Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, July 22, 1916, Page 1

Historleal Soclety K VOLUME XIV, NO. 177. BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA, SATURDAY EVENING, JULY 22, 1916. FORTY CENTS PER MO GENERAL HAIG REPORTS BRITISH PROGRESS IN INTENSE ARTILLERY CONTES Bemidji Naval Militia NEGRO SOLDIERS ONMEXICAN BORDER - AREBESTINWORLD William G. Shepherd, United Press Staff Correspondent, Praises Colored Troopers. MILITIA OF COUNTRY LIKENED TO COAT | American Soldiers are Anxious for War; Militias are Being - Overhauled. By William G. Shepherd. (United Press Staff Correspondent) San Antonio, Tex., July 22.—Uncle Sam has dug his ancient storm soat —the militia—out of the attic of peacc. On the hot ironboard of Texas sands of discipline he is trying to make it warproof. It is musty, wrinkled, seems ripped here and there, but the mateyal is superfine. True enough the material does not like the operation. It would rather be out in the storm doing its work. It asks every reporter or other supposedly wise man it sees “‘aren’t we going to have war with Mexico?” Overhaul Storm Coats. But storm coats must be overhaul- ed whether the coat likes it or not. Here, with no enemy in sight, the militia is extremcly Joseph pattern. There is Co. K of Milwaukee, First Wisconsin, for instance. It was or- ganized 50 years ago' by Theodore Rasinski. It is known as Kosciusko’s company. Forty per cent of its 120 men were born in Poland. I sat back in the tent of Chaplain Henry Piasecki and tried to imagine I was back at the British, French or Aus- trian front talking with an officer of one of the armies as he said it was an ancient custom of his company to permit none but Poles to join and they kept up the custom in deference of hundreds of past and present mem- bers. “‘So many Poles try to join now that we are full and turn them over to other units,” said the captain. “They are scattered throughout the Wisconsin regiments.” Wisconsin a Model. But I could not imagine I was in anything but an American army. Such a thing could not happen in any other place in the world than America. Wisconsin claims their militia a model for the country. The Polish company claims to be the prize win- ner of Wisconsin. Splendid soldiers thoroughly American, but adding variegation to Uncle Sam’s storm coat. Chicago’s colored regiment, the §th, adds vim and even snappiness. It was hard for Chicago’s colored troops to ride in Jim Crow cars, but while investigating various textures I encountered Col. Jim Dennison of the colored regiment, who said: “We think we have the only dead sure American regiment in the en- tire lot. The other regiments have got all kinds of folks in them, but we are all the same. We are so Am- erican that we obey the San Antonio laws and ride in separate compart- ments on the street cars, but the other day when the Y. M. C. A. put up that big frame building right on the edge of the camp and arranged for a white Y. M. C. A. club, to which colored men were not invited, I told the Y. M. C. A. authorities I could not.vouch for the safety of the building. If my men got at it I could not keep them from tearing it down and I wouldn’t. The Y. M. C. A. people understood and one of them told me privately: “I respect you for your aetion.” Best in World. “It looks very much now,” and Colonel Denison’s eyes twinkled, “‘as if my attitude will result in my regi- ment having a very fine Y. M. C. A. building of its own.” These negroes are crackerjack Am-| ericans, as much a part of the Amer- ican army as any other regiment. It’s the same coat, and Uncle Sam has got some tailoring on hand. The more I seé of it the more I think the material is the best in the world. TELEGRAPH OPERATORS IN GANADA ON STRIKE (By United Press) Winnipeg, July 22.—A tieup in the telegraph of Canada is expected as a result of a strike of the Great Northwestern operators today. Omne hundred operators are striking here. They want a 15 per cent wage in- Strike breakers are coml’ng. crease. Has a Two Days Shore Leave at Newport, R. L. Naval Militias on Largest Collection of U, 8. Ships Ever in Narragansett Bay, Drop Anchor After Small Gale; 17-Gun Salute for Admiral Mayo; Edwin Simons Correspondent, Describes Ship Life. - LOCAL “JACKIES” TO RETURN TO PHILADELPHIA MONDAY; WILL LEAVE FOR HOME TUESDAY Get Shore Leave. Newport, R. I, July 22.