Newspaper Page Text
The Wise Advertiser
Never \\ hispers—
He Shouts.
Volume 10 Number 5
.
PRISONERS ARE
IAGLY TREATED
ritish Corporal Tells of 14
Months’ Experience in
Germany.
SHOT for picking up food
Sentries Fire on Starved Prisoner*
Who Pick Up Food Thrown to
Them by French Women—
Forced to Work.
London.— A corporal in the Lincoln¬
shire*, who was taken prisoner in
-\pril, 1917, and who succeeded in es¬
capin’? from the Huns’ clutches interesting in
June, 1918, has given a very
account of his experiences, lie is a
man of the highest character and his
story Is, therefore, worthy of credence.
He was captured April 11, 1917, near
Algicourt, and was at first taken to
the German headquarters, behind tlie
line. He was questioned, but refused
to give any Information. He was
then sent to a working party behind
the German lines at a place called
Maretz, and was employed on a ration
dump. The party was about 1C kilo¬
meters from the line; they could see
the British shells bursting a mile or so
away, but the corporal never heard of
any casualties among the prisoners.
There was a commandant in charge
of the camp, and the second in com¬
mand was a feldwebel. Both these of¬
ficials treated the prisoners very badly.
The first day that they were in camp
the commandant came, and the feld¬
webel shouted “Achtung.” The men
did not know what he meant and did
not therefore spring to attention, as
they should have done. The feld¬
webel thereupon struck them with a
whip. The sentries also treated them
very badly.
Picks Up Food—Shot.
When the prisoners were returning
from work the Frenchwomen used to
throw them food and other things. The
men knew that it was forbidden to
step out of the ranks to p'ck these
things up, but they were so hungry
that they often broke the rules. The
corporal saw a man shot by a sentry
for stepping out of the ranks In this
way. He was killed Instantly, the bul¬
let passed right through him, went
through another man’s pocket and
blew the finger, or two fingers, off a
third man. There were two other men
•shot In the same way; the corporal
saw them both brought into the lager.
The prisoners got no food from Eng¬
land while they were on this working
party, and they were not allowed to
write home.
Toward the end of May, 1917, the
corporal was transferred to Minster
11, in Germany, and a week later he
was sent oh to Minden, where he re¬
mained six weeks.
The treatment at Minden was not
bud, and in this respect it differed
from the food, which was very bad
indeed. A five-pound loaf of black
bread was divided among 13 men; this
was their bread ration for the day.
Ihey had coffee in the morning and a
thin, watery kind of soup at noon.
t>nce a week they had fish and a small
quantity of potatoes. At G:30 in the
evening they had what they called
“sandstone.” It was just like eating
sand. Sometimes they had ground
jnaize, hud coffee. and one night out of three they
Works in Munition Factory.
From Minden the corporal went on
a working party to Haftiugton, where
>e remained three weeks. He was
working in a munition factory, unload-'
dou [md coal, but the prisoners
hud nothing to do with the machinery,
there were ten Englishmen In the
working party, 44 Russians and four
Frenchmen. The treatment was not
soud, and the work was very hard.
At the beginning the guards over
he prisoners were soldiers, but during
ne last four months that the corporal
as in Germany they had been
L by elllerly rc
id , the civilians. The guards
prisoners that there had been
Par “\ Berlm just af ter Christmas,
I, am several people had been shot.
had Sakl that 1111 the b est men
j thiniTT "f f, t n<1 u ‘ klnd that it °f was shameful to
tt>r men that they
Loral L l f US a ab'eady Particularly been intelligent said, this cor
T' ( man.
L reiUly to admit Food treat
u ' n f ’ , ° od treatment has been
V(ln . . aDd he
[the has contented
cava ,! glving the bare facts of
se without comment.
