The Camden chronicle. (Camden, S.C.) 1888-1981, August 07, 1931, Image 6
Denies Damage
Done By Legion
Gharleaton.?Frank P. Morton,
manager of the Francis Marion Bote)
?aid today reports reaching him con'
earning damage done the hotel during
the American legion convention here
are false. Humors have been spread
throughout the city, he said, tliat the
e*'?efvice men had adopted Argonne
tactics during their visit.
"I feel that in justice to the
Legion I should explain that there
was practically no damage done," Mr.
Mortov said. "'I*hero was no more
minor breakage than would result
from having any crowd of similar
size quartered in the hotel. Any
number of persons have asked me the
extent of the damage as a result cf
the widespread rumors concerning
mattresses ripped, pillows demolished
and general huvoe wrought. There
is no foundation for these rumors.
"Both the local posts co-opera tel
with us in every way and I consider
it only their due, and that of
u the department, that the stories be
' -^nrfected."
A Shanghai dispatch of Wednesday
said that vast areas of central
China were under water, hundreds,
perhaps thousands were dead and that
prices of foodstuffs had soared 30
per cent in many cities, as the result
of the worst flood in sixty years.
Accurate estimates of the dead could
not be attempted because of disrupted
communication lines. Yangtae
river at Hankow, the Associated
Press reported, was higher than it
had ever been before in the history
of modern records.
There appears to be an outbreak of
infantile paralysis in Greater NewYork
the past week or two, a total
of 517 cases being reported to the
health department up to Tuesday.
Asps ri n
llllllllllllllllilllllllllilillllllfl^
_BEWARE OF IMITATIONS
Q22QS
L.OOK for the name Bayer and the
word genuine on the package as pictured
a^ove when you buy Aspirin. Then
you'll know that you are getting the
genuine Bayer product that thousands
of physicians prescribe.
Bayer Aspirin is SAFE, as millions
of users have proved. It does not depress
the heart. No hamiful after -effects
follow its use.
Bayer Aspirin is the universal antidote
for pains of ail kinds.
Headaches Neuritis
Colds Neuralgia
Sore Throat Lumbago
Rheumatism Toothache
Genuine Bayer Aspirin is sold at
all druggists in boxes of 12 and in
bottles of 24 and 100. *
Asptnn is the trade-mark ol liayer
manufacture of monoaceticacidester of
salicylicacid.
WOMEN: watch*your
BO.WELS
What should women do to keep their
bowels moving freely? A doctor should
know the answer. That is why pure
Syrup Pepsin is so good for women. It
just suits their delicate onjanism. It is
the prescription of an old xamily doctor
who has treated thousands of women
patients, and who made a special study
of bowel troubles.
It is fine for children, too. They love
its taste. Let them have it every time
their tongues are coated or their skin
is sallow. Dr. Caldwell's Syrup Pepsin
is made from fresh laxative herbs, pure
pepein and other harmless ingredients.
When you've a sick headache, can't
eat, are bilious or sluggish; and st the
times when you are most apt to be
constipated, take a little of this famous
prescription fall drug stores keep H
ready in big bottles), and you'D know
why Dr. Caldwell's Syrup Pepsin b the
favorite laxative of ever a mBhow
women!
Dm. w. B. CAtawial V
SYRUP PEPSIN
A Docterlt Family Laxative
My, Experiences
. the World War
My General Jobs J. Pershing
.f IHI.b?M??wn<MW ?*> NsAlawtw ^ . v M ?
H Mwsi?n Aflha?. WwU #a iswid. IwMbi Uc K ?' .
% Iwildrtii Iimi *?!? h> wbhUotpxt ptnhhxi J *' 1
l?????? ?nWWSgsa??
CHAPTER XXXIV
Now that ilie supreme effort must
be made on our part and when unit*
were sorely needed for Immediate active
service it wiim found, mulch to my
surprise, that, although the division*
then coming to France had been under
training for six months or even more,
t hey mi 111 contained a large percentage
of untrained men.
