Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-23
BAKERS SECRETARY
NOW A MEADE ROOKIE
Reveals That 1t Was General
Macarthur Who Gave War
Chief Boche Helmet
Camp Meade. Md. Aug. %.


"A Few months ago, when Secretary of
war Baker was in Europe, a story was
sent across the wires telling how an
american soldier who had captured n
herman under extraordinary circum-
stances had met the Secretary and pre-
sented him with the helmet of the boche
according to the story, the meeting
TOOK place near the front-ine trenches
Inc Secretary expressed his thanks for
tne gift, but told the soldier that he
would not keep the helmet but would
instead present 1t to the mother of the
brave young American.
!, NO hint was given at that time as to
the identity of the soldier. but every one
Jumped to the conclusion that II must
nave been some blushing, stammering
private who had been overwhelmed at
the meeting with the chief of the War
rApepartment. We'll, that soldier wasn't
any private at all. He was Brigadier
General Cat that time ColoneD Douglas
macarthur. The then colonel was chief
or staff OF the Rainbow Division and
mad gone over the top with a French
outfit. After he had been absent some
( time on the expedition and his follow
ers were becoming worried the general
:. came back across the field to the French
trenches leading a big Bavarian officer
by the ear.
The identity of that soldier was re-
vealed here this morning by the only
private soldier in this camp who has
been in the front-line trenches-a SOL
der who until a few days ago did not
know the first thing about the military
game except on paper He knew the
game from that angle almost inside out.
Indeed he was one of the best posted
young men in the nation in that respect
This young rookie was busy cleaning
his mess kit after dinner when he told
that story. 1t was a true story all right.
for he knows. He Is Ralph A. Hayes,
former secretary to Secretary of War
Baker. Hayes is a draftee in this camp
as member of the Seventh company
of the 154th depot brigade. Private
+ Hayes still does little work for his old
boss it is said, slipping over to Wash
ington from time to time to discuss af-
/ fairs with which he is most familiar.
Hayes likes the army. He seems to be
q lively chap and those who know him
say he is fine entertainer with a
dandy voice. At the Western Reserve
University, Cleveland. he led his class,
|, and managed the Glee Club. Private
Hayes enjoyed his trip to Europe. He
met most of the big men over there and
went into the front line trenches with
his boss.
Private Hayes meets some of his
old friends from Washington over here
In sthe drafted ranks Senator James
Hamilton Lewis's private secretary is
over here as a member of the Fifth COM
pany of the depot brigade. He is
Private Doyle. Private l.. II. Reeves,
secretary of Senator Shepard, of Texas,
is also in camp.
Harold Willard who was the youngest
Meadeite In uniform has gone back
home to Springfield. Mass Harold, who
was only fourteen years old. was mascot
of Company If of the Seventeenth In
fantry regiment He joined that reEi
ment when it was on guard duty in his
home town last summer. He followed
the regiment to this camp and drilled
with the fellows and took hikes with
them. A few, days ago Colonel Noyes
issued orders that no mascots could re-
main with the regiment. That meant
Harold had to 20 home.