Neatest opportunity
WOMEN EVER HAD
t0 t,le women of
lire in ° p0!f0rm t,le greatest serv
J ti ' e "inning of the
Ka f I-, . war vouch
I the U, ' y women in the history of
Uvurriorf ° f U,e world—to feed tin
th ; r 0 , U ‘ e " ar 8Uff erers. By
enrt of Peace, the practice of slm
U b| e i, IU y virtnes
nh ti' 0 womanhood of
■ ,
Protbund!,! rvedoi ° stru n St ' ggle l ' Ved humanity for in its
; f peace and
Sljfi Cmnngton
COVINGTON, GEORGIA, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1918.
MONEY BURNS POCKETS
Yankee Soldiers Astound French
by Their Spending.
r
Buy Everything in Sight and Overlook
Nothing—Souvenirs Are Sent
Home.
Paris.—No wonder that American
soldiers astound the French with their
money-spending proclivity. Shops
stocked sufficiently in the ordinary
course of events to last six months
are frequently cleaned out In a day
when the Yankees arrive. The Amer¬
icans just simply buy everything in
sight.
A bunch of troops just arriving from
the long journey overseas, or perhaps
having been shunted around a month
or so after landing, reach a permanent
camp and are paid off. Frequently
they haven’t had a pay day in two or
three months.
Then with their pockets full of the
strange francs they go to town and
make up for lost time. They overlook
nothing from a Swiss watch to an arm¬
ful of souvenirs to send back home.
But with all the spending and buy¬
ing it is remarkable that there are so
lew cases of drunkenness. The wine
shops are open to tlie Americans at
certain hours, generally from 5:30 to
8:30 p. iu. But the average American
does not like French wine, at least
not at first. French beer has a flat,
weak taste which does not appeal at
all to Americans. There is no whis¬
ky, and even were it available the
Americans would not tie allowed to
purchase it. Cognac is the nearest ap¬
proach to whisky and this must be
obtained by stealth—sort of a boot¬
legging process.
Many thousands of American sol¬
diers, disgusted with the light wines
and beers which only* they may pro¬
cure, have foresworn booze entirely,
gone on the “water wagon” for keeps
and will be in good trim for the na¬
tion-wide prohibition they will face
when they return to the United States.
WHEN ALSACE COMES BACK
First Poilu to Plant Tricolor on Walls
of Strassburg Gets Bequest
of $641.43.
Philadelphia.—The minister of war
In Paris lias $641.43 from the estate
of a patriotic Philadelphia Frenchman,
who died 20 years ago, to be paid to
the first French soldier Who plants the
French flag on the walls of the city of
Strassburg, Alsace.
This bequest was made by Jacques
C. Asclibacher, who was a contractor
and also secretary of the French As¬
sociation of Philadelphia. He died in
July, 1898, and in his will now on file
at the city hall, he directed that $200
be given to the first French soldier
who carried out the feat in the next
war.
The money was turned over the
French minister of war and now
amounts to over 8600 by reason of the
accumulative Interest.
“DISMISSED,” SAID COURT
Disorderly, Tattered and Torn, He
Brought Out a Roll and Bought
$200 of Liberty Bonds.
Chicago.—“Want to go to the Bride¬
well or work?” Judge LaBuy in a po¬
lice court asked Tom McIntosh,
charged with disorderly conduct—Tom,
who was “tattered and torn and all
forlorn.”
“I,” said McIntosh, “am a workman.
Put me down for $200 in Liberty
bonds.”
And out of his sock he took a draft
for $357.
The judge signed him up on his
bonds and then—
“Dismissed.”
Used Liquor as Sait.
The burgomaster of Arnsberg, West¬
phalia, Germany, having failed iu all
endeavors to induce tlie farmers of the
neighborhood to bring in supplies,
placed this advertisement in the local
newspaper “This municipality will buy
all agricultural products for cash at
government prices. Every person who
delivers 100 pounds of bread grain or
300 pounds of potatoes will receive a
ticket entitling him to buy a bottle of
brandy or rum at reduced prices from
the municipal cellars.” Within twenty
four hours the cellars wore empty and
the residents of Arnsberg enjoyed the
first square meal they had had for
weeks.
