Hall County, Nebraska - Chapter 27: Hall County's Participation in the World War 1917-1918, 1920 (part 1 of 4)

Chapter 27: Hall County's Participation in the World War 1917-1918

Nebraska in thb War - Nebraska's War Drive Records - Nebraska's Record on War Savings Stamps - Hall County's Service "Back Here" - First Meeting, April 5, 1917 - Red Cross Organized, April, 1917 - Enlistments for Service - To First Training Camp - Ft. Snelling - Drives Fast and Furious - Registration Day, June 5, 1917 - The Early Summer of 1917 - The First Drawing - Late Summer and Early Fall,

1917 - Late Fall and Early Winter Activities - The Questionaires - The Legal Advisory Board - During the Early Part OF 1918 - During the Spring of 1918 - 1918 Registrations - The Last Lap - September 12, 1918, Registration - The Third Drawing - The Happiest Day Hall County Ever Knew - The Hall County, Nebraska Chapter, American Red Cross - Organization - Women's Committee - Membership AND Financial Campaigns - Executive Committee's Work - New Board and Officers,

1918 - Women's Bureau - Financial Report and Status of Chapter - The Hall County Council of Defense - Hall County Selective Service Board, Government Appeal Agent - Ladies Auxiliary Council to Council op Defense - War Activities Committee - Other Liberty Loan Campaigns - The Home Guards - The Food Administration - Federal Fuel Administration - Four Minute Men - War Savings to go over the top in the Victory Bond Cam- of army, naval and marine service for Nepaign and Hall County did not require the braska was 39.92 compared with 33.90 for the braska produced an increment of 49,614. Of of $4.90 per man, against the national averthese 29,807, or 60.08%, represented indue- age of $7.90 per man. In the matter of

Nebraska claims the record of having subscribed more money per capita for Liberty Bonds and War Savings Stamps, and given more money to the Red Cross, Y. M. C. A. and K. of C. than any other state. The following* table shows thci' results of Nebraska's War drives.

Nebraska was the first state in the Union to go over the top on the War Savings campaign. The War Savings Stamp scheme had been figured out and placed in charge of one of the leading financiers of the nation, Frank A. Vanderlip, of the National City bank of New York city. But it remained for a little county out in Nebraska to hit upon the most feasible plan of selling the small thrift stamps and war savings certificates. A group of men in Seward County, Nebraska, meeting around the holiday season in 1917, shortly after the appointment of county chairmen and local committees to devise ways and means to meet the quota in Seward County, accepted the suggestion of W. H. Brokaw, now director of the extension bureau service in the state of Nebraska under the agricultural department and State University. They drew a plan from this idea to conduct a preliminary campaign of education and follow it with a set date, upon w'hich there would be called meetings simultaneously, for the same day and hour, in every school district of the county, and each district would endeavor to subscribe its quota then and there. This plan worked so successfully in Seward County in January 1918, that Seward County's early response to her quota attracted the attention of Ward M. Burgess (of M. E. Smith & Co., Omaha) who had been made state director. Upon inquiry and presentation of this plan to Mr. Burgess, he decided to give it a try-out in the state of Nebraska. A state-wide campaign of education was conducted for six weeks, and on March 22, 1918, practically every county in the state except Seward held these meetings and subscribed its quota, and the state of Nsbraska was the first state to go over the top on the War Savings Stamps. The success of the Nebraska plan so attracted the attention of those in charge of the national campaign, that Mr. Burgess was called east to assume charge of its application to the nation and a second date set for the stamps campaign in every state in the Union except Nebraska. In this campaign, as in the others Hall County followed the policy of having a large percentage of her quota subscribed ahead of the date and went over easily on March 22.

Hall County received the news that the United States had declared a state of war upon the Gemian Empire just the same as her sister counties. The great mass of her citizens immediately dropped all prior opinions or re- , luctance and rallied to the( pne idea, our country first. The president's message to Congress was published in full in the Grand Island Independent on April 3, 1917. Upon the following night patriotic citizens inserted the following call. This appeared in an insert with the headline, "Let all who are for America first join in this demonstration," with a cut of a fiag appearing neneath these words, and the following call : "All patriotic American citizens who desire to show their patriotism and love for this country are requested to meet in

Instead of a small street meeting, this event turned out to be an assembly that filled to capacity the large evangelical tabernacle. Invocation was asked by Rev. L. A. Arthur, musicj was furnished and stirring' patriotic addresses were made by Mayor Chas. G. Ryan, Frederick Weitzer, Evangelist J. Q. A. Henr>', and R. R. Horth and patriotic resolutions adopted pledging Hall County's people and resources to the service of America.

Red Cross Organized

The following week the organization of the Red Cross work followed. The details of these activities will be set forth in the separate portion of this chapter devoted to the Hall County Red Cross.

Enlistment For Service

While Hall County already had Company M in the Fifth Nebraska National Guard, the boys whom she had been proud to send to the Mexican border and who held themselves in readiness to be mustered back into service, as they soon were, the volunteer enlistments into the regular army, navy, marine corps, and all branches of service began immediately upon the declaration of war. On April 18, four boys joined the Company M and four joined the regular army service. From that date on The Daily Independent carried a roster of enlistments in all branches of the service. From the time the Grand Island recruiting station opened until June 15, 306 men enlisted at Grand Island, 24 of them being residents of the city of Grand Island.

In a period of ten days in June the enlistments in this district were Omaha 138, Des Moines 101, Lincoln 51, Grand Island 35, Sioux City 32, Fort Dodge 25, Marshalltown, la., 21, Norfolk 9, Hastings 2, and Beatrice 2. With a population of one-fifteenth that of Omaha and a much more sparsely settled country to draw from. Grand Island station enrolled one-fourth of Omaha's total.

of the Fifth Nebraska, inspected Company M. It is a matter of indisputable record that the Fifth Nebraska regiment maintained an enviable record on the Mexican Border for good discipline, and it was inspected to go back into service under the same regimental command, with Lieut, Leo G. Allen selected captain, and Ernest Meyer and Fred Schuff as lieutenants.

First Training Camp

On April 27, 1917, Hon. Fred W. Ashton was appointed chairman of the Military Camps Training Association for this district, to receive applications for admission to the First Officers Training Camp at Fort Snelling, to begin on May 8th. Hall County had eleven of the first 277 selected from Nebraska. These men accepted for this first camp were : Clinton John, Lloyd Judkins, Carl Lesher, Harold Prince, Dorsey Williams, - Lindberg, (student here from Stromsburg), E. E. Engleman, W. R. Gilchrist, E. Gabrielson, L. W. Johnson, N. G. Wilson.

Six men from Hall County won commissions at the termination of this camp in August : Capt. L. W. Johnson, Frank B. Patterson, first lieutenants; Clinton John, Harold A. Prince, and E. E. Engleman and Dorsey Williams as second lieutenants.

Drives Fast And Furious

Early in May, Capt. J. L. Howland was appointed special chairman of a whilwind campaign to increase the Red Cross membership. On May 11th, the city was visited by the Union Pacific preparedness special. Prof. J. IT. Frandsen and Lieut.-Gov. Edgar Howard delivered war talks to the assembled throng. This special made 153 stops before coming to Grand Island. The First Liberty Loan drive went by quietly, the quota being subscribed by the banks and a few business concerns in Grand Island.

The County Council of Defense was organized. The Red Cross extended its activities (to include a nursing class. The Y. M. C. A. fund, with its quota of $4,000 for Hall County out of $60,000 for the state, was pushed

In common with every other county in the state or community in the country, June 5, 1917, will stand out as a red-letter day in the history of Hall County. Since the foundation of the Republic, the American people had inherited a deep-seated prejudice against anything akin to universal compulsory military service. To ask almost ten millions of men, between the ages of 21 and 31, reared and educated to the idea of absolute freedom from any form of military service except such as they might voluntarily assume, seemed to many almost a dangerous risk for the federal government to ask. But it proved decisively that this tradition was more than offset by a popular will to win the war and so imbued were the American people with the determination to perpetuate their democratic ideals, and so deeply impressed were they with the knowledge that it was not only necessary to raise an army, but to do it quickly, that the whole nation registered 9,586,508 men on that notable June. 5.

On June 5, a special demonstration was held at Grand Island in honor of the men who were registering for military service, if called. Hon. W. H. Thompson presided as chairman, and addresses were made by Mayor J. L. Cleary, Gov. O. A. Abbott and Hon. W. A. Prince.

At Wood River a splendid program of songs and recitations was carried out by the young people, Marie Sindt, Lois Wiseman, Thelma O'Kane, Kathrine Bruner, being among those participating, and an address was delivered by Judge Bayard H. Paine.

At Doniphan a program was carried out, with a boy scout's drill, and likewise at Cairo, homage was paid to those answering the call to register.

On that date Hall County registered 2,210 of her sons, the distribution by precincts, being as follows : Grand Island : First precint, 289 ; Second, 175; Third. 174; Fourth, 324; Fifth, 209 ; Sixth, 172 ; Alda, 42 ; Cameron, 70 ; Doniphan, 106; Center, 51 ; Harrison, 71 ; Jackson,

The Early Summer Of 1917

The month of June witnessed a steady climb upward in the Red Cross membership drive, it having passed 2,000 by June 8, and a 3,000 goal having been substituted. The Liberty Bond sale was passed and the Y. M. C. A. quota progressed. Flag Day was observed with unusual solemnity and the Fourth of July took on an added impressiveness. Early in July a ripple occurred when a leading citizen spied a meeting at night and reported that an aggregation of disloyalists were plotting here in Hall County. Investigation proved that the meeting so suspicioned was a regular and proper meeting of a farmer's organization and the incident passed off with a written, signed statement of apology by the citizen who made the mistake. This was perhaps the first public manifestation of a spirit of suspicion and innuendo charges that prevailed rather generally throughout the country, and while this rather severe attitude of precaution resulted in many injustices, yet it also brought about some good results. Throughout the nation there existed a cautious watchfulness for evidences of bad faith or reluctance to respond to proper calls for service that to a great extent aided the various governmental and civilian bodies having the various lines of war work.

On July 21, Sargent Joseph Leo of Company M, whose home was at Mema, died of a hemorrhage and several other members of the company being sick at the same time, resulted in a temporary scare concerning the welfare of the boys, but, the scare being based on merely idle rumor, it soon passed over.

