The Washington times., 1918-05-11

the allies and the helpless women
and children OF the devastated dis
tricts is made easier by their pres
ence.
They have seen the Red Cross not
only at home and on the transports,
but in France. They know personally
part OF the splendid story OF fits serv-
ice with the 500, 100000 given last
year, the most remarkable story OF
its Kind in all history. They add to
their other sacrifice. the sacrifice OF
a vacation at home. in order that they
may serve doubly by taking part in
the Red Cross campaign. This puts
us stay-at-homes to the test Of similar
service"
Boys Tell Their Stories.
Then the soldiers spoke, and il was
one continuous succession Of cheers
for the uncOnqufrable morale typihed
by the patriotic remarks OF the men
in Khaki. Color Sergt. John ]. Heffer-
nan, a Washington man. who IS in
charge of the fifty, was the FIRST
speaker. Laughter mingled with
cheers throughout his address, aud
great demonstration followed when
he concluded. -.
He told what the boys over there
are thinking-how they want to lick
the Germans-what they want-what
they ask those over here 70 do.
send us airplanes. eGt the Boches
out OF the trenches. and Wen lick
them in forty days. he shouted. He
drew laughter when he said:
I'VE over there don't want tslcum
powder. We don't want cold cream.
Now, what in hell does a soldier want
with those things" He also showed
the steel helmets and the gas masks
our boys wear in the trenches.
After him there came soldier after
soldier. telling his own experiences
and the experiences OF his comrades
They told OF the wonderful work OF
the Red Cross. and literally command
ed every American at home to sacri-
flee to the utmost, give 10 the ut
most, 70 help the N'orfsSofsfhis sblen-
did organization. .--ss- q.
Corporal O. y. Varlila, Of Calf
fornia, Of the sixth Field Artillery.
the red headed" American soldier.
who fired the first shot in France for
America, admitted that he'd rather
face the Germans than a crowd like
that. He managed to tell the people
how glad he was to do his bit, and
how essential IL was TO defeat the
BoChes, but seemed considerably wor-
ried over the tremendous applause he
was accorded.
Wake up, we are at war
That was the creed OF the whole
fifty. They all in sisted IL was a night
to the finish. and that America would
stay in to the limit. But il is abso-
lutely necessary, they impressed upon
their hearers that those at home back
up the boys in the trenches to the ut
most.
Sacrifice, sacrifice. sacrihce-that's
what will win the war. they urged,
and implOred every American on this
side to give and help to the limit Of
his ability.
While the speaking inside was go
ing on. those outside became impa-
tent. Hundreds, Including many
women. climbed uD on the roof OF the
tabernacle to get n look at "PerSh-
inE's Fifty through the many win
dOws. Finally. several Of the soldiers
were sent outside to address :he
crowds there while their comradrs
we're speaking inside. The cuthusi-
asm outside was just as great as
that within.
When the meeting ended. the SOL
dierS were almost mObbed by the
crowd Thousands OF men and wom-
en- crowded around the American he
rues. to grasp their hands, 10 slap
their backs affectionately. to wish
them well Many sought to get SOU
ycnirs. The roses with which each
soldier had been presented earlier in
the evening We're sna'chcd from them
by souvenir hunters Many were
forced to beg for relief before the
crowd would TclRISC them
The message :lc boys Will take
back to the trenches from Washing
ton must be that the Capital will
back them io tie limit.
Are YOU going to do your utmost
to back a. up" one Of the soldier
speakers asked.
Yes came the answering shout
from the great audience. and this an
swer the boys will carry back to their
hundreds Of thousands OF fellOw-soI-
diers on the firing line OF France.
on the platform, besides the SOL
diCrs. and the Fort Myer band. which
Furnished music throughout the even
ing. were the members Of the eXecu-
tive cOmmitie" uf the Red Cross war
fund OF 1915, and the following spe-
,lsI guests: Mrs Charles Menohcr.
wife of Ma jor General Menuhrr, com
ruandcr "f the Rainbow division over
here: Ms. e. T. SuHuneraI, wife OF
Esgadicr General Summeran. chief
81 artillery OF the Rainbow division.
and Mrs. T.. u. LochridSe. wife 81
Major General I.ochridSc, Of General
PershinG's staff.
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