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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (April 29, 1919)
TTTTT nmTlVTXG OEEGOXIAX. TUESDAY, PRIL 29, 1H. Valor of Commander of Third running (ton, but Battalion Inspires Men. MAJOR MILLER MEETS 'iffZ ' m. at a a? ". lke. GM'Wla, - - r-v Stayed at Bom" ' V'-"' FIRE ENEMY TERRIFIC 36 1 -t ami 3lth Regiments I'ronl Line Make Attack on Line Akin: Tronol Farm Ridge. BY- iJOLIN' V. Anricia fro nYii n.T. 5-r-hr With .vinalyh'irwt in wmo. TttESTT-IIHIT AHTHI.a About 4 o'clock on the afternoon of .the :th of September the Isf again drole into a line where the Hun had derided to -resist bitterly. This line ran through tlie north side of the rirrtei woods along the rldtre running wewt and cvTendnn; brokenly along the north jide 'f the Haulnv woods, and me Troiiol farm ritli-e. The 3lstand the 3;4ili were on the front luie and made the attack. These two reitiments on that afternoon alone. between 4 o'rlork and nlcht. had about (a men ktll-d ir fatally hurt. The third battalion of the 3lst liad come up the ravmo between Cicrges and the Kaulny wood. It was led hy a redoubtable major named Oscar F. Mil ler. His wife. Anna Miller, lived at 17:7 West Klfty-first street. Los An grics. lie n much liked by the men. He had not felt well that after noon. robably because of the exposure and work of the previous three or four davs. but did not to back. About J oclock in the afternoon 1'rivate Anton L. Olson of company L. JSIst. had been hit in the head by a fragment and Instantly killed, while the. major was near. Olson came from Mount Angel, or., and left a sister. Miss OiEa Olson, in Kenn. Idaho. He was a scout and nipcr attached to the battalion intelli gence section on special duty. Matar Miller Always la . After Olson waa killed the third bat talion hurried rapidly on in spite of machine cun. sniper and shell fire, passed through the Eimorlpiu farm woods, and out Into the opening be tween Cleraes and Itaulny w oods, w here It becan to attack the crest since knoa n as Miller hill. The major went with his doughhoys to the front line. Private Carl Mum pourr of In-eeon City. Or., was one of several men with linn. The German fire was terrific- It just seemed as if nu n couldn't stand It. The enemy T.as not all out at the sides, and the bat talion was mti-hmg H from the ridges In front and from both front flanks. .The major earned no rifle: he walked calmly along In the front wave culling out to hia men to "go to 'em." 'Cornel on and get ahead." und so on. At in tervals he would set up a cheer of hrs o n and cry "Powder river." the cele brated battle cry of the 3lst "Pow der river! Hook 'im, cow."' first Weuada Did ot Mil Him. for It wa this kind of an afternoon: that men were crouching In ehellholes and lying behind any old shelter, al most dismayed at what they were fac- tnic. They pushed forward, true sisi men alwavs pushed forward, it seemed but the major was afraid they miKht break under the dreadful resistance and uprlfht he stood without flinching, an heroic spectacle on the shell-and-bul l.t.rnl slope. swearing a little yelling ent-ouranement latter had just been shot In the leg, but was still staggering; forward. For tune borrowed his map to report the position by phone, then hurried on up again. Now Fortune picks up the story himself: "Hia sleeve was rolled up. Blood was down his hand and his hat was he was moving unsteadily on. yelling and cheering, regardless of bul- ets. 1 told him that our left flank was exposed by about 300 yards and that we had better stop pretty soon. He replied. 'We have 'em on the run. We can take the next ridge. You are next In command if I'm killed. I was next In command because Captain Burke was then with the 1st battalion and the other three captalna were wounded. "I went back to the phone to request artillery fire on the ridge next in front, then returned for the major. I found he was down. I said. Come on. major; we'll go back to the other aide of the bill' (for by then the commander had crossed the first ridge and was on his way to the second). He said. 'Never mind. I'm all shot to pieces and can't go any farther.' I got him onto my shoulders and carried him about 100 yards to the edge of some brush, where I turned him over to eoirie men who had taken a blanket from a dead Ger man, and told them to carry him back. I went to organize the position and saw him no more." Thoaakts Always for Victory. He was so eager to get to that sec ond ridge, was the major. One dislikes to leave oft writing about him. Ser- ceant I'avid O. Anderson of 856 Twenty-third street. San Diego, came up to him as he lay doubled up from the third of the wounds. "The lieutenant ays to keep the men out of the woods on the rlsht. sir." said Anderson. "A barrage is about to be laid." This was a thicket in front of the second ridge. The. major replied. "The barrage has been laid down already. We're going on wirougn. r.ven then he was dying. Lieutenant David A. BIssett of com pany K. a Tacoman, came up a few minutes after the major had fallen. .Never mind me." he said. "I am done. l.eavr me and go on to that rldirej Pissett was soon hit by shrapnel and sent to the rear, but later returned to commana or company K. Aa the men carried him back. Frr.tk Vercota. a private, one of the bearti, was wounded. 