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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (May 21, 1922)
4 24 THE SUNDAY OltEGONTAX, POItTIANJ "'MAY 2f . J XT iizeiLvei eran M' BT HARRY B. CRITCHLOW. EMORIES oi trie aays in France will ever linger with the mil lions of men who saw service there. For those who went through the hell at the front, the recollec tion of hardships and sufferings wilt never fade. One cannot wipe away or destroy th6 vision of one's buddy going down to his death in an ad vance on the enemy. Long hikes un de." trying conditions, sleepless nights under tho shells, days of hunger, cold and thirst; these will always haunt. But thoFe tides, in the old French boxcars labeled "40 homme et 8 che vaux," as they come back in memory, will never cease to bring smiles to the man who ha3 been through the or deal. An cutiit of Americans had landed in Ce Havre, had spent two days In the "rest camp" on the hill back of the city, and now were ready to move to theii training area. They marched down through the city to the old freight yards, where long trains of boxcars were on sidings. A French boxcar Is about one-third the size of one of our standard American freight cars, and when its cargo of 40 men, or eight horses, is crowded in, comfort ceases to be. "Where are we going to ride?" In quired a doughboy. "I don't see any passenger cars." " "You'll ride right In there about 40 of yoir," replied a veteran of the railway service who had been In France long enough to know and un derstand. "And take it from me, you'll have some ride." The long line of men. as with one set of eyes, gazed at the boxcars. "Jjemocracy, where are you?" in quired one man who possessed a streak of humor. "All men will be equal but not free in one of those cracker boxes." Loading time came. Officers count ed off detachments of 40 men. and each of these detachments was as signed to a car. With full equipment on their backs, the men filed and crowded In. "When all were Inside there was scarcely room to stand and sitting1 down or reposing on the floor was simply out of the question. "How long are we going to be Im prisoned in a place like this?" was the query from one. "Can't tell, but we have rations for two days," replied a sergeant Thei.e rations had been piled up in the middle of the car and took up room enough for at least one horse, had the transportation authorities se-m fit to place the animal there. The matter of disposal of packs soou became a problem. If they were deposited on the floor there was no place for the men to stand. If they were hung on the walls of the car from nails,' there was a splendid chance for one to swing free and crack some future annihilator of the Boche on the head. Some took chance with their heads and others placed their packs on the floor and tried to sit on them. All of the men could not sit down at once, so they took turns. When the train finally left the Le Havre depot it wjs soon found that there were no brake on the boxcars. There were bumpers between each car and when the train slowed up these cracked to gether, as did the heads of the occu pants of tho cars. It. has been said that the true dis positions of men are discovered under trying circumstances. The man who could preserve his sense of humor in a French boxcar, with its cargo of 40 hardened humans, was indeed a gem, but there were many who could do so. Legs grew tired after the train had rolled over miles of narrow track. Eyes grew tired. Men desired to re pose on the floor of the car and sleep. "When one man stretched out on the floor and attempted to catch a little "shut eye" the train would Jurch and hob-nailed shoes would doubtless find a location on his neck. Then followed a stream of profanity and declama tions against wars' in general. When the supper hour came the men partook of cold canned beans, corned "willie" and other army ra tions from the virgin cans and dumped the remnants out the door of the train. Coffee was out of the question. When the shades of night gathered and the only light to be seen filtered ' out of the windows of the homes of peasants along the railroad, the men desired to sleep. Attempts were made to stretch out on the floor, but these were not successful. Fatigue became so great after a time that the men could no longer stand. They fell from their swaying positions on the floor and piled up the best they could. Heads were resting on hob-nailed shoes. Shoes were on men's fa"cs; packs suspended from the walls would break free on occasions