle-ships, which overlapped the Germans at each end. Other German ships and 113 additional submarines were given up at a later date, thus for the time leaving Germany practically helpless as a sea power. A surrender on such a gigantic scale has no precedent in history. To the men who witnessed the scene, it seemed scarcely credible. History teUs of many good ships which were surren- dered under stress of battle, and of many others which faced destruction rather than surrender, but the German navy, rated the second in the world at the beginning of the war, submitted in abject obedience to enemy demands without the firing of a shot. Even the Chinese, the Eussian and the Spanish navies went out to meet the foe, full well knowing their superiority. They were not afraid to face death; they were not cowards. Their conduct was in sharp contrast with that of the German naval officers. COWARDICE AND TREACHERY. Yet it should not have been surprising. The man who tries to intimidate in frightfulness is never a brave man. The strong INTRODUCTION 2\_ man who glories in killing women ajid children could be nothing else than a coward. The nation that murdered and destroyed ruthlessly was not a brave nation. So its navy made one show of fight, off Skagerrack, in 1916, and then went slinking back with- out the courage ever to come out and again fight on equal terms. Knowing that cowardice is first cousin to treachery, the allied commanders took no chances, even after the Germans had agreed to the surrender, in writing, just as it did finally take place. Every allied ship in the long double lines of fighting vessels on either side of the German ships, flew battle ensigns and was ready for instant action, with the men at battle stations and guns in position for the prompt destruction of the enemy's forces should the slightest effort be made to betray the terms of sur- render, as agreed to in the armistice signed on November 11. "We are overlooking no chances against making the wind-up of this show a big success," said Eear- Admiral Rodman to the Associated Press correspondent, shortly before the surrender was effected. AMERICA'S PART IN THE "WAR. While there is no disposition in America to boast of the accomplishments of our men overseas, it would be unpatriotic and disloyal to minimize the noble work they did and the sacrifices they made. No nation is worthy of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness whose citizens have not due respect and admiration for the glorious achievements of its champions and defenders in the time of danger. American blood means American liberty, and as long as blood flows in the veins of the men and women of this country, so long will they stand against any and every power on earth that would attempt to drag the ideals of American manhood and woman- hood into the dust. That this is true is shown in the part the United States took in the great war. For the attainment of these high ideals 22 INTRODUCTION America spent her dollars by the billions and armed her men by the millions, with no expectation nor desire for one foot more of soil, nor for the return of one dollar of the billions poured out for the defense of the right. TRUTH STKANGEK THAN FICTION. It was inevitable that out of such a world-conflict should be developed exceptional traits of character. That truth in action stranger than the wildest fiction should come to the surface. That the unusual circumstances would test the courage and character of the fighters as they had never before been tested. That the initiative and resourcefulness of individuals would find opportunity for the very limit of human accomplishments. That temptations would, in many instances, be proportionate to the unusual surroundings into which tens of thousands of young men were thrown. That even with all the horrors of war there would be silver linings to dark clouds. That, in the face of much to discourage and cast down, there would be unexpected humorous situations, when the optimist would have his chance to laugh and relax, and, because of hia ability to see both sides of a situation, go forth for better service for humanity. Growing out of all this has come such a wealth of episodes to be treasured that "Stories of the Great War" will be told over and over again, in this and succeeding generations, as long as history is read. For the convenience of the public speaker, as well as for the one who desires a record of many of these unusual incidents, has this collection of over four hundred stories of the war been assembled, covering a wide range of subjects, as will be seen in the table of contents and cross-references. INTRODUCTION 23 May the noble deeds of heroism and sacrifice here given inspire every hearer and every reader to better living; to more efficient service for humanity, not only in America, but through- out the world, that liberty and justice may be the rich inheritance of all men in all lands. Will H. Brown. Oakland, California. CLASSIFIED STORIES ACHIEVEMENT ONE OF THE WONDERS OF THE WAR. The German gun which shelled Paris from a distance of seventy-six miles was one of the big surprises of the war. Considered purely aside from the cruelty of the con- ception, it is marvelous to think of firing a gun that distance with such accuracy as to hit buildings and do some damage with practically every shot fired. About the fifteenth shell struck a church on Good Friday and killed and wounded 150 women and children. A few days later another struck a children's hospital, killing and mangling forty of the little ones in their beds, with their attendant nurses. As soon as French airmen succeeded in locating this monster gun, in the Forest of St. Gobian, and the distance from Paris was made known, Professor Mallock, an English scientist, endeav- ored to estimate the probable size of the gun, and other features connected with its operation. His conclusion was that its length must be about seventy feet; its angle of elevation fifty degrees; that the shells would leave it with an initial velocity of a mile a second, and that they would weigh four hundred pounds each; that the height to which the projectiles would rise would be about seventeen miles. He sent this calculation to the English scientific journal, Nature. Just as the number containing it was ready to go to press there came a report from a French artillery officer who 25 26 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR had been made a prisoner by the Germans and had seen the great gun and had seen it fired. He reported that the gun was eighty feet in length, instead of seventy; that the shells each weighed three hundred and fifty pounds instead of four hundred; that the initial velocity was five thousand feet to the second — ^almost exactly as estimated by Mallock; and that the height reached by the projectiles was eighteen miles, instead of the estimate of seventeen. That a man, without seeing the gun, could make a calculation so nearly correct as did Professor Mallock, seems almost as great a marvel as the weapon itself. WHY ONE SEEGEANT WAS PROMOTED. The man with an idea was in demand in the war, the same as he is in civil life. While an American general in France was discussing with his staff the problem of building a two-mile support trench across a flat spot in the American sector on the western front, where the German guns dominated the place, an engineering sergeant, who was with the group as a guide, could hardly control himself. He had an idea. Finally he spoke. "It's not military for me to suggest, sir," he said to the general, "but if you will give me 1,000 men to-night, I'll have the two-mile trench dug before morning and before the Germans know it." The general smiled and asked the sergeant how he could do it. He was ready with a plausible explanation. The general ordered 1,000 men for the job, and as soon as it was dark the work began. Each group knew exactly where to begin and what to do. They dug speedily and quietly, and every time a German flare went up they dropped to the ground or stood motionless. Not a German gun was fired in that direction during the night. When the sun rose the following morning, the German look- outs opposite gazed down in amazement on a brand-new trench. The Huns threw over a barrage, but it was too late, for the dig- FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 27 gers were gone, and the Yanks in^ the trenches were safe in dugouts. Because he had an idea, and knew how to execute it, the ser- geant was promoted to lieutenant. ACTIVITY THE FIGHT FEELING INSIDE. A unit of negroes from America was moving up to take its place in the line of battle on one of the memorable occasions of the war in France, and everybody was tense with anxiety to get into the fight. One of the dusky privates called out from over in the brush to the left: "Hey, sergeant, when we all goin' to find dem Boches?" "Never yo' mind, child! You all gonna find plenty of dem BochesI" "Well, I she hop© so, sergeant," came the voice. "If I don't get rid ob dis mean feelin' in heah 'fore long, I'se gwine to carve up on de mess sergeant, sho ! " WOMEN AND MEN IN WARTIME. Knitting, saving, fanning, drilling. Clerking, canning, driving, milling. Praying, serving, waiting, bearing. Giving, cheering, nursing, sharing, While we fight against the Hun Woman's work is never done. Marching, digging, bombing, firing, Bayoneting, gassing, wiring. Shipping, diving, tanking, flying, Holding, shelling, charging, dying, While we fight the Hun afar Man's work lasts from star to star. — New York Sim. WHEN KNITTING WAS IN ORDER. The average person living at the time of the great war will long remember one phase of American life — ^that everywhere 28 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR one went he was greeted with the sight of good women knitting. It was socks and sweaters for our soldier boys in the camps and in France — a splendid service rendered by mothers, sisters, wives and sweethearts J yes, and by some men, be it said to their credit, when time and circumstances permitted. Here are verses given wide circulation in the press, but with no name attached — perhaps written by some soldier: "If you can not sail the ocean, knit a sock; Ton can keep yourself in motion, knit a sock. Though, you can not shine and glitter. It's not fair to be a quitter, Do not be an idle critter, knit a sock. "If you'd make your burden lighter, knit a sock; If you'd have the world look brighter, knit a sock; If your lot you wish were better, Make some soldier boy your debtor, If you can not knit a sweater, knit a sock." AMERICA CONDITIONS HERE AND ABROAD. Frank H. Benson, floor leader of the California State Senate, returning to America, in the summer of 1918, after spending seven months on the western front in France, spoke with much feeling concerning conditions over there. He said: "Things here seem so trivial now, compared with the tremen- dousness of the task across the sea. Business men are complain- ing here in America. If they could witness the worn, haggard business men of Chateau-Thierry raking through the ashes and ruins of their city to see if they can not save some little piece of merchandise, they would never complain again. "There is no romance about fighting. Over there our Amer- ican boys go into the fight with a yell and a dash that carries all before them. They throw away even their rations, and come back from the battles with their clothes torn from their bodies. FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 29 Battles are things of great weariness, going without sleep, being mangled, killed, or living for days after in an indescribable stench, and horror that robs war of every vestige of glory or romance. ' ' "TOECH OF THE WORLD." The poem with this title, by Angela Morgan, dedicated to President Wilson just prior to the beginning of the fourth Liberty Loan campaign, is preceded by this quotation from Isa. 9:2: *'The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath a great light shined." The poem, after picturing the unselfishness of America in her j^art of the great war for world-wide freedom, closes with this verse : "Oh, country, whose noble confession Hath given the voiceless a tongue, Who hath sounded the doom of oppression As far as thine armies are flung. To the crippled and weak of the nations Hast thou uttered the Master's decree, And thy word, it hath set the foundations Of that glorious kingdom to be. Come swiftly, oh, wondrous to-morrow. That shall render to Justice a soul, When the nations shall rise from their sorrow, The sick and the helpless be whole. Let us cry it aloud from the steeple, Let us shout where the darkness is hurled, 'Lo, look to the light of the people, America, Torch of the World 1' " THE WAR AND IMMIGRATION. The effect the war had on immigration to the United States was natural, but none the less impressive. It was reduced to a lower tide than had been known since 1844, with the single excep- tion of the Civil War year, 1862. Only 110,618 immigrants reached this country for the year ending June 30, 1918. Deducting from this number the 94,855 30 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR aliens who departed from our shores during the same period of time, there was left a net gain of only 15,763, against the annual million that we had been netting before the war. It will thus be seen that America's immigration problem disappeared for the time, while the problem of the aliens already within our boundaries was rendered less formidable by the chang- ing processes of war preparation. With men of all races fighting shoulder to shoulder, and women of all nationalities toiling side by side, the unity of America was advanced as never before in recent times. SERIOUS LESSON FOR AMERICA. *'We live and learn." The war brought home to Americans, in many ways, the fact that we had not done our duty by the millions of immigrants who have come to our shores to enjoy the blessings of American liberty. We permitted little groups of other nationalities to live in our American cities much as they lived before they came to the United States, with no serious effort to make good, true, loyal Americans of them. In other words, we attempted, in many places, to adjust our customs to fit them instead of attempting to adjust them to fit our customs. As a consequence, there were literally millions within our borders who had but little more conception of the principles of American government and liberty than the inhab- itants of darkest Africa. The lesson for America was stated in plain words by United States District Judge Charles F. Amidon, of North Dakota, in passing sentence upon a seditionist of German birth, in 1918 — a German who had become a naturalized American citizen, but literally outside the influence of American ideas and ideals. Said this judge: "There have been a good many Germans before me the last month. They had lived in this country ten, twenty, thirty, forty years, and they had to give thedr evidence through an interpreter. FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 31 As I looked at them and tried as best I could to understand them, there was written all over every one of them, 'Made iu Germany.' American life had not dimmed that mark in the least. It stood there as bright and fresh as the inscription upon a new coin. " I do not blame you and these men alone. I blame myself. I blame my country. We urged you to come. We welcomed you. We gave you opportunity. We gave you land. We conferred upon you the diadem of American citizenship — ^and then we left you. We paid no attention to what you have been doing. **And now the world war has thrown a searchlight upon our national life, and what have we discovered? We find all over these United States, in groups, little Germanys, little Italys, little Austrias, little Norways, little Russias. "A clever gentleman wrote a romance called 'America, the Melting-pot.' It appealed to our vanity, and through all these years we have been seeing romance instead of fact. That is the awful truth." The weakness having been discovered and so clearly pointed out, it is now the duty of every loyal native-born citizen to do his part in making every adopted citizen worthy of the flag under which he lives. APPRECIATION FOUND GERMAN TO SUIT HIM. An American captain found a German prisoner at a railroad station in a recaptured French town, who had lost an eye, an ear, a leg, an arm, and his face was smashed in. The captain gave the wounded man some money. "Thank you, Captain; you have a kind heart," said the prisoner. "Kind heart? That isn't it," came the reply. "You're the first Hun I've seen who is shot up to suit me." 3 32 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR KIND WOEDS OF WOUNDED SOLDIEE. Miss Elsie Janis, who spent six months in France, singing and entertaining soldiers in training-camps and hospitals, was one day expressing her sympathy for a soldier who had lost an arm. *'It might have been worse," said the man, earnestly. "I might have lost my eyesight, and then I should not have been able to see you." In speaking of the incident, she said: **Coidd any one ask for a greater reward?" CHINESE BUY LIBERTY BONDS. Many bonds of the fourth Liberty Loan, sold in the autumn of 1918, were bought by the citizens of China. In Shanghai alone subscriptions to the loan amounted to $250,000 on the second day of the sale. Leading Chinese editors pushed the loan through their columns, and one of them expressed the prevailing sentiment of the whole country when he said: ** Since China is sharing the advantages of American leader- ship, the Chinese should share the expenses." Thus Liberty bonds helped to imite the bonds of friendship of the two republics separated by the great Pacific. PERSHING'S TRIBUTE TO HIS MEN. When Gen. John J. Pershing made his official report to the Government of the United States, giving an account of his stew- ardship as commander of the American Expeditionary Forces in the great war, he closed with these wonderful words of apprecia- tion : "I pay the supreme tribute to our officers and soldiers of the line. When I think of their heroism, their patience under hard- ships, their imflinching spirit of offensive action, I am filled with emotion which I am iinable to express. Their deeds are immortal, and they have earned the eternal gratitude of our country." FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 33 BOYS APPEECIATE^ SOLDIERS. Leave it to the right-thinking boy to prove his patriotism. A soldier in Birmingham, England, was transferred to a hospital for special treatment for his wounded leg. On his way to the station he had difficulty in dragging a heavy kit-bag after him, and was passed by a number of men who made no offer to help. Presently a small porter-boy saw him, and promptly seized his bag and carried it to the train. The wounded soldier put his hand into his pocket to pay the youngster, but the lad ran off, saying with a backward glance of admiration for the man: "1 don't think! Not after what you have done!" THINKS FRENCH EXCEL IN KEYS. Kenneth McKim, first lieutenant in the U. S. Signal Corps, a California soldier, in a letter written in France to a friend in America, says of the city of Paris: It is one of the few shows I've seen that lived up to its press notices. No wonder the Crown Prince of Germany wanted to get to Paris! To own Paris would be worth a dozen wars. From which you may Judge that I consider it some town. But San Francisco, if she is what she used to be, will look better to me after this row than Paris. I don't want to go home while the war is on, but when it is over I want to get back to California and spend the rest of my life in a bathtub. Paris has everything else in the world that a man of my temperament and training might desire — except bath- tubs. I got a bath in Paris, but had to go to the ofB.ce of an army officer to get it. There's one thing the French have that I like. A door-key here is about the size of a monkey-wrench. I'm going to takS a French lock home with me and put it on my fronts door, so I can get in at night. GRAY HAIRS NO BAR TO SERVICE. When the United States entered the war and young men were called to the colors by the hundreds of thousands, there was at first a shortage of labor in many lines. It was especially difficult to get efficient office help. Victor T. J. Gannon, manager of the Employers' Association of Chicago, wrote an article, in 34_ STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR August, 1918, showing how the handicap was overcome many times by employing men past middle life who had heretofore been turned down because of the mistaken theory that they were too old to fill places satisfactorily. He relates a typical instaiice. It was of a man a few years ovsr fifty who came to his office: ** 'They say you can find work for old men/ he began, with doubt in his voice and manner. " 'Tou are not old/ I told him, smiling. He returned the Bmile as he replied: " *I have been told for years, wherever I sought employment, that I was too old.' ** 'You won't be insulted if I suggest a shave and hair-cut, will you?' " 'Oh, no; I realize that, but I can not' — " 'We will attend to that,' I told him. "Four months later a handsome man, rather stout, ruddy, well dressed, stepped up to my desk and said he could get employ- ment for four men of about fifty years of age. * ' It was the same man. It was difficult to recognize him. He told me the most of his story, and from the concern where he worked I got the rest of it. He was started at $15 per week. Within a week he was promoted, and finally placed in. an execu- tive position. In four months' time his salary had been increased to $50 per week." The association of which Mr. Gannon was manager had up to that time placed over nine thousand men between the ages of forty-five and seventy-nine in good positions, and the great majority of them did the work in a highly satisfactory maimer. It is another important lesson learned from war experience that Mr. Gannon gives in his conclusion: "The employers of the country are beginning to wake up to the fact that the man past forty-five is a valuable asset. The elderly man is slowly coming back into his own. Employers are learning to value the gray-haired man, learning to value his FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 35 services, his trustworthiness and Jiis constant plugging that achieves far more than the sporadic spurts of the younger man." THE U. S. MAEINES WERE EEADY. The commanding officer of two thousand Marines, who par- ticipated in the severe fighting at Belleau Woods in France, took his place in front of the men who were lined up at attention, and said: **We want volunteers for extra hazardous duty. Men who are ready to take the risk, step one pace to the front." The entire force of two thousand stepped forward as one man. This was the spirit of our men in France — the American spirit everywhere. But the commanding officer had a twinMe in his eye, observed by those nearest him. The hazardous duty was to go to Paris to march in the Fourth of July parade. The beauty of it was that not a man there knew of it in advance. This regiment of Marines had known what fighting was. They had stopped the Huns on that momentous day when they charged seven times and had held the line during the fiercest fighting at the apex of the drive. When they reached Paris they were showered with flowers, while the air was filled with shouts of joy. The people lining the avenues by the tens of thousands acclaimed our splendid American Marines the saviors of their city. A FRENCH HOME HIS HOME. Here is a charming sidelight on the feeling of appreciation of the French toward America. A French teacher wrote a letter to the father of an American soldier, in which he said: **We found the soldier (which proved to be your son) sitting on the quai, in front of my grandfather's house. He seemed so lonely that we were desirous of offering him our friendship. By degrees we came to know each other more, and now we are 36 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR friends. Your son is a nice boy, and we love him very much already. Our home will be his home. *'If I were a French soldier in America, and you welcomed me in your home, that would make me happy. When your son will go on to the front you may be sure that during his leaves of absence his room will be in our home. We shall always be happy to receive him." BEITISH LIKE AMERICAN SLANG. The English and French seem to have fallen in love with the American soldier. Many columns have been published about his chivalrous attitude toward the ladies, his kindness to the children, military bearing, and what has been termed "the charm of hia native slang.'* This last characteristic brought forth a long letter in the London Daily Mail, in which the writer, a nurse, refers to some of the expressions heard in his ward in a hospital : The American soldier came over "the big drink" some months ago. He had a pleasant voyage, saw no "tin fish," and had plenty to eat — ^"six meals a day, three down and three up." On arrival at the port they got into "the dinkiest little train ever." Before it started, his captain "asked for a key to wind it up with." The soldier said that personally he was going to "take one home for a watch-charm." They went into camp, he said, where they spent the time "hiking" about the country. The "eats" here were not over- good. They were given fish "that was never caught, but must have given itself up." The one thing that really "got their goat" was having to sleep on terra firma. That, said the soldier, was Latin for "terribly hard." While in France he had difi&culty in making his wants known. On one occasion he went into a store after a pair of duck shoes, where there was a French woman in charge. He couldn't make her understand, either by talking or making signs. Finally he FOR PVBUC SPEAKERS 57 remembered he had learned to imitate a duck almost to perfec- tion, and let forth a loud "quaek, quack, quack I" as he pointed to his feet, but the woman only looked at him dumbfounded. In relating the incident he said she couldn't "get wise" to what he meant. The nurse, near the close of the letter, says: It is my duty to hand the soldier his letters, and to-day, as he read a TOlnminous epistle, his face brightened to such an extent that I was forced to ask what good tidings had arrived. He hesitated, blushed, then grinned. "I don't mind telling you, nurse," he said. "It's my wife writing, and, from what she says, I calculate when I get home there'll be something be- sides a fence running around my little place in Seattle." PERSHING IN PARIS AFTER VICTORY. One of the wildest demonstrations in the history of Paris, the city of so many great gatherings, surpassed only by the recep- tion accorded President Wilson upon his arrival there in Decem- ber, 1918, occurred as an entirely iaformal affair, when General Pershing, a few days after the surrender of the Germans, made his appearance on the streets in an automobile. His presence there was simply a matter of a little business, but the enthusiastic French people turned it into a great celebration. As his car was proceeding along the Rue Rivoli, a French girl, with half a dozen flags of the Allies twined about her head, cried out in a frenzy of delighted surprise: "General Pershing 1 General Pershing! " The cry was instantly taken up, and passed up and down the boulevards and over the city like wild-fire. Men and women rushed hither and thither, screaming his name in mad joy. Almost as if by magic the people rushed out on the streets, nmning and jostling in their eagerness to get sight of the man whom they looked upon as their deliverer from the cruel Huns, until the crowd was estimated at half a million. Soon his car was surrounded. Instead of closing his window, and urging the driver to hasten on, he stopped and let down 38 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR the window full length, and laughed the joy he felt for the whole-souled French people. He reached out his hand to shake the chubby fist of a little child whose proud father had lifted her up so she could see the great man. Children climbed on the tonneau, and stood on every con- ceivable part of it where they could the better see General Pershing, who shook hands with as many of them as possible, while back of them the crowd surged like a living tide. The cheering was indescribable. Then the people commenced to throw their flags and flowers into the General's car, until he was half buried with these impromptu offerings. Finally the police made an opening and the car moved slowly along, inch by inch. Even as it started away up the great avenue, thousands ran after it, while the vdld shouts and cheers of the multitudes continued until all Paris seemed to be rumbling with a mighty noise — ^the informal, overflowing gladness of a people saved from the soldiers of the Beast of Berlin. A BEAUTIFUT^ BIRTHDAY LETTER. We are told that "distance lends enchantment to the view." It is certainly true that the full appreciation of our friends and loved ones often comes to us when long distances separate and the possibility of death taking away one or the other stares us in the face. Private James Y. Simpson, Jr., who volunteered for service in the U. S. army within three weeks after America entered the war, was in active service in France on his father's birthday, and took time to write to him that very day. The son was after- wards killed in battle in France, while fighting with the U. S. Marines. The letter, as follows, was published in the Kansas City Star: Mt Deae Fathbe: — I just wanted to write you a letter on your birth- day. I don't tnow when I will be able to mail it, but will take a chance anyway. I want to thank you, as your son. You have always been to me the best father a man could wish. I want to thank you for the gift of a clean, FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 39 strong and Yigorous body th.at can serve^America in her n«ed. Most of all I want to thank you for the long years of self-denial that made my educa- tion possible, for the guidance and teaching that kept me straight through the days of my youth, for the counsel ever freely given when asked, and for all the noble things in your example. I surely hope that you will celebrate many more birthdays, and that I will be home for the next one. Also may the coming years bring to you wider fields of service and honor, strength to perform your work, and in the end peace, contentment and quiet rest. Your son, a soldier of the United States, salutes you, with love and devotion. Jimmy. It is highly probable that such a letter could hardly have been written under any other circumstance, and it will no doubt be all the more treasured by the father, and other loved ones, because the one who penned such noble thoughts died in the defense of the principles which made such a father and such a son possible. AUTOCRACY THE GERMANS' HIDDEN CALF. Corporal A. F. Lamerton, writing of conditions in Germany after four years of the great war, said: A rather amusing incident occurred on a farm near the last camp I was at. The police heard that a calf had been born on this farm, so the gen- darme came along with his spiked helmet, sword, rifle, bayonet and revolver, for the purpose of commandeering the calf. The farmer said he had no calf. After the officer had searched everywhere for it and couldn't find it, the calf let out a bleat, which disclosed its hiding-place — ^trussed up in the chimney of the house 1 The farmer was fined by having td sow ten acres of rye for the Government. Now that kind of thing is going on every day in Germany, so you may guess the hatred the peasant has for the military party. And, while they are being starved and robbed, their sons and husbands are being killed at the front, and they wonder what's the use of it aU. COST OF KINGS WAS HIGH. Wilhelm II., the deposed Emperor of Germany, received a "salary" of $5,500,000 a year, against a salary of $75,000 a year for the President of the United -States. With our forty- 40 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR eight Governors included, the total pay-roll in the United States does not exceed $600,000 a year, as against $11,000,000 paid annually to the Kaiser and the rulers of twenty-six kingdoms vdthin the German Empire. By deposing their Kaiser and the rest of the autocratic rulers, the Germans effected a saving of approximately $10,000,000 a year in salaries. Ludwig III., King of Bavaria, received $1,700,000 a year. King Frederick August III. of Saxony received more than $1,000,000 annually. BROTHERS MOTHER OF TWELVE SOLDIERS. Mrs. C. L. O'Brien, of Phoenix, Arizona, was the mother of twelve sons who enlisted for some branch of military service \mder the "Stars and Stripes." When the twelfth son enlisted she was sixty-eight years of age, and justly proud of the twelve loyal fellows bearing her name. ELEVEN FROM ONE FAMILY. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel G. Cumberland, of Ajo, Arizona, had the proud distinction of offering eleven sons to the IT. S. Govern- ment. When the war closed, four of the sons were in France and the others in training in camps in America. The oldest was twenty-six and the youngest sixteen. WAR DIVIDED BIG FAMILY. At the outbreak of the war Albert PeriUion, of Vineland, New Jersey, had seven brothers in the French army and five in the German ranks. All were born in Alsace-Lorraine. In the early part of the war two of the brothers met on the battlefield in France during a lull in activities, and had a chat together, after FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 4]_ which one returned to the German -and the other to the French ranks. The family originally consisted of twenty-four brothers and sisters. THE WOMAN WHO COUNTED FIVE. A man on a train in France observed a woman draped in mourning, weeping bitterly, and between her sobs counting, * ' One, two, three, four, five," over and over again. Beside her was a nurse. The man's heart was touched and he said: "Nurse, what's the trouble?" "Her mind has given way," was the discouraged reply. "Be- fore the war she had five handsome sons, and they all went into the French army. One by one they have been killed, and now she spends her time counting over her boys and weeping." TWIN SOLDIERS PUZZLE SERGEANT. Albert and Walter Grierson, of St. Louis, who looked so much alike that their own parents could scarcely tell them apart until they were ten years of age, enlisted and went to France to fight with the United States forces. No one in their company knew one from the other. On one occasion a new sergeant was in charge of the detach- ment working on a dugout. The twin boys were working from opposite sides. Just as Walter left the dugout with a wheel- barrow filled with dirt, Albert left the other end of the runway to come down another path with his empty. The sergeant didn't know there were two of them. Every time he looked up he saw a Grierson loading and starting off with a wheelbarrow. He figured that his man Grierson was doing twice as much work as any other one on the job, and went to the lieutenant to tell him about it. Then he learned the truth. During the war it was not an uncommon thing for one to come to the relief of the other. Albert, in wxitiag to a friend in America about it, said: 42 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR When Walter is working and is tired, and I'm fresh, I slip out and relieve him, and nobody knows the difference. Then, if I get tired, he comes out and relieves me, and as long as one of us is where one or the other is supposed to be — well, there you are I The boys were splendid-looking fellows. A pleasing and quite remarkable fact in connection with their lives was that when at home they kept company with twin sisters, who looked almost as much alike as the boys — Misses Blendine and Geraldine Smalley. When separated, the boys and girls corresponded reg- ularly with each other. BEOTHERS CHAT AND DIE TOGETHER. Two brothers, named George and Joe, from a little town in New England, went to France with the American army, and fought side by side. One day both were hit by the same German shell and rendered unconscious. They were well known and had been great favorites in their company, so when they were taken back to the hospital they were placed on cots side by side, and everything possible done to save them. For a time both remained unconscious and lay hovering be- tween life and death. A motherly nurse bent over George, for he moved as if in pain and opened his eyes as if dazed. She whispered to him that his brother was on the adjoining cot, but still unconscious. George waited anxiously, and in his feeble condition could scarcely stand the strain until he could speak to his brother. After awhile Joe moved. The nurse gently eased him as he rubbed his eyes and looked around wonderingly. Then she whis- pered to him that George was on the next cot. The two, as if moved by one will, looked across, smiled and reached out their hands, which they clasped most earnestly. The sight of each other seemed to renew their strength, and they began talking, feebly and slowly. "Are you hurt badly, George?" the other asked. FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 43 "I think so, Joe. I feel awfully weak. Does your wound hurt you a lot?" "I don't know as it does, but I'm weak. There's another feeling, too, I can't describe." *'What is it, Joe?" "I don't know, George. But do you remember the things mother used to tell us when we were little? I keep hearing her telling us Sunday-school stories now, George, over and over, just the way she used to when we got up in her lap. ' ' "I wish she were here now, don't you?" said the other, wist- fuUy. "I should say so. Maybe the nurse or some one will talk to us the way mother used to. "We ought to do it, anyway, for if something happens to either of us, mother would like to know we were all right." Then each boy made the other promise that if the other should die, the one left would do aU in his power to get well so as to go back and take care of mother. The nurse saw that both were getting weaker, although very happy to know they were together. They closed their eyes as if to sleep. But it was for the last long sleep, with the thought of mother uppermost in their minds in their last conscious mo- ments on earth. When the U. S. Government sent a telegram to the little home back in New England, it was not that only one of the beloved sons was dead, but that both had passed over the silent river. HER TEN SONS KILLED IN WAE. Few women have made such a sacrifice as Mrs. Emma Watkins, a widow, of Quebec, Canada, for the cause of liberty. Six of her sons and four stepsons were all killed in the war in France. She herself killed two Germans. Mrs. Watkins was fifty-two years old when the war closed. When it began she and her own six sons were living on a chicken 44 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR farm among the Laturenthian hills, and getting along well in every way. Two sons enlisted at once with the Canadian forces, and when they went to France, the mother herself recruited three hundred Canadian men for overseas service, then with her other four sons went to England and engaged in war work. When the two in the army were killed, the remaining four imme- diately enlisted, and later aU were killed. Her four stepsons had already joined the service, and before the war came to an end, they, too, had been slain in battle. Mrs. Watkins' husband lost his life in the Boer war, while fighting with the British forces. After the death of all of her sons, she went from England to France and served as an ambulance worker and driver. On one occasion, when the Germans raided a British hospital, Mrs. Watkins seized the giin of a dead soldier and shot two Germans dead as they were entering the hospital. BROTHERHOOD CANADIANS HONOR lEISH HEED. This is from the pen of Jack Monroe, a war correspondent who visited France: As a sector of one of the companies was passing through the ruined city of Ypres, they chanced upon the body of a dead Irish soldier lying in the street. He belonged to the Fifth Lancers, and his number was 4,281. The Canadians held a brief council and decided to bury him. They procured a shovel and pick and dug a grave, then wrapped the body in a blanket. When the earth had been filled in, Piper Major Colvill si>oke thus to a soldier: "Say the Lord's Prayer, Jack." He complied, while the others stood with bared heads around the new- made mound. "Could the dead man's friends in Ireland have witnessed this rite performed by brothers from across the sea," the corre- spondent continued, "^it would have accomplished more toward FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 45 cementing the bond between the peoj)les of the British Empire than all the propaganda of a hundred years." FELLOWSHIP IN SUFFERING. When men are suffering themselves, they know from actual experience what a little kindness means to one in pain. Charles Whitehair, a prominent Y. M. C. A. worker in the war camps in France, made this statement: The men at the front are giving their sight, their bodies, everything but their sonls. Those they are not giving, but finding. There are no words to describe the spirit of these men. After you have been with them you have a whole new set of ideas about human nature^ It isn't only for their comrades that they are willing to suffer. Over and over again I have seen an English Tommy, badly wounded himself, take the cup of hot soup or coffee our Y. M. 0. A. men were handing out and give it to a wounded German prisoner. Their compassion for their wounded enemy who is suffering is one of the finest things I have ever witnessed. When the war is over and the German prisoners go home and tell the truth about their treatment at the hands of the British, that story must open the eyes of their nation, for it is a wonderful story of compas- fiion and kindness. WHY THE BAVARIANS FOUGHT. A French soldier named Jean was on patral one night, and had crawled up to within ten meters of the German trench, where he listened to locate the sentries. There was a faint starlight. Suddenly a whisper came from beyond the wire, a low voice speaking in broken French: "Why do you lie so quiet, my friend? I saw you crawl up. I don't want to shoot you. I am a Bavarian." "Good evening, then," Jean whispered back in perfect Ger- man. "So," said the sentry, "you speak our language. Wait a moment, tUl I warn the rest of my squad, and I will show you the way through the wire. There are no officers about at this hour." Not many men would have taken the chance, but Jean did. Ten minutes later he was standing in the trench in a German 46 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR cloak and fatigue cap (in case of passing officers), chatting amiably with a much-interested group of Bavarian soldiers. They showed him their dugouts, and arranged a whistle signal for future visits, before bidding him good night. "We are Bavarians," said their spokesman; "we like and admire the French. We fight only heocmse we must." WOULDN'T TAKE HIS TURN. A secretary of the T. M. C. A. saw a wounded British colonel sitting out in front of a dressing-station in France, one day, and asked why he didn't go in and have his wounds attended to. He replied in a matter-of-fact way: "Oh, it isn't my turn yet." Some time later the secretary came along again, and still the colonel sat outside. The Y. M. C. A. man knew that not only all the men who had been waiting had received attention, but that others had aiTived and been treated. Putting the question to the colonel once more, he received the same reply: *'It isn't my turn yet." This is characteristic of the spirit of modern civilized armies. The best of feeling prevails between officers and men. The former are like big brothers or fathers to the soldiers. SEPARATED YANKS JOIN ANZACS. Following one of the battle drives in France a considerable number of American infantrymen found themselves separated from their units. As another attack was imminent, something must be done at once. An Australian took in the situation, and, leaping upon a pile of sandbags, shouted: "This is a battalion of the Australian imperial forces, the finest on the western front. Who'll join? Walk up! Walk up! " This so pleased the Americans who had been lost -in the shuffle that many of them temporarily attached themselves to the Anzacs, and when their battalion made the next attack it was FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 47 composed of Australians and Americans fighting shoulder to shoulder. NO DISTINCTION AT THE GEAVE. Five bodies were to be buried one morning in France, includ- ing a captain and three privates wearing the uniform of the Amer- ican soldier, and a German boy, found dead on the battlefield. The scene is described by William L. Stidger, of San Jose, California, who served for a time as Y. M. 0. A. secretary at the front. A few men stood around the little, quiet place with uncovered heads while the chaplain read the service. Then the bodies were lowered into the grave, one at a time, the salute fired, and taps sounded for each, until only the body of the German was left. As the earthly remains of this young man, once an enemy, were being committed to the last resting-place, the firing squad hesi- tated. The sergeant turned to the officer in charge and asked: "Sir, shall we fire a salute for the German?" The men waited anxiously to hear the answer. It was a tense moment. Finally the officer said very earnestly: "Boys, w© are not fighting this dead German boy. This lad is out of it for good. And, after all, he is just some German mother's son. W© are not fighting him. We are fighting the Prussian military caste, the German Government, but not this dead boy. He has died on the field of battle. Yes, sound taps for him." This was the spirit of the American soldiers everywhere they fought. CAMOUFLAGE FEOM "SOMEWHERE" TO "SOMEWHERE." During the days of strict censorship no one knew where a Boldier friend across the Atlantic was serving. In the letters received from the men in the service they were always "Some- 4 48 