Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-09-17

T Is A STORY rich with patri- |
Otk,m and love of Old Glory |
that Lieut. Harry Kelly unray-
elled TO an unraptured but Sc
lect audience today. The Lieut.
| who is not known for his vOlu-
bility. let lose OF the story reluct-
antly but when he started 1t flowed
with such yiyidness that his audi
ton; could visualize the battle torn
fields OF France and the heroism OF
our boys over there Over his heart
he. wears the ribbon of honor when
France in citing him for the cross OF
war with palm, bestowed upon him.
The returned warrior was the most
popular man in Ottawa today, and was
busy all day greeting the scores OF
his friends who called to shake hands
with him and congratulate him. Late
this morning he made a trip to his
fathers office in the Central Life
building. and was followed there by
, numerous friends. When approached
by a reporter from the Free Tader-
journal for an interview, he quickly
demured. pleading that he had no
story whatever that could be Of any
interest to the public, otherwise than
what the press reports had already
/. carried, and had no opinion or views
! pf the war that were Of any value or
| consequence. II was only by dint OF
a series OF cross questions that the
! following thrilling story was extract
: ed from the first Ottawa hero:
/ In this interview Lieut. Kelly nc
: word OF information could be secured
l from him touching upon the discharge
OF his duties 10 his captain and Il
> his men after being assigned, further
, than TO say tina, he did nothing o
: performed or rendered no service t
> the government which any office
i who had the interest of his country a
= hear in the winning of The wa
would do or perform.
r Il is his wish and desire that it b.
: not understood that he has done any
thing, while actively in command, tina
II any other soldier occupying a lik
position would not do, saying that
p he had less or refused TO make III
sacrifice that he has that he woul
> be unti. TO wear the American I'm
= form of a soldier or an officer.
Lieut.. Kelly seems to feel that tn
imprint or impress OF secrecy wit
- regards to many Of the actions Of GU
army is a matter which the govern
men. today still insists upon the so
der to observe and feels that wha
could not be written should not b
spoken, fearing that many a thin
~ said TO the public might appear
q have no particular harm, while Il
intelligence bureau Of the Germa
= army might see and observe much
II which could be put to their adva
" tage and use.
&c Was Surprise Attack.
me lieutenant speaks only gene
ally Of the battle in which he WI
~ injured. stating that ii occurred {
the night of April IA. in the Verdi
AZ sector and was launched in the for
IS of a surprise by abou, one thousar
H. German shock troops and that Il
encounter assumed almost a hand
hand engagement, where every c
o ticer in command was wounded r
sultng, however. eventually in the d
feat of the Germans and the KILN
manning and wounding of lar
= number of their men, not. hoWeye
without the sacrifice of many m,
out of their battalion. Here an
IN 10 detail some things which occurs
OF in that particular fight. all of whic
IN however, he, through his bashfulnes
W mOdeS.y and sense of duty. refused
give, saying that he preferred not
discuss those things, and that Il
al press in the matter of his citation hi
. said about al that could be said, al
,o that he personally did not care
1s make further comments on that fe
:, ture.
-, Praises Doctors and Nurses.
. Lieut.. Kelly in his interve
seems to have the highest praise f
-, the doctors and nurses in the he
pitfalls over in France, and says tn
m the friends and relatives of the DO
:. in France need have no fear that
w the event OF their sons. husbands
&c brothers being wounded that the be
- possible care will be theirs He CO
W. not speak too highly of the Americ
ne units in the hospitals over in Fran
and states that time cannot blot c
the memories which he will ev