The Westford Wardsman, November 24, 1917
Center. The pleasant old Luce homestead is again to be occupied and the new tenants are Mrs. Martha C. McDonald and Miss Grace A. Wood of Lowell.
Miss Ella F. Hildreth’s many friends are sorry to know that she is confined to her home with illness.
Mrs. Howard A. Lincoln has been spending part of this week visiting friends in Boston.
Misses Sarah, Lillian and May Atwood start this next week for their winter stay in Florida, going again this season to Jacksonville.
The home guard members had their usual drill Tuesday evening with officers’ drill on Monday evening.
The house occupied by Mrs. Lauretta Tyler for the last seven years and which has been vacant since her removal to Brookside, was sold at auction last Saturday afternoon. It was struck off to Charles H. McIntire of the legal firm of McIntire & Wilson of Lowell.
Preceding the meeting of the Tadmuck club, Tuesday, Mrs. L. H. Buckshorn, chairman of the calendar committee, entertained the speaker of the afternoon, Mrs. Peck; also, Mrs. Peruzzi and Mrs. Thomas F. Fisher, of Lowell. Mrs. Harry B. Prescott was also a luncheon hostess and entertained another group of club members, Mrs. Edward Fisher, of Lowell, and Mrs. J. H. Fletcher and Mrs. A. W. Hartford.
On last week Friday afternoon a call came to the Center for help for a brush fire which started in Tyngsboro territory and got over into Westford land. Several men responded, going over in Alec Fisher’s truck, driven by Arthur Walker. Men from Fletcher’s quarry had responded and with these two groups and the men from Tyngsboro soon surrounded the fire and got it under control.
Principal Roudenbush and ten boys went on a hike last Saturday with Camp Devens as their objective point. They were met there by G. W. Harvey, who showed them about the camp and especially interested them in the trench work. This trench has been built and is managed by the men in training just as the trenches at the front are and was of great interest to the boys. Some of the boys must have covered twenty-five miles of walking in their day’s hike. Mr. Roudenbush estimated that the four boys who walked up from Parkerville to join the rest certainly did. They were Kenneth Lindsey, John Martin, Valmar and Silva Gladu; the boys from the Center were Bertram Sutherland, Carl and Eric Anderson. Fred Griffin, from the south part of the town, joined the rest by bicycle at the Center, and Stanley Smith and Francis Healey joined the rest in Graniteville. This hike was measured by pedometer and was a good stunt in the art of pedestrianism.
Mrs. Harvey, mentioned above, recently gave a talk to the academy pupils with the result that $95.00 has been pledged by the academy pupils to give to the Y.M.C.A. war fund. Seven have pledged two dollars each and others amounts from five dollars down to fifty cents. The money is to be earned by them and all the pledges are to be redeemed by April 1. Twelve girls and twelve boys are represented in this fund and they are of the sophomore and freshman classes. The senior and junior classes have prepared seven Christmas bags for the soldiers, the girls making the articles and the boys helping to fill them. The academy pupils, under the direction of Miss Denfield and Mrs. Edith Hildreth, have organized an auxiliary to the Westford Red Cross branch and will meet every Friday afternoon at the home of Mrs. H. V. Hildreth for work.
There will be an entertainment at the Unitarian church on Monday evening for the benefit of the Red Cross. Rev. L. H. Buckshorn will read two stories and Mrs. F. L. Roberts, of Lowell, will sing.
Arthur Blaisdell and Jesse Heald, of this town, having received their notification to appear before the exemption board at Camp Devens, Tuesday, November 20, were given a good sendoff before their departure. The school children assembled at the town hall, giving the salute to the flag and other exercises. The young men were accompanied to Ayer by Capt. S. H. Fletcher and Oscar R. Spalding, selectmen, going by auto.
A large consignment of ties have arrived and the citizens are to put the roadbed of the branch line electrics into good, safe conditions to transport the school children for the winter.
Up to Monday night the Red Triangle Y.M.C.A. campaign for this town totaled $7,270, and there is still more to hear from. This is fully $2.40 per capita. The allotment from this town was $2800. Comment is hardly necessary. This splendid showing speaks for itself for the generosity of Westford citizens and the fine work of the committees in charge.
There will be a vesper service at the Unitarian church on Sunday afternoon at five o’clock.
The Red Cross held a largely attended working meeting on Tuesday afternoon in Library hall. There is still time for any who would like to fill a Red Cross Christmas bag for some soldier boy by applying at once to the president, Mrs. Hildreth. Old white cotton cloth is solicited for the wrapping of the surgical dressings; the better parts of worn sheets or pillow slips is especially desirable; also, anyone having remnants of worsted of any kind will please donate the same to Mrs. Edith Hildreth or Miss Denfield. Another sewing machine has been loaned by Miss Clara Fisher, of Lowell.