Ah already pointed out, the general
staff. when called upon to provide men
for Hpeclal services, had relied upon
taking them from Combat divisions Inuiead
of anticipating such requirement*
and uegregatlng theue apeclallata
from the utart and training them
an Hueh.
Thl* wan a most vicious application
In time of war of a very objectionable
practice that had grown up tn our
army In time of peace. It apimars that
during the preparation of our armies
In the World war no other plan was
followed and the practice was carded
to such an extent that divisions with,
say, 25,000 men, which should have
been held Intact and each one perfected
as an organized team, were constantly
called upon to send large
groups of their trained soldles to other
duties. ??
Inspects Available Divisions.
In view of their possible early employment
I wanted especially to look
Into the general state of efficient^ of
our available divisions and give some
personal Instructions about training.
Going the rounds, I met General Illrschauer,
who was one of the able
French generals, and found him very
enthusiastic about the Second, which
had been In line at Sommedleu under
his commnnd. confirming my own opinion
formed from observation and reports.
He said that without doubt it
was then as efficient as any of his
French divisions. The First was further
advanced than any of the others
and its morale was high at the prospect
of going Into the battle lineRecent
developments bud brought the
question of the employment of American
troops Into Immediate consideration.
The President's qualified approval
of the recommendation of the
supreme war council, as embodied In
Joint note No. 18, was seized upon by
the allies and construed as a concession
for the unlimited absorption of
our troops In their armies.
No doubt my offer to General Foch
lent encouragement to the allied view.
On the day of Secretary Baker's departure
General Wblghara and General
Hutchinson came over from the British
war office to discuss arrangements for
transportation of American troops In
accordance with the provisions of Joint
note No. 18. The conversation Indicated
that the British understood we
were to send 00,000 men per month to
train with them and that they were
bringing over the same number, making
a total of 120,000 per month, beginning
with April. They held that the
approval of note No. 18 had superseded
agreements nravlously made. Ineluding
the six-division plan.
Baker Speaks Plainly.
The British referees entirely Ignored
the specific condition that the
final arrangements as te training and
disposition of all our units were to be
left In my hands. Their error was
pointed out and Mr. Baker then said:
"What Is pertinent to the present
discussion If that American troops are
going to tne ariusn ror inumugr i
don't want th British public or army
or the French public or array to get
an exaggerated idea that this scheme
provides or will provide a means by
which their losses will be made up In
the future.
I
"I want no fooling <>f disillusionment
when (General Pershing calls for
the troops Intrusted to them for training."
Mr. Baker's visit to our armies during
tills critical period was fortuitous,
as the problems that confronted us
could then be seen In their true perspective.
lie had an opportunity to
meet the allied leaders, both civil'and
military, and got In touch with conditions
In the different countries.
Of still greater importance, he saw
with his own eyes the building of our
organisation. He was a keen observer,
with clear understanding and a
logical mind, and obtained in a short
time an accurate conception of our
task and Its difficulties.
As ta our relations, he gave me from
the start Oat strong snd sympathetic
support wjUch means so much to a
military cpmmander In the Held.
Feared British Wsre Lagging.
Before Mr. Baker mailed for home
I hat* sent him the letter quoted be
tow. and. although wo tutor discussed
Ith content* briefly, It I* given us show
tug the reaction of at toast part of the
British press at the time:
"April ft. 1918.?- Dear Mr. Secretary:
I noticed the other day that oho of the
British papers, In referring to the fact
that plans had been made to send
American troop* to the assistanoe of
the allies, stated that this would re
lleve the British of the necessity of
depleting the strength of the forces
kept at home for defensive purposes, j
"This suggests to my mind a certain
political phase of the British situation
which may give us additional explanation
as to why Mr. Lloyd George
and British representatives are s*
urgent In their appeals for assistance
from America.
"Following this further, may I suggest
that you give the matter serious
thought? There is so very much at
stake for us that It seems to tne very
frank representations should be made
to tho British government as to the
urgency of their putting Into the army
very possible man that can be mustered
to meet the Immediate emergency.