The First Drawing

After 2,217 of Hall County's sons registered on June 5, the next step in the selection of those who should be called into actual militarl service was undertaken by assigning to each registrant a number, proceeding serially from one upwards, the series being separate and independent for each local board area in the country. Thus each registrant in Hall County could be identified by citing his Hall County Local Board name and his Hall County serial number. The local board, by which name the Selective Service Board for the county has been commonly designated, proceeded to number the cards with red ink numbers, consequently, without regard to alphabetical arrangement. Five lists were then prepared, one retained for the records of the local board, one copy posted in a conspicuous place in the court house, one copy given out for publication by the press, and the two re^ maining copies furnished to the state authorities and the office of the provost marshal general at Washington.

In order then to designate with the utmost impartiality the sequence in which the registrants qualified for military service should be called as needed, a single national drawing was held on July 20, 1917, for those who had registered on June 5.

While it was held in Washington, D. C, this national drawing was a notable event in the history of the lives of so many Hall County citizens, that it becomes an incident in the history of Hall County.

Room No. 226, the public hearing room of the United States Senate Office Building, was the scene of the first drawing, ten thousand five hundred numbers were drawn, the first capsule being taken from the glass bowl at 9:30 a. m., Friday, July 20, and the last at 2:16 a. m., Saturday, July 21, 1917; elapsed time, 16 hours, 46 minutes, and during which time the numbers were telegraphed and bulletined all over the country.

The first two numbers that aflfected Hall County men were, No. 258 draw by Secretary Baker, held by Roy Soderstrom, and No. 458 drawn by General Bliss, assigned to Julius Gutschow. The eight men next following, drawn from the Hall County roster were: No. 1,436, Lewis Rasmussen; 854, Blaine Bird; 1,859, Ernest Cecil Harbert; 1,878, Ernest Abram Galbraith, 1,095, Floyd Rich Sopher; 2,022, Albert Roy Wallick; 1,455, Norman A. Samway and 783, Myrhon Kraider.

Late Summer And Early Fall Of 1917

During August, 1917, the Woman's Committee to the County Council of Defense was organized and got under way with its work. On August 30, a farewell reception was held to 161 drafted men who were leaving for cantonments. Labor Day was celebrated with more than usual force, and Company M participated in the parade of the day. On September 13, a big meeting was held for the purpose of promoting recuiting for a second national guard company for Grand Island, to be a part of the proposed Seventh Nebraska Regiment. On September 19, a demonstration was made for sixty-three men who left and the Ord boys were welcomed as they reached this county.

On September 25, the supply company for the new Seventh Regiment were mustered in, with Captain Irwin commanding and Emil Wolbach as lieutenant.

In October the Second Liberty Loan drive came on and was pushed through in a short time. The food pledge campaign followed on the heels of the second loan. Hall County came out second in the state in the number of food pledges, Dodge County leading, Hall County securing 8,384 and Lancaster 6,206. Mrs. Chas G. Ryan, the chairman of this campaign conducted the work in a manner that so won the attention of the state food administration, that when the county chairmen were appointed for the food administration, Mrs. Ryan was the first, and for a long time the only woman chairman appointed in the state.

Late Fall And Early Winter War Activities

During November, the Y. M. C. A. campaign came on and was pushed to a successful close. This was at once followed by the Knights of Columbus drive that resulted in raising over $4,600 in Grand Island and Wood River raised $1,300. During December, the tobacco kit subscription was carried on. Later in December the Red Cross seal contest came on and the various schools competed for the honor of selling the most.

December 10 was the date for the registrants of June 5, 1917, to begin turning in their questionaires. On December 11, Congressman Dan Stephens of Fremont, who had recently returned from a trip through the war zone in France gave a large Grand Island audience a first-hand account of conditions "over there." On December 13 the food administration's committee perfected a working organization, and during the last part of the month the second general Red Cross drive got under way.

At the same time the annual Red Cross seal drive took place and the result may fairly be accepted as a barometer of the additional interest in all Red Cross affairs, generated because of the war. About December 7 the state organization appointed A. F. Buechler as county chairman for the Christmas seal drive, from the proceeds of which special attention was to be given to soldiers and potential soldiers affected with tuberculosis. Whereas the total sale of the previous year had been slightly less than $100, the war-year drive after a two weeks' campaign scored a total of approximately $550.

The Questionaires

Following the drawing on July 20, the local selective board had proceeded during the summer and fall months to call in groups of registrants as their numbers were reached, give them a physical examination, and receive and determine upon their claims for exemption upon the various grounds designated. That method of calling all men as their numbers were reached and discharging or accepting rested upon the general assumption that a specific number of men were known to be needed for military service at a given time, and, therefore, enough registrants should be called by the county board in the sequence of their order numbers and selected according to the laws and reglations, until a number of qualified men has been obtained equal to the board's current quota, and the remainder discharged or exempted.

That plan was necessarily adopted for the early stage of the war, and proved effective for the purpose, whether in all instances absolutely fair to all concerned or not. But experience was showing that it was wasteful, and would grow more ineffective as the quotas grew larger and speed became more necessary in meeting the quotas. So late in the year of 1917 a new method was worked out by the authorities of the war department. This became eft'ective on December 15, 1917, at which time the first call for 687,000 men had been more than filled by local boards and a lull in the work presented the opportunity for changing the plan.

The essential change was this : that the physical examination followed, instead of preceding, the determination of the claim for discharge or exemption. Second, the registrant was required to fill out a document that will always occupy a historical place in American life hereafter, the questionaire.

The questionaire was a document of some twenty pages which included lists of questions that all registrants must fill out; others that needed only be answered to constitute the proof for filling a claim for discharge or ex- eruption ; and the whole document covered every angle of the classification sj'stem, for which it was the basis of information and proof. This work occupied over three weeks and called for the assistance of not only the regular legal advisory board, appointed by the governor for Hall County, but a large number of associate members of the legal advisory board.

Thb Legal Advisory Board

The legal advisory board appointed by Governor Neville for Hall County was composed of J. L. Cleary, Benjamin J. Cunningham and Judge Joseph H. MuUin. Assisting this board during the questionaire season were associate members F. W. Ashton, C. J. Southard, G. N. Hale, A. C. Mayer, Wm. Suhr, Chas. G. Ryan, W. H. Thompson, Judge J. R. Hanna, W. A. Prince, T. O. C. Harrison, R. R. Horth, H. A. Edwards, H. E. Clifford, E. G. Kroger, J. H. Wooley, O. A. Abbott. Jr., A. L. Joseph, Judge Bayard H. Paine, and Dale P. Stough, members of the Hall County bar, and to carry on the work in the other towns of the county when the questionaires were taken there, W. L. Sprague, H. S. Eaton, D. D. O'Kane, O. M. Quackenbush, Wood River ; John Thomssen, W. L. Kelly, Alda ; C. M. Carlson, C. M. Redman, Doniphan ; G. C. Raven, G. W. Wingert, Cairo.

These same members and associate members acted throughout the balance of the war, with a few exceptions. At the time Mr. Cunningham was called for service in the fall of 1917, he resigned and Wm. Suhr was made a member of the legal advisory board, just before the signing of the armistice.

During The Early Part Op 1918

The questionaire work and its resulting heavy burden of classification reached over into 1918 and took up part of January. On January' 3, the railroad administration of the government Vhich was now operating Jthe Union Pacific, the St. Joe & G. L, and the Burlington issued an order combining all of the switching work at Grand Island, under the charge of the Union Pacific division. The

On January 18, Sergeant Joe Martin one of Hall County's own boys, came up from Camp Funston, delegated to raise a fund of $2,000 for a gymnasium at the camp. He was assigned Grand Island, Hastings and Kearney, and presented the matter to a public meeting of Grand Island citizens, with the view of raising $1,000 of this fund in Hall County. This meeting organized for that campaign, of which president Chester Pederson of the Grand Island Home Guards took charge, and also organized the War Activities committee, of which more will be said in a separate part of the chapter assigned to that work.

During the month previous, in December, 1917, S. N. Wolbach had been appoiinted chairman of the War Savings Stamp Campaign for Hall County. In January he appointed his various assistants and began the educational feature and preliminary drive of the campaign.

During January, 1918, the food administrator began the daily publication of a weekly schedule of fair prices on approximately thirty staple articles of food, afifected by government regulations. In February an investigation was made by the food administration of violation of the flour allowance regulations and action taken. On February 12 an investigation was made by the Council of Defense of rather severe and serious rumors which a certain party was circulating against the fuel and food administrators, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. G. Ryan, and which proved to be absolutely without foundation.

It is not within the province of this historical presentation of the war activities of Hall County ,to go into detail as to the many groundless and false rumors that sprang up: on the one hand about almost every person who was active in war activities and concerning many of whom it was thought they might be more active in various war projects and, on the other hand, about almost every person whose name indicated that he was of German birth or ancestrj^, regardless of the fealty to the country's cause shown by the object of such calumies, further than to say it took up a great deal of time and energy of the council of defense and other civilian organizations to investigate these and ascertain the merit in them. In some instances, the very investigation acted as an incentive to other results that did materially aid the various campaigns. In other instances such investigations acted as a check against division and discord resulting from false accusation.

The War Savings campaign progressed throughout February and until March 22, when the quota was subscribed. On February 28 the citizens of Hall County received another oportunity to listen to first-hand accounts of conditions across the water, when President Ray Lyman Wilbur of Leland Stanford University, Senator Everett Colby of New Jersey and Mrs. Max Meyer of Iowa visited Grand Island, representing Herbert C. Hoover and the food administration.

During The Spring Of 1918

It was during the Third Liberty Bond drive, in March, that the dark, dismal days came over the whole world as the Germans were advancing toward Paris at a startling speed. This German drive began on March 21, and continued for weeks until the tide turned in May, at Chauteau Thierry. During the first week of April a very successful fair was held on behalf of the Red Cross, at the new Glass-Evans building. On April 12 Hall County received a genuine treat on the occasion of a visit from the 355th Regimental Band of Camjp Funston, of which Reed L. Harrison, a Hall County boy, was assistant band leader.