When to Cut Walnut Trees.
Warning as to tlie proper time to
cut walnut trees is sounded in a let¬
ter to the American Forestry Associa¬
tion from Dr. Robert T. Morris, an
authority of New York city. The black
walnut is destined to play a big part
in the war and President Wilson has j
called upon the Boy Scouts to mark i
the trees. “From September to April j
is the time to cut these trees, says
Doctor Morris, in his letter to, the as¬
sociation. “If the trees are out at
other times the roots will die. !
Outlook Of Southern The Farmer
CHARLES A. WHITTLE,
Soil improvement Committee, Atlanta, Ga.
Prosperity glows on the horizon of the Southern farmer’s future—If
he will raife big crops.
And thfe cry of a needy world rises, urging the Southern fanner to
grow big crops of cotton and food. His obligation is to respond. He must
fight on, for peace brings no armistice for the farm.
Cotton Is the hope of the ragged world. War-torn countries are look¬
ing to the fields of the South for help. It will not be in vain. The
Southern fanner will meet his responsibility.
Prices at which cotton crop will be sold will be such as will pay
the farmer well, for the fact will remain that the world must have the
cotton.
Tlie food most needed in Europe is fat. Cotton seed, peanuts and
eoy beans of the South will find ready market for the oil or fats that they
contain. Cattle, hogs and dairy products will continue to bring good prices
because of the heavy live stock losses of Europe.
The Southern farmer should plan with an expectation of improvimg
his labor condition, with the return of troops and the shutting down of
ammunition factories.
immediate Preparation.
Preparation for spring planting should go rapidly ahead. Seed, fertil¬
izers and other farm supplies should be bought without delay. Materials
on which the government has fixed prices will continue to be stabelized
until they are consumed, so that there are no prospects of lower prices
before spring planting.
Delay means to face shipping difficulties. The railroads are going to
be overburdened with traffic for some time to come. They should be given
abundant time.
Deep Stuff” What Is
Doughboys Read Over There
Paris.—(By Mail.)—Not “best sellers” but serious works is the liter¬
ary refreshment demanded by the American soldiers in ! ranee, now
that the war la over, and our boys are waiting to get back home. 1 he
soldier ia a serious-minded person, with decided intellectual views, ail
reports to the contrary. He wants to make his way in the woild.
The American Y. M. C. A. in France came to this conclusion when a
group of 300 doughboys, when asked what they would like as light read¬
ing matter, spoke up with one voice, and demanded books on applied Math¬
ematics. They were so much in earnest about it that the 7. M. t A.
decided to etart its flret class in practical arts in France. B. H. Morri¬
son, formerly an instructor in the States Teachers’ College of Greeley,
Colorado, waa sent for to take charge of the class.
The first real impediment to intellectual research among the buck pri¬
vate# presented itself when it was discovered that there wasn’t so far as
any could find out, an American book on applied mathematics in ail
France. There were the French ones, of course, but none should be ex¬
pected to study French and Mathematics simultaneously. It really isn't
well to mix drinks from the fort of learning in that way. Mr. Morri¬
son, however, was undaunted by the absence of textbooks and voi in
teered to teach without them until the ones which were wired for mi
mediately could arrive from the good old U. S. A.
Y. M. C. A. Conducts
Classes While Men
Wait For Discharge
Atlanta, Gh., Dec.—While the
soldiers and sailors in the various
camps of the country are waiting to
be demobilized, they will be given an
opportunity to take advantage of en
larged educational programs w hich
will be operated in all camps by the
v m r A
In the Southeastern department,
which includes the states of
Alabama. Florida, Mississippi, Louisi
ana, Tennessee, North Carolina and
South Carolina, Prof. A. M Souby, de
partment educational director, has ad
vised a plan to better prepare the
diers for civilian life when they are
discharged from the service.
