The sun., 1918-08-23
M'GRAW GIVES T. R.
MESSAGES SONS
X. Of c. Envoy to Front Tells
Observations in the Battle
Zone and Prison Camp.
YANKEES INSPIRE. FRENCH
Prussian Prisoner First Hears
Why America Went Into
the War.

Messages for Col Theodore Roosevelt
from his fighting boys and some inter-
esting facts concerning the American
troops abroad were brought over by J.
j. McGraw. Republican National Com
mitteeman for Oklahoma. Mr.. Mcoraw
is a member or the supreme BOARD Oh
directors Of the knights Of Columbus,
and he has Just completed tour OF the
fighting front.
At the Hotel Astor yesterday he told
Of his trip and OF the message he had
delivered TO Col. Roosevelt from Major
Teddy" Roosevelt and Capt. Archie
Roosevelt.
Il tell you," said the big Westerner.
at got under my skin bit-tne
Coloners greeting. He let his hearty
hand clasp serve as greeting anu
said:
TELL me about my boys
.I told him that Capt. Archie would
soon return home, and the Coionel
broke in with OF course he must
come home He is afraid people
will call him slacker-after what ne
has done When told him that the
Major was rapidly improving and at
the time of our meeting declared ne
would be back in the fighting before
three weeks had elapsed. the Colonel
smiled. I suppose the Major IS quar-
relling with the nurses right now. HIS
knee in bit painful but he Is full OF
fight"
Mr.. McGraw devoted much OF his time
abroad to the men in the ranks he
had Chow" with them and swapped
lights. His mission included interviews
with Gen Pershng and Premier one
menceau, and he found time to learn the
viewpoint Of the doughboys
Prussian Omcer "Did Not Know"
! Mr.. McGraw was especially impressed
with a talk he had with Prussian OK
fcer in a prison camp within rev
miles of Paris. where 1900 Germans
were held in captivity.
II saw boys OF II and Is years there.
With them were men of 40. They are
well treated but there was pathetic
something-a dog tired. hopeless express
sion on their faces that touched me. Inc
men l saw have been licked-we ike
that word in Oklahoma. They have been
licked properly and we'll
"One officer, a Prussian who told me
he had been educated in London and
spoke English perfectly. asked me why
| the United States had entered't the war
why did your country enter the
hght against us? Why did you become
angry" he asked.
II was surprised. DO you not know
that Germany violated International law
| Do you not know that Germany de-
stroyed our ships and killed America
citizens-women and children at that
Do you not know that German outrages
forced my country to enter the con-
nict?'' 1 asked. l guess l was pretty
| hot. He looked at me for at least a
minute without making a reply. Then
he said: u, At, 49,,
know. l guess the Kaiser wants to eN-
| tend his influence over all mankind. We
are being tricked. When the war is over
| l am going to America-if they will have
me; otherwise TO South America. My
father was in the leather business. l
! guess that Is all gone now. We shall
have to start anew-but our next start
will not be in Germany-in America
perhaps-if they will have me.
| While visiting the fighting front-as
| near as we could get to II, for We were
at Chateau Thierry during the heavy
| fighting, l made it a point to talk with
the men in the ranks. They are Won
| derful lot.
| II can understand why Gen. Mangin.
| with whom | had luncheon, said:
~ am anxious to get mere Of your
American soldiers. They are a Won
derful set-a wonderful set. Giye me
! enough of them, and with my French
backed up by those Americans the Boche
must give ground. He cannot stand be-
| fore u.s..
"One day We were permitted to visit
the scene where regiment OF field ar
tilery were pounding away on the Ger
man positions. Their guns roared a
never ending chorus. The Americans
were working at top speed. Begrimed
! by smoke and powder and clearly show
! ing the effects Of the tremendous pace at
which they were fighting, they were as
| happy as school boys. They popped the
| shells into the guns with clocklike pre-
cision. The Germans had been on the
run for several days. and these artillery
men had been following closely
I'VE will have the Boche on the run
| again in the morning II we can keep this
pace up said one of the men. They
| cannot stand up under this dose much
| longer
| Wanted to Keep on Fighting.
HE was right The Germans re-
| treated next morning. Our men are do
ing wonderful fighting. | saw the ma l.
| rines coming out of action. They were
| sore They did not want to come out
One chap had received slight wound on
| the bridge of his nose. He was covered
| with blood. When / asked him what
| happened, he said. 'Shrapnel. and con-
! tinued on his march. Another mans
| hands were caked with blood Helped
fix up my pals leg, he explained We
| did not have n. whole river OF water
| while We were In there
Il do not wonder that the French have
\ welcomed our men. and to see them in
the midst OF the fighting is an inspira-
tion Premier Clemenceau had nothing
| but words OF highest praise for them
| During our interview he mentioned the
X. Of c. policy OF sending cigarettes and
chocolate up to the men on the front
line and distributing them free in all the
huts told him we would continue that
practice.
! The X. Of c. Is doing great worl,
among the men. Keep 1t up said the
Premier II there is anything the X of
[, wants and does not receive the reason
Will always be just one-you have not
| asked "
l