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR where," which was at least some consolation. Here is how Sergeant Earl Fosley, of the TJ. S. Base Hospital 43, viewed the situation : We left "Somewhere" for "Somewhere," And we're camping "Somewhere" for a spell; It's got so when one mentions "Somewhere," — We're almost tempted to yell. There's a "Somewhere" in France and in England, And "Somewhere" else at the front. It was "Somewhere" the boys were in battle, Just "Somewhere" bearing the brunt. It's "Somewhere" the censor is cutting "Somewhere" from the letters we write; It seems we've been "Somewhere" forever. And it has us most ready to fight. Geography's gone to the bow-wows, The faces of maps are all changed ; "Somewhere" to "Somewhere," via "Somewhere," Till our minds are completely deranged. CAMOUFLAGE KNOWN BY THE MEXICANS, Many persons believe that the art of camouflage, so much used in the big war, was a discovery, for practical war purposes, during the early part of the great conflict. The same idea has long been used in Old Mexico, although not designated as * * camouflage. ' ' Since the days of Diaz, Mexican soldiers have practiced con- cealment for military advantage. They have placed their high- crowned straw hats on poles stuck in sand hills in such a way as to make the enemy believe they were defending the hill, then flank their adversaries from another direction. Port-holes in the sides of armored railroad cars were concealed by a checker-board pattern being painted in black and white squares on the sides of the cars. Mexican soldiers have concealed their bodies by each carrying sufficient brush to permit of an undiscovered advance on the enemy positions through thickets. Villa originated the plan of driving a herd of cattle into a besieged town at night in order to FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 49 draw the fire of the defenders and to explode any mines that may have been placed in the streets. RISKED DANGER FOR LITTLE HUMOR. After the battle at Thiaucourt, France, American soldiers rushed forward to make what they thought would be the capture of some high official of the German army, only to find that it was a private of their own regiment. The soldier was riding a German officer's horse, had on a German officer's helmet, and on his chest wore an iron cross. He had found these all on the battlefield, left by Germans in their hurry to get away from the Yanks. The soldiers acknowledged it was a clever trick he played on them, but nevertheless their hopes had been aroused to such a pitch at the prospect of making an important capture that they were keenly disappointed when these hopes were dashed to the ground. TEACHING THE ART OF CAMOUFLAGE. One of the most interesting features of life in training-camps was that of learning the art of camouflage. The remarkable results accomplished by such instruction were demonstrated at Camp Fremont, California. For two hours one day Colonel Singleton, chief of staff, and several officers from the division intelligence section, looked in vain through field-glasses for ten camouflaged men who were stationed in the open field in the hills back of the camp, all within a radius of four hundred yards. So complete was the deception that the officers failed to locate the men even after being told where they were placed. Then Lieutenant Moss, in charge of the work, blew one blast of a whistle, and the old tree stump on the hillside began fantastic dancing. Another blast from the whistle, and a comely rock that had ornamented the open field stood up and frantically 50 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR waved its arms. A third blast caused the dust by the roadside, fifty yards away, to assume the shape of a man. Then blast after blast brought khaki-clad men into prominence, until the entire ten had disclosed their locations. Not only had the men been concealed, but even while the general and other officers were looking for them, they were busy drawing maps of the surrounding country, and marking down every move of the observers. General Helmick pronounced the demonstration the most remarkable he had ever witnessed. The camouflaged suits worn by the men were painted by Private Walter Wright, a cripple, who could not serve with the army, but was anxious to do his part in making invisible suits. He was given the chance, with the results as above noted. NOT WHAT THEY SEEM. "The land of make-believe" could very appropriately have been applied to portions of France where the Americans used the art of camouflage in really wonderful ways. What appeared to be huge willow-trees, common to that country, some with trunks two feet in diameter, were placed as stations for observers, operating inside of steel tubes, with pieces of real bark on the outside. Ten feet away the turf opened, dis- closing a passage with steps leading to the base of the tree. A huge boulder, such as one sees along country roads in France, was only a make-believe, in which an observer and machine gun could lurk. What seemed to be telgraph poles were often periscope poles, as a part of the system, in which case the pole would be hollow, to permit the periscope to be raised to a high observing-point, while a covered pit at the base accommodated the observer tak- ing the readings of the instrument. A wrecked house often served as good camouflage. For instance, one with the windows all gone, so the enemy could FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 51 look straight through to the walls inside. By painting false canvas walls just back of the windows, the enemy still thought he was looking at the real walls opposite. But back of the canvas the observers and snipers were at work. Often what looked like a pile of sand was a lot of pebbles heaped around a hollow frame with its gauze opening for the observers and the flap through which the machine gun could be fired. CHARACTER CLEAN LIFE MEANS STEONG BODY. Frederic Coleman, writing from the western front in France, said: "I endeavored to find out why it was that one battalion held on while another gave ground, and discovered that the most valuable formations of all were those in which there was the greatest percentage of men of sterling personal character — clean, strong, high-minded Christian soldiers." This was right in line with a statement made by General Pershing : "Our men must be in good physical condition, keeping their morals clean, and thereby capable of meeting the trying condi- tions of modern warfare." "WHERE THE LINE WAS DRAV/N. A soldier made this very significant remark with reference to the Y. M. C. A. canteen workers in the army camps during the war: "We want to see a difference between the man behind the counter and the one in front of it." Association Men says: "No man can suck cigarettes, wear the Y. M. C. A. uniform, and maintain the respect and confidence of the men, nor would they come out to hear him speak at a 52 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR religious service. The soldiers set a higher standard for their teachers than most men do for themselves. A man, to have influ- ence with the men, must be a little better than the best rather than but little better than the worst. "One chaplain, who thought to be popular with the soldiers he had to smoke cigarettes or tell a popular story, never could draw more than a dozen men to hear him. Another chaplain, who could walk with the men and walk clean and consistent, had the crowd when it came to a religious meeting." LIVE STRAIGHT TO SHOOT STRAIGHT. Secretary of the Navy Daniels deserves the thanks of the whole American nation for his efforts to make the surroundings of the men of the U. S. navy wholesome and helpful for living the clean life. In speaking of the importance of this during the war, he said: "A man must live straight to shoot straight." Continuing a statement in which he used the above words, he added : "For the first time in history, a Government as a Government has emphasized, as essential in war, physical purity and morality. It is our duty, knowing the temptations that assail young men, for all of us to throw around them such environment, give them such help, as will strengthen them in their firm purpose to live as cleanly as they fight bravely." Speaking of the place of the Y. M. C. A. in helping young men, and of the place of faith in God and Christ in the lives of young men, he says: "We have much to say about munitions and ships and mate- rial things, but there is another sort of armor than the armor on our dreadnaughts J an armor that no torpedo can pierce, that no shell can break; and men who have on the breastplate and are shod with the gospel of Christ, are invincible in battle, in peace, in time and eternity." FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 53 PICKING MEN BY SAMPLE. This incident, which occurred in the early part of 1918, is related by the Christian Herald: Six Seniors of Cornell College, Mount Vernon, Iowa, sent one of their number to Chicago to find ''the shortest road to France." The six were picked athletes, in splendid condition, and when their representative appeared at the recruiting-station of the Tank Corps, he was asked only one question: "Are the others like you?" "They are," was the reply. "We will take all six, then," said the officer. As a result, Don Starry, O. W. Sterner, Northrop Winter, Clement A. Sones, Cotton Etter and Karl C. Smith were enlisted and sent to Camp Colt for training for overseas duty. It speaks well for an individual and for a group to which he belongs when any one of them can stand as an example of the rest, with perfect assurance that they can make good, whether in civil or military life. SELECTING U. S. ARMY OFFICERS. William Atherton Du Puy, in writing of the commissioning of 12,000 men as officers in the U. S. army, on June 1, 1918, said: These 12,000 were the refined gold resulting from the working of the ore in an entire million. Every man in the million had been given an opportunity to be one of the 12,000. Infinite care and intelligence had been brought to bear on the process of seJection. The old-time elements of political influence, personal friendship, preference of any sort, had been made impossible. Officers were selected purely on the basis of demon- strated ability after three months' observation and training — entirely on merit. As an instance showing how thorough was the sifting process, and how many different phases of a man's character were taken into consideration, the writer said: One captain at a training-camp was asked to turn in ihe rating of his men, and requested an extension of time, explaining that the company was to have a dinner downtown ou Saturday night. He wanted to ob- 54 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR serve the men on that occasion. The matter of table manners, he said, ■would go into his judgment of them. He later stated that a number of his men missed getting a commission because of their anxiety to "get their feet in the trough," as shown at the dinner. Deportment of this sort greatly handicaps an officer. SOLDIERS "FREEZE OUT" A SHOW. That the vast majority of the young men composing our great army during the world war were possessed of high ideals, was manifested in many ways. Here are practical proofs: When a so-called "popular" show was put on in one of the Y. M. C. A. buildings at Camp Merritt (by another organiza- tion), it was received with marks of disfavor by the crowd assembled, and for several days thereafter was the subject of severe condemnation by the soldiers all over the camp. The sec- retaries were approached by scores of men declaring that they did not stand for that sort of thing. At Camp Lee a negro gave a sketch that called for an apology by the secretary, and the men in khaki heartily applauded the disclaimer. When a vaudeville company put on a show in England for the American soldiers, which was anything but creditable to its pro- ducers, Uncle Sam's boys so froze it that the actors sneaked out the back way in shame. Our army boys were not of the "sissy" class, either. They were the pick of the land in physical fitness. The incidents men- tioned above may be taken as the dawning of a better day in the conduct of America's young manhood. THE ARMY THAT CAME BACK CLEAN. It is a familiar story now, but one that lovers of American young manhood wiU never tire of repeating — that hundreds of thousands of our boys who enlisted for the war resolved that they would not lower their standard of conduct while away, but would come back clean. And they did. This characteristic of FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 55 the American army, both in the camps at home, in England and in France, has been the marvel of students of war conditions the whole world around. Tens of thousands of American young men, in writing home from France, assured the loved ones at home that they were "keeping straight," and expected to. This assurance was given to parents, brothers, sisters, wives, sweethearts and friends. . Ella Wheeler Wilcox, in the New York American, expresses the thought in rhyme — "The Song of the Soldier." The first verse takes up the thought, "If I come back at all, I will come back clean." The second and third verses follow: "I may lie in the mud and the trenches, I may reek with blood and mire, But I ■will control, by the God in my soul. The might of my man's desire. I will fight my foe in the open, But my sword shall be sharp and keen For the foe within who would lure me to sin. And I will come back cleans "I may not leave for my children Brave medals that I have worn, But the blood in my veins shall leave no stains On bride or on babes unborn. And the scars that my body may carry Shall not be from deeds obscene, For my will shall say to the beast, Obey I And I will come tack clean!" TWO SOUL-STIREING LETTEES. Secretary of the Navy Daniels made public, on October 19, 1918, with his hearty commendation, two remarkable letters writ- ten by Vice-Admiral Henry B. Wilson, at that time in command of the U. S. naval forces in French waters. The first letter was to his officers, from which the following are extracts: It seems to be the idea of a few individuals that the uniform of an officer bestows upon the wearer special privileges and license. That this is a false idea it seems hardly necessary to state. The uniform of an American officer stands for honor and responsibility. Everything noble in our nation should be symbolized by that uniform. It 56 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR should be seen amid -worthy associations, and in places where no disrepute can stain or action of its wearer discredit it. In a foreign land your responsibility is increased, for strangers scru- tinize you and judge your nation by your conduct. There is no judgment of our country that will be more severe than the judgment upon its ofS.- cers. They are supposed to be picked men, leaders; trained, educated, re- sponsible. In France you are making the reputation of America. It should not be necessary to point out to any officer the fact that he is an example to his men. No unit wUl ever rise in conduct higher than that of its offi.cers. Let your men see you always the master of yourself: clean, temperate and discreet in your actions and associations, avoiding always the very appearance of evil, by habit, bearing and language win- ning their confidence and respect. In the second letter, which was addressed to his men on the subject of their conduct while on liberty, Vice-Admiral Wilson "We are guests in the house of another people. Our home wUl be judged by our conduct in theirsi. Every great nation has stood for some definite idea: Greece for beauty, Rome for law, Israel for religion ; America, in the eyes of the world, stands pre-eminently for freedom and the ideal of manhood. We must not shake that opinion, but do all we can to strengthen it. The only history of America that many of the people of Europe wiU ever read is that which is recorded by your lives. Live here the proud, manly existence that is justly expected. We fight against the Hun's ill-treatment of women; let no man bo tempted to do, by insinuation, what we charge our enemies with doing by force. Let the women of France remember the men of America as those who would shield them against aU harm, even that which might spring from their defenders. You would fight the man who would insult your uniform; do not insult it yourself. Let it not be carried into places of disrepute or into any dis- crediting act. Let every personal desire be subordinated to the righteous purpose for which we came, then we will return to our homes clean and proud and victorious. THE DISCOURAGED SOLDIER. One of the biggest and finest things done by the U. S. Gov- ernment in planning to win the war was its determination that the American soldiers should be kept clean and as free from sexual diseases and sins as science, system and forethought could possibly guarantee. The results were considered little short of marvelous. At the time when we had 2,000,000 soldiers in France and nearly as many in camps in America, the percentage of sexual FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 57 diseases among the men in uniform was so much smaller than in the cleanest American city that there was no room for comparison. This much by way of encouragement, as showing what could be done and should be done for the whole of America; for the health, happiness and usefulness of young men in civil life are just as important, and the trust of our Government for tlie welfare of all of its citizens is just as sacred, as for the soldiers in time of war. Here is an incident that should stir the heart of every lover of humanity to work earnestly for the removal of every possible sexual temptation: At a base hospital in a camp in America was a young soldier who was begging for the chaplain. He was sent for, and when he reached the cot, found the soldier in great distress of mind, because he was suffering from a sexual disease. He told the chaplain it had been arranged that his sweetheart should come to camp some day before he started for France, so they might be married. The chaplain said sympathetically: "You don't look like a man who would do that." "Chaplain," he almost cried, "this was my first offense. What can I do? I can't tell anybody. What shall I do?" The chaplain endeavored to comfort him and advised him to make a confidant of his father, but the soldier said he feared to do that. Finally the poor fellow said with bitter determina- tion: "I know what I'll do. If they can't cure me, I'll blow my brains out." Many a contemplated wedding has never taken place because the sexual temptations have not been removed by the lawmakers from the pathway of young men. SOLDIERS GIVE OPINION OF SINS. Fred B. Smith, for many years prominent in Y. M. 0. A. work, and during the great war devoting most of his time to it, 58 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR in behalf of the enlisted men, said in a magazine article that the war brought about a great change among the millions of our soldier lads as to what they regarded the worst sins. Before the war he made it a rule, whenever opportunity- afforded, to ascertain what young men considered the greatest wrongs committed, and almost invariably found that they rated "immorality" first on the list. After that they put drinking, gambling, dishonesty, and so on. This did not surprise him, for he considered it strictly correct and logical. But when he carried his investigations into the army camps, both in Great Britain and in France, among our American sol- diers, he got a big surprise. He expected practically the same line-up of wrongs as he had always received. His method of procedure in big meetings of the fellows was about like this: **I want to know how you feel about what is right and what is wrong. Every fellow has a pretty definite idea in his own mind of what are the worst things a fellow can do. Just so you won't all talk at once, I'll ask those who want to speak to stand up." Twenty or thirty boys were instantly on their feet. Indicat- ing one at a time until they had all spoken, he asked all in the crowd who agreed that the speakers had expressed their senti- ments, to stand. It was practically unanimous. Then what was considered the second sin was taken up in the same way, then the third and the fourth. In every instance the vote of the crowd was with the ones who had spoken. Here is the list in the order in which Mr. Smith got it straight from the men themselves: First, cowardice; second, selfishness; third, stinginess; fourth, boastfulness. He saw at once that this meant a new code of morals, and, putting the question in another way, he handed out cards to a group of fifty men from two regiments and asked each to write down in order of importance his opinion of what were the four highest virtues men should have. His surprise was complete FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 59 when it was found that every man h^d named them in this order — the very opposite of the four worst sins: Courage, unselfishness, generosity, and modesty, or humility. Speaking of the result of his wide range of investigations along this line, Mr, Smith said: "It seems strange to me now that, at first, I was a little disappointed. I had imagined they would name a sequence of vices led by immorality, tangible things you could get hold of and dramatize eloquently. But the more I thought of it the more it seemed that these soldiers had got down to bed-rock. They had passed the superficial layer. These qualities which they made the basis of their code are fundamental not merely in their life as soldiers; they are just as truly the basis for all right living, anywhere and everywhere. For, as I see it, immorality, drunken- ness and gambling can not live side by side with courage, unself- ishness, generosity and humility. ''War strips the veneer from life. And just because they were soldiers, these young men instinctively let the surface things go, and found the influences underneath which mold that surface. I believe our churches will have to take it into consideration in the future." CHEERFULNESS A SONG FOR THE GERMANS. R. H. Mouser, using the name of * ' Bill Stinger * ' in his poetical writings for the Los Angeles Evening Herald, visited a number of the camps in America and Canada, prior to going to England in the autumn of 1918, entertaining the soldiers with his read- ings. When asked about enlisting in the army, he said it would be too expensive for the Government; that they would have to dig the trenches much wider just for him, as he weighed three hundred pounds. Here are some verses from one of his composi- tions, entitled "Fritzie Might Say": 60 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR "Where do we go from here, Hindy, Where do we go from here? We're on our way, we dare not stay — They are at us flank and rear. You said the Yankees couldn't fight. But they have put us all t» flight — They've mussed us up till we're a sight — Oh, where do we go from here J 'Where do we go from here, Hindy, Where do we go from here ? We're breathing death with every breath — We feel disaster near. Tou promised us the victory; That Paris soon we all should see, And now you order us to flee — Oh, where do we go from here V JOKING WITH THE CHAPLAIN. "Occasionally," said a chaplain serving in France, "the soldiers had a joke at my expense. And it was not always when things were gay, either. Sometimes when we were about to go over the top, for instance, they would look at me with a twinkle in their eyes and say: 'After you, chaplain! Clergy first, you know! ' "The brave lads! They never waited for some one else to go first. When the time came they went over the top with a smile, looking back, and waving their hands. I knew just what they were saying : ' Don 't worry ! We '11 get them \' " ONE HARDSHIP OF SOLDIERS. _ It requires no very vivid imagination for one to realize that the matter of sleep for the soldier on the fighting-line is one of the most serious interruptions of his former habits that he has to encounter. It was not uncommon for soldiers taking part in the great war to go several days at a time with no plan for sleep. If they got any at all, it was but snatches of relaxation, and even then under the most unfavorable circumstances it is pos- sible to imagine. FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 61 Frank P. Jarvis, after spending ihree years at the front in France with the First Canadian Mounted Eifles, still retained his sense of humor, and was ready to look at the bright side of every hardship. He began to meditate upon his past experiences one night while staying in an old building. Looking up at a star through a hole in the roof, he lighted his candle and wrote the following, entitled ''Where Do I Sleep Next?" which he enclosed in a letter to his brother, Paul Jarvis, of New York, dated "Somewhere in Mud, 17th of Ireland, 1918." Here it is: I've sdept on the prairie, shooting the duck and the goose; I've slept in the bush, hunting the elk and the moose. I've slept on steamboats with my bed on the deck, And I've slept in a church with a kink in my neck. I've slept in fields out under the stars, And I've slept on trains in old box cars ; I've slept in beds of purple and gold; I've slept out in Flanders in the mud and the cold. I've slept in dugouts with the rats and the louse And I've slept in France in a fairly good house. I've slept in barns on beds of straw; I've slept in sheds wi' nae bed at a'. I'm sleeping now on a stretcher of wire, And I pray my last sleep may be near a fire. I'm tired of the wet, the mud and the cold, And I won't be sorry when I sleep in the Fold." AN ARTIST IN THE TRENCHES. Capt. Charles B. Baimsfather, in charge of a British company of soldiers in France, was pronounced by British generals as alone worth a whole army corps, because of the good cheer he brought to the soldiers by his comic sketches. He was born a British subject in India, and when a youth moved to England. As a boy he was always sketching his adventures and observa- tions. While in command of a machine-gun company south of Ypres, he was anxious to do something to cheer up his men. It was a dreary life, living in the mud in trenches and in earth dugouts, so the captain began to make sketches. No matter how serious 62 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR the subject, the pictures he drew were comic. They were sent down the lines and caused many a hearty laugh among the hard- pressed soldiers, and finally found their way to the newspapers and magazines, where thousands more saw them and were led to laughter. One day the captain and some of his companions were for- tunate enough to reach a small farmhouse half wrecked by shell fire. They "put up" there, and under the circumstances it seemed liked a palace. Once as they huddled together during a bombardment, a shell struck the house and knocked them all about. The captain made the scene the subject of a sketch entitled "Where Did That One Go?" At another time he was looking out of the attic of a ruined house, when a German shell came perilously near him. This gave him the inspiration for a -drawing of an officer with his head sticking out of a chimney, with a big shell crashing through the corner of the house, which he gave the title, "They've Evidently Seen Me." One of his pictures, representing two Tommies crouching in a shell hole during a terrific bombardment, was given the name, "If You Know a Better Hole, Go to It!" CHILDHOOD GERMAN TOYS FOR CHILDREN? Four thousand cases of German-made toys arrived in New York on October 23, 1918, valued at $250,000— a delayed ship- ment ordered in 1914 by seven American wholesale dealers. Toys! For whom? For the innocents carried down when the "Lusitania" sank? For those tear-eyed Belgian children who stretch forth little arms from which the hands were struck off by swords of German officers? For those French boys and girls with pitiful sightless eyes? For those whose little bodies rest in the churchyards of Italy, that died in pain from poisoned Hun FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 63 candy? Toys made by Huns to whom innocence and childhood are but toys to be played with and then crushed and broken? Why should we befoul and taint the purity of American child- hood with a reminder of the fiendish treatment the Huns have gloried in ever since that fateful August of 1914? Can any one even look upon a Noah's ark "made in Germany" and put from his mind those hundreds of helpless innocents whose silken locks are twined with seaweed? Can one hold a German doU in her arms and forget the thousands of dead from famine who onco made glad a mother's arms? Can a boy find delight in the con- tortions of a mechanical Hun clown and forget those brave young men who writhed in agony when crucified on castle waUs by these same Huns? And what of the merchant who for sordid gain would barter these souvenirs of a loathsome nation and insult the loyalty of lisping lips? What could more delight the cunning Hun, what more quickly bring the sneering smile to cruel faces, or encour- age him to hope that even now we tolerate his brutality and welcome what he wants to seU? Even while the gaudy paint was yet fresh upon those trinkets, wer-e Belgian girls being dragged into a slavery worse than death. We do not lack for toys; toys by trainloads made in American factories, by hands which are clean; toys also by carloads made by our ally in Japan, where childhood is sacred, and love, not hate, is taught at mothers' breasts. Even were there none, far better our boys and girls should go without toys than find pleas- ure in the handiwork of a nation which made a public holiday to celebrate the loss of the ''Lusitania," and which in these latter days is steeped in the "glory" of monstrosities. — H. H. Windsor, in Popular Mechanics, December, 1918. UNITED STATES MEN ADOPT FRENCH ORPHANS. A French orphan boy named Jean Passard, aged six, in some manner found his way into an American regiment of engineers. 5 64 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR When the little fellow told some of the men that he had no relatives living, their hearts were touched. The fact was an- nounced to the regiment, whereupon a proposition was made that the engineers adopt the boy and educate him. Every man favored it, and so Jean was officially adopted. Then and there the hats were passed, and $1,000 was contributed in a few minutes. When the regiment was ordered to the front the boy was sent to the T. M. C. A. headquarters in Paris to be cared for. While Ms many foster-fathers were engaged in the war activi- ties, he was busy teaching French to American soldiers. When asked what he was going to do after the war, he promptly replied : "I am going to New York to attend public schools." When Jean was adopted by the engineers he was fitted out ■with an American army uniform. Other regiments of our soldiers in France adopted French orphans, to educate and otherwise care for them. FRENCH CHILDREN LOVE OUR SOLDIERS. Long after many of the American soldiers who went to France have forgotten what some of the notable men and women said about them and their military efficiency, they will still vividly recall the love bestowed upon them by the children. Everywhere they went, where children were in evidence, the little ones followed them, often holding a soldier's hand as they walked along together. Many pictures in papers and magazines showed our American soldiers sitting, with a child on each knee and others near by. Some showed them carrying the smaller children, but little more than babes, perhaps. The children would run out to meet them when they saw them coming, often handing them flowers, and one of the most touching tributes of the childhood of France was that the boys and girls so faithfully decorated the graves of Uncle Sam's boys buried over there, placing thereon the most beautiful flowers they could find. FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 65 The schoolmaster in a French village asked the children of the school to write compositions describing the American soldiers, some of whom had been billeted there. Here are some extracts: Tlie one that I know is tall, well built. He is very kind to children. Whenever he meets one on the road he will stop his horses and take him along. He is a horse-driver. When it is raining he does not care. He will then whistle with all his might. They like sweets very much. They are clean. They wash all their body with cold water. They are very polite. The American soldier has a great love for his family. He always speaks of his mother, of his father, brothers and sisters. There is one who comes to my house often. I s&vr the American soldiers at their meals. It is very funny. They stand in a long line and laugh aloud. When their meal is over they start singing. HOW ONE SOLDIEE WAS EEWARDED. An American Y. M. C. A. secretary at the hut in Winchester, England, saw one of Uncle Sam's fine soldiers, who was standing near the entrance at the close of a religious service, hand two little English girls a shilling each with which to buy candy. The secretary asked the girls what they would say, adding: "In America little girls would say 'Thank you, six.' " Immediately they spoke up brightly: '* Thanks I Thanks I" The secretary then remarked: "In our country the little girl would probably give a soldier a big hug." The girls, without hesitating in the least, both got at the soldier at once and hugged him very earnestly. As they let go, big tears were rolling down the cheeks of the man in khaki. Per- haps he had a little girl of his own. At any rate, he proved he was a lover of those of whom Christ spoke so many inspiring words. COINCIDENCE CAPTURED HIS OWN BROTHER. The great war developed many remarkable coincidences. An American soldier, of German birth, captured his own brother* during a severe engagement on the western front in France. 66 STORIES OF THE GREAT IVAR The brother had lived in the United States, and at once offered to enlist in his American brother's company, but was sent along to the prison camp with his comrades. RELATIVES SIMILAR IN SUFFERING. In 1870, Prof. George Siebert, fighting in the Franco-Prussian War, was wounded by a shell splinter in a battle near Toul, France. In 1918, just forty-eight years later, his son, an artil- leryman in the U. S. army, while fighting over the same ground, was similarly wounded. The elder Siebert resided at Danville, Illinois. A RED CROSS CALF MARKED. R. W. Garland, of Malta, Montana, was the jowner of a Guernsey cow that gave birth to a "Red Cross" calf, in March,"" 1918. So impressed was the owner with the freak color marks that he donated the calf to the Malta chapter of the Red Cross. The animal was entirely white, except red ears, red front feet, and a wonderful red cross upon its right side, in clear, even out- lines, with three small star-like spots near the cross, as if to emphasize the emblem. At a Red Cross carnival held at Malta the calf was exhibited and an admission charged. Here many doubting Thomases were convinced that it was one of the most marvelous things they had ever seen. Later the calf was taken to other towns and exhibited, everywhere attracting much attention. The money received from admissions all went to the Red Cross work. WHERE TWO FAMOUS SONS SLEPT. Within two weeks from the date of the German surrender, American forces constituting a part of the army of occupation on the west side of the Moselle River, according to the terms of the armistice, had in their ranks Lieut. Col. Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., son of the ex-President of the United States. The room FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 67 assigned him for a night at one of -the hotels there was the same that had been occupied by Major von Hindenburg, son of the famous German field marshal. This was typical of the fact that the Americans and their allies were everywhere "on the tracks" of the Huns. THIETEEN MAY HAVE A EIVAL. The number "IZ" did not figure in the closing of the war, but "11" was very conspicuous. The Germans were forced to sur- render on the eleventh day of the eleventh month, at 11 A. M. This would seem to give the Huns a chance to start a new super- stition around the number "11" and give "13" a rest, in Hunland, at least. SOLDIEE'S NUESE WAS HIS SISTEE. Harold St. Clair, of Oakland, California, a soldier recovering consciousness in a IT. S. base hospital in France, was surprised to see that the Eed Cross nurse standing over him was his sister Irene. Neither had known the location of the other before the injury which sent him to the hospital. Writing to his father of the coincidence, he said: "I did not need medicine when I saw Irene. ' ' Another remarkable coincidence of Oakland parties was that of Carl Forgey and Howard Gray, first cousins, in different branches of the service of Uncle Sam, who accidentally met in the woods in France; and this, too, at the time when there were about 1,600,000 of our soldiers in that country. IT WAS HEE SOLDIEE BEOTHEE. The entire telephone system in one of the suburbs of Chicago was tied up in the evening of November 15, 1918, by the strange coincidence that fell to the lot of Miss Mabel Daley, the one operator in charge at that time. Investigators who hastened to the office found her in a faint. She had become unconscious while 68 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR wiiting down a message that came over the wires from the U. S. War Department, addressed to herself, which read: Miss Mabel Daley: — We regret to iniorm you of the death of your brother, Corporal Arthur Daley, killed in action. A PAIE OF SHOES AND DEATH. Stephen E. Brown, of St. Louis, serving as a Y. M. C. A. secretary in the war zone in France, in a letter to a friend describing the terrible battle of July 14-15, 1918, said: I had just crawled into my dugout with a chap named CoUis when the bombardment began. We had removed our shoes and coats, thrown a blanket over us and prepared to sleep. The call came, "Gas." On went our masks. Then came the comjnand, "Get out of these woods, every one." In the hurry Collis got my shoes, leaving his, a half-size too small for me, but I finally got into them. Collis was gone. I could locate no one. Mr. Brown, after relating a number of thrilling experiences and many heroic acts on the part of the soldiers that night, said that Collis was later found dead, having been killed by a bursting shell, and continued: The man who in his haste put on my shoes, and didn't wait for me, lies in a hero's grave, as he gave his life for his country that night. He was a fine, manly fellow. I did a lot of thinking as I stood by his gi-ave. You see, I should have been with him but for the mix-up in shoes. Do you wonder that I paused to think J WANTED TEN, GOT NINE. A California boy, fighting against the Germans in France, was found dead in a pit, by his comrades. There were also nme dead Germans there. In the boy's shirt pocket was a letter to his mother, written a short time before the beginning of the Argonne drive. In the letter he said: I am taking advantage of a few hours' rest and writing to you, as I know you are always wanting to hear from me. But don't you worry one bit, mother dear. If the Bodies get me, I will get ten of them while they are about it. He lacked only one of making his prediction come true. FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 69 FICTION VISUALIZED. IN REALITY. E. H. Sothern described, in Scribner's Magazine, two coin- cidences of a most unusual nature which, occurred during the rendering of the closet scene from ''Hamlet," at a Y. M. C. A. hut in France, for an audience of a thousand soldiers. He had reached the point where Hamlet stabs Polonius behind the curtain. "Oh, me! What hast thou done?" cries the Queen. "Nay, I know not. Is it the King?" demands Hamlet. ' ' Oh, what a rash and bloody deed is this ! ' ' wails the Queen. As he spoke this with the vehemence required by the scene, a soldier thrust open the door of the hut and shouted: ' ' Air raid I Lights out ! ' ' Instantly every light in the building was put out. Amid the dull roar of the mumbled conversations, with the audience in the dark, a voice rang out sharp and clear as the crack of a pistol: "Attention!" It was the colonel of the regiment who spoke. At once there was absolute stillness. "Turn on one light on the stage," he said, and it was done. "Mr. Sothern," said the colonel, "would you mind going on with your reading?" The entertainer proceeded. "Oh, what a rash and bloody deed is this," he repeated, and added: "An appropriate line, it would seem." This brought forth loud applause. He went on and was con- cluding his program with a recital of the "Battle Hymn of the Republic," and when he reached the line, "He hath sounded forth a trumpet that shall never call- retreat," remarkable to relate, a trumpet sounded loudly oixtside — the signal that the air raid was over! This, coupled with the previous coincidence, threw the crowd of soldiers into a storm of laughter and applause. 70 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR A friend who was with Mr. Sothern declared he had never heard him play "Hamlet" so weU as on this most unusual oeea- sion. STRANGE MEETING AT BOND RALLY. During the fourth Liberty Loan drive a four-minute speaker at a New York theater decided to visualize the need of money, and, after mounting the stage, pointed to a sailor in the audience, and sang out: "Come here and stand by me a minute 1" The sailor, used to obeying orders, promptly went forward. "Now," continued the speaker, "who wiU buy a $1,000 Lib-" erty bond for this boy?" Before the words had scarcely left his lips a man called out, "I will!" ' ' Good I ' ' said the four-minute man. ' ' Now, sailor, go and shake hands with the man." The sailor again obeyed, and as he approached the purchaser of the bond a look of delight and surprise spread over his fea- tures. As they grasped hands the sailor boy said: "I remember you. You're Clarence Mackay. I'm John Stubbs, of Reno, Nevada." He had seen Mr. Mackay in his home town, where he was a student of the University of Nevada. It developed that the sailor was the son of President Stubbs, of that university, the man who induced Clarence Mackay to endow the college with a school of mines. FATHER FINDS SON IN TRENCH. Lonnie Smith, aged seventeen, of Toledo, Ohio, enlisted in the early part of 1918, and was sent to France with the American troops. His father, aged fifty-eight, who was in the Spanish- American War, worried over the absence of his son, and, learning the division he was in, himself enlisted six months later, and at FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 71 his request was placed in the same- division, hoping he could at least be near the son. Joy unspeakable came to him one day when he met his boy face to face in a front-line trench. Lonnie knew nothing of his father's enlistment up to that time, but nevertheless was greatly rejoiced to see him. ADDEESSED NEGROES IN THE DARK. Dr. Robert Bagnell, who was on a lecture tour for the Y. M. C. A., to the American troops in France, had the novel experience of addressing a regiment of colored soldiers, at night, without lights of any kind. He was scheduled to speak to them in the early evening, when he could see his audience, but the automobile in which he was riding was delayed. The negro soldiers were assembled in a woods near their trenches. An officer questioned the possibility of going ahead without lights, but the speaker decided to do so, as his time for the next day was all taken up with other engagements. He could not see his hearers clearly, for they were as dark as the night, but delivered his address with new zest because of the unusual circumstances, and was assured it was greatly appreciated. COMRADESHIP ANOTHER'S NEED SAVES TWO. Here is an experience related by a Y. M. C. A. man on a dark night in France, in making his escape from a shell-torn battle- field: "With my gas mask on, it was hard to see. I wandered around in the woods, finally found an opening and started into a field. Then I heard the cry of a wounded lad and went to him. He had been hit by a piece of shrapnel, but, by leaning heavily on me, could walk. For over two hours we stumbled through the field, with shells bursting as near as three feet. We would lie flat each time and so escaped injury. The wounded boy would say 72 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR over and over, 'Don't leave me.' I had no intention of doing so. I was glad to have him with me. We were so close to death so many times that human companionship became quite dear. I can not imagine that I should have gotten through the night without that boy. He was my reason for heeping on. I got him to a first-aid station as soon as possible, and then helped to care for others." 