—The Bemidji naval militia was given two days’ shore leave here today. There are 1,000 jackies of the re- serve Atlantic fleet of 33 vessels on shore leave which began yes- terday and will continue until Sunday morning. This is the largest collection of U. S. ships ever in Narragansett bay and an- chor was dropped Friday after- noon after a small gale. The Bemidji militia on the U. U. S. 8. Rhode Island will weigh anchor tomorrow go to Phila- delphia from where they will leave on a special train for their homes Tuesday. The U. S. 8." Rhode Island gave a 17-gun salute for Admiral H. Mayo, commanding the reg- ular Atlantic fleet, yesterday. It was answered by a13-gun salute from the. flagship Wyoming for Rear Admiral Helm. By Edwin J. Simons (Pioneer Staff Correspondent) With the Bemidji naval militia aboard U. S. S. Rhode Island— Wednesday—The Bemidji naval mili- tia is becoming accustomed to the ac- tual life of a “jackie.” Hard work is hardening the boys, who are mak- ing good records. The Bemidji militia disembarked from the special train at Philadel- phia Saturday afternoon at four bells (two o’clock) and was marched di- rectly from the train to the navy wharfs. A steam transport hauled the entire department of naval mili- tias, that is Minnesota and Michigan, to the U. S. S. Rhode Island. Chichester First. = . “Bill” Chichester claims the honor of being the first man over the plank and the first to salute the officer of the deck. Soon after embarkment mess call was sounded for the mid-day meal. Following mess the militlamen were shown quarters and mustered. At the first drill we were ordered to have our sea bags and hammocks ready for the captain’s inspection. He missed us and we were given places to store our hammocks and bags. We were then, for a short time, given the priv- ilege to get acquainted with the prin- cipal parts of the ship. That priv- ilege was soon ended as quarters were again sounded and Bemidji’s divi- sion, like all others, divided and scat- tered to other divisions just the same as we would be following a declara- tion of war. Several men of the Be- midji division are in each of'the new divisions, consequently we see each other only about once a day. Have Band Concert. Saturday evening mess was follow- ed by a short band concert, which was closed by “America” and the sa- luting of the ‘“‘colors.” Our first night aboard began with the issuing of hammocks at seven bells (7:30 o’clock). “Hammock Ladders” were in great demand until about nine o’clock when taps were sounded and all the boys learned that there was no such thing. At five o’clock Sunday morning re- veille call rolled us out. The mas- ter at arms of each compartment roll- ed out the tardy ones. The next tune we heard was the boatswain’s “piping down” to swab decks and to polish brass. Never did Bemidji seem more beautiful or home work so enticing as when this exder was given. Only two hours work “swabbing decks” and “polishing bright work’ - without anything to quench a saltwater thirst except an eye-opener of coffee. We worked un- SCOO THE CUB REPORTER til morning mess at seven bells. Are Given Positions. After morning mess we were again “piped” down to deckwork by the boatswain mates and worked labor- iously on the bright work. Quarters found the boys on the top side instead of on the gun deck. During morn- ing quarters we were given stations at fire drill and most of our boys /| were stationed on the fire plugs in | the very bowels of the ship. Sunday afternoon quarters were called to give us positions in colli- sion drill and there, as in all drills, the Bemidji division was scattered. Routine work, mess, cleaning decks, hammocks and tops ended Sunday. Sunday .is supposed to be an easy day. At Monday morning quarters sta- tions in other fire drills were given us. - Regular routine followed until five bells in the afternoon at which time every section of each division was turned over to a regular boat- swains’ mate for a sighting seeing trip. Each section was taken from the boat deck over which is the bridge “crow’s nests” fighting top and on which all the boats of the ship’s flotilla are located, down through the main deck, gun deck, berth deck and the three-platform deck. On every deck we were shown everything to see and could ask any questions. Wash Dirty Clothes. No' sooner was that finished than the most tedious of all work we have had was given us. We all turned laundrymen on the forecastle deck and