Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-02-02
EVEN BOYS AND GIRLS AT PLAY CARRY
GAS MASKS SAYS AUGUSTANA COLLEGE
GRADUATE JUST BACK FROM WAR ZONE

DR.. julius Lincoln, the eminent
Lutheran divine of Jamestown, n. Y,
who is well known in Rock Island, as
he is a graduate of Augustana semi
nary and has appeared here on several
occasions. has recently returned from
the western front He went there last
fall as a member of special commits
sion sent by the government to in
vestigate conditions particularly In
northern France and Flanders.
Before an audience Of more than
1000 persons gathered in his own
church Friday evening Of last week,
DR.. Lincoln told his story of the
battle fields of France, drew splendid
stirring word pictures OF the courage
Of Belgium, Great Britain and France,
reviewed the horror of the devastation,
and the pathos of the suffering Of the
stricken people OF these countries, and
then as no one better can do he made
an urgent, ringing appeal to the audi
ence to the city, to the country at
large for cooperation to help to win
this war.
anxiety Of those on board as the dan
ger zone was neared, DR.. Lincoln
mentioned air raids which occurred
soon after arrival of the commission
In England. OF the aged women and
little children with bandaged heads
and blood streaming faces. OF the
difference in the celebration Of Christ
mas before the war and since the
Christmas tree was set down amongst
shells.
He spoke of the city OF Rheims as
the soul Of France. and told OF its
fearful destruction. which is not yet
complete enough to satisfy the enemy
who are still Smelling daily. Twice
while the commissioners were IN the
city they sought refuge in the cellars.
The home life OF the country Ia de-
ttroyed. Children skating in the parks
are suddenly scattered by the visit
OF an aeroplane. Each child carried
It's gas mask wherever it goes. He de-
elared that there is only one more hor-
fibie sight on earth than a man
gassed, dying but not being able to
Die and that is the sight OF child
'hat has been gassed" He also spoke
OF the hatred that would inspire the
enemy TO drop fountain pens filled
with high explosives, and poisoned car
fots with recipes for cooking them at
tached.
The cemeteries are desecrated, the
coNlns opened and the bodies thrown
out and let all that a small amount
VI metal may be secured. The order
IS TO spare TO one. He told OF one
herman officer who had been cared
ior In one OF the French hospitals. This
omcer was able to leave the hospital
ana called his nurse to say goodbye.
ne asked TO shake her hand and when
she complied with his request, broke
Aer wrist across his knee.
The battle OF Verdun he said was
synonymous with the bloodiest battle
" history. He described the battle
heid with It's forests cut away, as the
pace where the Germans expected to
conduct their victorious review. SO
.ohhdent were they OF this victory that
uaey had postcards printed depicting
'aat event II Is one vast bury1ng
ground for there 100 900 men lost their
ives. Not a shell explodes on that
'etritory that does not exhume body.
ne told Of seeing ward after ward
"a the hospitals where the men were
"Nhoat arms, eyes, legs, and still
mol word OF complaint, no word OF
useontent He praised the courage
"a The women who have taken the
races OF the men, working with the
factors and other farm machinery,
.vt the men are all at the front, and
~s work must 90 on
one particular instance OF courage
AZ cited. A well known French gen.
Ia mad three sons IN th3 army. The
''aYe wife, knew when the bishop