The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1918-02-22
SERGEANT MARsHALL's SPEECH
At the Band Stand this Evening
Should Have Large Audience


Eyewitness information from the
front in France will be given at p.
m. from the bandstand this evening,
when Sergeant Verne Marshall, of
the 126th Machine Gun Battalion,
speaks here under the auspices of the
speakers bureau of the United States
treasury department. The purpose or
his lecture, which is entirely free, is
to fully arouse the people of the
South to the necessity for co-opera-
tion and earnest and persistent sup
port of the government in this trying
hour.
Sergeant Marshall, who is a news
paper editor in civil life, is being
sent through the Southern states to
spread broadcast the first-hand infor-
nation as to the situation in France.
He uses no theories, but merely of
fers narrative that is thrilling, hor-
rifying and impressive. He graphical
ly portrays the three months that he
spent in the hell at Verdun, when that
tremendous struggle was at its zenith
and when the fate of the world itself
wavered for those in the balance. His
recitation of the events there is said
to be one of the most stirring ever
delivered in this country.
A volunteer in the American Am
bulance Field Service for a brief per-
iod, he was transferred to the army
of France, with which he served on
the battle front. On his return to
America he took up the task of bring
ing home to the people of this country
the tremendous nature of the struggle
and the great danger which threatens
this country as well as the entire
world, and the necessity for putting
forth every effort to save the world
from militarism
When the Iowa National Guard was
sent to Camp Cody, N. NJ, Marshall
enlisted as private. During the last
Liberty Loan campaign he was called
on as an aid in. putting the loan be.
fore the men of his division, which
led all training camps in this country
in point of per capita subscriptions.
His story of conditions in France, of
the need for national unity during
CIAoloJ 10 OIIC IAldI Noi1tlOL 1dI1 W
convince his hearers.
"If that speech of Sergeant Mar
shalPs could be heard in every town
and hamlet in our country" said the
Ell Paso Times, following his lecture
in the Texas city, "it would bring us
so close to the war that no man would
dare stand on American soil and say
that our country has no business in
the war. 1t was a talk that brought
you close to the horrors of the con-
fiict and the principles at issue. Ser
geant Marshall was at the front and
saw and heard the things he deserib-
ed. So deeply did Sergeant Marshall
touch the hearts of his hearers that
tears were seen in the eyes of many
men,"
Life in the trenches, attacking and
counter attacking, barrage fire, liquid
fire, the use of gases, the wonderful
morale of the French army and many
other phases of the actual conflict are
dealt with, the purpose of the entire
narrative being to depict those condi-
tions with which the American army
will meet as to enlist every hearer in
the greater army at home that must
support our fighting men abroad.
Dead Mans Hill at Verdun, where
Marshall was working with a little
group of twenty Americans is vividIy
portrayed.
The lecture here is intended for all
of the residents of this and adjoining
counties and If fS cypocfo5 that tho
attendance will be the largest that
has gathered here in many days. Ser
geant Marshall is delivering this lee
ture free through patriotic impulse,
he having given up the lecture plat
form to enlist in the army where he
serves for s38 per month and all he
gets out of this tour is his expenses
paid by the government.