Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-10-09
GIBBONS EXPERIENCES THRILL AFTER
THRILL IN CARRYING OUT ORDERS AS
A NEWS CHASER FOR THE u S PEOPLE

Floyd Gibbons, wounded war
correspondent, who comes back to
the United States on a leave OF alb
sence from the American army and
bearing a personal message from
General Foch to the American peo-
pie, will deliver that message at the
Augustana auditorium Monday
night
Wounded. himself, while going
over the top with the United States
marines at Chateau Thierry on June
4, he is going to tell the people Of
this country how the devil dogs"
from America saved Paris. In
many places through the country
he lectures under the auspices Of
the United States marines.
or Gibbons career, the following
description tells better than any
thing else that could be written
just what manner of man he is. II
was written by Paul West, CORE
spondent accredited to the Ameri-
can army, who has seen some Of
the deeds this intrepid news gath
erer has performed:
Floyd Gibbons is a scant 81. he
has seen and done things all his
life. He went down to Mexico for
the Chicago Tribune when Villa be-
gan to grow prominent and was
with him in three OF his biggest
battles. The following year he was
accredited to General Pershiqgs
punitive expedition against Villa, by
the war department He was one
of the correspondents 10 accom-
pany the flying column led by Gen
eraI Pershing when it crossed the
border.
During the expedition, General
Pershing designated Gibbons as
one of the small party Of 20 rifles
to make a dash through Chihuahua
mountains and reach small BODY
of CarranZiSta forces after the bat
tie of Parral Ordered by his pa
per to go to London as head of that
office, Gibbons was directed to trav-
Ell by the same steamer on which
Count Won BernstorfT was to retuI Il
to Germany. Its safe passage was
guaranteed. The arrangement did
not suit Gibbons at all The eyes
of the world were Centered at the
time on the blockade zone. estaD-
| lished by Germany. Gibbons, scent
Ing the possibility of a story, sent
to New York and cancelled his sail
ing on a safe conduct boat, booking
passage, instead, on the biggest Gu
harder in port, loaded with mum
tions and about to sail That was
the LacOnia, $4,000 tons. On tie
night of Feb. q, 1917. Gibbons
newspaper bunch worked itself out.
/ The Laconia was torpedoed after
dark, without warning. and while
over two hundred miles off the Irish
coast
There were no officers or sail
ors in the lifeboat in which he hap
! pened to find himself, anf lie took
/ command. They were out al night,
1 being picked up in the morning and
I taken to Queenstown. Half an
/ hour later, his clothing still wet,
! Gibbons began sending a 4 600 word
story by cable. His account of the
sinking, published throughout the
United States, caused a terrific sen
sation and was unoficially cfted
! in Washington as the covert act" OF
which the president had been
I speaking 1t has since been con
sidered as one of the important fac
( tors in sending America into the
war Gibbons greeted General
Pershing on his landing in France
/ He welcomed, as well. the first
| American troops when they landed
| on French soil. He was the first
American correspondent to accom-