Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-06
RYAN, WAR HERO,'
JUST PLAIN HAM
But He's a Good Actor.
He Fooled Two
Cities
MADE HIT WITH GIRLS

OF the Rainbow Division" is no longer a
hero.
Women and girls Of the War Chest
drive are still hero worshipers. but
they no longer worship Ryan"
They are resretting now that they
we're so quick to believe all he said
about himself and his exploits in France,
for they know he is an impostor.
He admits II, and says he did II just
to stir up patriotism and make people
contribute to various war work money
raising campaigns.
1t developed with the mans arrest
at the Allegheny Theatre yesterday
being in reality william Hamm, New
York vaudeville actor.
He was arrested by New York and
Philadelphia detectives. who seized his
$40, 900 collection Of war medals and
trophies he modestly said he had taken
from Germans. dead and alive, on the
battlefields.
"Borrows" Trophies
The technical charge against Hamm
is unlawfully wearing an army uniform.
but there are numerous other complaints.
The collection Of medals and trophies
was borrowed" from two genuine
American soldiers, invalided home. They
live in Mount Vernon, n. Y.
Among the many Philadelphians who
have lionized Hamm are +. T. Stotes-
| bury. head Of the war welfare council,
which originated and carried on the War
| Chest drive, and Mrs. Stotesbury: Mrs
Walter S. Thomson, head of the women's
third Liberty Loan drive George Whar-
| ton Pepper and other War Chest work.
| ers.
After the Ryan" speech at the Bel
levue- e-Stratford, Mr.. Stotesbury said:
How con loyal Americans refuse to
give to the'War Chest, after hearing the
story OF this American hero. Let his
message be sent broadcast that all may
know of the valor of Americas fighting
men"
Fooled Two Cities
Before Sergeant ajor Ryans" brief
but eventful, romantic and spectacular
career as a military hero came to a dis
astrous end the young man had the sat
isfaction of putting 1t over" on all
Philadelphia and all New York, as we'll
as several other cities.
Everybody who has been very much
|
seen or heard of the dashing officer of
his daredevil exploits in the Luneville
sector and at Toul in the Lorraine sec
tor, of his five wounds sustained at Toul
OF his decoration with the French War
Cross by General Petain and of the
generals kissing him enthusiastically at
the time OF the decoration. and of his
$4,000 collection of medals and trophies
taken from Germans on the battlefields
The Sergeant Major" made his Phila
delphia debut at a War Chest campaign
luncheon in the Bellevue-Stratford Hote
May 23. He had taken ina aginary Ger
man trenches by storm, but there wa.
nothing imaginary about the storm b,
which he took the patriotic and un
suspecting workers for the War Chest
His appearance was a triumph from
start to finish. He was an actor anc
a good one. He had the Belasco devo
ton to detail for the accomplishment o
realistic effect. He had been wounded
four times in the leg at Toul, so he said
and he had a realistic limp.
Touched Girls Hearts
. Occa sionally he would vince ant
when Young ladies' faces darkened witt
sorrow as they expressed sympathy hi
jaw would set and he would smile griml,
and a little tragically, and say, "Oh
1t Is nothing"
But his greatest achievement was II
New York during the Third Libert,
Loan campaign. There he was enter
tained by Lord and Lady Aberdeen, wht
: introduced him to many OF their dis
: tinguished guests, all Of whom paid hin
, honor. Governor whitman received an,
congratulated him warmly, and hell
him up as an example worthy of imita
\ ton by all American youth.
! 1t was fresh from these triumphs /,
= New York that the hero" came t
Philadelphia to try his luck.
seventy girl workers at the Eddy
: stone munitions plant feted the soldie
. at Eddystone May 27. and presented hir
, with several large bouquets of kisses
as we'll as some things Of lesser value
such as silver match boxes and the like
When he made his famous speech a
the Bellevue -Stratford, Ryan exhibite
o a little whistle, which he said he ha
: blown to send the American boys "ove
the top" In France.
u II wouldn't blow this for every one.
he said, giving a shrill whistle, but
j, blow 1t for you to send you over the to
:, for the War Chest"
r A Modest "Hero"
y He told of two trench sorties in whic
s. he participated. one in the Lunevil
:, sector and the other at Toul. 1t wa
% in the second, he said modestly, ths
he was wounded four times in the is
and once in the stomach. being awarde
the Croix de Guerre, with palm fc
an additional citation for bravery.
h His account Of the first lacked detai
l. largely because. he said. women wei
e present in the ballroom and ne couldn
a tell 1t all.
a a The youthful veteran enlisted at II
a age OF seventeen in the National Guar
of Wyoming from his native town
% Granger served at the Mexican bord'
le and was transferred into the Sxty-nin,
OF New York or Fighting Irish" whit
- was later made the 16bth Of the Rainbo
Division. He swelled with pride as |
told OF the first charge.
- 'J lost one of my dearest and he
\ pals when we hoped over the fr
J German trench" he said. Final
we got close enough to use our bay
nets on them. Believe me, the bayon
exercise we had gone through car
c, in handy, though We hadn't seen t
use of 1t at the time. We were at
not only to protect our own lives, b
to protect our wounded. The Germa
were trying to take smack at the
too.
I'VE lost ell boys in that charge
a eighty-three seriously wounded and I
ng dead But we walked back, bringi
ne Sl3 dirty, filthy Germans" he said,
al enthusiasm emphasizing his charact
ization OF the foe.
or "One of them had a gas bomb W
RS, him and on the way back he chuck
list IL into the bunch. After going throu
nd the scrap and everything I was in
of hospital for three months because