and fall into the mass of agonized humanity below. There might be a groan or a curse, but what mattered a small affair like a 60 pound pack? Hours of troubled slumber and then the morn. Men arose and tried to stretch, but their bodies, cramped all night, were almost paralyzed. Coal dust from the belching engines had mingled with flying dust from the right-of-way and ground itself into the men's faces. Scratches and welts showing the signs of contact with heavy shoes and falling packs were on their heads. The train" stopped and they dragged the'r weary, bruised and agonized bodies from the cars. Misery is a mild term when attempt ing' to describe their feelings. The man who would complain at a night In jail should try one night in a French box car, a companion to 39 other 'men. . j All day the men rode in those cars Then another night and morning came. A railhead in the Meuse-Haute Marne was reached and orders were given to "pile out." The men com plied with orders as best they could. By that time they were so far gone on the road to exhaustion that they did not even feel like making com plaint. A long five-kilometer hike awaited them. Trudging along that road they could not even think of the folks at home. Their minds were blank. Rides in those box cars came often. The oftenethey came the more hard ened the men became. They knew how to care for themselves under the circumstances found with the four walls of "40 Hommes et 8 Cbevaux." In many cases packs were unrolled, blankets extracted and placed In a thick carpet on the floor. Shoes were removed and the men were able to climb in and find repose. But there never was a French box-car ride that could be called comfortable. The only box-car ride that ever can be recalled with pleasure is the last ride. And that last ride was the one which led to the port where the big steamers were waiting to take cargoes of fighters back to the home land, i , The little cafe on the hill had been closed for the night. The military police had driven the last stragglers from the institution, and these strag glers with a good supply in their possession outside, " found a resting place under a water tank. There were four of them and they were all non commisioned officers. ' "This is no place for us" declared one as some water splashed down his neck. "Let's move." They opened a gate and walked Into a Frenchman's oat field. Through an acre of oats they plowed with their heavy shoes, leaving a traj of ........ 4 it-f Vl Iixa. J" J I Hrnry lloyd, paMt commander. Portland post, American Lesion, waste behind. At a chOBen site they squatted in a circle with bottles in the center. All was silence for a 'time and the men gazed at the moon. 'Once . I had a pal" started one. "He was a great friend. We pledged ourselves to go to each other at any time. If I was in South Africa and was In need, all I had to do 'was call Steve and he would come in. He died before he ever called me or I called him. The four of us are good pals. Let's form a secret society." ' "Sure," replied the other three. "Let's do." The contents -of the bottles were diminished. , "Well we'll have to take an oath, a terrible oath," declared the leader. "I'll give It to you. Join your hands over the top of this cognac bottle." Then in a clear, loud voice the leader administered an oath that was binding in the extreme. It threat ened penalties that would bring upon the violators terror for their remain ing days. , . "We are brothers now," declared the leader.i "May we never break faith." ' The contents of the bottles were fin ished and they ambled back through more oats, out the gate, and down the dark road to their billets. Next morning two of the men arose with the breakfast call and headed for the mess house. As they reached the door the. big blonde mess sergeant stepped out. There was a smile of mischief on his face. "That was a hell of a secret so ciety you fellows formed last night," he declared. The sergeants looked blankly at each other for a time and then looked at the kitchen boss. "Don't try to look innocent. I can quote most of your oath," said the mess sergeant. He started to repeat the binding obligation. "Where did you hear that?" was the query. "Where did I hear it," laughed the mess sergeant. "Why I was about 20 feet from you, over the hedge, on a bench, holding the hands of the daughter of the general's landlady." Dean G. Ray of Portland, will swear to the truth of this story. One of the saddest instances of the world war's aftermath has been re ported in