Early in April, 1918, pubhcation was made of the fact that out of 2,208 men who registered on June 5, 1917, only seventy-nine had been delinquent in returning their questionaires, or appearing for examination upon call. In a few days this number was reduced to sixty-eight, a rather small percentage, considering the number of transients and temporary residents who would register in a city

On April 19, 1918, the community of Grand Island was saddened by the burial of Private Benjamin Deuel, of the 127th Field Artillery, Camp Deming, New Mexico.

On April 27 the county council of defense held a very strenuous session at which an investigation was made of charges against a certain citizen. The result was that this party was induced to purchase $500 in Liberty Bonds and market 300 bushels of wheat he had been withholding in defiance of the request of the government through the food administration. Another hearing was set for the following Saturday. Mention is made of one or two of these instances merely to direct attention to one of the disagreeable features of the war activities that some civilian organization had to undertake, not only in Hall County, but in all communities throughout the country, as a matter of precaution, and in Hall County the burden of this task fell upon the county council of defense. That this work could be handled so quietly and expeditiously, as in a general way, it was handled, speaks well for the general patriotic response that the citizens of the county as a whole tendered during the war period.

On May 3 twenty-seven men departed for camp, with Oscar F. Roeser in charge. Many groups and detachments left for camps and cantonments during the nineteen months of active participation in the war, but it probably fell to the lot of this first group of men who left each county in the early part of May to be switched into camp, and hardly given time to become accustomed to camp or cantonment life, before they were moved to embarkation ports, hurried to France and used to fill in depleted or short regiments and hurried into action, all within a period of time varying from a month to six weeks of the time they left home. Instances may be found of many men enlisted and got into action as quickly, but the contingents that went early in May, from Nebraska, became a part of the 89th Division. That division eventually attained a record for participation in battles, in number and ferocity, eclipsed by not more than a half a dozen divisions of the American army in France. -

During May the home guards were meeting with good success on their presentation fund and managed to meet the trains that took away boys who were leaving and present them with some useful token of the departure.

part oiTset for Hall County by liberal increases in the pay of railroad employees, who form a noticeable percentage of the population of Grand Island.

The Last Lap

On September 28 the Fourth Liberty Loan drive was opened. On October 7 the Fourth Liberty Loan Special visited Grand Island and a vast concourse of people listened to addresses by Ex-Senator Norris Brown, and direct appeals by an American sergeant who

C. G. Ryan and Judge Bayard H. Paine. On June 2d, as a result of prior steps voluntarily taken, the Liederkranz Society of Grand Island met, changed its constitution, dropped the German as its official language and adopted the American tongue for all phases of its activities.

On June 2, the second action was taken that reminded the people of Central Nebraska that the railroads were under government operation. Four trains each way, daily, were taken of? on the Union Pacific main line and the motor service on the Ord branch discontinued. Increases of 50% and an 8% war tax upon passenger fares ; increase amounting to 83% upon handling baggage, and a flat increase of 25% upon all freight rates went into effect about this time, and were in

The Fourth Registration

The fourth registration was held on September 12, 1918. At that time 2,760 citizens of Hall County between the ages of 18 and 21, and 31 and 45 stepped up and filled out their registration cards.

No. 5, 226 and No. 6, 216. In addition 112 traveling men, railroad men and others registered with County Clerk Lyle. Two thousand three hundred eighty-one of the 2,760 were native born residents of the United States, or more than 86 par-cent, a fact which somewhat disputes the tendency of some to label Hall County a foreign-populated county. There were in addition 108 registrants who had been naturalized, 56 because their father was naturalized before they became of age; 106 were aliens who had taken out their first papers and 109 were aliens who had made no declaration. This made a showing that more than 92 per cent of the registrants were citizens, and less than four per-cent, non-declarant aliens. Divided as to color and race, 2,724 registrants were white, 27 negroes, eight were orientals, and one an Italian citizen.

Various Registrations

On June 5, 1918, occurred the second registration for military service. On this first anniversary of ,the original registration all young men who had reached the age of 21 since June 5, 1917, registered. The second drawing was held on June 27. The number of registrants in Hall County on June 5, 1918. was 154, while a later registration on August 24 of those whe became twenty-one during the intervening six or seven weeks, brought forth 24 registrants.

On June 17 a general registration of women for war purposes was held. On June 15 under the auspices of the council of defense and county agricultural agent all men were asked to register and fill out a short questionaire, so a list might be available of all potential farm-labor if assistance was needed for emergency work. This registration brought a very complete response, but it was necessary to call upon the business and professional men of Grand Island and other towns in the county to respond.

Grand Island College was saddened by its first gold star, upon the death of Lieut. Grosvenor P. Gather, who had been commissioned at the Officers Training Camp at Fort Snelling, and gone to Europe shortly thereafter. On July 22, 69 men left in one contingent for Camp Dodge, under direction of Walter H. Sinke, with Geo. E. Funk of Doniphan, Donald Hanna, and Frank Scoville, as assistants.

On August 18 another echo of the railroads being upon the war basis came with an order to consolidate the handling of all freight in and out of Grand Island through the Union Pacific offices and depots. The Red Cross canteen service, which had been organized earlier in the summer, was now working full force, and the Red Cross work-rooms were going at full steam.

The Third Drawing

While the armistice arrived at a timely moment that rendered it unnecessary to call upon the men of 31 to 45, and in Hall County saved those of 18 to 21 from call, the drawing that determined the order of these 2,760 registrants ranked next in interest to the first drawing in July, 1917. This third drawing was held in the caucus room of the senate office building. There were 17,000 numbers drawn, the first capsule being taken from the same glass bowl that had been used in the first drawing at noon, Monday, September 30, and the last at 8 a. m., Tuesday, October 1, 1918, elapsed time, twenty hours. The first fifteen capsules were drawn by the government officials, and the numbered drawn when low enough to afifect Hall County were held by the following Hall County Registrants :

During October, preparations were made to send an unusually heavy contingent of men, but .the Spanish influenza epidemic which was then raging in the various cantonments and spreading rapidly to the civilian population, necessitated another postponement of the call. On November 4 the United War Work fund drive was inaugurated and Chairman Thomas E. Bradstreet and Vice-Chairman Skisser were making good daily progress. On November 7 came a false report that the armistice had been signed. With repeated announcements from The Independent that no official confirmation had been secured from the government circles by the Associated Press, a celebration was withheld. Although one other false alarm leaked out, and it became known that other cities were celebrating, no pandemonium started in Grand Island, such as many neighboring towns indulged in on that day. But at 2:30 on the morning of November 11, 1918, the official word was received that the armistice had been signed, and Hall County gut up out of bed en masse and started in on the wildest, happiest day known in its sixtyone years of settlement, and there was ample occasion for the joy that raged unrestrained all that day and the following night. It was not a celebration with a program of speeches, but the whistles were tied down and blew for hours in Grand Island, ever>'thing stopped and

American Red Cross

One of the brightest chapters in the history of every American county during the period of the Great World War will be the noble response made to every call of the American Red Cross. And nowhere will this be more true than in Hall County, Nebraska.

The first meeting held with a purpose of forming a local chapter of the Red Cross was on April 10, 1917, in the Guild room of the St. Stephen's Episcopal church, in Grand Island. Temporary officers chosen there were president, Mrs. L. A. Arthur; first vice-president, Mrs. W. R. Stearns; second vice-president, Mrs. C. G. Ryan; third vice-president. Mrs. C. H. Tully ; fourth vice-president, Mrs, Aug. Meyer; secretary, Mrs. Arthur Glade; treasurer, Mrs. W. R. King. Steps were taken to ask for a charter for a local chapter. This meeting was held about four days after the official declaration of war had been made, so the work started about as early as it would have been possible.

The discovery was made within the next few days that an organization of the men would be necessary in the formation of a local chapter, so on April 14 a meeting was held at the Koehler Hotel in Grand Island, attended by the following gentlemen: Fred W. Ashton, Bayard H. Paine, L. H. Donald, Ralph R. Horth, Elmer Williams, J. R. Geddes, C. H. Tully, J. L. Cleary, C. C. Hansen, C. W. Brininger, W. H. Thompson, E. L. Brown and A. E. Cady, Jr. A temporary organization was effected by the election of Elmer Williams as chairman and C. W. Brininger as secretary. This meeting was addressed by Arthur F. Bentley, of Chicago, a field secretary for the American Red Cross. It was quite appropriate that the man who should explain the purposes and methods of the Red Cross organization at these early meetings should be a man who had been reared in Grand Island and educated in Grand Island's public schools. Mr. Bentley is a son of the late Charles F. Bentley of this city. During the war Mr. Bentley dropped private afi'airs and devoted his time to the work of the Red Cross as chairman for the state of Indiana and was a close assistant to J. R. Garfield, chairman of the Great Lakes district.

The Grand Island Chapter

A formal request was made for a charter as a result of this meeting. The ofificers chosen for the new chapter, were: Charles G. Ryan, chairman, Mrs. Louis A Arthur, vice-chairman, C. C. Hansen, treasurer, C. W. Brininger, secretary.

which time addresses were made by Hon. Chas. G. Ryan, Hon. F. W. Ashton, Mayor J. L. Cleary and District Judge Bayard H. Paine, explaining the aims of the Red Cross. The board of directors chosen for the county were : A. D. Burger, Doniphan, D. D. O'Kane, Wood River, John Thomssen, Alda, C. Hugo Hehnke, Cairo, Robert Taylor, Abbot, Mrs. W. H. Laughlin, Mrs. Hettide D. Boehm, Bayard H. Paine, Ralph R. Horth, Wilmer Williams, Dr. Geo. Roeder, J. L. Cleary, J. R. Geddes, C. C. Hansen, W. H. Thompson, E. L. Brown, A. E. Cady, Jr., Thos E. Bradstreet, Henry Schufif, J. L Howland, J. D. Whitmore, J. E. Hanna, Fred W.Shultz.

