Renfrew's Record (Alva, Okla.), Vol. 18, No. 5, Ed. 1 Friday, November 29, 1918 Page: 1 of 8
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RENFREW’S RECORD
The Moat Thoroughly Read Newspaper in Woods County
Congressman Joe B. Thompson of
the Fifth Oklahoma District, made a
Hying trip through northwestern Ok-
lahoma the past few days, telling
the story of his experience overseas
in the war zone. Mr. Thompson ar-
rived in Alva, Saturday evening,
from Cherokee, and addressed a fair-
sized audiance in the district court
room a short time later.
The speaker was a member of a
congressional committee that visited
the war zone in July and August and
he had exceptional opportunities to
The folowing announcement his
been made at the White House:
“The President expects to sail foe
I'rancei mmediately after the opening
of the regular session of Congress
for the purpose of taking part in the
discussion and settlement of the main
features of the treaty of peace.
"It is not likely that it will be pos-
sible for him to remain throughout
the sessions of the formal peace con-
ference, but his presence at the out-
obviate
..t uv, set is necessar- in order to
study conditions there. His descrip- the manifest disadvantages of discus-
' ’ • - - — -> • sion by cable in determining the
tion of the battle of Chateau Thierry
where the Americans first smashed
the German offensive and turned
the tide of battle, permanently toward
ultinate victory, was most interesting
“The morale of the British andFrench
armies,” .said Mr. Thompson, ‘‘on the
15th of July when the Germans began
their last offensive toward Paris, was
very low. You must remember that
for four long and bloody years they
liad been fighting a loosing battle
against overwhelming odds. They
were war-weary and they had given
up the hope of defeating the enemy
AH that they tried to do was to put
up the best fight they could and then
fall back 15 or 20 miles to prepared
positions in the rear where they woul
put up another fight. At this time
the Germans were only 30 miles front
Paris and the French expected to
see their city soon fall.
But on the night of July 17 things
began to happen. That night the
weary French troops were quietly
•withdrawn from the front trenches
and 30,000 Americans as silently took
their places without notifing the Ger-
mans of the change. The American
commander decided that cellars in
the town opposite which was then
in the hands of the enemy would
make goqd machine gun nests for
the Germans when his .artillery had
leveled the town. He then ordered
Jiis outposts to send all refugees from
the town to him and he spent the
night getting information concerning
the location of the cellars from the
refugees.
He then made maps of the cellars
of the town and detailed a squad of
men under a sargeant to take each
cellar, the location of which was mark,
>ed on the map f each squad.
The nextin orning, July 18th, the
American artillery in a short time
levelled the buildings of the town
and with a heavy barrage preceding
them the Americans went over the
top. There were less than 20 cellars
and all of the squads were composed
of whitet roops except one which
was composed of colored troops.
These troops were armed with bombs
or hand grenades and as the bar-
rage passed over their respective
cellars, they captured the occupants
before they had time to do much exe-
cution. ,
“The whie troops.” said Mr. Thomp
s.on, “captured the German gunners
without much fighting and sent them
to the rear, but the colored sergeant
tock no chances. Arriving at the ma-
chine gun nests that he ^as ta cap-
ture he yelled, “Ho* many of you-alls
is down dar?” “Eighteen,” came the
reply. “Take dat,” said the sergeant,
throwing a bomb into the cellar, ‘ and
divide it up among youl-alls. There
were no prisoners sent to the rear
from that cellar.
The Germans brought up -tlieir
shock troops and fought with the
fury of men who did not know de>-
feat, but American enthusiasm and
valor prevailed and the enemy turned
their backs on Paris for the last time
“The .victory of Chateau Thierry "
said Mr. Thompson, “brought inspir-
ation to the British andFrench troops
If the American, can whip the Ger-
mans wc can too, said the All.es and
with new hope and edtermination
they have (oughts ide by side with
the Americans carrying out the parts
assigned them by General Foch until
the foe admitted defeat.”