Tadmuck Club. Presidents day at the Tadmuck club was pleasantly observed at the Congregational church on Tuesday afternoon with a large attendance. Neighboring clubs were represented, a particularly good delegation from Littleton being welcome and especially so because the speaker of the afternoon claims Littleton as her home town, and because the Littleton club trio sang.
The president, Miss Howard, called to order bade all a gracious welcome. Notice was given of coming meetings in West Acton and Groton. Mrs. G. W. Goode, Mrs. J. H. Colburn and Mrs. Harry Ingalls were admitted into membership. The salute to the flag was observed and a verse of “The Star Spangle Banner” followed. Miss Howard read “Thanksgiving, 1917,” and a little “Red Cross ode.” The club trio from Littleton sang with fine effect “To thee, O country.”
Mrs. Mina Eliot Tenney Peck was introduced and gave a most interesting lecture on “Legends, traditions and symbolisms in Italian art.” Mrs. Peck was thoroughly conversant with this subject and made it most attractive, illustrating with many copies from the old masters. The stories of St. George and the dragon, Francis of Assisi, St. Catherine, St. Ursala [sic] and St. Christopher were finely elucidated. The lecture was accompanied by an exhibition of Italian curios and jewelry by Mrs. Lena Bradford Petuzzi.
Mrs. W. R. Carver was the hostess of the afternoon and under her direction delicious refreshments of oyster patties, olives, cakes and tea were served. Miss M. A. Grant and Miss E. A. Wright presided over the tea cups and those who helped serve were the club ushers and a group of other club members.
About Town. There was a largely attended meeting of the Grange on last week Thursday evening. The election of officers was the consuming diversion of the evening. Everybody was willing that everybody else should be elected to office, so all went unanimously, and renomination and elections was contagious. Fred Blodgett was elected master, Clyde Prescott, o.; Clifford Johnson, g.k.; W. R. Taylor, stew.; Bertram Sutherland, asst. stew.; Mrs. W. R. Taylor, l.g.s.; Mildred Fletcher, Flora; Marion Fletcher, Pomona; Alice Wright, Ceres; Mrs. David L. Greig, chap.; Alonzo H. Sutherland, treas.; Mrs. Frank C. Wright, sec.; Mrs. J. W. Fletcher, ex. com.
George Polley, of Providence, R.I., a former scholar of the new set at the old Stony Brook school, has recently lost the sight of one eye, the result of a flying chip of steel.
The heavy forest fire in Tyngsboro last week Friday, with the wind blowing north, made the east wing of the Stony Brook valley so dense in smoke that valley people came near calling out the Westford fire company to put out nothing but smoke.
The next meeting of Middlesex North Pomona Grange will be held in Odd Fellows’ hall, Bridge street, Lowell, December 7. The morning hour will be in charge of the lecturer, who expects interesting papers from several members. The afternoon speaker will be Rev. Walter E. Woodbury. Westford Grange will have charge of the dinner.
Shouldn’t New England free itself from part of its supposed to be serious dependence for sugar? We have millions of acres of waste land. We could improve the denuded landscape by setting out sugar maples and raise sugar enough so that we could continue eating apples and cranberries. We have the rocks, the untillable land, the climate and the sugar famine fright, and now while the fight is contagious would it not be wise to consider our resources for partial sugar independence? The times are developing when the farmer will harness up as a producer of food and quit as a sort of dress parade purchaser of what he could and should have produced.
An important meeting of the Lowell Fish and Game club was held on last week Thursday evening. It was the first ladies’ night of the club. This and the two important speakers filled the hall. The first speaker was George H. Graham, member of the Massachusetts Fish and Game Commission, who spoke of the possibilities of restocking the streams with fish. Following Mr. Graham, Luther W. Faulkner, head of the Boy Scout movement in Lowell, gave a talk in which he illustrated with views thrown upon the screen what the boys have done for the birds near Lowell in feeding and shelter. The next speaker, E. A. Quarles, of the American Game and Propagation society, came down with figures and facts. He pointed out that in the pioneer days this land was best stocked with wild life. Today not ten percent of the original supply was left.
Herbert C. Hoover, the federal food director, like many a best man for a place, does not always surround himself with the best men for the place. According to the Rural New Yorker, in commenting on one of his appointments, says this man has had some experience in driving women to save. He has devised about two dozen fake schemes and it is estimated that he collected all told more than $10,000,000, largely collected from poor women who worked at the wash tub and who sent their earnings to him. The postoffice department issued fraud orders against him and the secretary of state closed a bank he used to gather other people’s money. The grand jury brought several indictments against him and put him on trial for fraud. He escaped conviction by a disagreement of the jury, but the record was one no honest man would covet.
Seth W Banister, one of our soldier boys, was home over Sunday. He reports plenty of food and camp life generally satisfactory.
With Andrew Johnson as teacher, about fifty men are tieing [sic] up the electric road from Westford to Brookside. Mr. Johnson is construction repair agent for the Herbert E. Fletcher branch steam railroad.
