New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1917-07-18
The Open Forum
MOLLISON AS IA SOLDIER
VCOntinued.,

.
Continued.
JUSTICE TO THE BAND BOYS
To the Editor Of the Review:
will now pay attention to Mollison's
treatment Of the Band Boys, especially
after the call of June 10 last year. When
the call came, the local officers were in
daily communication with Mollison at
Faribault.
Capt. Groebner of Company A shared
foresight and judgment in discharging
all the married men he could, and filling
the places with unmarried recruits. The
Machine Gun company was somewhat
depleted, and so it required many men
to get the local organizations to the re-
quired strength, as it needed about $50
men from New Ulm for the three organi-
cations.
Altho Molison had promised me in
directly, a position of some kind, and
my friends interested themselves in my
behalf, he simply ignored me and,
of course, I had no authority over the
Band any longer.
Mollison, however, had the nerve to
approach me and some of my friends
about six or eight weeks ago, stating
that he intended to give me position,
but it was thru the influence Of some of
our citizens opposed to any appoint
ment, which could have been offered.
This, kind readers, is nothing but a
farce on the part of Mollison, because he
dare not mention the citizens that ap-
preached him on this subject.
Well, New Ulm furnished more men,
proportionally, than any other town or
city in the State of Minnesota. The
erupt came at Fort Smelling, when many
older men and enlisted men with families
and homes dependent on them, desired
to be discharged from the services, es-
pecially was this so in the case of the
Band. Capt. Hofmeister felt it his duty
to stay with the Band and he had his
three sons with him at Fort Smelling.
Then came the time for the taking of the
federal oath and here is where it is said,
the Band fell down woefully, and about
a year ago the hardest criticism was
aimed at the. band boys, not only in
New Ufrn, but elsewhere. I have al
ways maintained that the band and
Capt. Hofmeister did not have the right
kind of support and guidance from
Mollison or his Adjutant, Capt. Bill,
and the truth is that Capt. Hofnaeister
did not have much to say. The two
generally turned; away requests by him
with the explanation that they were too
busy. Furthermore, the whole trouble
about the band, in not all taking the:
federal cath, was due to the caaiber, the:
cowardice and; the double dealing of this
man, MoIhson..
I am supported: IL, this by the state:
rnents of local officers, since they quit
the service; and I have asked Major
Pfaender to give his version, ard he
said:
s@In justice:to the band boys I wiz say
that the trouble year ago about so
many not taking the oath, was Mollisen's
fault and the band in New Ulm was un--
justly criticised on his account and he
wasn't a big enough man to shoulder
the blame on himself, but; unloaded it.
on New Ulm, and in fact there was 'Mush
Ado About Nothing A year ago
L gave the facts privately to few New
Ulm citizens, as L was in the service
and could not, openly criticise my
officer. Since Leaving the SER
vice, have told this to others, but. it
appears, no one would believe that
Mollison could be; such a. small man as
he really is.
However, sinse lately his dealings
in regard to Company A have opened
the eyes Of our citizens who were SO
kind in his support before They may
now be in a frame of: mind to do justice
to the men Of the band. The truth is.
that when the time came to take the
federal oath, Mollison had promised
discharge of half of the band and they
could not be expected to take the oath,
because they had been discharged.
sWhen the men lined up in the field
to take the oath, all except one or two
who still remained in the band were or
hand to take the oath. Colonel johnson
was at that time mastering officer. Whe1
he saw the men, he asked, Where i:
your Band?
'Mollison told him that was all tha
would take the oath, and Johnson wa
unwilling to swear in such a small mum
Der and Mollison, instead Of explainin,
the situation to Col. Johnson, flew in
rage, damned the band boys up ant
down, and came to me and told me t