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About Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1903-1919 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 24, 1918)
THE flAILY CAPITAL J6URNAL, SALEM, OREGON. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1918, PAGE THREE LETTERS FROM YOUNG OIFLCERS IN FRANCE FULL OF INTEREST Lieutenant Lamar Tooze Tells ; Of Bravery Of American Soldiers. - The following letters have becu re eoived by the editor of the Journal from well known young men who are aenrhijg their; country la -France, and. tell some thing ox interest te te people- OTer hare: . - . My Dear Mr. Fisher: ' ',.,..' My brother's death was marked by a splendid devotion to duty and a fear lessness which Hupiied the brave and loyal men of aia platoon to make an ad vance through one of the heaviest bar rages air-burst sluapnel; I saw on the Argonno front, through woods infested with machine guns operated by Ger mans who were under orders to hold at any price, to a point where, finally, late in tlio.uJH".. uu, just as dusk wns letting in, a German Bniper, conceuled in some brush, singled out my brother fruin the rust of '-'(. men and sent the kullct which brought his life to a closo. jWlioro he Ml luaiicd the point of far thest advance mado by our regiment The platoon a few minutes - later re treated several hundred yards to th ugo of the woods. When my brother Was missod, volunteers were called for .to go out after him every mun re sponded. Four follows, disregarding the kail of bullets, went back and recov ered his body and stood guard over it fall that night until the next morning when .the situation allowed me to loav; my duties as battalion scout officer and , go to. my bro'iur. Theirs was a typ- j of devotion wnich was so usual in th?.t Baltic I tell jou. iir. Fisher, every man who went through, thoso eight days of fighting, of l!vint iii boles with tho:. bullish H. K'g "hunting" for you, sick with dysentery, filthy with muck, and living on cold canned meat and hard broad he was a horo. I've boon in two net!.1. is mice i! en, here in Bolgoum but they r.on'i 'itunpuru witfc the A" gonne fight. When 1 get back to the states I will eertainly see you and toll you in de tail about that fight. I will toll you . now about ouo brave lad, Pvt. Elmor A. Lye of California. . Lye was a snip er in the battalion intelligence tectiou. Vhen I porformed the sorrowful duty of interring my brother I asked him to go with me because ho had been so kind to mo and so comforting during the 14 lours, which elapsod from the timo 1 learned of niy brother 's fate to the time I could leave my post and go to him. jWitu his ov.n hands he carved the crass which wo placud over tho grave. Atlcr the simple but impressive ser vices we started back for tho front lines about 1000 yards awuy. The Huns laid down u heavy barrage in a field which we had to cross. We took cover in a hell holo and waited for them to witch (German artillery runs in cyc les). Finally, we decided it was safe to continue. We Blur ted across the field, Lyo in the lead; I was about ten puces behind and a corporal, who also accompanied mo, about the same dis tance behind me. We had gone about SOU yards when without much warning an 11. K sailed through the air and landed at Lye's feet; Tho corporal and I, as soon as wo heard the screech, dropped to the ground, which probably aved us its I'm '. mat of an II. E. i something like tho spray of a fountain and it's always best to foil flat when tney come your way. I saw Lyo had been hit uiid 1 rushed to hiin. Blood v.as streaming from a gash in his neck. I caused a clot by placing my thumb ever it, but he continued to bleed in wardly. "Don't worry about me, Lieu tenant, just make me comfortable and I'll be all right. I'm a goner." I tried to elieer I;.im vp and sent the cor poral to tho dressing station for a stretcher. All tho time, Lyo remained conscious and kept up a continuous conversation. He actually smiled when he told Hi ! writi' u his mother. Witb in 43 minutes he was on his way to the hospitM h;i1 the next evening he passed away. " Consummate bravery I And 1 saw that sumo bravery exhibited on every hand. It, would do your heart good, to have seen how our brave boys charged thoso spitefully deadly ma chine guns, charged theia with almost parade ground precision. , The American boys know not tho meaning of fear I have yet to see an instance of cowardice1. We hope to be back to Oregon soon though wo aro all determined that our job must be thoroughly done before we leave here. A few precautions now, in this formative period ,may save us from trouble later. Though this war tech nically was ended by an armistice, in reality it was ended by the armed forces of America and her allies and America's part in it was the weight that swung the balance. My best wishes, Mr. Fisher, for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. . Sincerely yours. " LAMAB TOOZE. . Impressions of Our Allies. Tours, France, 27th Nov., 1918. Dear Mr. Fisher: . I am writing you concerning my im pressions gained relating to the atti tude of the English and French people and :of our own soldiers. Because of Biy position the letter