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VOLUME Xxxiv. LAURENS, SOUTH CAROLINA, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 1919.NUBR4 ALVIN C. YORK WAS NOT CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR When lie Learned What Germany Had Done, Religion Did Not Interfere. Everybody has been reading about Alvin C. York, greatest individual hero of the world 'war, since his arrival in New York on Thursday. In fact, a good many people read about him sev eral weeks ago in an articlo written by George Patullo and published in the Saturday Evening .Post. The story be low from The New York Times gives a now angle to the Tennessee moun taineer and 'at the same time corrects an error-York was not a conscien tious objector. 'He didn't know why the war was ibeing fought, but when shown that Germany was guilty of much devilment he understood and his religion (lid not get in the way. Here is the story 'rom The Times: Sergeant Alvin C. York, the Tennes -see woodsman who won the Congres sional Medal of Honor and the per sonal commendation of General Persh Ing for his exploit of killing 25 Ger mans, capituring 132, and putting 35 machine guns out of commission on Oct. 8, arrived in New York yesterday on the transport Ohioan, to find him self' the centre of cheering and admir ing crowds. From the moment he was spied by members of the Tennessee Society who went down the 'bay to meet him until he retired last night in the d luxe suite of a leading hotel, the big, red halred, freckled-faced, blue-eyed Ten nessean received a series of ovations which. lo (mote him, "plumb scared III to death." ' When the Ohioan docked at lut hoken, Sergt. ork, who by reason of his Congressional Medal is entitled to the salutes of all omcers, was escorted from tile ship to the dock, where )r. J. .1. Kinf, President of the Tennessee So ciety; M. A. Kellogg, Chairman of the York Welcoinhlg lomm'ittee; J. G. Lavender, and a score of other mem hers of the soelety extended to him a wel(comoe. "We have obtained a fve-day fur lough for you, and you are to be our auest ,"- )I. 1(inf said, while York's comrades in the 328th Infantry gave im11 a series of cheers. York, blushig intil his face was al most as red as hiis hair, tried to duck away but foiunld It iimpossible to break throuigh the crowd which su rrotunded hii. Ile admitted that. at one time, he had beeI the champion wild turkey hAooteir of Iis cout ity, blt was modest abotit his more recent achilevemen ts. Only by wrsistent I (-*stilotting (ould lie he 1idiced to talk. lie deniled he was a coniseentiois objector whei, as Seconid elder of the Cuiiirch of Christ anl Ciristian rinion, lie had been drafted into the army. "I d(id'I't know why I had been jeiked from my home and put into a uniform," he said. "If you go into a thing, you ought to know what it Is all about. When they took me to Camp Uitonu and i told me I wv'as going to fight this mtan Kaiser, it didn't. mean any thing to me at all, "One day I was taken to headqunar ltrs andl an officer told me the pastot of mty (chur ch in Pall Mall, Trenn., hiad written, asking for' my release becaus( I was a conscientious objector. I wa. asked if I objected to fightinog. I an s were tii No, that's w hat i 'mi liere for itut I wish you would tell ine what thli w'at' s about.' blent. C'ol. liuxton am Ca pt. Garnier talked to me andi toldl mn thle things th3 Glermians hadl dlone i< ot her nat ions and to its. Whent t he) finilshted I to1(1 them I couldn't see hiov anybody wvho w"anted pecace in thu world could do anything buit fIght." "hlow (10 you feel in your mindl abou killing twenty-five Germans," lhe wa: asked. "My conscience is clear. The blami is on the Germans for star'ting thi When told that some of his comn r'ades, who returned several days agc hadl crit icisedl the aiward of the (Cot gressional Medal to hun, lie smile andl said: "Sur'e 'nuighi? Well, those mce whose names you mentioned all utad afmdavits with other' soldiers to Litu Col. Iluxton that 'I had done all tht thiings claimed." York said lie expected to enter th mtinistry after taking a rest at lt htome. "I feel a heap stronger' spiri nally, for' it wias Impossible for a ma toi Zo thruough what we did( wIthout thi help of God," lie said. "I feel it wa throught I him that I accomtplislhe wvhat I did." "They are getting up a big dinner for you," -he was told. "Well, a good winner like the kind they have down my way would go mighty good just this minute," he said. ' I don't see why people make such a fuss over me. I want to go home as soon as I can to see my girl. She hasn't written to me In some time." Officers and men on the Ohioan were unanimous in praise of York. Not once, since he received the highest military honor bestowed by our Gov ernment, 'has he shown any disposition to regard his exploit as Important, they said. Several officers expressed regret that other members of Sergeant York's .patrol squad which surprised the Germans at Hill 223 in the Ar gonne Forest, had not won recognition. The following from the Now York World tells how he did it: Sorgt. Alvin C. York, Company G, 328th 'Tnfantry, of Pall Mall, Tenn., the former conscientious objector, who Is credited with having performed the greatest individual feat of the war in capturing 132 Germans, after killing twenty-flve and cleaning out thirty flve machine gun nests, arrived here yesterday on the transport Ohioan. A delegation of the Tennessee Society of New York, which has planned five days of celebration for him, received him at Iloboken pier. The six-footer was easily recog nized as the vessel came to her pier. Photographers and re)oiteIs rushed to him. lie stayed them n.off while he readl messages from tihe home folk and a wire from the pastor of the Clii11rh of Christ and ('I ristlan Union, of which York is second elder, warning him against signing con tracts for vaudeville or lectures. One message was from his mother and a rnther rfrom his sweetheart, sevelnteen-vear-old Grace Williams, the rettlest girl in all Tennessee, take it frm York, and be says he kilowS what lhe is talking ab ou1t. York wears the D. S. C. and the Croix de Guerre, and has been ree omniendled for' the ('ongressional Medal. "Sure, I killed twenty-five Germans tle day I catiired 132 prisoners," he said, answering a question. "if T hadn't killed them (ici(k I Wouldn't be here." 