The Washington herald., 1914-11-30
Miss Janet Richards Talks on
Current Events to Large Audience

ards gave another rapid review Of the
causes and conditions Of the European
war to date, Indicating by the use Of her
pointer all the ten countries now In
volved in the conflict and their goo-
graphical position on the maps Of both
Europe and Asia In closing, the speaker
read extracts from q pathetic personal
letter from q young German subiieutsn-
ant in the trenches, written IN pencil, TO
In October.
The writer, youth under twenty-four,
had spent several years In this country,
and as Miss Richards remarked before
reading the letter, had picked mp Q bit
OF American slang which was quantity
mingled with his German idIom." The
letter ran In part:
Saw Mueh Disaster.
'T guess II Is Of no use to write you
all about these little towns have passed
through since I have been with my regi-
ment, but saw very much disaster.
THE last eight days We were fighting
all the time and tell you, II somebody
would have told me I could see with q
cold heart all these dead and wounded
men, 1 would have said I do not think
So
II never could bear IL IL a man got
badly hurt, and nearly went always un-
conscious. Now / am with my soldiers
in a line. and the bullets are flying back
and forth, and in the evening we all
thank our God that we are still safe
but regret that SO many men must die
for such a great thing. They are all
heroes.
1T gives a man an unknown energy
IL he gets his order to advance. In the
biggest bullet fight i never think that
I can lose my life. Only that we must
advance, in order to defeat the enemy.
And l never think shall have to be
one Of the unhappy ones who will have
to die for the fatheriand. II Is q great
wonder when you stop to think. I run
about 100 m. against the enemy and
a hundred bullets play round me and
not one touches me! God is helping me
victorious. We are going after the
French in great shape.
The Russians we drove out Of our
country yesterday. They are defeated
in a badly way We have had to march
fifty or sixty kiln. every day, but there
Is a fever in US that We cannot come
quick enough after them.
BIames Russian CEar.
Since 1 left America / hope the pub
lie know the truth about the situation.
II q UO" Nnt EuSSAdu Eli
peror brought this horrible fight.
England. France and Russia have
been preparing for this var since last
March. They thought they would over
power US because they arr Jealous OF our
CGermany'0 success. This war will show
| what kind of fellows We are. We are
fighting for a straight thing and for this
reason We will be victorious. We will
beat.
God will help US! - OF course It
is a hard thing for so many women to
lose their husbands and sons and broth
ers. but they take it in a good way and
are proud that they could die for the
fstherland.
My three brothers are fghting-I have
not heard from them for twelve days.
Excuse my writing with a pencil un-
der the circumstances? Hay is our bed
but We sleep nicely. Let US hope, so God
wills, We may meet again safe and
happy"
Richards in closing. 'If reports be cor
rect he has probably. ere this. passed on
with many another dear mothers SON to
join the great majority"
Before dismissing the audience the
speaker reported upon the large and en-
thusiastic meeting held at the residence
OF Mrs. Christian D. Hemmick, 1876
nHOue 1sidHu avenue on tne previous
Thursday. when initial steps were taken
to organize a nationwide movement for
laying the foundations of what it Is hoped
will prove TO be latter the close of the
war; a constructive and enduring peace
At her talk this morning, Miss
Richards will take up the discussion of
other vital questions of the hour, con-
Guiding by special request with the story
OF the last lap of her journey across
Europe to Liverpool and her ship home
ward bound"