On the same day a second meeting was held by the women to form an executive committee of women to carry on their phases of this Red Cross and other war work. Those selected from the various organizations of the city to assume this task were : Trinity M. E. church, Mrs C. B. Helling; Liederkranz Society, Mrs H. Stratman ; Y. W. C. A., (its General Secretary) Miss Emma Sheeley; Howard School Mother's Club, Mrs B. F. Davis; Christian church, Mrs E. E. Mack; St. Mary's (Catholic) Alter Guild, Mrs. Wm. Laughlin; Cangregational church, Mrs. Al. Rasmussen; Missionary Society, First Methodist, Dr. Edith S. Spence; Aid Society of First Methodist, Mrs. D. H. Carson; Park Association, Mrs. A. F. Buechler; Lutheran Aid Society, Mrs Guy Harrison; Book Club, Mrs. E. L. Brown; St. Cecelia's Society (Musical), Miss Edith Boyden; Civic League, Mrs. L. Donald; Ladies Guild (St. Stephen's Episcopal), Mrs. F. W. Ashton; U. C. C, Mrs. A. L. S'nider; Eastern Star, Mrs. J. L. Edwards; Presbyterian Society, Mrs. August Meyer.

It is not out of place to divert at this point long enough to emphasize that for the next nineteen months these various organizations devoted practically their entire efforts to Red Cross and various other war work activities. Lodges merely kept their formal organizations working, many of the societies cancelled their meetings altogether, and guilds and societies transferred their meetings at the hours they had usually held them to the Red Cross work rooms and worked there, and abandoned their discussions of church, musical, other civic or general work they had been carrying on, and subordinated these matters inasfar as practical and possible to the tasks assigned to the Red Cross chapter. Social features were practically abandoned in these societies, and generally through the community were greatly curtailed.

Getting Started On The Work

The men's committee, the regular directors of the Red Cross, met on May 2, May 11 and 22, June 1, June 11, June 12, and June 29. The women's executive committee met on April 16, May 2, May 5, May 31, June 11, so it will be seen that the local organization at once went to work. Steps were taken in May toward organizing a first aid committee, and a committee on instructions to the women was assigned by the directors to consult with the ladies' organization, with full power to act. The matter of purchasing supplies was left to the ladies' committee with the request that they co-operate with L. H. Donald, a wholesale drygoods merchant of Grand Island, who undertook the responsibility of purchasing agent for the chapter.

The matter of organizing for a membership campaign was next taken up, and J. L. Howland selected as chairman of the membership campaign committee with full pow'er to divide the county into districts and appoint subcommittees. Action was taken to lend the ladies' committee financial assistance in securing the services of a lady sent by the Denver organization or office to assist them in forming their working organization.

Later in May, steps were taken toward the organization of a council of defense for Hall County. Messrs. Ryan, Ashton, Cleary, Kaufman and Howland were appointed as the committee which formed the organization of the Hall County council of defense.

On June 1, 1917, Edgar A. Burton of Denver was present and explained the methods and requirements in raising the special fund of $100,000,000.

Membership And Financial Campaigns

The campaign week was fixed by the national chapter at June 18 to 25, 1917. An executive committee of seven members Were chosen to handle this membership campaign in this county: Ralph R. Horth, J. D. Whitmore, J. L. Howland, C. H. Tully, F. W. Ashton, Richard Goehring and Bishop J. A. Duffy. The publicity committee chosen were: A. F. Buechler, Grand Island Independent, O. M. Quackenbush, Wood River Interests, J. W. Mehaffie, Cairo Record, W. H. Daily, Charles Wasmer, Grand Island Herald.

The campaing was carried over with wonderful success. Mr. Ashton acted as chairman, Mr. Howland vice-chairman, Mr. Horth as secretary, and Mr. Whitmore vice-chairman outside of Grand Island. Ten soliciting teams were selected and eighty patriotic citizens volunteered their time for team work. The finanical results of the campaign were as follows : volunteered to assist the committee, and Mr. J. F. Matthews, principal of high school acted as cashier, enabling compliance with the requirements of daily reports and deposit of receipts in the name of the American Red Cross each day.

Military Service

In June, 1917, a committee of four, with O. A. Abbott, Jr.. as chairman was designated to keep record of the names of all boys enlisted, and later inducted, into any branch of the war service from this county. It might be remarked that the work of this committee, later voluntarily taken over by the Daily Independent, when the work began to involve more detail than was expected, and because of its better facilities for handling it, resulted in such a thorough task that Hall County has a roster of over 1,200 men who went into service.

Further Steps Taken

Steps were taken by the chapter to have $5,000 of the thirty-one thousand dollars raised in the recent campaign appropriated to the Grand Island chapter. Work was being instituted each week that required funds; the materials and supplies, including surgical dressings, yarn, hospital garments and other supplies for the ladies' auxiliary in its work in the rooms on the second floor of the U. S. Post Office building, where scores assembled each day and worked for hours. Civilian relief came for families of soldiers in service and canteen purposes came on a little later.

Several additions should be made to the list of the Women's Executive Committee. Mrs. W. R. King, Mrs. W. R. Stevens, Mrs C. G. Ryan and Mrs. C. H. Tully, officers of first meeting. Miss Chairrie Paine of W. C. T. U., Mrs. J. C. Froyer, Women's Relief Corps, and Mrs. L. S. Moore, of Baptist Church, should be included.

Progress Of Work Of Chapter

On October 22, 1917, the first change in the official roster of the working organization of the chapter was made, when the resignation of L. H. Donald as purchasing agent was accepted. The resignation of Mrs. L. A. Arthur, as vice-chairman was later made necessary by the condition of her mother's health. Mrs. Arthur and Mr. Brininger were selected as delegates to represent the chapter at a conference of Nebraska chapters at Omaha on October 31st.

The report of the secretary on October 10 showed receipts from membership of 7 life members, 2 sustaining members, 9 contributing members, 216 subscribing and 2,523 annual members, or a total of 2,757 memberships, amounting to $3,195 and donations of $1,- 490.47, or a balance of $4,685.47. Expenditures w^re: amount turned over to National American Red Cross to cover memberships, $1,800.50, merchandise for women's work room, $1,289,01, instruction expense for women's committee, $32.35; red cross pins, $23.60, miscellaneous items, $9.00, leaving a balance. then on-hand $1,531.01.

In compliance with a communication from State Director Frank W. Judson, the name was changed to Hall County, Nebraska, Chapter. Thereafter the local organizations in the other towns were auxiliaries to the county chapter. Another digression might be pardoned to mention the fact that the state director. J\lr. Judson. now a very prominent, successful man in Nebraska business circles and in 1918 elected a member of the board of regents of Nebraska State University by the people of this state, during the late 'eighties conducted a grocery store in Grand Island, and has always held a sincere personal interest in our city through the quarter-century or so that has passed since he left here.

In January, ,1918, the following civilian relief committee was appointed : L. T. Greer, chairman, a member of the county board of supervisors ; other county supervisors, Wm. Stoeger, Cairo, Fred J. Miller Wood River, and W. H. McDowell, Doniphan, and Mrs. J. E. Hanna, Miss Emma Sheeley and Mrs. E. C. Burger. Further steps were taken to- ward the organization of auxiliaries in the various towns of the county. Auxiliaries were formed at Cairo (Liberty Auxiliary) No. 1, Mrs. Susie Robinson, chairman, Mrs. Ella Alford, treasurer, Mrs. Mabel Baird, secretary, Mesdames Dove, E. Brown, C. Hugo Hehnke, J. E. Cox, C. Congrave, Wm. Schlund, Susie Spousler, W. B. Waite, organized June 29, 1918. No. 2, Doniphan auxiliary, organized June 13, with Mrs. J. P. Button, chairman, Kate Timmons, secretary and treasurer, Mesdames P. L. Wolfe, Daisy Frank, G. W. Wagner. Annabelle Wilte, H. J. McLaughlin, Belle Quiglle, Kate Clarno, A. A. Beagle, A. D. Burger and H. E. Johnston. No. 3, Lutheran Trinity society, Grand Island, Anna Gloe, chairman, Ella Bosenkoelter, treasurer, Matilda Schefifel, secretary.

Base Hospital Work

Late in 1917, the chapter took steps to appropriate $500 toward the expense of the organization and equipment of a base hospital, and the secretary was authorized to forward a check for that amount to C. A. Hull, 1200 First National Bank building, Omaha. Later a similar amount was appropriated to this same purpose by the Hall County chapter.

Extension Of Chapter Work

Beyond the formation of the three regularly oraginzed auxiliaries noted above, the work was carried on through local organizations or groups of workers, who assisted the county chapter verj^ materially, at Wood River, where Mrs. Carrie Abbott, and Mrs. H. W. Slawson, were leading workers ; Alda, where Miss Pearl Balmat and Miss Agnes McLellan were among the leading workers, and the Cameron workers, under leadership of Mrs. C. O. Jameyson. Miss Kate Fanning later served as secretarytreasurer of Doniphan auxiliary.

EXECUTIVE committee's work The executive committee of the Hall County Chapter held one or two meetings each month during the entire year. 1918. In February the resignation of Mrs. Arthur as vice-chairman was accepted. In March, the heads of the departments and instructors of classes in the women's work rooms, to whom the selection of her successor had been delegated, reported that they had selected Mrs. J. H. Merriam, but Mrs. Merriam could not accept the position permanently. The work was then placed in the charge of Mrs. D. H. Carson, with Mrs. J. L. Edwards assisting in the clerical duties of the office, until May 10, when Mrs. Carson was elected vice-chairman, and Mrs. Edwards continued as her assistant in the office clerical duties. In March J. L. Howland resigned on account of removal from the city. A vote of thanks was tendered by the executive committee to Mr. How land for his efficient service as chairman of the membership committee. In April, R. R. Horth. chairman of the war activities committee was requested to take charge of the management of the war fund campaign for $100,000.000_ to be put on from May 20 to May 27, 1919.

The May Drive

The war activities committee took charge of this membership drive and put it over successfully. Its success is indicated in the increase shown in the report of membership made by Secretary Brininger, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1919, when he reported: two sustaining members ($10 each), 10 contributing members at $5. 90 magazine members at $2, and 7,398 annual members at $1. or a total of 7,506 members, and membership receipts of $7,660. Other items of receipts, donations, $764,60. miscellaneous. $18,650.31, sale of merchandise, $503.55 and sale of Liberty bonds, $1,500, with balance on hand from July 1, 1917, report of $1,531.01 brought the balance carried in the treasurer's account to $30,622.47; with disbursements of $25,429.60 and a balance of $5,192. 87 ; It is only just to the local officers to mention that the letter written in acknowledging receipt of this local report said "Your report is the first one to reach my office and it appears so complete and clear that I expect to use it as a model."