Forge Village. Rev. Angus Dun occupied the pulpit at St. Andrew’s mission Sunday. The large audience listened attentively to the interesting sermon delivered by the clergyman. Mr. Dun announced that he wants to be ordained to the priesthood next Wednesday morning. Bishop William Lawrence is to perform the ceremony at St. Paul’s cathedral, Boston, at 9:30. Mr. Dun has been a deacon of the Episcopal church for two years. At the services Sunday it was announced that a service unit was to be formed at the mission house for the purpose of working for the armies, both at home and abroad.
Roy Darling, a former resident and now in the aviation corps of Uncle Sam, visited his sister, Mrs. Stephen Healey, recently.
Mrs. John Shaddick entertained over the weekend Mrs. Mary Hushen and daughter Phillys [sic] and Mrs. John Hunter and daughter Margaret of Everett.
Mr. and Mrs. Carl Lydia and little son are visiting with Mrs. Lydia’s parents at their home in Fitzwilliam, N.H.
Misses Mary and Elizabeth Delaney, Mary Merrick and Margaret Kavanagh spent Sunday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. James H. Brown of Clinton.
The children of Cameron school are rehearsing a cantata by Polly Simpkins to be given before Christmas for the benefit of the Red Cross society. Miss Mary P. Raynes is the musical director.
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Healy have recently moved into their new house on the Boston road. Mr. and Mrs. John Mann have taken the Healy house on Orchard street.
Tony Palermo, who enlisted and is now in France has written to his parents here saying that he is well and enjoying the trip. He wishes to be remembered to many of his friends and closed with the request to write quickly. He met another volunteer from here, Albert Momming, in France. Letters have also been received from Matthew Elliott, who enlisted early in the year. He was in Blackpool, England, and told of his trip through Keighley and Bradford. Mattie, as he is called, expects to be on the firing line shortly. Sixteen young men from this village are now serving Uncle Sam in different branches, at home and abroad.
A daughter [Margaret Marie Duffy] was born to Mr. and Mrs. [John] Henry Duffy of North Chelmsford on Thursday, November 15. Mrs. Duffy was formerly Miss Theresa Elliott of this village.
Miss Ethel Collins played the wedding music at the marriage of her cousin, Miss Mabel Delmege, of North Billerica, to George Clark of Lowell on Wednesday.
Principal William C. Roudenbush, with several of the boys from Westford academy and the Boy Scouts hiked to Ayer last Saturday and visited Camp Devens. They enjoyed the hospitality of Mr. Harvey, one of the Y.M.C.A. workers. Mr. Harvey was recently at the academy and spoke in behalf of the Red Triangle. At the conclusion of his talk the pupils signed pledges for the Red Triangle campaign. In all, nearly one hundred dollars was promised.
Mrs. Harold Hildreth, one of the academy teachers, is organizing a junior auxiliary to work for the Red Cross. The meetings will be held at the home of Mrs. H. V. Hildreth.
Graniteville. Building operations still continue to be good in this section and aside from the many houses now being built here the ground has been broken for a new building to be erected on Bridge street by the C. G. Sargent’s Sons Corporation, to be used in its ever-increasing machinery business. A side-track will also be run from the Stony Brook branch of the Boston and Maine road right up to the new shop door. This will make a great saving in time in the handling of shipping and supplies.
Fred Stuart, an enlisted man in the regular army, who is now stationed in New Jersey, had a few days’ furlough recently that enabled him to visit his relatives here.
Gedeon [sic] P. LeDuc, a well-known overseer with the Abbot Worsted Company here, is at St. John’s hospital, Lowell, where he underwent an operation as a result of an injury sustained several months ago. The operation was not a difficult one and Mr. LeDuc is expected to return to his duties in a few weeks.
The electric cars still continue to be filled to capacity on Saturdays and Sundays while the jitneys are still “doing their bit.” The half-hour schedule does not begin to handle the Saturday afternoon crowds without double-headers, and now that the cool weather has come the “all change” at North Chelmsford has come back again.
The members of Court Westford, M.C.O.F., held a very enjoyable meeting on Thursday night.
Miss Emily Prinn of Lowell, has been a recent visitor here.
Owing to the rush of orders part of the plant of the Abbot Worsted Company here has been running nights until nine o’clock this week.
The interior finish is being put on the new office of the C. G. Sargent’s Sons Corporation here and it is expected that the office staff will move in in a few days.
Ayer
Salvation Army Hut Opened. The Salvation Army hut for the benefit of the soldiers and their friends, which is located near the main entrance to Camp Devens, was formally opened last Saturday night with a large attendance.
The building is fitted up in a very attractive manner, with home-like surroundings, and will be greatly appreciated by those for whose benefit it was erected. The main part of the building will seat comfortably 250 persons. There is room for reading and writing for 100 people, with desks and stationery and writing utensils, all of which is in great demand. The latest magazines are always on hand. Besides these comforts there is a fine Victrola phonograph and two pianos. In the rear of the building back of the stage, are living quarters for those in charge of the building which include Adjutant and Mrs. Arthur E. Armstrong who are working hard for the objects for which the building was erected.
