South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-05-12
BRAVE MAJOR
Of j. 6. FORCES
SHELL VICTIM
Soldier OF Fortune Lately in
Command of Crack Ameri-
can Battalion Killed in
AmienS-PariS Sector.
international News Service:

international News Service.
WITH THE AMERICAN
Army ~ FRANCE, May o
(Delayed)-Maj. A. Rasmussen,
soldier of fortune, former major
in the Canadian army and one
of the best liked officers in the
American army has been killed
by shell fire on the sector be-
tween AmienS and Paris, where
the Americans are fighting with
the French.
Maj. Rasmussen's home was In
Portland. Ore. He was a tall, dark
haired. handsome chap OF soldierly
bearing who had taken part in sew
eral flibustering expeditions in
Central America. Later he fought
with the Carranzistas in western
Mexico Shortly after the outbreak
OF the war ne obtained a commits
sion with the Canadians. where.
eddy enough, mis- closest friend was
a captain from San Francisco. who
had fought with the Huerta forces
in Mexico against the Carranzistas
This captain and Rasmussen had
been assigned TO the American
forces last fall by the British, the
captain as an instructor his special
~ being bayonet work.
Commanded L. s. Battalion.
Rasmussen taught the Americans
first corps school but later was 'as-
signed to the army school showing
the men the fine points in agrees
sive Dsyonet work. He proved ex-
tremely popular with his students.
In January. Rasmussen was trans
ferred 10 the American army and
almost Immediately he was placed
n command Of a battalion OF one
OF our best regiments. Shortly
afterwards these troops entered the
line on the Toul front.
During German gas attack Ras-
mussen was slightly gassed, but re-
fused to go 10 the hospital, although
ordered there by a doctor. He suf-
fered for a week from the effects
OF the gas.
on a certain night in April Ras-
mussen's battalion began moving
down towards a certain town in the
sector between Amiens and Paris.
Rasmussen. who was a COM
handing figure on horseback. rode
up 70 a cottage where the Amer
lean correspondents were CHARTERED
10 say goodbye.
We'll I thought I had seen the
last Of the Somme country when I
was with the Canadians in the big
Somme show, but you can never
know where you are bound for when
YOU are soldering" said he. IF
they get me this time you fellows
can divide my stuff. You won't get
much in the way Of clothes I'm
not taking any chances with good
uniforms Right now am wearing
my old British tunic."
Just then there was the sharp
whine Of a shell. the noise in
creasinR In volume. The cores
pondents ducled their heads as the
shell burst in a field about 800
Yards away. but Rasmussen merely
licked the ashes from his cigaret
and laughed as he exclaimed:
The old boches just seem to fol-
low me around"
Rasmussen's battalion started
moving in the dusk while German
shells were bursting in the village.
Immediately before he started
Rasmussen leaned down from his
horse and shook hands with each
correspondent wishing them good
luck and hoping that they would
get their bellies fun OF shells"
Then ne kissed the hand OF a
white haired old French woman who
had taken hot water 10 his room
every morning Wheeling his horse.
he departed in the darkness. Ras-
uussen was the second British of
fcer that had been killed with the
Americans the first being Col. Crit
nths