During The Summer And Fall Of 1918

the executive committee in the summer of 1918 were: An appropriation of $300 extended to the home guards for their fund in purchasing remembrances for Hall County soldiers leaving to enter the service ; the organization of canteen service of which more will be said later on in this chapter; and in the fall, adoption of new by-laws suggested by the National Red Cross association, and arrangements to hold an election October 23. The committee appointed to act as an election board on October 23, 1918, were Messrs. Jas. F. Rourke, Rev. J. R. Martin and Rev. T. A. Dungan. The committee appointed to take charge of the Christmas packages for 1918 season were: Jas. F. Rourke, chairman, Mrs. C. W. Brininger, vice-chairman, D. A. Geil (Postmaster), Mrs. Guy L. Harrison, Mrs. A. C. Scott. Mrs. F. A. Glade, Mrs. A. T. Conner, Mrs. Wm. Neitmeldt, Mrs. Louise Frank, Mrs. John Geddes and Mrs. Hanger.

The New Board And Officers

At the fall election of 1918, the following were the directors for the ensuing year: S. N. Wolbach, C. W. Brininger, Mrs. D. H. Carson, R. R. Horth, Robert Taylor, Abbott; Judge Bayard H. Paine, Mrs. H. M. Bishop, Lake; John Thomssen, Alda; J. L. Cleary, David Kaufman, Charles G. Ryan, C. H. Tully, Ed L. Brown, John R. Geddes, Elmer Williams, Mrs. Louis Veit, Mrs. Carrie Abbott, Wood River; Mrs. C. O. Jameyson, Mrs. C. Hugo Hehnke, Cairo; and D. D. O'Kane, Wood River. The officers elected for the current year were: Charles G. Ryan, chairman, Mrs. D. H. Carson, vice-chairman, C. W. Brininger, secretary. Judge Bayard H. Paine, treasurer, with David Kaufman, S. N. Wolbach and C. H. Tully as the three additional members of the executive committee.

Home Service Committee

The personnel of the home service committee selected in November, 1918, and which committee is still serving is : Mrs. J. E. Hanna, chairman, Mrs. E. C. Burger, secretary, Mrs.

The history of the Hall County chapter of the American Red Cross would not be complete without a similarly detailed history of the work accomplished by the faithful women who handled the numerous branches of work entrusted to the women's burean.

The general chairmanship of this work rested upon the vice-chairman of the executive committee of the chapter, who as has been shown was iirst Mrs. Arthur, then Mrs. Carson.

The work in the women's bureau was originally divided in March, 1918, when that department was generally reorganized into three divisions. In addition to these three divisions, co-operating with the vice-chairman was an executive committee of three members to handle the general matters of policy and administration of the women's work, which committee were: Mrs. J. H. Woolley, chairman, Mrs. C. H. Tully and Mrs. A. F. Buechler, secretaries.

The committee on surgical dressings, in May, 1918 consolidated the two lines of work in that department theretofore handled separately, which had been gauze dressings, in charge of Mrs. Carson, and muslin dressings, in charge of Mrs. Ed. L. Brown. The chairman of the surgical dressings department through the remainder of the work was Mrs. D. H. Carson, with Mrs. Geer as her assistant The cutting department of that division was in charge of Mrs. John Ferguson, with Mrs. Linn, as assistant.

The chairman of general supplies and comforts was carried mainly by Mrs. Carson, but this work branched into different activities for which separate responsibilities were placed. One of several of the departments of work which consumed a vast amount of time given by many women, yet did not show so pub-

The third original division of the work fell to) the chairman of garments and hospital linen. This work at various times was under the supervision of Mrs. J. D. Whitmore, Mrs. E. L. Brown, Mrs. Arthur Glade, Mrs. Willis J. Redfield, Mrs. Scott, Mrs, Sharp and its last administration was that of Mrs. Earl Tattle.

The progress of the work brought on many new problems which were m,et by divisions organized as the need for them arose, and not included in the charted schedule given forth by the state and national associations or departments.

The cutting room of the hospital and garments division was at various times under supervision of Mrs. Hanaford. Mrs. Ed Brown, Mrs. Plummer and Mrs. Gilmore.

The general inspection of work done in the work rooms was first in charge of Mrs. Meyer and later supervised by Mrs. Augusta Veit ; the packing was supervised by Mrs. Guy Harrison.

The division for furnishing comfort kits was in charge of Mrs. Barton most of the time. The campaigns for collecting clothing for the Belgians, was in the spring in charge of Mrs. A. C. Scott, and in the fall of 1918, in charge of Mrs. E. A. Brandes. Mrs. Brandes was also supervisor of the salvage department, which was conducted for a number of weeks prior to the signing of the armistice.

The canteen work was first placed in charge of Henry SchuiT. Later the old passenger depot of the Union Pacific was secured and equipped in splendid shape for this department, and Mrs. August Meyer later became the superintendent of this work, taking the post of Commandant over ten companies. Later one of these consolidated with other companies, and its captain, Mrs. A. W. Sterne; became First Assistant Commandant; Mrs. M. E. Hurst served as Second Assistant Commandant; the captains who took charge of the remaining nine companies were : Mrs. E. Barton, Mrs. H. Carey, Mrs. E. Frank, Miss E. Geer, Mrs. W. R. King, Miss Jane L. Finder, Mrs. W. R. Richards, Mrs. A. C. Scott, Miss Irma Woolstenholm.

The Junior Red Cross work was a division of some importance. This started during the short time Mrs. Merriam assisted as vicechairman, who in co-operation with about twelve instructors in the city schools and Mrs. Wright, president of the mothers' club got this work started. The chairman for the different schools were, Howard, Miss Norris ; Dodge, Miss Gilbert; Piatt, Miss Lederman ; Lincoln, Miss Engleman ; Wasmer, Miss Richardson; Jefferson, Miss Wicker. Mrs-. Fairbanks later took charge of this branch; succeeded by Prof. R. J. Barr, who in turn was succeeded by county superintendent of schools, Elizabeth Cunningham.

While all other branches of the work were running full blast, the influenza brought on a flood of problems. Mrs. Dr. Carson, the vicechairman, took on a little more responsibility and superintended this work. The problem of securing nursing assistance for so many people became a serious one, here, as every other place. When it became necessary to establish a temporary influenza hospital, this department joined hands with the city council, who bore the expense, and assisted in securing equipment. While the Red Cross did not take direct charge of this hospital, it may be appropriate to digress and state that for a number of weeks. The Sisters of St. Francis Hospital devoted their time and energy to this work, and when they had to give it up, the city secured Mrs. Dale P. Stough, a trained nurse who responded to the call, to take charge until it was closed. In the meantime, the hospital could care for only those patients without homes in the city, and the strict quarantine regulations demanded some assistance be rendered in getting supplies and food to the quarantined homes of the city, This led to the quick organization of two more divisions of this department ; the "soup kitchen" in charge of Mrs. Jas. E. Brown, and in which the canteen division assisted materially, and the "motor corps" under charge of Mrs. Ernest Frank. This division had about forty drivers enrolled and kept as many as ten cars working on many days. For about thirty or forty days, this volunteer service carried sujppliesi and food to the homes of Grand Island. After the crises passed, Miss Dora Kolbeck undertook the task of placing nursing assistance and somewhat relieved the influenza bureau of that burden.

No doubt some divisions of the work have even now been omitted or overlooked. Mrs. Redfield assisted in the drive in June, 1918 to secure girls to enlist for nurse training ; the Y. W. C. A. devoted a large portion of its time during the war period to first-aid classes meeting at its room a couple times a week. Booths were maintained at county fairs of 1917 and 1918, a fair was held at the new Glass-Evans building, and the canteen service ladies have seized the public on various occasions, when some organized service was required for a public function on short notice.

During 1919

Now after the war is over, the work of Hall County chapter is still continuing. Various good uses are being constantly found for the splendid organization built up during the trying war days. The Home Service section finds plenty of tasks at its command ; the Canteen service has for months been meeting trains with returning soldiers aboard, and serving them just as faithfully as when they were leaving home going toward the camps. At the recent homecoming picnic, the Canteen served every soldier with drinks, ice cream, sandwiches and other delicacies free of all charge, and the expense was defrayed by the committee and the other public, who gladly paid reasonable prices asked to bear the soldier's share. The work rooms at the Post Office building have not been entirely dismantled.

published in The Independent of August 8, '' 1919, shows the present status of the chapter. This report also shows the results of the last drive for membership conducted December 18, to December 26, 1918. David Kaufman was chairman of that drive, and was splendidly assisted by the various local chairmen.

Secretary Brininger of the Hall County chapter, American Red Cross recently submitted his report covering the past year and the excellent showing made therein will certainly be interesting to the public generally. Naturally it covers in the financial way the last annual Red Cross membership drive, showing 13,128 members in Hall County, about fifty per cent of the entire population. It is a record, it is believed surpassed by few if any counties. Of these 9,025 are adult members and 4.041 junior. The receipts from membership amounted to $10,222.25.

There were donations from various sources and movements amounting to $1,764.57, these being exclusive, of course, of the United War Work drive (Red Cross portion) and the largest single item of which was the contribution from a Cairo firm as a penalty. This was $300.

The sale of merchandise brought in $1,- 000.80, this being of Red Cross goods, among other articles being sewing machines, some canteen uniforms, etc. Miscellaneous sources of receipts brought in $10,050.08. The largest single item of this was the local chapter's percentage of the United War Work drive, $5,617.97. The sale of buttons last fall, netted the big sum of $1,956.62, returned by Mrs. Hurst chairman of the committee and being the result of a drive by a large number of local women workers. The salvage department, despite the fact that it was seriously interfered with on account of the flu, brought in a neat sum; of $979.47. , Mrs. E. A. Brandes and Mrs. Thomas Connor, in charge of this work were most unfortunate in being compelled to close down shortly after having become fairly started, owing to the contagion, and the danger of continuing the work of clothing exchanges, renovations, etc. In addition to this sum this department was drawn

The Bxpenditures

The report shows all expenditures set forth in detail. These amounted to $14,744. 60, for the different activities of the chapter. The largest single disbursement was of $4,654, to the Central Division, the share of the memberships going into the national work. The next largest item was the canteen service - $3,- 429.97. It may be remembered that the advocates of the canteen service had to overcome some quite firm, though no doubt conscientious, opposition, it being urged that the expense, at this station, where there was an unusuual number of trains and train stops, would* make it almost impossible.- A most excellent service has been maintained - a service excelled by none in the state, and yet the expense, compared to the good done, is thus seen to be insignificant. Another large item, $2,586.40. was for goods for the work rooms to be worked into garments, etc.