'eculiar needs of this abnormal time will have the greater ministry. CANARIES HELP WIN THE WAR. So far as it was possible, the army ambulance trains and hospitals in France were provided with canary birds, in cages. It was often noted that a wounded or sick soldier lying on hia cot, perhaps in bandages and splints, with eyes closed to every- thing about him, would suddenly open his eyes and smile when a canary would start its cheerful song. Physicians reported that the melody often acted like magic on the sick men. The psychological efifect was often marvelous. The prostrate men begged the nurses to bring the cages closer, or place them beside their cots where they could feed and pet the birds. In some instances where a nestful of eggs hatched downy birds overnight, they were sure to be well cared for by the big, strapping soldiers, more helpless for the time being than the little creatures that had just left their shells. Canaries were also used in the trenches, where they were quick to detect gas and vitiated air before any man was aware of its coming, thus giving the alarm in time for the men to don their gas-masks before the full force of the gas was at hand. The birds would topple over with the first faint smell of gas, but would quickly recover by the administration of oxygen. PANAMA CANAL IN WARTIME. When the United States built the great Panama Canal at a cost of $400,000,000, it was considered a stupendous sum, and many wondered if it would ever pay. Soon after the world war ended, A. F. Pillsbury, an officer of the United States Shipping 140 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR Board, Emergency Fleet Corporation, made some interesting statements concerning the part the canal played in the winning of the war. The Pacific Coast furnished a large number of ships that were needed immediately to carry out the war program of the United States, and vast quantities of food from that coast were sent quickly through the canal. Tens of thousands of Australian troops, from the big island far down in the Pacific, were passed through the canal, making their way safely and quickly from the Pacific to the Atlantic. Ten American ships and seventeen Japanese ships used the canal with regular schedules in the transportation of immense quantities of supplies that were essential to the progress of the war. Looking back to the days of 1898, while the war with Spain was on, when the "Oregon" made her famous trip around "The Horn" -to take part in the battle of Santiago, Cuba, after a voyage of several weeks, there appears the contrast of scores of destroyers, transports and merchant vessels slipping quietly out of San Francisco Bay, and within a few days appearing on the Atlantic Coast, ready to carry men, ammunition and supplies to the battle-front in France. Yes, the Panama Canal came in mighty handy during the world war. Every loyal American is now glad that we dug the big ditch when we did. WONDERS OF WIRELESS IN THE WAR. Guglielmo Marconi, inventor of radio telegraphy, called atten- tion, in a special newspaper article, to the great part wireless telegraphy played in the war. "There exists no combination of greater effectiveness for reconnoissance purposes and for the all-important function of artillery fire-control than that of wireless on aircraft," he states. "As a matter of fact, our entire heavy artillery fire is FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 141^ conducted by radio communication from aircraft. At the begin- ning of the war the observer who accompanied each air pilot made careful pictures of the enemy battery emplacements, and when the airplane flew back to its own lines these drawings were dropped. "At the present [closing days of the war], with the wireless in operation on the aircraft, the observer simply notes the result of the artillery fire of his side, and sends back, by wireless, mes- sages which indicate, * Too short, ' ' Three to right, ' ' Two to left, ' and so on. The wireless operator who makes the observations for fire control is provided with a map of the ground blocked off into squares. As he observes the fall of the shells he sends back by wireless the number of the square and records a hit or gives directions for greater accuracy in the firing of the succeed- ing shots. **The wireless-equipped seaplane was one of the most valuable tools in the hands of the Allies for detecting submarines. Air- craft, flying overhead, could trace the path of a submarine below the surface, and, by reporting its position by wireless, give to near-by merchantmen warning to escape, or to war vessels to destroy the undersea craft when possible." WAR'S DEMAND FOR COTTON. After the great war had been in progress a little over four years, it was estimated that absorbent cotton was required at the rate of 20,000 bales a year just to staunch and bind the wounds of the injured soldiers. A machine gun, in operation, uses a bale in three months. A twelve-inch gun disposes of half a bale with every shot fired. In a naval battle, like the one off Jutland, from five to six thousands pounds of cotton are consumed every minute by each active warship. * One change of apparel for all the troops engaged in war in 1918 required 1,000^000 bales of cotton. 142 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR FArLURE FALL OF LUCIFER AKD OF THE KAISEK. The New York Tribune, in discussing the fall of the Kaiser, by failure to win the war and being forced by his own people to abdicate, compared his case to the fall of Lucifer, as recorded in Isa. 14 : 9-21 : 9. Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming; it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it had raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. 10. All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we ? Art thou become like unto us ? 11. Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee. 12. How art thou fallen from heaven. Oh, Lucifer, son of the morning I How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13. For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north. 14. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like tho Most High. 15. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. 16. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, and that did shake kingdoms; 17. That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners! 18. All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house. 19. But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to tho stones of the pit; as a carcass trodden under feet. 20. Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land and slain thy people ; the seed of evil-doers shaU never be renowned. 21. Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers; that they do not rise nor possess the land, nor all the face of the world with cities. WHY THE KAISER ABDICATED. The Sioux Falls Press, discussing the abdication of the Kaiser, truly says it was not consciousness that the Emperor had made Germany the foulest criminal nation that ever infested this FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 143 troubled earth; it was not remorse; it was not a revulsion of sentiment against the horrid felonies and hideous doctrines of German kultur — ^no reformation of a race prompted the demand that the Emperor abdicate. He was kicked out in disgrace because he failed to accomplish the thing his people expected him to do. He failed to win the war, he failed to annex territory belonging to other and better people. His subjects could forgive the disgrace, the crime, the cruelties, for they themselves gloried in all this so long as the German armies were not defeated, but they could not forgive the failure of the Kaiser to make good along the grasping, unjust, loathsome lines which were expected to win. They had no words of regret for the crimes, but only for the failure to come out victorious through those atrocities. LAST MOMENTS OF KAISERISM. The stormy scenes at German Great Headquarters at Spa, Belgium, just preceding the forced abdication of the Kaiser were tense with excitement for Wilhelm II. He was told by his generals that mutiny was widespread among the German troops, and that a force was preparing to march to Spa from Liege and compel him to abdicate. He could not believe it. He questioned the generals very closely, then ordered that numerous bodies of troops, upon whose unswerving loyalty he had confidently relied, be sent in from the battle-line. They were assembled before the Kaiser, and to the troops he personally put the question: "Do you want your Kaiser, or do you want peace?" "Peace!" was the mighty shout as with one voice. After a pause of intense suspense, the Kaiser, apparently feeling that the critical circumstances portended danger to his person, asked the troops: "WUl my soldiers afford me protection?" The question was not answered by them. 10 144 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR This was a great shock to the ruler. The generals then explained to him that the soldiers could not be relied upon to even afford him protection. Finally realizing that his power was gone from him, Wilhelm II. consented to abdicate, and immediately began preparations to leave. He was soon on his way to Holland, surrounded by a strong guard of officers and a few soldiers. It was the end of HohenzoUern rule. FAITH MOTHER'S FAITH IN HER SONS. During one of Germany's "peace offensives," which set the whole United States discussing the question as to whether or not the Kaiser's proposition should receive serious consideration, none were more pronounced against such action than the mothers of sons fighting the cruel Huns. A San Francisco mother, with two sons at the time in France, and a third in an American training-camp, said to a reporter: "We don't want peace until the Huns are beaten to the earth. I would personally be willing to match my three boys against the six sons of the Kaiser^ and I know what the outcome would be.'* A LEAF FROM A SOLDIER'S TESTAMENT. One of our American soldiers, who was fatally wounded in France, lay on the battlefield seventy hours without food or water, and then passed away. A person can only picture in a vague sort of a way what his sufferings must have been, from wounds, hunger and thirst, but they must have been intense. And yet, apparently rising above all this, the soldier's last thoughts were evidently the thoughts of faith in God, for in hia lifeless hand was found his little Testament, open, as though FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 145 he had been reading, and these were the words near where his hand pressed — 2 Tim. 4: 6-8: "For I am already being offered, and tlie time of my departure is come. I have fought the g-ood fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth tliere is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to aU them that love his appearing." The leaf bearing the words was torn from the Testament and sent to his mother in America, that she might know her soldier boy died in the faith of the home from whence he had gone to help bring the world up to the ideals of Christian life and teaching. FAITHFULNESS , DOG TRIES TO JOIN ARMY. The pet dog of Mrs. J. W. Newborn, of Portland, Oregon, made two attempts to join the colors of Uncle Sam, but failed. The first time he followed a soldier to Vancouver barracks. The next day "Buster" (that's his name) was returned to his mis- tress. A few days later ho followed another soldier, but was again brought back to his home. It was supposed that something about the uniform of a sol- dier appealed to him. No red-blooded American would blame him for that^ for we're all the same. PERSHING'S ONE AMBITION. James F. Pershing, brother of Gen. John J. Pershing, ia charge of the American Expeditionary Forces during the war, while making speeches in the interests of the fourth Liberty Loan, said in answer to a question: "General Pershing has no Presidential ambitions and does not want his name mixed up in politics. He has never voted, because he has been so constantly shifted about in the course of his army duties that he has seldom been in one place long 146 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR enough to vote. His business is the success of the American arms. That alone occupies his attention." Every one will agree that he has certainly made good in that regard in a most praiseworthy manner. The name of Gen. John J. Pershing will go down in honorable history to be remembered long after the names of many national rulers have been for- gotten. FAITHFULNESS OF WAR HORSES. It has been estimated that nearly 5,000,000 horses took part in the war in one way or another, and equine casualties were often as high as 50,000 a month. The faithfulness of the dumb creatures was a constant source of marvel to men associated with them in the awful task. A man in the Royal Field Artillery, who had been driving his horses for three years, was one day separated from them by the crashing of a shell in the midst of the section with which he was moving. His gun was wrecked and the driver immediately in front of him was blown to bits. As he mounted a fresh horse, he turned and saw his two horses struggling and kicking on the ground to free themselves, but was unable to go back and help them. A Frenchman dashed up and cut the traces, and although their driver was by this time a long distance ahead, they galloped after him, and followed him for four days, keeping their places in the line like trained soldiers. After the iierce fighting at Loos a horse was seen standing between the firing-lines. For two whole days he remained there, when one of the Coldstream Guards went out to him and found that he was standing by the dead body of his rider, the horse himself unharmed ! It was with difficulty the animal was induced to leave the spot, and only by blindfolding him could he be persuaded to part from his dead master and return to the British lines. FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 147 A cavalry officer, who was in a hospital recovering from shell- shock, loaned his steed, a faithful mare, which he pronounced "as brave and strong as a lion, yet as mild and obedient as a lamb," to a brother officer. One day, passing along a certain road, the animal began trembling, snorted, and refused to go a step farther, until he applied the spurs. Passtug on, she soon became normal. A few days later, going over the same road again, the mare had another nervous fit at the same spot. He could not understand it, for at all other times her conduct was ideal. He went to the owner, lying on his bed at the hospital, and then the mystery was solved. *'Poor Dolly!" said the man, tenderly; **it was at the place you describe that the shell fell which laid me up. She evidently remembers it as keenly as I do." This incident shows that horses have good memories, as well as a strong attachment for their masters. Many instances have been related in which horses endeavored to save their wounded riders who had fallen, by lifting them carefully with their teeth and helping to drag them to a place of safety. FATE "THE KING WILL TELL US WHITHER." A great German newspaper, early in the war, published a picture of gallopiug soldiers, with these words underneath: "We are riding again; the King will tell us whither." That was the spirit of the monarchy-ruled nation — ^that the people would blindly go whither the ruler indicated, whether the king led wisely or wickedly. As the war progressed and the king business was getting shaky. Emperor Karl, of Austria-Hungary, said to Kaiser WU- helm of Germany: "We kings must stick together." 148 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR But the people decided they would stick together and fight together. The kings were toppled over into rubbish heaps, no longer considered necessary. The Kaiser, not able to tell his people whither they could ride, himself rode into exUe and disgrace. As if in the twinkling of an eye, he was transformed from the ruler of a great nation to an outcast at whom the boys of HoUand yelled ' * Boo ! ' ' when he landed at one of their depots. KAISER'S BELLS TOLL HIS DOWNFALL, When the news of the surrender of Germany reached Jeru- salem, the huge bells over the German hotel on the Mount of Olives were tolled, their clear tones ringing out over the valleys and into the surrounding country, thus giving the first intimation to many citizens of the Holy Land of the downfall of the Kaiser. This is another instance showing the strange ways of fate. When the Kaiser visited Jerusalem, with great pomp and cere- mony, he personally superintended the hanging of the bells, on each of which was inscribed his own name. FATE OF THE WICKED RULERS. The four rulers of the Central Powers who joined hands in the war of greed and cruelty, which began in 1914, either died or lost their thrones before the war came to an end, except the Kaiser of Germany, who was forced to abdicate at almost the last moment before the armistice was signed. Emperor Francis Joseph, of Austria-Hungary, and the Sultan of Turkey died. King Ferdinand, of Bulgaria, abdicated, to be succeeded by his son, who gave up the throne when the peasantry revolted against him. When the Kaiser abdicated and fled to Holland, an American newspaper, in commenting upon the incident, said: "What a position for the 'invincible' war lord of Europe — hiding behind a woman's skirts! [the queen of Holland]. Is FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 149 the tyrant a coward too? If he isn't, why doesn't he face the music?'* THE MULE'S PUNISHMENT. An American soldier was directed to haul water for a certain purpose, while in France. His outfit was a mule, a cart and a big barrel. AU went well until he had succeeded in getting up to where the shells were falling pretty thick, when the mule balked. The soldier, astride the barrel, told the animal what he thought of him, and still the long-eared creature did not budge. When the driver's patience had just about reached the limit, a shell came singing over and hit the balky mule, literally shattering the body to bits, except the head, which was thrown several yards up the road, and the hind legs and hips, still hitched to the cart. The driver was thrown off from his seat on the barrel, but was unhurt. To a shaking comrade who appeared on the scene, he said in disgust as he wiped the mule from his face: ** That's what the blamed thing gets for balking 1" THE HAPSBUEG ''CUESE" FULFILLED. In the vast field of operations of the great war, no one feature stands out more tragic and dramatic than that of the fulfillment of the curse pronounced upon the Austrian house of Hapsburg by the Countess Karolyi, in 1848. In that year, when the young Emperor, Francis Joseph, of Austria, then eighteen years of age, was suppressing, with ter- rible cruelties, the Hungarian rebellion, the countess uttered this curse upon him: ^'May Heaven and Hell blast his happiness! May his family be exterminated! May he be smitten in the persons he loves! May his life be wrecked and his children brought to ruin ! ' ' Although he lived sixty-eight years after the curse was uttered, his long life and reign was made up of uninterrupted disaster 150 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR and disgrace. His own life went out in 1916, with his country torn and suffering with untold hardships, as an ally of Germany in the great war. His successor, Emperor Charles, was driven from his throne in 1918, at the close of the war, with the king- dom disrupted and the people starving. Among the many tragedies that came to those near and dear to the one upon whom the curse was pronounced may be men- tioned the following: His only son, Crown Prince Rudolph, a suicide near Vienna, in 1889. His brother, Archduke Maximilian, executed in Mexico, 1887. The latter 's wife, Marie Charlotte, hopelessly insane. The Emperor's cousin. King Ludwig, of Bavaria, committed suicide while insane, in 1886. King Otto, brother of Ludwig, also died while insane. The Emperor's wife. Empress Elizabeth, murdered by an anarchist at Geneva, 1897. Princess Sophie, Duchess of Alencon, sister of the Empress, burned to death in Paris the same year. Prince Louis, brother-in-law of Empress Elizabeth, in a fit of despondency, committed suicide. Archduke John of Austria, cousin of the Emperor, lost at sea. Archduchess Matilda, another cousin, burned to death. A granddaughter shot her rival. Archduke Ladislas killed while hunting. And the tragedy which Germany seized upon as the pretext, joined in by Austria, for starting the great world war, was the assassination, on June 28, 1914, of Archduke Francis Ferdinand, nephew and heir of Francis Joseph, and his wife. While the above are the principal tragedies in the life of the Emperor who began his reign with cruelties to his rebellious sub- jects, there are many more of a minor nature. It would seem that the late Emperor Francis Joseph could say with the late Czar Nicholas of Russia: "When have I known a day of happiness?" FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 151 FRIENDSHIP HOMESICKNESS OF WAR HORSES. An army ofldcer, showing a visitor the arrangements for caring for the thousands of horses assembled at Camp Funston, pre- paratory to being shipped to France for war duty, called atten- tion to a certain animal in a stall in one of the big barns. "See that horse f he asked. "Won't eat, won't drink. Just stands there and pines and mopes, head down. Not a thing in the world wrong with it. Temperature is perfectly normal. Yet that horse has lost three hundred pounds." "A case of homesickness?" inquired the visitor. "That's exactly it. He's so down in the mouth he doesn't care whether school keeps or not. We've been keeping him under observation. Sometimes they die of it. As soon as he gets back in the corral there's a chance he will get over it if he picks up with a mate. Horses are just like men. They get acquainted out in the corral and they make friends. Let two or three come in from the same farm and they stick together like brothers. Two lonesome animals strike up a friendship, and they are insep- arable. ' ' The visitor was also shown the hospital, where the sick horses were being tenderly cared for. The men in charge all spoke in gentle tones, as do persons in the room of a sick friend. One magnificent bay mare fell into the death struggle, and a little knot of men in khaki stopped all work and stood around until the end — and they stood silently. When the last breath had gone from the body of the poor dumb creature, the lieutenant spoke as if he were consoling some one: "We have been expecting it for the last twenty-four hours." Then the men turned again to their tasks, and the visitor was grateful for the opportunity afforded in demonstration of the care our Government provided for the dumb creatures drafted 152 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR for war service, even as it cared for tlie millions of boys called from their homes to serve humanity. A DYING SOLDIER'S REQUEST. Lieut. W. G. Hamilton, with the Canadian army for three years in France, gives a touch of the way friendships spring up in army life, in the following: There was in my battalion a little chap named Britton. He was a wonderful boy, fine and brave and lovable. At night, when we were sleep- ing out in the mud and the rain, he used to snuggle up close to me, like a child with a big brother; and I got to love him more than I can put into words. He had as much courage as any man in the company, and yet he was such a little chap. In spite of his daring, he was the kind of a boy you wanted to loofe. out for. Then, one night, we were going forward in an attack. The Germans were enfilading our lines with a machine gun, and every step of the way we were losing men. All of a sudden I came on Britton, lying on the ground, and I stopped, I wouldn't have done it had it been any one else, but he was different. As I stooped down he said, "I am done for." I knelt beside him and put my arm under his head, and he said brokenly, for he was mortally wounded: "Tell them I did my best — I tried to — do my best. And please take — ^what's in my pocket — to — " He gave me the name and address of his sweetheart at home. I promised him I would, and then he gasped: "Bend down. I want you — to give her — something else." I bent close to him — and he kissed met He died there in my arms. And perhaps you would think that experi- ences like that would make us hate war and everything connected with it. We do hate war. But we who have been in it are the last ones to hate "everything connected with it." For we have seen too much that is fine and splendid come out of the dreadfulness of war. I believe that the men who have been fighting together in the trenches have more faith in human nature and more pride in their fellow-men than anybody else in the world. The ofiicers, for example, who have been with the men on the fighting-lines, are as proud of them as a mother is of her sons. THE STORY OF VERDTJN BELLE. The devotion of a dog to a human friend has been strikingly proven many times, but it remained for the war to bring forth one of the most touching incidents on record. The story was told by Stars and Stripes, official paper for the American Expe- ditionary Forces in France: One day a common setter dog appeared among the American Marines fighting near Verdun. No one knew where she came FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS [53 from, so a soldier named her "Verdun Belle," and was kind to her. She returned the friendship in every way it was possible for a dog to do, and the man and dog were inseparable, until one day she became the mother of seven brovm-and-white puppies. Their eyes were hardly open before orders came for the regiment to which her adopted friend belonged to move to another sector. Some might have thought the dog and her puppies would be left behind, but not so her new master. Obtaining a market- basket, he placed the seven little bits of flesh and hair in it, and Verdun Belle followed lovingly behind, serene, and confident that all was well with her little family. Forty mUes the Marine carried this load, in the heat of the march, in addition to his already heavy pack, when an order came to go stni farther. He was forced to give up the basket. With a sad heart he killed four of the pups to make sure they would not be starved or neglected, and slipped the other three in his shirt-front. On and on he tramped with his comrades, aJid one day the mother dog was missing — ^had evidently been lost in the crowd and dropped behind. Having no food the pup- pies could eat, he turned them over to an ambulance corps pass- ing back from the front. As they were driving toward their post, wondering how they could feed the little creatures, they saw a mother dog by the roadside, and, strange to relate, it proved to be Vurdun Belle. She went into ecstasies when the pups were placed with her, and together they made their home at a field hospital. A short time after, another strange thing happened. Her master, who had been wounded in the fierce fighting at the front, was brought to that very hospital. He had wondered how the three little pets were getting along without their mother, and where she was all this time. While the men were waiting in turn for their wounds to be dressed, the attendants noticed ,a dog slip in and commence 154 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR sniffing the air as if in search of something. Before any ono had time to protest, Verdun Belle found the cot on which her master lay. He was lying with his eyes closed, when he felt a tongue on his cheek. She was licking the dust from his pained and battle-smeared face. It was indeed a happy reunion for both dog and man. When the nurses heard the remarkable story from the Marine, they brought another cot, placing it close by the side of the wounded man, and on this Verdim BeUe and her three little puppies were allowed to make themselves at home. It was no uncommon thing for those who passed through the hospital to see the mother dog and her babies being fondled by the wounded man who had been so kind to them, reaching over with one hand to pet them as he lay prostrate from his injuries. When he had improved sufficiently to be removed to the base hospital, he requested that his four dumb friends be permitted to go there with him. So strong had the attachment become that the request was readily granted. Verdun Belle and her happy family would no more think of deserting their master than he would of deserting them. GREED WHEN THE KAISER ENTERED JERUSALEM. Turkey's unconditional surrender to the allied forces, in October, 1918, was just twenty years, almost to the day, from the time when the Kaiser, Emperor Wilhelm of Germany, dra- matically and ostentatiously entered the Holy City in the costume of a Knight of St. John. On this memorable occasion the Kaiser pledged his protection to the Sultan of Turkey, and asserted that the German Government was in a position to afford its friends "broad and effective protection." It was also on this journey, made in all the splendor and outward impressiveness that money could provide, with many FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 155 attendants, that the Kaiser's dreams of the "Berlin to Bagdad" empire flowered full. How the mighty have fallen! The words in Proverbs that "pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall," literally came true in the case of the German Emperor. GERMAN GIRL'S VIEW OF WAR. A remarkable letter has been printed in the Congressional Record at Washington, showing that there was such a thing as a Prussian spirit among the common people of Germany. The letter, from which the following are extracts, was written by a Prussian girl to a friend in Switzerland, and was dated Frankfort on Oder, July 20, 1916: My Dbae Louise: — Your last letter -would have hurt me had I not known that your thoughts of our glorious war resulted from sheer igno- rance. You are in a country rendered effeminate by the influence of old- fashioned ideas of liberty, a country at least two centuries behind ours. It is evident that you, a Swiss girl, with your French sympathies, can not understand how my heart passionately desired this war. Some years ago, my father said to us: "Children, Germany is getting too small; wo shall have to go to France again to find more room." Is it our fault if France will not understand that more money and land are necessary for us * And you reproach us that our soldiers have been very cruel to the Bel- gian rabble, and you speak of the destruction of Rheims, and of the burn- ing of villages and towns. Well, that is war. As in every other under- taking, we are past masters in the making of war. You have a great deal to learn before you can come up to our standard, and I can assure you that what has been done so far is a mere bagatelle compared with what will follow. As a matter of fact, there is but one race worthy of ruling the world, and which has already attained the highest degree of civilization. That race is ours, the Prussian, for though we Germans in general are the lords of the world, the Prussian is undoubtedly the lord par excellence among the Germans. All other nations, and among them, unfortunately, the Swiss, are degen- erate and of inferior worth. That is why I have always been so proud of being a true Prussian. Nothing except the complete victory which the Allies won over the Germans could ever have stamped out such a monstrous spirit among the common people of a nation as is revealed in the above letter. It was the wicked, proud spirit of rule or ruin. 156 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR THE KAISER A PEOFITEEK. Emperor William of Germany was a large shareholder in the Krupp gun-works of Essen before the war began, and, after hostilities started, increased his shares by $25,000,000. As king- of Prussia he was allowed a civil list of $4,250,000 a year. His grandfather left him $12,000,000. He was the greatest landowner in Germany before his enforced abdication. He had 110 palaces, gorgeously furnished. When he traveled on his magnrficently equipped train it cost him $50 per mile. HELPFULNESS THE SURGEON AND THE SECRETARY. A soldier who had been terribly wounded was taken to a hospital in France. After the surgeon had done everything within his power for him, he remarked to a Y. M. C. A. secretary: "Here's a case for you. The man hasn't one chance in a thousand to live." When the "Y" worker approached and bent over the suffer- ing soldier, the wounded one said: "I have made a mess of life; enlisted under a false name, and all that. I'd better end it right here." "Better hegi/n it right here," said the secretary, cheerily. The prostrate man looked up pitifully, with a ray of hope. After a little conversation he decided to take the other's advice. He began to improve. Six weeks later he was up, and became an active, enthusiastic Christian worker. The surgeon said to the secretary: "It was you, not me, that saved him." LARGEST HOSPITAL IN THE WORLD. Before the war it was thought the activities of the world had reached a very large scale. We were used to big things then, FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 157 but with the coming of the monster programs necessary for the prosecution of the greatest war in history, it was inevitable that other things must be in proportion. In the days of peace a hospital with 1,000 beds was cause for wonder, but this was eclipsed many times when the great war hospital was opened at La Guich, France, with 22,000 beds. It is a sad reflection that even this was not large enough at times to meet the demands. PROTECTING SOLDIERS FROM THEMSELVES. John D. Rockefeller, Jr., told of a man in uniform approach- ing New York on a ferry-boat from Jersey City, who said to a girl standing near by: "Hello, Cuteyl Where are you going?" Then, noticing a little badge she wore, he asked what it signified. "That shows that I am a member of the Patriotic League," she replied earnestly. "And what kind of an organization is that?" continued the soldier. "It's a society which we girls have got up to make New York safe for men like you," she said with the same sweet earnestness. That tells much in a single sentence. SIGNS FOR WOUNDED SOLDIERS. The Red Cross workers in France furnished the army with thousands of small cloth signs, bearing a red cross and an arrow to indicate directions, by which wounded soldiers could find their way back to the nearest dressing-station. The Red Cross markers followed each advance, tacking the signs to trees, posts or any conspicuous object. This plan enabled wounded men to be cared for much sooner than would otherwise have been possible. Before it was adopted it was no uncommon thing for injured soldiers 156 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR to become lost and wander about for hours before finding a place, or being found, to have their wounds dressed. HOME TIES THEEE WOMEN FOR ONE SOLDIER. Two girls in a large banking office in San Francisco were soliciting subscriptions for the fourth Liberty Loan drive, when one of them said: "My brother is over there," and the other one said: "My sweetheart is over there.'' In the booth sat a mother, who quietly said: "My son is over there." They were all speaking of the same boy, and were mighty proud of him too. "A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM." A troop-train was standing in a certain station awaiting orders, says Trench and Camp, published at Camp Gordon, Georgia, with the soldiers leaning out of car windows, cheering, singing, chatting with little groups of bystanders, when the Y. M. C. A. secretary who belonged to the train, and was out on the station platform, observed a soldier endeavoring to attract the attention of a young mother who was standing not far away with a babe in her arms. The secretary approached him and asked what he wanted. "I want to talk to that woman over there with the baby," he replied. The "Y" man hastily glanced at the face of the man in khaki and was satisfied with the expression, so walked over to the woman and asked if she would grant the soldier's request. She gladly did so, and this is what he said to her: "Lady, I have a little baby about the age of yours. I wanted so much to get home and see him once more, but I FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 159 couldn't. Would you mind my taking yours and kissing it? Life over there, I imagine, may be pretty tempting, and as a father I want to go across with a baby's kiss on my lips." The mother lifted up her child to the soldier, who placed its wee arms about his neck, then folded it in his great, muscular arms, and, amid the din and gaiety of the hundreds of soldiers on the train, he kissed it lovingly with the tenderness of a strong, true man. After he had given the baby back to its mother, she then took the soldier's face between her hands, kissed him on the forehead, and said: "God bless you! My baby's father is over there!" FRENCH ADOPT AMERICAN WORD. Before the going of such a large number of American soldiers overseas, the French people had no word for "home," in the sense used by the English-speaking world. The French spoke of their dwelling-place as "la maison," meaning "house," which might be applied to a store, a butcher-shop or a bar-room. With hundreds of thousands of American soldiers over there during the war, all talking so tenderly about "home," how they loved their "homes," and the "home folks," and the "home fires," the French began calling their places of abode by the same name. Truly, "be it ever 80 humble, there's no place like home." SENDING SMILES TO THE SOLDIERS. One influence of the war in America was the development of the idea of sending moving pictures of home scenes to our boys in France and other foreign countries. In cities where the plan was carried out on a large scale the people turned out by the thousands and marched in front of the camera. Relatives of boys "over there" were particularly invited to pass along in front of the moving-picture machine, smile and 11 160 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR wave a greeting, with the hope that their particular soldier would see, in the scenes thrown upon the screen far away from home, his father, mother, sweetheart, sister, brother or other relatives and friends. All sorts of comic features were also fixed up that would aid in bringing smiles to the faces of "our boys." Many signs with large letters were carried, and showed up in the pictures in good shape, such as" "Hello, BiUl" "Howdy, Jack?" "AU's well at home." THOUGHT OF THEIR WIVES. Rev. Frederick E. Taylor, religious work director of the Central Department of the Y. M. C. A., tells of two incidents occurring at Ft. Leavenworth, where he addressed large numbers of soldiers in training for service overseas. At the close of one meeting a man of about forty came to him, upon learning he was from Indianapolis, where the man also resided. It developed that he lived only a short distance from Mr. Taylor's church. He said he had been a drinking man, and in the meeting had accepted Christ and believed he would be true. "But," he said, "my wife has lost confidence in me; if I write and tell what I have done, she won't believe I mean it. Won't you go and teU her you have seen me and that I am aU right?" The minister promised he would do so or send one of his assistants. The home was visited and the wife was rejoiced to hear that her husband was living the Christian life. At another meeting Mr. Taylor had an experience quite the reverse. A tall, well-built young man in khaki said to him: "I am going overseas in a few days and am glad to go. I want to fight in this war. I am a Christian and have no fear if I should be killed, or of my salvation, but" — here he choked and the big tears rolled down his face — "my wife is not a Christian. She is good as gold, but she doesn't know Christ as FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 1611 her Saviour. If I could go away knowing that she had found Christ, I would be the happiest man in camp," The minister talked it over with him, and said he knew a good minister in the town where the soldier and his wife lived to whom he would send a request to see the wife concerning the matter. Then they prayed together about it. As they walked out and parted, the soldier said hopefully: "I believe it will be all right." REMAERIED TO PLEASE THE BOYS. Gustave Puis and Mrs. Augusta Puis, who had been divorced three years, appeared at the court-house at St. Paul, Minnesota, where they were remarried by the court commissioner, in October, 1918. They explained that they felt they should do so for the sake of two sons, who were then with the TJ. S. army in France. "We know this will make our soldier boys a lot happier," said Mr. Puis, "and they can now go on fighting with the feeling that they need not worry about their parents." SNAP-SHOTS CHEER SOLDIER BOYS. Next to letters from home to cheer up the men in uniform, were snap-shots of scenes familiar to them. When the mail would be distributed among the American troops in France, the letters in which were enclosed some pictures were the ones which brought the most cheer — ^not only to the ones receiving them, but to others as well, for it is as natural as breathing to show pictures to your friends. Here is a typical case, witnessed by a war correspondent: "Say, I'm so happy I coiild almost reach up and touch the skyl" ex- claimed a doughboy who had just received a letter containing five snap- shots. "Pretty nice, aren't they?" he continued, showing them around. "See this one? It's my girl. She's the best girl going. She sends me snap-shots every couple of weeks of the folks and things at home. "This is another picture of her, taken in her front yard, under the trees. I know that spot I Gael That's where I proposed to her, and it was Sua- 162 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR day afternoon. She couldn't see it my way at first, but I won out after a bit. It is sure wonderful what pictures bring back to you, isn't it?" Then, fondly holding up another, he went on: "This picture's of my mother, and it's a good one. She looks pretty well. I was afraid she was worrying too much. I feel a lot better now. I know she's telling the truth when she writes that she was well. Photos are great, aren't they? "And here's one of my sister and her baby. I'm tickled to get this, you bet. It's the only way I have of telling what kind of a brat I'm uncle to, you see, for I've never seen it. "Snap-shots sure make you feel close to the folks back home." HONOR MOEE THAN A HUNDRED WOUNDS. Cavaliere Antonio Mango, of the famous Sassari brigade from Sardinia, had the distinction of bearing more wounds upon his body than any other soldier in the Italian army. They num- bered a hundred and one, many of them received in the great world war, and some in previous wars. He was awarded many medals for bravery and distinguished service, his decorations including official recognition from all the principal allied Gov- ernments. "HANG THESE KINGS!" SAID T. E. Col. Theodore Roosevelt, a good example of American democ- racy, uttered an expression in 1910 which very nearly came true in a number of instances in the closing days of the great war. It was just before the funeral of King Edward VII., when London was full of living kings and other rulers, who had come from far and near to be present at the burial of England's king. One after another the great sovereigns of the earth broke all the rules of royalty by calling in person at Dorchester House, where Roosevelt was stopping, and visiting with him, so Boy's Life states, on the authority of Hermann Hagedorn. The former President of the United States and world traveler and hunter was working hard to catch up with a heavy corre- FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS f63 spondenee, but didn't have the heart to refuse the requests for a little of his time. Finally he exclaimed, when a flustered foot- man announced another sovereign: ' ' Hang these kings ! I wish they would leave me alone I ' ' Among the many who called on Roosevelt at that time was the Kaiser, the later deposed emperor of Germany. OUR ''WOMEN-TAUGHT" BOYS. Before the United States entered the war, a German officer declared with great confidence that America could never make a fighting army of its young men, "because they had been taught by women in the schools." The following poem by Jessie Pryse Arthur relates in rhyme an incident of Kipling and King George of England viewing together a parade of American sol- diers marching through London: "Women-tauglit," the poet made comment, As down the line his earnest g'aze was bent Upon the boyish faces, all intent Upon the task for which they had been sent. Amid OTir tears and cheers across the sea, To make the world a safer place to be. "Women-taugrht," the virile poet said, And at his words the m.onarch bared his head, As passed the Yankee lads with measured tread; For in their faces, too, the king had read Their clean, young hearts, their boyish purity, And honored thus their teachers o'er the sea. "Women-taught" — to know democracy; "Women-taught" — to cherish liberty. To honor womankind and purity, To give their lives to save humanity. "Women-taught," the virile poet said; "Women-taught," the monarch bared his head. OUR FIRST FLAG ON GERMAN SOIL. The honor of bearing the first American flag that ever floated over German soU belongs to Color Sergt. Guy M. None- macher, of Elmira, New York. That was before the end of the war was in sight. He was at the head of the United States 164 STORIES OF THE GREAT IVAR troops first entering Alsace-Lorraine. For winning sueh an honor, he was made a lieutenant. He enlisted as a private in June, 1917. He advanced rapidly from the first, his heart and soul being in the cause of Uncle Sam. CHINESE BOY RECEIVES MEDAL. Sing Kee, of San Jose, California, twenty years of age, fight- ing with the American troops in France, received a distinguished service cross, for extraordinary heroism in action during one of the big battles. When the good news reached his mother in her humble home in San Jose, she crooned over it and joyfully declared: "Sing Kee fine boy. He hear Uncle Sam caU and go 'list. I feel happy. China boy good fighter, make German run." WHEN THE WAR BEGAN. Two women in England were conversing concerning the impor- tance each attached to the part her son had in the great war, when one said: "Our Joe is getting along fine with his drill. Why, he writes me that sometimes in their drills every one in the regiment is out of step but him." "That's nothing," replied the other; "when our Harry went out to the front in 1914, the captain shouted: 'Is Private Harry Johnson in the ranks?' 'Yes,' says somebody. 