Semi-weekly herald., 1917-04-30
- "a "a "a
AMERICANS FIGHTING IN
TRENCHES ON WEST FRONT
(By f. A. McKenzie)

(Wntten for the United Press)
WITH THE BRITISH ARMIES,
IN THE FIELD, March 30,-- By
Mail--When the Great War began,
there was new American invasion
of Canada men offering their services
to fight Germany Numerous u. S.
army officers resigned their commits
sions and enlisted in the Canadian
contingent as privates. Ranch own
ers and cow punchers, quiet lads from
Maine and adventures from the Tex
an border, engineers galore, school
masters and bankers, sailors and lum-
her jacks, flocked to Toronto, Win
nepeg and Vancouver. At one time
an attempt was made to form a sepa-
rate American legion. Altho the re-
cruits came forward, it was ultimate
ly abandoned. The Americans are
scattered among tie hundreds of Ca
madam battalion. The crack corps
Of Canadian regulars has 250 of them
in its ranks, and wants more.
What has been the record of these
Americans, 1t is found in the rolls OF
honor of the British army. Dozens
have earned commissions; hundreds
have died Fighting. | asked one COM
VI a bdlNullOli
altho it only went to the front last
summer, has already earned great
glory, about his Americans. 1--WE had
scores of them" he replied, ''but you
will not find them here. You will find
their graves on the Somme."
Americans have received at least
four distinguished conduct medals,
still more military crosses and fully
a score of military medals. One
American among the Canadians re-
ceived the CroiX de Guerre. The U.
S. army and navy officers who joined
the Canadians have made record of
their own. Take, for example, Major
Houghton of a machine gun battery.
Houghton was nearly four years in
the u. S. navy, and wears today on
his uniform the ribbons of the West
Indian and San Juan campaigns,
alongside of his recently earned
British military cross. "The United
States navy knew that if it had not
been for Britain, Germany would
have taken sides with Spain in the
Spanish war;" he said, when asked
why he joined. "This was not the on
ly dirty trick Germany tried to play
us. | took the opportunity of paying
off old scores"
Houghton telegraphed to friend
to join him. "Sure, which. side" came
the quick reply. There was no ques-
ton of his side. Being machine gun
expert he was welcomed and given
his commission. He soon came to the
front. He has taken part in all the
big fighting of the past year and
eight months, except when he was re-
covering from wound. The share
the machine gunners take in "A fight
can be judged from their name. the
Suicide Club. He received his mill.
tary Cross at the new year, not for
one especially prominent act, but for
continuous gallantry, initiative and
dash.
Houghton once wrote famous let
ter to friend in Chicago giving his
real opinion of the Hun. 1t WIS the
kind of letter that would scorch the
hide off an alligator His friend pub
lished it, and since then the Major
has received hundreds of letters from
pro-Germans threatening him. 81
know who you are" one angry CORE
spondent wrote. 81 will hunt you
down and kin you when you come
back, if it takes ten years" at looks
as tho I'm safer in the trenches"
ioughton chuckled.
But it was not the angry letter
that led Major Houghton recently to
refuse AN offer of long leave. "l've
been thru the dreary waiting time.
when the Huns were pounding u.s."
he said. "Do you think I'm going to
leave now, when we are just about
To smash the Hun. Never in your
life!'
- IA ~ 10