is not for publi cation over my name. I spent two months in England before eoming to France. Upon landing in England about the 12th of August, I was assigned to duty at the American Air Service eamp, which is a concentration eamp for all air service troops in England.Under the terms of the agreement with the Eng lish, as you know, 15,000 air service troops were kept on duty in the various 72 aerodromes scattered through the British Isles. After six months at this work tho squadrons were brought baek to the concentration camp after being replaced with new troops from the states, and sent to France The commanding officer of tho Am erican air service camp during my stay there was Major V O. rage, son of Walter Hincs Page. He encouiaged us all to attend the social gatherings in the neighborhood of the historical town of Winchester and the result was that wo had a most interesting and enjoya ble time. My "particular work at camp consisted of-being summary court offi-J cur, juugu uuvucaie ox rue special court martial, and permanent offiecr of the day, and there was plenty of work to do; but still there was also the oppor tunity for getting acquainted and nt- ton.litit h 11 nurlmic fiitintinna fHi a rmg.isn were very nospitanie, anu tne young ladies, particularly the volunteer- nuTses, many of whom eame from the land owning classes, were pleasing. Titer manner in which, they had settled down to hard practical work in taking care of the wounded Tommies was inot inspiring.' - . . I'visitod London' throe times . and thore met additional English people At j tho Washington Inn, which was requi- j sitioned by the Y. M. 9. A. for officers, wore a large number 01 young ladles of the best families working as volun teers, and the same was true at Eaglo Hut, which is the Y. M. C. A. hut for enlisted mon. - 1 believe that all of the American ofiiccrs and men who really think have a great admiration for the English. Their sportsmanship with their sense of fait1 play, their dogged determina tion, their Insistence upon iiiaiviuual lil orty, their respect for the law and their substantiality aro characteristics which impress all of us that come in contact with them. On the other hand. I have heard in England a good many American offi cers express irritation at tho slownosj of the English in furnishing material and accomplishing particular jobs of en terprise. But as the English pointed out, the Americans were apt to over look the fact that the resources of the English had been drained for four years From reading the .London 'limes ana other imgiisli papers, it is apparent W) English look upon the great increase iu American shipping with "considerable anxiety. The figures published in the Mail show that du'iug the war the Unit oJ States 1ms i:ic:-hied its tonnage 0 about three. and a quarter million tons, while the campaign by submarine has decreased the English tonnage about the same muo'iut. It is uu unfortunate fact of more or less importance that most of our air sorvicb troops aftor serving in English aerodromes lor six months are not kina ly disposed towards the English with whom they worked. Officers wh0 woro with these troops als0 have good many stories to toil of small disagreements with the English. The British ration was not popular. Our mon bIbo com plained concerning tho attitude 01 tne noncommissioned officers of the Eng lish. There dcvoloped some jealousy on the part, of the English mechanics, as our mtipwere abler to do a great deal more work per man. Of course, the best Eng lish mechanics and soldiers were serv ing in Europe, and for tho most part only "washouts" were on duty in Eng land. The larger pay and the popular ity of uui soldiers among the young ladies may havo been additional causes of dislike towards cur men by tne JMig lish enlisted men. I mention all this to-indicate that it is my belief that the 15,000 men, who I understand hnve just Been oraereu 10 return to Anieiics, will not for the most part bo prericheis of good will towaras cur Jiuglish menus, many 01 tnem ap Durentlv tire really quite bitter. Tho Australians, Canadians and tno South Africans apparently have about the same attitude towards the English, as the Amorican soldiers. The impression that I havo gained from the French during the month and a half that I have bedn in France is that as a whole they are graueral to the Americans and are very friumuj disposed towards them. The past means a great deal to the Frenchman, and the fact that 'we have always been friends tii n irrent deal in our favor. Hero in Tours, there are nearly as many Am erican flags hung out as there are French: while tho Union Jack and tho ether flaes appear only occasionally, The French apparently have no world wide plans and hopes, but are desirous of Iiein? let alone to live in their own fertile beautiful country. It is apparent that the English em pire is facing gtave problems wiin its 4.500,000 of organized laboicr in the growing independent spirit of most of its dominions and it its oth.sr well known problems. England's tremendous loss of men in this war, in whith it. has played such a noble part is another cause, of worry. However, it is very apparent that England is playing a