'Then let the war begin! ' said the captain, and they all started off as confident as you please I ' ' HOSPITALITY GERMAN SURRENDERS ON BIRTHDAY. Damon Runyon, a war correspondent in France, told of a German ofl&cer surrendering to Lieutenant Reardon, of the Seventy- seventh New York Division, remarking as he gave himself up: ^ FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 165 "Gentlemen, it's my birthday, and I am bringing some of my friends to take dinner with you." Sure enough, as he spoke, using perfect English, thirty Ger- man soldiers popped out of the brush behind him. The officer and his men were all smiling, notwithstanding they had only a few moments before been making a brisk fight against their captors. At first it seemed like a joke, but it developed that it was really the officer's birthday. He and his men got a good birth- day dinner with the Americans, "according to plan." ONE THING THAT WAS OVERDONE. During strenuous wartimes loyal citizens are anxious to do what they can for the comfort and convenience of the men in uniform, who are ready to make any sacrifice demanded of them. One practice was so much overdone during the great war, however, that the men in the service themselves were the most outspoken in regard to it, and that was the giving of tobacco to soldiers. This was carried to such an extreme in some places that a stranger to this planet might have been excused for believ- ing that tobacco was the main sustenance of the U. S. army and navy men. The extreme to which this was carried was related by Karl Lehmann, Southern States secretary of the United Society of Christian Endeavor. He states that on the platform of one railway station, a bright young fellow in khaki from a Chris- tian Endeavor society up North said: "This train has stopped at nineteen stations where Red Crosa canteen workers have served us, and this is what I have received from their hands: Fourteen cigarettes, three post-cards, two small helpings of candy, and one sandwich. "I have never smoked cigarettes, and I don't intend to start now. It seems to me that the mothers, wives, sisters, sweethearts and friends of the men in uniform could be in better business 166 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR than shoving out cigarettes at every fellow who steps from a troop-train. ' ' In contrast vsdth this, Mr. Lehmann mentions the reception given to a troop-train at Greensboro, North Carolina. At this station the women served the men home-fried chicken, sand- wiches, pimento-cheese sandwiches, cookies, cake, pie, apples, candy and hot coffee. Not a cigarette was handed out, so far as he saw. In commenting upon the incident the secretary said: "If the good women of Greensboro could have heard the appreciative remarks of those boys in uniform as the train sped on, they would have felt more than repaid for their effort and service. ' ' Certainly it speaks much better for a town to be remembered as a place where so many nourishing and appetizing things were served than simply "one of the towns where we were given cigarettes"! HTJMILIATION WHEN PERSHING TAUGHT SCHOOL. Here is an incident in General Pershing's days of youth which helps us to understand his success in leading the American armies in France. When he was eighteen he taught his first school — at Prairie Mound, near Laclede, Missouri, where he was born. In the course of the term it became his duty to thrash a big boy by the name of Card, which he did in his usual thorough fashion. The discipline conquered the boy, but brought the boy's father to the schoolhouse in an angry mood. The man was about six feet four in height, and fully determined to lick the teacher. John endeavored to reason with him, but Card would not listen to reason. Instead, he was preparing to carry out his threat. Then it was that John's characteristic determination to stand for his rights came out. Stepping toward the big man, he said FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 167 with a cold precision that left no room for doubt as to what he meant: "You get out of this house and off these grounds, and stay off as long as I am teacher, or I'll kill you I " With mumbled apologies, old man Card hastily backed out of the schoolhouse, much humiliated, and never again troubled the young teacher, John Pershing. F. S. SOLCIER ''REDUCED" GERMAN OFFICER. One of Uncle Sam's truck-drivers in France had a lively experience with a proud German officer, who had been taken prisoner during the fighting on the Chateau- Thierry front. He had driven up with a big load of supplies and ammuni- tion, and was directed to take back with him a load of prisoners. A German captain, member of one of the famous Hun regiments, was among the prisoners assigned to ride back in the truck. The prisoners had climbed in good-naturedly, when the driver noticed that the captain had made no move to do so. "Climb in there!" he ordered the officer. "Look at my uniform! Don't you recognize that I am a captain?" replied the man. "You don't expect me to ride with them," indicating the German soldiers on the truck. The driver, perhaps, could have overlooked this bit of vanity, but not what followed, as the officer continued in a dictatorial manner : ' ' Make room for me on the seat there ! " It happened that the driver had placed two slightly wounded American soldiers on the seat, who were waiting to get back to a dressing-station. "Nothing doing!" almost shouted the plucky driver. "I'm particular about my company! Get in with your gang, and be quick about it ! " " I 'm a captain ! ' ' the other retorted. * * Throw off those American swine and make room for me on that front seat. I — " 168 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR He got no further. Instantly whipping out a poeket-knife and holding it in one hand, the driver gripped the German oflS.cer by the collar, and with his powerful arm jerked him from the ground as if he had been a child. "Captain, eh?" said he, giving him a shake, very much as a dog would a rat. "Well, we won't let that worry you longl See here ! ' ' And as he spoke, the hand with the open knife deftly clipped the insignia from the officer's shoulders. "You're busted!" said the clever soldier. "You're a private now ! Get back in the ranks with the rest of them ! ' ' With this he landed the man in the truck among the other prisoners, gave the auto-truck horn a "honk-honk!" and sped away. FROM RULER TO OUTCAST. When the Kaiser of Germany was forced to abdicate and flee for his life, he had 110 palaces and estates, and no home. He had more than a hundred uniforms and over three hundred suits of clothes, but no disguise. He had fifty titles, but no good name. He had six sons, but no comfort in his old age. "There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing" (Prov. 13: 7). "The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked shall rot" (Prov. 10: 7). A SNOB, BUT NO QUITTER. Of the several thousand capable men from all walks of life who offered their services for Y. M. C. A. war work, from the plain man of small means to the man of wealth, yes, some mil- lionaires, it was not surprising that a few should begin with an exaggerated opinion of their own importance. One such, who had a rude awakening, gave his experience in Association Men. He had an independent fortune and was pay FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS [69 ing his own expenses in the work. Fastidiousness was written all over him. He had built a cheap veneer of snobbishness all around his soul. In his preliminary training before being assigned for duty overseas, his sensitive nature received some very severe shocks. From an expensive New York hotel he drove up to the Y. M. C. A. training-school in a limousine, and unacclaimed stood in line with other men to be assigned to quarters. Irritable, he waited there, feeling sure that when the ofi&cers in charge knew who he was, and understood the greatness of the sacrifice he was making, things would be changed in a hurry. When the galling wait was over, he went to his room — small, cheerless, with a couple of chairs and two iron cots — that had served as an army barracks. This was bitter, but, with vanity unscatched, he inquired of the old Scotch elevator man "the way to the restaurant." "When he reached the place he was shocked to see men in line waiting to be served. Would he stand in line for food? Never! No one paid any attention to him, nor seemed to care what happened to him — yet, if he left, some one might question his patriotism, so he decided to stay with it. When he had finished eating he received another jolt to find that every one was collect- ing his own dishes. He was ashamed not to do what the others were doing, so picked up his dishes and marched out. Busy analyzing his experiences, he returned to his room, and was surprised to find that another man had been assigned to the room with him. It was a soldier, sitting on one of the cots, looking at the photo of his wife and children. There were tears in his eyes. The man in uniform explained that he simply could not help feeling as he did; that he did not realize what it meant before to leave his wife and kiddies. He was a carpenter, and was to go to France to build Y. M. C. A. huts. The self-conceited man was then and there unnerved. Here was real sacrifice. It gripped his heart. Silently he dedicated 170 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR his life, his fortune, his all, to the cause of his country — ^he didn't care what any one thought of him, or what they asked him to do, he would do it. And he did. From that moment he was a changed man. He went to France. There he came into possession of the rich experience derived from real sacrifice and service. AMERICANS EXHIBITED IN CAGES. Germany at first scoffed at the idea that America's entrance into the war would make any material difference. To show her contempt for the American soldiers, she permitted some who were among the first to be taken prisoners to be placed in cages and exhibited in Berlin like wild animals, according to a letter written by Lieut. Clifford Dodds, with a forestry division in France. Admission was charged the public to see the prisoners, and the cages were labeled: ''A Rare Species of Americans, a Few of Whom Were Found in France." The boastful, cruel, egotistical Kaiser and his followers found out later that the species was not so "rare," and that the "few" found in France were sufficient to turn the tide of war against the Huns, causing them to head toward Berlin at a rapid pace, not for the purpose of seeing more of the rare specimens, but to get away from those they had seen. GERMANY TAKES HER OWN MEDICINE. Germany's excuse for the war, publicly proclaimed, was that history proved that weaker nations must fall, and stronger nations rise, by the test of war. This was working fine for the Germans for a year or so after the war began, but when, in July, 1918, the tide turned and the Allies were killing Germans by the tens of thousands, the German press and people shrieked: ' ' The Allies are trying to crush us ! " In the beginning, as the Huns saw it, Germany was to domi- nate the world, with a few of the larger nations, perhaps, occupy- FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS m ing the role of second place. Among these were France and Great Britain, America was then treated as being too feeble for anything but ridicule. Then when, in the course of war events, the truth became known, and a million and a half American soldiers were already on French soil, with hundreds of thousands more moving France- ward, on trains and steamships, the German tune suddenly changed. So great a German paper as the Kolnische Zeitung, in its reports of German defeat along the western front, attrib- uted the change largely to the Americans, saying: "We could not reckon on the complete surprise of the enemy, as in March. Everywhere the enemy stood in readiness to offer determined resistance at the first attack. ' ' And it was the same ever after, until the Huns were forced to surrender. The "contemptible Yankees" spoiled their game. laNORANCE GEORGIA NEGRO'S REPROOF. One of our loyal Georgia negroes, fighting in France, asked a French Senegalese (black troops) for some tobacco. The latter readily granted the request and spoke in excellent French. This greatly surprised our American negro. Carefully sizing up the other black man, he said with a puzzled air: "Can't you all talk plain niggah talk? Has you all done been ovah heah so long you've done forgotten yo' mothah tongue?" HAD A PASS TO BERLIN. Anticipating General Pershing's drive toward the strongly fortified city of Metz, an American negro soldier started walking down the railway in the direction of Berlin, with his gun over his shoulder. When his comrades saw him, one of them ran after and rescued him from his perilous undertaking only a few him- 172 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR dred yards from the German wires. When reproached for what he was doing, he calmly produced this pass, which some practical joker had given him: "Please pass this man to Berlin. — President Wilson." HAD NOT HEAED OF THE WAR. A young man in Delaware, twenty-four years of age, arrested in September, 1918, for evading the draft, was released when he proved he did not know the United States was at war, and that he had not seen a newspaper for more than three years. His home was on a small island farm in the middle of a swamp near Newfound, Delaware. He had not even gone to the village store for over three years, sending others after the few necessities of life required by him. He did not know there was a country named France, but said he was willing to fight for America, if he did not have to leave the United States. He was allowed to return to his home to straighten up any affairs needing attention, and was ordered to report to Georgetown, Delaware, for military duty within a week. INDUSTRY LAUNCHING THE "COURAGEOUS." On July 4, 1918, the keel of the 12,000-ton merchant ship, "Courageous," was laid at the Alameda (Cal.) plant of the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, and forty-eight days later the ship slid from its cradle into the waters of the Pacific. Employed at the plant was Albert Rupp, who lived alone in a modest cottage in Alameda. Six days a week he labored as a "bolter-up," driving into place with hammer and wrench the steel plates of the great ships. On the seventh day he meditated and wrote. That he correctly sensed the purpose of the American Government in speeding up shipbuilding in helping to win the FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS \73 war, is clearly evidenced in the production of the following poem by him, entitled "Launching the 'Courageous' ": "Majestic ship of a dream sublime, By the will of our strong arms hurled Into the greatest epic time That ever convulsed the world 1 Go forth to defy the fangs of hell, As the seas with blood they stain. And the heavens are shaken with shot and shell. And shrieking souls of the slain I "We built you well, by winds and fires. And the lightning's thrilling darts. To image in steel the bold desires Of our mighty Titan's hearts. Now, staunch for the ocean's terrible strife, Slide from your nest in the air, — And speed for the lofty work of life, Which our marching millions bear! "Sail through the cosmic throes of fright. And storms on the nations' rage I Sail to the Eras of Peace and Right, And sail to the Golden Agel Courageous ship of a dream sublime. By the will of our strong arms hurled Into the greatest epic time That ever convulsed the world I" GERMAN "STEEL MINES" IN FRANCE. Although the Germans had control of some of the rich mines of France during the war, which they were finally compelled to give up, they left rich mines of steel buried in the soil. It was the steel from countless shells, tons upon tons of it, and its value was reasonably supposed to run up into millions of dollars. Some day it will be "mined" and salvaged by the native people, thus making up in part for the damage done the fields of that fair land. These artificial mines will no doubt be worked for many years to come, and the wasted German steel, fired because of German greed for conquest, will be turned into tools of peaceful industry in rebuilding France. 174 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR INFLUENCE POSTAGE STAMP FOE A TEXT. Eev. John F. Cowan, while serving as a T. M. C. A. worker at Camp Kearney, California, where many thousands of soldiers were in training, wrote thus of his work: You might think I do a lot of preaching here; yes, but not in the con- ventional way. I would rather have the counter for my pulpit and a three- cent postage stamp for my text, and the remark, "I'll bet you haye written a corking letter to the home folks," to the man who buys the stamp, for an introduction, than stand in a sacerdotal robe in a mahogany pulpit. It was the kind of preaching the Master did a great deal. And the routine work of the "Y" man, that seems far from preaching, isn't it the kind of ministering to the body that He did who said that He came to be the servant of all J WHAT A MAN BELIEVES. Germany has taught the world that it does make a great dif- ference what a man believes, and that no longer can any intel- ligent man honestly say: "It makes no difference what a man believes, so long as his actions are right." The Germans proved with cruel plainness that what a man, or nation, believes to-day will lead to certain actions to-morrow; that what we believe we will eventually become. The Germans' god was nothing but a "magnified Kaiser," as Dr. Frederick Lynch expressed it in the Christian at Work: During the whole war the Germans lived this faith. They acted just as people must always act who hold this faith. They have been hard, cruel, relentless, merciless and as savage as their gods. Power, might, the achieve- ment of ends regardless of moral distinctions, have actuated every move of the nation. Revenge has been as the bread of life to them because their god practices revenge. Militarism is their creed because their god is a god of war. Power is their one ideal because their god is power, not love. Never has there been a more perfect illustration of the absolute power of a belief over actions. Men and nations may go off on tangents, but eventually those who thinh must come back to the Book of books for the wisdom FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS l^S and correct interpretation of things that never change. In this Book we read that as a man thinketh in Ms heart, so is he. Yes, the belief of the people of a nation, cherished in the mind, will mark the course of that nation as surely as that the hidden seed will burst forth into the fruit of its own kind. Eabbi Joseph Krauskopf, of Philadelphia, who visited Ger- many shortly before the outbreak of the war, said upon his return to America: Germany's churches were poorly attended, its barracks -were crowded. Instead of worshiping God, Germany worships power. It has m.ore faith in Krupp than in God. Militarism is its highest ism. Far more honor is shown to its army officers than to its church dignitaries. It erects more statues to its military heroes than to all other kinds of men combined. The uniformed man is ubiquitous. The rattle of the sword is heard every- where, and the arrogance of its bearers is disgusting as well as alarming. INITIATIVE FREAK WAE INVENTIONS. Inventive ingenuity is not coniined to the Yankees, as wag demonstrated during the war, when the following individual sug- gestions were offered to the British Government to help win the war: Blot out the moon on moonlight nights, by means of a great beam of "black light," so the Huns could make no moonlight raids. Build a cement gun to squirt cement over the Huns and petrify them. Equip a monster shell with motor and steering-gear, and put a man in it, with a place near the center for him to be seated, with his head just above the outer rim, and tell him to drive it to the point desired, then explode it. Freeze the clouds and mount artillery on them from aeroplanes. Send over the German lines a fleet of balloons carrying powerful mag- nets which would jerk the guns out of the enemy's hands and the tin hats from their heads. Shoot poisonous snakes into the Hun trenches by compressed air. YANKS THINK AHEAD OF GERMANS. Corporal Hanan, of the U. S. infantry, during the height of the battle near Soissons, saw a German abandon his machine 12 176 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR gun and run into a cave. Hanan immediately stationed two privates at the mouth of the cave, and, gathering a bunch of grenades, climbed to the top of a hill just over the entrance to the underground space into which the German had disappeared. On the brow of the hill was an opening which had evidently been used as a chimney. Into this Hanan began tossing his grenades. Within a few seconds there was a lively skirmish inside, and out rushed a German colonel, two other officers and sixty-four privates, with their hands up and shouting "Kame- rad!" They were easUy taken prisoners — all of which shows that the Yankee soldier thinks ahead of the German. Scores of inci- dents during the war proved this true. LOCOMOTIVE "FIRED" AT GERMANS. An American unit of railway engineers was hauling ammu- nition and supplies to the French during one of the German drives. At the height of the battle, when the Huns were coming in such force and with such rapidity that it meant the loss of anything that could not be moved promptly, their $15,000 loco- motive jumped the track. For an instant they were dismayed. Quick as a flash, how- ever, Sergt. George Robinson, in charge, took in the whole situation, and proceeded accordingly. He looked at his steam- gauge, screwed the safety-valve down tight, turned the fuel oU full force into the fire-box, and then led his crew in retreat, double-quick time. Half an hour later some sixty Germans were standing around the stranded locomotive, admiring the prize, when the boiler did just what Sergeant Robinson had calculated. It exploded with the force of a fourteen-inch shell, killing every German near it, scattering their bodies in bits in every direction. Later Sergeant Robinson was decorated with the French croix de guerre. FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 177 KINDNESS AMERICANS ERECT GERMAN TOMBSTONE. The Golden Rule was not just a memory with our soldiers in France. With the great majority it was a matter of daily practice, even in the face of cruelties that were hard to overlook. Among the vast quantity of material which the Germans were compelled to leave behind in one of their hasty retreats in France, was a tombstone of large dimensions, finished and let- tered, bearing the name, rank, etc., of a German colonel. On it was also chiseled the replica of an iron cross of the first order and the familiar inscription, '*Gott Mit Uns." Did the Americans destroy it or deface it? No. They found the gTave of the colonel, temporarily marked to designate his place of burial, and eight American soldiers were detailed to carry the stone there and put it in position. After this was done, and the earth packed around and smoothed over, a bugler of the U. S. army sounded taps. Then our fine boys over there, who could not let hate come into their hearts, marched away to take up other duties. THREATENINGS TURNED TO KINDNESS. When the heart is stirred with indignation over some cruel wrong, as was often the case with the enemies of Germany dur- ing the war, one feels that he will ''get even" in a similar manner, when the opportunity comes. But the real heart of the individual is seen in what he actually does and not what he threatens to do. A chaplain in France, who had heard the soldiers tell what they would do to the Germans the first chance that came to them, said: "I should have trembled for the poor Germans if I had not known it was mere talk. 'Just wait until we catch them, chap- 178 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR lain,^ they would say; 'you'll see what we'll do to them!' 'Yes,' I would answer, 'I know. You'll give them bread and coffee. ' "And that is just what they did do. I have seen many hun- dreds of German prisoners, but in all my experience I never saw one mistreated by the French." FRENCH "CHRISTMAS GIFT" ORPHANS. The Stars and Stripes, organ of the American Expeditionary Forces in France, inaugurated a plan, in September, 1918, before the war closed, for the adoption, by American soldiers, of five hundred French war orphans before Christmas Day of the same year, thus insuring a happy Christmas, as well as many happy days to follow, for that number of boys and girls whose fathers had lost their lives in defense of their homes. The response was immediate and hearty. Answers came from units in all branches of the service, with a liberal sprinkling of adoptions by individuals, from privates to colonels. The adoption was for the purpose of providing food, cloth- ing, comfort and schooling for the children, all of whom were left in destitute circumstances. The paper referred to listed every child of the five hundred, after careful investigation as to the merits of each case. A major in the medical department adopted a child to cele- brate the first anniversary of his arrival in France. "I don't know how I could more fitly celebrate it," he wrote. "Please pick me out one that no one else wants. I had been looking for presents for my wife and boy for Christmas when I saw your appeal. I shall make this my Christmas present to them." REVENGE TURNED TO KINDNESS. Hal B. Donnelly, of Asbury Park, New Jersey, was so anxious to help whip the Huns that he enlisted in the Canadian FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 179 army in 1916. When he went to France, after reading of the atrocities of the Germans, he had hatred in his heart for every subject of the Kaiser. Desiring to take no chance of not killing as many Germans as possible, he added to his equipment a very sharp knife. When the time came to go over the top, his condition was as he thus describes it: "I was loaded down like a dromedary; I looked like a Christmas tree all hung — rifle, bayonet, grenades, pick and shovel, rounds of ammunition, two packs of rations — 'all dressed up and nowhere to go ' I " After one of the battles, during which three of the best first- aid men in his group were killed, an officer asked for volunteers to help care for the wounded. He volunteered, and not only dressed men, but, with another soldier, carried them out to a sheltered spot in a sunken road. After he had been working hard several hours, another officer came to him and said: "There's a Hun lying in the trench up a ways. Will you get him out?" Immediately the tenderness of Donnelly, which had been brought out in many ways while he was helping the sufferers of his own army, gave way to bitterness and hate. With this feeling came the thought that he could now use that extra sharp knife. ' ' Yes, I '11 get him out ! I '11 slit his throat ! ' ' replied Donnelly. With his big knife in hand, he started up the line in search of the wounded German. He found him. Here is how he tells of what followed: "I went up to the Hun — a big, blue-eyed Saxon. He looked up at me and said in German, 'Will you get me out?' One look at the poor fellow, and I dressed his wounds and carried him the first lap on his journey to the hospital! "And thus died the last spark of f rightfulness that was in me. I was not made of the stuff the Hun was." 180 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR LETTERS WRITES MESSAGE IN AIRPLANE. Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Sparling, of HoUister, California, received a letter from their son, Edward, in training at Fort Worth, Texas, for aeroplane duty overseas, written while flying through the air. Here is a portion of his message: The air is thoroughly enjoyable and the country beautiful. It looks like a great patch-quilt now. My altitude is 5,500 feet. My motor is turn- ing at the rate of 1,425 revolutions per minute. The oil pressure is fifty- six pounds per square inch, and everything is lovely. It is sure great sport. FROM THE SIERRAS TO FRANCE. From away out in the high Sierras went a sturdy mountaii boy to France, to fight with Uncle Sam's soldiers — ^William H. Bellows, of Dutch Flat, California. After months had gone by, with the young man's mother waiting anxiously at home, came a telegram stating that her soldier boy was missing in action after one of those terrible battles in which so many fell. Then came a letter from the boy, written before the date of his dropping from sight, and in that letter he said: Deae Mother: — It was only God that saved us. We were four days on the firing-line, and the air and ground around quivered with bursting shells. I read that little verse you sent me every day, and I am sure it helped me. My hair stood on end many times, but still I always seemed to have strength to obey orders and hold my post. During my rest back of the lines I went to a picture show. They flashed a picture of an Ameri- can mother on the screen, with her soldier son kneeling at her side; it surely made all the boys feel pretty blue, and many of them left the hall. By the time you receive this I wiU again be at my post in the first line, and if I don't happen to be as fortunate this time you will know I did my best. WELCOMED THE BLUE ENVELOPE. As nearly every one knows, letters arriving and leaving the countries at war were censored. Usually the censor passes by, with no interest; whatever may be written concerning little per- FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 18[ sonalities and family matters. He is looking only for the things that must not be written. But one California soldier in France was in a different boat. Joseph Timmons tells about it: He and the lieutenant, who censored his letters, had sweethearts who were sisters. He found it awkward to be as warm in his expressions of affection as he would like to be, when he knew the lieutenant was bound to give his letter scrutiny that had keen personal interest. He pictured the officer chuckling over his effusions and writing to the sister about them. So he held himself in, and then once a month, when he got a blue envelope, which went to the censor of a larger unit, he gave free rein to his ardor. The blue envelope is a device to give the enlisted man opportunity to write things he does not want to chance falling under the eye of his own company officers, but which may yet be properly written. This particular enlisted man from California rega,rded it as one of the best institutions in the army. PERSHING A LOVER OF HOMES. During all the strenuous days of the war, with hundreds of thousands of men under his charge, General Pershing was never too busy with the many demands of the critical period to give attention to the ideals for which the home stands. He felt a personal responsibility in protecting the boys who had given up their homes for the time being, that they might be spared from contact with every phase of evil it was possible to avoid, and return as clean and strong, barring the uncontrollable circum- stances of war, as when they enlisted. Then, he urged every American soldier to write regularly to his loved ones, and prior to Mothers' Bay, 1918, he made a special request that every one of them write to mother. He gave such mail right of way over everything else at that time. Hun- dreds of thousands of letters were written, no doubt, because this lover of homes was so thoughtful about it all. It mattered -not what other tasks were before him while in France, General Pershing himself sent a cable letter home every Sunday. This was his one unvarying rule. Americans love the name of Pershing, not alone because he proved himself a great general, standing for the defense of 182 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR civilization, but because he first of all proved himself a great man, and took his stand for the homes of the world. WHEN THE GERMANS RETREATED. In the early autumn of 1918, after the Germans had been making a "glorious retreat" for several months, for "strateg- ical reasons," there appeared in the Cameron (Mo.) Observer, a letter assumed to have been written by the Crown Prince of Germany to his father, the Kaiser. The following are extracts: Deab Papa: — I am writing on de ran, as the brave and glorious men under my command have not seen the Rhine for so long dat dey have started dat vay, and of course I am going mit dem. First I started on my big offensive, which was to crush the fool Ameri- cans. Veil, according to vat you haf always told me, dem Americans don't know anything about war, and, instead of running de odder vay, dey come right toward us. Some of dem was singing and some of dem laughing like fools. Dey are so ignorant. But dey are awful reckless mit dere guns, and ven dey come toward us it was den dat my men took a notion dey vanted to go to de dear old Rhine. And, papa, you know dem breastplates vat you sent us; can you send some to put on our backs too ? You know ve are going de odder vay now, and de cowardly Americans are shooting us right in de back. Some of our boys put dere breastplates behind dem, but de ignorant Americans are play- ing "De Star-Spangled Banner" mit machine guns on dem plates. Tou remember in your speech you said nothing could stand before de brave German soldiers. Papa, I don't believe dose ignorant Americans ever read your speech, for dey chase us like ve vas a lot of rabbits. Vot you tink of dot? Can't you send some of your speeches to dem right avay? Dey don't know how terrible ve are. Can't you move my army back to Belgium? My men can vip all de vimmen and children dat de Belgians bring up. Let me know vat to do right avay, by return post-office. LOYALTY OUR BOYS AND THE FRENCH GIRLS. Soon after American soldiers began landing on French soil by the hundreds of thousands, with the French people, particularly the girls, showing them every possible friendship, discussion sprang up all over America as to what effect this might have FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 183 in winning American Lusbands for French, women. By many the subject was treated seriously, and by others humorously. While there were announced a few such engagements, letters from our soldiers then in France indicated that the great bulk of them had no intention of marrying over there. The subject was not only treated in prose, but poetry. Here is a verse from a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox which expresses it about as most American soldiers seemed to feel about it: "I haven't a word but words of praise For these dear little girls of France ; And I will confess that I've felt a thrill As I faced their line of advance! But I haven't been taken a prisoner yet. And I won't be until the day I can carry my colors to lay at the feet Of the girl from the U. S. A." AMEEICAlSr NEGROES AT THE FINISH. Noble Hall, a war coi-respondent, says that when the fighting ceased on November 11, 1918, the famous negro regiment, formerly the Fifteenth New York Infantry, brigaded with tlie Seventh French army, held the most advanced section of the western battle-front — the town of Thann. The whole valley was bedecked with British, French and American flags and filled with the joyous clanging of bells, which for four years preceding had been rung only for the many dead. KAISER TATTOO REMOVED. Arthur R. Martin, of Paden City, West Virginia, who was a, tattooed man in a circus, with his body much like a moving- picture show, had, among other noted personages, a picture of the Kaiser's face. He underwent an operation for its removal. "I'm going to enlist in the Marine Corps," he told the doctors at the hospital, ''but I want this piece of skin taken out first, so I can go to the camp without being afraid to take off my clothes before my pals." 184 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR He liad the right idea. One's inner and outer life should harmonize. THE DEMAND OF ONE BANK. While the fourth Liberty Loan drive was on, the officers of a bank at Pasadena, California, served notice on a depositor to withdraw his account, because, being abundantly able, he had not subscribed to any of the war loans or war activities. It is a healthy sign when Americans put loyalty and patriot- ism above the patronage of any man, regardless of how wealthy he may be. LOYAL JUST THE SAME. "I didn't raise my boy to be a soldier," For I didn't know the Hun was on his track. But I raised him for a thoroughgoing freeman. And I know that he will never, never slack. "I didn't raise my boy to be a soldier," But I gave him blood that's always good and red. He doesn't want to win a gory glory, But he'll always be a freeman — ^live or dead. "I didn't raise my boy to be a soldier," But I always tried to keep him clean and white. And in the van of Honor's worthy calling, He'll serve the cause of right with all his might. "I didn't raise my boy to be a soldier," But you'll find him standing faithful by the flag; Bed-blooded, white-souled, and honor bright true-blue. He'll help them teach the Hun to rue "Der Tag." — George W. Taylor, in San Francisco Bulletin. LOYALTY OF OUR NEGROES. During the great war, with America stirred from center to circumference, no one class of citizens responded more loyally to every call of the varied service required than the negroes. Not only did they enlist by the tens of thousands, but they sacrificed their blood on the fields of battle, and rendered loyal service in countless other ways. FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 185 In view of these facts, the Chicago Defender, published in the interests of the negro race, very appropriately gave space to the following poem, entitled ''A Soldier and a Man," written by Charles W. Johnson, of Company L, M. V. M.: "Uniforms have many colors, Some are old and some are new; Many are the men who. wear them, Bnt it matters not their hue. Put aside your biased feeling. That's the way to win the fight; Just forget your comrade's color — Both are fighting for the right. "Get acquainted with this comrade, With his heart and soul inside; Test and try to understand him. Though he may be black outside. He will be right there to aid you Should a bullet find its mark; No one would refuse the succor Of a man because he's dark. "Battlefields in countless numbers "With black soldiers' blood has run; Treat him, therefore, as a soldier For the service he has done. Was his courage ever doubted In the war of sixty-one ? Was he ever known to falter At the roaring of the gun? "God alone has made his color. Men should never criticize; Earth to earth will be our portion And our souls are of a size. Patriotism lives within him; Give him rights ; he'll do his part, Wishing to but serve his country With the life-blood of his heart." WHY WOUNDED MAN WAS ANGEY. An American soldier was picked up on a battlefield in France with his throat cut almost from ear to ear, and yet he was alive. He was taken to a hospital, and was saved as if by a miracle of modern surgery. When he was too weak to speak or to even 186 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR open his eyes, his face ghastly pale and death hovering very near, he touched the contrivance by which the severely wounded make their wants known, and, to the utter amazement of the doctors at his bedside, spelled out the words: "I'll fool you yet." And he did fool them. In a few days he was sitting up in bed. He was a model sufferer, except for one thing — patient with the nurses and doctors, and appreciative of all that was done for him. But he quarreled with everybody from the chief of staff down to the orderly because they wouldn't promise him he would be ready to go back to his regiment on a certain date I HIS NERVE LOST AND REGAINED. A young lieutenant in the American army in France, who was but little over twenty-one, was overcome by fear and ran during the hail of shells in his first battle. Court-martial faced him under the charge of "cowardice in action." If sustained, it meant punishment and disgrace. When the day for the court-martial arrived, the young man had pulled himself together. He said manfully to the Court: "I have disgraced my company. I have proven unworthy of command. Will you give me another chance? Of course I have lost my commission. Let me enlist in the ranks as a private, to fight with my own company under the command of that private who has so nobly advanced to my position. ' ' The Court was much impressed, and granted the request. Twice after that, in battles far more violent than when he lost his courage, he faced danger and death without flinching. He was twice cited for conspicuous bravery, and regained his stand- ing with the company where he had formerly brought about his disgrace. Many persons need to learn the lesson in this incident for their guidance in civil life — be willing to give every one who has failed in any undertaking a chance to redeem himself, so long FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS [87 as lie desires another opportunity to make good. When an indi- vidual is willing to try, there is something in him well worth encouraging. POISONED BY THE KAISER'S KULTUR. A German woman who worked for a wealthy family, in one of our American cities, was sobbing one day while doing her work, and when asked the cause of her sorrow, replied: "Both my brothers have been killed in the German army. One was safe in Stockholm and went home to fight for the fatherland. They didn't know — they didn't know! "Seven years ago I worked in Strassburg for a rich family. There were fourteen rooms. I waxed every floor twice a week. Every morning I blackened nine pairs of shoes. I did all the housework, even the washing. I worked till nine o'clock every night, and sometimes later. But they were aristocrats. I couldn't complain. It was my place. Oh, my poor brothers! They died for thoit! They thought it was right. The Kaiser poisoned them to death with his kultur." INDIAN WANTED TO GET KAISER. Company E of the 142d Infantry Regiment, which was sta- tioned for a time at Camp Bowie, was made up wholly of Oklahoma Indians, commanded by Capt. Walter Veach, himself a half-Choctaw. Many of them were rich, owning valuable oil- lands. Many were college graduates. All, without exception, were as anxious to be sent immediately to France as any white soldiers. One private was Jess Fixon, a Cherokee. He couldn't talk English clearly, but could make himself understood by the use of many signs. Approaching a lieutenant, he gave him to under- stand that he wanted a chance to go to France at once and bayonet the Kaiser, all by himself. Of course many soldierig and civilians had said the same thing, not expecting the privilege. 