The remaining equipment consists of two large stoves which keep the building warm and comfortable, two telephones and fine electric lighting. A bath and toilet room is located in the rear of the building.
Because of its nearness to the camp the building is a welcome place for the soldiers, who may remain longer during the evening than if the building were farther removed from their quarters, thus allowing them to go to the camp within a short time without the danger of being out after hours, which would bring them under the penalties for overstaying their leave.
The building is open from eight in the morning until eleven in the evening, daily, including Sundays. Special meetings with good speaking and singing are held Wednesday and Sunday evenings. Another meeting of this kind will be soon arranged for on Saturday evenings.
Adjutant and Mrs. Armstrong are much pleased with the success of the undertaking and hope to have better facilities for the comfort of the soldiers in the near future. Both have been long engaged in somewhat similar work in Bangor, Me., and Hartford, Conn., from which city they came here to take up their present work.
W.C.T.U. Home Inspected. The White Ribbon Home, an institution founded by the Massachusetts W.C.T.U. on East Main street was opened for inspection on Thursday from eleven in the morning until five o’clock in the afternoon. Many came during the day to see the result of the fine work of the union which has borne all the expense of preparing this ideal place as a recreation center for the soldiers at Camp Devens and their relatives and friends. In the gathering were represented all shades of religious belief, all united in the common purposes which the home stands for.
In the afternoon beginning at three o’clock, there were addresses by Mrs. Katharine Lent Stevenson, the head of the state organization; Mrs. Robert A. Woods, of Boston, who is noted for her work along social welfare lines in that city; Miss Emma H. Holland, of Boston, and Miss Haines, of Concord. Others who called during the afternoon to offer congratulations and say a good word for the cause were Rev. J. W. Thomas, who spoke in behalf of the clergymen of Ayer; Herbert Phinney, who has charge of the Odd Fellows’ rendezvous here, and Rev. William Goble, of Fitchburg, who made a brief address on the temperance work done by the state organization, and extended the greetings of the Christian Federation of Ayer. After the speaking the gathering was invited to inspect the building.
Words of praise were heard on every hand for the fine work accomplished during a comparatively short time since the purchase of the building. The house, which was bought of Joseph C. Anno, has been fitted up in an excellent manner to meet the requirements for which it was purchased. The interior presents a fine, home-like appearance, with every convenience for the pleasure and comfort of the soldiers and their relatives and friends.
On the street floor there is a room for games, a parlor and sitting room. On the upper floors are located living quarters for those who are to have charge of the home, with all modern improvements, and private rooms where the soldiers may meet their relatives and friends. In addition there are rooms for those who wish to remain over night. Later, it is planned to add several more baths to the conveniences of the occupants of the building.
The state organization, through whose efforts the home was made possible, is fortunate in securing an able corps of assistants to have charge of the work of conducting it.
Mrs. Sydna Eldridge, of Vineyard Haven, who has long been identified with temperance work, is to be the house mother. The selection of Mrs. Eldridge for this important work is an especially good one. She has given up all the comforts of a fine home to come to Ayer for the laudable purpose of helping the men at the military camp. Mr. and Mrs. Peter Eckard, of Boston, are the caretakers of the home who are to be assisted by Mrs. Caroline M. Caswell, of Boston.
The committee who took the initiative in arranging for the home, under the direction of the state organization, has as its chairman Mrs. Harriet E. Sawyer, of Clinton, and is composed of ladies in the towns in the vicinity of Camp Devens. Under such fine auspices the success of the home is assured.
News Items. Twelve Christmas bags containing games, cigarettes, gum, chocolate, writing paper, soap, Vaseline, tooth paste, all wrapped in a khaki handkerchief designed by the Red Cross has been sent to the soldiers overseas. The Christmas Packet committee is now busily at work preparing similar gifts for our boys at Camp Devens. Donations of money or anything suitable for the bags will be gratefully received by any of the committee, namely, Mrs. John Traquair, Mrs. A. M. Phelps, Mrs. C. A. Fox, Mrs. Ralph H. Wylie, Mrs. Duncklee, Mrs. Holden C. Harlow, Mrs. Louis H. Cushing, Mrs. George L. Osgood, Mrs. Theodore W. Barry, chairman. While we can hardly wish our men a merry Christmas let us do our part in giving them a happy one.
