Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-11-09


cal, social and moral welfare Of the
men in the service.
Mr.. Crossett stated that war in al
ages had tended to destroy the phys
ical, sociaY and moral welfare of the
soldiers, and that immortality and dis
ease are brought into the ranks of the
soldiers. In answer to the question.
why do the boys drift away from
their normal lives at home, he point
ed out it was because they are away
from the home influences. The rem
edy for this is to throw the home in
fluence around he boys, the home
influences being sympathy, encour-
agement and saQSjfce, one for another
the kind of influence that should
touch the hearts of men. Have
these associations done their work."
he asked, and he answered his ques-
ton by reciting a number of Incl
dents which proved conclusively that
they had provided this home infiu-
eDce for the boys "over there"
In one of these cases an English
aviator had fallen from his machine
and the surgeons informed him his
injuries were SO serious that he could
live but a few hours longer. The
aviator asked that he might be TAX
en- to the office Of one of these organ
izations that he might die there.
I'VE have a clean American army"
said the speaker, and he stated THAI
while he was in Europe he did not
see an intoxicated American soldier.
He then read letters from COM
manders of the Allied forces endors-
ing the work of the organizations,
and he spoke of the fact that the
organizations encourage the boys to
write letters home and also that the
associations provide rest camps
where the American troops can pass
their furloughs under clean and up
lifting conditions. And he spoke of
the educational work that the organ
izations carry on for the men.
Many of his experiences in France,
Mr.. Crossett then related in a most
interesting manner. After having
left Paris and on his way to the
front. Mr.. Crossett saw the grave of
Lieut., Quentin Roosevelt, U. S. Air
Service. Killed in action.
TIL, story of a soldier who took 81
German prisoners was told by the
speaker. The Germans had captured
the one soldier and were telling him
what they were going to do, when the
captive turned upon them and told
them that they were completely sur
rounded and were in fact his prison
ers. The Germans feared being
killed if taken prisoners, but their
captor told them if they would
agree to surrender and. march along
as his prisoners. he would see to it
that they were not killed. "And the
story is a true one, said Mr.. Cros-
set.
Thetspeaker described his Journey
through the trenches to the very
font line trenches an1 spoke II tn
cordial reception he was giv.n all
along the line. He distributed. 20 tie
soldiers cigarettes, chocolate ard
chewing gum and The Ine,. were
greatly appreciative. Ore mig. t h >
vent into No MAJ; I.anG with an
Intelligence Squad until ne wos a
distance of 400 yards from tn, froit
line trench of the Aliie.l rorc.s ard
there the sergeant told him that MS;
men must go on further, but that ,,e
;Mr. Crossett) had better go baci,
And the men in the squad shock
Eands with him, as 3cn would snake
lands with a fathe-, befor. they
made their way turtle. into n,
Mans Land
A letter taken from the body Ct an
American soldier lying dead uDrn tho
ground, had come .ntr Mr.. Crossett's
possession, and although :he LANES
could not be read, it WIS enouz Oh T.,
know that the girl back ia America
vas proud of the ma at TIE 5rort
and was anxious that he 60 hi; pa It
In the fight at the fron. line tre.lci.-
IS. And in closing his talk the sceak-
or urged the people to assure the
men over there of tie love an! SYM
path of -hcse at home.
A rumber of most ic+e 'esti1s .ouv-
cnirs from the front wer. shown tv
Mr. Crossett. among them being a
shell that had been fired from tie
,amous French as" English shrap-
'.el shells, the helmet and gas mask
which he had worn in the trenches
German helmet AMI a Germ4., gas
mask
Mayor Swift then introduced Cant
raign Manager Henry T.. D.c,ac..
"nn like the previous speaker had
riessage, and who gave roIsiEr
.alk about the big dive. Mr.. Dur
mack spoke as follows:
Campaign Manager Dunnaek
Our government has again sum-
moned us to enter upon a great mon
ey raising campaign for the soldiers.
This time we are not to solicit in the
namc of any one organization but in
the name of all the welfare societies,
except the Red Cross. This organ
ization will have a separate cam
paign in which we will all unite at
the Christmas season. The organ
izations united at this time are:
Young Mems Christian Association,
Young Women's Christian Associa-
ton, National Catholic War Council,
Jewish Welfare Board, War Camp
Community Service. American Lii
brary Association. Salvation Army.
We should count ourselves FORUM
ate tor be granted the high privilege
of participating in this great uplift-
ing movement. Among the striking
advantages to be derived from this
united effort are the following:
First. this campaign is democracy's
supreme achievement. 1t unites all