. . ,
"It may be that you would think It
advisable to go to London, or else to
Intimate to the President by cable
the urgency of Great Britain's putting
Into the ranks every possible man to
wlthstund the present German onslaught,-even
If they have to promise
to withdraw them In six months, and
of their doing so without waiting on
us or counting on us In the slightest
degree. There will be few enough
ine.n even with the best we all can do.
It will he time enough for Great Britain
to consider the defense of Kngland
after she bus put forth every
possible energy on the continent.
Here Is the place to boat Germany,
and not on British soil. In writing
this I have In mind what you told
rue regarding available men In England."
.
t r -i
CHAPTER XXXV
On April 12. 1918, Washington reported
a 140,000 Increaso In cargo tonnage
by the use of Dutch ships. Infantry
and machine-gun personnel of
four divisions were promised for that
month.
The allies were at last thoroughly
alive to the necessity of an extraordinary
effort to provide tonnage for
transporting our troops. After months
of delay and discussion they realized
fully that the superiority of forces
vitally necessary to avert defeat must
come from across the Atlantic.
America had become their sole reliance,
not only for the forces necessary
to save them from defeat but
for unlimited financial aid as well.
Mr. Baker's first-hand knowledge of
the situation In Frunce ennbled him
to ijlve a fresh Impetus to the efforts
of the War department. With Gen.
Peyton C. March as chief of staff, the
general jtaff and the supply departments
began to exert more energy.
The war industries;board, reorganizedunder
the leadership o*B. M. BarucH,
had taken definite control and direction
of the nation's Industries with the
sole aim of aiding us to'wln the war.
In the face of the crisis, activity at
home had at last replaced the apparent
deliberation of our first year
in the war. Our hope for an Improvement
In methods and a more competent
co-ordination of effort seemed
about to be realized.
First Division Moves Up.
At Petaln's request the First division
was withdrawn from the line near
Toul and sent to Chaumont-en-Vexln,
northwest of Paris, to go Into an ac-,
tive sector. I visited the division
April 10 to witness the division's final
maneuver in open warfare before
taking its place on the from. 11. th
officers and men were In splendid
condition, notwithstanding their long
rail Journey, and all were ready for
the test of actual battle.
Oeneral Mlcheler, who commanded
the French Fifth army, to which the
Flrer had been assigned, came along
to witness the maneuver, and spoke
highly of the troops and their efficiency.
The weather was clonr. but
still rather sharp. The countryside
was radiant with Its green meadows
and early flowers, and one could not
k help thinking how different would be
those other flelds on which this unit
would soon be engaged.
Lack of Rogular Officers.
It la a comparatively simple matter
to, absorb partly trained recruits In
veteran organisations, but it is an
enormous and difficult tusk to create
organisations entirely of new mate
uitir officers in our organisation in
Itui it MfNfT mikI lift*. The ( corp*
IihiJ only 7 per <-oul ??f officers from
iIih regular wrmy. Letts limn I p?r
cwit of nil captains or the lino In the
A. K. Y, m( thut time had been In the
eervlce * year, nnd the thought of
possible Immediate activity with ?uch
Inexperienced lenders waa not ressvu
ring.
It vim a source of roul regret te me
not to command the First division In
person. and thla. coupled with the
fact that Ha entry Into the buttle (
waa of considerable moment, ied me
to apeak a word of confidence and
encouragement. When the officers,
about 900 In all. were aaaemhled In
the grounds of the chateau occupied
division headquarters they formed
a rare group.
These aplendld-tooktng men, hardened
by the strenuous work of the
fall and by two months in winter
trenches, fairly radiated the spirit of
courage und gave promise that Amerlea's
effort would prove her sons the
equals of their forefathers.
The First division saw Its first
major offensive some six weeks later,
a brilliant counterattack at Cantlgny,
in the Amiens sector
Wanted the A. E. F. United.
