New-York tribune., 1919-01-06
Baker Greets
Wounded ON
Assanen,non
Belgian Canary Comes Back
With Trooper 1t Sang
To in mo Mans Land
Total for Day Is Record
Pennsylvania Lieutenant
Wears War Cross and
Carries Many Citations

soldier who trained at Camp Up
ton lay wounded on a rain-soaked bat
ilefeld in France. 1t seemed to him
be strctcher bearers would never
come. There was silence The clouds
hung heavy and black A lone tree
few PAGES away seemed the only bit
cf nature in the world until something
few swiftly from it and glided toward
him.
It was a golden Belgin canary 1t
chirped Joyfully as it pecked at the
edge of shell hole The Camp Upton
soldier heard it chirp, and he chrped
mack and smiled. The canary hoped
closer to him, charping more and more
and so loud that the soldier smiled as
hest he could.
The bird hoped into his hand
Through the eight months that fol
lowed in three base hospitals it sang
from morning until Sight from little
cage that hung over the cot.
Ben Sweeney, of Maiden, Mass one
Of the 500 troops 10 return to New
York yesterday or si transports. lay in
MS bunk in the sick bay OF the steam
ship Agamemnon. He was too weak to
raise his head, but he was smiling. On
his chest was a tiny cage, and in it.
still ehirpjng snerriiy, was the Belgian
canary that sang to him in No Mans
Land
Sweeney didn't seem to care much
about seeing New York. He was glad
10 get home, of course, but it was
"Frenche' that's the BIRDS name)
that held all his attention. He wanted
to De sure, most Of all. if the weather
was cold outside, and as he sprinkled
seed into the cage he frowned and
whispered through the little bars:
You know | wouldn't want you to
die, 'Frenchie
And Ss"Frenchie' chirped back, and
although Sweeney was shot three times
through the thigh by machine gun bull
less and never whimpered, there were
almost tears in his eyes yesterday when
he related the story Of "Frenche.'
One Man with Two Crosses
The Agememnon was the last Of a
string Of transports to dock yesterday
each bringing heroes from all fronts in
france. One O. the returning boys
wore two war crosses and had five eta
Ions, while another had seventeen
wounds was shot out of an airplane
three times and was able 10 walk off
tie snip unaided, With his baggage.
The other ships were the SAINT
eresa. me Neuw Amsterdam, the
beuderson. the Heredia and the Viz
rinan.
The visit Of Secretary Baker to the
Agamemnon was unexpected and un-
'Hc'a' lie was on his way from Buf-
40 70 Washington and. knowing that
aeTeral transports would dock in Ho-
noSen, dropped over to the army piers
without escort lie went aboard the
iofmcr Kaiser Wilhelf II. whore he re
"a'ned for fifteen minutes, talkine
2ith the men.
~ INC sex bay, where there were 320
q and wounded, there was no over
eFo"diug Of the men. the deck floors
we're spic and span and She ship's phv.
t'ans and surgeons passcd in and
1ooa' thc bunks loughing ard ioking
-a me patients. The 2,71i men and
90 o"cers were deharkcd in but = III.
re more than two hours.
Baker Talks to Wounded
Nr. Baker passed on the shin -,
aanounccd. Occasionally the men .n;od
I'm and gave him cheer. sever,
'mes ne stopped and talked with them
ships officers pointed with pride :,
lieutenant David r. Morgan, Of Ed.
~ardsville, Pa, attached to the Med;ca
NessrYe Corps of the 18th Infantry.
Here is man" they said. "who ba,
'ae Croix dc Guerrc and at least a
hslf dozen citations.v
Lieutenant Morgan said he badn'.
Nene anything more than anv onc Give
I'm" toat ended the interview 20 far
g be waz concerned.
our Jlst as he was stepping on =
aln I" take him TO Camp Merritt a
tnp Of newspapcrmen approached
!, m IN 'or the third time. Uis coat few
sxn and the Croix de Guerrc With
J - ~ Paim ieaf and three stars appeared
!. d. n's Jacket. He smiled again and
sfsysry. '@~ ~ e''a''onS 'or
| Landed for Aiding Wounded
| 1snsy came from the French and the
H.. fs4l'sans; and one recommended him
| s.ISs crsx de Cuerre. with its s'ymga, nai =,
~ and two starr, Indicated thai "' h"
,s5 ToH me French War Crogg twire
~ tDveH decorations besides.
1 g. fioBs lsuded him for aftendlnv
b ~, st.,gsse<1 d9gi0z rains Of shoe bre
~ - Nas ssysrely rounded himself.