A supper, reception and dance was given last Saturday evening in honor of the Ayer boys encamped at Camp Devens. The supper was served at 6:30 in the lower town hall, those present besides the soldiers being John D. Carney, Douglas C. Smith and Lyman K. Clark, selectmen; Revs. Thomas P. McGinn and Frank H. Houston of St. Mary’s church, and Frank B. Crandall of the Unitarian church and Chief P. J. Beatty. After the supper remarks were made by the clergymen, Capt. Bennett Sanderson, son of Judge George A. Sanderson, and Lyman K. Clark. After the speaking the reception was given in the upper hall, which was followed by dancing until a late hour. The orchestra furnishing music for the occasion was composed of Huntley S. Turner, Walter S. Lougee, U. H. Barrows and Miss Etta Green, all of Ayer; A. L. Call and Henry G. Adams, of Groton, and William Hackett, of Fitchburg.
The Middlesex Union of Ministers held a very interesting meeting in the Federated church on Tuesday forenoon, which was attended by a good sized number. The afternoon was devoted to visiting Camp Devens.
Church Efficiency. The following was taken from the Lowell Courier-Citizen:
At a meeting of the ministers of the Unitarian denomination of northern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire in Lowell on Monday, earnest consideration was given to increase of church efficiency in the present crisis. Mr. Buckshorn of Westford was asked to draw up a resolution to the board of directors of the American Unitarian association and ask their immediate help in special needs. The following appeal was adopted and unanimously signed and forwarded to the board in Boston:
To the Board of Directors American Unitarian Association, Greeting:
We, as men and ministers of the North Middlesex conference of Unitarian churches, have become familiar with the social problems and religious needs of our great body of soldier boys at Camp Devens.
As patriotic spirited men we are in strong hope that as a denomination we shall be thoroughly alive to the opportunity of service that calls at our doors at Ayer and Camp Devens.
There has been no finer service than that rendered by our minister (Mr. Crandall) at Ayer. This unsolicited testimony of our splendid denominational man-power at church and camp comes to us from all the other churches and ministers engaged at Camp Devens and Ayer.
Our work at Camp Devens is now hindered for want of an automobile and maintenance expenses. Over these miles and miles of dusty camp streets even the most willing and loyal feet cannot go in weeks and weeks of foot travel. We can reach twice as many men and do double the work, with a proper equipment costing not over $1000.
It is our sense of duty and our urgent recommendation, that our board of directors immediately vote an appropriation for this auto and its maintenance for our work at Ayer and Camp Devens. We are trying to do a noble and needed work inadequately now. We must do it better, with less waste of man-power.
Louis H. Buckshorn, Westford; Dudley R. Child, Pepperell; L. LeRoy Greene, Chelmsford; J. S. Mouton, Stow; Oliver J. Fairfield, Littleton; Charles B. Ames, Groton; Alfred Rodman Hussey, Lowell; Everett S. Treworgy, Ashby; George C. Wright, Lowell; Manly B. Townsend, Nashua, N.H.; George F. Patterson, Peterboro, N.H.
On Tuesday morning at 10:15 in St. Paul’s cathedral, Boston, the Rt. Rev. William Lawrence, bishop of Massachusetts, ordained the Rev. Angus Dun to the priesthood. The Rev. Endicott Peabody presented Mr. Dun for ordination.
Camp Notes. The new rifle ranges were used for the first time on Tuesday afternoon. The men of the 303rd Infantry regiment were the first to try their skill in marksmanship. The record made was remarkably good, considering the fact that some of the men had never fired a shot before. A hundred men, two in each target, shot at one time with officers standing by to give instructions. Major General Hodges, who witnessed the work, was greatly pleased with the results.
A large number of men who have been exempted for minor physical defects will be certified for service according to official reports Tuesday. Those having such defects will be treated at the cantonment by the army doctors and put in condition to do military duty when they will become members of the army. This decision, coming from the war department, bears out the statements of the camp physicians that men with slight physical imperfections can in a short period become as useful as a man who is physically perfect. The number of men exempted for minor physical defects runs into the thousands. The re-examination will add so many more to the ranks. Should the procedure in this respect, which was followed during the first draft be continued, it would mean that men with dependents would be obliged to serve to make up the deficiency. The new rule will go into effect in the next draft, which is set for next February.
An order has been recently issued by division officers that hereafter when soldiers are marching about the towns bordering on the cantonment they must refrain from shouting at citizens or otherwise molesting them. There have been some cases reported where such misconduct has taken place. All guilty of the offense in the future will be sharply disciplined.
John F. Salmon, of Lowell, has been appointed assistant secretary at the Knights of Columbus headquarters. He comes well recommended and no doubt will be of good service to Secretary Dunphy.
A committee of women representing the Knights of Columbus Knitting guild, of Lowell, visited the camp on Thursday for the purpose of knitting or mending for the soldiers.
The Hostess house of the Y.W.C.A. at the camp will be opened on Monday. Mrs. Howard Morse, secretary of the war work council of the national board of the association, will deliver an address describing the work of the organization in furnishing social facilities in connection with the training camps.
The State Board of Charity has sent a representative to Ayer with instructions to secure cooperation among the organizations engaged in various kinds of welfare work in connection with the camp.