168 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR but Fixon was sincere, and couldn't understand why his request was not promptly granted. That he had a clear understanding as to why we were at war with the Kaiser was shown in answer to the question: "Why do you want to kill the Kaiser?" Straightening himself up, his eyes shining keen and sharp, he replied with great force: "He kill um pappoose! He kill um squaw! So me, Jess Fixon, will find this Kaiser and stick um bayonet, clear through! UghI" It was evident that even this red man, descendant of once so-called savages, uneducated and uncultured, was aroused to great indignation over the brutality of the Jcultured and highly educated Kaiser. That the Germans, under the leadership of their kultur- teachers, had descended below the scale of the red savages who once roamed over the wilds of America, will never again be a question for argument. The deeds of the Germans in their dealings with women, children and helpless old men were so much blacker than anything ever recorded of the Indians that there is no room for comparison. MISTAKEN A SHIFT IN BITING GEANITE. Only a few months before the Kaiser was forced to abdicate, former President Kaempf, of the German Eeiehstag, in com- menting upon the assertion of President Wilson that the Ger- man people must separate themselves from their autocratic gov- ernment, boldly affirmed that the American President was "biting on granite." It would have been interesting to know what Kaempf thought of his absurd statement on and after November 11, 1918. It was not President Wilson who was biting granite during the days FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 189 when Germany was beaten to her knees, and forced to discard the wicked Kaiser as a part of her system of government, just as President Wilson said must be done. WIRED FOR BROTHER TO BURY HIM. A recruit from a prairie town who was sent to Camp Upton, New York, like many others, was puzzled for a time to under- stand the meaning of some of the camp language. One day when his company was lined up, an officer started detailing the men for certain things. "You'll be scorer," he said to one. ''You'll be marker," to another, and "You'll be shot," to still another. It happened that this recruit was among those desig- nated to be shot, says Leslie's WeeMy. The young man's heart seemed to almost stop beating. He fell out and lined up with the others, doomed to die, as he thought, and was greatly worried. He could think of no reason at all why he should be put to death. At his first opportunity that day he went to the camp telegraph office and wired his brother in Buffalo that he was to be shot the next morning, and requested the brother to come and take charge of his body. The next morning, however, he learned that "being shot" meant that he was to shoot at the targets. This was a wonderful relief to him, until he began to worry about what explanation to make to his brother when he should arrive to arrange for his funeral. MOTHER WONDERFUL POWER OF MOTHER. John R. Mott, conversing with General Edwards, of the American army in France, asked him to explain why it was that the young men of America, not acquainted with war, had con- ducted themselves so splendidly. Even while they were convers- ing, the report came in telling how United States troops had 190- STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR been caught between the barrage of the enemy and our own, through some mistake, and had been punished for hours without wavering. Again did Mr. Mott urge an explanation of it all. General Edwards reflected a moment and gave this answer, which Mr. Mott said he would ever treasure: "1 trace it to the tradition of the American mother." COURAGE ON HOSPITAL COTS. The American soldiers in France, when wounded, proved just as brave in the hospitals as at the front. One black-haired youth of twenty, with seven machine-gun bullet wounds, asked for a piece of writing-paper and a pencil. Half an hour later, when his turn came for the operating-table, the attendants found him dead with the beginning of his letter in his hand: Deae Mother: — We went over the top after the Germans to-day, and chased them five miles. I am in a hospital to-night. I was wounded slightly in the leg. I'U be back at them in two — " And there the pencil had dropped from the lifeless hand of the boy, with his last act and thought for mother, far away over the sea in America. WHEN THE SOLDIER IS DYING. Chaplain Abbie Flynn, who was with the French soldiers, said while in America: "I have met a wonderful kindness in America, but I want to be back with my boys; back with your boys too! For now, thank God, they are standing shoulder to shoulder with us. In many ways they are alike, these soldiers — French, British or American. You know, for all their courage, their splendid heroism, they are to us chaplains just our little boys. There is a curious and beautiful revival of the child spirit in them. "For instance, when they are grievously wounded, when they are dying, it is their mother for whom they always call. Every one wiU tell you that. It is not something 'made up' because FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 19j_ it sounds well. It is the truth. And it is not only the mere boys who do this, either. Older men, fathers of families them- selves, go back in spirit to the time when they were little chil- dren, to whom their mother was the source of all pity and loving tenderness. ' ' MESSAGE TO MOTHER FROM THE AIR. An incident showing how the youths of Belgium love their mothers is given in the London Daily Express: A Belgian aviator recently flew over Brussels, waving a large Belgian flag, by way of celebrating the birthday of his mother, who lived in that city. He arrived at dawn, located his father's house, and flew so low he was almost within speaking distance. The noise of the motor aroused many people from bed. He saw his father, stopped his motor and shouted: "Papal Papa!" The father looked up and recognized his son, whom he had not seen for four years. He ran and brought his wife out of the house. When she saw her son she fainted. The' aviator waved his hand and dropped a note which read : "Many happy returns. Don't lose courage. We are not forgetting you. Keep well. A bos les Boches." Plying high again, he managed to return to tho Belgian lines, despite fuxious German anti-aircraft £re. MUSIC AMERICANS CAPTURE GERMAN BAND. One American contingent in France captured an entire Ger- man regimental band. The Yanks made the men march back playing a French war song, much to the chagrin of the players. They were good musicians, so the Americans kept them around several days, just for their music, before turning them over to the officers in charge of prisoners. A SONG AND THEN DEATH. Making his way down the trenches one day in France, a Y. M. C. A. man with a pack of chocolates on his back, which 13 192 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR he was passing out to American soldiers, came upon the men of a machine-gun company, and one of them called out: "Here comes the *Y' man!" With this greeting they crawled out into the little forest for a brief chat. Soon one of them said to him: "We missed church last Sunday. Some busy times up here, and Fritz needed attention." '*I missed you, too, boys," responded the "Y" man. "Let's sing now," urged one of the boys. And so in a perfectly natural way a little service was held — several songs, a short talk and a prayer, then a farewell wave of the hands, and the men started back to the dugout, with one of them calling out: "Come again, and don't wait so long next time!" Less than an hour later a high explosive entered the dugout and that little group of machine-gun men made the supreme sac- rifice — not one escaped death. MUSIC'S PART IN ARMY MORALE. In one order, in 1918, the U. S. Government bought band music costing $50,000, to be sent to the musical organizations connected with the American Expeditionary Forces. General Pershing made requisition for the music, recognizing its impor- tance in keeping up the morale of the fighting men. COMPOSED SONGS IN TRENCHES. Lieut. Gitz Rice, of the first Canadian contingent to go to France, was a photographer in Montreal. In the trenches he became the composer of songs that proved so popular they were sold and sung everywhere. "I never wrote a song in my life," he said to a writer for the American Magazine, "until I got in the trenches. I had always been able to play the piano, but never thought of com- posing songs. It came about this way: In the battle of Neuve FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS m Chapelle, in March, 1915, one of my dearest pals was killed. The only way I could relieve my feelings was to sing, so one night I sat down and composed the words and music of 'Dear Old Pal o' Mine.' It made a big liit in the army, and now John McCor- mack is singing it in all his concerts." Among his other popular songs, all composed in the trenches, are "When the War is Over, Mary Dear," "1 Want to Go Home," and "Keep Your Head Down, Tritzie Boy." During his first few months in the trenches he had no piano, which distressed him very much. One day, when a swell chateau was being shelled by the Germans, it occurred to him that there would surely be a piano in such a house. The instant the fire slackened he induced several comrades to accompany him with a wagon. When they reached the chateau he was rejoiced to find in it a fine piano. It was hurriedly loaded on to the wagon and taken on the run down the line back to camp, with thousands of soldiers on both sides of the road cheering wildly at the novel sight. That night Rice started playing at eight o'clock and did not stop until four the next morning. The soldiers were so delighted with his playing and singing, much of the latter in which they joined, that they kept demanding this song or that until he nearly dropped from the stool from sheer exhaustion. AMERICANS REPAIR FRENCH ■ ORGAN. Two American army officers, passing through a French town, dropped in to see a cathedral, one of the oldest and most beau- tiful in France, Much to their surprise, they heard the strains of an American love song filling the great buUding, and the next thing they saw an American private at the great pipe-organ, playing for all he was worth. Turning to the curate, the officers heard this strange story: The organ, more than a hundred years old, had been out of repair for fifteen years, much to the sorrow of the people of 194 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR the village. Then two Yankee engineers, stationed with their comrades near there, sought and obtained permission to overhaul the organ, which they did, by working off hours. They cleaned three thousand pipes, some of which were twenty feet long and a foot in diameter. They removed over a dozen old bird's nests. Then one day they announced an organ recital, and the people of the village again flocked to the church, as in days gone by. What they saw and heard seemed a miracle to them, for from the organ, with those soldier boys alternating at the key-board, came forth wonderful strains of music. "I can't understand it," said the curate to the army oflScers. "We tried many times to have the organ repaired. And here come two privates from your army, and not only make complete restoration, but in addition are able to play as wonderfully as they fight." Upon inquiry the officers learned that the two soldiers who did the work had been engineering students at Cornell University. Both had also taken a deep interest in music, with pipe-organ as a specialty. What they did in restoring the old organ to its former beauty of tone was a labor of love with them. "THE GANG'S ALL HERE!" Some of the 'first American soldiers to arrive in France taught the French children to sing, "Hail! Haill the Gang's All Here I " This explains why the U. S. troops arriving there later were greeted upon landing by squads of children singing the popular song. It surprised and greatly pleased the soldiers. There were all sorts of affectionate little informalities exchanged between the children and the manly fellows in khaki. "WHEN THE EOLL IS CALLED." Edgar DeWitt Jones, who had the privilege of visiting a number of army camps in America, was much impressed with the way the soldiers took part in singing, whenever the opportunity FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 195 was afforded. After mentioning a number of favorite songs called for by the men in uniform, lie writes that the most popular of all that came under his observation was "When the Roll is Called Up Yonder." Continuing, he says: "There is sometliing singular and gripping in the way the men in khaM sing this soul-stirring hymn. The -writer never expects to hear "When the Roll is Called Up Yonder" ajgain without its words and tune bringing to mind long rows of khaki-clad men singing with glowing energy and shining faces the militant strain: " 'When the trumpet of the Lord shall isound, and time shall be no more. And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair; When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore, And the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there.' " ■ NAMES HEAED FOR MANY MILES. Many of the American big guns used in France had names of their own, bestowed upon them by the men of their batteries. One gun that pounded away at the German communications behind St. Mi hi el was named *' Wilson's Answer." It is inter- esting to note that "Wilson's Answer" was heard all over Lor- raine. ENOUGH TO GO ROUND. The odd names of towns and cities in the war zone afforded Americans considerable difficulty in pronunciation. At the same time many a pun was made because of this condition. The New York Herald, in commenting upon a cablegram announcing that "the French have taken Somme Py," said: "But Field Marshal Haig and General Pershing managed to get a few pieces." WHY SENTRY WAS GENEROUS. American soldiers found the French names — especially when pronounced correctly — rather difficult to remember. A New York 196 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR paper says that an Alabama regiment was given the name of the French town of Armandvilliers for a countersign one night. A soldier who approached one of the sentries along _.toward midnight was promptly challenged. "A friend with the countersign," he replied in proper form. "Advance and give the countersign," directed the sentry. The soldier stepped forward, began scratching his head sheep- ishly, and at last blurted out: "Dumed if I ain't forgot it!" After a slight pause, the sentry, himself evidently perplexed, generously replied: "So have I. Pass, friend!" COMFORTING THE KAISEE. A writer in the Christian Endeavor World contributed the following, which was vsrritten before the Kaiser abdicated, but when it was clear he was losing the war: Dear Kaisee: — I see from your recent note that you are afraid the Al- lies, if you grant them an armistice, may insist on terms that ■would soil the honor of the noble and world-beloved name of Germany 1 Be assured, dear Kaiser I It is not now in the power of man to tar- nish the German name. Tour armies and your brave and daring fleet have polished that name until all the world wonders at its shining splendor I ThinK of the noble deeds of your soldiers 1 Did they not astound a gaping world by the use of poison gas? Did they not burn their foes to cinders by the efficient application of flaming oil? Have they not poisoned wells? Have they not made themselves terrible by looting villages and towns, vio- lating womanhood, and driving both men and women into captivity? Think, too, of the valorous deeds of your navy I Has it not the "Lusi- tania" to its credit, and a long list of hospital ships, and the lives of 15,000 civilians who dared defy your command to keep off the open sea ? Tarnish the German name, dear Kaiser? How is it possible to tarnisli a name like that, or defile honor so supremely sublime ? No ; the German has achieved a place in the world's history which he can never lose. As the vulgar might say, the German honor is pickled. ~ Had the Kaiser and his followers acted upon the truth that "a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches," the greed that prompted the iniquitous war for theft on such a gigantic scale would never have been manifested. FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 197 NEGROES NEGEOES DON'T LIKE THE DAEK. A white American officer in charge of a company of negro soldiers in France could not say enough in praise of their courage and fighting qualities — in the daytime. "The only trouble with them," he said, "is in their ability in the dead of night to 'see things that ain't.' " The negro's timidity at night is illustrated by the experience of a captain who found one at work in the dark, violently carry- ing on a conversation with himself. To the query of the aston- ished captain as to what he meant, he explained that he felt less lonely and frightened if he pretended that a white officer was there giving him orders. Another officer found some difficulty in keeping his negro soldiers awake after some of the strenuous fighting. When he took out a patrol party he had the negroes link hands, and kept them awake by pressing the hand next to him. The pressure was passed along the line and back, indicating that all were awake. THE NEGEO AND THE MULE. An Alabama negro, in charge of some mules with the Amer- ican army in France, had an exciting experience with one of the animals. The incident was reported by a companion: "I just couldn't get along wid dat mule," he said. "De others was all right. Dis one, why, he bit me in de finger. Den when I was 'zaminin' mah finger, he up and kick me in de pants. Jes' about dat time dose bush Germans started one o' dem gas attacks. I was s 'posed to put de masks on de mules and den on me. I put de masks on all but dis one, but course he wouldn't stand. Well, sah, dat mule and me pranced aroun' in de gas foh two houahs, and believe me, sah, nuffin' evah hap- pened to dat mule at all 1 " 198 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR A COLOR THAT WOULDN^T RUN. To one encampment in France wliere there were 5,000 Amer- ican negroes, General Pershing sent word that he wanted 1,500 men for a particularly dangerous mission. The 5,000 were lined up, and this statement made to them: "Every man who is wiUing to volunteer in this undertaking, take one step forward." The whole 5,000 took the step — ^and the officers had to finally select the number needed. Then the men all enthusiastically shouted one of their slogans: "Fast black — won't run!" OPTIMISM THE DESTRUCTION OF RHEIMS. One of the richest and most beautiful cities of all France— Rheims — was greatly coveted by the Germans, but they were never able to take it. They were only able to ruin it. Here was one of the most complete of their fiendish jobs in France. Says a war correspondent: Baltimore or San Trancisco after their great fires were only slightly damaged compared to Rheims. Here every roof and tree, every form of habitation, had been flattened or punched through by giant shells, until the whole thing amounted to total destruction. When the Germans were forced to surrender, the former inhabitants of Rheims streamed back to the city with anxious hearts. Many had left vrithout taking time to pack up any belongings. They found tables standing all set for meals that were never eaten, just as they had left them when to remain another moment would have endangered their lives. IBig shells had gone through the bedrooms, tearing and scattering the clothes of men, women and children far and wide. The scene of desola- tion was complete, but the inhabitants took up the thread of life FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 1199 there again with an optimism and courage that were truly won- derful. CAERIEE-PIGEONS HIS GAUGE. . It is well for one to feel that his work is of consequence, even though others do not attach to it the same importance. This statement is illustrated by an incident during the great war. A general was making an inspection, and came to a sergeant whose duty it was to look after carrier-pigeons. The general asked him how the war was going there. "All right," was the optimistic reply. *'In the last few days the Germans have lost seven carrier-pigeons and we have lost only two." A BLIND SOLDIEE^S GEATITUDE. A man who lost the use of both eyes in the war spoke of his aflaiction as follows: Here I am, tMrty-six years of age, in the pride of health, strength and energy, and suddenly stricken blind I And what are my feelings? Even snch a catastrophe does not appall me. I can no longer drive, run, or fol- low any of the vigorous sports, and I shall miss all these things; yet I am not depressed. Am I not better off than he who was born blind? I can talk to my friends, knowing what they look like, and, by their conversation, read the expression on their faces. I never knew before that life was so beautiful. You must be dead to understand what life is worth. PATRIOTISM SHE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND. Sadie Dellon, a thirteen-year-old New York Jewish girl, took her own life by drinking poison, because she claimed some boys insulted her Jewish flag. In the neighborhood where she lived was a display of flags as a tribute to the men there who had enlisted, and Sadie put her little flag out on a fire-escape, in honor of her Jewish brother 200 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR serving in France with Uncle Sam's forces, not knowing but what it was all right to put it in the position she had chosen. It happened that it was higher than the "Stars and Stripes." Boys on the street took exception to this, perhaps thinking the incident was intentional, and stoned and jeered the little Jewish flag, besides striking the girl. She didn't seem to care for her- self, but what hurt her most is indicated in the following note found by her dead body: **I can not see my flag insulted. Good-by, all.*' EXPENSIVE WEDDING ANNIVERSARY. As a fitting celebration of their fiftieth wedding anniversary, Mr. and Mrs. George H. Collins, of Oakland, California, sub- scribed $50,000 toward the fourth Liberty Loan — $1,000 for each year of happy wedded life. SERVICE FLAG IN PRISON. The Oregon State Penitentiary officials were proud of a ser- vice flag in that institution which contained forty stars when the war closed, representing forty prisoners who had been paroled to enlist in the U. S. army or navy. They made good to such an extent that nearly every one of them was restored to citizen- ship by the Governor of Oregon. SERVICE FLAG TRANSFORMS WHOLE BLOCK. Shortly before the war closed there had enlisted from one block in New York City over one hundred young men. This block is on West Thirty-eighth Street, whose east and west boundaries are Ninth and Tenth Avenues. There was a soap factory and other good-sized plants in the block, so in density of population it did not compare with others in that city. This made its enlistment of so many men all the more remarkable. B. W. Babcock, in writing of the unusual incident, said that everywhere one looked he would see service flags in the home FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 201 windows; also that there were only women and children to be seen, with here and there an old man. The visitor also saw that the humble residents had suspended a huge service flag above the roadway from the factory wall across to the opposite tene- ment, with a star on it for each young man who had enlisted. This created a wonderful community spirit seldom found even in small towns. It bound the people together. How this was done was shown in the remark of a woman who lived there, when questioned about it: **I never liked this block until they put up that big service flag. I've lived here in the same rooms sixteen years. My husband died here and some of my children were born here. But now it seems just like some sort of a town, where all the people are kind to one another, and nobody tries to put on airs with anybody else." PERSEVERANCE GOES SEVENTEEN THOUSAND MILES TO ENLIST. Fred Fauquirer, whose nearest relatives resided in Seattle, while he was serving as manager of a great rubber estate in the Malay peninsula, made the trip of seventeen thousand miles in order to enlist in the U. S. army. THE WOUNDED ''GOING BACK." *'The walking wounded soldiers were always a source of wonder to me," said George W. Titus, of Indiana, after return- ing from T. M. C. A. work in France. "I can not imagine how some of our boys managed to make their way back to the dressing-stations without assistance. I saw one plucky American soldier, with both arms dangling help- less, and I know that only by supreme nerve was he overcoming the pain he suffered. Yet I heard him tell two stretcher-bearers 202 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR not to mind Mm, but to keep on and bring in the fellows whose legs couldn't bring them." ONE-LEGGED SOLDIER'S LOYALTY. Despite all rules and regulations, a one-legged man waa accepted for the U. S. army, in June, 1918. After being rejected by his local board and turned down time after time as he tried in different ways to get in the service, he was at last admitted. He insisted he was an expert hoisting engineer and could operate two hoisting-engines at once. He was detailed to Vancouver, Washington, to assist in getting out spruce timber for airplanes. The persistence of this man to do something to help win the war was in sharp contrast with some instances of able-bodied slackers who endeavored to shirk every responsibility in that line. TO THE END OF THE TRAIL. In the fighting near Serigny, France, during the advance around Fere-en-Tardenois, a Sioux Indian chief belonging to one of the American divisions fell mortally wounded. One of the chief's Indian comrades, a graduate of Carlisle Indian Col- lege and a lieutenant in the service, was with him, and stopped to render any help possible. The dying Sioux, although con- scious, refused attention, realizing he could not live, but exhorted his fellow-soldiers: "Go on to the end of the trail." Who can say but what the wonderful courage of the American soldier is not in part an inheritance from the land over which the brave American Indians so long roamed and hunted in their v?ild freedom? MAIL-BAG PIERCED BY SHELL. Notwithstanding the difficulties to be encountered, mail waa delivered to many American soldiers in France, right up in the front-line trenches. Mail orderlies were frequently under Are, FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 203 but went ahead with their work as carefully as though delivering mail on a quiet street in an American city. One bag of letters was pierced several times by machine-gun fire as it was being carried up to the men in the front lines. A WILD DASH FOR WATER. Sometimes our American boys in France got very thirsty. On one occasion a soldier in khaki saw ahead of him a barrel of water, and was making for it with his canteen cup, anticipat- ing a much-desired drink, when a piece of a shell punctured the barrel. Making a wild dash for it, he succeeded in filling his cup just as the last drop leaked away. "It was more exciting," said he, "than rushing for shelter under machine-gun fire. And I don't think I ever ran so fast in my life." WORRIED ABOUT THE MESSAGE. Private Grant G, Speer, Jr., of Los Angeles, a youth of only eighteen, was out with a detail in France to maintain bridges over a line of trenches for the passing of artillery, when the sector underwent a furious shelling for fourteen hours. Between the detail and company headquarters shells were falling so' fast it seemed impossible for any one to go through. The sergeant wrote a message to the captain, asking for a relief detail, and looked at young Speer. The youth sprang to his feet, took the message and started. On the way he was severely wounded in the thigh by a piece of shrapnel, but stum- bled on until he was stopped at a dressing-station. He would not let the attendants treat him until another courier had been started on the way. Even after his wounds had been given attention, he was worrying about the message, so finally these words were sent to the boy's sergeant: "Speer is getting along fine, but for goodness' sake write to him and tell him the message got through to the captain all 204 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR right, and the detail was relieved. He worries about that all the time. ' ' SOME "IFS" FOE THE SOLDIER. The following poem, signed "D. H. W.," appeared in the Trouble Buster, published at the United States General Hospital, No. 6, during the war: "If you can hold your head up while the others Are drooping theirs from marches and fatigue; If you can drill in dust that clouds and smothers, And still be fit to hike another league ; If you can stand the greasy food and dishes, The long black nights, the lonesome roads, the blues; If you can choke back all the gloomy wishes Tor home that seem to spring right from your shoes; If you can laugh at sick-call and the pill-boys When all the other lads are checking in ; If you can kid and jolly all the kill-joys, Whose faces long ago forgot to grin ; If at parade you stand fast at attention, When every muscle shrieks aloud with pain ; If you can grin and snicker at the mention Of some bone play connected with your name; If you succeed to keep your knees from knocking At the thoughts of all the bullets you may stop; If you can do these things and really like 'em — You'll be a reg'lar soldier yet, old topi" WOUNDED OFFICER'S SLOGAN. During the German retreat from the Marne, in 1918, an American officer who was leading the advance fell seriously wounded. His men stopped. His presence meant so much to them. Every one wanted to attend his wounds. Instantly he sensed the situation, and by a supreme effort, raising himself a few inches from the ground, cried out with his last particle of strength : ''Keep a-going, boys, keep a-going!" His men burst into cheers and rushed forward to the attack, keeping in mind his words. All that day, and for several days after in the fierce fightiug that followed, the slogan he had FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 205 given tkem was shouted from one to tlie other: ''Keep a-going, boys, keep a-going!" HEAD BANDAGED, BUT AIMED WELL. One of the pluckiest incidents of the great battle that raged on top of the Ourcq Hills in Franc© is related of an Irish cor- poral with the American troops, known to his comrades as *^ Jerry." He was severely wounded in the head and was impatient while a man from the hospital corps dressed his wounds. When the hospital man had iinished, Jerry's head resembled a bundle of some kind more than the thinking part of a human being. All that could be seen of his head was his left eye, but this was shining bright. He was placed by the side of the road to await his turn to be taken to the rear in the ambulance. A few minutes later a lieutenant caught Jerry sneaking back toward the front with a rifle he had managed to secure in some way. "Just ten minutes," he begged of the officer; *'just give me ten minutes. I haven't killed one yet, and I must. Please, Lieutenant, just ten minutes." Fifteen minutes later he came back to the hospital clearing- station, that one eye twinkling as he called out joyously: "I got mine — three of 'em, and they never moved after I plugged 'em ! ' ' He was then content to receive the care his serious condition required. SAMPLE OF U. S. NAVY GRIT. That the American navy should undertake and put through by its own exertions such a task as laying an oil pipe-line all the way across Scotland, in order to expedite the delivery of fuel oil to our ships in the North Sea, seems an amazing achievement, yet it did that very thing in the summer of 1918. Even this, 206 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR however, was but part of a larger task which involved the plant- ing of a mine field so great as to practically bar the North Sea against German submarines. KING ALBERT'S PROPHECY. The return of King Albert to his capital, at Brussels, Bel- gium, riding at the head of his victorious army, on November 22, 1918, after the Germans had been conquered, was the ful- fillment of a prophecy uttered by him on December 20, 1914, after he and his people had been driven before the oncoming hordes of Huns. In an interview with a correspondent of the Associated Press, given at the king's headquarters in West Flanders, on that date, the reporter said: "Your Majesty, it has been predicted that you wiU re-enter your capital within three months." The king sadly shook his head, saying: "Not so soon, but some day I shall ride into Brussels at the head of the Belgian army." Instead of three months, it was almost four long, weary years of fighting, suffering persecutions and cruelties undreamed of in the beginning, but never for an instant did the brave king or his courageous people falter in the task of checking and driving back the beasts from Germany who had torn up the treaty with the little nation, calling it nothing but a scrap of paper. Whatever part other nations played in the great war, it will forever stand out in history that but for the courage and per- severance of the Belgians, the whole course of the war might have been entirely different. AMERICANS IN AUSTRALIAN UNIFORMS. Just before one of the big battles in France a British com- mander in charge of a certain section felt that some of the American troops had not been long enough in training to go over FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 207 the top, and ordered them out of the'line. With much protesting the American soldiers retired — apparently. But when the wounded were being cared for after the battle, American sol- diers were found in the dressing-stations attired in Australian uniforms. It developed that the Americans, after going to the rear, had found Australians who were not to be in the fight, so exchanged uniforms with them, and hurried back to the front. One newspaper, in commenting upon the pluck of the Yankee lads and of their grit in the hour of danger, stated that while it was not definitely known, it was supposed that these were among the sixteen Chicago boys decorated by King George for special daring. ITALIAN CHIVALRY IN THE WAR. Gabrielle d'Annunzio, though fifty-four years of age, did some remarkable things in the war. He mounted his swift-flying aeroplane, and, with companion aviators, flew seven hundred miles to Vienna, There he dropped, not bombs on the enemy, but white notes containing a satiric challenge that must have burned the Huns with shame. Again, he went with a motor-boat detachment from the Italian navy to raid the bay of Buechari. An Austrian ship was blown up and other damage done. In the water the Aus- trains later found three bottles bearing the Italian colors. Each bottle contained this message: The Italian navy laughs at every kind of barricade and net, and is always ready to dare the impossible. "With them has come as companion one whom yon well know, your principal enemy and the most bitter ; to laugh at the price you have placed on his head — Gabrielle d'Annunzio. Another Italian of humbler birth, but with the same splendid daring, that is enshrined in the hearts of his countrymen, was Enrico Toti, the one-legged philosopher, who would not be denied a place on the firing-line because of his infirmity. Widely known 14 208 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR throughout Italy before the war, he was able to induce the Duke of Aosta to accept him as a soldier. After many valorous exploits he died fighting, and as he fell he hurled his crutch, to which was attached a spearhead, at the enemy. A soldier comrade, who raised him from the ground, says that with his dying breath he uttered the little phrase with which he always closed his post-cards to his home: "Kisses for mother. ' ' The home-loving Italians fought so valiantly because they were fighting to defend their homes. It would require volumes to record all of their wonderful deeds. As long as history is handed down to succeeding generations, the marvelous feat of capturing 600,000 Austrian prisoners during the closing days of the war will stand out as one of the most spectacular feats of this greatest of all wars. "THE MINISTER OF THE BEOOM." A preacher who went from America to France to engage in Y. M. C. A. war work was expected by those who knew him best to be a great power for good. He was, but not in the way anticipated. Emergency put him in an old warehouse, where all sorts of Y. M, C. A. supplies were kept. The place was as uninviting as could be imagined — dirty, dusty, with cobwebs in the corners. The first thing he did was to buy a broom, and he used it so effectively that when the divisional secretary came that way the next time, he was amazed, and exclaimed: ' ' You have wrought a miracle here ! ' ' Not only had the preacher cleaned up the place, but he had arranged the goods so orderly and systematically that it was a^ delight to do business there for those who came to take the goods out to the various canteens. Yes, he became "the minister of the broom," and far more. His influence in helping young soldiers with whom he came in FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 209 contact to "clean up" and keep clean, personally, as he was doing with the old warehouse, soon became apparent to the work- ers in that region. He did so many things to win their hearts. Here is just a typical case: One day he noticed a strange sadness among several men in khaki. A comrade had died, he learned. It was in the pioneer days. The troops were on a forced march, and no arrangements had been made for such an emergency. The comrades told him the boy would have to be buried without a coffin, and this made them doubly sad. "They shall never put an American boy in the ground with- out a decent burial," said he positively, "if there's a coffin to be had anywhere in this part of France." He went straight to the telephone, and learned he could get a coffin, but it was many miles away. That made no difference to him. Nearly all that night he\ sat at the wheel of a Ford machine, and through the mud and the dark he went on and on. When morning came he was back with the coffin, but worn and tired. There was no chaplain, but again he was equal to the emer- gency. He conducted the funeral himself. The comrades who heard him as he stood at the foot of the open grave of the American lad sleeping there will never forget the words of love and comfort and faith spoken by the good man, "the minister of the broom." ''IT SHALL BE DONE." "Where there's a will there's a way," has often been quoted, but is not always true. Germany had a will to rule the world. She didn't succeed. America and the other Allies had a will that right must rule — and it did, and always will. It is too late in the day of the world's progress for any one nation or com- bination of nations to conquer on the theory that "might makes 210 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR right," The reverse is now true — "Right la Might." Some one has put the thought into rhyme: "It shall be done I" a country said. And swept a little land with dread; The martyred slain she brushed aside, Remorseless, trod on joy and pride. Crushed honor, broken in the dust; Betrayed her every word and trust. Then sneering said, "When speaks the Hun, This thing to do — it shall be donel" "It shaU be donel" A nation spoke; East, West and North and South awoke 1 That oath went out across the sea! That vow was pledged to Liberty 1 "It shall be done," but not as he Had visions of the victory! On swift-winged feet the word did run, "The day is ours! It has been donel" SIX DAYS WITHOUT SLEEP. The awful body-weariness in war can hardly be realized, even by persons with the most vivid imagination, according to those who have passed through this experience at the front in !France. That many were "tired almost to death" is no exaggeration. 5ere is an instance related by a war correspondent: The Highlanders of the Fifty-first Division are as tough as any men in the British armies, yet some of their oflicers told me that on the last lap of their rear-guard actions they were tired almost to death, and when called on to make one last effort after six days and nights of fighting and marching, many of them staggered up like men who had been chloroformed, with dazed eyes and gray and drawn faces, speechless, deaf to the words spoken to them, blind to the menace about them, seemingly at the last grip of strength. One general said his men were so nearly exhausted that being attacked was the only thing that kept them awake: Toward the end of this fighting they slept standing with their heada falling against the parapet, slept sitting hunched in ditches, slept like dead men when they lay on the open ground. But they waked again when •the enemy attacked once more, and fought and killed him, . then immediat«ly dozed off again. These men wer« tired to the point of death. FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 2J2 A French officer asked a British officer for troops to help in certain critical operations, -and the latter 'explained that his men had just gone to sleep — the first sleep they had had for six days. Nevertheless, they were aroused, and, when they learned the situ- ation, went to the task cheerfully, singing, and held the line thirty-six hours more! THE WONDEEFUL LIBEETY MOTOE. Jesse Gurney Vincent, aged thirty-eight, working for the Packard Motor Company, in Detroit, is the inventor of the Liberty motor, which was adopted by the United States Govern- ment in 1918 for use in the aeroplanes which were shipped to France by the score to help win the war. Vincent, believing that air-fighting would prove an important part in the conflict, worked persistently for nearly three years, improving on anything then known in the world in the way of motors for fi[ying-machines. The firm for which he worked spent $400,000 on his experiments before he made a motor with which he was satisfied — and every one informed on the subject con- sidered it time and money well spent. The inventor gave up a good position in a store in St. Louis and put on overalls to work in a machine-shop. One promotion after another followed in rapid succession, for he was in earnest. He became chief engineer of the Packard Motor Company, and later vice-president of the corporation. AMAZING COUEAGE OF AIEMEN. Two British aviators, who had scarcely laid aside their school- books when the war began, had a most unusual experience while in the war air service. The incident is told by a war correspon- dent of the New York Eerald: The two youthful airmen had successfully aided in bombing a German munition factory, but, on the journey back to their own lines, got lost in a terrific thunder-storm and +heir two-seated 212 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR aeroplane was separated from the squadron. As their compass had been smashed by a stray bullet, they were at a loss how to proceed, but kept going on blindly for an hour. Finally they were compelled to land, for the tanks were practically empty. There was absolutely nothing to indicate on which side of the battle-line they had landed. While the pilot stood guard over the machine the observer reconnoitered. After walking several hundred yards he struck a road, and in the brush close by he decided to hide and await events. He was not kept long in suspense, for soon the rumble and zug-zug-zug-zug of a heavy motor-truck fell upon his ears. He could not see it through the mist until it was almost by the spot where he was hiding. The engine was evidently in bad shape from the way it was sounding, and all of a sudden the big truck stopped! By this time the observer could see the entire outfit; there were two men — Germans! He and his partner had come down within the enemy lines! Eemembering that his aeroplane was out of petrol, his heart leaped with joy at the possibility of getting a supply from the motor-truck — ^but how? That was the serious question. He waa thinking rapidly and decided to act quickly. Grasping his pistol, he rushed out upon the men and shouted: ' ' Hands up, gentlemen ! ' ' The astonished Huns looked as if they could not believe their eyes. Where did this young Englishman come from? At any rate, they instantly obeyed his command. Then he forced them, by signs and brandished pistol, to each get a tin of petrol, and march ahead of him to the aeroplane, where the tanks were replenished. While the pilot still stood guard, now of the ma- chine and the two captured Huns, the observer ran back to the big motor-truck, sprinkled a lot of petrol over it, touched a match, and the blaze soon did the rest. Hastening to his partner, they mounted the areoplane, and as they darted quickly forward the observer waved the dismayed Germans farewell. The two FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 213 young aviators reached their own aerodrome half an hour later, to the great joy of the entire squadi'on, who had given them up as lost. "AS THE TEUCKS GO ROLLIN' BY." One of the outstanding features of the great war, as described by many soldiers and others in France, was the constant, cease- less stream of great trucks hauling men, supplies and ammunition to the fighting-lines on the western front. L. W. Suckert, a lieutenant in the TJ. S. army, pictures the scene thus: "There's a nimble an' a jumble an' a bumpin' an' a thud, As I waken from my restless sleep here in my bed o' mud, Then I pull my blankets tighter underneath my shelter fly. An' I listen to the thunder o' the trucks a-rollin' by. "They're a-jumpin' an' they're humpin' through the inky gloom o' night. An' I wonder how them drivers see without a gleam o' light; I can hear the clutches roarin' as they throw the gears in high, An' the radiators boilin' as the trucks go rollin' by. "There's some a-draggin' cannons, you can spot the sound all right — The rumblin' ones is heaviest, and the rattly ones is light; The clinkin' shells is pointin' up their noses at the sky — Oh, you can tell what's passin' as the trucks go rollin' by. "But most of 'em is paekin' loads o' human Yankee freight That'll slam the old soft pedal on to Heinle's Hymn o' Hate; You can hear 'em singin' 'Dixie,' an' 'The Sweet Bye and Bye,' An' 'Where Do We Go from Here, Boys?' as the trucks go rollin' by. "So, although my bed is puddles an' I'm soaked through to the hide. My heart's out with them doughboys on their bouncin', singin' ride. They're bound for paths o' glory, or, p'raps, to fight an' die — God bless that Yankee cargo in the truck a-roUin' by." PERSONAL WHEN SORROW COMES HOME. *'Iii union there is strength." While sorrow is always a very personal matter when one of our loved ones is taken away by death, yet we seem to find strength in the consciousness that 214 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR many others know from experience just how to sympathize with us. The thought that many thousands gave their lives in the great war should not, however, cause us to be any less tender and sympathetic in our attitude toward a friend or neighbor whose son made the supreme sacrifice. This poem by Susan Hub- bard Martin, entitled "The Casualty List," wUl help us to realize how personal the sorrow may become: "Only one of onr boys lost Ms young life to-day, In that battle o'erseas, you complacently say. As the casualty list in the paper you scan — 'Tis not much, you remark, to have lost but one man. "But listen — a mother reads, far, far away. Of that boy who was killed in the trenches to-day. And she falls on her knees with a stricken, hurt moan. For that boy who was slain was her son, hers alone I "And the casualty list that you thought was so small Is as large as the world, for it's taken her aU; And her anguished heart breaks, as she views through her tears The desolate future — ^the long, weary years. "Only one of our boys lost his young life to-day, In that battle o'erseas, you complacently say. But to one bereaved soul the list is not small; It's as large as the world — for it's taken her all." THE OLD ''TIGEE" OT FRANCE. Many were the evidences during the war of the wisdom of the words, "Old men for counsel, young men for war.'