For home relief, also a most important department of the Red Cross work the chapter, through its committee, Mrs. Hanna and Mrs. Burger distributed aid to the extent of $1,- 181.66. Other items of disbursement are given in the more detailed statement following.

Small Operating Cost

A most noteworthy feature, it is believed, of this part of the report is the showing it makes on "operating cost." The business man calls it the cost of doing business and overhead charges. Herein is embodied the disbursement of $14,744, with all of the work of the canteen service, investigation by the home relief committee, the time and attention of the board of directors and the work of Secretary Brininger, .all for the total of $371.90. The largest item of this was for postage, stationery and printing, $178.55 and the second for telegraph and telephone, $72.33. Not a dollar was expended for any of the officers and committees. The service of the secretary-, now extended for over two years, has certainly been most valuable to the chapter, and a contribution to the county's war work especially worthy of commendation and appreciation.

Report In Detail

The body of men who devoted considerable time and skill to their work and were required to act fearlessly and in disregard of public criticism in many cases, in each county, were the county council of defense. A brief review of the many tasks thrown upon this patriotic body will demonstrate that they were a sort of clearing house for all governmental war problems that came up and for which there was no other organized destination.

The council organized on May 17, 1917, and took their oaths of office. J. D. Whitmore was the first chairman and F. J. Cleary the initial secretary. The committee named by the Red Cross to bring about the formation of the foundation of this council were C. G. Ryan, F. W. Ashton, J. L. Cleary, D. Kaurman and J. L. Howland. On May 26 the personnel of the council was formed ; J. D. Whitmore, chairman, appointed by the governor, F. J. Cleary, secretary, R. Kingsbury, vice-chairman, Elmer Williams, treasurer, R. A. Odum, Grand Island No. 1 ; J. L. Howland, Grand Island No. 3 ; Gus E. Neumann, Grand Island No. 5 ; Fred Hagge, Washington; M. J. Hannon, Jackson; E. W. Niemoth, Lake; Wm. Fagan, Prairie Creek; Russell Haldeman, Harrison ; H. S. Eaton, Wood River; Edw. Cox, Mayfield ; G. C. Raven, South Loup; Chas. E. Taylor, Cameron; Jas. McLellan, Center; Wm. Thomssen, Alda; A. E. Hauke, Jackson; Will Geddes, Martin; Robt. McLaughlin, South Platte ; Don Burger,

Doniphan. Of those named, R. A. Odum , later became secretary when J. D. Whitmore left the city, O. A. Abbott, Jr. of Grand Island No. 2 became chairman, R. D. Kingsbury served as vice-chairman throughout the work, J.- L Howland removed from the city, , Wm. Fagan later resigned, John Knickrehm was appointed from Grand Island No. 5 and F. A. Glade, Emil Wolback, Grand Island No. 4 and Henry Schuff from Grand Island served. Thos. Hostler succeeded Wm. Fagan from Prairie Creek Township.

Various subjects which came before this board for their action or assistance were, assisting in the June 5, 1917 registration; making June 14, flag day, an enlistment day; assisting Chairman Williams of First Liberty bond drive in perfecting his plans; assisting in methods to care for the demand for laborers for farm work; co-operating toward securing further enlistments for Co. M, 5th Nebr. Regiment ; Secretary Mason of Commercial Club appointed head of labor bureau under auspices of the council; study of needs for seed wheat and its equitable distribution; and later in the progress of the war, hearings were held by the Council whenever complaints were made or rumors were circulated with any persistency relating to any utterances, or conduct of any citizen which was suspected to be in hindrance or detriment to the conduct of any agency or phase of war work. Considerable assistance was lent to the liberty bond and other campaigns by the information compiled by the council and investigations made by this body. Anyone investigating the matter would be astonished at the number of communications received by the officers of this organization from innumerable boards, commissions and departments of the government upon an enormous variety of subjects, requiring investigations and statistical reports to be made.

County Appeal Agent

men came upon the authorities, a very elaborate system was worked out. In each state, a Provost-Marshal was appointed. In Nebraska, Capt. Walter L. Anderson served in this capacity. District boards in Nebraska being two in number, took general charge of appeals from classifications of local boards. For the northern district of Nebraska, Hall County furnished one of the members, Fred W. Ashton of Grand Island. The local selective service board for Hall County were Sheriff Gustav Sievers, County Clerk J. E. Lyle and Dr. J. G. Woodin. The scope and volume of the work performed by this board, with the excellence of Hall County's record in these respects can be ascertained in the simplest manner by an examination of the principal statistical data on local boards' work, issued by the office of the Provost-Marshal of the United States, Gen Enoch Crowder.

For each registrant it was necessary for the board to receive the registration cards prepared at the precinct registration booth, copy them, index and file the new card. Then later questionaires were mjailed out to all registrants of the first three registrations, and those under 36 in the September 12, registration, making approximately 4,000 for Hall County. Cover sheets for future indexing, filing and enclosure of the returned questionaire were provided and prepared at the time of mailing out the questionaire and an entry made in the classification book for each man ; then upon the return of the questionaire, the date of its return was entered. This vast amount of clerical work fell mainly upon Miss Bessie Barbee, clerk for the local board. If the questionaire showed a claim for exemption upon agricultural, industrial or other vocational grounds, or certain other grounds, it was immediately mailed to the state district board which passed upon it, either granting or overruling the claim ; if for dependency grounds, the claim for exemption had to be decided and passed upon by the members of the local board. The county appeal agent received instructions to appeal all dependency exemptions allowed, such as fell within certain classes as, for instance, where the claimant had married after June 5, 1917, and certain other conditions designated, or where the circumstance known to local officers threw a doubt upon the sincerity or efficacy of the claim. When the decisions as to classification was arrived at, whether by local or state board, that fact had to be entered upon the records and a card mailed to the registrant showing the classification given to him. In addition innumerable reports, daily, monthly, or weekly were called for by the provostmarshal's offices and state board offices.

The number of inductions shown for Hall County was 561 and the splendid record made in the physical examinations conducted by the local examiner, when they ran the guantlet of examinations at camp is shown by the following figures : accepted in general service, 498, remediables, 7, placed in limited service, 71, and disqualified, 35. The deferments granted, a line of data which shows the proportion of classification work which fell upon the local board and the proportion which was handled by the state boards, shows as : dependency, 975, agricultural, 172, industrial, 40.

women's auxiliary council to council, of defense In August, 1917, a women's committee was formed to assist the county council of defense in an auxiliary manner. A great many tasks were assigned to this body and creditably performed. Mrs. Chas. G. Ryan served as chairman. The members were : Grand Island, Mesdames G. E. Neumann, E. F. Younkin, J. Shuman, O. D. Wright, J. C. Troyer, F. L. Evans, J. L. Cleary, O. A. Abbott, Jr., the Misses Ada Garmire, Daisy Houck ; Doniphan, Mrs. A. D. Burger, Mrs. D. B. Skiles and Mrs. J. W. Mahaffey ; Cairo, Mrs. A. H. Shattuck, and Mrs. Dell Thompson; South Loup township, Mrs. Robert Thompson and Mrs. C. Hugo Hehnke; Mayfield town-

War Activities Committee

The First Liberty Loan was handled under the supervision of Elmer William:s, of Grand Island, who was district chairman for a district of fourteen counties on the Nebraska Liberty Loan committee throughout the war period. The first loan in Hall County as in other places was practically underwritten by the banks and by them distributed among their customers. There were only something like a dozen or so subscribers in the county to that loan and the quota of the county was safely met.

The Second Liberty Loan was handled under the supervision of Frank E. Slusser as chairman. The quota for the county on this loan was $680,000. The banks assisted very materially and a committee formed by the United Commercial Travelers conducted a canvass in town. The Grand Island Clearing House Association subscribed $100,000; the individual banks took another $142,000, and another $340,200 was raised in Grand Island. Wood River took about $70,000; Doniphan $25,000; Cairo $15,000, and Alda $10,000, and a total of $702,200 was sold, placing the county safely past its quota. This and the other campaigns brought forth willing workers here and there leading to the organization of the war activities committee.

A meeting of public citizens was held at the city hall to consider the formation of a general war activities committee. This step was taken in January, 1918, and soon thereafter the following committee resulted from that action : Chairman, Ralph R. Horth, Secretary, A. F. Buechler, Executive Committee: Messrs. Horth and Buechler; O. A. Abbott, Jr., chairman County Council of Defense ; David Kaufman, president of Commercial Club, Grand Island; and Chester Pederson, as president of Home Guards. Representing Grand Island : B. E. Bowersox, J. L.

Other Liberty Loan Campaigns

The above committee handled the Third, Fourth and Fifth Liberty loan, the Red Cross Membership and other campaigns. In a few instances the precinct chairman could not act and secured a substitute who handled a particular loan campaign for him. The Third ' Liberty loan quota was $580,500. Grand Island went over the top on April 13, with its quota of $268,000; and a few hours later Cameron came under the wire, the first outside precinct to meet its quota. There was a good over-subscription when the campaign closed. In the Fourth Loan campaign. South Loup and Mayfield were consolidated as one district, owing to the location of Cairo making it difficult to proportion individual and township quotas. The campaign opened September 28, with a first shot of $102,000 on first day. It closed October 26 with $1,302,- 212 subscribed. As the county's quota was $1,196,250 this made a very creditable oversubscription.

The Fifth Liberty loan was handled by the same committee with a few changes in personnel made necessary under existing conditions. Chairman Horth could not act, and S. D. Ross, of Grand Island successfully undertook the responsibilities of chairman. The story of the success of this loan can best be told by the following summary of responses : Quota Response

$810,350 $878,100 In view of the fact that the majority of counties in the state did not meet their quota in the Fifth or Victory Liberty loan. Hall County's showing in meeting every quota assigned to it during the war period was particulary creditable, and a record very few counties in the state can show.

