Evening star., 1918-02-17
Ferdinand Sauer Falls in Ac-
tion, Father Here Is Told
in U. S. Telegram.
ENLISTED IN CAPITAL
GUARD TO AVOID DRAFT I
Washington Parent Proud Of Son,
Who Was Willing and Anxious
to Fight Boches.

washington 5 HfSt losS III aStuei' itsH'
ing on French soil was reported last
night in Gen. Pershing's casualty list.
Ferdinand Sauer, son of Joseph A
Sauer of 1922 18th street northwest, was
officially reported to have been killed
in action February s, 1918.
The young man who will head the list
of the city's honored dead in the United
States fight for democracy was of draft
age, twenty-three years old in June, but
he did not wait to be drafted. Soon
after registering in Franklin Pa, where
he and his brother had gone to work, he
came back to Washington and enlisted
last July in the Sd Infantry, District of
Columbia National Guard.
Private Sauer's father, lifelong
resident of the District, is the pro-
prietor of a grocery store at 1879 18TH
street, also his home address The
young mans mother died fifteen years
ago. His grandfather, John A. Sauer.
came to this country from Bavaria,
Germany. in 1s4s.
Telegram Breaks News.
The news of Private Sauer's death
was conveyed to his father last even
ing about 5 o'clock in the following
telegram:
"DeepIy regret to inform you that
Private Ferdinand Sauer. infantry. is
officially reported as killed in action
February s. 1918. (Signed Mccain.
the adjutant general"
Private Sauer was born on Cottage
Hill, near Bladensburg road, and at
tended hamilton public school. on
BladenburE road, which since has
closed He left school after the sixth
grade and obtained work in Washing
the N. Auth Provision Company. where
hfa father. had worked for fifteen years
prior to starting IN business for him-
!. ssn ays xsars ss as9. s--ss~s,va--r- "a
Survived BY Brothers.
survived by three brothers. George.
who lives in Washington; Frank, an
apprentice in the Washington navy
yard, and Joseph. with whom Ferdf-
to work. and by three sisters, Mrs.
Rosie Jenson of Langdon. D. c.; Mrs.
Matilda Holdman Of Tylersville. Pa.
and Marie Sauer: a sixteen-year-old
when Ferdinand came back to
Washington in June he told me he
had registered in Pennsylvania, but
that he did not wish to be drafted" his
father said last night.
He said he had been talking to 9TH
er young men he knew and he had
decided to go into the National Guard.
SO he enlisted in the District of Column
bia Infantry He went to Charlotte,
N C.. to train. and while there he wrote
me that he had been transferred to a
unit which was going abroad soon.
Anxious to Get Across.
THE last time I saw him was in
November. He was cheerful, and was
anxious to get across. He wrote me
. letter a little later from New York.
saying he had passed through Wash
ington. but had not had time to see
me. but that he would write later That
was the last word I had from him.
He told his sister. Mrs. Jenson, that
he would write from France. But he
did not do So"
MI. Sauer was visibly affected by the
news of his sons death, but he uttered
no word of complaint
He thought ii was best to go: was
proud of him. he said. IF ANYTHING
mad to happen to him. perhaps it is bet
ter this way, rather than that he should
have come back manned or crippled"