That afternoon I ?Mft*?N?d to Harcus
to nee Oeneral Foch and sound hlru
out regarding the prospects of uniting
our divisions 1n a sector of our
own. I told him that the secretary of
war when In France had expressed an
eurnest desire to hasten the formation
of an American army and that this
whs also the wish of the President.
It was my opinion, I said, that early
action would he of great Importance
In stimulating the morale of our
troops and of our people. Now that
the First division was to go lato line
the people at home would expect
soon to hear that an American army
was engaged on Its own front. I suggested
the possibility that the corps
might be assembled near the First division
as a beginning.
Oeneral Foch agreed in principle to
the suggestion, hut was uncertain
when the other divisions could be
spared, which I, of course, fully appreciated.
He pointed out that the
enemy was very aggressive and referred
to ttie severe attack against
the British on the Lys between Lens
and Ypres, which began on the 9th
and was still in progress. But looking
beyond, I Insisted that the Twenty-sixth
and Forty-second divisions
might be withdrawn at any time from
quiet sectors, to he followed by the
Second and the Thirty-second and also
the Third a few days later.
1 pointed out thut this force of six
divisions. Including the First, would
equal twelve French divisions, and
gave It as my opinion that it would
be better to use this American group
for active operations than to detain
the units In quiet sectors and send
French divisions to the battle front.
My understanding after this discuso
aiou vras very definite that the plan
would soon be carried out, leaving the
exact time and place to be determined.
It was immaterial to me Just where
it should occur, the point being to get
It done.
Hard Fighting on the Lye.
The German offensive on the Lys
was another formidable effort to
break the British line. The attack
was made to the north and south of
Armentleres on a front of 24 miles by
27 German divisions. The exhausted
British, though they fought with most
? COinmendahlft murage nnH *11111, were
forced again to yield with heavy losses
to themselves and the Portuguese,
consisting of two divisions, who were
with them.
Several French divisions were hurried
to the Lys front, but It was a
#eek after the attack began before
they were put Into the line. They
then relieved British dlvtstons at the
famous Kemmel hill, only to be sur1/riBuU
HUU Utrirn i en Uicrnnci rtJo nykix '
26, much to their chagrin. The battle
was practically ended -by the last of
the month, with a gain by the Ger- I
mans of ten or eleven miles and the
capture of Important territory from
the British, but with failure to take
Uazebrouck.
CHAPTER XXXVI
It was always stimulating to one's
morale to visit the headquarters of
the Canadians, where one soon caught
the fine spirit of that superb body.
I made such a visit in the spring
of 191S und talked with their corps
commander, Lieut. Gen. Sir Arthur
Currie; his chief of stnfT, Major General
Y\ eber; his chief of engineers.
Major General Lindsay, and others
and hqd tea with tliern.
1 tie alertness and confidence of
these neighbors of ours and the excellent
record they bad made am!
were still making gave us ns much
gratification as though they had been
our own. I remember this visit with
much pleasure and recall the prediction
of the Canndihns that Americans
would soon pl.t; sr. Important
part In the war.
General Currie deplored the fact
that the British had so easily given up
I'aschendaele ridge, which the year
before he had heen told must be taken
flt all costs and for which the Canadians
made the treifieodous sacrifice
of lft,000 casualties.
Calls at British G. H. Q.
At the invention of Sir Douglas
Halg, British commander In chief. I
went to the British genornl headquarters
April *J0 to discuRs the training of
our troops with the British and study
operations In progress.
NVe were always made welcome at
British headquarters It so happen,>d
Mint on the day ??f our ar.,val Lord
Ihrby, win* I fad m-! beep relieved n
minister ?r w.,r In |.,?S| Milner
there en |:,rs ?? p.ri.,s|
Wi
,MM*?<lor. During dinner tM <ou
vt'lMrtllon run uiong freely. M though
we were iKMitlwri of the official family.
At length Lord Iand Wr
Douglas drlftiH] to the subject of Britlull
polltlHwn*
l! would betray no conttdeuce to say
titer iliere was considerable criticism
(?f some who held prominent places.
The coalition government came I* for
Its share because of Its attitude to
ward the military high command.