The number of laborers and skilled workmen at the camp has been very much diminished during the past few weeks, leaving only a comparatively small number there. The reduced force is noticeable about town in the absence of large numbers of camp employees, who have been here since the construction work was started. Many of those leaving here are working on the large camp in Squantum.
The railroad station near the camp, which was recently erected by the Boston and Maine railroad, is known as “Devens,” which name appears on the official timetable. Only special trains for soldiers leave and depart from the station. The report that all local trains were to stop there is untrue.
A new regimental guard house was opened on Wednesday afternoon, to which all the military prisoners of the camp were assigned, each to his particular regimental quarters.
Many hundreds of invitations have been extended the soldiers from families all over New England through camp officials to spend thanksgiving at their homes. The invitations will be selected so as to give all the men who live in places far distant from the camp the benefit of them. Those living within comparatively short distances from the camp will go to their homes, except those whose offenses have barred them from that privilege.
The first case in New England where punishment was inflicted for failure to report for duty after having been drafted was disposed of on Wednesday, when Tony Petroshki, of Norwich, Conn., was sentenced after a court martial trial to twenty years at hard labor in the federal prison at Atlanta, Ga. Petroshki was charged with desertion inasmuch as he failed to report to the local exemption board in his home city, the desertion dating from August 21. Federal agents located him in Norwich and brought him to Camp Devens. The severe sentence emphasizes the strong determination of the government in dealing with this class of offenders.
The telegraph battalion composed of employees of the New York and New England Telegraph and Telephone Company, had a review Wednesday afternoon. Companies D and E were each presented with an American flag, a battalion flag and two guidons.
Small detachments of draft recruits are arriving nearly every day to fill up the depleted ranks caused by the withdrawal of troops from the camp for the southern training camp at Atlanta, Ga. Among the Lynn contingent that arrived on Wednesday were two Chinamen. Taunton and Salem were also represented in the number arriving for service.
Gloves are a much needed article at the camp at the present time. A number of pajamas and socks arrived on Wednesday, the contribution being made by the Red Cross.
“College night” at the camp was observed last week Friday night when the soldiers gathered at the Knights of Columbus and Y.M.C.A. buildings to greet the presidents of their alma mater. The distinguished guests were A. Lawrence Lowell, president of Harvard, and LeBaron R. Briggs, dean of the same university; Presidents Hopkins of Dartmouth, Bumpus of Tufts, Sanford of Clark, Roberts of Norwich, Luther of Trinity, Thomas of Middlebury, Shanklin of Wesleyan, Prof. Henry B. Wright of Yale representing President Hadley of Yale, Dean Lewis of the Massachusetts Agricultural college, Dean Sills of Bowdoin, Dean Warren of Boston college and Rev. Joseph Dinand of Holy Cross. The guests were escorted on a tour of the cantonment by a soldier from each of the respective colleges. Later, they were in the Knights of Columbus building where they were welcomed by Col. M. B. Stewart, chief of staff of the division, followed by a visit to the Y.M.C.A. auditorium.
Over 2500 of the soldiers took part in street parades in Greater Boston on last Saturday. The men included in the parades were from the 304th Infantry, composed mostly of Connecticut soldiers, and 350 men from Somerville, attached to the Depot Brigade.
The divisional officers insist that every state must fill up its full quota of men to make up for the unusually large number of men at the camp who have been disqualified for physical disability and other reasons. The new arrivals are being assigned to the Depot Brigade, which organization will also receive the remaining fifteen percent of the first draft quota.
Thanksgiving will be observed at the camp. A regular old-fashioned turkey dinner will be served, including all the accessories to the time honored New England feast day.
The 303rd Machine Gun Battalion are forming a drum corps and rehearsals are now going on. The men attached to the branch of the service are planning to have a parade in Hartford, Conn., Thanksgiving day, in which city they have their homes.
An instance of the red tape in vogue at the camp came to light on Friday of last week when a recruit appeared for duty in the Engineers regiment. From the time he entered the camp until he was finally directed to the headquarters of the regiment, after going through the regular routine, the time consumed was three and a half hours. The recruit was then told to report the next day.
The division officials are determined to stop the practice among the men of refusing to pay railroad fares. On a recent date seventy-five men were guilty of this breach of discipline. While the officials are willing and anxious for the men to receive lower rates for transportation, they intend to mete out stern punishment to those who refuse to pay the regular rate demanded by the railroad company. The men above referred to have been disciplined in losing their pass privileges and furloughs for an indefinite period and in addition will be probably court martialed.
Press dispatches from the front say that Private C. W. Axell, of Gardner, was wounded in a recent battle between the American troops and the Germans, and is under treatment in one of the base hospitals in France. Axell will be remembered by Ayer people as one of the young men who performed service in guarding the Nashua river bridge last spring with other members of Company E, 2nd Regiment, of Orange, to which he belonged.
