South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-05-11
BRAVE MAJOR
Of U.S. FORCES
SHELL VICTIM
Soldier of Fortune Lately in
Command of Crack Ameri-
can Battalion Killed in
AmienS-PariS Sector.
Internatlonal News Service

International News Service:
WITH THE AMERICAN
ARMY IN FRANCE, May @
delayed Maj. A. Rasmussen,
soldier of fortune, former major
in the Canadian army and one
of the best liked officers in the
American army has been killed
by shell fire on the sector be-
tween AmienS and Paris, where
the Americans are fighting with
the French.
Maj. Rasmussen's home was in
Portland Ore. He was a tall, dark
haired. handsome chap OF soldierly
bearing who had taken part in sew
eral ilibustering expeditions in
Central America. Later he fought
with the Carranzistas in western
Mexico. Shortly after the outbreak
Of the war he obtained a commits
sion with the Canadians. where,
oddly enough, his closest friend was
captain from San Francisco. who
had fought with the Huerta forces
III AAEAACO eA@ciAAAoN NlAC 49, N<As's
This captain and Rasmussen had
been assigned TO the American
forces last fall by the British, the
captain. as an instructor his special
" being bayonet work.
Commanded L. 8. Battalion.
Rasmussen taught the Americans
/ first corps school but later was as
signed to the army school. showing
the men the fine points in aggres-
4 sive bayonet work. He proved eX
tremelv popular with his students.
In January, Rasmussen was trans
ferred TO the American army and
almost Immediately he was placed
lin command of a battalion of one
/ of our best regiments. Shortly
afterwards these troops entered the
line on the Toul front
During a German gas attack Ras-
mussen was slightly sassed. but re-
/ fused to go to the hospital. although
ordered there by a doctor. He suf-
/ fered for a week from the effects
of the gas.
on a certain night in April Ras-
mussens battalion began moving
down towards a certain town in the
sector between Amiens and Paris.
Rasmussen. who was COM
manding figure on horseback. rode
up TO a cottage where the Amer
| lean correspondents were quartered
TO say goodbye.
We'll. I thought I had seen the
/ last Of the Somme country when I
was with the Canadians in the big
Somme show, but you can never
know where you are bound for when
YOU are soldering" said he. IF
they get me this time YOU fellows
can divide my stuff. You won't get
much in the way Of clothes. I'm
not taking any chances with good
uniforms Right now I am wearing
my old British tunic."
Just then there was the sharp
whine of shell. the noise in
creasing in volume. The cores
pondents ducked their heads as the
shell burst in field about 800
wards away. but Rasmussen merely
Kicked the ashes from his cigaret
and laughed as he exclaimed.
The old boches just seem 10 fol-
low me around"
Rasmussen's battalion started
moving i'm the dusk while German
shells were bursting in the village
Immediately before he started
Rasmussen leaned down from his
horse and shook hands with each
correspondent wishing them good
luck and hoping that they would
get their bellies full OF shells"
Then he kissed the hand OF a
whlte-haired old French woman who
had taken hot water 10 his room
every morning Wheeling his horse
he departed in the darkness. Ras-
ulussen was the second British of-
acer that had been killed with the
Americans. the first being Col Grif-
hths.