'i e wax told s')me of his ompany who arrived( here two days ago ac ('used himil of grabbing all the glory and Iiedals of the success of lie at tack ;i wleh thcy took part. "Well, all I van asy is that every man who was withl me swore to an aflidavit telling just whieri'e le was and what happened Ihat day, before I 1ot these medals," lie said. "I sure am" * -utriseld that they are saying such things." In the automobile that took him to the Waldorf-Astoria, where le will sipeinld five (lays' furlough, Sergt. York tal(ed of his exploit. ie drew a map showing the field on Oct. 8, and the formation of his company on 11111 223 at 6 o'clock that morning when orders cameo to capturte a railway twvo kilo metries acr'oss a valley and a stream. I tal f of the men dropped biefor'e thle valley was crossed, lie saidl, and ma cline gun ftre was beating on them fi'om all sides. "We mtadle at detour i across the val-. Iey unt iJ we got b~ack (If a niest otf the enemy, from wichl the crew hadl been plek(1iig off 0our men1 irighit smuarit,' lie wenit (in. ''It is veryv bushy, and( we ,were within 20 yards of the cew befrore we realized it. QO (of ourl meni shot at them. lie surie stairtel sometinug. Theiy fied on us fron e'very dIirection. Ourm boys citherci rat or fell on their stomachs as tic Germans did(. 1 sat i'ighit wvhere I was, andl it seemned as if eveiry gun nei' was a-firing straight at me. All this time, though, I was a-using m3 rifle andl the enemy lhe was a-feelinj the effects of it. "One of our b~oys yelled that It wa: impoi)051ll to get the blest of the situa tion, but I yelledl back, 'shut uip.' knew one Amierican was better thai ten Germans if he kept hIs wvits, turned in time to see a Heine ILieuten Sant, with six 01' evOen men, charginj towai'd me1 with fixed bayonets. The: Swere only twenty yairds firom me whiei I whipped out my automatic and pot a ted thiemi off, one after the othier. a "The Majoi' with the first batel - (of Germans we hiad come aciross, an: a who was lylig on his stomach to avoil e being lilt by hits own gunner's, callei s to me in perfect EnglIsh that if [1 would stop shooting lie would mak thenm all surnrender. so I did. Then called all our boys, and their 'affidav- "We lost six boys, though, and Its show they came, and we herded the three others were badly wounded." Germans in front of us and started toward our lines. I walked among We have recently received a co four German officers and had our l)lcte stock of Chifforobes, Wardrobes, wounded bring up the rear. The Major China Closets, Buffets and Hall Racks. asked imc how many men I had, and S. M. & E. H. WILKIDS & 00. I just told him, 'I had a-plenty.' "We walked into two or three ma- No Worms In a Healthy Child chine gun nests, but each time the All children troubled with worms have an un Major told me if I would not shoot healthy color, which Indicates poor blood, and as a rule, there is more or less stomach disturbance. he would order the crews to surren- GROVE'S TASTELESS chill TONIC give regularly for two or three weeks will enrich the blood, im der, so he blew a whistle, the gunners Prove the digestion, and act as a General Strength fell into line and we had 132 of them eningTonleto thewhole system. Naturewilithen throw off or dispethe worms, and the Child wi be when we got to our lines. in perfect health. Pleasant totake. c per bottle. DR. EARL C. OWENS . Veterinary Surgeon Formerly in Government Service Office-Putnam Drug Store. Laurens, S. C. BIG JUBILEE DAY Anniversary and Home-Coming Celebration CLINTON, S. C. Saturday, June 7th. The Biggest Day in Clinton's History! Thousands Will be Here for the Great Celebration and You and Your Whole Family are Invited and expected!! Big Military Parade, 34-Piece Brass Band and Floats, Addresses,Chautauqua, Barbecue, Reception to Returned Soldiers, Base Ball--Newberry vs Clinton SPEAKER OF THE DAY--PROF. D.W. DANIEL OF CLEMSON COLLEGE Dr. Daniel is one of the most brilliant scholars and interesting speakers in the State and will have a message worth traveling miles to hear. Don't miss him. Good music by a 34-Piece Brass Band from Camp Jackson. EXERCISES BEGIN AT 9.30 WITH BAND CONCERT Concert will be followed by spectacular parade, headed by our returned soldiers in full uniform. Three prizes will be awarded for the three best floats in line. This is to be the biggest parade ever seen in this section---Don't ftil to see it. Clinton Bids You Welcome We extend the glad hand. The gates of our city are thrown open to you. It's to be a big Gala Day. We want your presence at celebration. With our hand goes our heart in a joyous welcome to all. Come--nmake yourself at home. It will be a genuine pleas ure to see you. Renew old acquaintances and help us welcome our returned soldier boys. Don't Ferget the Date, Saturday, June 7th. Begin Planning to Come Come Early--Bring the Whole Family--Come Prepared to Spend the Day Follow the crowds--all roads will lead to Clinton--A big time for everybody. Features to suit all tastes. Come--Fill up with the Jubilee Spirit--"MEET ME IN CLINTON" Something Doing All Day--Saturday, June 7th