The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-10-08
O-GERNANSARE
ONLY RESERVES
KAISER HAS LEFT.
MURPHY WRITES
Only Way Huns Can Now
Win Is By Successful
Peace Offensive
OF SPLENDID
SPIRIT AT HOME
Press Is Militant Force to
Meet and Destroy
Hidden Enemy

Inc only way the GeElLIahS can ~"
win is by a successful peace often
and the ro-Germans are the only
reserves the kaiser has left.
So writes M w. Murphy, Of Law"
renee & Murphy, Fargo attorneys,
who is now captain in Red Cross
work in France, in an open letter to
the people of Fargo, North Dakota
and the northwest.
"You at home can do as much
as the boys over here if you put
that line of German reserves out
of action" Captain Murphy con-
tinues. 1.-THE American press
meet that hidden enennty and de-
stroy il. That's the way it looks
to me-"
AS to when the war would be over,
Captain Murphy declared that there
is no indication as to the day and
the month. and that any statement
would be purely conjecture.
Captain .Murphy's letter, which
contains a wealth Of first hand in
formation on conditions on the fight
ing front in France. follows:
II had hoped to write each of the
pOyS d lSklCLs DuI 4lIlu H. 4A1PSS04DAS'
Please remember me to all of them
the Saturday night bunch and the
Rotarians," writes Captain Murphy.
81 have tried to analyze the aver
age doughboy's mind. and find that
they are all like the rest Of us here
their thoughts are divided between
the home folks and the news at the
front. 1 want this letter to assure
you all that we think most of home,
but our chief desire is to get at and
bust one Boche, and with good luck a
half dozen. So far, we have been
playing In excellent luck.
justification for Pride.
There is every justification for our
pride in our army. The Americans
are a constant establishment to the
other allies-they march faster and
further, fight harder and kick more
than any other army battle SCARED
Europe has ever seen-their only fault
is that they advance too fast and too
far. / was with them all Of last
month and since l have come back
I have found it hard to refrain from
boasting. TIE Germans fear the Can
adams and Australians, and avoid
the French and British whenever
possible, but the Americans bring
from them one word 'Kamerad.'
MY assignment to the front was
merely coincidence-everyo
wants to go there, but so far only
about ten per cent have been there.
I had expected to go to Vichy to as
sist former Governor Hanna. who is
in charge Of Red Cross work at base
No. 1. When I reached Paris l was
offered my present post, or service
with former Governor Hanna. 1 went
to Vichy, and both Mr.. Hanna and
myself were convinced that we
should change our plans, and that !
should go to Bordeaux. So I returned
to Paris, and preparations were made
for my trip here.
"That day, however, the army re-
quested the Red Cross to send
representative to the Soissons-Cha-
teau Thierry- Rheims front to act as
base officer, and organize the Red
Cross work among certain advance
excavations and mobile hospitals.
Men were scarce and the matter was
urgent and l was picked for the job.
IT was given trench helmet,
gas mask, military pass and a
connonette and driver. and directed
to report to a certain army com
mander north of Chateau Thierry.
Then they took my name and NUM-
Der, and asked me who to notify in
case of emergency.
Anxious to Get to Front.
Most of the boys are crazy to get
to the front. and after few weeks
they are crazy to get back. with
me it was the reverse. I left Paris
with regret, but after I was up a
month / was bitterly disappointed
when orders came to return to Paris
and proceed to Bordeaux.
you can imagine my feelings.
started out from Paris with truck
full of supplies, and military pass
with verbal orders to report to Col
onel Baker at a certain hospital
north of Chateau Thierry. We left
Paris at 6 p. m. the latter part OF
July-the second battle Of the Marine
was then in it's initial phases. Paris
was being bombarded by the big gun
and the crown prince had 72 divisions
Of picked troops in the narrow salient
between scissors and Rheims.
Everybody was excited.
I'VE passed marching troops and
great conveys of trucks, everything
moving north. AS it grew dark, we
had to feel our way along without
lights. Aeroplanes hummed over
head, and great lines Of artillery
plodded along. The grey aust hung
in clouds over everything.
1--WE slept in an old warehouse that
night, and early the next morning
left and almost Immediately came to
the real fighting. Great lines OF
barbed wire stretched across the field
of hastily constructed bitches or
trenches-they looked Ike sewer
to me.
"All along the road wooden crosses
stood under the rees. and great piles
si..r- ..az...-r. AL,n laEndana ne