Under Mr. -JSS* Soubys r nen- program oi of
—
classes in various subjects w r ill be in¬
creased and speakers will be exchang¬
ed by the different cajcps. ail ot them
ff. a
S .bscribe for The Covington News. $1.50
a year in advance.
discussing questions of importance
the men attending the classes,
; Special historical topics will be
looted for discussion, and
will be borrowed from schools ----
colleges to speak in the camps and
cantonments.
■ It is also planned by the Y M C
A. to keep in touch with the men
even after they leave the sen-ice. This
will be done by correspondence, and
will be undertaken in the cases of
illiterates and naturalized Americans
unfamiliar with the English language,
The city \. M. C. A. secretaries w .11
aid in this work
Since the signing of the armistice
the duties of the 5^ camp soldiers are
have more time at their disposal. This
time will be used to advantage by at
tending the new Y. M. C. A. classes.
YANKS NOT LENIENT
Show No Squeamishness in Deal¬
ing With Hun.
American Boy Avenges Death of Hia
Chum Even to Hun Monu¬
ment.
London.—If anyone believes the
Yanks are inclined to be lenient to¬
ward the Huns he needs only to take
a journey among the hospitals and get
the spirit of the boys who have been
through the mill. They tell some pret¬
ty characteristic stories in the hos¬
pitals.
One of the officers, when asked
what was the general feeling of the
boys, said:
“All you have to do is to ask one
or two of them to find out.”
This story is told by one of the offi¬
cers and vouched for:
“We were going over. The first
blast of the machine guns got us pret¬
ty well. Then ‘Jerry’ started over.
We met. In the move forward one of
our boys was shot by a German rifle¬
man. The boy’s chum, standing close
to me, saw the German who shot the
first boy. We then rushed. The Ger¬
mans began dropping to their knees
and calling 'Kamerad.’ This boy,
with his chum lying on the ground,
dashed up to the German who had
shot him. The Hun cried for mercy.
He was on his knees.
“ ‘Kamerad!’ repeated the Yank.
‘Yqp get no mercy from me. I’m go¬
ing to run this bayonet through you,
turn you on your hack, and then put
your helmet on the gun-stock. That’s
tlie only monument you’ll get, you
dirty-Hun.’
“The German pleaded for mercy
again, while the boy held the bayonet
against him.
“Then there was a second's suspense.
Then came the grunt as the bayonet
wont home and the Hun was bowled
over on his back. Then the boy said
to me:
“ 'Lieutenant, if I lose this gun will
it be charged up against me?”
. “ ‘Not a-bit, go ahead,’ told
him.
“Then he shoved the gun until the
muzzle went through the German’s
chest, the bayonet deep Into the
ground. Then he calmly took the
Hun’s helmet, placed it on top of the
gun and said:
“ ‘That's your monument, you -
Hun!’ ”
NO UPPISHNESS ABOUT SIMS
American Admiral Acts as Guide tc
Naval Wireless Operator
in London.
London.—There’s nothing uppish
about Admiral Sims. Anybody who
lms joined the navy for the purpose
of helping lick the child killers looks
good to Sims.
Bill Swinger, former telegraph op
ei'.ntor, now a first-class wireless op¬
erator, was plodding wearily about the
Grosvenor Garden district trying to
find some one who could talk United
States and direct him to navy head¬
quarters, when a big man with a red¬
dish beard stopped him.
He talked United States and soon
found that Bill was hopelessly lost. It
Isn’t everybody who is directed about
London by an admiral, commander in
chief of Uncle Sam’s warring navy,
and Bill is rather pleased to have the
honor.
Sims got Swinger’s naval history in
a few questions, then directed him to
his “home port,” which happened to
be 28 Grosvenor Gardens.
Not Necessary. ,,
At a certain military tribunal
chairman said to a conscientious ob¬
jector :
“Suppose the Germans were to
come and attack your wife, would you
not fight?”
“No sir, I would not.”
“What? You would not protect your
wife?”