A sensation was caused by the report that lawyers serving in the army in the camp were endeavoring to procure discharges for many of the men during the past week. The cases of those claiming exemption from further military service are in the hands of the proper authorities who will act upon them. Any such assistance as has been reported to be offered by the legal members of the division is uncalled for. The activities of the lawyers in this respect is responsible for the issuance of an order from division headquarters that such practices must be stopped at once. Several cases of men, mostly by those of foreign extraction, who have been approached by lawyers, have come to light.
The Camp Devens football team was defeated by the Camp Dix eleven at Braves’ field, Boston, last Saturday afternoon by the score of 19 to 0. Several noted college stars played on both teams. A big crowd from Camp Devens witnessed the contest.
A human interest story in which a southern soldier and one of the men in charge of the recreation centers in connection with the camp were principals came recently to light. The man from the southland appeared at the building maintained for the benefit of the soldiers, appearing greatly depressed. The good man in charge tried hard for a time to cheer him up without success. Finally he prepared a genuine southern supper for the young warrior which was supplemented by kind words and selections on the Victrola dear to the hearts of the people of Dixie land. Under these influences the young man brightened up amazingly and left the building after giving profuse thanks for the great kindness extended to him by his good friend.
British officers who have seen active service on European battle fronts came here Thursday to assist in the instruction of the drafted men. Capt. S. A. Hudson and Company Sergeant Major R. V. Larkin will give special attention to the machine gun detachments; Capt. J. W. Turner and Sergt. A. Lewis, gas work; Capt. J. E. L. Warren and Sergt. T. Moyles, trench mortar work; and Lieut. J. W. Hughes and Company Sergeant Major W. A. Ropen, bayonet drills.
All of the men at the camp lined up in front of their barracks ready for duty Thursday when whistles were sounded for a fire on the roof of the heating plant of the 303rd Infantry. Bucket brigades prepared for action, but their services were not needed as the regular firemen soon extinguished the blaze.
District Court. The court rendered a decision on the inquest in the death of Private John J. Corcoran, who was killed by an electric car at Mitchelville on November 7. In his report the court reviews the evidence, concluding by saying that the motorman of the car was in no way responsible for Corcoran’s death, this point being the vital point in the testimony bearing on the case.
Struck by Auto. Four soldiers of Italian extraction were run down by an automobile on Shirley street Monday night. All were more or less injured, one quite severely. They reported the matter to officer T. J. Pirone, who succeeded in procuring the number of the car. The young men spoke but little English. They are with the Depot Brigade of Camp Devens. They gave their names as Zeneuvese Nicola, Cormine DeLesio, Raffaelle Scippa and Joseph Mullinano. Scippa was injured the worst. All the men were able to return to camp. The victims of the accident stated to the police that they were away off the road when the automobile causing the accident came racing along with another car, both going fifty miles per hour. They had been warned about the car’s approach and had supposed they had reached a place of safety. Shirley street has been a favorite speeding ground for autoists since West Main street has been closed for repairs. One would think that the drivers of these cars imagined themselves on a race track instead of a town highway and that their automobile horns were on the cars for ornaments rather than to warn pedestrians or sane auto drivers of danger. The warning signals are never given even by operators of government machines, who ought to set a better example in this regard.
Severely Injured. John Petro had his ankle broken and Nicholas Fontana received several internal injuries when they were run down by an automobile on Main street at the corner of Pleasant, Thursday evening at 6:30 o’clock. Petro was picked up and rushed to the Thayer McNeil store in the Barry building and Fontana was taken to Brown’s drug store. Drs. L. D. Sullivan and Frank S. Bulkeley attended the injured men. Later, both the injured men were removed to the base hospital at Camp Devens, where Fontana lies in a critical condition.
The driver of the car which struck the men was Louis Page, of 245 Oak street, Lawrence, who does a public jitney business here. His name was taken by the police as well as the names of several witnesses, including two women and a man who was riding in the automobile. They will probably appear in court later.
Petro and Fontana are laborers at Camp Devens and were walking across the street after coming from Lowell when they were struck. Fontana, who received the worst injuries, was pulled out from under the car unconscious.
The accident happened when Page, the driver of the automobile, tried to pass several other machines going in the same direction. In doing so he swerved to the left of the street, which is quite narrow at his point, and just brushed Officer James J. Donahue, the night traffic officer at this point, who had a very narrow escape from injury. The officer took the driver into custody and turned him over to Chief Beatty, who later released him after getting his name and address and his story as to how the accident happened.
Another deplorable fact which this accident has emphasized is that there is a lack of hospital facilities of any kind in Ayer where cases of this and similar nature can be promptly cared for.
During the past few months many accidents have happened in Ayer, which if proper and prompt care could be given them in a hospital much suffering could be avoided and lives saved. On Thursday night it required one hour and a half’s time to go through the routine of getting the men injured in the accident to the base hospital at Camp Devens, with so much loss of time and much added unnecessary suffering which would be avoided if proper facilities for treating prisoners could be had here.
