The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-03-04
Americans Have a Right to BE.
lieve tho Worst They Hear Of
Barbarians Over There

now"
This is the way in which Capt. \. n
Jones Of the American cXpeditionar!
forces. recently returned from more
than Il years service in France. SUMS
up the situation Which confrontS the
lneace conference at Paris. and with
which America especially must deal
Capt. Jones was addressing a men
meeting Of st. Georges church at the
parish house. and his discussion of the
! war and the situation which has grown
out Of it was more interesting than
any previously heard here. 1t was the
more impressive because Of the calm.
matter-of-fact way in which ii was told.
not by tireeatilg. blood-thirSty.
swash-buckler but by cool-headed,
efficient business man. whose business
in this war was less with the actual
fighting than to see that the fighters
were kept fit that their supplies went
up to them in time: that they did not
suffer from cold or hunger for lack Of
clothing or food. and that their guns
we're not silcnced by absence Of ammu-
milton.
ATROC1TY TALES
much has beer said of German afro
cities IN northern France and in Bel
gium," said Capt. Jones. From what
l have seen and heard l believe you
are safe in believing anything that you
are told Of the brutality and barbarity
of the Huns. have personally seen
little Belgian boy whose tongue was
cut out when he refused to work for
the Germans. 1 have talked with a
French woman whose husband, al Off
GER. was murdered by high German
officer over whom he was bending III
the act Of holding Il canteei to his lips.
! I was back Of Verdun when some Of
our American prisoners were told by
the Huns they could 50 back, to their
own lines. They started, Under q white
flag, and with their German guards,
and when they We're half way across
No Mnn's Land their guards threw
hand grenades among those poor,
wounded, shattered fellows, crawling
helpless on their hands. and knees to
reach their own comrades; can say
with qualification that we didn't let
Fritz get back to his lines. :... w,
Germany fought us long as she had
enough ammunition left to make an
impression. Then it cringed and beg
ged for an armistice III order to gain
u breathing spell. Germany does not
believe it is whipped. 1t is just rest
ing, gathering strength for fresh
start. And if we 'sliow mercy now.
it will merely mean more slaughter
and bloodshed 10 years hence"
AMERICAN ENGINEERING
Capt. Jones told of the great task
which confronted the American cngi-
nccrs when they reached France: how
they We're forced to discard the print.
tive French dock machinery. building
their own docks and install their own
cranes and unloading devices.
He told how they went into the
marsh land at Bordcau with plans for
miles of docks. and how the French
engineers laughed at the Americans
the necessary filling in could be com
plcted. But the Americans brought ii,
some big sand-suckers from their OWL
United States, and they sucked tho
sand out of the bay to fill in the low
places, and within 100 days they had
their miles of docks completed and
giant cranes in operation that could
pick big locomotive out of the hole
of a ship and set it down on it's tracks
ready to steam up. .. e.
Capt Jones described the manner
in which supplies were moved: tOlt
how vast store houses were built how
standard gauge railways were laid ovel
night: how hospitals constructed OF
the basis Of tive-year war sprung up
THE SPY SYSTEM :, s.,
He described the completeness Of tn,
German spy system. which operated :
wireless from the top Of large build
ing in Paris as late as February, 1919
and through which it was believed til,
air raids on Paris were conducted.
He also Mold Of the operations 0
German sympathizers in this country
of the engines and machinery whicl
came across with the bookings tille'
with sand and emery: Of the automo
ed with broken bits Of steel; Of whole
shipments Of jams and jellies and mar
maladeS in each can Of which wa
found sufficient ground glass and mer
curry to kill regiment.
This work was done over here. j
the factories. in spite Of the most rigi,
inspection. 1t justifies all that "
have ever said or thought of the pro
Germans we have with us here"
MEMS CLUB FORMED
Last nights meeting was decides
success from every respect. Only sec
ond to Capt. Jones' address as an III
traction was the sumptuous Dime
served by the Ladies' guild. Rev. Bug
zelle. after everyone had fed and ha
listened to Capt. Jones. preached tn
idea Of 4 mems club. 1t was cordial
received by everyone present. F. !
Conkun, .. N. Durham and others er
dorsing the plan, and It was move
that the chair name q committee Q
three to prepare program for a men
club to be resented ut similar meet
Ing two weeks hence. +. L. Conklil
Capt. A. A. Jones and s. A. Flore
were named on this committee. At tn
meeting TO which they are to reppr
there win be stag dinner, smoke
4 snaEsnOthef-talk By SOMEONE who M
! messaSe to deliver.
i fes,e1