The Home Guards

During 1918, a Home Guards company was organized at Grand Island which did very efficient and valuable service during the remaining months of the War. This company was officered by men who had served in the Spanish-American war, and many of the members had also had national guard experience, so they knew the intricacies of military drill to start with. Details of officers and members of the guard, principally Captain Long and Lieut. McElroy, gave drills, almost nightly, to squads of men not members, who were about to leave for camps, and this was kept up for many weeks. The result was that a good percentage of the men who took this preliminary drill under the home guards within a very short time after their arrival at camp became corporals and a number of them soon rose to the rank of sergeant. Such men about to leave the city or county to enter service were at times allowed to drill with the company and thus became broken into the company formations and became used to drilling with a body of men. The home guards also served as escort for funerals of men who died in service ; they guarded the city on the night of the armistice celebration and responded to many calls at public functions.

The officers of the company were : E. J. Long, captain, Chas. T. McElroy, first lieutenant, O. A. Abbott, Jr., second lieutenant (and secretary of the company).

Harrison's Grand Island band joined forces with the company, appeared at drills and furnished music for the company's work, and thus were carried on the roster as members of the company in return for their very essential service, and at the same time the band members received valuable drilling and instructions of the company work. The members of the band thus carried as members of the company were: John Albrecht*, Orville Auhl, Oliver Arbett, (called for service), Geo. Barres, Chas Bossert, L. Burger, Fritz Erase, Frank Brase*, E. A. Graf*, Fred L. Harrison, Guy Harrison, (Leader of the band), Ray Harrison, T. Hayman, D. Linderkamp, P. Mangelson, F. W. McCutchan, E. C. Mussler*, G. L. Neligh, O. Otteson, F. PippeUj A. Posten, Wm. RuetUnger, John Reed, Julius Reese, A. A. Roeser, Emil Sanders, Rudolph Schultz, Claude Smith, Herman Schlichling*, Carl Vick.

The Food Administration

The county central committee was organized in Hall County for the purpose of conducting the food pledge campaign which occurred during the week of October 28, 1917, and which was the first United States food administration activity in the community. The efforts of this committee were so effectual that Hall County led the state in the number of pledges secured. Gordon W. Wattles, federal food administrator for Nebraska, recognized the good work of this committee by honoring its chairman with the appointment of county food administrator. At the time these appointments were made, Mrs. Ryan was the only woman appointed a county chairman. The original committee, with some additions and necessary substitutions, continued as the county food committee.

The work of the committee was divided into departments, additions being made as new problems arose. These divisions were: price fixing, township, educational, publicity, speakers, home economics, hotels and public eating places, grain threshing, gardens and products, district and block leaders of women.

The fair price committee published its first fair price list on December 17, 1917, giving prices on five staples. In the succeeding twelve months this division held forty-seven meetings ; the list grew to include eighteen commodities and was published without intermission until the week of January 5, 1919.

The educational, publicity and speakers divisions promoted and assisted in eighty-six patriotic meetings in the county besides a large number of less formal gatherings in schools, theatres and societies where speakers carried on the educational crusade of the food administration.

The teachers of the schools assisted materially in the work of the educational division. An organization of women known as district and block leaders gave invaluable help in distribution of literature, and as many as 85% of the homes in one precint, pledged to "Use no Wheat until the next Harvest." Hotels and restaurants heroically adopted the wheatless program. During the sugar rationing period the county at no time used its full quota. The merchants showed uncomplainiiig and faithful compliance with every request for weekly reports and occasional in- 1 formation.

The members of the organization which carried on this work were : Mrs. Charles G. (Evelyn A.) Ryan, County Food Administrator; Mr. J. Donald, Wholsale Grocer, Vice- Chairman; Mr. F. A. Glade, Miller, Secretary ; Mr. Oscar Veit, Retail Merchants', Mr. William Krehmke, Meat Dealers', Robert Teviotdale, Bakers' Advisory Representatives; Mr. O. A. Abbott, Jr., Assisting as Chairman County Council of Defense; Mr.

David Kaufman, Assisting as President Commercial Club; Mrs. R. B. Ray, Assisting as Representative Women's Club; Mrs. A. D. Burger, Doniphan, Deputy Administrator, Precint Chairman ; Mrs. Hugo Hehnke, Cairo, Mr. A. D. Sherrerd and later J. T. Brett, Wood River, Miss Pearl Balmat, Alda, Mr. Chas. E. Taylor, Wood River (Cameron Township), Mr. Frank Hitchler, Abbott, Deputy Administrators, Precinct Chairmen ; other deputy administrators and precinct chairmen, Mr. C. J. Cox, Prosser; Mrs. A. H. Bishop, Grand Island RED 2; Mrs. Henry Rouse, Alda;| Mrs. A. J. Bauman, Chairman Educational Department; Miss Elizabeth Cunningham, her vice chairman ; Mrs. O. A. Abbott, Jr., (deceased). Chairman Home Economics, Mrs. A. Benninghoven, acting as her successor; Mr. A. F. Buechler, publicity; Mr. Wm Suhr, Speakers Department ; Mr. R. D. Kingsbury, Threshing Division. Mr. H. Schuff, Hotels and Public Eating Houses.

Fbderai, Fuel Administration

This activity was called into operation in time to regulate prices and distribute the coal supply equitably and hold the matter of price and supply within reasonable bounds for the population at home and keep war industries and foreign countries relieved during the winter of 1917-18 and winter of 1918-19. Chas. G. Ryan was chairman for Hall County, and his assistants in this work were Oscar R. Kirschke, city chairman for Grand Island, Ray D. Kingsbury, W. L. Sprague, chairman for Wod River, H. L. Mcintosh at Alda, J. E. Cox at Cairo, and Mr. Gideon at Doniphan. The federal fuel administration fixed the prices, or rather marginal profits permitted, on the sale of coal, but to the local county administration fell the tasks of fixing and regulating the prices charged for delivery, and to determine in what quantities coal should be delivered, and to place orders with the federal administration when a shortage of coal threatened. In two instances foal in transit was seized and diverted.

Four Minute Men

An organization which did a very distinctive service throughout the country, was the four-minute men. This plan of having fourminute talks made in the theatres, churches, and wherever regular public gatherings were held, not only aroused enthusiasm in the various campaigns, but was used for the spreading of information generally by the government. During each Liberty loan, Y. M. C. A. drive. Red Cross membership campaign, U. W. W. drive, and on special days such as Flag Day, nurse enrollment drive, bastile day, July 4, and all such special days, after this organization was formed, speakers presented the particularly pertinent war-gospel to the people. In order to make an eflfective four-minute talk, the speaker had to outline in his mind the beginning of his speech, leave it out and deliver the closing part with the "punch," so this plan developed a particularly forceful style of public speaking, which is not being entirely discarded since the abandonment of the fourminute program for governmental activities. Considerable credit is due to Managers Woostenholm of the Majestic, Hayman of the Lyda, Fisher of the Empress and Mitchell of the Michelson, for the use of their theatres so many times during those last months of the war. F. M. Mitchell of the Michelson was the only theatre man who was a four-minute speaker also. The first chairman of the fourminute men organization of Hall County was Frank E. Slusser, and he was succeeded in 1918 by J. H. Woolley. Those who carried on the work of the four-minute men organization of Hall County were: Bishop J. A. Duffy, Mayor J. L. Cleary, Miss Jane L. Pinder, Mrs. R. B. Ray, Judge Bayard H. Paine, Hon. Chas G. Ryan, Hon. W. H. Thompson, Hon. W. A. Prince, F. M. Mitchell, William Suhr, Dale P. Stough, Rev. M. L. Rose, Rev. V. R. Beebe, Rev. L. A. Arthur. At the close of this work, both certificates of efficiency and a copper button, said to have been made from copper taken from first German submarine brought to this country and dismantled, were awarded.

War Savings Campaign Committee

in this chapter, but the personnel of those who led the campaign in this county should be mentioned. S. N. Wolbach was county chairman, Arthur C. Mayer was city chairman, and Chas E. Fralick had charge of the formation of War Savings clubs throughout the county. Mr. Wolbach was chosen in December, 1917, and he shortly afterwards chose his assistants. Hall County's quota was $453,000. On April 5, the figures showed that Grand Island subscribed for $333,800 worth of stamps and the outside districts in the county had taken $330,411 or $115,611 more than their quota.

United War Work Campaign

During the latter part of October, a local organization was formed to take care of the campaign for the seven war societies joint fund, called the United War Work Campaign. The state organization was headed by Judge Geo. F. Corcoran, of York, with a state committee consisting of representatives for each of the sevn societies. District committees were formed, and in the district in which Grand Island was situated three Hall County people represented their various organizations, and thus bore a responsibility in this campaign that reached beyond our county. Mrs. W. A. Prince served as district representative for the Y. W. C. A., ^layor J. L. Cleary for the

National Catholic War Council, and David Kaufman for the Jewish Welfare Association. The local council in charge of the campaign in Hall County were, chairman, Thomas E. Bradstreet, representing the Y. M. C. A. with Frank E. Slusser, as his assistant chairman during the drive ; Miss Sheeley, secretary of local Y. W. C. A. represented that organization ; Mr. Roney represented the National Catholic War Council (Knights of Columbus), A. E. Nagelstock represented Jewish Welfare Board and was secretary of local executive committee, Lawrence Donald represented War Camp Community Service, the Salvation Army was represented by a captain of its order from Hastings who was working in Central Nebraska then, and the American Library Association, by Mrs. J. L. Cleary, a member of local library board. The quota was fixed at $51,000, or 50% more than each citizen had donated to the last preceding Red Cross drive. On the evening of November 10 the subscriptions amounted to $6,630. but the enthusiasm of Armistice Day boosted them to $10,632. 60; and like all other drives Hall County went over the top, though the ending of hostilities r,^ther slackened the speed of the drive.