Pepperell
Soldiers Entertained. An entertainment was given at the Y.M.C.A. hut 303, at Camp Devens, last Saturday evening under the auspices of the Knights of Pythias service committee. Mr. Allen, of this town, who is a member of the order in Lowell, was largely instrumental in arranging for the same. The speakers were Mr. Eustes, of Lowell, chairman of the committee, and Mr. Perley of Fitchburg. Rev. W. H. Beers, of Pepperell, gave the greetings for his townsmen. Autos were furnished through the generosity of Rev. D. R. Child and Messrs. Deware, Donnelly, Wright, Frossard, Woodside and Mrs. Richardson. Much credit for the successful program is due Mrs. Alice Bartlett, who helped carry the matter through in a thoroughly efficient manner.
Ten-year-old Donald Gagnon was the “star” of the evening. His song, “Give me a kiss Mirandy,” given as an encore, brought forth a storm of applause from the soldiers, who were delighted with him. The Girl Scouts made a “hit” in more ways than one, with the contents of the bag of apples presented them. The original poem, written especially for the occasion by Mrs. Allen, also scored a big hit with the audience.
Mr. Allen, of the Knights of Pythias service committee, appreciates the efforts made by all to make this first Pepperell entertainment of home talent for the soldiers in Ayer such a perfect success.
Following the addresses and the greeting, the musical and literary program was given, consisting of a piano duet by the Misses Dunton and Deware and a song by Mrs. Arthur Bartlett, “The sunshine of your smile,” who responded to an encore. A humorous selection, “What is a hedgehog?” was given by Mrs. Albert Parker, reader, who was obliged to respond to an encore. Master Donald Gagnon sang “Joan of Arc,” and as an encore the song referred to, “Give me a kiss Mirandy.” Then followed the singing of the original poem, Mrs. Bartlett taking the verses as a solo, and the Girl Scouts the chorus, as follows:
MARCHING TO VICTORY
(Tune, Marching Through Georgia)
Dedicated to the 303rd H.F.A. [Heavy Field Artillery]
By Blanche E. Allen
From the hills of Old New Hampshire
And dear Old Pine tree State,
Our Yankee boys are marching
With a courage truly great.
They’re gathering at Camp Devens;
Just a little while to wait;
Then they’ll go marching to victory.
Chorus
Hurrah, hurrah, for the red, the white and blue;
Hurrah, hurrah, for our Yankee boys so true.
We’re standing right behind you
And we mean to see you through,
While you are marching to victory.
New England always has been first
To stand for Liberty.
Let us hold the Standard high;
That all the world may see
You are brave enough to fight
With friends across the sea,
And you are marching to victory.
And when the war is over,
And the boys come marching home,
The welcome we will give you
Will be heard from zone to zone.
So hurry boys, go quickly, shake
The Kaiser from his throne,
For you are marching to victory.
This was exceedingly well rendered in spirited manner, and was one of the features of the evening.
A character sketch given by Mrs. Albert Parker won repeated applause. The Girl Scouts sang “America, the beautiful” and another piano duet was rendered by Misses Dunton and Deware, which was finely executed. At the conclusion all joined in singing “The Star Spangled Banner,” led by the choir of Girl Scouts, with the 400 or more soldiers of the audience joining. A hearty cheer was finally given by the soldiers for their evening’s enjoyment.
Boxborough
News Items. Philip Litchfield, late of the Forestry Unit No. 3, Scotland, gave his family a genuine surprise last Monday night by arriving home. He went with the others from here last June, but has suffered almost constantly from ill health and thought best to return. Needless to say that he has innumerable questions to answer to the families who have members over there, but his report of conditions is very optimistic and comforting to the anxious friends.
Soldiers Entertain. On Wednesday evening the people had the pleasure of seeing and hearing a few boys from Camp Devens at the town hall. Carl Swanson transported them and arrived at the hall about seven o’clock. The first thing was supper. The company consisted of Lieut. H. C. Hoyt, 302nd Infantry, four corporals, one sergeant and four privates. Seated with them at the table were Rev. G. M. Missirian, Luther Furbush, who expects the call any hour, and John Griffin, who answered the call in ’61. After being warmed and cheered the boys gave a fine entertainment, consisting of piano solos, songs and talks. One thing not on the program, but which made a hit with the audience, was the last number, when Lieut. Hoyt stepped from the platform and led up the civil war veteran, John Griffin, to stand with them while “The Star Spangled Banner” was sung. Inspired by this the old veteran sang one of the songs which was popular in his war days, much to the delight of the boys and the audience, who cheered heartily. After this came games, directed by Lieut. Hoyt, followed by dancing, with Mr. Wilson at the piano. Another cup of coffee and many expressions of good will sent the troop off in good spirits. We hope to see them again. The proceeds, about twenty-eight dollars, will be given to those in service from here. The committee in charge, Mrs. C. T. Wetherbee and Mrs. C. B. Robbins, feel pleased with the result of their effort.