The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-08-28
CHOW WITH BOYS
National Committeeman OF
Okla. Tells of Experience.
Yankees Are Full of Ginger and
Always Eager To Fight.
BROUGHT MESSAGE TO TEDDY
Captain Archie Coming Home
Major Soon Back in 1t.
German Prisoners Never Real
lied American Manpcwer.

lied American Manpower.
New York, Aug. 28.-J. j. McGrew,
Republican national committeeman
from Oklahoma and a member of the
supreme board of directors of the
Knights of Columbus, who has lust
returned from two months tour of
the fighting front, carried with him
messages from Major Roosevelt and
Capt Archie Roosevelt to Colonel
Roosevelt. McGraw and the colonel
nave long been friends and when Mr.
McGraw telephoned the news of his
arrival to Oyster Bay the colonel was
insistant that he come down immedi-
ately. Mr.. McGraw mentioned the in
cident in the course of a remarkable
interview at the Astor.
IT tell you" said the big Westerner.
1T got under my skin abit-the colo
ners greeting. He let his hearty
said:
Tell me about my boys
Il told him that Captain Archie
would soon return home and the
colonel broke in with, OF course he
must come home. He is afraid people
VIII call him a slacker-after what
| ne has done. When 1 told him that
the major was rapidly improving and
at the time of our meeting declared he
would be back in the fighting before
three weeks had elapsed, the colonel
smiIeo. suppose the major is quar-
reling with the nurses right now. His
fight" -
| Mr.. McGraw devoted much of his
ame ABROAD to the men in the ranks.
He had Chow with them and swan
ped lights. While his mission was an
important one and included interviews
| with General Pershing and Premier
Clemenceau, he found time to learn
the viewpoint of the doughboys.
Talked With Hun Officer.
Mr.. McGraw was especially impress
| orIlcer In a prison camp within aNfew
miles of Paris, where 1900 Germans
were held in captivity.
II saw boys of IT and Is years
there. With them were men of 4e.
They were well treated but there was
a pathetic something's dog tired,
hopeless expression on their faces that
| touched me. The men saw have
been icked-we like that word in
Oklahoma. They have been licked
properly and well.
zone officer, a Prussian, who told
me he had been educated in London
and spoke English perfectly, asked me
why the United States had entered the
war.
"'Why did your country enter the
come angry?' he asked.
st was surprised. 'Doyou not know
that Germany violated international
law? Do you not know that Ger
many destroyed our ships and killed
American citizens-women and chill
dren at that? Do you not know that
German outrages forced my country
} to enter the conflict?' asked. I guess
L was pretty hot. He looked at me for
at least a minute without making q
reply. Then he said:
No, / give you my word 1 did
not know I guess the kaiser wants to
extend his influence over all man
kind. We are being tricked. When
the war is over I am going to Amer
ica-if they will have me, otherwise
! to South America. My father was in
the leather business. 1 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-
Spirit of Americans.
while visiting the fighting front
, as near as we could get to it, for we
were at Chateau Thierry during the
P heavy fighting, made it point te
talk with the men in the ranks. They
are a wonderful lot. I can understand
why General Mangin, with whom
) had luncheon. said:
Il am anxious to get more of you
American soldiers. They are a won,
| derful set-a wonderful set. Give mt
enough of them and with my French
backed up by those Americans, the
boche must give ground. He canno
a | stand before u.s.
zone day we were permitted t,
, visit the scene where a regiment o
. | field artillery were pounding ava,
!. | on the German positions. Their gun
roared a never ending chorus. TIL,
Americans were working at top speed
I Begrimed by smoke and powder an,
clearly showing the effects of the tire
| mendous pace at which they wer
| fighting they were as happy as schoe
boys. They popped the shells into tn
guns with clock-like precision. TIL
Germans had been on the run for sew
! eral days and these artillerymen ha,
been following closely. They were il
that position for two days and wer
growing tired of it.
Kept Boche On Run.
"'We will have the boche on the ru
again in the morning if We can kee
this pace up said one of the mer
they cannot stand up under this dos
much longer
He was right. The Germans re
treated next morning Our men ar
doing wonderful fighting. 1 saw tn
marines coming out of action. The
were sore They did not want t
come out. One chap had received
slight wound on the bridge of HI
nose He was covered with blooC
When I asked him what happened
said, 'shrapnel.' and continued o
his march Another Mans hand
were caked with blood. Helped ii
up my pals leg he explained, w
did not have a whole river of waite
while we were in there
81 do not wonder that the Frenc
have welcomed our men and to Sc
them in the midst of the fighting
an inspiration. Premier Clemencea
had nothing but words of highe,
praise for Them
Prices in Des Moines Go Higher.
Des Moines, Ia, Aug. 2S.-Tt
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