The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-26
Officer of Famous Irish Regi.
ment Speaker Here Today.
He Addresses State Conference
of Mercy Organization.
ENGLISH HATED AMERICANS
But Latter Soon Won Their
Friendship and Admiration.
Southwestern Executives Plan
for Christmas Drive.

Odpt. ROY dOWlnOFpe, only survive
ing officer of the famous Royal Irish
regiment of the British army. which
went into action against the Germans
and returned with only Gowthorpe
and seven privates to answer the roll
CALL spoke at a luncheon given Kan
sas Red Cross workers from virtually
every county in the state at the Cham
ber of Commerce at noon today.
Gowthorpe in his talk told of the won-
derful achievements of the American
Red Cross and made an appeal that
| every resident of Kansas rally to its
support.
''Would that I could tell you of the
achievements of the American Red
Cross" said Gowthorpe. I'm a SOL
dier, tho, and not public speaker and
I cannot find words to express to you
the appreciation of England, France.
Italy, Belgium and Ireland for the
work you Americans have done in aid
ing the soldier and the civilian.
Thought Americans Braggers.
"At the beginning of the war We
English hated you Americans. We
looked on you as country OF brag-
gers. You changed our minds. tho.
shortly after your soldiers landed in
France to fight for humanity. I was
given score Of your men to train and
after while found them jolly good
fellows. About week after the Amer
leans were placed my charge re-
| ceived an order to make a raid. The
| purpose was to bring back at least one
German soldier that we might ques-
ton him. I had orders not to let the
Americans participate.
LAS climbed over the top with
about thirty picked British soldiers I
saw the Americans also climbing over
the top with us. / ordered them back
but they only gNnned. / had no time
to argue with them and went ahead
with my command. the Americans
tance to my right.
I'VE entered the enemy line and
half an hour later I gave the command
to return to our trenches. When we
got back learned that of the Ameri-
cans two were missing. 1t looked like
it was all up with me. and that would
be removed from my command be-
cause 1 had not obeyed the order to
keep the Americans back.
Il sent out a searching party, but
no Americans Half an hour later I
heard my sentry challenge some one.
The answer was from the Americans.
l knew it by the way they answered
my sentry. 1 climbed out of the
trench and found the Americans had
! captured twelve Germans 1t made
me warm up to them when
thought Of being sent to get one Ger
man and to see these two Americans
bring back twelve"
Tells OF Atrocities.
! Gowthorpe told of having seen six
: Canadian soldiers who had been put
to death on crosses and of rescuing
! recluses in converts who had been
outraged by the Prussian guards. He
said only for the assistance given by
the Americans the war would have
had far different ending. In speak
ing of the Red Cross at work on the
battlefield and behind the lines with
the civilians he said the organization
1 was one of the great factors in keep
ing up the morale of the allies and in
winning the war.
Gowthorpe spoke following a con-
ference of state Red Cross workers
and division Red. Cross executives at
l Memorial hall this morning The con-
t I ference was held for the purpose OF
outlining the Christmas membership
campaign of the American Red Cross
y which has for its object the enlistine
7 of every American in the world as q
4 member of the organization. The
8 campaign will be held the week ot
e December 1923.
t The conference was called to order
by s. E. Cobb, of Topeka, who is state
chairman for the Red Cross member.
0 ship campaign. He asked the dele.
n gates present to work until the las,
: individual in Kansas has Joined this
| organization. He said it was the duty
: OF every true American to support this
s. Red Cross now that the work Of ths
e organization has been increased by thu
signing OF an armistice.
Other Morning Speeches.
" Other speakers at the conference
8 this morning were John l.. Johnston
: president of the Liberty bank OF 81
> Louis and division chairman of thu
membership campaign; Joseph Dick
: son, jr.. division executive secretary
and George Waverly Briggs, assistan
manager of the American Red Croe
in the southwestern division. TIL,
southwestern division is composed O
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