The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-30
PRIVATE LA. SCOTT THRILLS AUDIENCE
 AT PATRIOTIC RALLY
Memoli's Band, the Liberty Chorus and Speeches by FOur-Minute Men on
 Programme at BijOu

The patriotic rally at Loew's Bijou yes- terday afternoon, under the auspices of the four-minute men, was a stirring event. The house was filled from bottom to top, and Private John A. Scott of the Canadian army. the principal speak CT. held the audience rapt for two hours or more.
 T. J. Crittenden presided and made a short but gripping address. The Rev. pr. George Stuart offered an invocation Memoli's band played a lively march, and then the overture to 'Zamba. t Everybody sang America which was followed by four-fninute speeches by Murray Brown and Judge Hugh Locke Mr. Brown, as chairman of the Fourth Liberty Loan committee for Jefferson county, said hss organization was ready and the people were ready for the great drive.
 The uniformed Liberty Chorus of the Music Study club, under the direction of Miss Sara Mallam, sang Buy a Bond" after which Private Scott was introduced. The noted soldier wasf re- ceived with great enthusiasm. He spoke with clear enunciation and his graphic narrative, covering his experiences over nearly three years as prisoner of war in Germany, touched and thrilled his hearers
 He began with his experience in the front line of the salient at Ypres al o'clock on the morning of the 24th of April, 1915. As he gazed across No Mans Land, he saw little jets of white vapour rising from the ground at the foot of the Huns parapet. The vapor rose higher and merged into a dense white cloud which rolled steadily toward him. As the cloud rose 1t turned into dirty yellow and soon he and his comrades were enwrapped ip the folds of the filthiest and most destructive weapon Of war ever launched against civilized troops.
 We were gassed,' he said, and the Germans had commenced another at tempt to hack their way to CalRis.' At the first whiff of the evil smelling stuff he wrapped his woolen scarf around his face, which saved him from death. Pretty soon We were gaspins and choking; our eyes were filled with water" It seemed as if his lungs were filled with some heavy substance and breathing became difficult. Men were dropping everywhere and many died where they fell. Those of us who were able manned the parapet and commenced an irregular fire towarc the German trenches. he said "A cheer went up and ran down the line. Soon the big guns of the Germans opened lp ana tore our trenches to pieces. Crash. A shell caved in our parapct, burying Pri- vate Brady and myself. As ne extri- cated himself he saw three of his com rades hit with fragments of shrapnel. Private McNeil was killed. Smash A sandbae knocked me 20 feet away" The effects of the gas had become some thing fearful
 Relating one staggering incident aft CT another. Private Scott's narrative led m to his capture and then followed his trying experiences in German hospital, where his painful wounds kept him for sometime.
 ..In Senne," said the speaker, "the civilians received very harsh treatment, heinz brutally beaten and continually kent on .stilly stand As they received few. if any, parcels, they had to ex- ist on the German rations, which were worse than the food served to us.
 "The month of July had been extreme lv hot and for some breach of discip- line the civilians were compelled to stand cn the tarred roofs of the hrts in their bare feet They were hatless as well, and stood for hours at stretch.
 .Another form of punishment was this: A sack was filled with bricks and strapped on a mans back. and with a brick in each hand he was compelled to double around in a ring in the deep sand. If he slackened up he was beat en. and should the unfortunate victim, fail from exhaustion he was kicked and pricked with bayonets till he stag gered to his feet.
 Heart-rending incidents of Private Scott's story were relieved by bits of hrmor. but from beginning to end the audience listened with breathless at tention. At the close of his speech the intrepid soldier was cheered trumultu- ously.
 The Liberty chorus sang the Battle Hymn of the Republic" and the rally came to an end with rousing rem ditnon of '"The Star r-Spangled Banner by the chorus and everybody, accom- panied by the band. Private Scott goes today from Birmingham to Tuscaloosa.