'There is another hit " said the major. "Boys, Just drag me to the nearest shell hole and let me stay there." But a substitute bearer waa called and the men took him back to wie canyon at very. There he died at J o'clock the next morning. i ne ceatns or other brave men In the Miller hill and Baulny woods charges will be described In succeeding in- ri.iiiincins py Lieutenant PymenL WIRES TO BE GIVEN BACK n-ontlniicd Krom First Pa re. ) to those who rould hear him and motioning to those who could not. knowing no douot mat his last hour had come. So Miller was lilt. Trlvate Mum power told this story about It: The major was first hit In the arm. He whirled around twice In a circle, then pulled up his arm and looked at It. but said nothing about it and kept right on. I was feet from him. "it was perhaps five minutes before he was struck aratn. The men were advancing, but only rlowly. Most of them were down, shooting. The Ger mans were retreating along the top of the hill. The major continued to call to the boys throughout the five min utes. I think he was crying to them to go on over the top. and yelling Powder river. powder river The lirrnuna would rise from their trenches, run 50 yards and then drop to resit. -l.eky Jlsa" Froe Casaea t S- "The second time he was hit was In th- rl.ht leg. Ho fell and lay for a few minutes. 1 thought he was dead and went back to tell Captain Fortune that the major was killed, but as 1 re turned he sot up acnn and began to encourage the boys. "Perhaps It was only a minute or two before he was shot scam, and this time be didn't get tip. Ho was then almost at the tor of the ridge." Meanwhile "Lucky Jim- Fortune had rome hurrying up. Fortune Is still alle strangely enouKh. Frits could hit his pack and his clothes, and could ome within Inches of him at any time, but never could kill him. One of the lst rrvstenes Is why Fortune is liv ing. Three times In the Argonne he succeeded to the battalion command when his superior had been shot down: be was only Lieutenant Fortune then. And on Miller bill and on ja he went throUKh Incredible dangers but never a scratch. Cood Fortune should be the ivnie of this lishii:g Los Ancelan. an tvaaaaa Cried M Ilk Pala. Thousands of women work today while suffering from kidney or bladder ail ments that can be relieved. Mrs. la Wavue. 27: 3d ft.. Ocean Park. CaL, writes: "1 had to sit down during my housework. My back ached so. also my hip pained me so 1 used to cry oi't. the pain waa ao Kreat. Now 1 am thankful to say that Foley Kidney Pills rid me of all my pain." Bacharhe. sore muscles, stiff or swollen Joints, rheumatic pains are IndicaTions of kidney trouble. Foley Kidney Pills are safe and reliable. They bring quick results, s-old everywhere. Adv. Do You Have Head . aches or Backache? If o. see a chiropractic physician at once, tint treatment will relieve and a few carefully applied adjustments usu ally cure any case of this kind. Pr. Charles M. Hods th at 315 Columbia building i West Park and Washington streets) ia highly recommended. 10 to 11 A. M.. 1:30 to S P. M. or T to in evenings. Phone. Main :?J for ap pointment. No iharKe for consultation or examination. Adv. MM increases etrencth ot deit.-ate. nerous. iun-din neonm In to ess time in mane ln-tap... t'-ed and htcil In dnred br former Unite.! States Sen ators and JlemPers of Conirns, etl lni n i'h -t. and tnrmor Pubno 4rairh o:rKiais. Ak your doctor or drugcist about It. ated unusual interest. The statement touows: "The postmaster-general will recom mend that the telegraph and telephone lines oe restored to their respective owners as soon as legislation can be secured from congress safeguarding the interests of the owners in every way that It is possible to safeguard them. general as to the condition or the wire companies convinces him that It is imperative that such legislative action must be had before the various tele phone and telegraph lines are returned. I.smd Coane-aalea Weak. "This is not true as to the cable lines, which are in a condition to be returned at once." jostomce department officials ex pressed the belief that few of the com panics cquld weather the financial The information cf the postmaster storm if the properties were turned back without remedial legislation. Some officials said that while the prop erties must be returned In the same rhysical condition in which they were taken over, to do this now, without added revenue to meet wage demands and Increased cost of operation, would wreck tne entire Industry. Officials responsible for the manage ment of the properties under govern ment control declined to suggest exact ly what sort of legislation would be necessary. Republicans in congress have made no secret of their intention at the forthcoming extra session to press for the immediate return of the service to private management. Wires Held Half Year. By proclamation of the president, the entire wire service, with the exception of cable lines, was taken over by the government on July 31 and placed un der the direction of the ' postoff ice de partment. The proclamation aa to ca ble control was signed by the presi dent on November 