New-York tribune., 1918-08-20
Letter From Fellow Officer
Tells of Heroic Combat
Against Superior Force
Buried With Honors
Prisoners Give Details of
Struggle to the Finish by
New York Soldier

Captain F. Blanton Barrett, who left
the city staff of The. Tribune to go to
plattsburg and who was recently re-
ported missing in action, was killed be
hind the German lines "hghting desper-
ately. fighting heroically against su-
perior numbers" according to a letter
received yesterday from fellow Of
fcer. He lies buried in city far be
hind the German lines. The name Of
the city has been learned from, German
prisoners. and Captain Barre.t's COM
rades have resolved to mark the grave
appropriately when they reach the spot,
What individual exploit of daring
took Captain Barrett SO far within the
enemy's lines is not divulged in the let
ter, but the writer declares that when
the circumstances are known Captain
Barrett's last adventure will shine as
zone of the dramatic and heroic bits
of gallantry" which are putting Amer
lcan troops on par with the veterans
OF four years of war.
Several times since arriving in
France the writer Of the letter had
seen Captain Barrett. He was happy
and confident, the writer said, and his
happiness and confidence were doubled
by word which reached him from home
that since his departure a daughter
had been born to him.
Buried Far Behind Foes Lines.
The letter follows in part:
"For three days | have been hoping
that it would not be necessary for me
to write a letter confirming the news
that Blanton Barrett is the first. so far
as l know, of The Tribune group to
L.;
Now there appears to be no doubt that
he died. fighting gallantly. only few
miles from where | am writing
"A runner from the liason patrol
brought me the first news that the
captain of Company Blank, --th
Infantry, had been killed. There had
been a considerable scrap and it oc-
Cured to me that later information
might show that he was wounded and
captured-that we could think of him
as missing.
To-day, however. confirmation of the
original report came from the lips of
without resistance. They said that
Captain Barrett had been buried in a
casket in city far behind the Ger
man lines. | got the name of the place
and some day we shall reach that place
and when we do Barrett's grave shall
have the marker it deserves.
"Blanton Barrett has left one living
monument which occurred to me to-
night He was one of the first news.
paper men in New York City to feel
the tug Of the Allied cause at his
heart.
Started Preparedness Course
He was one of that small group OF
reporters who persuaded Genera
Wood to designate an officer from
Governors island as drill master fol
the Newspaper Mems Training Corps
At east fifty of us who first attempt
ed TO drill and study in that c.ass arc
National Army officers, most of us il
the division which is mourning B an
ton Barrett He did not guess how
far his initiative would go when he
started a preparedness course for the
men who were writing daily abou
Americas lack of preparedness.
81 wish that could tell the story o
his death. 1t is one of the dramatic
heroic bits of gallantry which show
why the A. E. F. is coming gradual,
to rank side by side with tie Frencl
and English in trouncing the Hun
You may tell the friends of Captain
Barrett that he died fighting desper
ately. fighting heroically against su
perior numbers. He had his fling a
the Huns. Had he had luck with hir
this letter would never have been writ
ten.
"His you-all' with its Georg
warmth is stored in that corner of nj
heart where memories are refreshe
frequently by tears unshed."