Charleston, S. C, by the American Legion. The body of a sol dier killed in France was returned to this city and no one appeared to claim it. - The body was that of Robert E. Linton, American soldier who died on German soil following wounds re ceived in battle. Seven months after ward the body was exhumed and re moved to! an A.. E. F. cemetery in France. Upon the request of Linton's parents the body was shipped to the United States for re-interment. When the flag-draped casket arrived in Charleston, no record accompanied it, as far as can be learned. It was i umored that Linton's parents once lived in the town of Maiden, near here, and the legion, which took charge of the body when no one came to claim it, began a search for tile relatives. None could be found. The legion has given the unclaimed soldier a full military burial, with all the honors accorded a general of the armies. Meanwhile the search will continue for the parents. The last of the American dead have been brought back from overseas, with the exception of those bodies which will rest forever in cemeteries new legion flag pole in Scappoose, held a week ago. ,A flag was pre sented to the post by J. D. Watts, mayor of the town. A. R. Dorris, post commander, responded to the presen tation speech. The Scappoose post is one of the youngest in the state and was organized through the efforts of Mr. Dorris. -... , . - Marvin Arfeld, well known In Port land, and former member of the 363 ambulance company, was the type of a soldier who believed In traveling as light as possible. Blankets were not a necessity to Marvin; he could al ways crawl In beside a comrade and feel comfortable. A messkit was heavy to carry on a long hike and what was the use of it when a tin can-and a spoon shaped from wood would do as welL Marvin threw them all away. The one thing he hung onto wat his gas mask. The outfit had been moved In the woods of Parois, just before the Argonne drive. Marvin had found lodgings under the blankets of the ever cheerful Tracy Prior, also of Portland. The two had retired for the night, when a gas alarm sounded. Both men awoke and reached for a gas mask. They grasped one mask at the earn e time. It was then that Mar vin remembered that he had lost his mask during the day. He let go of the mask clutched in his hands. ' "I lost my mask today," he told Tracey. "This one Is yours. Put it on," "Nothing doing, Marvin," returned Tracey, attempting to talk without breathing, "you take this mask. You had a hold of it as soon as I did." "No," replied Marvin, "it's yours, Tracey. I'll just sit here and die, if the gas comes." "So will I," returned Tracey, and the twe men let the mask remain be tween them In the pup tent, neither being willing to put it on. They waited and waited for the gas and what they thought would be sure death. It did not come. The alarm was a false one. "Why Is It that the men who saw service at the front during the world war do not seem or act the same as they did before the war? This Is a question that is frequently asked, and its answer can only be given by one who has been through the game at the front. John Jones (we will call him such) before the war was continually seek ing thrills. He would get up in the middle of the night to go to a fire. He read the stories or murders In the papers without skipping a line or missing a thrill. He aevoured books of adventure as though they were his daily bread. War came and John enlisted, think ing that by so doing he would have his desired round of adventure and thrill. He went across the "pond" and to the front. There he saw com rades shot down beside him; dead men on their fields on all sides: wounded men, mangled beyond repair cryiner ror death to take them from their miseries; fields like Verdun where men unburled for years were scattered upon the ground; and all of the horrors that can be depicted, he saw. They became a part of his ex- istance. They came to be common place. The desire for thrills that had animated his being disappeared. John came home and was dis charged. He went back to his old job. vvnen the rire alarm sounded, old working companions saw John start for a moment and then settle back to his work. They saw him grasp the morning paper, and pass by the story of the latest murder. Bill had seen In his days at the front more killings than he had ever imagined could hap pen. Fires were commonplace. What was a fire compared to a night at the front when the star shells were fly ing: bombs from purring airplanes were tailing into