The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-11-06
W|SHART THRILLS
LARGE AUDIENCE
CORPORAL IN lOeND CANADIAN
OVERSEAS BATTALION RELATES
EXPERIENCES AT FRONT.
WAS IN SEVEN HELlS
Veteran Of Most Terrific Batties In
Northern Fr" zee Describes Life OF Sol
dier Under d. PreDarine Sammies
for Service A "


djer Under ~ PrcDaring Sanmies
for Service A I'd.
y
No speaker vino %ppcorod before
an Ardmore nud!enc. er brought
more interesting rncssa. an that CIV
en- by Corporal Z. n. art, lo2nd
Canadian Overseas Battal VINO last
night told Of his experience. the fir-
ing line in northOrn Franc. ma no
speaker in Ardmorc was ever dccoruea
such unwaverlny attention nor met Win
such an enthusiastic reception. Many
were of the opinion that the audience
last night was larger than that which
rreeted Speaker Champ Clark and Con-
.rressman Scott Ferris a short time ago.
CORPORAL Wist,art has n message for
every person In the United States. His
personal experiences are replcte with
anecdotes that give more satisfactory
insight to the great struggle In Europe
than have ever been brought 10 the Am
erican people. Speaking so clearly that
eyory person within the walls OF Con
yention Hall could catch every word OF
the message, Corporal Wishart made n
remarkable impression.
In the natty Uniform OF tho Canadian
forces. Corporal Wishart appears man
of about forty. He gleefully told how
ne ynanaaed TO enter the service. Pre
,er.tlrg himself for examination he faced
the searching probe that military exam
ineYs give the applicant for service.
When asked his age. knowing that an
admission OF sixty years would bar him.
tho corporal said to the examiner. What
would you guess it?' and received the
reply, "You look 10 be about 80 or 40.
Quick as flash he said to the surgeon:
You're a good guesser." and was ac-
cepted.
The March 30 the Somme.
In detail the speaker told of the train
ing IN British Columbia, where he en-
listed and his journey overseas. The
short period OF preparation in England
was a revelation to him, he said, and 60
ing on to France he soon found himself
on the firing line. In manner that
impressed the listener with its terrible
ness, he told OF the destruction that
was found on the path of the retreat
ing German forces When the often
sive was begun on the River
Sornme, the i02nd was ordered to march
under its ninety pound service load of
sntrenchirs tools rifle. 14O rounds OF
ammunition. bedding, service kit and
what not. sixiy-t.ro miles In two days,
10 reinforce the British. With proud
voice and gesture the corporal related
The success Of the movement and out
lined. to some extent. the conflict that
followed their arrival.
The destruction of Messines ridge,
which had required more than two
years TO tunnel and sow with tons of
dynamite. proved most interesting
portion of the lecture. He related that
il was found that the hill had been
mined and connected up with electric
wiring that must have been Installed be-
fore the war began on July 81, 1914.
Fritz had prepared trap for us. ex-
pecting us to storm the heights and
blow us to pieces: but we tunneltd be-
meath, removed his electrical coEnec-
tons, installed our own mining and
handed It back 20 Fritz"
"GOing Over the Top"
Corporal Wishart's description Of "go-
ing over the top" The advance of in
fAntry under the rain of shell fire. each
man going forward 120 steps to the
minute and not daring to move faster
or slower because of the terrific down |
pour of shells, was one Of the most |
thrilling descriptions of warfare.
Atruclous acts of the enemy in north |
ern France. the speaker said, instead !
oe a-ousing suspicion of exaggeration. |
should be viewed by the American |
public in the light Of the queen of She !
aa's comment upon Solomon: The half ,
has not been told" He told of find. !
Ing Canadians, who had been taken |
prisoner by the Germans. cruclfied with |
hayonets thrust through each hand.
The treatment of the women and chill
iren OF northern France. hc said, Is not
q tit subject for public discussion.
In closing Corporal Wishart told of
his visits to the various training camps.
Il am a discharged man." he said. 'but
| am still trying to do my bit. We. In
America. must see to IL that clean
american army IL sent overseas: that
our boys do not make tho mistakes that
some of the earlier European contin-
gents have made. I want to blaze the
rail for the American youth: wish 10
.eil him something OF the conditions he
viii find abrpad and prepare him so
ie will avoid the pitfalls and temptations
hat have always been I'm the path Of
he soldier everywhere.
The Coming Paris Reception.
IF the American soldier who goes
overseas Is ns big and as clean as the
,lothes he wears. and know he viii be
4 the mothers. sisters. fathers and
1rothers OF these brave men do their
BART. America will have done her duty.
There VIII be a reception that shall
,e sorry to miss. wish I might be In
line with the forces that carry thef
'tars and stripes through the streets OF
Paris know the touch Of hand. the
Continued on page s.