Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-05-08
Gypsy SMITH AT
BEST IN GIVING
RECITALOF WAR
World Famous Vagahond Evange-
list FaScinates Great Crowd
ut Augustana Gym.
JUST BACK FROM TRENCHES
In Dramatic Climax Declares Tom.
mics VIII Hold Till Sammies
Put Over Victory.

pathos characteristic OF his race
was crowded. fred with a patriotic
fervor that had been famed
through personal experiences on
the blood red fields of France,
Gypsy Smith. world famous yaga-
bond evangelist, held in the hol-
low of his hand $500 intensely in
terested tri-city residents in VOL
derfCl address last evening al Aug
ustana gymnasium.
Gypsy Smith came TO Rock Is
land with a message that burned
Itself into the hearts of those who
heard him tell OF Hun atrocities.
He had Just retained from the
trenches. where he had first-haud
Information concerning what our
boys are doing and the vital
part which America is now play
ing and must continue to play be
fore victory is won and democrats
ideals have forever triumphed over
Prussiauism and all that It stands
for.
In introducing the speaker, Dr.
John McGOwn Stevenson. pastor or
Broadway Presbyterian church. re-
ferred TO the fact that the gather
fng was also In coDmemora ion or
the third anniversary OF the sink
ing OF the Lus.tania-
John ". Caste was at the organ
and America" The Star Spanglcd
Banner" and "Materna" were sung
by the vast audience. Miss Ruth
Benkert. Davenport. sang pleas
ingly When the Boys Come Home"
and My Own United States"
In his remarkable address. last
ing nearly two hours. in which he
touched every phase OF the great
conflict now raging on the west
err front in France, Gypsy Smith
paid especial tribute to the boys
OF the allied worId-the boys who
are making the world safe for DEM
OcraCy Following his enumeration
OF their wonderful fighting quail
ties, the Gypsy reached his climax
in q tribute to the British Tom
mics.
"a lady in Washington said to
me last week: oh. Gypsy Smith,
when will that British line break?'
And I said 10 her: Madam, not IN
It'll the last man is dead
DO you know that 5000 British
boys have held back 10000 Huns
~and I'll tell you why. We have
right on our side, and right gives
moral courage and backbone ani
clear COnscience-it makes a man
feel If he dies "a doing It, somehow
or other God is a chum who won't
/ let a plan down.
We are proud of the Americans.
They crossed the border of Can
( ada and joined the Canadian
forces, and some of them have
won the Distinguished Service Or
der. and they have won the Vic
tOria Cross and the Military Medal
and they are entitled to every
thing they got, God bless EN-.
We are proud OF the boys
American boys who fought under
the British flag, and we are proud
Of the boys you are sending over
now-and hurry up with them. BUT
don't lose your hearts; we are not
down-hearted-we are going to
win! Anything else is unthinka-
bic. l would rather die than Ger
many should put it's iron heel on
the neck of the world would
rather diet"
Tell Of Atrocities.
The evangelist told of a number
of German atrocities horrors
which had driven fighting men 10
seek out religion as a relief, and
added: Are you surprised that
wanted to join up with these boys
as soon as the war broke out? But
you know l am suffering from an
incurable complaint, no doctor can
help me; ] was born too soon. My
complaint is Ammo Domini, but
still feel like a boy. l have had Z
great privilege IN living with the
boys at the front-and I'm going
back. don't you make any mistake
about it. They can't finish the JOB
without me.
I wanted the opportunity OF
working with the boys. | knew
they We're good stuff, so I said 10
my church: 'SeRd met But my
church did not have the sense to.
But the y. NJ. c. A. knows a
good thing when it sees it. Let me
tell you that every boy in khaki
and l think l can speak for the
boys in America as we'll as the
boys in Great Britain-the moment
he sees the Red Triangle OF the
Y. NJ c. A. he knows It means
Welcome il stands for need, not
creed; and will you please notice
that il stands on its apex, not on
its base. II IL stood on its base II
could stand alone; it stands on its
apex, which means # it is not sup
ported on both sides, It will toppls
over, which, interpreted. means
that they need money and men.
You don't know the war is on
You've never heard the shot OF any
enemy gun, you have never seen q
drop OF blood shed by your boy
from an enemy shell. you are too
far away, but the war cannot end
unless you have seen and suffered
what We have. There will be no
patched compromise or peace. I'm
not asking for your sympathy. /
am asking for cooperation, and
the only way out OF il IS through |
It. and We are going to see 1t J
through"
Amid cheers and clapping the |
Gypsy said: Are you not thank |
ful that England was ready with /
its navy? We had no army. We |
are the master Of the waves. Had |
it not been for that Germany would !
have been empress of Europe and /
mistress OF the seas" At this he
displayed the allied flags. five Of
them, and in the center was the
American flag.
In the first call for volunteers
for the British army. volunteers.