The Republican journal., 1918-07-04
lhe War Savings Stamp Drive

belfast Opera House was crowded
wednesday evening, June Goth, at the
patriotic meeting held to advance war
activities, particularly war savings stamp
sales. Morris L. Slugg, chairman of the
Waldo County Committee, had charge of
the exercises. Music was furnished by
the Belfast Band under the direction of
D. Lee Patterson. The opening prayer
was by Rev. Arthur E. Wilson Mr.
Slugg introduced Mayor Clement w
Wescott, who touched responsive chord
IN eVeryone's breast when he said with
characteristic frankness: ~ hate the
name OF Germany, and never as long as
1--we Will l buy an article made in that
country, ii know it." He read letter
from his sister, DR.. Adelne M. Wescott,
now in France, and we give the letter
elsewhere in this issue He also urged
the purchase of the stamps as a good
means of assisting the Government finan-
cially.
| Orlando E. Frost of the Waldo County
Public Safety Committee and Rev Arthur
E. Wilson of the Red Cross Society spoke
briefly and to the point on war time
duties.
Capt. VIM " Pratt, who is spending
short vacation at his home here, very
generously loaned for the occasion phono-
graph records made in France by General
Pershing, Admiral Sims and Marshall
Joffre and they were listened to with
marked interest.
Sergeant French of the End Battalion,
Canadian Infantry, then spoke. He told
of his life in the trenches, of the horrors
of the gas and other Hun atrocities. He
also recited his experience as German
prisoner of war He was wounded by
gun bullets in both legs, carried off the
field by Germans who tried to bribe him
to disclose who it was that he was fight
ing with, etc. He was not to be "pump-
ed" however and what the Germans got
from him was of little value. He was
thence to base hospital Finally he
landed in the prison camps and this he
described as "a hell of rottenness." They
were half clothed and almost starved. He
paid pretty tribute to the United States
by saying that through Great Britain's
effort, America sent Mr.. Gerard, then
A in fn
prison camps and through him they re-
ceived many comforts. Sergt. French
was later sent to Switzerland and then
exchanged and sent to Canada. Unable
to ever return to the trenches he was
given the privilege of recruiting and he
took this opportunity to call for Cana
dians in the audience to enlist. He said
to the audience 81 bring you message
from France. We are going to win this
war;
Frank j. Raymond, the Billy Sunday
severe criticism of those who had left
ne hall during this patriotic meeting and
wondered what idea they might have for
the men ever there who were fighting
day and night for their safety at home.
His quick wit and rapid speech made
him an interesting speaker. He said in
part:
''There are but three people in the
world who have made sacrifices in this
war: The mother, the father and the boy
who is over there. We don't want
German peace We don't want peace as
soon as we can get it. We want it as we
want it, and that is not German peace.
If we accept peace on Germany's terms
it would only be about ten years before
they would come over here and wipe US
off the face of the earth"
"Why did our ancestors come to this
country? and most of our ancestors did.
There are not many full blooded Indians
among US. They came here because they
didn't like the country in which they
lived. 1t is up to US to preserve that
country"
1--WE won't give up If it takes ten
years"
eff you haven't backbone enough to
fight for America then you will be work.
ing for nothing for the Hun and they will
take from you everything that you have. :"
Be]fast's allotment is S166, 600 and the
county's, $3.50, 600. The committee in
charge with Morris L. Slugg, chairman,
report the number of people signing as
most satisfactory and SO voluminous in
number that day has been set aside for
their tabulation. These are nearly all in
small amounts and it was found necessary
for the city chairman, E. L. Spear, assist
ed by James H. Howes, DR.. w. L. West,
Ralph D. Southworth, Fred r. Poor, K.
L. Cooper, l. L. Perry, A. P. Goodhue, w.
G. Hatch and others to make house to
house canvass to raise the amount. The
time has been extended to Friday even
, ing, July 5th, and it is earnestly requested
that all who have not signed do SO before
that evening, when the totals will be an
nounced. Swnnville was the first to
report her allotment. Since then Brooks,
Frankfort, Freedom, Jackson, Monroe,
Morrill, Prospect. Stockton Springs,
Thorndike, Montville, Winterport, Burn
ham, Troy, Knox and Unity have report
ed their allotments. Several other towns
have very nearly raised theirs and will
soon report.
ALMEDA BLAKE WHITCOMB