The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1918-05-30
BRITISH OFFICER GIVES
WAR LECTURE IN CITY
CAPT. E. L. GUEST ADDRESSES
IMMENSE AUDIENCE
Patriotic and Humorous Description
Of Terrific Trench Warfare Given
at First Baptist Church Friday
Night for Red Cross.

The people Of this community had
the pleasure of hearing a speech
during the Red Cross campaign from
a veteran Of the Boer war and
soldier actively engaged in the trench
ell in France, Capt. E. L. Guest, OF
Lancaster, England. Capt. Guest
spoke on Friday night of last week
to one of the largest audiences that
has ever assembled in the First Bap-
fist Church.
Rev. Robert A. Clark, pastor of the
First Methodist Church, presided as
master Of ceremonies. "America"
was first sung by the audience, fol-
lowed by God Save the King" and
invocation by Rev. M. R. Gibson, OF
the A. R. P. church. Mai. M A.
Walker then, in fitting speeches, pre-
sented the five flags of honor won
by five communities in the late Lib
ertv Loan drive. Atoka, Brighton,
Mnnford, Mason and Coyington and
Upton county were the winners OF
these honors. Mr.. W. w. Templeton
received the flag for the first-named
place, Mr.. NJ. E. Hill for the second,
Mr. S. H. Bass for the third, Mrs.
j. j. Mann for the fourth, and Mr.
w. f. Bringle for the fifth. The in
troductory speech was by Mr. w.
Laurie Owen, and he presented the
speaker Of the evening to the audience
in a brief but most eloquent speech.
Capt. Guests speech was directed
more particularly to the methods OF
warfare than to the. actual opera,
tions. He has been wounded several
times and has hven detailed for Red
Cross and other campaign work. He
said that before the war we were
known as American cousins, but times
have changed and we are now BROTH
ers and sisters, and he was glad IN
deed to call us by these terms.
He entered into very extensive
description Of the methods OF at
tack. retreat, etc, artillery duels,
barrage fire and how to take advan-
tage Of such things.
He spoke about the ''crisis' as It
ii termed in this country, IN other
words the retreat of the allies since
March I'll. This, he explained, was
misunderstood. 1t is one of the most
effective ways of fighting. AS long
as the morale of the army is GOOD,
then the retreat is no disadvantage IN
4 general way. But the morale, ac-
cordino to Capt. Guest, is one Of the
most essential fighting points. It IS,
rs he explained, the lack sf morale
that IS now preventing the Huns from
4 general offensive, and they are
waiting until the men have taken
more courage for the onslaught.
He touched upon the brutal stand
ards Of Prussian warfare. II IS
mart Of the general plan to murder
sy and children and to impair |
and violate the physical person, and
he gave an illustration OF a little
CITY in France, where gas bombs
were used on the inhabitants, bis
terinr and binding and rendering
helpless the women and babes and
aid people, such as were left in the
French city. His description Of the
scene enacted there was very pa
TDcJlC anu UI0uBH OS~AS w NAAS - -
Of many Of his hearers.
The horrors Of trench warfare were
graphically depicted, but he also told
Of the lighter side, telling several
good stories of humorous nature
about trench life.
Capt. Guest spoke for an hour and
4 half. He makes no pretensions
either to eloquence or oratory, his
speech being of the conversational
fype but he was heard throughout
With unabated interest, speaking as
he did from the standpoint Of sol
der Of 90 years. experience, and
coming as he does from a family Of
fighters. He is the last Of fam
III If three soldier brothers, the
other two having given up their lives
for their country. :.
Cant. Guest met with number OF
onr people, both after the speaking
ana also on the following morning.
~ left Saturday morning for Ridge
IL Tiptonville, Dyersburg, Ripley and
Nashville, and will return to the
trenches in France on May 30.
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