Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1919-05-09

His regiment formed part Of the
reserves at Vimy Ridge, which was
captured by the Canadians with a
loss OF $4,000 men. A similar at
tack by the French the year previous
/ had failed. owing 10 lack Of artillery
and shells. and the French we're
driven back with the loss OF more
| than 10000 men.
| Arrival OF American troops, Me
Court says, revived the dropping
spirits of the troops and the fight
was waged with the certainty of vic
tory. AS the Germans fell back they
poisoned the wells. the only source
of water for the advancing Cana
dams and Australians. Finally the
Canadians solved the problem by
forcing German prisoners to drink
the water from the wells. II the
Germans lived the Canadians drank
the water. but hundreds Of Germans
died in this way.
McCourt has an inexhaustible sup.
ply of detailed incidents Of the great
war. When Mons was captured his
regiment was the first to enter the
city. He was quartered for a month
in the home of welltodo citizen Of
Mons. Actual experience taught
him that tales of destruction Of prop
erty and abuse of authority by the
Huns are not exaggerated. The in
habitants hid away valuables and
furniture and canned goods wherever
possible, and after the relief of Mons
the people began to bring in their
caches--furniture from distance,
| canned goods and other articles
buried in the ground.
He tells one incident of young
boy of the family in whose home ne
! was quartered climbing to the roof
of the house removing tile and
bringing forth a bicycle. This lad
was about the only resident of the
city who had bicycle with rubber
tires. the Germans having confscated
the rubber.
Such furniture as pianos and side
boards. which could not be removed
and hidden, we're ruined by the Ger
mans before leaving: the cupboards
were tipped over and smashed. with
their contents in tableware, the piano
box was torn open and sl0ps emptied
among the strings and mechanism,
while the keyboard was smashed.
It is true. he says, that Belgium
girls were either /deported or requi-
sitioned to satisfy the carnal desires
OF German officers quartered in their
homes. The home In which McCourt
and four comrades, were Quartered
was that OF q we'll known and promi-
nent Belgium family, consisting of
father and mother and three chill
dren. 14-year-old girl and two boys
younger.
The rejoicing 6f the French people
when the Germans were driven out
was intense. The esteem in which
they held their deliverers is we'll
illustrated by a postcard photo Of the
three children Of the family. present.
ed to Mr.. McCourt on his departure,
which bears this Inscription:
Hdmmage respectueux ct recon-
naissant des enfants belges Renee,
Alfred OF Marcel au glorieux ct
valiant heros canadien Willy.
Mons, le IL Decembre, 1918.
| Chemin des Etangs, 81.
Gloire ct honneur q nos genereux
liberateurs canadiens.
MR.. EFT NINE. WOLFFERTS.
Respectful and grateful greeting
OF the Belgian children Renee.
Alfred and Marcel. to the glorious
and walorous Canadian hero. Billie.
Mons. Dec. IL, 1918.
81 Road of the Ponds. .
Glory and honor to our generous
! Canadian liberators
/ MR.. AND MRS. wOLFFERTS.
(Translation by Leger Mercier Of
1.-THE Standard composing room.)
| The currency in use In Belgium
was printed on cheap paper and cur
trent only In the immediate district.
THE members Of the army Of relief
lwere enabled to do many favors for
those with whom they lived. For in
|stance no fuel was available to the
Icitizens but the soldier guests could
80 to the army supply depot and get
their allowance Of fuel each day,
which they would turn over to their
hosts; the same thing was done in
the case Of canned meat, underwear
and other articles.
McCourt spent four days at the
British base at LeHayre. France,
while en- route home. Stationed at
the American base in the same city
was his nephew Neal Hudson, an
Olympia boy with the Marines. but
neither knew of the presence of the
Iother in LeHayre.
i McCourt will go back to Dawson,
Alaska. in June but probably will
return to the Puget Sound district to
make his home.
Rural Carrier Examination.
The United States civil service
commission has announced an ex-
amination to be held at Gate and
tOlympia May 10, to fill the position
of rural carrier at Rochester and va.
cancies that may later occur on rural
routes from other postoffices in the
county.