The Wilmington morning star., 1944-11-21
BY WESTBROOK PEGLER

BY WESTBROOK PEGLER
| Copyright 1914, by King Features Syndicate)
! NEW YORK.-Back in the early part of the
winter of 1918, which is form Of newspaper
lead that violates all the rules, an American
lieutenant colonel sat on the wide window ledge
OF smashed French farmhouse before Mont
Sec. eating cold beans out of a can, waiting
for dusk when his command would enter the
trenches against the Germans for their first
serious experience in war. This was an outfit
of the first brigade of the First division, prob
ably the 18th infantry and included many
green soldiers, one of whom sad as he stood
by a rolling kitchen in the lee of a wall,
that he was a butcher just six weeks out
from under a civilian hat in Los Angeles and
| wasn't quite sure he knew how to take care
of his rifle.
| The name of the lieutenant colonel was Grit
fifth a new man in the First division, who
spoke with British infection and had served
with the British 10Th division at Gallipoli where
he was hit by shrapnel He had a crippled
arm but the American army was glad to get
officers with combat experience and this regi-
ment had been fortunate in drawing Colonel
Griffith, Major Aleck Rasmussen and Captain
| Jock Manning.
| All three had been with the Philippine con-
stabulary but had quit to get into the war
against the Kaiser. Rasmussen, who was
Dane and a great. handsome man, and Man.
ming, a skinny fellow with a scanned and
gular face, joined the 9th battalion of Ca
nadians known as the American Legion, and
fought with the Canadians as company Off
GERS each accepting demotion and sacrificing
pay in order to get out to France the sooner
| because casualties had been high among the
lower ranks of officers and there was a pletho-
ia of majors and lieutenant coloneas.
Rasmussen reverted from major to captain
and Manning from captain to first lieutenant
for this reason and they served in combat
with the Canadians until the fall of 1917 when
they were released to the Americans, osten-
sby instructors. They soon attached them
selves to the First division as combat Off
GERS, however, and when the first brigade went
in that night all three of the old constables
were together.
They all were nervous realizing that their
troops were untried and without experience
and that some of Ihe soldiers had had pitifully
small preparation. Nevertheless, Jock Man
ming. who had lot of owl-blood in him and
was a great all-night man when in London or
elsewhere off duty, refused a bottle of cognac
as he left the crossroad with his company and
started down the communication trenches, with
the explanation that he wanted advantage
over anyone else and would take no chance
on anything that might affect his judgment in
command.
| When real darkness closed in, Colonel Grit
fifth mounted a. sad little horse and sat by
! the intersection directing the movement in a
dry quiet but distinct and commanding voice.
| raising it only once to shout draw that fire,
you are under enemy observation as one of
| the slum-Wagons went by, dripping trail of
red hot Goals
All three were killed at scissors and 1t this
pont Lieutennt General Hugh Drum, U. S. A.
retired, now commanding the New York State
Guard: takes up the story.
In 1899, General Drum was a second lieu
tenant in the twelfth infantry. on the U. S.
Army transport Sheridan bound from New
York to the Philippines by way of the Medi-
terranean and the Suez canal.
The convoy stopped at Malta for coal, water,
supplies and liberty and, when the ships were
about to tie loose and resume their voyage,
a party of British officers came aboard the
Sheridan and asked Colonel Hell-Roaring Jake
Smith for permission to search the vessel for
British deserters, bored with garrison life on
Malta. who had slowed away with the con-
nivance of American enlisted soldiers. Perm1s-
sion granted, they routed out 10 or Is British
Tomnies and took them ashore for trial and
punishment but missed number of others
who had been hidden away by the American
troops and disguised with borrowed American
uniforms.
The next day, Colonel Smith captured about
a dozen more of the British deserters by a
trick He issued snap order requiring all
the enlisted soldiers to salute all officers at
every meeting and some of the British stow
aWays brought up the distinctive British sa-
lutte which. of course. betrayed them. lhev
were turned over to the British army at ouez
However, when the Sheridan reached Mania
and the command went ashore and hung OUT
their clothing and gear number OF scarce
British jackets and pill-box caps were seen
hanging on the lines, indicating that not all
Of the British Tommies had been caught.
Shortly thereafter an American platoon COIL
mander reported a dilemma to his Supeilor'
He had British Tommy in his ou1ht Wno
had performed very brave service IN d shll-
mish and wondered what he was to 40. ne
was told that he had laid himself liable 10
charges and punishment but all Things col-
sdered, the Americans decided to arrange ~
the release of the Tommy from the br Oh 81
army and his enlistment in the tWeHth u o.
infantry where he served honorably, later en-,
terine the constabulary which he LETT " 1917
to re-enter the British Imperlals WIN wllol,i
he now rose to command and was "olnoeu.
The historians of the First division Aiielis |
care to communicate with General Drum anu
verify these blanks in the story OF one Oh 'iiell
officers, the third member OF a trlo " VI ave
men who became historic heroes Oh 'lle -
panization. originally Private Griffith OF ms I
Maiesty's forces who slowed away VIII ue
Twelfth aboard the transport Sheridan a' INCL
te in 1899.