1 took advantage of the opportunity
while on the British front to visit
tlie Nordaque* area to Inspect the
ltdvunce elements of the Seventy-seventh
division, sue of the divisions selected
for training with, the Hritlsh.
We took luncheon with Hrig. Uen.
Kvati M. Johnson, then temporarily In
command, ami Ids atitlT officers. He
praised the soldierly qualities of the
.uen, but said they were very much
t.ehind In their triiinlng.
Makes Agrssment With Hslg.
At Sir Doughix' headquarters he
and I reached an understanding as
to the training and adminlHtrutlon of
?ur troops that were to he temporarily
with the British. In the first place,
(hey were to he allocated by regiments
to Hritlsh skeleton divisions
under such u schedule as might be
agreed upon. The training staffs of.
Hritlsh divisions were to be St tht
disposal of these regiments, especlalfy
for Instruction In the use of the rifle
and machine gun and the handling
of gas.
After that, and with the approval
of their American division commander,
the regiments were ' to be
attached to a British division In line,
so each of the three battalions of the
regiment would have the opportunity
to serve with one of the three brigades
In each British division. These
battalions were to be commanded by
their own officers as a part of the
British brigade, while the staff of the
Americau regiment was to be attached
to that of the brigade.
In the next stage the American
regiments, with their three battalions
united under the regimental commander,
were to act as a brigade In
u British division. The final stage
would find the four American regiments
of each division united as such
under Its own officers, the artillery
being British until the arrival of Its
own urtlllery brigade.
"In carrying out this scheme the tendency
at first was for British officers
actually to assume command of our
units in training. Our officers In most
cases permitted this to be done until
It was checked by my orders that
"American units must be commanded
In training by the officers and noncommissioned
officers who are to command
them In buttle," and that American
troops would In all cases be commanded
In battle only by Americans.
Talks Shipping In London.
Following a suggestion by Lord
Mllner, I went to London April 22,
1918, to consider further the shipment
of American troopers. At our
first conference there were present
Lord Mllner and Gen. Sir Henry Wilson,
who had succeeded General Robertson
as the chief of the general
staff; Ilarbord and myself. The main
point of difference that had developed
In previous conferences as to Just how
far the Americans should be committed
to serve In active operations was
again considered.
I stated that the main thing was to
get our units trained, and that while
I was opposed to amalgamation, yet
lf^durlng the period of instruction the
units with which they were serving
should be attacked or, if another great
emergency should arise, of course, our
men would go in. Naturally the British
wanted unlimited Infantry and
machine-gun units, but 1 would consider
nothing further than a limited
extension of the six-division plan.
During the conference a cable from
Lord Reading to the prime minister
was brought forth, which stated that
4- rK??* ? -a a 4.1 ? I. _
gamation of Americans with the British.
I had nothing official at hand
later than the President's conditional
approval of Joint uote No. 18 of the
supreme war council as suggested by
Secretary Baker, so I promptly said
that It could not be possible that any
such concession had been made and
that the classes of our troops to be
shipped" over and their disposition
must be left to me.
Agree on Troop Shipment!.
As a result of these discussions we
reached an agreement which provided
for the shipment In May by British
and American tonnage of the Infantry,
machine gun, engineer nnd signal
troops, together with the various unit
headquarters, of six divisions for
training with the British army. It
was provided that any shipping In excess
of the amount required for this
number of troops should be utilized
to transport the artillery of these dk,
visions; also that such personnel as
might be required to build up corps
organizations should then follow, it
being understood that the artillsry
regiments would train with the French
and Join their proper divisions when
this was completed.
To meet any emergency that might
require an excess of infantry after the
completion of this program, it wag
agreed that all the American and
British shipping available for the
transportation of troopa was to he
used under such arrangement as
would Insure immediate aid to the allies,
and thereafter aa far as poaalhle
provide other units necessary to complete
the organization of our divisions
and corps.
