Evening star., 1918-07-28

QUARTERMASTER SERGEANT Ed
MUND GOULDING. WHO IS RE
SPONSIBLE FOR THE AMERICAN
SOLDIERS, aBLIGHTYn SCHEME.
5000 miles away. a second home"
here was the end and aim of Gould.
ing's ambition. He began his work
with the benediction and co-opera.
ton. as far as that was possible. OF
his American commanding ohicer.
who already, recognising his ability.
had promoted him from private to
acting sergeant. then to sergeant.
then to first sergeant. and eventually
to quartermaster sergeant. senior
grade.
II anybody desires to know in de-
tail the rebuffs and snubs that this
sergeant" as he was often sighting
ly termed, encountered in his at
tempts. stretching over several months.
to get big organizations and govern
ment departments to listen to him. let
that person don the uniform of full
private and come to busy. war-ttred
London and try to get hearing for
an. in some respects. idealistic scheme.
Even when Goulding finally managed
to get one Of the most influential OF
London editors enthusiastic about his
ideas. and, through him, one of the
most powerful newspaper owners in
the world equally strong for them.
and wide publicity was given to the
thing by influential pens. the scheme
for "Sammy's Blighty" was. In the
words Of the editor mentioned, kept
lying round for three months-that
t. hAt hi liz
The London editor to whom Could
Ing finally carried the far-reaching
scheme which he had elaborated and
put on paper in its tiniest details was
Hannen Swaffer of the Weekly Dis
patch. The Dispatch is one Of the
Northcline. Hannen Swaffer is per-
sonally so interesting that one wishes
much more detailed character
sketch Of him could be given than
may be attempted here. Net yet
forty, he is equally renowned as an
able editor with an acute lose for
news and genius for putting big
things over. as a witty epigramist
and as a whole-souled bohemian.
He has been associated with Lord
Northcliffe for sixteen years and is
recognised as ono of the cleverest
men on Fleet street. He is said to
be the greatest expert on press pho
heard him described as the only man
in England who can write captions.
si -
Swaffer saw the possibilities in Ed
mund aoulding's scheme as soon as
the 1qaartermaster, sergeant. now all
but discouraged. laid it before him.
and he.lost no time In bringing it to
the attention Of Lord Northclifte.
That famous nobleman. and great
Journalists strong Anglo-American
enthusiasm reacted to the suggestion
with equa promptitude and vigor.
and he ta4e his editor go to 1t and
to spare neither time. energy nor
along with really moving and elo-
!quent leading article and others fol-
aowed from such practiced pens as
FhoaGs ofsARx Pembertonss Frederick
:Wtlfta1n Hne. an AnsrIcan who
leSiasd to Know stha Hahsat close
Spnn II ss:. -s;E5z ,-;s.-.,es go
Offers Of money. hospitality, enter
inc: sii f4anefs rfippei. u dis
tinsuished' country. magnate.., and
Dispatch "a. .00Qs immediately .she5 had
read Swaffer's ,hrst. article. Sir Heary
Dalsiel, also offered $1,000 for a private
fund II, the failed to act.
The European director OF an express
company offered. the services Of his
10000 branches In America. Scores. OF
famous people. Sir Arthur Conan
Doyle, Bash Macdonald Hastings, the
: sdramatist. and. Sir Thomas Linton
among them. jumped. right ip to lhelp.
Theatrical. managers rushed. to, assiat.
g And. best Of iall, hupdreds4of British
. motheFs. - many. Of ,thsm. -Inothers of
. boys who have laid, down their lives
. IN the war offered to throw open their
~. Schemes, - for, providing entertain
: ments In London. took shape .simme-
!, atateay..- James White. - wealthy
London landowner and aportin9 man.
was chiefly responsible for: Organizing
the boxing displays for the entsrtaan-
.m6nt OF 0uf'h eating men that are nbw
i held on every wednesday, evening at
the famous National Sporting club. In
Covet1t' Garden: ~ Cooperating with
the Weekly Dispatch, the L6ndpn
theatrical managers got togSfhSr and
arranged to give q dne show at some
. leading London playhouse for our
..B@mmies" and Jacks" every Sum