River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-11-19

calls for personal sacrifice more bit
ter than the chances of battle. If we
yield we shall yield as men Of honor
and not break our word when given.
Gentlemen. what is your answer? Do
we accept or risk all on one cast at
once?'
Hodges opened his lips. For my
self. as | said. l had rather die he
said thickly. For the sake of the
helpless we must yield
Raymond bowed his head. $50 be
it. God grant we be understood by
some when they say later that we
were afraid He called his orderly
and spoke to him briefly.
A few minutes later a white flag
was raised by an American cruiser.
Without a word Raymond bowed his
head and walked back to his quarters.
He sat down and drew sheet of
paper before him, took up pen and
began to write: Il have surrendered
this position in the name of humanity
to avert from helpless thousands the
death which threatened. Let none
judge of my actions till such time as
he face a similar situation. In the
eventual victory of this nation l have
no doubt. To die for ones country is
sweet. prefer that death | sought to
turn from Others"
Five minutes later his orderly. white
faced and gasping. rushed from the
door of RaymOnd's quarters and cried
to the first man he met that the COM
mandant had shot himself and was
lying with bullet through his brain.
And while the aeroplanes from the
Preside patrolled the navy yard with
watchful eyes Colonel Gotz sat in his
and scrolls on bit of paper. He was
thinking, and his thoughts were un-
pleasant.
A scowl marked his always satur-
nine face.
He stepped to the door and called to
a marine Him he directed to request
the members of the aviation squad to
report at once.
His men came to him-five slender,
wire tense figures in the uniform of
the service, and with them five Others
their assistants.
Were useless here" he went on
when they were seated, land we might
be of no small service elsewhere. Just
where we can go safely / don't know,
but believe that Sacramento is prob
ably still in our hands. The percentage
Of Japs in that district is smaller
mostly few hop pickers. do not be-
Iieve that they could put anything like
this over up there.
Tonight, therefore, l am going to
leave here in the largest plane and try
to reach that city. We can get up
under cover of the dark. and if we can
slip by those fellows we'll have a
straight course. If / get through l will
communicate with Washington at once
and report what has happened here.
In the light of what has occurred this
seems the only course open.'
Night came down with a cloudy sky.
in which a moon played hide and seek.
Gotz rose, donned puttees and leath-
giles in his pocket. He gave the word
to wheel out the great biplane which
he intended to use. Little Farrell came
to the colonel's side and reported all
as ready. The colonel nodded and
spoke to Larkin. the slender young
lieutenant who had brought the word
Of the Japanese planes that morning
when they chased Farrell back.
"Larkin, | am leaving you in com
mand of the three planes which will
go with the marines and sailors col
umns. After Farrell and | go up give
us thirty minutes, and then send the
other after us. He had better go to
the north, | think, rather than follow
our course and swing around later to-
ward Sacramento when he's sure he is
clear. Farrell and / will try and handle
these fellows above us if they spot u.s."
He turned. walked to the plane and
climbed to the pilots seat.
Farrell seized the blades of ash and
twisted them with quick wrenching
motion, leaping back. A swirling cloud
of dust grew behind the machine. Far
rel ran around and leaped quickly to
his place behind Gotz. He wore a
light rifle of high power strapped to
his back.
''All ready. STRIP he cried
"Let gor' Gotz threw his levers.
The biplane darted forward from the
restraining hands. 1t was gone.
The colonel had chosen a moment for
his start when the moon was complete
ly yelled.
shadow followed, dimly perceived
by Farrell, who crouched in his seat,
watching and reporting. Like great
bat it wheeled and came on in pur-
suit of the biplane. He turned his
head and cried the news to his colo
mel, turned back and resumed his
watch. The moon came clear of its
cloud and showed the spidery outline
of the pursuing plane. it's vanes sill
vered into things of gauze in the light,
ifs pilot q dark blot in it's front. like