It was further agreed that the combatant
troops mentioned in connection
with May shipments should We followed
by such services of Supply and
other contingents as we ourselves
might consider necessaVy, the Shipment
of a largo number of these troops
hould t>? lilted at 1
?*Pt Oat th. Ml d?Mo .:?
British w?Tf to trtncnor*
trained wffb them.
Washington M?kt, Co_ i Uf'
ite?.ehing ' |
?-?M?Waro dated April ?J
received, transmitting ? m ',M< W.
d?t?.l April III. ?K?t Jll*"#
direction of the lYenidont tT?
leh amUHWi(|(.r at WMMl,|,llctot\ , W
forinlty with lile approval of
18. In thta memorandum ?
of 120.0(g) Infantry and
unite per month for follr *^fl
conceded, with the undurath?,ii,!?
their assignment for training
should he left to my discretion '^K
It wfent^ on to Say that t|,? ij uH*
States, until the silinmoj,
had no Intention of d?i.arn? **Bl
^is full compliance with ti,e
mediation of the |a?Fo?MhMIt
representatives mm the nature J!Hi
>cuse would permit, ^fl
This was the tirst official infJHj
Hon I had received tfiHt the adZ^t
tret Ion bad agreed to send aay ij
numbers of Infantry and miichlnH j
units to France.
Lord Reading's lnflutnCi
This concession went further t^B
It was necessary to go and tnuehfH
ther than I had expected. pti|iJ '!
the complications that might 3&i'
from commitments so far In the fiS
and the delay In forming an Ani&l:
army that would follow. | dldj^B
agree In later discussions nt thtfl!
preme war council with all thnt I '
allies now felt justified in detuao^
I was opposed to the action <7*.
supreme war council* In assumin|l
power under auy circumstances toBl
pose of American troops. it ?u?v'
in any sense a prerogative of th|X:
preme wur council. , r||i
There can be little doubt th?t (H
Heading received the distinct taXC'
slon from President Wilson rWtW
fantry and machine-gun units wfl
be sent to Franco at the ratilg
120,000 men per month for flh
months, beginning with April. B ;
the President agreed to this "hi fl.
| clple" Is practically certain. It B
not be further emphasized that H i
a concession, even though proqfl
by the most generous Impulse, ?Bf
only add to the difficulties of our^H
of building up an army of our eiB
It Is probable that Lord Redfl
skilled advocate thut he was, dldqfl
while ambassador at Wushingtoifl
Influence the administration to (ifl
allied requests than any other tfl
(Continued next tzeek)
The new liner Rex, the largest ifl
yet built in an Italian, shipyard, fl
launched at Genoa on Saturday, fl
ship has ten decks, is 897 feet frfl
with a 99-foot beam and will cartfl
1;550 passengers of all classes, ifl
ship cost $>16,000,000 and is exptcfl
to malce the run from Italian portfl
New York in seven days.
Clarence McArthur, 21, claims fl
world record for parachute jumgfl
before opening his chute. At Tamfl
Fla., Sunday, he leaped from a pltfl
at an altitude of 18,500 feet andfl
claims to have deferred opening ifl
'chute until he had descended 'lJjH
feet. |j:
1RORT. W. WTCBAlI
Architect i
Crocker BuildingM
j Camden, S% C. ]
Hazebro^^^^^^^^^^Vment^res
( J \ D^thun^b^^ ^Mons
Ground Pained byGermanOffensive
April y-26.1918
9 25 " SQMiiea
EYES EXAMINED 1
and Glasses Fitted I
THE HOFFER COMPANY!
Jewelers and Optometrist! I
>_y? . ... R.
E. Chewning & Sod!
General Contractors I
and' Builders S
Phone 386 Camden* 8*
Estimates Furnished on Al
Classes of Work 1
Floors Sanded on
/ft DeKALB COUNCIL
a Junior Order U. Afc;j
wirir Regular council seooawj
fourth Mondays of M
month at 8 >.m.' VisitingJBwJ:
are welcomed. A. W. HUMW'-II
L. H. JONES. CofiljM
Recording Secty.
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FOR CORNS AND CAtWflfl