* The mighty leaders, who thought out the plans, were men of age and gray hairs. The great armies of millions which executed those plans were made up very largely of young men. One of the most conspicuous and forceful characters in the war counsels was M. Georges Clemenceau, Premier of France, in his seventy-seventh year when the war closed. Every Frenchman adores his white-haired Premier under the nickname of "Tiger." Along with his other activities he was editor of a great paper, and in its columns breathed forth words of courage and FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 215 determination that were an inspiration to tens of tkousanda. Nothing aroused within him more indignation than the idea that France must, try to keep in the good graces of the Kaiser of Germany. . On one occasion, after a serious crisis in which the German Emperor had been disposed to show the ''mailed flst" toward France, Clemenceau said in his paper : ' What is quite intolerable is the pretension to make the whole world tremble when the Kaiser knits his brows, and to expect us to rejoice effu- sively when his Imperial Majesty condescends to favor us with a smile. The peace of Europe can not be based upon the changeable disposition of this sovereign. To-day he is in a good humor; so much the better. To- morrow he will be in a bad humor; that is his own affair. For our part, we need a guaranty for our speculations as to the future which is inde- pendent of any one man. These words proved little short of prophetic. The Kaiser has been eliminated from the position where he could make mil- lions tremble or smile, as he might choose. M. Clemenceau was first elected Premier of France in 1906, serving until 1909. It was a fine compliment to his ability that, in the period of greatest stress his country ever faced, he was, in November, 1917, called to fill that place once more. Then an unforgettable scene was enacted in the French Chamber of Deputies, when he spoke of France as "bloody in her glory," and hurled forth the words: "I have but one war aim — to win, to win ! ' ' His words produced a scene of the wildest enthusiasm. His love of liberty is recalled in an incident of his youth. When only nineteen he was thrown into prison for shouting: "Vive la Bepuilique!" Americans admire him for many things, but one in particular — ^he married an American girl. FAMILY HEROISM AND SOEEOW. In many a family made sad by the loss of some member in the war, is also a feeling of justifiable pride, because that 216 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR one proved brave and true in the testing-time. This is all pathet- ically shown in the following extracts from a letter from Cor- poral William Porter, of New York, to his parents: You have no doubt heard of the death of brother. He died as a Por- ter should die, while ^oing over the top. We had been over five times to- gether. It came near driving me insane when he fell at my side, and I had to continue the advance or be classed as a coward. You may be sure we drove the Germans back and then returned to bury our dead. Brother was buried on the battlefield, and taps were sounded over his grave, to- gether with those of a number of others from our outfit. A SEEMON TO ONE MAN. Dr. E. Combie Smith, pastor of the Maple Avenue M. E, Church in St. Louis, while serving with the Y. M. C. A. forces in France, came upon a man who was severely wounded, and stopped to make him as comfortable as possible. When the soldier learned that the one who was so kindly ministering to him was a preacher, he said wistfully: "I would give almost anything to hear a sermon again." Dr. Smith, in writing to a friend of the incident, said: I was so touched by his appeal that I stood there before him and de- livered a sermon from beginning to end, just as though I was talking to a great audience. It was heart-touching, for there was one candle glimmer- ing in the rude dugout, and we could hear the sound of distant shells bursting. I never had an audience follow me more closely than he did. Those who have the privilege of frequently hearing sermons and of attending church services should reflect upon this incident. Do we appreciate the great value of these things in our lives? "Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." This poor, wounded, lonely soldier was hungry for a sermon, when he had been deprived of the privilege of hearing one for some time. Our need of God's message is just as great as was his, even though in the midst of peaceable surroundings, for every circumstance in life brings its own peculiar battles to be fought. FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 217 PRECAUTION TWO KINDS OF BONGS. Two down-South negroes with the American army in France were resting in a shell hole when a German shell came whizzing over and exploded only a few yards away. "You heah dat baby sing, Buddy?" queried one, as he stuck his head up over the edge of the hole. "I sho did," the other replied; "but you all gwine ter heah de angels sing if you don't get dat ole black noodle of yourn down! " THE COOK WANTED TO WAKE UP. During the severe fighting in the St. Mihiel salient, an officer, passing a portable kitchen one night, saw the cook winding an alarm-clock, and setting it to go ofE at a certain time. It was when the roar of bursting shells from fiery-throated guns was continuous, and sleep seemed out of the question. This made the act of the cook seem all the more strange, so the officer asked : "What's the big idea? What are you setting the alarm- clock for?" "I want to be sure of waking up when the boys go over the top in the morning," he replied in a matter-of-fact manner. This instance shows the power of habit. The cook had accus- tomed himself to sleep when battles raged with almost deafening noise, and to wake up when a tiny alarm-clock rang out its little call. NAILING THE KAISEE. Sometimes great damage was liable from just one small nail in the war zone. A writer says that one nail can disrupt an entire modern anny, for in sending troops and supplies to the front, with every detail of every means of conveyance carefully 218 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR planned, the slightest hitdi, such as a tire with a nail through, it, may cause delay in the execution ol the whole program. As a precaution against such an occurrence, the allied com- manders had boxes placed every half-mile or so, bearing a large sign reading: "Pick Up Every Nail." PREFERENCE THE GRAVES OF DEAD SOLDIERS. There was a division of sentiment at the close of the war as to bringing home the bodies of our American soldiers who had fallen in France, although the great majority of parents and other relatives desired that this be done. Those who did not feel thus about it were no doubt well represented in their sentiments on the subject as expressed by Colonel and Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt, whose son Quentin was killed in an air fight on July 14, 1918, and buried in France with military honors by German aviators. In October, 1918, Colonel Roosevelt wrote to P. C. March, General Chief of Staff of the U. S. army, protesting against the removal of the body of their son, saying: "We have always believed that 'where the tree falls, there let it lie.' " Continu- ing, he wrote: We know that many good persons feel entirely different, but to us it is painful and harrowing, long after death, to remove the poor body from which the soul has fled. We greatly prefer that Quentin shall continue to lie on the spot where he fell in battle and where the foemen buried him. General March, in reply, stated he was in sympathy with the view expressed, but that the policy of the Government would be to bring all bodies home, except in cases where parents or other relatives desired that the remains be left where they had fallen. Intimate friends of Colonel Roosevelt expressed the belief that his sudden death, which occurred at his home at Oyster Bay, New York, on January 6, 1919, was hastened or partially FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 219 due to grief over the death of hia son Quentin. The Colonel was sixty years of age. PREFERRED GERMAN SHELLS. An. American soldier in France — ^presumably from a part of the country where electric storms are rare — was compelled to make a hard march with his comrades through a dense forest, at night, with raiu coming down in torrents, while lightning flashed here and there, and the thunder pealed out with alarm- ing nearness. "I ain't afraid of the German shells," said this infantry- man, as he slipped and slid about in the mud on the road, "but I don't like that thunder and lightning I" PREPARATION PHYSICAL CARE OF OUR SOLDIERS. Dr. Woods Hutchinson, who visited one cantonment in America where 20,000 recruits were being trained for the great war over- seas, was astonished to find that in five months the men there had gained an average of fourteen pounds each, for the entire 20,000 — or a total of 140 tons of human flesh. This, in view of the fact that the young men were in splendid physical condition when they arrived, coming from good homes, for the most part, where they had been well fed, is a striking demonstration of what intelligent, scientific attention to food, exercise and habits will do. The great lesson shown in this instance, which was no doubt only typical of all our army camps, should be taken to heart with profit to the whole nation in the proper care of every boy and girl, every young man and young woman growing up into the privileges of citizenship. The strong, clean, spiritual man or woman is the best citizen. 220 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR GENERAL PERSHING'S BOYHOOD. The good Book says : ' ' Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart therefrom." Gen. John J. Pershing, leader of the American armed forces in Prance, was born near Laclede, Missouri, September 13, 1860. C. C. Bigger, a boyhood friend, says of him: "He was clean in character, absolutely so, and a regular attendant at church and Sunday school at the Methodist Epis- copal Church, of which he was a member and in which his father and mother were active workers. The boy was never tough. He never considered it necessary to seek questionable companions or places in order to have a good time." Charles E. Spurgeon, another boyhood friend, says of Persh- ing's boyhood days: "John was no sissy, even if he was clean and well behaved. He was a manly, upstanding boy. In his classes he had his les- sons, and when asked to work a problem he would step promptly to the blackboard and do it in a way that proved his heart was in the work." GENERAL FOCH'S LIFE TRAINING. Perhaps the world never had a greater lesson on the value of youthful ambitions being trained for a life-work than in the case of Gen. Ferdinand Foch, chosen as commander-in-chief of all the allied armies in the great war. Bom in the village of Tarbes, in Midi, August 4, 1851, he was sixty-seven years of age when he brought to a successful conclusion the greatest war in all history — and he did it because he was capable of doing it, not by any chance of fate. When the time came for him to decide on a career, he aston- ished his parents by choosing the military profession. From that time forth his whole period of schooling and training was along military lines. FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 221 The result of that early and thorough training is known around the world, and has made the name of Ferdinand Poch one of the great names of history. Boys and young men should specially remember that he obtained the wonderful victory for the allied armies and such undying fame because he was prepared for the great task when just such a leader was needed. PRISONERS GEEMANS ''DEESS UP" TO SUEEENDEE. Capt. Herman Gergens wrote a letter to a relative in America saying he had seen about 100,000 German prisoners in France, and related this incident: I had quite a talk with some young prisoners the other day, and they were very glad to have been taken. They said that when they heard the Americans were coming they put on their best clothes, threw away their gums and came over with a smile on their faces. AN ACCOMMODATING GEEMAN. Near the town of Baulny one hundred German prisoners were sent back from the lines under guard of a single American sol- dier — an Italian from New York, who spoke but little English. An officer of the tJ. S. army was trying to explain to him, by use of a map, how to get the captured men to a certain prison. The Italian couldn't understand him. The officer noticed a German major listening to the conver- sation, smiling, and said to him: "Do you speak English?" "I do," replied the German. "Can you understand this map?" continued the American. After a hasty glance at it, the major nodded and said, "I can. ' ' 222 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR "Well, then, will you take charge of this bunch and march them to the prisoners' cage?" inquired the American officer. "I will," said the German, saluting courteously. Then he gave commands in his own language, and the prison- ers fell into a column of twos and marched away to the prison. There the German major turned them over to the astonished American officers in charge, and with them was made secure from escape. PROGRESS MODERN ENDING OF THE WAR. The wireless and the automobile played an important part in the ending of the war. The German High Command sent a message to General Foch by wireless, asking for an armistice. He replied in the same way, informing the Germans they could come at a certain time by such a road. One civilian, a nobleman and three German officers made the trip to Foch's headquarters in automobiles, taking along a troop of workmen to repair the roads as they went — roads that had been torn to pieces by the bursting shells. WITH THE PRESIDENT AT SEA. When President Wilson sailed for Europe on December 4, 1918, to participate in the World Peace Conference, he was provided with every up-to-date appliance for keeping in touch with the outside world, even though his ship at times was over a thousand miles from either shore of the great Atlantic. From start to finish of the voyage he was constantly informed of all the important world happenings, sent to him by wireless, and had with him a corps of stenographers and secretaries for the transaction of official business. When his Ship reached the Azores a pouch of official mail was put on board a destroyer and hurried back to Washington as fast as steam could take it. FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 223 In addition, he cleaned up a bunch'of correspondence by wireless, with his private secretary at Washington, D. C. Not only was the President kept in touch with the outside world, but the world was kept in touch with the President — ^how he spent his time, how he enjoyed the trip, received calls from diplomats on board, took his walks on the decks of the steamer, and other details making up the momentous trip. Truly t?ie wireless is a wonderful invention. In its use has come true the prophecy of Mother Shipton, an English woman, made ia 1641, when she said: "Around the -world the news shall fly In the twinkling of an eye." ATLANTIC CROSSED IN THREE DAYS. One of the modern wonders of travel was when Foreign Min- ister Balfour, of Great Britain, made a trip across the Atlantic in three days. That was at the time when the Siberian situation, in its relation to the war, was so acute that the presence of the British Foreign Minister in Washington was imperative. The almost unbelievable speed of the ship that carried him is credited with having saved a precarious situation. The news of the won- derful trip was not given out until the war was over. SHELL-TORN FIELDS MADE FERTILE. Reports from France to some of the American universities making a specialty of the study of agriculture are to the effect that the tearing up of the earth by the great shells from the German guns, instead of rendering the land useless for agricul- ture, had just the opposite effect in many places. Crops grown on shell-torn ground are much heavier than crops grown on the same land before the war. This has forced the conclusion among experts that heretofore all plowing has been too shallow. It is further shown that with the aid of tractors, which are coming into general use more and 15 224 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR more, plowing is beiag done much deeper and more thoroughly than in former days. This will mean proportionately better crops over the entire world. WAE SPURS CONQUEST OF AIR. The close of the war made very little essential difference in the airplane industry in America, notwithstanding that because of the war the industry had been forced forward by leaps and bounds, far in ' advance of what would have been accomplished in many years of peace, according to some writers. During the progress of the war the people in general were not informed as to the details of progress, and some big sur- prises were therefore revealed when hostilities ceased. It came out that during the last twelve months of the war the United States had a great flying-boat capable of carrying eleven tons of freight and fifty passengers! This boat was in active service on the Atlantic Ocean, on the lookout for Grerman submarines. With the closing of the war, attention was at once turned to making this type of locomotor serviceable for ocean flight. In fact, so great was the advance in the conquest of the air that one writer said: The airplane is to-day -where the automobile was fifteen years ago— on the verge of a development that will astound and revolutionize a war- worn world. Do you realize that it was only in 1903 that a little sixteen-horse-power contraption devised by the Wrights took a flop in the air and called itself an airplane? To-day we have 450-horse-power engines that have ascended almost 30,000 feet and flown thousands of miles, and by putting three of these engines in one plane we have 1,350 horse-power, capable of carrying air passengers from London to Egypt, or New York to London. Long-distance flights in the war regions were easily made at a rate of speed of about 100 miles per hour, in a number of instances. On October 2, 1918, a non-stop flight was made from Dayton, Ohio, to "Washington, D. C, a distance of approximately 430 miles, in two hours and fifty minutes, or at the rate of about FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 225 143 miles an hour. At that time it required sixteen and a half hours for the fastest train on the Pennsylvania Eailroad to make the trip. Caleb Bragg was the pilot, having with him an engineer officer of the Bureau of Aircraft Production. During the war such rapid progress was made that the TJ. S. Government had installed regular aerial mail routes between some of the large Eastern cities, with plans maturing for greatly extending this method of carrying mail. On Thanksgiving Day, 1918, a huge biplane carried nine per- sons from the flying-field of the United States Air Mail Service at Elizabeth, New Jersey, and, after reaching a height of over half a mile, they partook of a good old-fashioned turkey dinner, with the earth far beneath them. • CHANNEL TUNNEL PLANS HASTENED. For 116 years the proposition to build a tunnel under the English Channel was discussed, with no practical headway. The very thing that held it up — fear of war complications — finally turned the tide in favor of it. Prior to this, England steadfastly opposed the tunnel. For centuries she had been an island. She felt safe from invasion because she was surrounded by stormy waters, and thought that physical connection with the Continent would prove a military menace. At one time (1875) England and France signed a treaty for its construction. Shafts were sunk on both the English and French sides seven years later, and tunnels driven from these shafts out under the sea a distance of 6,000 feet. Then Joseph Chamberlain, Secretary of the Home Department of Great Britain, stepped in, and, with the assistance of the courts, stopped the work, according to the Popular Science Monthly. When the great war came on, with its bombing airships and fighting submarines, hurling explosives down even upon London itself, and sinking vast numbers of her ships, England no longer 226 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR felt isolated and safe because she was an island. Strategists soon saw that a great blunder had been made in not building the tunnel. During the war 20,000,000 passengers crossed the Channel in boats, and millions of tons of munitions and supplies also had to be carried over to the war zone by boats. The tunnel would have released for Atlantic sea service 1,500,000 tons of shipping, and an army of dock-hands for service in helping to win the war. Albert Sartiaux, the noted French engineer, esti- mated that with the tunnel in operation 30,000 troops and 30,000 tons of supplies could have been transported each day without the use of a ship. Even before the war came to its final close, British opinion had undergone such a radical change that the construction of the tunnel was considered practically assured. The estimated cost was $80,000,000 to $90,000,000, for double borings, with con- necting passages every two or three hundred yards. The distance would be about thirty-seven miles, with twenty-four miles under water, the balance of the distance in the approaches. PROPAGANDA EIVAL "SNOWSTOEMS" IN WAE. There were times in the summer and autumn of 1918, when the propaganda spirit was in fuU sway on the battlefront in France, that the air had the appearance of a snowstorm, although the sky may have been as clear as the noonday sun could make it. This was due to the tens of thousands of hand-bills and cir- culars dropped from airplanes. If it happened that there was enough air stirring to prevent the paper falling direct to the ground, the scene was all the more remarkable, with the many bits of white moving hither and thither in a gradual downward direction. This method of ** warfare" was begun by the Huns, in hope of weakening the spirit of their enemies, and for a time did FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 227 serious injury to the morale of the Italian army, but made no perceptible impression on the Allies fighting in France. When the "peace offensives" were launched, the -Germans would send their airplanes out over the battle-line and scatter many thousands of hand-bills. Then the allied planes in turn would fly over and scatter their thousands more. Thus the prop- aganda duel became quite a spectacular sight. CLAIRVOYANTS USED BY GERMANS. Every conceivable form of propaganda that could be used by the Germans to accomplish their ends was resorted to. They did not even overlook the clairvoyants. Here is how it was done to get American workmen to quit their jobs in ship-building yards or at war factories, as discovered by a detective whose suspicions had been aroused and who went to the clairvoyant disguised as a common laborer, the woman giving him this "reading": "I see you working. You work very hard. There is a sound of ma- chinery in the air, and I smell chemicals. Many men are around you. Ah-h-hl" (A muffled shriek.) "Everything is fire and smoke. There is a great crash. Men are torn to pieces. They are flung in the air. I can not see whether you are one of them." (A pause.) "No, you have gone away. You have found a better job in another place. It is a factory, but it is not a war factory. No, you are working on woodwork. You are very happy there, but you sorrow for your dead companions." It requires no very vivid imagination to picture the fear this would create in the mind of a subject employed in a hazardous occupation who had faith in clairvoyance. The German agent knew her lesson well. It was learned she had repeated it often with the desired effect, and that was to get men employed at any kind of war work to throw up their jobs. But this was her last "reading." The detective said to her: "I see you in a far place. There is barbed wire around it — two fences. Soldiers patrol the barbed wire. There are several other German ladies with you. There are — don't try to get away, madam, or I '11 have to handcuff you I ' ' 228 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR So this clairvoyant, with others using the same methods to hinder America's war preparations, became a guest of the U. S. Government, "somewhere in jail," with the result that the loss of labor in war factories was greatly reduced. PROTECTION GRATITUDE FOR BIG GUNS. A father who suffered from terror during the German air raids over London took his children to a Sunday afternoon ser- vice. The speaker, referring to the noise made by the guns which protected the city, said to the children present: "Don't be afraid of that any longer, for it is a thing to be thankful for. You ought to thank God for every sound of a gun, for it means protection; the greater the sound, the safer we are." A few nights later there came a heavy raid. The warning was soon followed with a booming sound which told of the pro- tection of the big guns. The oldest boy in the family referred to, a lad of twelve, called out without the slightest indication of fear: "Thank God for thatl'* For a moment the parents were greatly surprised, and then the father recalled the words of the speaker at the Sunday after- noon meeting. Every time the big guns roared, the boy, now joined in by the rest of the children, made the same glad cry: "Thank God for that!" LONDON FOGS IN WARTIME. London was approaching its fourth winter of the great war, with the customary dread of fogs in the minds of many, when some one made the wise suggestion that instead of grumbling at the fog, as Londoners had been in the habit of doing before the war, they should be thankful for it. The reason for the FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 229 changed attitude was that the fog might possibly prevent many- air raids, and thus save many lives. In every life, perhaps, are some unpleasant experiences which serve a useful purpose if we are only wise enough to recognize them. If we are inclined to grumble, let's remember the lesson of the London fogs in wartime. DE-LOUSING STATIONS PEOVIDED, - An eye-witness of many of the war scenes in France and of hardships endured by the soldiers — Damon Runyon — gives this side-light on the pest commonly known as "cooties," which some soldiers declared were more dreaded than being on sentry duty on a cold night: Some of the men from tho Seventy-seventh are now at a "de-lonsing" station. This is just what the name implies. There's no use making bones about it. The men are marched there direct from the lines. They strip themselves, and each man's clothing is tied up in a bundle with his name on it. The bundles then are passed through a steaming process which destroys what the soldiers call "seam squirrels." This process takes about forty minutes. In the meantime the men wait around with nothing on but their raincoats. After being rid of their unwelcome guests, they get rest. So great was the "cootie" nuisance to the soldiers in the. trenches that vast sums of money were spent to destroy them. When the war ended, the U. S. Government was determined that the pests should not be brought to America by the return- ing soldiers. To make sure of it, $1,500,000 was expended in the erection of forty-five "de-lousing" plants, where every particle of clothing worn by the soldiers was treated. In addi- tion, every individual soldier was officially inspected to insure that none of the little creatures that had been their companions in war should be their companions in peace, nor move to America- Some Europeans are welcome to our shores, but not these. Little sins, like small pests, should be avoided and detested, for often, like the ' ' cootie ' ' in the spreading of dreaded diseases, they lead to greater evils. 230 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR PUNISHMENT MINISTER SENTENCED TO PRISON. For saying, "I would as soon take a gun and kiU a man as to buy a Liberty bond/' the Eev. David F. Gerdes, pastor of the Church of the Brethren, of Rockf ord, Illinois, was sentenced to ten years in prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. KINGS FLEE FOR THEIR LIVES. Perhaps never before in the history of the world did so many momentous changes take place among the rulers and nations as in the autumn of 1918, when one ruler after another was dethroned by the uprising of the people. Scarcely a week that there was not some upheaval so vast that, had it occurred singly, it would have been the subject of columns and pages in the newspapers and magazines, and of much discussion on the rostrum. Kings and emperors were fleeing for their lives in every direction. Within a few weeks six rulers, seven princes and ten dukes abdicated their thrones, the majority of them seeking seclusion. Within a week from the time the Kaiser of Germany was forced to abdicate and make haste to get out of his country, the newspapers contained in substance the following: Emperor Karl and Empress Zita of Austria-Hungary have fled to Wartegg castle in Switzerland. The king of Wurtemburg abdicated to-day. He has fled from Stutt- gart through fear of violence. King Friedrich of Saxony has been dethroned, according to an ofScial telegram from Berlin. Just a few days before all this, the Bulgarian king was forced to abdicate, and Count Tisza, former premier of Hungary, was shot dead in his own home, in the presence of his wife and other women, who refused to leave the room at the request of the Boldiers who came to put the count to death. FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 231 There is considerable difference of opinion among Bible stu- dents as to the interpretation of the Book of Revelation. With- out any effort to make an application to the above far-reaching incidents, it is interesting to note that the situations are strik- ingly described in the sixth chapter, verses 12 to 17. Some of the Scripture verses are given to the left, and the comments are from B. W. Johnson's ''People's New Testament": 12 And I saw when he opened An earthquake is the symbol of a the sixth seal, and there was a political or moral agitation and up- great earthquake. heaval. 13 And the stars of heaven Indicating the downfall of those fell unto the earth. who had high places on the earth. 14 And the heaven was removed The old religions, supposed ol as a scroll. heavenly origin, pass away. The fifteenth, sixteenth and seventeenth verses figuratively describe vfhat took place in the flight of the kings in the latter part of 1918 : "And the kings of the earth, and the princes, and the chief captains, and the rich and the strong, and every bondman and freeman, hid them- selves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains ; and they say to the mountains, and to the rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath is come ; and who is able to stand 3" SOLOMON AND THE KAISER. When Solomon, called the wisest of men, was asked by the Lord what He should give him, Solomon asked for wisdom. His desire was granted. Among his wonderful sayings were these: "A lying tongue is but for a moment." "Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before' a fall." "Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein." "The violence of the wicked shall sweep them away." If these words had been written specially to describe the fate of the Kaiser, they could not have been more to the point. In addition, Solomon mentions seven things that are an abom- ination to the Lord. As if to defy God, the Kaiser transgressed every one of the seven, which read: 232 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that deviseth wicked ptirposes, feet that are swift in running to mischief, a false witness that uttereth lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. Insolence, falsehood, murder, intrigue, diabolical destruction, lying propaganda, and the effort to set friendly nations at war with one another — these are the seven sins for which the Kaiser stood during the four years and more of the great war, before his final overthrow. No lesson of the war stands out more prominently than that he who attempts to rule by wicked might brings destruction upon himself. His wicked ambition is self-defeating. RELIGION SERVING TWO BATTLEFRONTS. Joel Heminger, of the U. S. navy, took time while the great war against autocracy was in progress, to send $36 to his mother at Akron, Ohio, for the support of an assistant missionary in India. He was a member of the South Akron Christian Church. A missionary magazine commented upon the incident thus: "We believe that many a boy goes to his task in the great War just as the missionary goes to his — ^to help redeem the world. ' ' The surest way to prevent war is to do as this young sailor did — help to Christianize the world. When the religion of Christ becomes the controlling power in the private and public life of nations, there will be no more war. GENERAL FOCH BELIEVES IN PRATER. A California boy, Evans by name, with the American forces in France, in a letter to his parents in San Bernardino, told of seeing General Foch praying. Evans had gone into an old church to look at it, and as he stood with bared head, the great FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 233 general entered and knelt in prayer. The soldier remaiaed in respectful silence until nearly an hour had passed, when Foch arose and departed. The incident made a strong impression upon the young man in khaki. During the time the general was there in communion with God, tens of thousands of guns were roaring up and down the long battle-line, in obedience to his orders to the allied armies. Those in a position to know say that General Foch made it a rule to enter a church and pray every day, if there was a church he could reach. Throughout his entire life it was his custom to kneel in prayer every morning and evening. He is called one of the greatest generals the world has ever known. From the time when God was preparing the Jewish race for an important place in the world, down to the present age, it has often been the case that great generals were believers in prayer. In 2 Sam. 5: 19 we read: "And David inquired of Jehovah., saying, Shall I go np against the Philistines 1 Wilt thou deliver them into my hand ? And Jehovah said ■unto David, Go up ; for I will certainly deliver the Philistines into thy .hand." RELIGION OF THE RECRUITS. That the soldier did not wait until he went into the trenches before beginning his thinking along religious lines, was brought out in a conversation between a lieutenant and a Y. M. C. A. secretary. Speaking of a certain officers' training-camp, during America's preparation for the war, the lieutenant said: "Out of about thirteen hundred officers selected in our camp, twelve hundred of them signed the pledge of purity." The secretary had heard of this remarkable fact, but said nothing, preferring to hear the story from the young, clean-cut- American army officer, who continued: "And not only that, but I myself heard the commanding officer say: 'No man need expect to be an officer out of this training-camp if he is known to drink, or to frequent a house 234 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR of prostitution, or if lie is known to be a panderer of dirty stories. ' ' The young lieutenant paused a moment, then said with spirit: "That's the kind of an army I have the honor of being a humble officer in. I'm proud of it." Speaking of books he had read, giving experiences of soldiers in the trenches, he observed: "They are finding 'over there' that just a few things count — the Bible, God, Christ and eternity." A SERMON IN A SENTENCE. An American soldier who had strayed away from the early teachings of his parents, "came to himself" at a Y. M. C. A. meeting in France, and took his stand publicly for the Chris- tian life. ' * Now I 'm going over the top, "he said to the secretary, "and I won't be afraid. I'm not going alone. Here's my mother's name and address. You will know what to tell her if I don't come back." In the very next battle he gave up his life. His body was brought back on a wagon, and, as it passed, his comrades bared their heads. They knew of the stand he had taken at the Y. M. C. A. meeting and of the life he had lived in harmony with his profession. As the body went by, one of them said reverently : "There's our Bible hoy on the wagon." When the secretary made a talk at the grave, he referred to the remark, which he had overheard. The little sentence of only seven words was perhaps the strongest sermon those soldiers had heard in many months. FIEST PLACE FOE HIS TESTAMENT. In one of the Y. M. C. A. huts in France, when many soldiers were being served with the various things for which they called, FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 235 one Lusky fellow pulled a New Testament out of Ms upper left- hand pocket to replace it with something else. Pausing an instant with both objects in his hand, he shook his head and spoke to himself as though no one was near, ''Nope," and back went the Testament in that most convenient of all his pockets. THE CHUECH IN THE WAR. When the war broke out with such startling suddenness upon the world there were many ready to declare: "Christianity is a failure ! " When the unreasonableness of this view became apparent, those who are ever ready to find fault with Christianity declared that the church was a slacker in the great conflict. The Chicago Daily News, in discussing the subject, says: Any intelligent review of the chttrch's activities fully disproves sucb calumnies. While plenty of young men of military fitness can be found on the street and in places of amusement, there is scarcely a church in Chicago that has not been stripped of its young manhood. The service flag in every place of worship tells the story. Many churches have contributed their ministers as chaplains and camp pastors, bearing much of the expense of their work. Scores of churches have become great rallying-centers for patriotism and idealism. The pur- chase of Liberty Bonds is declared from many puJpits to be a religious as well as a patriotic duty. The biggest single factor in winning the war is universally admitted to have been the high spirit of morale of the American and allied troops, due almost entirely to the splendid work of the Y. M. C. A., the Salvation Army and other religious organi- zations. In fact, men high in military authority went so far as to say that without the Y. M. C. A. it would have been practically impossible to have won the war for the Allies. Another thing should be kept in mind. The very kind of young men who were members of the churches were the ones who proved physically fit to a remarkable degree, while the larger number of rejections were nearly all in the class not connected 236 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR with the church, the T. M. C. A. and other Christian organiza- tions. COMMUNION SERVICE IN A STABLE. One Sunday morning in France, while the battles were raging and the boom of guns could be heard not far away, a Y. M. C. A. secretary was sitting by the roadside thinking seriously of the work he had to do that day. An orderly down the road, says Rev. F. A. LaViolette, in writing of the scene, hailed the secre- tary as he approached and said: "Some of the boys and staff officers want to see you in the attic." Going down to the old farm building, which was used- by the men as stable, granary and residence combined, he climbed into the attic to find a group of very earnest men, and asked: "Well, fellows, what's up?" "It's like this," replied one of the officers; "this regiment has been so much on the move, and we've not been able to get together, that a few of us wondered if we could have a com- munion service. We're .'going in' to-day, and we wondered, see- ing that you're a minister, if you couldn't serve the communion to us." "We must report at ten o'clock," spoke up another, anx- iously. "I can get you everything you need," volunteered the mess sergeant. Looking into the earnest faces of the men, who sought to express their faith in this way, there could be but one answer. "Meet me in the back room in ten minutes," said the secre- tary, "and bring any of your friends you wish." And so that day eighteen soldiers met in an upper room in that old building, and partook of the emblems representing the broken body and the shed blood of the Saviour of men. Among them were representatives of different religious bodies, including FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 237 Catholic and Jew. All were drawn, together in one common desire to get close to God in that tense moment. Then they passed out to go to battle, some never to return, nor to see their comrades agaiu until the reunion beyond the grave, where "there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away." WHEN MEN THINE STRAIGHT. Gipsy Smith was talking in a Y. M. 0. A. hut behind the battle-lines in France to over five hundred soldiers one evening. He knew that every boy there was going into the trenches that night. Even as he spoke to them, there could be heard the roar of battle, the crackle of rifles and the rattle of the machine guns. Occasionally their faces would be lit up by the flashes. It was a weird sight. "Boys," said the speaker, "you are going up to the trenches. Anything may happen there. I wish I could go with you — I would if they would let me. I'd like to hold your hand and say something to you for mother, for wife, for' lover and for child. I'd like to be a link between you and your home just for that moment — God's messenger for you. They won't let me go, but there's somebody who will go with you. Tou know who that is." AU over the hut the boys whispered, "Yes, sir — Jesus." "Well," said Gipsy, "1 want every man that is anxious to take Jesus with him into the trench to stand." Instantly and quietly every man in that hut stood up. There was an earnest prayer, and then they sang "Forever with the Lord," with real feeling. When the meeting was over and Gipsy Smith started for his quarters, he was stopped by two fine, manly soldiers. One of them said: 238 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR "We didn't get into the meeting, but we stood at the win- dow. We heard all you said. We want you to pray for us. We are going into the trenches too. We can't go until it is settled." In closing the account of the incident, the evangelist said: "We prayed together, and then I shook hands with them and bade them good-by. They did not come back. Some of their comrades came. These two, with others, were left behind. But they had settled it — they had settled it." FEOM BEGGAR TO ENDORSER. A Presbyterian minister, who had applied for passports as a T. M. C. A. war worker, was becoming anxious about the matter after two months had passed with no word concerning the papers, when a young Italian gentleman called on him. The preacher immediately recognized him as one who had begged at his office for help. These calls became so persistent that he dis- missed the boy with a severe reprimand for not working and helping to support his family. He had not seen him since — and that was seven years previously. He was amazed at the great change that was apparent, but said nothing about it until later. The young Italian showed him his badge as inspector in the secret service of the tJ. S. War Department, and said: "I understand you are going overseas. I have endorsed you to the War Department, and you will receive your passport in a short time." With this business disposed of, the minister asked the splen- did-appearing Italian what had brought about the transformation in his life. The reply was: "When you sent me from your ofS.ee that last time, you gave me a raking for not working, and handed me this Book, telling me to read it, and I have." It was a copy of the New Testament he held in his hand. "I also started to night school," he continued, "and did mighty hard work. I passed a severe civil service examination FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 239 for the position I now hold, and It is all due to this Book. My success depends on Jesus Christ." The officer further stated that the entire family, which in the years gone by had begged whatever help could be obtained, was now a fine, self-supporting. Christian family. THE DECISION OF ONE SOLDIER. A worker on the field staff of the Business Men's War Council of the Pocket Testament League, which did such wonderful work in giving out pocket Testaments to soldiers and sailors during the war, observed a man in one of the camps where he was distributing Testaments who did not take a copy, but yet seemed much inter- ested. The field worker says of the incident: "I asked him if he would like one. His face brightened as he said, in a Southern voice, 'Oh, yes, suh, I'd like one.' Then I thought something might be hindering, and asked, 'Can you read?' He replied with a quiet smile: 'No. I've been tryin' to learn for a long time, but can't do much. But I'm awful glad for what I do know.' " Then the man had a little quiet talk with him to one side. The brave young soldier wanted to be a Christian, "but always there's something holding me back," he said regretfully. "But I can't get away from the old cussin' — I gave up driakin'. Many a time I've been in jail because of drink, and I know that if a fellow goes across the pond and gets killed, if he isn't saved he's goin' straight to hell. But if he is saved, it's all right. ' ' As he talked he broke down and pulled out his handkerchief. Finally he made a firm decision to become a Christian, saying earnestly, "I'll take Him." "Will you write your name here in the corner?" said his friend, designating the line for the signature to accept Christ, forgetting in his joy that the soldier could not write. "You write and I'll touch the pencU, " he said. 16 240 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR As the man wrote the name, the soldier laid a firm, warm hand on his, then gripped it and thanked the worker for helping him to make the important decision. He was very grateful and happy. Much of this kind of work was done for the soldiers in camps. A LEAF FROM HIS TESTAMENT. L. A. Morehouse related the following remarkable incident in Association Men: An American soldier who was sent with his comrades to France, whose given name was Simon, carried with him a small Testament given to him by his mother. He kept it in his pocket because it was from her, but he was rough in conduct and lan- guage, and never cared to read it. He got in an argument with a comrade one day about David and Goliath, declaring that the former had killed the giant with a sword, while the other was positive David used only a stone. fie didn't know where to find the account; did not even know that it was in the Old Testament, so looked in vain for it. Simon put the Testament back in his pocket, with no inten- tion of reading it. One day he wanted to smoke, but had no cigarette papers. He was getting nervous, and in desperation tore a leaf from the little Book presented by his mother. As he poured out the tobacco and was ready to roll it, he was sur- prised to see the word "Simon," his own name, on the printed page. Curiosity prompted him to put the tobacco back in the sack, and here is what he read: "And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat; but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." The verses were in the twenty-second chapter of Luke. He read the words over and over again, and mused: "It's a lot any one would pray for me I " FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 241^ And then he remembered his dear old father and mother, alone on the farm, and he knew they would never cease to pray for him. He also remembered the night, which now seenied so long ago, when he left for the front-line trenches, how old Dr. Barton had taken his hand and said: "My boy, I've got a son up there, and I know how your old dad and mother felt when they sent you away. Do what is right, for their sake. God bless you. Good-by." Simon put the leaf back. Just then a comrade came up and found him turning his head, for there were tears in his eyes. The other asked what was the matter, but Simon wouldn't tell him. The next day he read the verses again. "When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren," he repeated. He couldn't get the words out of his mind. He thought that "strengthen" meant to help, and reached the conclusion: "Well, I guess I'll never be converted, but, by heck, I'll 'strengthen' them, anyway. Now, there's Shorty's legs. He ain't very well, and a little more sleep won't hurt him, especially if we go over the top." That night Simon did his own and then Shorty's turn at the lookout. A week later they were ordered back to a rest- camp. There he did so many kind things for his comrades that one of them said to him: "We don't know what's happened to you. Si — ^we sure don't, for you used to be a mean guy. You sure did." But Simon knew. He felt of his hip pocket, where he kept the Testament, and said to himself: "It's a wonderful book, and the next time I get a chance I'll give the boys a dose, for it will strengthen them too." From that time forth Simon was a power for good among his comrades, all because of one little leaf from his Testament which he treasured instead of burning. 