New Britain herald., 1917-07-02
DESTROY HEL|G0LAND AND BEAT GERMANY
Navy Needed to Whip Enemy,
 Speakers at Rally State

Expressing the opinion that today the Allies are, man for man, the equal of the Germans and that their ammunition and arms are superior, Captain J. G. Ross of the 18th Bat talion of Royal Highlanders of Cana da, last night addressed a large pa- triotic rally at the Methodist church. After recounting personal experi- ences on the European battlef1elds and telling of 8 number of German atro- cities of which he knew, Captain Ross said that he thought there will be a great deal more fighting before the war ends and until the United States bring over upwards of two and a half millions of mon he did not think any conclusive offensive would be started. Captain Ross also expressed the opin- ion that the only sure way to smash the Germans would be to crush their naval base at Helgoland and the Kiel canal. This, it was brought out, might entail the loss of from one- half to one-third of the Allied navy, but once accomplished the Germans would be helpless.
 Clergymen Address Rally.
 r The church was thronged with peo- pie and the auditorium was profusely decorated with the National colors French and English flags also were displayed. Preceding the address~ by Captain Ross, Rev. Dr. George. w. c. Hill of the South church spoke as did Rev. Henry w. Maier of the Center church. Dr. Hills talk was aimed principally at the mothers and sisters of New Britain youth. He told them clearly what their duty is at this time and urged>them to be ready to make all sacrifices for their country Rev. MT. Maier's talk was to the fathers and brothers and possible army re- cruits. He told them where their path of duty leads and urged them to hesi- tate no, longer before making the right decision.
 Captain Ross was one of the first men in the Canadian overseas expe- ditionary forces sent into Belgium. He took part in the heavy fighting in Bel gium and was so badly wounded at the battle of Flanders that he was re- lieved from further duty. Throughout his entire talk Captain Ross never once referred to the enemy as Ger mans. Huns was the word he used. His story of the war was plainly and simply told. Telling of life on the battlefront, Captain Ross said that each soldier is only a small unit in the great army and consequently Is called upon but seldom. But when he Is called upon to go onto the firing line he has to go in for all he is worth, he said. The excellents work that is being done by the Hed Cross was praised by the Canadian speaker, who has had ample opportunity to observe it,apaf fticularly at FlaAAers and in the fighting. around the old Belgian city of Ypres. -
 Accounting the almost barbaric of many of the Germans, lEaptain Ross told of one instance Which he saw himself. A German sol- dier had been captured, slightly wounded, during an Allied offensive and was taken to the rear by Red Cross, nurses. While the prisoners wounds were*of minor nature, they were given prompt attention and a colonel, standing nearby, stepped over and assisted in the dressing of the w6und. AS the colonel bent over the prisoner, Captain Ross asserted, the tGerman suddenly reached forth his Hand, whipped out the colonel's own Automatic revolver and shot him dead. Another Incident showing the peculiar characteristics of the German told by Captain Ross was concerning g. German commissioned officer who had been taken prisoner, slightly wounded, and brought to the same hospital at which Captain Ross was being treated himself. Disdainfully smoking cigarette, the German off, cer cursed the English roundly and complained because he, commfs- stoned officer in the Kaiser's army. had been compelled to ride in. from the front in an ambulance which also conveyed privates from the ranks.
 To a question from Rev. W. F. Cook as to, how long he thought the war would last Captain Ross said he could not tell but there will be lot of it yet.'' Arthur Shipman of the defense council, and Captain Ross lboth agreed, in an informal talk la er, that the one great way to crush
 Germans is to have the navy sail
 Helgoland and the K1el canal
 rush tho Imperial navy and de-
 he submarine base. The speak
 that naxal men agree with
 eme - WY thAt while 1t