Mr. Thompson told many anecdotes
of bis experience while in Europe and
held the closest interest of his audi-
ence to the last. He spent four weeks
in France and two weeks in Italy
He cl1 sed by saying,“The Kaiser must
be punished for hii crimes. He is the
cause of the death of 10 million nun
lvas made an equal number of wid-
ows and causel the death of milli ns
of non-combatants and the world will
not be satisfied until his blood is shed
in expiation of his crimes.'
The audience heartily applauded
Mr. Thompson’s suggestian of capital
punishment for the kaiser.
greater outlines of the final treaty.
He will, of course, be accompanied
by the delegates who will sit as the
representatives of the United States
throughout the conference.
“The names of the delegates will
be presently announced.”
The President has been acting with
in his rights in deciding to attend
the great World’s Peace Conference
at Versailles.
As the spokesman for the league of
nations which .overthrew the. organ-
ized horde of savages that for four
years swept Belgium, EasternFrance.
Serbia, Montenegro, Roumania. Pol-
and and Armenia with fire and sword,
it is proper th^t he should participate
in the deliberations of the conference
that shall lay,down the law that will
for at least 100 years “hold fretful
realms in •w«.”
The great men of the nations that
were associated with theUnitedStates
in this mighty conflict have earnestly
requested President Wilson’s pres-
ence and there is no good reason
why he should not accept this invi-
tation.
Those who nttst bitterly oppose the
president's going have opposed every,
act of hi* administration thus far
and are prepared to oppose any-
thing be may do during the remain-
der of his term of office, so what’s
the use of his staying at home if he
wants to go?
In 19 months after war was declar
ed, President Wilson, backed by a
patriotic congress and the patriotic
people of the United States, has rais-
ed and equipped <an aimy of four mil-
lions of the best fighting men in the
world, a navy of two hundredt hous-
and men like those who followed Paul
Jones and Faragut, has financed the
empty treasuries of th-e allies and fed
their hungry millions land now why
shouldn’t he meet with the Peace Con
ference and assist in securing the
fruits of victory after Germany and
her allies have surrendered uncon-
ditionally ?
To say that there is danger of the
country going to the demnition bow-
wows because the president leaves
it for a month or two to attend to im-
portant matters overseas is to charge
that government of,for and by the peo
pie is a failure, which no patriotic
American believes.
Nearly 300.000 of our gallant boys
shed their blood on the fields of
France and 50,000 of them “gave the
last full measure of devotion” to save
our iand from the horrors that over-
whelmed Belgium and Serbia, and
shall we for the sake if playing poli-
tical chicanery risk losing that for
which our boys fought ail'd for which
so many fell?
The President, who has so clearly
stated the aims and objects of the En-
tente Allies and the United States in
this conflict, for the past two years
is needed at the Peace Conference
more than he is need at home.
In a few weeks he yrill return and
find the country still here,under the
Flag of the Free, with every star in
its proper place.
A BABY
The following announcement was
received one day last week. Mr. and
Mrs. Bert Simms announce the arriv-
al of a son at their home in Guymon
Nov. 14 1918. He has been named
George Leon and is a husky little
boy. Mrs. Simms was Kora Eutsler
and lias many friends in Alva who
join the Record in extending con-
MOTHER
Dear mother, when I read each tender phrase,
Each throbbing line of love you write to me,
My heart grows sad, and oft I count the days
Until at last. 1 shall sail o’er sea
Back, back to you and home and all 1 love,
And once 1 cursed the fate that placed me here,
But lo! I caught a vision from above
That steeled «iy heart with patience, mother dear,
Before my thoughts were dark with fancied wrongs,
Of plans miscarried and of work undone,
I heard faint echoes of the old home songs
And glimpsed your loving faces, one by one,
I knew your troubles—that I could not ease—
I suffered at the worry in your heart.
I longed to rest my head upon your knees
/ And feel my bitter loneliness depart.
To me the war bad brought out bitterness;
Brought discipline—that cut me to the raw—
And acts unjust that promised no redress
> Beneath the changeless military law.
AH through the days I heard the homing-call;
I saw your pleading eyes and heard your voice.
I prayed to come, I pnayed to cheer you all
And in reunion let our hearts rejoice.
