The Cape weekly tribune. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1914, 1914-09-04
CAPT. GEO. ALT
GOES TO WAR
FOR ENGLAND
Former Cape Girardeau Man
to Join King Georges Army
at the Front
HAD LONG WANTED TO
FIGHT FOR COUNTRY
Tried to Aid England During
BOer Uprising Brother Died
i'm Battle

Capt. George Alt, VINO until TWO
years ago was resident of Cape Cir
ardeau, sailed from New York Tues
day on the steamer Olympic for Eng
land, where he will join the British
army and go Immediately to the
front.
The first news of his plans reached
this city yesterday morning in a let
ter from Capt. Alt to. Mrs. George
Bell, close friend of Capt and Mrs.
Alt. In his communication, he was
uncertain whether he would sail from
New York or go to Canada and report
for duty.
A dispatch to The Tribune from
New York last night stated that he
departed Tuesday morning. Capt. Alt
will enter the army probably as Ma
jor, because Of Britain's dearth of Off
GERS.
Capt. at, who is betwe n as and so
years Of age, came tn the United
States from England twenty-five
years ago, and located in this city a
short time later. He lived here con-
tinuously for % years, moving to
Clopton, Va, two years ago.
Since moving to the Old Dominion,
he has been in charge of large es-
tate, owned by brother of Amelia
Reyves, a noted writer.
The many friends of Capt. Alt will
be little surprised by the announce
ment of his departure for Europe. He
has always been military enthusiast,
and often expressed the hope that he
would die on the hattlefield
"His desire to fight for'his country
was almost uncanny," said Sam Sher-
man, an old time friend of Capt. Alt,
yesterday. "He was always willing
to talk of military life and showed an
extreme fondness for those who were
at all interested in the life of a SOL
der"
"He was always a splendid gentle
man. don't believe there was man
living in Cape Girardeau who was as
popular as Capt. Alt during his long
residence here. l am not surprised to
know that he is on his way to Europe,
but am sorry he has gone. sincere
ly hope that when the war it over,
Capt Alt will return safe and sound"
In his letter to Mrs. Bell, Capt.
Alt asked to be remembered to NJ. J.
Koeck Capt. Alt and Mr. koeck were
close friends and the fact that both
of them had served in the army tend
ed to bind them closer together.
Mr.. Koeck was lieutenant in the
German army, and Capt. Alt served
as an officer in the Territorialists,
which are in England what the Ma
tional Guards are in the United
States.
81 am not in the least surprised to
learn that Capt. Alt has gone to Join
his army" said Mr.. Koeck last night.
"He often told me that if his country
ever went to war, he would apply for
service. During the Boer uprising, he
tried to Join the British army, but his
father, who was quite influential in
England, induced the military officials
to reject Capt Alt.
"He had a brother who was in
Africa during that war and he was
killed in the battle Of Spivonskop.
Capt. Alt often expressed regret that
he had been unable to fight for Eng
land against the Beers.
81 always considered him one of the
best posted men on military affairs
that ! had ever met. He not only
studied the conditions in Great Britain
but he was Just as familiar with the
military workings of every other ma
ton.
"He is truly a splendid man, and
hope no harm will come to him. He
is unafraid and so enthusiastic that he
is likely to sacrifice himself, but the
least his friends here can hope is that
he will come back unharmed.
"He will enter the army as a Cap
tain at least. He still retains that
commission, even though he has been
away from his country for years. 1t
is quite likely that he may start with
the rank of major"
Capt Alt married Miss Virgie Ca
hoon, daughter of Hon. b. b. CahoOn
of Fredericktown about twenty years
ago. She was one of the best known
matrons in Southeast Missouri, and
was especially noted as a hostess.
The AT home, during their resi-
dence in the Cape, was The gathering
nlacc of Young and old alike, and num-
hor'oss social functions took place in
their howe, which was almost "a man