The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-12-12
COUNCIL HAS TURKEY DINNER.
Continued from lst Page)

ana lhen Joseph l.. Austin OF the navy
was called upon. He said the doughboys
had the reputation of being long on eats.
but he thought the gobs were not far be-
hind. He expressed the appreciation of
the sailors for what the people at home
did for them. Hermon Y. Brooks, rep
resenting the army, stated that the din
ner was an exemplification of the spirit
at home that was back of the boys and
followed them into the service
Attention was called by the chairman
to the honor roll and to the two gold
stars which it contained, whereupon the
company stood with bowed heads while
the chaplain, Rev. Father James p
Rand, offered prayer. followed by the
sounding of taps by the cornet
Adjournment was then taken to the
assembly room, where almond bars and
chewing gum were given to all and
where, at SIS, after orchestral numbers
and stanza of The Star Spangled Ban
ner, Chairman Austin presented Mr.
Chapman as the speaker of the evening
The room was crowded when Mr. Chap
man arose, and he was given warm
welcome. He opened his address with
a few pleasantries which were greatly
enjoyed, and then launched into a story
of experiences as war secretary over
seas that stirred the emotions as few
war speakers have been able to do. He
formerly was an actor, at one time visit
ing Brattleboro, and his dramatic ability
acquired in the profession intensified his
story. The sentiment of the audience
was manifested in continued applause
as he finished his address.
The speaker referred TO the fact that
the Vermont Knights were pioneers in
establishing service camps, their camp at
Fort Ethan Allen being the first in the
war He told of the heroic sacrifices of
women, both here and overseas, speaking
in particular of Red Cross nurse who is
walking about i'll plaster east in her
! home i'll Cambridge, Mass. She was hold
| ing an artery i'll mans arm during an
operation for amputation III hospital
I in France when the lights went out be-
cause of the approach of German air
| planes. A she'll struck the hospital, kill
| ing two wounded soldiers. other shells
| exploded near and there was general
confusion in the darkness, during which
/ time fire was started but which was
extinguished by those able to get about
| including the secretary. Seven minutes
elapsed before the planes went away
and the lights were turned on, and til,
nurse was found still holding TO the ar
4 terry to prevent the soldier bleeding te
1 death She called to the doctor stating
that she could not hold out much longer
ard when she was relieved she fell t,
the floor and it was found that the first
shell tore away part of her spine anC
that she had been standing in pool d
her own blood The soldier, now il
Dorchester, Mass, is well boy.
On one occasion a company of 20t
| American women going overseas fol
/ duty declined a proposition of a German
naval commander that they 90 to kie
to entertain German officers, choosing
/ death instead, whereupon the Germans
sank the ship deliberately and 81 of tn
noble women went down, the others for
tnnately being rescued.
The speaker told with great fervor o
the work of the 1000 United State
marines who temporarily stopped tn
German advance at Belleau Wood. .onl,
GOO OF them coming out alive. which wa
one of the most notable achievements o
the war He was given tremendous APP
plause when he stated that whateye
European history might say of the wa
one great IuttOI WAS IItOniIONPItlDlt
which was that when Paris seemed abou
to fall whose capture would mean TIL
conquering of France and England, onl,
one fighting unit stood between the cit,
and the Germans at Chateau Thierry,--
] and that was the Goth division.
at one time, after an American diyi
sion had marched 80 hours and had bee
engaged in battle on the front lines 70
six hours. three priests bathed with thei
own hands and reclothed 1000 soldiers
both Catholics and Protestants. in tn
rear lines and thanked God for the priv
leoe of ministering to them without re
gard to religion or creed.
Mr. Chapman denied that the dough
bows misconducted themselves in Pari
and assured the parents and others pres
4 ent that the visits of the soldiers to tn
| city were for the purposes of sight see
ing and the inspiration of religious wol
4 ship.
These are but a few of the fact
. brought out by the speaker, and h
/ closed by reeiting an original poem, TIL
4 Knights of Columbus Were There, in
dramatic and stirring fashion.
The committee in charge Of the we
come home night consisted of Daniel
Riley, chairman, Charles f. Mann, Oar
lei j. Stolte and Martin Austin
The dinner committee consisted c
Mrs. H. B. Haus, Mrs. W. d. Lenihan an
\ Mrs j. J. Austin.
The honor roll of Leo council, printe
on the menu folder, contains the follow
ing names:
Army-John ". Aher. Joseph A. Abe
Thomas a. Austin, Herman Y Brook
William A. Brooks. James H. Burk
William f. Blake, John W. Blake. J,