strong hand end that ht-r In turevft are iiftninsl the establishment ol an international league that would in terfero with her supremacy of tho sea and that would offer the same protec tion to her dominions that she now of fers. All minds are centered upon the part that President Wilson is to play in the peace conference. His long study of the situation, his policy internationally thus far, and the great prestige that ho has personally and as the representative of America, give rise to abundant hope . Wishing you and your family a Mer ry Christmas, I am Yours sincerely, - - FRANK BOSEBBATJGH WRITES. W. W. Rosebraugh has received th! following letter of special interest iron his son, now at the front: Junglinster, Luxemburg, Nov. 25, IVii Dear Dad: They let a new wrinkle by for A. Y. F. this year, and allowed us to write our dads a letter for Christmas, and let them know a little more about where we are. Well, if you figure this ont, yon will find that Harold and I are still with the Third Army Corps. Just now we are ten miles north of the city of Luxemburg, . so we are now across all the old No-Man Land, and are in a fine country. " We started for Germany, and are waiting here for a few days for some f ftrNirf Starts 7 p. m. I r ""."IV" iV-7 cC-r '.-' t i . - is ii ti 11 II 11 II t CI 11 B --."V BUT DON'T MISS THIS .!- .' HART PICTURE IF YOU HAVE TO MISS YOUR DINNER. mi m tkegoM MOW reason. This certainly is a wonderful country, too. - I really never imagined that there was a place like this in the world. It is so well kept and clean and neat. The whole thing looks lii.o a big national park. . . The French peasants fare, as a wholo very neat and saving, but these people have them beat. You can't find a scrap of wood or rubbish on the roads, and the roads aro perfect, too. Even the forests are all cleaned out, and no underbrush left. 'Course there is a rca sW for that hey need' the wood, "arid mve a good deal, and --the 'doughboys so forth-but the towns 'are1 clean also. we- fighting for everything we Tho country is very mountainous, no tho took. A front line surely is hell in wholo effect is a grand sight- the winter and we were hoping in These people are of courso neutral, sPite ot wson that we' would not bo and just now are very pro-Ally, while there all winter. When- the armistice I imagine they were pro-Germnn. We signed, we were back of Sedan, can hardly blame them, and it surs Tn8t country was surely wrecked. Tho would havo bocn a pity to huvo dc-' complete destruction and devastation stroyod the30 townB and Jands; so they that was brought about on the front can acted right. '' j not be exaggerated by Stories and pie- But even though these' folks wcrojtures. ;; :iai 1 pro German, they at last become tired; Up by Verdun I wa;looking for a of them, and sure did give the Amcr- j town and couldn't find; it, and whon I icans a hearty welcome. They decor-: did find where it was,, thcro was ab ated their towns, proclaimed holidays, solutely not a stone left to mark the and had a general rejoicing. I place. The only thing- to show for it Tho folks have very little foodstuffs, was some long railroad rails' sticking wool, and such, but sure havo plenty of out of the ground. r, money. When wo camo here they cx-j We were on tho fronts of : first, Chat changed francs for marks at a mark to eau. Thierry in .June; Soissons in July; one and a quarter franc, and I believe Chateau Thierry to Fiswes in August; a mark is worth seventeen cents, and ' and then Verdun and in -the Argonno a franc nineteen. ""til the end. Tho Americans took some The people have no flour. Tho prico hard ones, is what I moan to say. Well, of coffee is eight dollars a pound, but I will tell you more when I get home, you cannot get it at that. In cafes they (Nest Spring). serve a barley cereal for twenty-five ; This may be my Christmas for you cents a cup. Butter is five dollars a folks. I bought throe . pieces of that pound, and everything in proportion, fancy work when I was in Paris, and Tonight Harold and I bought about I lost all my stuff before I got to twenty apples for four marks, so you mail it. My letters, pictures, kodak, and see it costs some money here. so-forth, in a move. I, felt pretty bad, All this movement is very interest- but ho use worrying. I way be able to ing to me. I am anxious to see what get some more souvenirs later. . and how things will develop. I under- We are well, and I hope you are. stand that the banks in Luxemburg A merry Christmas. With love, are now pivinir correct chance on the (Signed) FRANK EOSEBRACGIf. marks, and s0 they surely will go down soon. ' ' , A good many people speak English in this country.' I told a hotel man in Luxemburg that they were a bunch of robbers, and he said "Oh, hell, wait un-1 til you get into Gormany; you can! pay twice as much and get nothing." j I imagine he is right, too. I I wish I could talk uutcn now. wo ncver realized how much French wo tal of Tahiti, have died from influenza could talk until we got here, but we and the disease is rapidly spreading iu really were able' to get along quite the ilandB of iiie Pacific, according to well. .the passengers tnd crew of the steam Harold and I have