242 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR REMEMBRANCE HOME FOE MOTHER OF DEAD HERO. The citizens of Evansville, Ind., honored the mother of James B. Gresham, one of the immortal trio of American soldiers who were the first to fall in France, by building her a home. The dwelling is modern in all its appointments, and was completely furnished by the donors. It is a one-story and attractive in architectural design. MESSAGE FOE JUST ONE. A soldier lay in a hospital in France with closed eyes, and was very pale. A girl in the uniform of the Y. M. C. A., who had been told the boy could live but a few hours at the most, stepped quietly to his side and touched his hand. He opened his eyes and looked up with a pleasant smile, for she had been a frequent visitor since he was brought there wounded. His lips moved, but the words were so faintly spoken that she bent close to hear them. He was trying to say good-by. "Can I write a letter for you? Have you any message to send?" she inquired tenderly. The soldier shook his head. "Haven't you a mother? Can't I write to her for you?" Another shake of the head in answer to both questions. "Is your father living? Can I write to him?" He had no father living. After a brief silence, she asked: "Perhaps you have a sweetheart?" He opened his eyes and nodded very weakly, with a pleased expression on his white face. "Shall I write to her?" He nooded again. It was evident if he spoke it must be with an effort, so she bent very close while he gave her the name and address of his sweetheart. "Now what do you want me to say?" "Good-by," spoken in a faint whisper. FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 243 "Do you want me to tell her you are going to die, and that you thought of her and wanted to send a message of love?" It was evident from the happy expression and the anxious look that she had interpreted his thoughts just right, for he spoke quite clearly, "Yes." She wrote the letter, and, holding his hand, helped him to make a faint mark in place of the signature he was too weak to affix. Within an hour, with his message ready for the mail, to go to the one who was uppermost in his thoughts, the Boatman came to bear him over the Silent River. A BATTLEFIELD PHOTOGRAPH. It's only a faded old photo, All frayed at the edge, but, perchance. It held the affection, in toto, Of a lad who had fallen in France. To him it was precious and saintly. And he treasured, where'er he might roam, That woman-face, smiling so faintly — That glance from a far-away home. Your speakers may whirl perorations Till the day of deliverance comes; Your presses may scatter orations. Your warriors rattle their drums. But the face of this woman, so tender. This photo from somebody's breast. Roused more in that noble defender Than eloquence, print and the rest. To him it was just the ideal That manhood is sacrificed for; To him it made personal, real. The task of the soldiers at war; To him it was home, love and beauty. The mem'ries of wooing in May; To him 'twas the pledge of his duty. And he sealed it with blood, where he lay. BROKEN BITS OF BEAUTY. When the Germans were conquered and France was free from the stench of their cruel presence, the peasants began wandering 244 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR around over the ruins, with hearts aching because of the destruc- tion seen on every hand. Nearly every step of the way would be found some sad reminder of former beauty laid low by the merciless Huns. One peasant picked up a bit of stone. On one side was an exquisite carving — a spray of myrtle leaves. He let the relic fall to the ground, weeping bitterly. It was a reminder of the beautiful cathedral of Arras. Another man came upon a piece of stained glass. A part of the design was there — the head of the Christ child on the severed arm of the Madonna. It had been a part of the great cathedral of Rheims. And so it was, on and on, wherever the peasant might walk over the wide stretch of desolation and ruin wrought by the armed representatives of German "kultur." REMINDERS A REMEDY FOR PROFANITY. A Presbyterian minister, acting as a Y. M. 0. A. secretary in France, naturally disliked profanity, and undertook, in a tactful way, to curb swearing around the hut where he was in charge. One day a tall Highlander was giving vent to his feel- ings over something in very forcible language, when the secretary called his attention to this sign on the wall: "If you must swear, put it m writing." *^Do you think I'm a fool?" asked the soldier. "I know you're not," was the kindly reply, "but if you write down what you have just said, and read it, you'll feel like one!" AS LONG AS BELLS RING. Not satisfied with the ordinary processes of war, Germany resorted to every conceivable form of cruelty — hideous things for which no excuse of necessity could be made. Among her acts FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 245 of contemptible sacrilege was the destruction of many beautiful cathedrals and churches. This was done to break the spirit of her enemies. Later, in her time of need of materials with which to pros- ecute the war, she resorted to the stealing of church bells, which had called countless thousands to the places of worship. First, the beautiful bells of Belgium were taken, then those of France, and later the bells of Russia. Germany had respect for nothing — the emotions, sentiments, treasures of the people were to her like chaff before the wind. In her thievery of bells, the great bell of the Kremlin in Moscow — the largest ever made, weighing 200 tons — ^was taken. This afforded the Germans 200 tons of copper and tin for war uses; for destruction of other things worth while; for her selfish pur- poses of murder and conquest. As long as bells ring, the crimes of Germany in the great war will be remembered against her. GERMAN MONUMENTS IN FRANCE. . The feeling of permanence possessed by the Germans in the St. Mihiel salient, from which they were driven like sheep in September, 1918, was expressed in many handsome and elaborate monuments to their dead. Here the graves were not marked by pathetic little wooden crosses, but by substantial plinths and slabs of carved stone. On the road leading into St. Mihiel itself was found a beautiful fountain erected in memory of the fallen of a certain German engineer regiment. A sign near by gave warning that the water was for drinking purposes only. A passer-by one day, after the Americans took possession, saw a line of American soldiers waiting each his turn at the water-spout, tooth-brushes in hand. As each one stepped up he brushed his teeth as carefully as though the fate of the Allies hung on his keeping his set clean and white. 246 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR PARIS TRIP DIDN'T MATERIALIZE. It will be remembered that tho German army was promised a visit to Paris on a number of occasions during the progress of the war, the first date, with a promised feast, being set only a few weeks after the beginning of hostilities. But plucky little Belgium blocked that ambition for the time being. Later, after the battle-line had zigzagged back and forth, with the Germans gradually pressing toward Paris, the German army leaders set another date for "dining in Paris." Then it was that the Americans, whom the Kaiser said didn't know how to fight, spoiled the plans of the Huns. Ever after that, instead of getting nearer Paris, they were getting nearer Berlin. In view of these facts, the following incident must have been a bitter reminder of failure for the German militarists who were with the Kaiser when he fled from his own country: London, Nov. 11, 1918. — "William Hohenzollern, former Emperor of Germany, and the ex-crown prince have fled into Holland, accompanied by a number of the officers of the German general staff. When the ex- Kaiser and party crossed the Holland frontier at Eysden, in ten automo- biles, they alighted. The former emperor paced the platform, and made a tragic figure as he strode up and down, his body huddled and bent over a cane, an outcast even from his own people. News that the ex-emperor had arrived spread quickly, and soon a crowd gathered at the Eysden station. Curiously eyeing the German group, one man was bold enough to call out: "Are you on your way to Paris?" TWO TRIPS OVER SAME ROAD. Twice the Germans passed over the road to Guise, within the span of the war. First they came during the hot summer days late in August, 1914, in hordes, flushed with the rapine of Bel- gium, and driving before them the terrorized inhabitants of northern France. It Was a road of their own choosing then. But on November 7, 1918, some of their representatives came again — not in victory, but with a flag of truce. They came to meet General Foch and ^_ FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 247 General Haig, whom they had met near this same road in 1914 — the second time begging for a cessation of hostilities. As they came by the way designated by Foeh, after they had asked for an armistice, the question naturally arose: Did the great French general designate this particular route for the German envoys to travel over, for their humiliation? Or did he do it for the satisfaction it would give the French nation to know that the Germans were forced to come asking peace over the same road they had come demanding a German victory? Or was it for some other reason? Whatever may have been the object, it will always stand out in history as a very striking incident. SACRIFICE OFFEEED ALL; ONLY AEMS TAKEN. An American driver of a hospital ambulance in France tella about a wounded French soldier brought to his ambulance, with both arms shot away. The driver was deeply moved, and said: ''You poor fellow! This is awful tough!" The wounded man looked up with a faint smile as he said with justifiable pride: "No, not so very tough. I offered my life to France, and she took only my two arms." SHIP NAMED FOR ENLISTED MAN. When you hear the name of ' ' Ingram, ' ' referring to a de- stroyer floating the "Stars and Stripes," remember it was named in honor of Osmun Ingram, gunner's mate, first-class, on the American destroyer ' ' Cassin. " " For there 's no rank in sacrifice," as Secretary of the Navy Daniels said. The "Cassin" was on patrol duty off the Irish coast, con- voying merchant vessels and hunting submarines, when one day 248 STORIES OF THE GREAT IV AR a German U-boat was sighted on the surface five miles away. The "Cassin" gave chase. Soon a torpedo was seen coming at high speed four hundred yards away, headed to strike the vessel at the stern, where the deadly depth charges were stored. Osmun Ingram took in the situation at a glance. If the torpedo struck there, the ship would be blown up, with the loss probably of all on board. Like a flash he dashed down the deck and rolled the huge bombs overboard. The instant they went into the water the torpedo struck. He was blown to pieces. He knew his fate, but he saved the ship. A WALL OF HUMAN BEINGS. In one instance, where some French soldiers had been taken prisoners by the Germans, the foe bound their hands behind their backs and put them in front as a living wall to protect themselves from the French guns, believing the French would not shoot their brothers while the Germans were thus advancing. But the Huns had not taken French courage and sacrifice into consideration. When the prisoners saw that they were being used as a means of permitting the Germans to advance, they shouted aloud to their comrades: "Don't mind us! Shoot!" And their comrades did shoot, killing those who preferred death for themselves rather than that living they should aid the Germans in the least to further invade the soil of their beloved France. Many wiU readily believe it was harder for those who thus took their lives, under the peculiar circumstances, than for those who surrendered their lives. It was a test leaving no room for doubt as to the love and loyalty of the French in both groups. DIED BEHIND LOCKED DOORS. When the "Antilles" was returning from France with wounded soldiers on board, and was hit by a German torpedo FOR PUBUC SPEAKERS 249 without a moment's warning, C. L. Ausburne, radio operator, and Eadio Electrician MacMahon were asleep in adjoining bunks. Instantly realizing what had happened, Ausburne yelled to the other, ' ' Put on your life-preserver ! ' ' then dashed into the radio room to flash the "S. O. S." across the waves. ^ The ship was sinking fast. The last life-boat had been lowered into which the soldiers and crew were descending. Mac- Mahon sprang to the closed door of the radio room to call to Ausburne to join them. It was locked! He shouted and pounded, but the only sound from within was the crackle of the instrument. And so, in that little room, behind that locked door, where he evidently did not intend that anything should divert him from his object. Radio Operator Ausburne continued to flash out the distress signal until the ship plunged beneath the pitiless waves. In his anxiety to save others he gave his own life. ONE PICTURE OF THOUSANDS. On the depot platform at Baltimore was a box of rough pine, and in it the body of Otto Bartell, who died in the camp at Delaware, while in the service of his country. Across the top of the box was an American flag; on this a wreath of flowers, with red, white and blue ribbons at its head; at the feet a bundle wrapped with newspapers containing a few of the soldier's effects, and a small valise of imitation leather, held together with a piece of string. On the top of the valise was the soldier's military hat, all going home with the dead body to the boy's mother in Baltimore. Otto Bartell was of German blood. E. L. Shea, of the same company as the deceased, and^ of Irish descent, stood beside the coffin awaiting the arrival of the undertaker. Shea was in uniform, with cartridge-belt and revolver, and was acting as escort to his dead comrade. Some one stepped up to Shea and spoke a few words. 250 STORIES OF THE GREAT V/AR "Yes," said he in reply; "he was a good soldier. I only- hate to think how his family will feel when the body is taken home. " y Thousands of American mothers, and tens of thousands of mothers throughout the battle-torn world, know how Mrs. Bartell felt, from their own sad experience. A newspaper writer, in commenting upon the scene, says: The sight of that coiiin, the bundle wrapped in newspapers, and the valise tied with a string, representing the worldly possessions of a man dead in his country's service, should soothe the ruffled feelings of the war profiteer who complains that he must give back in taxes half of the millions that the war gives him.. IN WAR'S FURNACE OF FIRE. A private with the U. S. Marines in France, in a letter to his sister, described one of the most severe battles of the entire war: It has been awful. Our battalion, which consisted of 1,000 men and 400 replacements, making a total of 1,400 men in action, came out of the battle yesterday with only 270 men. It was all open warfare, and even Dante, with his imagination, could not conceive the least part of what it has been. How I lived through it, and still have my right mind, I will never know. The German artillery literally poured a stream of shrapnel, high explosives and gas-shells on us during the entire seventeen days. I saw man after man blown to fragments within a few yards of me. The dead were all around us. We never had one bite of hot food, and at times did not have food of any kind. I went for a week without even washing my face. Sleep became a thing of the dim past. I wouldn't take $100,000 for the experience of what I have been through, and, if it were within my power to say, wouldn't go through it again for a million dollars. Of course, the nightmare and horror of it will always be in my mind, but the memoi'y of the God-given, splendid heroism of our boys is something that few men will have to look back upon. They are about all gone now, but they stopped the big German drive. The French papers gave us credit for saving Paris, and I really believe the Ger- mans would be in Paris now if we had not held. THE GREAT ARMY THAT DIED. When the world war had been won for the right, Premier Clemenceau stirred the great heart of France to its depths when FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 251 he added these few simple words to his communicatiou of the armistice terms in the French Cliamber of Deputies: Let \is honor the gi'eat army that died. France in older times had soldiers of God. To-day it has soldiers of humanity, and always soldiers of ideals. The New York World says of the great army that died:> It is a time for reverent tribute to the men who gave their lives that the right should prevail. They have passed beyond the reach of the clamor of shouting multitudes, of pealing peace bells, of the voices of loving friends and kindred, and the touch of hands they held dear. But they, too, wear the victor's crown, though they failed to see the hour of ultimate victory. In the men who return from the wars we shall show our pride, but, with Premier Clemenceau, may we never forget to honor "the great army that died." And this from the Newark News: Forever living, incapfeble of death, are the noble boys who lie where freedom for the world was won. And joyful with a sacred joy are the mothers whose offering was beyond earthly measure, the mothers of sons who return not. The God of battles is also the God of compassion. They need not the pity of men and women. He has raised them up to greater heights by sacrifice made perfect. THE HORRORS OF GALLIPOLI. Capt. Melville M. Fagan, who was in the terrible campaign at Gallipoli, with the famous Twenty-ninth Division, where, inside of nine months, 100,000 men were killed, wounded or captured, was with the comparatively few troops who landed on the naked beaches in the face of the terrible fire of the Turks. In writing of that awful experience he says: To any man who went through those first days at Gallipoli there is one word which is the greatest in any language. That word is ivater. We had been warned by our officers that we would be short of water for awhile, and that we must guard our supply. We had with us our emergency rations and our water-bottles. They had been filled before we started. He then relates how this was soon exhausted, except a small quantity which some of the men had left, because they had been more careful than the rest. In addition to the shortage of water was the intense heat of the sun, beating down upon them day 252 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR after day, until some of the men went stark mad from the heat and thirst. All seemed half crazed with thirst. Under these most unusual conditions of distress was developed a test of sacrifice seldom known to mortal man. Even though the men who had saved some of their water had a right to every precious drop of it, they did not think of themselves alone, but shared what was life, and dearer than life just then, with their comrades. Says Captain Fagan: We reached the point where we would take a single drop of water as if it were a gift from heaven. At first a bottle wonild be passed to us and we would tip it up and just let the water touch our swollen tongues. And we were square about it, tool When it seemed as if you could tear the thing to pieces to get the last bit of moisture, it wasn't easy to let it go with just that taste. But the time came when we had to be even more careful; when a man would put out his tongue, and the owner of the bottle, just wetting his finger, would put it on the man's mouth. Afterward he would lick his own finger, so as not to lose even the least vestige of moisture. There is great need in the world of another kind of water. Jesus says, as recorded in John 4: 14: "Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him' a well of water springing up into everlasting life." FOUND BODY OF ADOPTED SON. Sacrifice is measured by love. Here is an incident showing how an adopted son was loved dearly by the ones who gave him a home from the time he was five years old until he enlisted in the U. S. army for service in France: In 1908, Wesley R. Childs and his good wife, who were then living in a little town in Kansas, adopted two orphan children by the name of Dillon, the oldest a boy of five. Mrs. DiUon, the widowed mother of the children, lived just across the street from the Childs home, and when she passed away arrangements were being made to send the boy and girl to an orphanage. _^ FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 253 But Mr. and Mrs. Childs couldn't bear the thought of such action. "Let's adopt them as our very own," said the husband. "Yes," said the wife, "we can take them; and we must raise them as though they were our own flesh and blood." When America entered the war the boy had grown to a fine, noble manhood, always appreciating the care of his foster parents. And so he enlisted — Joseph A. Dillon — and marched away to train and fight for humanity. Later Mr. Childs enrolled as a Y. M. C. A. secretary for service in France. At the time of one of the big battles in which his adopted son was fighting, he was stationed in a Y. M. C. A. hut in the same sector. It was now Sergt. Joseph A. Dillon, and the father was very proud of the young man. After the battle his son was among the missing. With a heavy heart he went out over the war-torn field, hunting from shell hole to shell hole, crawling over barbed-wire entanglements as he made his way from one object to another, looking at the faces of the dead, even while the machine guns rattled not far away. Finally he found the body of "his boy" — yes, his boy — and how he loved him! It seemed that his heart would break. With the aid of a chaplain and two soldiers, he buried the body in a graveyard on a hillside, where others had been laid away to rest, marking the spot with a little white cross. "His boy" had made the supreme sacrifice. SERVICE EIGHTEEN GRANDSON SOLDIERS. Mrs. Adele T. Lyon, who passed away in Chicago, in Novem- ber, 1918, at the good old age of ninety-two, was the grand- mother of eighteen men then in the U. S. army, the most of them in France. Her contribution to posterity was fifty grand- 254 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR children, a number of great-grardchildren, and nine great-great- grandchildren. THE PERPLEXED RECRUIT. "What do you think of the army as far as you have gone?" inquired a sergeant of a newly arrived recruit at one of the camps where there was continuous preparation for the trip over- seas. "I may like it after awhile," was the reply, ''but what puzzles me now is, why is there so much drilling and fussing around between meals?" WHAT IMPRESSED HIM. A lieutenant on one of the steamers loaded with soldiers bound for France had declared himself a pronounced unbeliever. But later, up near the front-line trenches, on several occasions he watched the Y. M. C. A. man writing out applications for money- orders for the men who wanted to send home their pay, "What do you do with those?" he inquired one day. "I take them to the city and get the money-orders for the men. ' ' "How much pay do you get for it?" he continued, suspi- ciously. "Not a cent," replied the secretary. The unbeliever mused a moment, knowing "the city" was eight miles away, and then answered: "I never cared for this religious business, but there rrmst ie something in it, after all." MOVING PICTURES ON CEILINGS. For some time after the war began, Y. M. C. A. workers were at a loss to know how to entertain the sick and wounded men at the base hospitals, who were unable to sit up. Finally motion-picture machines were devised which would throw the pic- FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 255 tures on the ceiling. All then that the men had to do was to lie still and enjoy the rapidly changing scenes. "LITTLE SWEETHEART OF THE ALLIES.'* In years gone by many people, usually chronic faultfinders with anything religious, took special delight in ridiculing the Salvation Army, but it is a safe prediction that every one with the least bit of appreciation in his heart for unselfish service, will, in the years to come, have only words of praise for this organization. The Salvation Army was one of the big things in the Uvea of many of our soldiers in France, where its members made tons and tons of doughnuts and pies for the men in uniform. One soldier. Private Barney Pogue, no doubt expresses the sentiments of many others in a letter home, from which we take these words : I am so grateful for all the kind things they have done for me. They are here to puU off their coats and dig in the dirt, and be one of us; to mend and sew and sing and read with us, and last — if we drift around to it gracefullj' — to talk about God and home and mother, and all that. Take it from me, the Salvation Army is the "Little Sweetheart" of the allied armies. Every man who knows a thing about the Salvationists re- spects them and is grateful to them. They don't talk about what they aro doing — they do it, and every soldier is for them. HIS BLOOD NOT FOE SALE. In a hospital in France were two wounded French soldiers, whose cots adjoined each other. One was so weak that the doctor said of him, speaking to an attendant: "He will die unless we get some one to furnish blood for his veins. ' ' The other wounded one instantly spoke up: "Doctor, I have offered my life to my country 1 Take my blood!" The offer was accepted. Both soldiers recovered, and were sent back to the front to fight again. Before they departed, however, the ladies of the hospital, hearing that the one who 17 256 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR had given of his own blood to save his comrade was poor, with a wife and children, raised $100 to present to him. The head nurse, in her little presentation speech, said: "We want you to feel that we are proud of what you have done. ' ' The soldier was deeply moved. Finally he looked up at the nurses standing around him and said: "I thank you very much, but what I have done was only my duty. I can not take the money. I have given my blood j I have not sold it." And so he marched away to again fight for the land he so dearly loved. KNEW WHY HE WAS FIGHTING. An Englishman stepped up to an American serving in the British army in France, before the United States entered the war, and said: "Sonny, you're an American?" "Yes, sir. I was born in Michigan." "Well, what are you doing fighting under the British flag?" "I guess it's my fight, too, sir," said he very positively. * * This is not a fight for England, France or Belgium, but a fight for the race, and I wouldn't have been a man if I had kept out." PEESIDENT HOLDS THE SKEIN. Mrs. Wilson, wife of President Wilson, readily took up with the work of knitting for our soldiers and sailors, so common among our American women during the war. Just after the President had made his great speech in New York on the eve of the fourth Liberty Loan drive, and the party was in his private car at Manhattan transfer a few miles out of the city, ready for the return trip to Washington, a small crowd surrounded the car, and, looking in through the windows, was surprised and delighted to see the President holding with outstretched hands a skein of FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 257 gray yarn from which Mrs. Wilson was rolling a ball preparatory to starting another soldier's sock. One finished sock lay in her lap. While the President smiled his greetings to the crowd out- side, he was careful to hold his hands ''just so." Of course the crowd cheered to see the head of the nation and his companion both so interested in the welfare of our sol- dier boys as to use their spare time for the comfort of the men in uniform. CONVICTS AS WAR HEROES. Sergt. Ike Kaminsky, a native of Russia, who came to this country in 1907, and later became one of the most notorious of burglars in Chicago and other cities, serving prison sentences for some of his crimes, finally decided to "go straight." In 1915 he got a job in the steel-mills at Youngstown, Ohio. When America entered the war he enlisted with Uncle Sam, went to France and fought heroically, receiving honor and promotion. Then one day, in the casualty list, appeared his name among the "missing" — whether dead, or a prisoner in Germany, was not known. In 1918 six hundred convicts from three prisons in Illinois were paroled, to go as free men to enter munition works, and thus help in this way to win the war. They worked in the Rock Island shops, without guards. They were so anxious to make good that it would have been a serious predicament for any one of their number to have attempted to escape. One plant engaged in war work would have been compelled to close but for the aid of these men at a critical time during the labor shortage. They were paid good wages, averaging $4.50 to $9 a day. With this they bought liberally of Liberty bonds. Although they had gone wrong — perhaps some of them by force of circumstances — they nevertheless possessed loyal hearts, capable of standing with united America for the good of human- ity the whole world around. 256 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR YOUTH AND AGE HELP WIN WAE. Frank Morse, of Dallas, Texas, enlisted when only eighteen years of age, and later was sent to France to fight in the trenches, while his great-grandfather, W. H. Morse, aged eighty-three, was working in a shipyard in Seattle, Washington. The latter felt that his services were needed also to help win the war, "The only difference is that Frank is in uniform and I am not," said he. "But I've had my fun," he went on. "In the fifties, when I was Frank's age, I was fighting Indians in Minne- sota. Then when the Civil War broke out I joined the Seventh Iowa Regiment and remained with it until the end of the war." HE HAD BEEN CALLED, NOT CAUGHT. "Caught in the draft," said a young man to a middle-aged acquaintance. "Don't hardly see how I can go and leave mother and the girls, but they say they can support themselves, and do without the comforts I have been giving them. "Of course," he went on, "I would have volunteered, but I didn't think I would be caught." The repetition of the expression jarred on the older man's ears, and he remarked kindly: "I don't believe I'd say it that way. Why not say 'called'? To be 'caught' seems to imply that you tried to get away from a duty. To be 'called' means that you have been waiting at your post, ready to go, if it became necessary, and meanwhile devoting yourself to the work at hand." The young man admitted that's the way matters stood, and with a smile and a look of determination on his face he went to his work, first calling on the manager, saying: "Good morning, Mr. Henning! I've been called into service, and I've come to ask you to fill my place here." "When a man comes in that spirit," said the white-haired Mr. Henning, "we don't fiU his place. We keep it for him until, FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 259 please God, he comes back to fill it himself 1 ' ' — Youth 's Corn,' pa/nion. CALIFORNIA MILLIONAIRE ENLISTS. Ben E. Crouch, a millionaire near Chico, California, leased his five-thousand-acre ranch, sold $50,000 worth of goods at pub- lic auction, then enlisted in the U. S. army. The report that he was preparing to enlist aroused much interest, and a crowd of three thousand attended the auction. SOLDIERS SAVED BY PIGEONS It happened a number of times during the war that when all other means of communication were cut off, carrier-pigeons were sent forth with messages, and in some instances saved many- soldiers from death or imprisonment. During the fierce fighting around Thiaumont, France, while the Germans were making one of their strongest attacks, all the telephone lines were destroyed, and the enemy's curtain fire made the use of messengers impossible. Reinforcements were absolutely necessary to hold the position, so Lieutenant Girardin sent a number of pigeons back to headquarters, where they arrived in twenty to twenty-five minutes, with the result that the reinforce- ments were promptly sent. Another notable instance was that at Froidterre, when the Germans had Captain Dartiges and his soldiers practically sur- rounded. At 9 A. M. he sent a pigeon back to announce that the enemy was within five hundred yards. At ten o'clock he sent another pigeon, announcing that the position was now entirely surrounded by the Huns. At eleven he sent a third pigeon, stating that the situation was critical, but that the garrison would fight to the last man. Thus kept in touch with the situation, the staff was able to take steps that resulted in break- ing the line around the garrison and rescuing Captain Dartiges and his brave fighters from their perilous position. 260 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR MILLIONAIEE AS STABLEMAN. Lawrence Lewis, of Greenbriar Springs, Virginia, supposed to be worth $60,000,000, kept his identity a secret when he enlisted in the TJ. S. army. He was assigned to the artillery, and upon his arrival in France was transferred by his captain, Arthur L. Dasher, of Macon, Georgia, to the stables, with the rank of sergeant. This was done because he seemed to under- stand horses. He went at the work with genuine interest, and later it was learned he was spending all his army wages on the care of the horses entrusted to his oversight. When questioned about it, he replied: "Oh, I can afford it." By a little further inquiry his identity was disclosed. Then it became known that he was the owner of one of the best line of race-horses in America. Captain Dasher pressed the questioning, asking Mr. Lewis why he had hidden his identity. "Oh," replied the man, modestly, "I want to do my bit just like any other man. I stand in better with the other fellows as long as they don't know that I have a little more money than a lot of folks." SLEPT IN THE PALACE OF THE KING. King George of England, upon hearing that the Y. M. C. A. of London was unable to find sleeping-places for all the American soldiers that were arriving in such large numbers, soon after the United States began sending troops abroad, and that many of them might have to remain on the streets without beds, sent this word to those in charge: "Send one hundred American soldiers to the palace for bed and breakfast." Secretaries and their assistants quickly scouted the streets, found the desired number, and sent them to the king's palace FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 26^ in automobiles furnished by him and the Association, to be the guests of the king. When Secretary Young extended the invitation to a bunch of khaki-clad men, one of them made the characteristic American reply : ' ' Ah, go on ! You 're kiddin ' us ! " "Jump into this auto and see," he replied. They hurriedly obeyed, landed at the palace, and rubbed their ^eyes, hardly able to believe even then but what there was some joke about it. When assured again that it was all ''straight goods," a soldier with a happy grin drawled out: "Say, the king's all right, and so is the 'Y'." The next night the secretary was rounding up another bunch to take to the king's palace. He found several men in uniform in possession of a bottle of whisky, and asked : "Say, boys, where are you going to sleep to-night?" "We ain't goin' to sleep," replied the spokesman. "What do you say to a bed in the king's palace?" "That's better than sleepin' in the park, all right. We'll go." Although somewhat under the influence of liquor then, they came away sober and very thoughtful the next morning. The secretary found a soldier jabbering to a policeman. The officer did not want to put him in jail, even though he was intox- icated, so the "Y" man took him to the palace. It was better to be the guest of the king than the guest of the jailer. The next day all those boys were guests of the Y. M. C. A. ■at a ball game where the king pitched the first ball, with every- thing free for the American soldiers. THE OTHEE ARMY IN WAE. We refer to the Salvation Army. An American officer, in speaking of the service rendered by these good women right up 262 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR near the first-line trenches in the awful battles near Montdidier, said: They met every ammunition train going up to the trenches and every company coming out. They built fires in dugouts in the battle-zone and warmed the rain-soaked troopers ; they kept their cauldrons of cocoa con- stantly filled, and made doughnuts and pies in reliefs, day and night. Here is a poem written by Private Joseph T. Lopes, entitled "Those Salvation Folks": "Somewhere in Prance, not far from the foe, There's a body o{ workers whose name we all know; Who not only at home give their lives to make right. But are now here beside us, fighting our fight. What care they for rest when our boys at the front, Who, fighting for freedom, are bearing the brunt? And so, just at dawn, when the caissons come home With the boys tired out and chilled to the bone. The Salvation Army, with its brave little crew. Is waiting with doughnuts, and hot coffee too. When dangers and toiling are o'er for awhOe, In their dugouts we find comfort and welcome their smile. There's a spirit of home, so we go there each night. And thinking of home makes us sit down and write. So we tell of these folks to our loved ones with pride. And are thanking the Lord to have them on our side." MOEALE SERVICE ON TROOP TRAINS. The Boston Transcript describes the part the Y. M. C. A. played in the transporting of troops from the great American camps in the Southwest and West, showing that from the time the trains left until they reached the Atlantic ports of embarka- tion, everything possible was done for their entertainment and comfort. The trains were usually made up of fifteen Pullmans. The Y. M. C. A. secretary on board each train had his quarters in a drawing-room about half-way back, usually next to the dining- car. Here he received and read all letters written by the soldiers, censoring them and then mailing. He wired ahead for the morn- ing papers, one for each five or six men. He had with him all manner of games, and many kinds of musical instruments. The train would scarcely be well under FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 263 way until he would go its entire length finding enlisted men who could do something in the line of entertainment — sing, recite, play some instrument, or make a speech. Often the negro porter was found to be clever at jig dancing, banjo playing and whis- tling. Twice each day entertainments were given in each of the fifteen cars. On at least one of the five days usually required for the journey, the secretary would conduct religious services in each car — ^a Bible reading, a prayer and hymns, the words of which were in books brought along with the Association outfit. The men in khaki often participated in the religious services with as much enthusiasm as in the entertainments. When opportunity afforded, as the train stopped at certain cities along the route, the entire body of uniformed men would march to the center of the city or court-house yard, and there give an entertainment, using the songs and other features given on the train. In this way the long journey across the continent was made pleasant and interesting from start to finish, with but little chance for a feUow to get homesick or lonesome who didn't want to give way to such feelings. SLACKERS MAERIED AND SINGLE SLACKERS. During wartimes it is difficult to foresee what course criti- cism wiU take along some lines. In the early part of America's entrance into the war, young men who were getting married were often called slackers, the supposition being that they were entering wedlock to avoid military service. The same thing happened in other countries, particularly En- gland. There the denouncing of those who married after the war began became so unpleasant that a decrease in weddings and an 264 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR alarming decrease in. the birth-rate aroused the Government to the importance of encouraging marriages in every honorable way possible. This caused a reader of an Eastern paper to write: The resulting opinion must be that we may soon find ourselves in the position of the English people — trying to reverse ourselves, and in vain. The term "marriage slacker" should be abolished, and each case stand on its individual merits as to whether affording grounds for exemption from military service or not. Many couples in America were married with the deliberate understanding that the husband would make no effort to evade military service, and yet they were classed as slackers. "We Americans are too apt to jump to conclusions. MADE A TEERIBLE BLUNDER. Lord Northcliffe said: "Shame has driven many a man into the ranks of the army, and in this regard we have to thank the women of the nation for turning a would-be slacker into an excel- lent soldier." Sometimes, however, the women were overzealous and made embarrassing blunders. On a London bus was a young man who offered his seat to a woman, when she drew herself up haughtily and exclaimed so that the others could hear: ' ' I don 't accept favors from slackers ! ' ' But the young man was not taken back. On the contrary, he was very cool as he viewed her critically and said: ''Madam, I was all through Gallipoli, and if we had had as much powder down there as you have on your face, results would have been different." The reproof was well deserved. People resting safely at home, whether men or women, and spending money for things in excess of their reasonable requirements, are just as much slackers as able-bodied men who endeavor to shirk their duty toward the Government. FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 265 BOND SLACKER DUCKED IN BAY, During the fourth Liberty Loan drive, all of the workmen but one in a branch of the Standard Oil Company, at Emery- ville, California, on the San Francisco Bay, had purchased bonds. This man had persistently refused to buy, thus preventing his co-laborers from making the place a 100 per cent, institution. So one day they deliberately carried him two blocks and dumped him into the bay. The water was shallow at that point, and after he scrambled out and shook the water from his clothing, he hastened to a bank and bought a bond. TRAPPING THE SLACKERS. Many a man, in attempting to avoid military service, has no doubt concluded that ''honesty is the best policy." The Popular Science Monthly contained an illustrated article showing how men making a pretense of physical disability were detected, and forced into some military branch of the U. S. Government. The man who pretended to be deaf didn't move when blind- folded and an iron chair was dropped near him. ''If you were actually deaf," he was told, "you would have jumped from the vibration. ' ' The one who pretended weak eyes and that he couldn't read large letters at twenty feet, but could read the reflection of the same letters at a distance of ten feet, was informed that "reflec- tion equalized the distance." An electric device showed muscular reaction on one side and one arm of the man who said those parts of his body were paralyzed. A man who exhibited an apparently sore spot on his arm was blindfolded while the doctor pressed in many places. The blind- folded slacker couldn't tell where the first spot was located. Another who said he was deaf in the left ear was tested by a stethoscope with the right tube plugged, while the doctor held 266 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR a watch, at the receiver, and asked: "Can you hear this watch, tick?" ''Yes," was the reply. "That's goodl You heard it with your left ear I" One who claimed to be blind in the right eye was so mixed up by the doctor holding various colored glasses in front of him that he was soon reading normally and seeing with both eyes. And so for every conceivable form of deception Uncle Sam was prepared to catch the slacker in a manner he least suspected. SHOUTING SLACKERS SILENCED. It will be remembered that a few days before the armistice was signed, practically ending the war, the civilized world was thrown into convulsions of joy by the report that Germany had surrendered. Although officially denied, that did not prevent American cities from celebrating informally and in wild enthu- siasm the supposed ending of hostilities. While such a celebration was in progress in New York City, there was one man in the mad scene who was very quiet. He took the official denial as the truth, and, while he was pressing his way down Broadway through the frantic flag-wavers and the ear-splitting din, a crowd of shouting young fellows in their early twenties stopped the silent man, and one of their number called to him in an officious manner: "Hey, you! Where's your flag?" The man looked straight in the eyes of his questioner as he replied : "My son is fighting for it over in France, and he is just about your age." The shouting slackers saw the point, and the crestfallen group silently slunk away in the din of the great thoroughfare. IT WAS WORK OR FIGHT. When the U. S. Government, in the conduct of its part of the war, made a rule that every able-bodied citizen must "work FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 267 or fight," it created a stir among the slackers. That a man may have a "job" and still be a slacker was later discovered. Colonel Koosevelt, in u. stirring address on the subject, said: If any riveter in a shipyard drives only sixty rivets wliere he coiild drive 120, he has driven sixty for freedom and he has left sixty undriven for the sake of the HohenzoUerns. If any man works three days at high wages and loafs the next three because of the high wages he has received during the first three, he is an enemy to America and an ally of the Kaiser. If any man, if any capitalist, makes an undue profit, or if any workman ficants his job, he is playing the game of tyranny against liberty, and he is false to bis brothers in uniform at the front. Here are verses from one of Nixon Waterman's poems along the same line: "If beside a war-torn soldier You should stand, would you withhold your Needed succor that would help him win the fray! Don't you think that it will hurt Mm '' Quite as much if we desert him. Jest because he fights three thousand miles away! "Though we make a bluff at working, While at heart we still are shirking. And we care not, so we somehow "get the mon," If to save ourselves we're trying, While our soldier men are dying. We are nasty little brothers to the Hun." WHEN THE SLACKER REFLECTS. Sergt. R. B. Bimms, of Oakland, California, with the Amer- ican troops in France, is the author of the following verses: "Slacker, you sit in your easy chair. Thanking the Lord you're not over there, Where the cannons roar and the brave men die. And dying, perhaps, unburied lie. Tou may have purchased a bond or two. And imagine that is enough to do. "But some day after the war is done. And victory by the brave is won. You'll see men sneer as they pass you by. And you'll wish you'd not been afraid to die, For what is the life of a coward worth When he hasn't a friend on the lonely earth 1 268 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR "But the world may consent to forget some day. And when it has done so what will you say To the grandson as he loohs up to you, Saying, 'Tell me, grandpa, what did you do!' Why, you'd give your life for the right to say, 'I fought for God and the U. S. A.' " SLACKER CHANGES HIS MIND. Some one has said that "information must precede inspira- tion. ' ' A man who had been- hiding in the mountains of Colo- rado for more than a year, in order to escape military service in the great war, one day happened to get hold of a newspaper containing an account of a German submarine raid off the coast of New Jersey. He rushed to a recruiting-station and surren- dered himself, with a demand that he be sent at once to fight the enemy. When he realized that our own country was in danger he was ready to serve. STRATEGY QUICK WIT OF MARINE PRISONER. Stars and Stripes, in one of its issues during the summer of 1918, gave the wonderful story of how Private Frank Lenert, a nineteen-year-old Marine from Chicago, marched back from the battlefront at midnight, leading eighty-two German prisoners. The intelligence officer had turned in for a good rest. Lenert called out in the darkness: "Hello! Say! Come on down! I got some prisoners, I have ! ' ' "Well," said the lieutenant, "stick them in a shed some- where, and I'll be down and look them over." "I guess I'll have to hire a hall," was the reply. The officer thought it was just a little bit of Yankee bragga- docio, but when he finally stumbled downstairs and out into the FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 269 moonlight, he was surprised to see the road filled with Germans, drawn up in full array. "Where in the name of all that's wonderful did you get all these?" he inquired, rubbing his eyes as if to make sure he was seeing straight. "Oh," said Lenert, cheerfully, "they just came along." The lieutenant knew better, and made up his mind he would find out. The whole story as it later developed showed that the young Marine got lost from his battalion during a fierce battle, and, while trying to find his comrades in the darkness of the woods, stumbled into a German company. He was dragged before the German captain, who put him through a hurried exami- nation, conducted in German, which the prisoner could speak fluently. He bent over the map they showed him, and with apparent reluctance described the position of the various American regi- ments, till he had conveyed the impression that this nest of Germans was virtually surrounded. With keen eyes he saw they were much disturbed, and, taking advantage of their fears, him- self pretended fear and said earnestly: "And I want to get out of here! There's a lull now, but they're going to turn the artillery on this patch of woods and blow it to bits. I don't want to be here! I want to get out right now! " The German captain held a hurried consultation with his lieutenants, then, to the surprise of the nineteen-year-old Yankee wit, surrendered himself and the whole bunch. But the boy did not permit even this to confuse him.. With wonderful coolness, he ordered them to throw down their arms, which they did, and to follow him. Chuckling to think they were not going to be blown to bits, they obeyed his every com- mand, stumbling on and on in the darkness until he landed them in the care of the lieutenant at the regimental headquarters. 