The Colville examiner. [volume] (Colville, Wash.) 1907-1948, 1918-03-09
Came From "Over T here"

dramatic stories of thrilling expert
ences from the front has awak ened the
people of Colville to a bigger realiza-
ton of the war. They have caught a
glimpse of the terrible meaning of the
phrase so lightly used at times. "over
the top" and they realize as never be-
fore that the allies are looking to this
country for aid in bringing the conflict
to an end quickly, that the world may
be at peace again.
Capt. Pequegnat spoke at the Baptist
church on Sunday morning and in the
evening at the M. 11. church. all the
other churches closing so that their
congregations might hear the address.
The church was filled to the doors to
hear the Canadian officer, one of the few
officers of the 1st Canadian regiment tn
return alive from the terrible slaughter
at the second battle of Ypres. one Of
the bloodiest battles of the great wal.
america" with the added verse.
God save our splendid men, was sung
by the audience and the large choir
and was followed by prayer offered by
Rev. Bell, of the NJ. T. church. Then all
listened to Capt. Pequegnat who sang
with feeling a song popular in Eng
land, God Bring You Back to Me-"
which he followed by request with
"The Song of the Lighthouse Bell"
and "Tnere's a Ship That's Bound for
the Blighty." The last song had in it
all of the joy of the British Tommy"
as the ship takes him home on fur
Tough to see his loved ones. The listen
ers heard in it also the happiness OF
their "Sammes' when the transport
should bring them home again.
AS speaker of the evening the cap
tain was introduced by Rev. Bell, who
said in part that questions as to the
cause of Americas entry into the war
We're becoming fewer each day. as fresh
evidences of the perfidy of the "banditti
at Berlin" Were becoming more evident
all the time.
The Canadian officer was vigorously
applauded when he began by telling
his thankfulness that Canada with it's
400-mle border had not a gun or a fort
along the entire boundary line and
said that he hoped that there never
would be. 'T am glad that the licking
days between us are over he said. and
told the story of the Canadian boy who,
after being in the States for three
months wrote his father as follows:
Dear Dad: Tomorrow we celebrate
the day on which we licked you" His
father replied that he was quite puz-
zled concerning the reference to the
day upon which the licking had oc-
Cured, saying. 81 have no recollection
of the day on which you licked me, but
every day is an anniversary of the day
upon which licked you"
Captain Peg" as he is affectionately
called by the camp boys. enlisted on
the 10th of August, 1914, six days after
Britain declared war on Germany. He
enlisted as a private in the 1st Canadian
infantry, and his days as n private he
called the happiest days of his life as
soldier. He learned from his life in
the ranks the lesson that made him
resolve that If he ever rose to become
an officer he would treat his men as he
would like to be treated.
He said that it did his heart good to
see the love that existed between
American officers and men. The officers
speak in glowing terms of their men
and the men of their superior officers.
"That love will take us far" caid Cap
tain Peg, I'VE trust to Berlin"
England before crossing to France
there was a time of great dissatisfac-
ton and restlessness for the Canadi-
ans were eager to get over. They
thought that the war would he over
before they could help in putting an
end to it. They were soon to learn that
it was no child's play. For 70 days it
rained and many of the Canadian boys
suffered by the exposure in the mud
and rain.
The call to France was weiconreti
and as they were four days on the
water, the men began to fear that they
We're not going to France but to India.
The troops landed on Sunday and on
the following Wednesday were in the
front trenches There was not much
time to think it over
"I shall never forget the first time
that 7 was under shell fire." said the
speake and his hearers felt the thrill
of it all when he described it to them.
He lay on the cement floor of the she'll
that was left of the hotel five miles
back from the front and lodged bullets
that screamed on all sides. The roar of
the guns was tremendous.
never pTdytu 50 udId Ill all my
life" said the captain. every man, !
don't care what his religion may be,
ATHEIST or what, utters a prayer before
going over the top. He has a prayer on
his lips that he may be brought back
safely"
He spoke of the harmony among the
religious bodies in France. His first
Sunday there, as officer of the day he
marched the Catholics among his men
to early mass at a church near the bor-
ders of Belgium. Afterwards he took
the Protestants to the same church
where Protestant chaplain delivered
the sermon
The British Tommy" with his
sense of humor which makes 1t possible
for him to squeeze out joke under any
circumstances, his generosity and love
of Mother England, was vividly por-
trayed by Captain Pequegnat. He told
of seeing them sitting by the roadside
after trip over the top and when
cup of cocoa was brought to them with
a word of cheer from the Y. NJ. C. a.
huts, passing 1t along to the wounded
German prisoners who came along.
He told how he was taken over the
top to the trenches at Neuve Chapelle
by a little Scotch guard one night. 1T
was a magnificent night" he said, and