Semi-weekly herald., 1917-11-05
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HEROIC AMERICAN SOLDIERS
"LAWED" OUT OF U. S. ARM Y
By ]. w. PEGLER


Omitted Press Staff Correspondent.)
AMERICAN FIELD HEADQUAR-
TERS, France, Oct. IL. (By Mail.)
-Expatriated. cut off from their
own country by the piffling techni-
calities of our laws, Americas first
war heroes are still fighting and dy-
ing in the ranks of the allies. They
hope some day to be restored to their
rights as Americans. But while they
can't do anything about it they can
keep on killing the Boches.
Most of the Americans already
fighting in this war are In either
the Canadian army or the British
or French flying corps. Their record
is Il proud one, marked by decora-
tions from the British and French.
One American at least has won the
Victoria Cross, England's highes. rec
ognition Of heroism, many have been
decorated with the Military Cross
and hundreds have been given the
French War cross.
Major Alexander Rasmussen, of
Portland, Ore, and Lieutenant Jack
Manning, of Florida, both veterans
of the Philippines, passed through
this camp the other day on their way
to train q new contingent Of Amart-
cans in the British style of fight
ing. Though they have been In the
trenches for months during which
time both were wounded, the United
States army has not takcn them
back. They came here wearing their
American service ribbons on Brit
sh uniforms.
American officers were surprised
to learn that these two soldiers in
the kings uniform we're Americans.
Manning met some of his old COM
rades of the United States infantry
and they could scarcely believe that
the Canadian soldier was the man
they campaigned with in the Philip
pines.
In London knew scores of Ameri-
can soldiers who simply couldn't wait
for the United States to declare war
on the Boche and so joined the Brit
ish. They ran n bluff--expecting
confidently that their own country
would be glad to have them back rs
instructors when we entered the war.
By this time many of those fellows
have been killed or badly wounded.
Lieut.. A. II. Pannill, q Chatham,
Va, boy, won the British Military
cross at the battle of Vimy Ridge on
last Easter Monday by sheer brav-
cry and leadership. He was wounded,
and after recovering, joined the Roy
Al Flying corps. Today I received
letter from him saying:
"I am trimmed up in bed with
both legs up in the air in sling.
1t seems years since came to
France with the Royal Flying
corps in the middle of July. l havs
helped bring down several Huns
and took part in the low strafe'
on August 10, flying low behind
the lines, shooting up and dispers-
ing troops, transports and artillery.
The machine guns on the ground
were thick as hornets, squirting
lead at us like fountain pens from
every shell-hole. came out all
right but they got me a few days
later. Some of my controls were
shot away and we crashed to the
ground behind our lines. don't
see why we weren't killed outright
but outside of having some bruises
and both thighs fractured am
OK. am very comfortable and
hope soon to be granted leave to
the United States and Canada"
Manning told me that Frank Burr.
OIL CleVeianu, Sanduidl ilcutcuAntl
broke into tears as Manning said
goodbye on the night he took the
train for the American camp.
Burr was just going up to the tren-
ches again after short rest. From
day to day he had been hoping to
get word of his transfer 10 the Amer
can army-his own army. 1t didn't
arrive.
Burr is one of the very last of the
Americans who fought in the social
ed Lost Legion of Americans. The
rest have been either killed or in
7apacitated for life.
Our army here needs instructors
20 badly that British and French SOL
diers are carrying on the work. In
the British army there are scores Of
Americans--their number Is dwindl-
ing daily-who want 10 offer their
skill and their lives to the country.
A legal technicality bars them and
deprives our Sammies here Of their
sympathetic instruction.