The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-20
WORST is TRUE
Captain Simmie VerifieS Ger
man Atrocity Stories.
Vimy Ridge Hero Speaks at
Chamber of Commerce.
IS BOOSTING SALVATION ARMY
Campaign To Raise $4,000 in
Topeka Arranged.
Captains of WOmen's Teams
Are Announced.

I'm 1914 and 1915 when the Ger
mans threw down their rifles and
grabbed a pick and shovel, the world
knew that the 40 years of preparation
was for naught. That was the Ger
man admission of a lost hope" This
was the declaration of Capt. r. NJ.
Simmie at the Chamber of Commerce
this noon speaking in behalf of the
Salvation Army war activities fund
campaign just starting in Topek.
Robert Stone, chairman of the local
committee in charge of the $4,000
campaign, presided at the meeting and
introduced Captain Simmie. Doctor
kulp made a short talk, but stopped
rather abruptly as he said because
when a doer YVES present was no time
for a speaker to speak"
Il am going back to the trenches as
soon my wound is healed was the
| opening sentence of Captain Simmie,
and he said that in this statement is
| expressed the determination of every
! soldier of the allies to fight on to the
| end.
| Captain Simmie told the story of
| trench attack, relating some of his
personal experiences in night raids
and patrols in a gas attack and in
t going over the top.
First Gas Attack.
| In respect to his first gas attack
| Captain Simnie said that the British
!
for a time and when the attack by gas
was over they ''just simply took their
| rifles and went back and reoccupied
| the trench
| Captain Simmie also declared that it
is a well known fact among the SOL
diers in the trenches that the Ger
man soldier will not, and never has
been known to fight at close quarters"
ANY story you hear in regard to
atricities committed by the Germans
on captured soldiers and civilians,
| especially if in reference to mutilationS
| is true This assertion of Captain
Simmie was made in answer to a
| question by one of the men present at
| the meeting.
| In speaking of the barbed wire en-
tanglements Captain Simmie paid high
! tribute to the extra efficiency of the
| German brand of wire. In this con-
| nection Captain Simmie said in a mild
tone as tho it was nothing unusual:
| I'VE found that the German wire
! was much better than our own, so we
went on a raid and now we use Ger
man wire only in front of our
| trenches
Condemns German Soldiers.
/ : Another remarkable statement by
| Captain Simmie was In regard to the
Germans themselves. You cannot
Judge the German people or the Ger
| man soldier by the Germans in this
country declared Simmie. There is
not German soldier who has one
ounce of manhood about him." The
| statement was made in reference to
/ the German habit-of killing wounded
soldiers of the allies.
Touching on the rum issue which
| Doctor Sheldon speaks about, Captain
Simmie said, II helped to fight pro-
hioition in Canada. This rum issue
is only given to the soldiers in the
actual front line trenches, and they
need it, too. When a man comes in
from night patrol or a raid drenched
to the skin and cold, the rum is is
| sued in quantities of about two table
Spoonfuls to a man for the purpose of
| getting the chilled blood in motion A
cold man cannot fight, and fires are
not allowed in the front lines
Women Team Captains.
Announcement was made this noon
of the captains for the women's teams
in the campaigns. The women will
work i'll the residence district under
the Craftsmanship of Mrs. Albrecht
the women named by Mrs. Marburg
this noon are: Mrs. Robert Stone, Mrs
Frank Campbell, Mrs. L. 7. Hussey,
Mrs. Willis Coston, Mrs. Frank
Squires. Mrs James Brier Mrs. Wal
ter A. Smith. Miss Audrie Myers, Mrs.
W. o. Lindsey, Mrs. Harold Chase,
Mrs. w. A. McCarter, Mrs C. ]. Evans,
Mrs. w. A. Biby, Mrs. George Godfrey
Moore, Mrs. d. o. Coe, Mrs. H. H.
Welty, Mrs. J. S. West, Mrs. w. A
Johnston, Mrs. w. D. Ross, Mrs. IT.
w Peers, Mrs. Frank FARRELL. Miss
Emma Wallace. Mrs. H. f. Ray. Mrs.
J. r. Koontz, Mrs. w. w. Kitchell.
Mrs II. G. West, Mrs. c. ]. Wilson
and Mrs Z. L. Copeland.
Captains named for the mems
campaign in the business district an
nounced this noon are: T. G. Dren-
ming, f a. Derby, w. A. Forbes, w
A. Billy, Frank Curry. D. Fl. Branna-
man. DR.. Robert Gordon, H. o. Cas-
ter. w. C. Carswell, G. L. Hooper and
J. F.. Griest.
New York Cotton Market.
Now Work 90-COTTON-SDOt