The Washington times., 1918-06-30
DEAF MUTE ASKS
| CHANCE TOENLIST
ANDFIGHT GERMANS

The Arst deaf mute applicant for
! De navy on record, william Henry
I Chambers. . former student at Gal
laudst College,, is IN the Capital to-
) day awaiting an official waiver on
his physieAI shortcomings that will
: admit him to the service. Secretary
u the Navy Daniels has promised TO
secure the patriotic deaf mute a post
: IN the reclamation division among re-
turned wounded and MANNED soldiers
Chambers attended GAllAudet Col
! lage in 1908. He was q student at
! the college for two years. leaving to
serve as Instructor at the North Caro-
: lima State School for Deaf and Dumb.
Chambers gained renown as an ath-
1 lete while in Washington. He halls
from Raleigh, n. C.. the home OF Sec
rStAFy Daniels.
wants 10 right.
i. Coming directly from Knoxville,
where be is a member Of the Ten
nessee School for Deaf and Dumb,
chashbsrs made personal application
to the Secretary OF the Navy yester-
day,
The conversation was carried on by
pAd and pencil The Secretary was
- deeply Interested in the silent con-
ference that an admiral was allowed
70 cool his heels in the background
while pencils fairly few across scores
ana scores of sheets OF paper.
n want to Tight the Germans"
wrote Chambers
The mute was armed with a dozen
1ettkrS Of Recommendation from prom
inent North CaroIinians and Tennes-
scans. Governor Thomas w. Beckett.
nf Nnrhh IL Fn1fnn a ~
Daniels:
His (Chambers) character and
patriotism are 100 per cent perfect"
II vas suggested 10 Chambers that
he could do his bit" by taking
civil ssTvies Job. .-...-
|DSssaT walt ABoabproof.-
u want to get iato your depart
nent; the navy the mute wrote. as
with q shrgs Of hIs shoulders and a
WY face he registered . strong dis
taste for bombproof Jobs.
But the law prevents me from
using snybody here except enlisted
man" Mr.. Daniels wrote
"T'll enlist" the pencil flashed
across the pad, a. a broad smile
spread bveF Chambers face.
Expressing admiration for the
Hute's patriotic spirit and sympathy
fer his affictfon, the Secretary re-
luctantly informed his visitor that
the navy regulations would not per-
NIT his acceptance.
"A sailor must hear, as well as see
the enemy" he wrote
But / can see well enough to
make zip for my lack OF hearing" the
mute argued, pointing with both
hands to his strnng. sharp eyes.
Mr.. Daniels warmly commended I
Chambers for his patriotism and as
sured him that he would help him in
every way to get Into some branch OF |
Government service where he is quail
NED to dc his BIT"
Fries War DepartmeBt.
"A deaf person always is handi-
capped" the mute eonhded to Nj
Daniels private. secretary as they
left the office, he Secretary's salute /
conveying a cordial "good-by."
Chambers renewed his efforts to en-
list fog active service in the office Of
the Secretary Of War. He was told /
that an opportunity for important
service might be found in the divi-
sion having charge Of reclamation
york among the Teturped wounded
shd MANNED soldiers. Large numbers
Of soldiers have their hearing and /
speech impaired by shell shock. and a
trained teacher of mutes should be |
able 70 render invaluable aid in ht-
ting for future life work some Of
these afflicted heroes.
Chambers will present hfs appiica-
tion to Col Frank Billings, in charge
OF this work, this week.