a regular homo Cr Moana. in I'rt today here in Junglinster. We have been herej Xho Mouna, 'in her way hero from three days. Tho weather is very com,' snd we have no barn to sleep in, so we . rented a room in the home of an old! couple. The whole house is ours now, j and we spend our evenings jauucriuB with the old folks. They have a boy in Dakota, and are so interested in Am ericans. They are so surprised to know that America really has had men over here. The old woman insists on tucking us into bed, and thinks we are her lost kids, I suppose. She must be seventy or seventy-five years old. Old people are more hardy here, 1 believe than in France. , General Pe'shing was in Luxemburg a few days ego, and Marshal Foch ii to be there tomorrow- I suppose it will be a big day. , . 1 I spent a couple of days in Belgium recently. We went down there to take over some German guns and dumps they were turning over. I had a chance to see a German company drill, and they surely r military alright. Aft things were all picked up, the Amer icans escortel the boehes to their linej. 1ha people sm rejoiced at their de parture. Tho next morning I dro' through tho town again, rd under thi: arch the people had eraetcd to thei' "Deliverers" they had the German flag stretched out on the rosd, so eveiv one had to drive over it that entered i ... -X WWW the city. I didn't drive over it! (Orders from the back seat); That shows the Belgium feeling. , ix , Well now, as about .the war. We wore all surprised and could hardly be lieve tho sudden ending! The weather had been wet for weeks on 4ho Argonne front where we were, and it was a pretty hard pull in general, and after the armistice was signed; it cleared up, and it seemed the wholo world was Changed. We had pretty good dug outs and hnts, etc., btlte-wore' on the Hdq. Troop 3rd A. C. A. P. O. 754, A. E. F. Tahiti, Island In Pacific In Clutches Of Influenza Ean Francisco, Dec. 24. More than half tho population of Papeote, capi- darting; piercing sciatic pains Give way before the pene trating effects of Sloan's Liniment So do those rheumatic twinges and the loin-aches of lumbago, the nerve Inflammation of neuritis, the wry neck, the joint wrench, the ligament sprain, the muscle train, and the throbbing bruise. The ease of applying, the auicknesa of relief, the positive results, the clean lines, and the economy of Sloan's Liniment make it universally preferred. 30e, 60e, $1.20 Sidnoy, visited Papeoto. Mounds o! bodies, tar ejat were burning on tho j hillsides tint! whole families, dead from tho discuso, were burning in tho housea in which they Uvcd. Influenza i8 believed to havo hit Ta hili harder t.imu any other section 0! the world. - . Among the v.ttiius at Papotto wav Miulivino Levine. Chapman, known t every traveler iu the South Pacific it holol nud ciicauut grove owner, and member of the Hawaiian royal family - T . - Last' Arrangements For Milo Piper Made Tcday ; Muskegon, Mich., lice. 24. Arrange ments were made today for ending the HAVE YOU JOINED ; (,i A j - 1 M 1 - ' Tt, .!, --,- - ? -j- 'OH $ - T rA .V -- : lnf-H' 4 ' - . , ;x . ' , S. I .' ? ! f't, . ,'. ' -jiu " " ,. r- ly TAT" 1 y ilD Tn? DIET KITCHEN OP AMERICAN RED CROSS IN FRANCS. Wishing you A MERRY CHRISTMAS ' . and A HAPPY and PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR history of Milo H. Piper, The forme? insurance agent, arrested on a charge of murdering Miss Frioda Woiehmnn, will bo buried Christmas day. - A coroner's jury decided laBt night that Piper took his own life by strhiij ling himsolf In his coll. , Mrs. Piper today still professed djs bolief in theories advanced by officers that Piper had bigamotisly -married Mis Wcichman and then killed tho girl to hide his offense. Red Cross Campaign Is ; ; Extended To January 10 San Francisco, Dec. 24. Becauso of the influenza epidemic handicap, .the Red Cross Christinas roll call campaign THE RED CROSS? Cherry City Baking Co. in .the1 Pacific division was today ex tended to January 10. Determined ef forts will be mado' everywhere to se cure a 100 per ecnt ' enrollment.-. Men Of Battle Fleet Will , C J ft 1 ft apena tnnsnnas At aea - New York, D(c. 2-1. Mon pf Ameri ca's bnttlo fleet coming home from tho war must spend Christmas at se, The squadron was-expected to enter New York harbor tomorrow morning out storms delayed it. Announcement wns mado today that tho fighting shipa will arrive at 9 a. m. Thursdsjr for'-the re-' vicw. : i . ' -" STUFFED UP WITH "A BAD COLD?" Get busy with a bottle of Dr. King's New Discovery at once Coughs, coMa and bronchMattacka they are all likely to result in danger ous aftermaths unless checked in time. And how effectivplv and rmirklv Iii- Kiim's New Discovery helps to do the checking work! Inflamed, irritated membranes are soothed, tne mucous phlegm loosened freely, and quiet, restful sleep follows. 60c and $1.20. All druggists) liave it. SolJ since 1SC9 Constipation Einaclpatlon 1 No more lazy bowels, yellow com plextion, 6ick headache, indigestion.' embarassing breath, when you use as a corrective Dr. King's New Iifo Pills. They systematize the system and keep the world looking cheerful 25c. JOURHAL .WANT ADS PAY v , ft ri - . s3r I ill