South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-12-26
DARING LEADER OF
VETS LOST NERVE
Ordeal of War Hung Like Pail
Of Col. Whittlesey, Soldier
and Suicide.

EA.W YORK Dec 20 pt-e -li-1
az his seIf-choscn. self-inflicted bur
iaI ~ sea. the late Col Charles w.
WhittIesey may be called. by the un-
thinking suicide.
But he viii forever be listed as
one Of the casualties OF war. this
hero commander OF the Seventy
seventh divisions Lost Battalion"
who. hemmed in by the enemy. told
the Eoche 90 ego 10 hell!'
Casualties continue, though we
have long since passed Arnistice day
with its carnivals and Joyous hail OF
confetti that pelted a world weary
Of war.
But there Is another Lost Bat
talon"
To IS q company OF those wounded
in spirit as we'll as those who cannot
breathe the pure air OF peace for all
the gaseous content left in their
lungs by battle.
OF these first Whittlesey was typ
iCal. And another soldier who knew
the lost commander OF the lost bat
TALON tells us something OF the hor-
rors that so feed upon sensitive
mems souls that life no longer holds
rest for them
Justice McCOOk Knew Hero.
supreme Court Justice Philip ).
McCook, major Of the Fifth division,
member OF a famous family, the
lighting McCOok's," knew Whittle-
soy both before and after the war.
He always felt the responsible
ties Of others. Where associates
cursed and damned every phase Of
war. and every situation that didn't
suit them, and so relieved the pres
sure. Whituesey felt it more deeply.
IIc was like n too thin boiler plate
with no escape valves for all this
pounding steam that worked within
him" Judge McCook explained
THE pressure at last found a
weak spot-hence his death.
such an intensely nervous organ
ism simply had to rest. He wanted
90 hnd sleep. and he saw no other
way.
Picture the feelings of man
who comes back a war hero-whO
with this type OF organism has gone
through terrific strain. He has no
position or business. He must start
AN over again i'm profession. Life
may seem just too hard. There are
very many eutn men,
Memories of War.
with him remains the fearful
memories of sufferings indescribable.
Memories of comrades who stopped
suddenly TO fan with brains spilled
out on the ground; men who died
and sat IfeIess with pencil in hand
as they were writing TO those who
waited at home; bodies that lay so
thick that one must look sharp so
as not 10 step on a dead friend S
face; horses that a moment before
had responded to a reassuring pat
suddenly killed. four legs frightfully
standing up in the air.
These scenes of suffering stayed
with many of the men.
They always hear the roar Of the
guns-which would unsettle anyone
who couldn't forget.
These scenes, often sublime OF
pathetic, more often dirty and dis
gushing. were painted in high colors
to the constant pounding of cannon
in ones ears. recall a dugout un-
der "a 1855. which rocked me back
and forth with a steady jerk, SO that
even in the sleep that finally came ]
had to brace myself against falling
out of the bunk
They often give too much-oi
themselves.
IT these men had hard shells like
some Of the rest of US they could no.
have broken. But he was true
sensitive.
Nervous System Failed Him.
II believe Whittlesey was not in
his fun senses when he went over
board on the Havana-bound boat
His nervous makeup was inadequate
TO meet the double strain he had e
face.
If there had not been a war thes,
men would not have been broken
but in the last analysis they gave VI
90 inhuman pressure.
Don't think for q moment they
arc trying 20 escape-that is too
often the slur cast upon the suicide
The hero stuff made Whittlesey
sick. How he hated it," said Judg,
McCook
Charge il UP to war that a mar
OF great sweetness of character
modesty and Eenerosity-of n typ,
seldom secn-Came 20 that choice.
II don't look for more casualtie,
Ot this nature But 7 do know tina
cases of tuberculosis. induced by be
ing gassed, have been increasing b!
the thousand. Dozens of fellows
know have gone out 70 California
with lungs scared. Henry Stimson
eN-seCreLary of war. said the othe
day that the peak had not yet beer
reached i'm The gas casualties"
And So the ghost of war remain
with men who cannot forget slight
not meet for humans 10 see; VIII,
cannot escape from sounds beating
ON ears that want only quiet.
Highly nervous organisms. ever
those naturally quiet and unassum
ing. often rise 10 great daring as di,
Che lost commander"