The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-06-25
HUMOR INTERMINGLED

1 manner ana words brought many laughs as he narrated incidents of the fighting llLes and the life of the soldiers in the trenches, but through it all ran the theme
 of service. of a united army and a united l people behind them a home, of an army i ccr hdent that those who were left on | this side were doing their all to back 1 them up.
 Corporal Whited outlined his trip to France from the time they left Besse- | mer in most vivid manner. Loud ap- l plause followed his statement when he paid graceful tribute to Capt. Lacey | Edmundson of this city. He stated that 1 Company D. 167th infantry, has the best
 captain in the world, regardless of where
 he comes from" Upon arriving some where in France after r days jour
 ney. he told of the hardships they en- dured from the cold, all being straight 1 from Dixie, but of how they braced up
 under it all making the famous zo-mile hike in a deep snow with trench shoes. | He paused then to pay tribute to the American Red Cross, which he stated l came as an angel of mercy, reaching l them in due time to furnish heavy socks l sweaters and scarfs, to protect them from pneumonia and the freezing wealth CT. which otherwise might have over
 come them. As a result of their protect | ing hand all members of their company
 arrived at their destination in safety, | only one member of their company hav- | ing succumbed to pneumonia. while the rest were also saved from frozen feet We are all in the best of health and have been since arriving which I credit | to the American Red Cross,' he said l The American soldiers, who are used to riding in the best of trains, were l greatly disappointed, he said. when they | saw the French trains. Many laughs | followed his description of them. He told
 of the strenuous training they were put
 through during the first six weeks in 1 the trenches and of the silent march in | the night. The experiences which he mar rated were most interesting.
 The corporal described how he came
 to get the cross of war. How five other
 Alabama soldiers, including himself, were 1 sent to a strong point on the right of l the line at night encountered II Ger | mans. Ten of the enemy were killed
 while Corporal Whited returned with l prisoner to the dugout A few hours
 later call came for mask attack, | which they prepared for but which did l not come He described in much lighter | language how they had been decorated and of the French generals kiss which | accompanied the decoration
 I Corporal Whited explained the gas | masks which the soldiers carry one
 which lasts four hours, and soldier Is l able to talk While wearing 1t, and l another which lasts 42 hours but the | soldiers are unable to talk while wear l inS it. The shrapnel helmet. a part of | his equipment. was also explained in a
 most interesting manner. He stated that ] the helmet was a favorite piece of his | equipment having saved him from serious I injury.
 | The corporal delivered number of I messages from the Bessemer boys to their parents in this city, and asked to carry messages back to the boys in I France.
 | In conclusion he stated we are going I to Berlin, and I want to be one of the | company that goes, and at the banquet I to be held in that city instead of punch bowl want the Kaiser's head" This statement was followed with vocferous aprlause.
 l Corporal Whited will be the guest of his mother, to whom he paid beautiful 1 tribute, saying that with her picture be- l fore me I have courage enough to face I any obstacle" He will remain in this district until July 5, after which time he will 20 to Fort Meyer Va. later leav- l ing for France. The address tonight was | a forerunner of the War Savings Stamps I drive to be waged in this city next week.