Other War Organizations

There were so many organizations formed to handle tasks which came up in connection with war work that there is a danger of omitting some of them. A drive was instituted to secure Hall County's quota of girls to enter nursing training and the Red Cross assisted in this work by placing Mrs. W. J. Redfield in charge. Five Hall County girls signed in response to this call; Miss Theresa Curry and Ethel Allen of Wood River, Bertha To\v*, Irene Hunding and Miss Boiling of Grand Island.

The task of handling the enrollment of the boys from 16 to 18 for selective service in farm labor for the summer of 1919 was organized and ready for the enrollment on November 14. C. O. Michael was chairman, County Agent J. R. White, assistant chairman, and

The homecoming celebration at Schimmer's lake drew an attendance Thursday afternoon and evening estimated all the way from 5,000 to 20,000. Officers of the committee placed the size of the crowd from 6,000 to 8,000, the latter being one-third of the county's entire population. The general interest shown was a surprise even to the most sanguine. Early in the afternoon some of the committeemen on the ground said they thought there would be at least 5,000 people on hand.

The barbecue put out 12,000 sandwiches according to figures obtained by Secretary Otis of the Commercial Club. He said there was no doubt that 3,000 or 4,000 people did not patronize the booth where the barbecued meat was distributed. More thon 700 loaves of bread, four steers, 50 pounds of salt, and a great quantity of pickles and mustard were used in making the sandwiches which were given out.

Sheriff' McCutchan had a group of deputies to staighten out traffic. They were kept busy watching the crisscrossing of cars in front of the entrance to Sand Krog and the lake. South of the lake where machines were mainly parked, hundreds of cars filled the roadsides and fields for a distance of a half mile from Sand Krog. Late in the evening when people were returning home the headlights of the automobiles illuminated the roadway for the entire distance from the lake to the city for a long period. Machines were not more than 200 feet apart and most of the way the procession was almost solid.

The| special train put on by the Union Pacific made hourly trips between noon and midnight, the last train coming in at 12:30 a. m. By actual count L897 people bought round trip tickets and there were some who paid fare only one way. The last train carried five coaches and each coach was packed, all seats and all standing room being taken.

entertaining feature. People were requested to gather around the lake in order that a better view of the fireworks could be obtained. The crowd was so large that this request was difficult to meet. Set pieces of Pershing, the national flag and the Red Cross were all good, that of the flag being particularly fine. Shrapnel fireworks supplied plenty of noise. Other fireworks made up the program.

Music was furnished by the Wood River band in the afternoon, by the Grand Island band in the evening and by Liederkranz Male quartet during the formal program. A burlesque wrestling match on the band platform by two Omaha men entertained the crowd in the late afternoon.

In the afternoon a program of speaking was held in the pavilion at Sand Krog. Mayor J. L. Cleary presided as chairman. Colonel McCrea of Omaha was one of the speakers. He is a physician who organized an ambulance at Council Bluffs and later perfected the organization while in Europe. His subject dealt with preparedness, on which he repeatedly touched.

Mr. Risden of Lincoln, member of the Rotary club, w'ho served in camp as an entertainer for the soldiers and delighted many with story and declamation, gave a pleasing talk. Compositions of his own were among those he delivered. His daughter. Miss Risden, accompanied him to the city and helped in one of the booths.

A patriotic address was given by Judge B. H. Paine. The Liederkranz ]\Iale quartet, composed of Harold Menck, Harry Paulsen, George Heyde and Gus Roeser, was on the prorgam, anc{ their singing wasi much enjoyed and was given most hearty applause

Alda, Neb., April 23. - (Special Dispatch). - A community reception was held last evening at the Methodist church in honor of the returned 'Soldier boys of this community, of which there were ten, five of whom had been overseas. The overseas honor guests were: George Filsinger, John Quisenberry, Jr., Robert Swift, of Watertown, Nebraska, Julius Gutschow and Edward Ewoldt. Owing to a paralytic stroke which occurred Monday night, Ned King, also an overseas soldier, was unable to be present. The boys who had done their bit in the camps in this country were: Lloyd Minor, Ronald Brown, Edward Swift, Frank Dahlstrom, and Mr. Ewoldt, Jay Lawrence.

John Thomssen acted in the capacity of chairman of the meeting. Following a short prayer by Rev. Warren the audience sang "Keep the Home Fires Burning," after which the address of welcome was given by Mr. Ira Gibson. Short talks were also given by H. S. Mcintosh, Henry Rouse, E. J. Long, and Ex- Representative M. H. O'Malley.

George Filsinger gave a very touching response with references to the hearty welcome they had received and how much it meant toi the boys to be again among their friends, but asked that the honors be not given to the boys who had returned but rather that all honor be given to the ones who would never come back and were sleeping in foreign fields. Robert Swift, of Watertown, gave a most interesting talk along the lines of going over the top and how one feels when he is going over, having no fear what-ever. Mr. Swift was wounded by a German shell in the battle of St. Mihiel and was in the hospital for six months.

At the close of the program all went to the church basement where refreshments were served. Carnations were presented to each soldier boy present. Between 250 and 300 persons were present, and it is believed that even a larger number would have attended but for the threatening storm. The affair was declared by all to have been a most enjoyable one and will long be remembered.

Shortly after the beginning of the active hostilities between the governments of the United States and Germany, O. A Abbott, Jr., was appointed by the executive committee of the Red Cross to record the names of all Hall County's sons who had been called into their country's service, in what ever branch of the nation's military forces, and whether by voluntary enlistment or under the selective service act. For some time Mr. Abbott was able to compile and keep the record. His duties as chairman of the Council of Defense, jas court reporter and as secretary of the Home Guards, however, made it necessary for him to abandon the work. And for some weeks the work of compilation had been dropped. When The Independent ascertained this fact, it volunteered to pick up the task where it had been abondoned, as well as the paper was able to do so, and it kept up the work until the last contingent had been sent to the camps, in the meantime also keeping as close check on enlistments as possible.

Particular efforts were made to secure the then post office addresses, the branch of service, the forces to which attached, of every member, but the responses to these requests were only partial and it is impractical to give the regiment, company, etc., to which these men were assigned. And it is now compelled as part of its own welcoming home of all of Hall County's defenders of the flag to publish the list as hereto added.

(It would not be a complete summary if, in closing, The Independent failed to give attest to the splendid and uniform manner in which the sons of Hall County answered to their country's call. The paper would be lemiss if it did not pay a tribute, likewise, to the fathers and mothers and to the public of Hall County generally, for the uniform loyalty evidenced during the past few" years - by the sons who, if need be, offered the supreme sacrifice; by the fathers and mothers who unhesitatingly and patriotically bade their sons farewell, and godspeed to them and to our own, our native land; and to all - including those who were not, by force of circumstances, called upon to make such sacrifices - for the splendid support given in the second line of defense - in meeting, promptly and fully, every quota. Indeed Hall County is known far and wide, over the state, as having been foremost in these duties, and in the united spirit in which they were met. It is with a sense of deepest gratitude to the men thus called and serving; as a meed of the high respect and honor due them ; and with a feeling of pride in our home county that The Independent submits, today, this roster of its fighting sons. - Editor). May 24, 1919

. WILLIAM B. FLANDERS, private, b. Grand Island, Oct. 14, 1894; enlisted in Grand Island, Aug. IS, 1918; Lincoln Uni. and Rariton, N. J.; ordinance, 6th Supply Co.; discharged at Funston, Mar. 13, 1919; now with U. P. R. R. Co., Grand Island; son of William B. and Laura (Lewis) Flanders.

ROSCOE W. GRISHAM, corporal, b. Crane, Mo.. Aug. 5, 1891 ; enlisted at Grand Island, April 29, 1918; Funston, Mills, infantry, Div. 89, Reg. 355, Co. K; participated in St. Mihiel, Enverzin sector, Meuse- Argonne; wounded Nov. 4, 1918, three slight shrapnel wounds ; discharged at Funston, June 2, 1918 ; construction foreman with telephone company. Grand Island, Neb.; son of Robert E. (dead) and Ermine R. (Barton) (Grisham) Holmes, Houston, Texas.

WALTER HOSHAW, private, b. Sherman Co., Jan. 20, 1889; enlisted at Grand Island, July 25., 1918 ; Dodge and Forrest, engineers, Reg,. 20, Co., S ; discharged at Forrest, Ga., Dec. 18. 1918; teamster at Grand Island ; son of Samuel and Martha Hoshaw.

EARL R. CLARK, 1st class private, b. Wood River, Neb.; enlisted in Idaho, April 28, 1918; Funston ; machine gun co., 355 Inf., 89 Div. ; in St. Mihiel and Argonne-Meuse ; discharged at Russel, Wvo . , June 8 ; now farming at Wood River, Neb. ; son of Paul and Alice (Forrest) Clark, Wood River.

VIRGIL M. LANE, sergt., b. Rawlins, Wyo., Sept. 10, 1890; enlisted at Salmon, Idaho, Oct. 3, 1917; Lewis and Merritt, infantry, Co. M 361st inf., 91st Div. ; saw service at St. Mihiel, Meuse, Argonne, twice and Lys Schedt ; wounded, third finger left hand; discharged May 3, 1919; now at Grand Island, Neb.; son of Thos. and Hattie Lane, Grand Island; promoted to corporal Feb. 1, 1918, to sergt. April 19, 1919, was in hospital at Omaha div. 40 days.

ARNOLD T. SCHROEDER, sergt, b. Grand Island, Nov. 1, 1893; enlisted at Grand Island, July 22, 1918 ; Dodge and Alexander, Va. ; quartermaster corps,Co. B, 342d Service Bn. ; discharged at Dodge July 16, 1919; now farming near Grand Island; son of August and Anna (Pohlman) Schroeder, Grand Island.

VERN K. BARLOW, sergt., b. Beathamy, Mo., Dec. 9, 1896; enlisted at Grand Island, May 30, 1918; Humphreys, Va. ; engineers, Co. H ; discharged at Funston April 12, 1919; now railway clerk; son of Howard and Daisy E. (Ricketts) Barlow, Monument, Kan.

CLARENCE F. WAFFLE, 1st class private, b. Belt., Mont., May 6, 1900; enlisted at Grand Island, July 7. 1918; Ft. Logan, Hill, Johnston and Mills; quartermaster corps, 327 Supply Co. ; still in service ; son of Clark I. and Lena M. (Cleveland) Waffle, Grand Island, Neb.