All useless seemed the changeless game we played
Of endless labor, unremitting drill,
It seetmed 'twould be far better had I stayed
At jjome with you, who love and need me still.
And then I caught a vision from the skies
Of why we fight and suffer, and are sad!
I saw the reason for our sacrifice,
And, seeing, lo! my heart grew strong and glad;
That I was in the ranks to fight and die! ,
If need be, for the millions yet unborn I
I saw the Belgian women as they lie,
The spoils of Hunnish lust, undone and torn!
Their children lifting mutilated arms
And babies caught upon th« bayonet;
Their aged mothers, slaving on the farms
To feed the German hordes unconquered yet!
I saw the helpless sinking in the waves,
While German sailors laughed to see them diej
I saw a row of new-made-bjafiy graves
And distant aircraft slinking in the sky;
I saw the towns of desolated France,
The fruiting trees destroyed in senseless hate!
Oh, mother, these I saw as in ta trance,
^.nd others that my lips dare not relate!
Oh, think if we had lived in Belgium then!
If France had been our home! Oh, God on High,
To picture You the toy of bruitish men,
Our home destroyed, my loved ones left to die!
I see—I see at last—the reason why
We must forget the little things of life
And dry our tears and stifle every cry,
Whatever pain may issue from the strife!
Why went ust battle on, with .ne’er a thought
But victory, nor stop to count the cost.
Until a sweeter Liberty is wrought
Front out the old, which was so nearly lost!
My mother, cheer your heart and dry your tears,
For afterwhile, God' willing, I’ll return.
We sacrifice today that, through the years,
We may enjoy the peace for which we yearn.
Forget all cares, forget all minor things;
To-day we labor and, tomorrow rest!
We Jight for every mother as she sings
Her babe to sleep upon her throbbing breast!
We battle for the Wdhianhood of Earth,
For Liberty, for Honor and for Right!
Be proud, oh. irtother dear, that you gave birth
To one who lived to enter such a fight!
Overhaul Park.No2;A.P.O.702,A.E.F.
' Mr, J. P. Renfrew,
I Alva, Oklahoma.
Dear Friend: l was pleased to get
I your letter of September 7th which
; 1 received with the copy of the Re-
cord. I was glad glad to see the Re-
I cord which was the first Alva paper
j that I had sent for a long ime.
I You will see by the beading of this
letter that 1 have been moved from
The S. V. T. U. Unit of Northwes-
tern had an uncertain time of it the
past week. First. Lieut. Cooke was
ordered transferred to Ada as re-
port stated that s. me one had blun-
dered mvd tlie boys of the Alva unit
had never been inducted into the
United States service and the pro-
clamation of President Wilson, pro-
clamiug that no more troops should
bd inducted into the service after
the American Red Cross hospital j Nov, ljth, seemed to shut them out
where 1 was. 1 am now camp surgeon j for good. A day or two later, Lieut.
, was ordered hack to Alva and
A DESERVING CANDIDATE
The Congressman left for Wood-
ward where he was to speak Sunday
Congressman Joe Thompson will find
a warm welcome in Alva whenever
lie comes here.
Ed Dean went to Kansas City last
week, with his son-in-law to pur-
chase a car load of cattle to put on
wheat pasture.
~W. B. Murley was dk>wn from Cap-
pron Saturday to take the civil ser-
vice examination to qualify for he
appointment of postmaster at Capron
Postmaster Fash having resigned.
Mr Murley is a pjoneer of the Cap-
ron neighborhood, having located
there on the day of the race into the
Cherokee Staip. Eight years ago lie
was nearly killed by a runaway team
that lie endeavored to stop in order
to save ac hild that was in the wagon.
The child escaped uninjured, but Mr
Murley wasi njured sos everely that
Murley was injured so severely that
for many years he was compelled to
go about on tw- crutches. He now
walks readily with the help of a
cane. For his heroic effort to save
the child Mr. Murley received a medal
from the Carnegie fund and a sub-
stantial cash payment.
His Many friends hope that lie will
secure the post office apointnient.
