The Washington herald., 1920-05-30
Foreign War Veterans

EOIclSl war veterans
An interesting meeting resulted at
the last open meeting of National
Capital Post when Admiral Coontz,
chief of naval operations, and Rep
lrescntative Edward +. Little, of
Kansas City. were brought together
on the same platform.
In 1898 Representative Little was
colonel in command of the Twentieth
Kansas Regiment which saw serv-
Ice in the Philippines. During the
course of engagements with the
Fllipinos north of Manila, Col. Little
was in command of a line of trench
es that stretched down to the water
front. At stated intervals every
night great searchlights were
thrown over these trenches to light
up the jungles in front and reveal
any lurking raiding parties to the
American sentries.
Admiral Coontz told the colonel
he was the man who had charge of
throwing over these lights from
american battleships in the harbor.
Athough in constant liaison
throughout this campaign the two
omcers never knew each otber,s
names and never had been brought
together. Further chat revealed
that the chaplain in Col. Little's
regiment had married the hand
soonest girl in Admiral Coontz's
home town in Missouri.
Admiral Coontz now is command
er-in-chief of the Military Order OF
Foreign Wars of the United States
and post of the v. F. w. in the
state OF Washington is named after
him. Representative Little is ono
OF the most active members of Ma
tional Capital Post.
| veterans of Foreign Wars will
assemble at Carroll Hall to form
Tor the Memorial Day parade Mon
day. National Capital Post, the
! nrst founded ir the District, will
lead. George L. Tate will be chief
marshal.
Veterans OF Foreign Wars have
| been invited to attend the military
held mass at Fort Myer today in
memory of men killed IN the sery-
! ice.
/ Four fast tuxing bouts were
stag ed by Fort Myer soldiers who
have just returned from the army
olympic try-outs at Camp Dix.
There was one exhibition wrestling
match. Songs and readings by
members of the post cnIivened the
occasion.
! Applications received curing the
membership drive by NatiCna Cap
ital Post will be voted on June
is. The class will be initiated June
22 This will! be the largest addi-
tion ever received in Washington
by a v. F. w. organization.
Although exact reTorts from ma
uonal headquarters are lacking,
Comdr. Edward F. Hale, OF Nation
al Capital Post. claims the mem
bership of the Veterans of Foreign
Wars throughout the United States
now is we'll over the 1,cco. 900 mark
Posts have been established dur
ing the past month in practically
every city and town in the Coun-
try. The goal of 100000 set by
national headquarters probably has
been so far cvertopped that half
the A. E F. now are members of
the gold, cheN ron brigade.
The Ladies' Auxiliary, V. +. w,
is laying plans for its big men,
bership drive next month. 1t has
much larger field to pick from
than the organization itself. be-
| cause wives, mothers. sisters and
daughters of overseas veterans are
/ eligible for membership.
Senior Vice Chief
]. ]. Singer and Past Commander
in-Chief Bowen H. NOVEL; attended
a conference of Representatives Of
various veteran organizations at
the Ebbitt Hotel recently TO devise
plan of federation. Commander
in-Chief Daniel Hall. of the G. A:
r. presided. A committee. consist
ing of one representative each of
the G. A. R., United Spanish War
Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars
and the American Legion, was ap-
pointed, with instructions to draft
a constitution and bylaws for sub
mission to the full committee prior
to the meeting of the National En-
campments of the Veterans organi-
cations, and If approved by the full
committee, the plan of federation is
to be submitted TO the various en-
campments for consideration. 1t
was distinctly understood the fed
GRAFTON was purely one of cooper
alton and in no way entailed ANAL
gamation. or loss of identity on the
part of any organization aftiliating
with the federation. should it be
formed.
Edward S. Betteiheim of Equality
Post has made out the questionable
to be used IN the house-to-house
drive Of the central district relief
committee. composed of representa-
| tives Of the Red Cross, Community
Service, Veterans of Foreign Wars,
American Legion, American Wom-
! ems Legion, Elks and a number of
other relief organizations. Ex-
service men will be asked to state
whether they received 8 cents a
mile transportation to their homes
| when, discharged. their $50 bonus.
clothing allowance, service pay, and
the present st6tus of their insur-
ance. They also will be asked to
state whether they were injured in
service and II SO whether they re-
ceived treatment and compensation
for this injury. In any case where
an ex-soldier believes something Is
due him from the government the
case will tie Investigated and an
effort made m adjust the mattAr,