South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-11-29
LOST BATTALION
HERO VANISHES
FROM STEAMER
Lieut.. Col. Charles W. Whit.
tlesey Won Fame Over
night in World War.
HURRIES OFF TO CUBA
Sudden Determination to Take
Ocean Voyage Precedes
Disappearance.
~ Assoclated PICS:

by Associated HTeSS.
NEW YORK, Nov. Is. - Lieut..
Col. Charles w. whittlesey, hero Of
the famous Lost Battalion" has
disapr cared from the steamship
Toloa on which he sailed Saturday
for Havana, according 10 a wireless
message received here Monday.
News OF the famous soldiers dis
appearance came IN the following
message received here from the cap
tain OF the ship:
Passenger named c. W. Whittle-
sey disappeared. Left several let
ters"
officials Of the United Fruit line.
operators Of the ship, confirmed the
fact that the passenger in question
was Lieut.. Col Whittlesey. through
his relatives.
Law Firm Puzzled.
Members Of Mr.. Whittlesey's law
firm here were at a loss TO account
for his proposed visit 70 Cuba.
When he left the offices of the firm
Friday he announced his intention.
they said. OF attending the army
navy game on the following day.
1t has since been learned that Col.
Whittlesey purchased a ticket for
Havana the following morning and
sailed that day.
His business associates declared
his mind was clear and that he ap-
parently was in good health other
wise when last seen. He seemed
cheerful. they added. and declared
they were unable TO explain his
seemingly strange action in going
away as ne did. without notifying
them OF his plans.
HonOred Unknown Dead.
{. w. Wnittlesey. the soldiers
uncle, declared Monday night that
Col. Whittlesey attended the serv-
ices for the unknown dead at Wash
ington on Armistice day and had
since appeared depressed. Mr.. Whit
tlesey said he last saw his nephew
on Friday evening and that he did
not notice any decided change IN
his demeanor at that time.
Col. Whittlesey. who was SO and
unmarried. lived in bachelor
apartment on z. 44th st. When ne
dbBEdAtn dL DItdhAdHl
morning he brought a suitcase down
from his room. He did not say
where he was going and his friends
did not consider the circumstance
unusual because he was in the habit
OF making frequent weekend and
business trips.
Col Whittlesey Is the son Of Mr.
and Mrs. Frank r. Whittlesey, Of
Pittsfield, Mass.
The crisp, laconic reply, You go
10 hell" hurled into the teeth OF
German officer who called on him
and his men to surrender. was the
rhetorical battlefield which brought
Col. Whittlesey into fame overnight
Trapped i'm Argonne.
Surrounded in the Argonne with
his command, the first battalion Of
the 3OSth infantry, 18th division,
Whittlesey had been cut off for four
days without food or fresh water.
All but 81 men had been killed or
wounded. At dusk on Oct. 7. 1918,
a blindfolded German bearing a
white flag crossed the lines. He
bore a message asking the Ameri-
cans 10 surrender. "in the name Of
humanity"
A few hours after the messen ger
had been sent back with white
sey's reply, an American advance
took place and all were rescued.
His exploit was rewarded by
Pres't Wilson with the congressional
medal OF honor. the most cherished
American war time decoration. given
only for valOr outside the regular
line OF duty. Some months after
the armistice the German officer
who demanded whittleseys surren-
der added 10 his laurels by publish
ing a statement extolling the Am
eriCan's courage and determination