The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1916-08-04
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LIKE Dime NOVEL
GERMAN LEADS EXCITING LIFE IN
TWO WARs-FRlTz ToMEi sERN-
v. S. AND HIS NATIVE LAND


IThe Dayton JournaLl
one Fritz Tomel, native born German
and natulalized American. now an in
mate OF the National soldiers home. has
had more than his natural allotment Of
adventure an deXcitement.
Here Is brief history OF a life not
yet 30 years longi Soldier in the Span
ish-Amereau war, civil engineer in the
PHILIPPINES and Iberia, Africa, member OF
the second army corps, Germany wound
ed in left arm in battle Of the Meuse, sent
TO join Won Hindenberg's troops in Rus
sian Poland ON recovery. detailed as a
quaItermaster on ammunition boat bound
for German East Africa, right arm cut
on and leg injured by shell which sunk
his boat blown into the sea, rescued and
captured at the same time by English
man-o-war returned TO America.
STORY IF LIFE
Yet TO hear Fritz Tonne tell about his
experiences, you would think such adyeu-
lures commonplace Here Is part OF ms
own story Of his life:
u went 70 the Spanish American war
as member OF the Frst territorial
troops from New Mexico. After the war
was over, 1 got my discharge ana Went
10 the PHILIPPINES where was engaged IN
civil engineering work. Later l went 70
Liberia 10 do the same work. was there
when Roosevelt sent two American war
ship To protect Liberian interests from
British uggTandizement. / used TO take
the officers elephant hunting,
Then l returned TO the old country. /
was there when the war broke out. ny
brothers and cousins all belonged 70 an Z
Ierent regiments and 1 went with them TO
the war. 1 was what you would can d
volunteer, in this country. / was attach
ed to the engineers corps.
HARD FIGHTING
some OF the worst lighting / ever saw
was in the several days lighting near the
Mouse. There / saw ll,OO0 men, members
OF the llaiser's guard, all OF them over
six feet tail lying dead on the battle
field. The only way armies can advance
in modern warfare is by having so many
men killed in the front ranks that the
rear ranks can creep up on the enemy
while the first line men are Ding slaush-
tered. European helds are pled Win
dead and wounded men aiIer every
Il was standing a little back Of our
firing line, watching the advance OF the
German infantry, which was driving BACK
the French and British troops. My lett
arm was resting on the hood OF my auto
mobile. a dunn dunn billet caught me
back of the wrist, went through my arm
rectly behind me.
"Of course, / was sent back TO Ger
many. When / recovered my army corps
had been transferred TO Russian Poland
to stem the Russian attack there. join
ed them. There l saw thousands ana
thousands of Russians fall. When the
CZar's troops charge, there is no turning
back for them, because the Russian ar
tilleTy shells heavily the ground between
them and their trenches. Death Is lor
them no matter which way they turn.
"a / LTOODS,
was detailed as quartermaster TO take
the Batavia to German East AFRICA win
ammunition. British cruisers sighted US
off Porto EiCa, where we had gone 70
coal. and bombarded us Immediately. one
she'll burst right over me, the man at my
side fell both legs cut of
BLOWN INTO SEA
1T all happened so quickly that I stoop-
ed to pick him up beior l realZed that my
own arm had been cut off a little below
the elbow and my right leg lacerated py
a shell. Then the boilers let 60 gaa ana = !
catch hold of a raft and keep alloaJ ull
the English picked me up. Only eight OF
the crew of the boat were saved,
FINALLY ! established my identity as an
American citizen and was turned over 70
"a scandinavian vessel sailing into Porto
Rica. once there l got to America.
why did you come here!' ne was ask
His answer was pitiful "Well, no one
wanted me. with one arm gone ana the
other disabled" and he smiled in frank |
German manner.
"Well, couldn't you, disabled as you
We're, have gotten through the British
lines back to Germany
German patriotism sparlled in his eyes |
as he answered THE British know us to |
well. Why, there are thousands of things
/ could do if l got back to Germany! |
Why. there are lots of officers in the Ger |
man army doing field service who have |
only one arm. l saw one officer in the 4
field one horseback, who had both legs
cut off near the knee. But he wasn't |
out of commission, yet"
All of Tomei's relatives are in Germany !
and he expects TO stay at the National |
soldiers home until he can get tinan- |
cial a ffGm them lhcn LC Sill re- |
turn to Germany.