Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-01-10
Three BIG MEETINGS
NECESSARY TO HOLD
OUTPOURINc OF PUBLIC
Canadian Officers GiYeI
Record Breaking Recep-
ton In Salem

history OF Salem has awakened so pro-
found an interest and such universal
|attention as the coming yesterday OF
three Canadians, veterans of the war,
who having been invalided home from
inability To- do further service on ac-
count OF wounds, are still doing their
bit,' by awakening America to the
fact that she must do her utmost at
all times, and that it must be the aim
of every citizen to do those things
that will help win the war, and this
regardless p1 private affairs. The,
rights of the individual must be Sec
ondary to these of the country and
the desire for private gain must be
made subservient to greed for VIC
tory ior the nation. This was the
thread strung through the talks OF
these ''young old veterans.
The party consisting of Lieutenant
Colonel Macmillan, Major b. X. Ed
wards and Captain E. }. Cook arrived
yesterday morning, and spoke at the
armory at 2 clock. Long before that
hour the big auditorium was filled to
the doors and hundreds were turned
away. Owing tC this expression or de-
sire to hear the message these battle
SCARED men fresh from the front had
to deliver, the local management real
lied another crowd would be disap-
pointed at the meeting billed for 3
O clock unless some other arrangement
was made and SO the First Methodist
church was secured for an overflow
meeting, and later still another meet
ing was arranged for at the Grand
Opera house.
At the armory, although the speak
ing was billed for O'Clock the room
was half filled an hour before that
time and those who "came early at
80" found the armory packed.
Given an ovation
The audience was entertained with
music until the arrival of the veter-
ans headed by Governor Withycombe
and as the audience got a glimpse OF
them as they came through the main
door it rose with cheer that was con
tinued until Manager Bruce Dennie of
the state council of defense came to
the front and quieted the tumult. He
spoke briefly and was followed. by a
selection by the chorus under the dl-
rection of William McGilchrist, Sr.
Governor Withycombe spoke briefly
and introduced Lieutenant Colonel
Macmillan. In the meanwhile his com
panions were sent one to address the
meeting at the opera house and the
other that at the Methodist church.
Colonel Macmillan said he was not a
public speaker, ano his delivery show
ed it was new role to him. 1t was
perhaps due to this fact that his talk
proved the more interesting and ef-
fective, for it was simple tale told
in simple words of the tremendous de-
struction, the terrible barbarities, the
untold and unreliable suffering, that
followed the invasion of Belgium by
the Prussfan hordes mad with the lust
for war, and educated to the point
where cruelty was considered neces-
sary adjunct of bravery, and terrorism
a strong and permissible weapon in
subiugating a neutral country.
His description of his and his regi-
ment's course following the call tc
arms was told simply. He was asked
by his colonel elf he would go with
him to Europe" and though engaged
in packing salmon and in the midst
of the season, he took but a few mo-
ments ter decide that his duty was to
his country before everything else and
his answer was eyes. He added; 1t
was pretty hard to get away for be-
sides my business there was baby at
our house, Jut three days old"
The Trip to Europe
He followed the course Of the regi-
ment outlining its experiences from
the time it left Vancouver. B. c., until
it arrived in France. Clear across the
continent he said they were forced to
put men off the troop train by force,
so great was the desire to go along.
The Ncrth Sea squadron conveyed
their 72 ships half way across and
staid with them until the British squad
ron relieved them. AS the warships
which had guarded them bade them
good bye and God speed the yard
arms were manned as they turned and
steamed by the transports and the
bands played ''The Maple Leaf For
ever.D fThat, - said the colonel,
- was a grand sight, and yet a sorrow
full one fer it was our severance from
home' In England their camp life
was a severe test, they being at new
camp at Salisbury plain and che mud
was half knee deep. He paid a glowing
lIlDuib 10 bHC AIuSl4oh NAV AuS II
had guarded and conveyed ships across
she channel carrying 100000 soldiers
and that not one had been lost. His de-
scription of the wrongs done Belgium
and the authenticity and truthfulness
IF which he vouched for, were not new
1ut they removed the doubts entertain
I'd by many as to their being true,
FOR they were so inhuman that they
were almost unbelievable. He told one
.ase of Belgian girl of IL who had
one of her arms cut off, and who told
lim she was handing a German officer
! cavalryman, a drink of water, when
without prOvoeation he drew his
WORD and struck off her arm at
blow.
The other tales have all been told,
h similar ones in the news dispatches,
md Colonel Macmillan simply seiter- !
tied them and insisted they were true. |
His description of the men who were
TILED in the first gas attack was
yruescme, he unconsciously' grasping (
It his throat, and distorting his face.
lie knew the symptoms for he had /
,een one Of the victims.
Crippled but Unconquered
He spoke for an hour and was fol- 7
owed by Major B. +. Edwards, who
rave both his arms to the cause of hH-
aanity and democracy. He also told .
us personal experiences, Frightening
he darker sketches at times with bits