masses of humanity and shrapnel, gas and machine guns were taking their toll of wounded and dead? John goes to dances today. He en joys them after a fashion but he is not the same carefree lad that he was before 1918. He is probably a "wall flower," according to the ideas of some of the girls. But John is no "wallflower"; he is Bimply a man changed by the greatest of all experi ences; an experience that cannot be duplicated anywhere save at the front. v At a recent meeting of the Ameri can legion in Astoria delegations from Seaside and Wanna posts attended. All of these posts have nad a substan tial increase in membership during the current year. An effort will be made to form a post in Westport soon. An ex-soldier living In Mississippi, becoming the proud father of triplets, all girls, asked the American legion to suggest names for them. On his as sertion that he was . a "good hand at poker," and therefore willing to "take the - United Confederate veterans. National headquarters of the legion, sponsoring the move, also has made the same request of the Grand Army of the Republic "We see your ranks growing very thin, and while there are a few of you yet with the living, the legion has an ambition to provo its fidelity to you ai! by accepting as a sacred trust the privilege of caring for and deco rating all of the graves of America's heroic dead, who fought on both sides of that struggle resulting in the re birth of our nation," the legion's re quest reads. The legion asks that it be allowed to assume its trust on the coming Memorial day, and adds: "An ex change of our flags over the graves of your and our dead and a similar decoration for each and all through out America will be binding and In disputable evidence of the unity of our country forever." Oregon legion posts have been asleep to place entrants in the athletic contests that will be held in connec tion with the national convention to be staged in New Orleans this Oc tober. There will be racing, swim ming, boxing, wrestling and other athletic contests. . . Reedsport post of the American Legion comes forward with a decla ration that it has in its membership the oldest enlisted man who saw serv ice during the war. The candidate's name is Jesse E. Inman. , He was born . March 6, 1849, : served as a civilian scout in the ' Sioux war In 1S71 and 1887. He enlisted as a navy blacksmith during' the world war and had seveeral months of service.- He is engaged in Salvation Army work In Douglas county. - Legionnaires of Yamhill" are start ing the organization of a Boy Scout troop in their town. Arrangements for the formation of 'the troop are being made by Guy Wade, commander of the lamhill post. - . - The American Legion post at Amity has made arrangements with the gov ernment for the use of army rifles for ceremonial purposes. An approved request for rifles has been forwarded by State Commander 'GoodelL ROAD WELL CONSTRUCTED County Engineer Approves Maple-ton-Cushman Highway. EUGENE, Or., May 20. (Special.) The first section of 9300 feet of the new road being built by the Southern Pacific company between Mapleton and Cushman-. along the north bank of the Siuslaw river, just completed, is a good piece of construction, ac cording to P. M. Morse, county en gineer, who has just returned from an inspection of the work, but it is very narrow and dangerous for timid drivers, he said. . The road is being built according to specifications and is much "better than the old road that -was destroyed by the railway company when it built its Coos Bay branch, but it is full of sharp turns at the top of high precipices. Turnouts are being pro vided every 200 or 300 feet, as two cars or other vehicles would be unable to pass at any other point in the road as far as it has been constructed. France and England at the request la chance on your pick," it was sug cf parents. This is the first instance gested that the "three queens" be :eported. it is believed, in which a named Annie. Maude and Kate. returned body has gone unclaimed. ' J A proposal that the American legion r" be 1, of 1 be entrusted with the care for erraves Portland today have seen war serv- I t Confederate veterans in the south ice equal to that of Major Frederick H. Evans, D. S. O., of the Australian army. In July. 1914, he enlisted as a private in the first company, first battalion, first regiment of the Aus tralian army. Less than a year later, us sergeant-major he landed with his comrades at Gallipoli. He. was badly wounded at the battle of LQne Pine in August, 1915. After several months In the hospitals at Hellipolis and in "Blighty," he went to France. At that time he was a lieutenant. ' ' After the battle of Bunlie Court, where he was agafn wounded, he. was promoted to captain. After months in hospitals again he returned to the line and at Paschendale ridge suffered a bullet wound in the mouth. He Was at that time commanding his "nfantry regiment. . ilore than two years to i follow were spent in hos pitals. 