“Look ’ere, guv’nor,’’ said the man
pathetically, “do you know my wife?”
—Pearson’s Weekly.
Alarmed the Judge.
Three hundred love letters were ex
hibited in a breach of promise case
recent y uari n u *
had written more than three hundred
letters, all very long and full of affec
.
j tion. ^ When hen counsel counsel said sat ... he e wem would
j what re ® dth alarmed, « ,ette rS . inquired «^iraiv Surely ^u vou
j are not going to read three hundred
j of them? So counsel ^ id he
read only a sel ection.
ean U *
; A baking company , „nv m in Cainesvtlle Gainesville,
Fla., has pnt bread on the market tvhlch
i left after the
fg made from peanut cake
extraction of the oil.
—
Others Do Not Count.
“Why do thpy call Germany the fa¬
therland ?”
“Out of compliment to me and my
brothers.” replied the crown prince.
1*«’t the kaiser our father I”
An Ad in The News Is
Worth Four On
The Fence.
$1.50 Per Tear in Advance
i YANKEES ARE USING
GIANT NAVAL GUNS
Hun 70-Mile Rifle Is the Only
Bigger Weapon at
Front.
Announcement from France that
American 16-inch naval guns, manned
by naval gun crews, have come to tbd
front, disclosed that through efforts of
the ordnance officials of the navy. Gen*
eral Pershing’s forces are now?
equipped with the most powerful andt
hardest-hitting weapons yet used ia
the present war, ashore or afloat, so
far as is known.
The 16-inch rifles are similar to
those designed for use aboard the new¬
est American dreadnaughts. They are!
50 caliber, more than 65 feet in length
and weigh approximately 100 tons
without their carriers.
Without question they are the long*
est-range guns in use, except the Ger¬
man super-guns, which are regarded
merely as a mechanical freak.
The projectile weighs close to a ton
and its bursting charge of the most
powerful explosive known is meas¬
ured in hundreds of pounds against
the few pounds in the German super
gun shell. The destructive effect Is
enormous.
Plans for using big rifles for the
army are understood to have been
worked out entirely by naval officers.
The theory that their great weight
would not permit their use, except in
fixed concrete and steel emplacements,
furnished the chief obstacles to bfl
overcome.
These are not the only great naval
guns employed by the American army.
American naval gun crews have played
an important part on several sectors
of the battle front for months, hand¬
ling weapons of 12-inch bore.
The story of their enterprises has
never been made public, however, for
military reasons.
BROTHERS MET ABROAD
Had Been Separated for Years, but
Both Joined the Service.
Separated for five years, Billy and
Herschell Haywood met in Franc* the
other day, according to news received
b.v the father, J. D. Haywood of Sear¬
cy. Ark. Herschell, who was living in
California, enlisted in the navy and
was on board the California when if
was sunk several months ago.
He was picked up by another vessel
and taken to France. Happening to
be in a French port when a transport
arrived with American soldiers, he
went to the wharf in hopes of seeing
some friend from the states.
Billy Haywood had enlisted in the
army and was on the transport. When
the soldiers disembarked, Billy spied
Herschell and the two brothers were
soon together, and are in camps within
a few minutes’ walk of each other.
YANKS IN WRECKED VILLAGE
A detachment of Americans are here
shown on their way through the
French town of Bucquov, which has
suffered some very heavy bombard
wents ^ This French official photo
praph ehows the ruins of the village
Bml the Aiuer j ca n troops passing
through Theras de Calais, on their
way to do their share In the heavy
fighting which the Yanks did In this
sector.
Music for the Fighters,
Walter Damrosch. a member of the
national advisory council of the
Friends of German Democracy and
conductor of the New York Symphony
orchestra, sailed for France recently
to recruit an orchestra of French mu¬
sicians to play in soldiers rest camps.
Mr. Damrosch’s trip is under the aus¬
pices of the Overseas division of the
Y. M. C. A., which will manage the
tour of the orchestra.
_____
