Evening star., 1925-05-25
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE

Can't. Raold Amundsen, the intrepid
Norwegian on whom the eyes of the
world have been riveted. was one OF
the first distinguished neutrals to
take sides against Germany in the
World War. His pro-ally sentiments
were In striking contrast with those
of his brother explorer and fellow
Norseman, Fridtjof Nansen, who in
elined in the direction of Berlin.
Amundsen had been signally honored
by the German Emperor and German
scientific societies following his eX-
pedition to the South Pole. But the
vikings sympathies were so bitterly
anti German that he publicly re-
nounced the titles and distinctions
conferred upon him by the Kaiser and
German institutions, and eventually
returned them with public an
nouncement OF his motives. Capt
Amundsen visited the United States
after we entered the war as the guest
of the American Navy.
A warn illustra tive of the dry humor
of President Coolidge is percolatins
through Washington. The First Lady
of the Land is charged with its au-
thorship. During the early years of
their married life, Mr.. Coolidge came
home one night from his law office in
Northampton and found that his
wife had that day bought from book
agent a compendium of panaceas for
all ills that human flesh is heir to.
Cal" having been informed of the
cost, examined the volume casually
and laid 1t down without comment.
Next night he looked at 1T again, and
a second time closed it without dis
cussion of it's merits. Next day Mrs.
h. ,rh fha hAo q
q handy thing to have around in a
family that contained youngsters, OBJ
served that her lord and master had
scribbled on the fly leaf: Don't find
any cure for suckers in this"
X Il :, *
The hero Of the battle of Cantigny,
which will be commemorated by the
lst Division on May 2S, was Col. (now
Mai. GEM Hanson E. Ely, who com.
manded the 28th United States In.
fantry. Cantigny was brilliantly, but
dearly won. Elys regiment went into
action with 3,700 men and came out
with 1900. One of Ely's prisoners
was a particularly bumptious Prussian
officer, from whom the colonel de-
ma nded certain information as to the
enemys strength and position. The
Prussian demurred, but the facts were
forthcoming after Ely had literally
shaken the truth out of him. Through
friendly channels in the United States
the German authorities contrived to
bring about an official investigation of
Ely's methods of securing military
intelligence when his men were under
murderous fire. An inquiry ensued,
and Ely was triumphantly cleared of
the charge of exceeding his rights.
Gen, Ely, who is now comma ndant OF
the Army War College in Washington,
is a Western giant, standing 6 feet
8 inches In his stocking feet. 1t only
needs a look at his soldierly bulk
TO imagine that he isn't man who
would stand much trifling, either in
war or peace.
y II 4 y
Everett Sanders, assistant to the
President, says that his most dramatic
memory Of four terms in the House OF
Representatives concerns the late w.
Bourke Cochran. On March 1, 1928,
Mr., Sanders was functioning as
Speaker pro tempore during the debate
on the rural credits bill. The silver
tongued Irishman from New York
was allotted Is minutes to speak in
opposition, but had not finished his
speech within that limit. 1t became
the presiding officers duty to use the
gavel, and say: 1.-The time of the
gentleman from New York has ex.
pired.'' At midnight of that day
Cochran breathed his last. The in
terrupted speech was his farewell pub
: iic utterance.