1 The surgeons could not re pair the tiamage the bullet had done. Major Evans was discharged, and de mobilized in January: 1921., A few months later he returned to America, where often prior to the war he had appeared as a vaudeville singer. Major Evans: has. written a little book; "Memories of an Australian Of ficer's Leave in , Paris," which was published recently. It is an interest ing and well written. ; - .. .. .. A number of Portland legionaires. including Kenneth . L. Cooper, Edi Eivers and Harry Nelson, attended the initiatory ceremonies of the-40 Hommes and S Chevaux, held in Madras last week. Delegations were at Madras from Bend, Prineville, Red mond and Sisters. The Bend "wreck ing crew" had charge of the -work. While in Madras the local legion men were informed by George T. Paarce, commander, that a plan for the con struction of a new building was under consideration. . Already $1000 . has Deeu -suDscriDea . ior sucn a purpose. The post in Madras has a greater membership now than it had in 1921. , Legionaires of the Athena-Weston post have fallen for the radio craze and funds are being raised for the purchase of a receiving set. State headquarters is urging the. installa tion of radio sets and hopes some day to be able to send out bulletins to the posts by wireless.-. Approximately 3000 Columbia county ! citizens attended the dedication of the has been made to General Julian S. Carr. Durham, N. C, commander of 2 HURT IN AUTO WRECK Eugene Couple Injured When Car Turns Over Embankment. EUGENE. Or., May 20. (Special.) Mr. and Mrs. George Danner of Eugene were seriously injured in an automobile accident near LeMoin, Cal., Tuesday, according to a letter received yesterday by Mrs. Lucas Robertson of this city. Mr. and Mrs. Danner left Sunday to visit their son. E. R. Danner, at Klamath Falls. At LeMoia, a little place near Duns-, muir, their car went over an embank ment, turning over. Mrs. Danner suf fered a fracture of two ribs and Mr. Danner's arm was broken in two places. " $305 in Prizes Offered. OREGON AGRICULTURAL COL LEGE. Corvallis, May 20. (Special.) Awards of $305 in scholarship prizes will be given men and women this spring. The Clara H. Waldo prizes amounting to $140 will be divided among the co-eds, $50 to the senior selected, $40 to the junior, $30 for the sophomore, and $20 for the freshman girl. The A. J. Johnson prize for men Is divided in like ratio. The Joseph Albert prize of $25 goes to the senior, man or woman, who has had the greatest and most wholesome influ ence for good during his college career. A new prize has been added, a silver loving cup, awarded by the Mountain States Power company of Corvallis to the senior man who has excelled in athletics in addition to maintaining a high standard of scholarship and character. Eat Me at The Oaks Sunday The Elks IIIIIIllllEllIIIIfllllllllllllBIIIlllIIIIIIHBIIEIIIBIIBIlIIEBIBBBSIIBOIBIlIB flour fa Better Furniture, Better Prices, Better Terms El HIBKBIBIIIiaiBIBKBflllBIBIHBIBiailiBlllll . - yUr -J A Tax On Brain Power , Every eye strain is a brain strain a tax on brain power. And most of us are constantly straining our eyes taxing our brains unknowingly. KNOW don't just "think" that your eyes are 100 efficient. Consult us for a scientific, thorough, accu rate examination. Our complete line of "Quality Beyond Question" Shur-ons contains the proper style for every occasion. Our 25 years' research and practical experience in examining eyes is your assurance of glasses that will give you ease and comfort. Evenings by Appointment Main 4300 ' :: DR. ; WHE : :'; OPTOMETRIST EYESIGHT SPECIALIST SUITE 207 MORGAN BLDG.' All MMJE3UI 1 1 1 1 1.1 1 Ul ELBLI II MM IU a I" m LIBERTY RANGE The Liberty Range on sale this week needs no introduction. We have been selling them for 10 years. Has six 8-inch covers, sectional plate, too polished, larsre Oresron fire box: plenty of room for wood and coal. This range is fully guaranteed by Gadsbys'. CkI 7 k Special . 