270 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR FOCH'S FINE STRATEGY EEVEALED. The importance of planning for a certain course of proce- dure and then "working the plan," instead of trusting to luck or circumstances, was perhaps never more conspicuously empha- sized than in the turning of the tide against the Germans. Thirteen days before Hindenburg launched his last great offensive, in July, 1918, General Foeh, commander of all the allied forces, sitting quietly in his study at headquarters, mapped out the brilliant counterstroke by which the Germans were so quickly thrown back, defeated, from the Marne. When the critical situation caused by the German offensives in March, May and June had developed. General Pershing offered the American troops for use wherever Marshal Foch should see fit to employ them. Some Americans, here at home, with no knowledge of the real situation on the battle-front, were dis- appointed because our soldiers were not all used at one point, but be it said to the credit of our loyal citizens, there was no resentment at this, every one feeling that with such a man as General Pershing in charge of our boys, everything would be done for the best for all concerned. And so it proved to be, in a most wonderful way. It was then that Foch initiated the plan of putting the American sol- diers into many sectors, instead of one or two, not only because they were fresh and good fighters, but for the moral effect on the Germans who were to discover Americans opposite them nearly every twenty kilometers along the whole battle-front, thus counteracting the German propaganda stories to the effect that we had but few troops in France. The result was just as anticipated — ^breaking of the morale of the German soldiers, an onward sweep of the allied forces, and the turning of the tide in the great war. Amerioans saved the day, and they did it according to the fine strategy of General Foch. FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 271 SYMPATHY WHY NO MESSAGE CAME. A Y. M. C. A. worker in London saw that a Belgian girl of about eighteen, who was waiting upon him in a restaurant, was wiping tears from her eyes. His heart was touched, and he spoke kindly to her: "What's the matter, my child?" "I came over on the boat from Belgium early in the war," she said, "and my mother and sisters got scattered, and I have never seen or heard of them since." A little later one of the women in charge of the restaurant said to him: "We dare not tell her, but they were all killed." PEESIDENT PARDONED DESEETER. That "circumstances alter cases" is shown once more — this time when President Wilson pardoned Private Clarence Sperry, who had deserted from his camp in Texas, and was arrested at his home in Oklahoma. The President learned that the sole cause of the desertion was the soldier's anxiety for his family. His wife had been paralyzed and his three children were destitute. President Wil- son, in issuing the pardon to Sperry, referred to the "very proper solicitude for his family." This is America. Such a course in one of the old, autocratic governments would have been considered weak and foolish. Here it is considered simply human, saturated with that brotherly love which prevails from the chief executive down to the humblest citizen. THE GOLDEN RULE IN WAR. Eev. Arthur J. Francis, who was in France in the interests of the American Red Cross, was walking along a street in a 18 272 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR village one day when he saw in the garden of a home three graves, all equally cared for. One' bore the inscription, "A German soldier;" the next, "A French soldier," and the third, "A German soldier." Within the enclosure were a mother and her daughters, tilling the soil. Interest and curiosity prompted him to ask the woman the history of the three graves. "When the Germans took the village," she explained, "we were obliged to leave our home. When we returned wc found three dead bodies in our grounds — one French soldier and two Germans. My daughters and I buried them, as you see." "But," said Mr. Francis, "they are all cared for alike. How does that come about?" "Oh, we care for the graves of the German soldiers as I should like to have some German woman care for the grave of my son." And this in the face of all that the French people had suf- fered at the hands of the Germans. TRAGIC TALE SADDENS SOLDIERS. Lieut. Carl A. Johnson, of the 126th Regiment, U. S. A., and formerly with the Michigan National Guards, in a letter written in France to home folks, said: Yon irnist come here to know to what extent human suffering can throw a nation. We saw it all to-day — all in one. A woman of sixty years or more came to this little French town in which our Michigan boys are billeted. She was on her way, she knew not where. As she entered the village over the muddy and rocky road, every American soldier stopped and gazed at her. She was wrinkled, ragged and dirty. Her feet were bare and bleeding. In all my experience I have beheld no sight which so gripped ray heart and weighed down my soul as the plight of this wretched human being. She stopped in a little store. The soldiers gathered around her in won- derment and pity, and a corporal, who is of French extraction and speaks the language, engaged her in conversation. You may have heard pitiful tales of domestic misfortune, but never could you in the wildest flight of imagination conceive of a scene like this. Before the war this woman, whose features still showed traces of re- finement and beauty — now almost extinct in the suffering women of north- FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 273 em France — lived near the border of France and Germany. She was the mother in a happy family, with a husband, a daughter and two song. Tho Huns captured the town, subjecting the daughter in this once happy home to the most vulgar and inhuman indecencies, and shot the father when he protested at the treatment she received from the Germans. The battle raged there for days. The mother and daughter fled, until the daugh- ter, exhausted and suffering, died one night upon the roadside. About the same time the woman learned that one of her sons had been killed in battle. Where the other was she never heard. Crazed with grief, this poor woman began to wander, without object or aim. For four years she has walked over the hills of France. It is no reflection on the strength or bravery of your Michigan lads to say that there wasn't a dry eye among those who heard that story. The boys wanted her to stay. They took up a collection. One who had no money gave her a pair of woolen socks, another his Red Cross scarf, and another bought her a pair of shoes. But she wouldn't stay. She could be content nowhere. She thought she might yet find her other son, and must be going. And so she trudged on, poor, bleeding soul, to go over more rocky roads and muddy hills. Every Michigan boy was a better soldier and a better man for having seen and heard her. NEGRO'S SYMPATHY FOE CHILD. In a truck loaded with, women and children refugees that came from the town of Wadelincourt, near Sedan, after the Germans were forced to surrender and evacuate, was a sick boy, not more than six years of age. He was crying and coughing. His mother was endeavoring to comfort him, but it was a trying ordeal all around, for it was a cold, rainy day, with the rain coming straight down, like long strings suspended from the sky, as Damon Eunyon described it. The truck bounced from side to side as the wheels lunged into holes made by shells. It was a very uncomfortable trip for those who were well, but a most miserable one for the little sick boy. Finally the truck reached the town of Buzancy, where a number of American soldiers were walking around in huge rubber hip boots. Presently an American negro came along. He heard the boy crying and coughing, and stopped to peer into the van. ''That's a bad cough the liP boy has," said he, wisely; "that's the ole hoopin '-cough, suah as Ah'm a-livin'. That's a bad thing for a lil' boy." 274 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR Then he was quiet, as if in deep thought. While the truck was still standing there in the rain, he sloshed down the muddy street. After awhile he came back, with a small package in his hand. The child was still crjdng pitifully, except when he stopped to cough. The negro reached up into the van and pushed something into the child's hands. It was a cooky! The little fellow stopped crying, looked at the negro with wondering eyes, then commenced munching the cake. Even his coughing seemed to lessen, the black man was pleased to observe, as he started away. It was a little thing, perhaps, but it all showed that a white heart of real sympathy was beating beneath the black breast of the American negro, who loved little children so much that he forgot all else for the time being, in his desire to bring comfort to the little sufferer in the big truck on that rainy day in November, 1918, in far-away France. COMFORTING THE BEREAVED. One phase of war conditions called for work so quietly done that but comparatively few, perhaps, realize its great importance, and that was the work of the chaplains. When our troops were in France, fghting and dying, it was often the chaplain who was by the side of the dying man to comfort and aid in any way possible, and to later write a letter to the bereaved ones at home. One young soldier died in a hospital of wounds received in battle. Here are extracts from the letter the chaplain, who was with him to the last, wrote to the sorrowing wife in Missouri: There is little I can say that will console you in your sorrow, but it may help you to know that your husband was a good soldier, as brave in the hospital as in battle, and that he died at peace with God and man. His comrades laid his body away with military honors and the rites of our Christian faith. The grave is properly marked and its location is ofSciaUy recorded. If there is any service I can render you in connection with your husband's affairs, you will please let me know. May God bless you and sustain the women of America who have a heavy cross to bear in this war. ^ FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 275 BLIND WOMAN TO BLIND SOLDIERS. It is said no one can sympathize with a mother in the loss of a child like some mother who herself has lost a child. So it is no doubt true that no one can sympathize with soldiers who came home from the great war blinded like one who has lived the life of the blind, Helen Kellei', in sending $500 to the Permanent Blind Relief War Fund for Soldiers and Sailors of the Allies, wrote thus feel- ingly to the secretary: Every word you say about the brave soldier boys blinded in battle goes straight to my heart. I keep picturing to myself their first waking in the dark, and thank God that there will be those near to comfort them and give them new hope through work. Work, useful work, will help draw out the sting of their blindness. Happy is the man who finds a task to occupy his mind and his hand ! There is another consolation that the boys will discover later. When the outside world no longer fills our thoughts, we find that the inner world has its own joys a.id allurements. And very precious they are. For one thing, there is the pleasure of thinking quietly all by oneself. Most people have never explored their own minds. They have no idea of the treasures hidden away in their natures. SYSTEM HOW AN ENSIGN WAS CAUGHT. An ensign in the U. S. navy, commissioned soon after America entered the war, believed in showing his authority, so ordered a Jackie to salute him fifty times because he had neglected to salute in passing. While this was in progress an old navy ofl&cer came along and inquired the meaning. The ensign proudly explained. "Just one minute, lad," said the officer when the jackie had completed the task; "the ensign is going to return the salutes now ! ' ' SPEED AND EFFICIENCY. The success of such an attack as obliterated the St. Mihiel salient in France is usually dependent on the speed with which 276 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR each separate unit in the assault moves up at the eleventh hour to its appointed position. One entire battery, with guns, carriages, ammunition, horses, kitchen equipment, personnel^ etc., sufdcient to pack a train of fifty cars, was put on to that train the day before the attack of the Allies in exactly fourteen minutes. Every man knew just what he was to do, and did it with the precision of clockwork. EE TREATING ACCORDING TO PLAN. The German custom of systematizing everything was carried into every phase of the war. In the early period of the great struggle, their advance toward Paris, as given in the German reports, was to be so many miles each day, "according to plan." Even when forced to retreat, the Germans couldn't shake off the idea but what they were acting ''according to plan," as will bo seen in this, one of General LudendorfP's last official communica- tions to the German army before he was forced out for playing politics : "We are falling back according to a prearranged plan, for our own good fatherland is in danger, and I expect every man to do his duty." Just how much sense of duty a German soldier must feel in order to get away from danger, "according to plan," Ludendorff did not state. His order, a copy of which was found in the town of St. Leger, also contained the following: "Don't lose your heads in case of capture. Don't give up any information, as it will benefit the enemy." TEMPERANCE GERMAN TRICK ON RUSSIANS. One of the German schemes to conquer Russia was to evacuate a town and leave it full of wine and other liquors, hoping that the Russian soldiers would imbibe of it and become an easy prey FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 277 ■while intoxicated. The Eusisans fell to the trick and in many places were easily captured. WHOLE REGIMENT GOES DRY. The 158th Infantry, formerly the First Arizona Infantry, which was sent to France, took an oath, every man in it joining in the agreement, to drink no intoxicating liquor during the period of the war. GREAT BRITAIN'S HANDICAP. As noble as was the fight made by Great Britain in the war, many of her citizens realized all the time that she was tolerating a most serious handicap — the liquor evil. So strong was the liquor-dealers' influence that every effort to curb the traffic was doomed to either partial or complete failure, particularly during the earlier part of the great struggle. A pamphlet entitled '' Victory or Defeat," intended to arouse the citizens of England to the true condition of affairs, relating to liquor, was suppressed. Here are a few paragraphs from the pamphlet, the truth of which would probably have been useless for any one to attempt to deny: Drink has stolen one pound of food a day from every home in England since the war began. England would have 3,500,000 tons more of food had she stopped the manufacture of liquor when the war began. All London could have been fed for the past three years on the foods that have gone into liquor. The land wasted on drink would make a farm a mile wide from England to America. We devote as much land to beer and whisky in England as to bread. This is not all. In November, 1918, after the war was over, the official statement was made that 4,400,000,000 cigarettes were provided the British soldiers each year, at an annual cost of $30,000,000. When the liquor and tobacco interests get control the most glaring inconsistencies are permitted in the face of the fact that 278 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR the best interests of the country demand soldiers and civilians free from the use of alcohol or nicotine in any form. The great war has proven it so in practically every nation participating. America woke up on the liquor question, but permitted the cigarette evil to flourish as never before. It will take many years to undo the injury inflicted by the craze of providing cigarettes for the soldiers on the false ground that they were thus rendered a helpful service. DRUNK SOLDIER BELIEVED INSANE. The beautiful resort town of Aix-les-Bains, in France, was chosen by General Pershing as a proper place where our dough- boys might while away the time when on their leave of absence. In the town were all manner of harmless amusements, which were enjoyed by the Yanks to the limit. In the course of time two men arrived there to investigate social conditions among the American soldiers. They had a series of blanks for recording statistics on any social shortcom- ings that might be found.. They left with this one entry: "One drunk, believed insane." This was published as an indication of the uniform sobriety of our boys in France. ''DON'T TELL THE FOLKS. »» The Y. M. C. A. workers who accompanied the soldiers when en route from point to point, on land, or on the overseas trips, sometimes had unusual experiences. Here is one, however, that perhaps stands in a class by itself: On a troop train bound for an Atlantic port, where the sol- diers were to board a ship for France, was just one man who was drunk, he having managed in some way to get liquor before the train started. In his intoxicated condition lie became very ugly. He teased a foreigner until the latter struck him with his fist. This so enraged the drunken man that it took three FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 279 of his comrades tc keep Mm in his seat or hold him on the floor. He was determined to get his assailant. Finally the *'T" man suggested: "The only thing to do is to tie him.'' There was no rope but the bell-rope, and the conductor said: "Take that; I'll help you get it." When the unruly mail was overpowered and held in the grip of the soldiers, the ' < Y " man, with watch in hand and pointing to the rope, said with determination, but kindly: "Here, you — ^now listen to me. I'll give you just three minutes to get quiet, or we'll tie you, and you'll stay tied too. Here is the bunch just itching to tie you. Do you get met" "Oh," said the fellow, "you are that 'Y' man, are you? What can you do?" "Never mind who I am or what I can do. I've got the watch on you, and one minute has gone. You have two minutes more to get quiet and stay quiet, or be tied for fair ! ' ' In thirty seconds he was one of the most quiet men on the train. In half an hour he apologized most humbly to the secre- tary, and begged: "You won't teU the folks, will you? I wouldn't have my mother know this for aU the world. I'm sorry, just as sorry as I can be, and I feel like a fool!" THOUGHTFULNESS LONG-DELAYED WEDDING. In the early part of November, 1918, the daughter of a Cleve- land (O.) couple thought she would get rid of an undesirable suitor who was very anxious to marry her, when she said to him: "I will marry you when the Kaiser wins the war." Evidently he was too dumb to appreciate the sarcasm of the remark, for he went away very hopeful. Within a week from that time the Kaiser was forced to abdicate and flee for his life. 19 280 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR THE GLORY OF FATHER AND MOTHER. Carl F. Foley, a soldier stationed at Camp Merritt, in a letter to his parents, at Augusta, Kentucky, written just before sailing for France, realized, as many of our American boys expressed it, that the greater honor for whatever may have been accomplished by war, must be to the father and mother who gave up a son to fight for humanity. In this letter he said: If I can depart with, your cheers in my ears and your smiles in my vision, my heart shall be light. None has more right to cheer or to smile than you. All can not give as you have given. When monuments shall rise to meet the sky in memory of those who sleep somewhere out there, I hope its base, the foundation, shall have engraved upon it the words, "Mother — Father," for truly the glory of it all rests upon their shoulders. Then, dry the tears you have shed and cry no more. Share the honor with me, and when peace crowns the onslaught I hope to come back to you. I have no fear, for that which is to be, must be ; and if I do not return with the rest, remember I was willing to slumber with the host of martyrs to a common cause. THE TRAIL OF THE CHILDREN. A group of soldiers in France, standing on the comer of an almost deserted village near the front-line trenches, were eating lunch which they had just purchased at a canteen, when some children begged for money. Back a little farther the soldiers noticed two small girls caring for a younger brother. These were unusually quiet and not asking for anything. They looked hungry, and the soldiers gave them some of their biscuits and crackers. They were surprised to observe that the children did not eat the food given them, but started oif quickly and eagerly with it. The men in khaki decided to follow. The trail led to a broken-down and barren billet. Stepping after the children into the stone-paved room, they saw them give the food to a middle- aged woman lying on a bed of straw, with nothing but an old shawl to cover her. She was the mother of the children, and they were with refugees who had passed that way just a few days before. FOR PUBUC SPEAKERS 281^ Seeing the soldiers, the mother was alarmed, but the girls told her of their kindness to them. The friendly look and kindly interest of the young men seemed to quiet her fears. She was ill, and explained to them how she had come to this place and was too weak, to go farther, and had no one to befriend her and her little ones. Assuring her that they were not intruders, but American sol- diers, she staggered across the room, pulled aside a cloth in the corner, and uncovered the body of a nine-months-old baby, which had been dead three days. She had been too sick to bury it, nor could she have given it a suitable burial, anyway. Every well-informed American knows what happened. Those noble fellows went out quietly and quickly, took up a collection among their comrades, sent food to the family, brought help to care for the sick woman, bought a coffin and made all arrange- ments for a funeral for the little dead babe — just like our Amer- ican boys. The hungry, pinched faces of the children of France and Belgium were always objects of the deepest solicitude and help- fulness to our American soldiers "over there." TREACHERY PIANO EXPLODES AND KILLS MEN. A wounded U. S. soldier, after returning to America, related this incident of German treachery: "When the Americans captured Chateau- Thierry they found one house there that had not been hit by the shells and was in good condition. It was nicely furnished and there was a grand piano in the drawing-room. The house had evidently been used as a headquarters by some of the German officers. The American officers were delighted, and decided to use it for their own head- quarters. One of them sat down at the open piano and started 282 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR to play. The next moment there was a terrific explosion, and the piano was blown up, the side of the room blown out, and most of the officers in it were killed." SWIFT PUNISHMENT FOE SPIES, At the time the Italian army was apparently weakening and was being driven back by the Austrians, as was learned later, the Germans had planted in the Italian army Austrians in Italian uniforms, spies educated in military schools in Milan and speak- ing Italian perfectly. These spies, posing as Italian officers, actually ordered retreat and surrender, and used the Italian military telephones to order the withdrawal of forces from ad- vanced positions. Whether or not this caused the IT. S. Government to take drastic action in case any similar circumstances came to light in our own army in France, is not known, but the following, which appeared in one of the great American newspapers, was sig- nificant : Interesting work by spies is indicated in the order that tells American soldiers, in the course of battle, to shoot dead any man on their side, officer or private, who suggests surrender or a let-up in the fighting. TEEACHERY BEHIND MEECY. SIGNS. ' Some American soldiers saw a group of Germans, with Red Cross bands upon their arms, making their way toward the Yankee positions, carrying a blanket-covered stretcher, handling it most tenderly, until within fifty feet of the Americans, when they quickly set it upon the ground, tore aside the blanket, and poured a rain of bullets from a hidden machine gun into the American positions. These same soldiers found a hospital corps boy dead who had been shot by a German sniper while he was busy earing for a wounded man in an open field. One hand of the dead boy still clutched the scissors with which he was cutting a FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 283 bandage. The Eed Cross brassard showed upon his arm, but that did not save him from the cruel Hun. AMERICAN SOLDIERS ''ANALYZE" WATER. Sergt. ''Bill" Harvey, of the New York Marines, wounded in France, while fighting in the region of Belleau Wood, said in an interview upon his return to the United States: I've been told that Belleau in French means "heantiful water." Maybe it does, but the only beautiful water we saw in those woods was in our canteens. We were afraid to drink any water we came across, not know- ing whether or not it had been poisoned by the Huns. One day we came to a well with a pump, and some of our boys wanted to drink it, but one of them said: "Wait a minute; I've got a scheme." We waited, and pretty soon some of our men came along with a group of German prisoners taking them to the rear. We called the prisoners over and told them to take a drink of that well water. They went white and said they were not thirsty. Then one of our boys pointed his rifle at the Hun he was particularly speaking to, and told him he'd drill a hole right through him unless he took a drink from that well. The man took the drink. Inside of two hours he was dead — poisoned with the water he and his fellows had fised up for us Marines. That way of finding out about the water may strike some tender- hearted people as a little rough, but we hadn't any other way of analyzing that water at that time ; and that Hun didn't get any more than he de- served, anyhow. He died in a good cause, which is more than most of them. do. HUNS INVENT "KAMERAD" WEAPON. An American artillery officer brought back with him from France a "kamerad pistol," which he first exhibited to the soldiers at Camp Meade, Maryland. The treachery for which the weapon was made, and as used by Germans in the war, stirred our enlisted men just as many were first stirred by German atrocities, for this pistol had no other use than that of killing the captor while pretending to surrender to him. The pistol fits between the third and fourth finger, and by the upheld hand is completely concealed. It requires only a slight pressure to discharge it. The bullet is of 22 caliber, or smaller, and of brass. 284 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR The fiendish ingenuity of the manufacturer and inventor is such that but little skill is required to bend the wrist and fire the pistol directly into the face of the captor. At close range the bullet has force enough to kill. A GERMAN SPY AND HIS FINISH. Lieut. Bernard Rhodes, of the 407th Telegraph Battalion, serving in France, writing to his folks in America, told how the German spies even got in the armies of their enemies, and relates this incident: At the beginning of the great drive of the Allies, in 1918^ a British major-general was directing the movements of his division, when a British staff car drove up and out sprang a man attired as a British officer, saying to the general: "Sir, the division on your right has been forced back and your flank is in the air. Orders are that your division will fall back to this place," indicating a point on the map some two miles in the rear. The unsuspecting general was preparing to obey, when a Canadian colonel standing near said to the stranger: "That's funny. I've been on duty some time with that division, and I don't remember you." The stranger allowed that was 'ijueer, too, saying he knew all the units of the division, and called their officers by their first names, besides handing out other information that was ap- parently correct. StUl the Canadian was skeptical, and insisted on seeing the man's papers. The other went through the move- ments of searching his pockets, and then said he came away in such a hurry that he had forgotten them. The Canadian insisted that the man be searched, then and there. It was done. They found papers, all right, only they were written in that language that defined treaties as "scraps of paper." The lieutenant concluded the incident in his letter as follows: FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 285 Well, there was plenty of good, first-class material at hand for a firing squad. The chauffeur who brought the man in the car was a Hun, too, so the soldiers had a little party, and the only thing they didn't shoot up was the car. The division is still in the same place, and so are the two Huns, each with several bullet-holes where the Iron Cross might have been. UNSELFISHNESS HOW WOMEN SETTLED A QUESTION. Two women at Bristol, England, who had been standing side by side in a long line in front of a shop where margarine was being handed out, in accordance with the war regulations then in force, reached the counter at the same time, just as the last half-pound was being weighed. Each had an equal claim to it, but the man in charge was at a loss to know how to make a decision. The matter was settled, however, by the women them- selves. One turned to the other and asked: "Have you any little ones at home to feed?" "Yes, I have three," was the answer. "Well, then, you take it. I have only two. Maybe I'll have better luck next time." ON THE WAITING-LIST. An advanced dressing-station on the western front in France was receiving a steady stream of soldiers on stretchers — wounded, gassed, shell-shocked. Some of them seemed just boys. And yet they were so optimistic and brave. "Hard luck?" said a doctor interrogatively to one, as the bearers set down a stretcher in the courtyard. The boy shrugged his shoulders and grinned as he said: "Coming fine, if I can get you fellers to save that foot. It's smashed plenty. If you can't, all the same." "We'll run you right in," said the doctor, kindly. "No, no, not me," said the boy, bravely. "I'm getting along all right — nothing but my foot. You just let me be here 286 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR and get busy with them guys that's hurt. I'm on the waiting- Kst." HE PAID THE PRICE. Charles A. Matthias, of Green Farms, Connecticut, was twenty- three years of age when he was killed in a rest-camp in France. He and some other soldiers were resting in a house when the alarm came to make for a dugout. He went to the door to see if it was safe to start at once. Just then a shell burst outside, and he was so seriously wounded that he died soon after. While receiving attention in a dressing-station, he looked up into the face of the one who was caring for him and said with burning enthusiasm : "Thank God they didn't get the other fellows! If I am to pay the price, I will." "IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME." One of the Y. M. C. A. workers in France, in a meeting of men just back from the fighting-line, was preparing to hand out some cards on which the soldiers were to write down things in response to his request, when one of them stood up and said: * ' I know who is the best man in my regiment ! ' ' "Wait a minute," said the speaker, "we want you to write the things on the cards." "Let him say what he's got to say!" some one called out. and others joined in the request. "All right," said the "Y" man, "go ahead." "Well, it's this way," said the soldier, still standing. ^'When we were going in the other night, on our way to the trenches, I forgot my blanket. It was cold too. You fellows know that," he said as he turned toward them for the instant. "And it looked to me like I was going to freeze out there. But when my pal found out the fix I was in, instead of guying me for being such a fool as to forget my stuff, he took out his FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 287 knife and cut Ms own blanket in two and gave me half of it I I don't know whether that's what the preachers would call being good — ^but it 's good enough for me ! " VICTORY NOVEMBER 11, 1918. The agony is done, the darkness over; Evil that ravished and burned dies at last; The beast with bloody mouth has run to cover; The hosts of light are marching far and fast. "Freedom is wonl" and all mankind rejoices I Women and men shall build them homes again; Beauty shall speak with her unnumbered voices, Wisdom shall answer from the mouths of men. The hungry shall be fed, the grieving cherished, The kind be honored and the poor made strong; The beast that knew no truth — the beast has perished I We are set free for work and love and song! — Margaret WilJcinson, in Grit. WE HAVE WON. Steuart M. Emery is the author of the following poem, which appeared in the Stars and Stripes, the official paper of the American expeditionary forces, soon after the defeat of the Germans : "From the waters of the Channel to the far Swiss frontier pass. For three hundred miles of battle, wire and mud. From the flaming front of Belgium to the lines that niche Alsace, With the lease that gives us tenure writ in blood; From a Mons, rewon and righted, from Sedan, revenged for aye. To the bulwark of the centuries, Verdun, Falls a sweet and stranger silence and the red roar dies away — We have won, we have won, we have wonl "By the martyrdom of mothers and the children that they bore. By the skeleton of Louvain and its kin ; By the prisoners of Vimy where their charnel corridor Told the hate we owe the butchers of Berlin; By the lives we put behind us, by the memories we keep Of the men who marched with us whose race is run; By the thousands of their crosses where their ranks are still in sleep-^ We have won, we have won, we have wonl 288 STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR "So we quit the battered trenches, so we leave the stricken field, And the ancient load is lifted as we move, And the flags whose wake we followed, that have forced the Hun to yield, Bless the columns, swinging on, they ride above I Oh! the hungry guns are muzzled and the steel is sheathed in cold. And the land of France is shining in the sun ; We are back to home and fireside, all we staked ourselves to hold — We have won, we have won, we have won! THE RETURN OF KING ALBERT. When King Albert marched at the head of the victorious Belgian army into the city of Brussels, the Belgian capital, at the close of the war, there was enacted one of the most wonderful scenes in the history of the world. A war correspondent report- ing the momentous event for the Associated Press said: I have seen many great ceremonies at many places. It is easy to use the superlative, but I have never seen so vast and varied a crowd so car- ried away by a tumult of fervor as on this occasion. The city was simply packed with people, wild with happiness, many crying out for very joy, while tears of gladness iilled the eyes of others too much overcome to shout the joy they felt in their long-suffering hearts. The streets and roads for miles upon miles were lined with people, and every available viewpoint was occupied hours before the arrival of the king and his army. Those in positions above the streets had provided themselves with small flags and chrysanthemums which were thrown down in showers upon the marching, battle- worn soldiers. Tens of thousands more could not even approach the line of march, so vast was the multitude, notwithstanding the Belgian soldiers alone formed a procession fifteen miles in length. Besides these brave sons of the plucky little nation, battalions of Amer- ican, French and British troops accompanied them, with a^rtillery. The day was fortunately as beautiful as midsummer, thus permitting an overhead spectacle in keeping with an important feature of the war. It was the presence of many aeroplanes, flying hither and thither, around and around, over the route FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS 289 traversed by the troops, their wings turning a silver lining in the bright sun-rays as they played fantastic tricks in the blue above, typical of the joy that reigned in the hearts of the mul- titudes below. The despicable Huns had been driven from the land, and its rightful possessors had returned. Could ever a people, so long oppressed, have better cause for the wild joy everywhere mani- fested on this long-to-be-remembered occasion? Certainly, never. CROSS-REFERENCES Note. — The figures indicate the page and the order of the story. For instance, "Diplomacy, 116-2," refers to the second incident on page 116. Abdication, 147-2, 230-2. Aged Patriots, 33-3. Allies, 84. Artist, 61-2. Aviation, 126-2, 180-1, 191- 211-2, 224. Bavarians, 45-2. Bells, 148-1, 244-2. Big Gun, 25. Binoculars, 136-2. Birthdays, 38-2, 164-3. Blood, 86-2, 255-2. Blue Envelope, 180-3, Bolshevism, 133-1. "Bridge of Ships," 138-1. Buttons, 121-2. Cages for Americans, 170-1. Camp-meeting, 74-2. Canaries, 139-1. Cartoons, 61-1. Cathedral, 198-2. Channel, English, 225-1. Childhood, 273-1, 280-2. Chinese, 32-2, 119-1, 164-1. Clairvoyants, 227-1. Clean Life, 51-1, 52-1, 103. Clemenceau, 214. Commandments, 109-1. Communion, 236. Contrast, 98. "Cooties," 229-1. Cotton, 141. Courtesy, 73-1, 1,- Courtship, 182-2. Cripples, 90-1, 202-1. Delay, 99. Diaries, 126-1. Diplomacy, 116-2, Dishonor, 108-2. Disobedience, 120-1. Dogs, 145-1, 152-2. Emblems, 200-3, Experience, 124-2. Fiction, 69. Foch, 83-2, 220-2, 232-2, 270. Fogs, 228-2. Gallipoli, 99, 251. Gipsy Smith, 237. Golden Eule, 177-1, 271-3. Habit, 217-2. Hapsburg, 149-2. Hardships, 28, 88-1. Health, 118-2. Horses, 146, 151. Hospitals, 156-3, Hospitality, 35-2. Ideas, 26. "If," 204-1. 291 292 CROSS-REFERENCES Immigration, 29-2. Indians, 187-2, 202-2, Influenza, 118-1, 119, Inventions, 175-1. Iron Crosses, 135-1, Italians, 137-1, 207, 238. Jerusalem, 75, 154, Jews, 111-2, Joan of Arc, 134-3. Kaiser, 76-2, 111-2, 112, 133-2, 142, 196, 231. <'Kamerad" Pistol, 283-2. Keller, Helen, 275-1. King Albert, 206-1, 288. King George, 260-2. Kings, 162-2. Knitting, 27-2. "Kultur," 187-1. Liberty Motor, 211-1. Linguistic, 124-3. Lloyd George, 123-2. Locomotives, 176. Lucifer, 142-1. Mexicans, 48. Mines, 173. Missions, 232-1. Monuments, 245-1. Motorcycling, 104. ~~' ''Movies," 159-2. Mules, 149-1. Mutiny, 106-3, 143. Neglect, 30. Negroes, 27-1, 71-1, 74-2, 116-1, 118-3, 124-1, 171-1, 183-2, 184-3, 217-1, 273. Orphans, 63, 178-1. Outlawry, 112. Panama Canal, 139-2. Paper Clothing, 122. Paris, 33-2, 37. Pershing, 32-3, 37, 135-2, 138-1, 166, 181, 220-1. Photographs, 243-1. Pictures, 161-2. Pigeons, 199-1, 259-2. Police, 130. Prayer, 97. Prisoners, 125-1, 200-2, 257, 268-2. Profanity, 244-1. Eaids, 106-1. Red Cross, 66-2, 157-2. Retreating, 182-1. Revenge, 178-2. Roosevelt, 66-3, 162-2, 218. Salaries, 39-2. Salutes, 275-2. Salvation Army, 255-1, 261. Sandbags, 137-3. Sectarianism, 79-1. Self-control, 186. Sermons, 216, 234-1. Shoes, 129-2. Sims, Admiral, 87. Sins, 57. Slackers, 92-1. Slang, 36. Sleep, 60-2, 210. Slogans, 204-2. Snobbery, 168-2. Solid South, 82-1. Solomon, 231. "Somewhere," 47-2. Speed, 104, 223^1, 275-3. Spies, 282-1. Submarines, 108-2, 128-2. *'T," 110-2. Tattoo, 184-2. Teachers, 163-1. Teeth, 128-1. CROSS-REFERENCES 293 Telegrapher, 101. Teutonism, 110-2. Thirst, 203-1, 251. Timepieces, 136-1, 217-2. Tobacco, 138-2, 165, 240, 277-2. Toys, 62. Trucks, 213-1. Twins, 41-2. Uniforms, 74-1. Verdun Belle, 152-2. Wealth, 79-2. ''Whither," 147. Wilson, President, 76-2, 85, 222-2, 256-2, 271-2. Wireless, 140. Wounds, 162-1. Y. M. C. A., 51-2, 73-2. Zero, 95. Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide Treatment Date: jyj^ 2OOI PreservationTechnologie! A WORLD LEADER IK PAPER PRESERVATIOI 111 Thomson Pari< Drive Cranberry Township, PA 1 6066 (724) 779-2111 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 007 693 466 6 # |i| t i i llllliiiili iliiSi' i, ^liilliitjiii I ilii!' iiliiii