HIGH SCHOOL CREDITS
Someone has started- the report
that the high school students will get
credit fer only one semesetr (half
year) work his year since the schools
are closed again. Unless school is
closed for a long time this will not be
true. Sclioolc ould be close*di long
enough f.cr this to happen, buti f it is
not closed more than a month wc
shall be able to give credit for a full
year. Do not get excited about your
credits; we arct hinking this quar-
antine will not last long. Be ready to
get down to business when school
opens and we shall look out for your
credits.
ALBERT W. FANNING, Supt.
UNTIL 30th TO MAIL PACKAGES
at a camp composed of three organ
izations. The Overhaul I’ark No. 2,
which makes a business of taking old
trucks that have been run down, or
, ld cars, and taking them down and
[rebuilding them; the Motor Truck
Co. 302 which has about 200 trucks
and is a big transfer company for
the American forces in this vicinity;
and the Advance Spare Parts Depot
| which is a big hardware store which
lias in stock every part for every auto
that Uncle Sam owns as well as the
airplanes and other machines that he
has inFrance. You would be surprised
at the amount of business that is done
over here by the American Army.
In these three companies here is at
present between 4 and 5 hundred
men. I have seven men of the Medi-
cal. Department to assist me and we
look after the health of the camp here
and take care of the sick and run a
little hospital or infirmary as it is
called, with a capacity of 25 beds.
Uncle Sam is in the railroad business
over here with several hundred miles
of railroads and is expecting to do
much more. He is in the store or mer-
cantile business. You can go to the
supply depot here and pick any car
you want and buy the parts separate
and assemble the car complete right
on the floor of the store. He is in the
canal boat business ahd has hundreds
of boats threading l|eir w*jr then A*
network of cqnals which cover France
from one end to the other. He is in
the labor business and has many offi-
ces at which laborers of all nationali-
ties arei collected and shipped to
places where work is to be done. He
is in the grocery business and besides
supplying the vast army of khaki
he furnishes food to many thousand
of the Belgian and French refugees.
He is in theli ospital business, the
salvage business, the storage business
agriculture, gardening, lumbering,
mining, postal and express business,
and what else I do not know. But
his main business is fighting and all
ilse is subservent’ to this one business
and to put punch into the fighting
business in the main object now.
I am here doing what I can to
help the men going that carry the
food, the clothing and the ammunition
the wounded, and what not for those
who fight. You know the old hook
says that the share shall be alike for
those who fight and those who tarry
with the stuff and you are surei of
your reward so stay with the stuff old
friend and we will do our part over
here. 1 am located now cnly a few
miles from the place where I was.
Thu post office are the same and the
environs are the same. W c are in
an old convent. (Uncle Sam is using
many of these buildings now.) 1
have a large room for the dispensary
and above have the hospital. It is a
.beautiful place consisting of several
acres covered with trees and parked
off in fine style. There is a large
swimming pool with an island in the
center. But the pool is now empty.
There is an old chateau which has
fallen to decay with the floors and
roof falling in.. It has many queer
room and secret chambers. It lias
, its prison cells and dungeons. It
j has concealed stairways leading to
secret rooms and no one knows what
has taken place in all those rooms.
There are so many interesting places
here and then you see all kinds of
conveniences here, too. I saw a team
of oxen the other day on the streets
of this great city. You see the finest
and high powered cars an) two cyl-
linders at the same time. You see
four h-orse teams hitched like wc
hope for S. A. T. C again returned.
Senator Owen, Congressman Dick
T. Morgan, and others have taken up
the matter and hope to have the unit
reinstated by inducing President Wil-
son to interfere. There is-no question
that Northwestern was officially de-
signated as the location of an' S. A.
T. C. Unit and Liuut. Cook waV'rtttNfr-
ed to train the boys and i-f the papers
which should have legalized' the busi-
ness have been accidentally pigeon-
holed, the government will undoubted
ly make the matter right.
The boys left their homes to enter
the school in good fsritli and their
expenses should be cared for by the
government. The Alva Commertdal
Club went to several thousand dol-
lars expense to furnish barracks, tness
rooms, etc., which i£ practically l0*t
if the unit is disbanded.