0JrilJ Combination GAS. RMGE AND KITCHEN HEATER A quickly kindled fire in1 the coal and wood heater at the end of this Wedgewood, warms up the atmos phere faster than any furnace and at a frac tion of the cost. This practical com bination makes it an . absolute pleasure to . , cook with gas at all times. Made of rust-resisting ARM CO Iron. ', WRft Porcelain enamel door . j front, spUuher and dirt pan. I Molt economical rang you Can bay. 'Guaranteed by the Manufacturer. NOTICE We will take your old cook stove or range in exchange on one of. these new Wedgewood Ranges and allow you all it is worth. Our Rug Department In our large Rug Department, the most extensive display In the city, you will find just the right patterns and colors to faithfully carry out your ideas for a truly "better home." Prices also are very moderate . . 9x12 Seamless Brussels.... $21.85 9x12 Axminsters S37.TS 9x12 Woolfiber .......... .917.50 Come and See How Inexpensive Summer Comfort Really Is Just a piece or two of Wicker Furniture will make your Sun Parlor or Porch a pleasant place to while away sunny hours. We have a sale this week, of Willow Furniture, in old ivory and frosted brown finishesi. - Gadsby Sells Overstuffed Parlor Suites For Less If you have not visited the department devoted to overstuffed living room suites lately you will be amazed to find such an exten sive variety of different styles represented at the new low price levels. There are handsome two, and three-piece suites in tapestry, others in beautiful velour and combinations, while still others will be found in genuine mohair. Prices on three-piece suites as pictured above start as low as $150.00 Tapestry Davenports as low as $63.50 and $72.50. Notice the Prices Below on Bedroom Suites We find our stock of bedroom furniture is considerably larger than ordinarily at this time of the year and consequently have made sweeping reductions on practically every suite shown. The suite pictured above, including a full-length vanity dresser, is a beautiful Queen Anne period design finished in American walnut.. It is a quality suite through and through and- the special .reduced prices on these pieces are as follows: Large Vanity Dresser, $49.50; Bow foot Bed, $36.00; Dresser, $36.00; Chifforette, $33.00. C I Cfl Price complete OIBtidU Special Sale of Dining Room Suites SPECIAL Top leer Refriger ator $19.75 A n-raat eala nf f noca tnn icer refrigerators at a bargain price! The case is finished in golden oaK, witn tnicKiy in sulated walls. A spacious keep food perfectly, is full white enameled. Just 40 of these refrigerators to be sold tomorrow at mis special price. Be early! Colonial Four-Poster The one style of bed that always is in the best of good taste. This is an exception ally handsome pattern, . fin ished in rich mahogany and specially priced at only ........ $45.00 $2.25 Delivers This Rocker m IPf Hi Deeply upholstered fireside rockers with coil spring seats and heavy roil arms are priced now at a genuine saving. Up holstered in the very finest grade of brown imitation Spanish leather. These rock ers will sell fast at 000 Cf special sale price . viuw Couch Hammocks !fBaSiSg.;.- 3:;lfca No otiier single piece of furniture you can buy will give so much real satisfaction this summer as a couch ham mock. We have a wide va riety of the more popular new styles at real economy prices. We have Just placed on display a solid carload' of the newest period styles in complete Dining Room Suites. While many of them are in the latest Italian Renaissance designs, there are also included many patterns in Queen Anne and other popular period styles. The complete suite pictured is one of the most attractive values we have bad in many a day and Its price complete, with six chairs, is only .- EASY TERMS AT GADSBYS. 3139.50 PORCH SWINGS With Chains Complete Similar to Cut. Baby Carriages All the newest styles and fin ishes are represented in the spring opening. Mothers will be sure to find the type of carriage wanted at prices as low as $29.50. Go-Carts as cheap as $10. y - a 1 1 B !i. I Bi HI S . - No Interest Charged at " Gadsbys $ 50.00 WORTH OF FURNITURE, $ 5.00 CASH, $ 75.00 WORTH OF FURNITURE, $ 7.50 CASH, $100.00 WORTH OF FURNITURE, $10.00 CASH, $123.00 WORTH OF FURNITURE, $12.50 CASH, $150.00 WORTH OF FURNITURE, $15.00 , CASH, $1.00 WEEK $1.50 WEEK $2.00 WEEK $2.25 WEEK $2.50 WEEK For Portland and Suburbs CORNER SECOND AND MORRISON STREETS HHSBBBIBBIBBBfliaBBBaBHaaHHBBflJBIEaBaBaBaMilBaaaEiBBiBBBiBBiaEBSSBBaESaSBBeaa : ' ' ' - , B n SB m m 9 R V B til n a m M a n a ED a a m HI ES m a m B n n m m B n K B a a H H B m D a