Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-02-23
Views and Reviews
If Colonel "BiU' Would only
Repeat for the Home Folks

IL must have been one grand and glorious
day for our esteemed compatriot and fellow son
OF Nebraska, Colonel "Bill" Hayward, when he
marched up the "avenoo" at the head of his
dusky regiment of "bloodthirsty black fight
ers," as they were dubbed by the Huns, who
had to take their onslaughts when the battle
was on. The New York papers picture Colonel
Bill" in a tin hat beaming like a Millionaire
trudging along without limp despite his lame
ankle just to show how he could keep ahead OF
the best Of EN- and was not to be classed with
the cripples who rode in automobiles. The
New York Worlds story of the reception is
graphic in the extreme. AT the head of the
line" it says, rode four platoons of police II
abreast and then, afoot and alone, Colonel Hay
ward, who organized the 18th, drilled them
when they had nothing but broomsticks to drill
with, fathered them and loved them and turned
them into the hghtingest military organization
any mans army could want The French
called them Hell Fighters The Germans
after few mixups, named them 'Blutlustige
Schwartz-maenner But Colonel Bill, when he
speaks of them, uses the words those scrap
ping babies of mine and they like that best OF
all. incidentally, they refer tenderly to him as
"0ld Bill that fightn white man." So it's fifty
fifty" 1t further disclosed that of the 1892
paraders, III wore the "Croix de Guerre" deco
ration and the organization as a whole had been
twice cited as indicated by the bronze token
with green and red ribbons attached to the
regimental colors And to think Colonel Bill
tried to break into the Spanish-American war,
succeeded as a captain of a Nebraska City
company but got no further than Chickamauga
Park! If he could only parade that regiment
of his in their war togs up the main street OF
Nebraska City today wouldn't they try to make
up in appreciation for lost time. Come on back
Colonel Hayward and let the home folks look
at you.
I have fine chatty letter from Major Amos
Thomas, who is now doing judge advocate duty
with the American forces at Treves, Germany.
While. not written for publication, the mayor
tells some things about himself and the work
he is doing that know are in no way conhden-
tial and will be of general interest to friends as
giving an insight into certain phases of our oc-
cupation of Germany:
II am very nicely situated here in COM
mand of the First battalion, general head
quarters military police, of 20 officers and
900 men. In addition, l am provost marshal
for the city, and also provost court for the
city. In other words, | am policeman and
police court. I deal with the civil population
largely, and try about so cases a week. My
court does not stand on technicalities in the
matter of pleadings or evidence. l try to get
the facts even if | have to permit the asking
of a leading question without the proper foun-
daton. While l wouldn't want to say that
the Hun is presumed to be guilty when he is
brought into court, the fact is that out of so
cases tried this week there was only one &C
quittal, and sentences become effective as
soon as pronounced.
Rather than try to tell you about the city,
am enclosing little pamphlet that gives
very good description of the town. mag
inc during peace times great many tourists
visited the place, as it is a very attractive, up
to date, modern city, with a rather mild eli
mate. l am spending a more comfortable
winter here than l did last year at Camp
Dodge.
1--WE have little trouble with the inhabi-
tants In fact, they are so very decent to the
American troops that they are strongly sus-
pcioned of indulging in propaganda to turn
US against the French. 1t is not necessary
to say that our treatment of the enemy is en-
tirely different from the treatment he accord
ed his vanquished foes. We have so thor
oughly acquired the habit of paying for every
thing we and respecting property rights
that we seem to be following about the same
policy here as elsewhere. We are sometimes
criticised for the reason that the Hun does
not, and cannot, comprehend such treatment
He knows but one policy-the iron fist, both
in the civil and military.
~ find the Hun to be an awful baby
Practically everyone try for crime cries like
a child and always puts UP some sort of
ptiful tale to secure mercy. If he thinks he
has the upper hand, however, conditions are
entirely different. / think Germany is very
short of foodstuffs. The people look under
pexions you expect to see here, but they al
ways keep up a good appearance, seem to
have plenty of paper money and are ready. to
start merchandising at the earliest possible
moment
"The German people, l believe. expect to
resume their former trade relations when
peace is declared. They do not seem to be
able to understand that they have done any,
thing they should be required to pay or atone
for. 1t seems beyond them. ...
l. h. fr0FT1
active service, and again resume my law prac-
tice. / think high percentage Of the Off
GERS desire to return to civil life. My work
is very pleasant and interesting My battal-
ion enjoys the reputation around here of be-
ing one of. if not the crack, organizations
Of its kind in the American expeditionary
forces. and we have every accommodation
for comfortable quarters, plenty of plain food
and good equipment. The commissioned
personnel l have under me, and those above
me with whom come in contact is the finest
have met in my 81 months of service"