Evening star., 1919-03-01
BY GORDON STILES.
Cabiesram TO The Evening star and
the Chicago Daily News. Copy
right. 1919

BERLIN. Germany. February %
,pelaved) The conditions under
when the distinguished service cross
was bestowed today upon Maj. Lind
say Med, Sylvester of the 50th infan-
:rv were UNIQUE The award was
made by Brig. Gen. George II. Har-
ries. and the ceremony took place in
a room formerly occupied by the
American embassy here. 1t was in
strong contrast with the usual heid
conditions. where at least brigade
would have been turned out to wit
ness the presentation. Instead OF
bands and long ranks of soldiers
there was present distinguished
company of the military and dipio-
matte representatives of the entente
and neutral powers.
These Representatives were grouped
before Il huge American flag. which
reached from the ceiling to the floor
At the other end of the room fully
fiftv American officers and numnef
of women belonging TO the Ameri-
can Red Cross stood smartly at at
tention during the proceedings. on
either side of Gen. Harries Were ma J.
Gen. Sir Richard Ewart of the British
army and Gen. Guido Bassi OF the
italian army Gen. Harries read the
citation. which was as follows
The commanderin-c -chief. in the
name of the President. has awarded
distinguished service cross NO. 'eas
TO Mai Lindsay Med. sylvester Tor
extraordinary heroism at ID Aigremok,
France. July Is, 1918 During the in
tense bombardment preceding the
German drive of July 10. when the
wounded were so numerous that II
Il t. fGr M N
the dressing station. Maj. Sylvester
voluntarily gave UP his .dugout Tor
the use of the wounded and exposed
himself to heavy fire and ten hours
ofsterrifc bombardment. After lead
ing his men across the Mafne TINS
officer directed the reduction of a
number Of machine gun nests and ad-
vanced his lines four kilometers 24
miies) despite determined resistance.
When he had finished reading the
citation Gen. Harries said few words
regarding what the official reference
TO the terrific bombardment signified
hut hs laid particular stress ga the
fact that Mai SilVester gave up a
place of comparative safety that the
wounded might have their chance. he
pointed out that in the events which
led to the award the saving of life
played quite as important z part as
acts of destruction.
II can add no more to the story"
said Cen Harries as he pinned the
decoration on Maj. Silvester's tunic,
but I am grateful for the privilege
of awarding you this"-raising his
voice--"in Berlin
First Ceremony of Its Kind.
This was the first ceremony of the
kind that has taken place here, and /
was fortunate enough to be the only
representative of the press to be
present. Others who witnessed the
event included Capt. Bachelard, the
Spanish charge d'affaires; Maj. Rehm
of the French army. members of the
Belgian and Rumanian missions, Ru-
manian and Russian staff officers. and
Lieut.. Col. Carl Taylor of the Amer
lean Red Cross and formerly maj jor
in the Army Brig. Gen. Harries was
accompanied by his aid. Lieut.. c. NJ.
CaIlmard. and Lieut.. Scheliens. The
women of the Red Cross who were
present are attached to Col. Taylor's
mission.
Mai Sylvester has been in COM
mand of the Brandenburg camp of
Russian prisoners. but Gen. Earries
informed me this afternoon that he
had relieved the major of that post
and appointed him on his personal
staf as inspector Of prisoners camps
Maj Silvester's home is ia Ports
mouth, Va.