The courier-index. (Marianna, Ark.) 1917-current, 1917-12-21

war between the United States and
Germany have the people here been
go stirred as they were on-Wednesday
morning when addresses were de-
livered by United States, British and
French army officers in the great
christmas Red Cross drive for ten
million new members. The Red Cross
special, donated by the Missouri Pa
cific railroad, reached here at $40
from Helena. Harry H. Myers of
Little Rock was in charge of the
campaign With him were Gen. r.
p. Davis, u. S. A; Col. Louis Van
schaick, u. S. A.; Lieut.. c. M.
Reeves. u. s. A.; Captain T. w. Raw
cliffe. British Army; and Lieut.. ].
DuSault, French Army.
A big delegation of citizens met
the distinguished visitors at the sta
tion with the Mariana Commercial
Club Band and Immediately upon
their arrival parade was formed.
The line of march went from the
station to the Hotel Mariana, north
to Main street, and east to the Elks
Home where more than thousand
people were in waiting. All the
stores and banks and every other
business institution, with one excep-
ton. closed in order that the en-
ployers and clerks might attend the
meeting. The schools were dismiss
ed for the morning and scores of the
pupils came to hear the Red Cross
speeches.
When the officers entered the.
auditorium a quartette of ladies sang
America. Senator W. l.. Ward open
ed the meeting with an eloquent
short address of welcome. and was
followed by Mr. Myers in his usual
happy vein. Mr.. Myers said he told
the army officers they would get
rousing reception in Mariana, that
this was by long odds the finest
small city in the state, but he said
he had no idea the welcome would
he so generous and enthusiastic He
said this was the first place in the
state where the train had been met
with a band, and the second place
during the tour that the national
HYMN was sung at the meeting. He
briefly outlined the purpose of the
tour, the necessity for increasing the
Red Cross membership and told how
every man, woman, boy and girl had
solemn duty to perform in this
great war He received thunderous
applause when he said he was stand
ing squarely behind the president
and that he would fight any man
who spoke ill of Woodrow Wilson.
He again struck a responsive chord
when he said the man who seeks to
obstruct the government in its war
preparations ought to be backed
against a wall and shot. Mr.. Myers
concluded by introducing Gen. X. r.
Davis, one of the most capable milf
tary leaders in the American army,
who emphasized the fact that there
are two armies in Amorica-one in
the fields and in camps, the other
the civilian army. He impressed the
imperativeness of the duty of civil
ians, that they should obey the
orders of the commander-in-chlef
just as a trained soldier does, and
that the present order was for mo-
bilization of the Red Cross army He
paid high compliment to the draft
ed soldiers and said he had five
thousand men at Camp Pike who
would follow him anywhere at any
time. Col. Van Schaick opened his
address with a soldiers conception
of the Red Cross. and concluded by
relating pathetic experience in his
life, how he was severely wounded In
the Philippines, how the cable car
ried news to his aged parents IN a
New York village that their son mad
been mortally wounded, and how
his life was miraculously saved by
the Red Cross. The picture COL
Schaick drew of his broken hearted
father and mother in their home
when they thought their son had
been killed was so touching that
men and women, boys and girls al
over the big audience made no ef'
fort to suppress their feelings Tears
glistened on every cheek, and the
gallant army officer, looking every
inch fighter concluded his address
with moistened eyes.
Lieut. C. NJ Reeves, former pastor
of the First Methodist church az
Helena, now a regimental chaplain
at Camp Pike, was introduced az
the fighting preacher" Lieut.. Reeves
is a native of Arkansas and he sale
he was proud of the fact. His shor'
address was pithy and pungent ne
said he was a man of peace as lont
as peaceful means brought abou
the desired ends When these means
failed he was ready for fight h'
had been a pacifist. Now he EN-
phasized only the last syllable OF I'M
word He said his highest ambitioi
now was to stand in front OF I'M
Imperial palace in Berlin and preaci
to his regiment, and he expected Z
do this before the close of the war
He exhibited an ear OF corn grow
on farm near Monticello that ha'
perfect red cross of grains sur
rounded by white grains, and sala
looked like nautre herself had enter
ed the campaign and was calling o.
the American people to rally 10 III
Red Cross organization.
Capt T. w. Rawcliffe OF the bri
foh ar,,,xy Uivnp big ONdLlOI