The influenza has sent 20 or more
of the members of the. S. A. T. C. to
the hospital, which adds consider-
ably to the boys’ other troubles. For-
tunately, there have been no serious
cases and most of them are on the
road to recovery. , '
Jater: Notice has, beenr eceived
that all S. A. T. C. units will be dis-
banded December 1st.
MRS. O. L. VALENTINE DEAD
>V' tfy" ■ -4.X.
Mr*. O I,. Valentine died aF her .
home ,in Alva, thesday afternoon,
Nov. 26, after a lingering illness of
several, months,
Alice Hardman was born in Sept*
land county, Missouri, Nov. 27, 1864,
•where she grew up. She was married
to Mr. O. L. Valentine in Chicago,
in 1900.
The family camel. from Plano, 111.,
to Alva, since which time this city
has been their hoW. Her husband
has for several years been janitor of
the Northwestern State Normal
She is survived by her husbaud, two
sisters and two brothers. The only
sister in Oklahoma is Mrs. Wm. Me
Daniels of Cleo, and the other sister
lives in Milton Iowa.
The remains, accompanied by Mr.
Valentine, were Shipped Thursday
evening to Milton, Iowa for interment
The bereaved1 husband and other rela-
tives have the sympathy of many
friends in their loss.
SURPRISED
Mr. and Mrs. L. \V. Moore, who at-
tended the State Convention of coun-
ty food administrators at Oklahoma
City, returned lu me he first of the
week. They spent a day or two visit-
ing relatives at Chickasha before
their return.
To all Mothers or nearest relatives
wishing to send Xmas parcels to their
boys in France, and haven’t received
i Overseas Label front them, Call jlll> , ,,(.r
at Red Cross headquarters and re-
ceive a permit and carton. The Local
Red Cross has been instructed to
handle these packages for you
You will have until the 30tli of No-
vember to mail hese out.
WOODS CO. RED CROSS.
Mrs. Earl Body gave her husband a
birthday supper the evening of the
25th, by inviting their pastor and wife
E. V. McCormick, Miss \ iola Martin,
J.D.Umber and wife and Allen Dough-
ty and! wife, but on account of Mrs.
Doughty having the influenza they
were not present,. After supper and
a social good time they departed wish
ing him many happy birthdays.
well get up for there is no more sleep
for you. We have breakfast at six-
thirty and believe me you had better
be there if you want to eat. After
breakfast 1 have my sick pall and
take care of the men who .can walk
and after tht l look after the men
in the hospital. I do not ge any
surgery her as all of the cases of that
kind are taken to the surica,! hdijJital
so you see l am getting a variety of
practice over here. 1 he nearest Amer
ican church is about e ght miles but
we have Y.M.C.A. work every sufiday
morning. But I will worry you if
I continue this letter too long. 1
would like to be with you at the old
church and see all the boys. Give
them my regards. I slip into an old
pon'ti
iuur idvji s*» ...... - | «« *
them and four horse tandem: You see church here occasional!) and
ox teatnes donkey teams, dog teams a time in devotions lor even if it is
and men and women teams hitched not the same creed as ours it seems
seen ! to have an atmosphere of the divine
no auto funerals here. They/all walk
There is the hearse ahead and the
ill urticrs and friends all walk. Ibis
is a very busy place here. You have
to get up in the morning. It is rather
cool here and when all of the 150 to
200 trucks start up in the morning to
warming their engines you might as
labout it hat Is comforting.’ Man
of the devout caholic women rfh ;
the church several times a day an
pray for the American soldiers.
Write me when you can. •“ j
Your friend,
Lt. O. E. TEMPLIN, M. C/
Overhaul Patk No. 2j '> '
A.P.O. 702 Am. B. F.
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Renfrew, J. P. Renfrew's Record (Alva, Okla.), Vol. 18, No. 5, Ed. 1 Friday, November 29, 1918, newspaper, November 29, 1918; Alva, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc1076415/m1/1/: accessed April 24, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.