The Washington herald., 1918-07-31
CAPT. SUMNER,
D. CITIZEN IS
BATTLE VICTIM
Marines Officer IN Casual
ty List; B. H. Berkley
Is Wounded.

The war news yesterday struck
home in Washington. One captain
Of Marines who had resided here for
several years was reported killed In
action, while messages from two
other capital lighting men brought
news. of their activities overseas.
After serving four months in the
trenches and passing through engage
ments at Chateau Thierry and Bell
eau Wood without a scratch, Capt
Allen NJ Sumner, Of the Marine Corps
Reserve. whose home was at 1915
s street northwest, was officially re-
ported as having been killed In ac-
ton"
While no details were included in
the notification received by his wife.
Mrs. Sumner, from Marine headquar-
ters. announcing his death, 1t is pre-
sumed he was with the machine gun
company in the onrush OF, the Marine
units about Chateau Thierry when he
was killed.
Capt Sumner was IS years old. He
was born in the exclusive Back Bay
district Of Boston and was prominent
socially In that city and in Washing
ton He spent his early years abroad,
studying in the foreign capitals. He
was graduated from the Pomfert
Academy in Connecticut and from
Harvard.
The Marine captains love for his
country dates back to his minority,
when he obtained. without his fathers
consent. an appointment to Annapolis.
His father refused to allow him to ac-
cept the appointment.
Travelled Abroad. .-
After leaving Harvard he became
afiliated with the University Press at
Cambridge, Mass. His travels and
study took him into all OF the Euro
pean countries and into Central and
South America
In 1907 he was appointed a second
lieutenant in the Marine Corps from
Massachusetts,, and while holding the
rank of first lieutenant resigned on
January 1, 1914 In March, 1871, he was
appointment a first lieutenant in the
Marine Reserve Corps. After that his
promotion was rapid.
Capt. Sumner was sent to the Marine
Camp at Quantico on July Of last
year and on August ! left an Ameri-
can port for overseas service. Mrs.
Sumner received her last letter from
him on June u last. The Washington
hero is survived by his wife, mother.
an an S-year-old daughter.
Wounded twice in action and con-
valeScing now in a hospital, il the
war record of Private Byron Howori
Berkeley, of 1884 Jefferson street, ac-
cording to advices received by his
parents yesterday. Berkeley enlisted
in the Marines when he was Is years
old. He trained at Paris Island. S. c. (.
and later went to Quantico. He was
wounded in the battle Of Chateau
Thierry in June of this year.
Private ]. B. Cassell, a WashiE gton
Marine. took part in the capture of
twelve towns in the recent drive. Ac-
cording to word received here yester-
day by Mrs. Rosa Groff, of II Florida
avenue northwest
Letter from CasseII.
Mrs. Croft received the following
letter from Cassell. who enlisted
in the Marine Corps at the outbreak
of the war, and was trained for
service at Quantico:
gtIr came through without a
, scratch. 1t was wonderful" he
wrote.
1T was certainly amusing to see
the Heinies by the thousands on the
double-time run back to their ma
tive land and the Marines charging
double quick.
when orders came for US to
charge like mad men We charged
over No Mans Land and met them
in open field in the shape of a "
They were moved down like sheep,
and seeing they were not prepared
to hold their position, gave ground.
1t was this drive that no doubt
saved Paris from the enemy. As to
what the future has in store for US.
no one knows, but We have borne
ourselves well and have added an
other page OF glory to the history
of the United States Marine Corps.
Il was in the trenches, or, rather,
in No Mans Land sixteen days. 1
came out without a scratch I am
proud to do my Bit
In describing the way the French
people treat the American boys,
Private Cassell said:
They are most wonderful peo-
pie and were perfect angels to US.
Tell my friends in America all
Is going well scros the Atlantic"