Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-11-03
o.. John Gieis.ner.

United News stan Correspondent
! WASHINGTON, Nov. 2.-S;unu0l
Woodiill. one-tilne captain anu now
! sergeant, may become captain again.
Woodfill is officially listed as the
greatest of Amcricn's three foremost
heroes of the world war. His per-
s"pai daring stands out among all
| the brave exploits OF the conntry's
100000 aoidiers.
lie won his spurs as cantain
through valor and merit. Iic lost
! them through operation OF the army
system that dccrced dcmoticn OF all
emergency officers
Won Cnptainry by MrrIt.
Now there ar" those who hold that
! If Woodhil was capable OF commands
ing men in the battles OF St. Mihici
and the Muese- Argonnc, oil rushing
machine gun nests alone. and by his
intrepidity and the example he set
10 his men was abic To turn defeat
into victory, he should he entitled 10
his two silver bars in times OF peace
So Wpodhll may become II captain
again. by act of Congress.
Senator Ernst, OF Kentucky. has
pending II bill which would authorize
President Harding to make WooIHll
a captain, and retire him the same
day. This would give Wocdfiil tho
benefits OF "a retired captains allow
ancc.
''SerEent woodfli's record en-
titles him 20 that" argues Ernst.
Ills bravery was conspicuous. Per-
soraiiS nc les capable. He won n
captaincy through merit. and is en-
titled to the benefits OF the rank
Tho Senate Military Affairs Com
mittec. however. is not favorably In
clined TO Evnstn bill. 1t would cs-
N A.. u,
nittcc members hold, and would
open the way for - similar procedure
In any~'numbcr OF other cascs. An
attempt TO make Sergeant Alvin q.
York Il captain failed, IL was pointed
out.
We can afford to make an cxccp-
ton in 4 few OF the outstanding
cases" is the answer of Erns, to
this.
Urges Active List.
Representative ROY O. Woodruff. OF
Michigan, also would like to have
Woodhu elevated to a captnincy. He
is preparing a bill which would give
the sergeant that rank, but on the
active hist. Then. because OF hIs
long service In the army. Woodnll
would be able TO retire when he
wanted To. or 1T the pleasure OF the
War Department.. The War Depart
ment. il Is said. is more favorably
inclined TO hi. than toward Ernsts
proposal.
Woodhll served under Woodruff ut
the BordeauX cmharkation camp,
when the latter WAS q major in COM
mand there.
"Wo"d.ill deserves the rank said
Woodruff. "lle has I'll. ability. as his
record proves. and I'll do what l can
70 see that he gets it
III
fill. because WoodHll was stationed
for some time at Fort Thomas, Ken
lucky. near Cnvmstou. where the
Senator lives.
People in that section are very
much Interested" said Ernst.
Woodhll came 10 Washington TO
I serve as one OF the body bearers Tor
/ the unknown soldier. who is to be
! buried at Arlington Armistico Day.
Looks Like 81 Soldier.
/ He looks like Il soldier. and has the
I carriage that distinguishes men of
. the old army. lie is tall. Sleuder.
rudLy o: cheek. and has u square cut
! jaw, In rcposc. he looks a bit stern,
/ but he relaNos readily into an amia5ie
! grin or a laurS.
| He will discuss his exploits in
! France readily cnougi--when enough
| questions arc asked. lie rccounts
/ thcin III quite u Iuattcr-of-act way,
! with 4 shyncss that is pleasing
/ Il stalled Germans the same way
/ did big game in Alaska" said the
| sergeant. THE only difference was
! that the Germans don't have tho adj
/ vantage or scent, which animals pos
| SEES
! Woodfill said that one day in ALASKA
he ehot three bears. and on another
day two bull moose. IN France. his
record was nineteen Germans In
about an hour. whom he charged ,hr