2, but no announce ment was made until after the sign ing of the armistice on November 11. Taking over the cable system was fol.owed by a controversy between the postmaster-general and Clarence H. Mackay by .Mr. Burleson. Further controversy involved the Postul Telegraph company, when offi cials of that company objected to the postmaster-general s plan to amaiga mate the 1'ostal company with the Western Cnion. As a result. Mr. Burleson dismissed from government service Edward Rey nolds, vice-president and general man ager of the 1'ostal company, and A. B. Ktchards. general superintendent of the Postal company's Taciflc coast" division. orders issued by the postmaster-general providing for a nation-wide in crease In telephone and telegraph rates resulted in additional controversies and legal action In a number of states, some of which suits have been appealed to the t'nited states supreme court The postoffice department recently was called upon to settle a strike of tele phone operators In New England and members of the Commercial Telegra phers union of America yesterday completed the canvass of a strike vote. Maay Salts Peadlag. The land wire systems under gov ernment control were under the direc tion of the wire control board with First Assistant Postmaster-General Koons In charge. The cable lines have been under the direct control of New comb Carlton, president of the West ern Cnlon company. Proceedings involving the right of the postmaster-general to take over control of both the cable and land-line systems are now pending in the su preme court. It is believed that the proposed prompt return of the cable systems will render a decision by the court unnecessary. Arguments in cases arising; from the postmaster-general's order increasing rates are to be heard by the court next Monday. The cases resulted in appeals from South Dakotaand Massachusetts court decrees, although similar actions have been brought in about :i states. OREGONIAX NEWS BUREAU. Wash ington. April 2S. Postmaster-General Burleson s action this afternoon in recommending to the president that the cables be turned back to their owners before May 10 is regarded here as a surrender. Democratic leaders expressed the deepest pleasure but seemed determined that Burleson should not have the credit of acting on hia own volition. Without any apparent positive knowl edge of the facts they declared that Burleson was acting under orders from President Wilson, who has been ap pealed to frantically during the last few days by party leaders Wj take the matter in his own hands and save the democratic party. They declared also that a way will be found to wrest the An ADTCBAFT Picture LAST TIMES LAST CHANCES z ,f It.' A - V ':: Hit IW ni'ClS : ' . . - n itrT "T - 1 - hi 1 I 1 I 11 i . x: ,i U Wl r " TODAY AND WEDNESDAY if) THF Blfi VITAL DRAMA of the girl who stands on the curb, waiting scan ning eagerly the faces of the marching men, search ing for one face, the face of the man who must hear what happened while he was away ; who must hear of her battles and judge. AND MURTAGH WURLITZER KICK YOUR HEELS TOGETHER AND .COME ON DOWN! EARLY!! COMING THURSDAY TODD OF THE TIMES" A Comedy Drama Featuring FRANK KEENAN I telegraph and telephone lines from Burleson's hands without waiting for additional legislation. The postmaster-general s statement that this legislation was necessary they declared was only made to Justify their taking- over in the first place and thai the same power which is separating the government from the cables will in a comparatively ahort period free the telephones and telegraphs. POSTAIi HEAD'S WORDS SHAKP Clarence II. Mackay Says His Com pany Needs "o Further Aid. NEW YORK. April 28. (Special) Clarence II. Mackay. president of the Commerc'.a! Cable-Postal Telegraph system, made the following comment tonight on Mr. Burleson's recommenda tion to the president that tne capie lines be returned to their owners: The supreme court - of the United States has not yet decided the appeal taken by the Commercial Cable com pany against Postmaster - General Burleson, in which that company ques tioned the legality of taking over these cables five days after the armistice was signed. As a matter of fact, Mr. Burleson cannot turn anything back in the way of cables. "He baa never really had possession of the cables, and has not operated them nor even controlled them. The British government forbade his con trolling them as far as the British ends were concerned, and that meant about four-fifths of the distance covered by the cables. "Why doesn't Mr. Burleson turn back the Postal Telegraph lines? That is what the public wants, and there is no earthly reason why he should hold on to these lines. He needs no addi tional legislation as far as we are con cerned. We are willing to take what our lines earned during the period of government control. "If he wants to hold on to the West era Union lines and the telephone lines until he secures legislation to help them out, let him au co: but that is no reason why he should hold on to our lines. We want our lines hack to give good service to the public and preserve our organization and do a few other interesting things. 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