scrubbed our dirtiest clothes. For one hour and a half we scrubbed un- til ‘the call of “line-up” was piped and we deserted our clothing work for evening mess. Monday the usual routine was tak- en up except that we had an “aban- don ship drill,” “setting up” exer- cises and gun drill » s In company with the Alabama and Illinois which were anchored off the navy yards at Philadelphia, we weighed anchor Sunday morning at eight bells, two hours after sched- uled time and at a speed of 15 knots an hour (167 miles) steamed down the Delaware river. About 100 miles down the bay, after a 21-gun salute to the admiral on our ship, which we answered with a 7-gun salute, the Louisiana joined the fleet. Not till we reached “Block Island,” near Long Island, did the rest of the fleet, the Kearsage, Maine, Kentucky and Kan- sas hove in sight. Four six-pound salutes were fired for the Rhode Island, the fleet flagship, and were anchored. Double column formation was formed by the other eight ships and the commanding officers of all the other ships were brought to their respective steamers for a conference at the admiral’s quarters Tuesday. After their departure at noon (eight bells) the entire fleet was at anchor in the ‘bay until today. Today we weighed anchor and steamed over to Newport where he will have two days’ shore leave. From Newport we will return to the breakwaters of the Delaware where on July 24 the Penn- sylvania militia men will be trans- ported to the U. S. S. Chicago and we will resume the trip to Philadelphia. We will disembark on July-25. % * * * The Ship. U. 8. 8. Rhode Island, the fleet’s flagship, on which we are stationed, is a reserve second class or second in line battleship. It was placed in re- serve three months ago. At present there are about 800 men and 50 officers aboard, the officers i war time conditions the boat’s sup- plement is composed of 1,000 men and 120 officers. Of the present sup- plement 308 are regulars and the bal- ance are naval militia' men from Min. nesota, Ohio, Michigan and Pennsyl- vania.. Admiral James Helm; U: S not including line officers. Under Bemidji’s men who have tdken other short cruises have nothing but praise for the regulars on board who, instead of treating us as ‘‘rookies,” do all in their power to teach us and help us. Description of Ship. Four 12-inch guns, eight 8-inch guns, 12 6-inch guns, 12 3-inch guns, four torpedo tubes, two field pieces, four saluting guns, 20 one-pound guns, form the ship’s battery. The two turrets forward and aft on the main deck revolve the four 12-inch and two turrets, one on the port and one on the starboard side, revolve the eight 8-inch guns. The battery of twelve 6-inch guns are located on the gun deck, directly below the main deck. All ammunition is hoisted in ammunition chutes from the lower platform decks. Eight men handle one gun. One sighter, one pointer, one trainer, one trayman, two shellmen, two power- men under a gunner’s mate composed each gun crew. All of the Bemidji boys were stationed at one of the gun stations at gun drill. On the Rhode Island a flotilla com- posed of three 40-foot steam launches and two motor launches, one racing cutter, the fastest in the North At- lantic, and referve fleets, two cutters and two 20-man life boats manned by oars are ready for use. Although seamen are not at all times privileged to use them, we have on board a postoffice, pay rooms, pie check room, barber shop, tailor shop, printing shop, canteen or store, shoe shop, ¢arpenter shop, moulding shop and store rooms. x ox ‘Work Becomes Easier. Up to Wednesday life on the boat was constantly becoming easier for the naval reserves, especially the Be- midji division, which is acquiring (Continued on Page 4) I " NOT BROKE BUT BADLY BENT l A. P. WHITE PRESENTS NORMAL SCHOOL DIPLOMAS . P. White, president of the North- N., is in command ofithe whole flect. | ern National bank, e, member of the, state_normal school board, presented the graduating class of the summer course of the Duluth normal school with diplomas at Duluth last evening. There were 20 members in the class. Mr. White returned to Bemidj ithis morning. OPTION ELEGTION NOTICES ARE POSTED County option election notices are being posted today. The election will be held in Beltrami county August 14. A county option meeting will be held at Wilton next Wednesday eve- ning. : SENATE DEGIDES ON NAVY CONSTRUCTION ‘Washington, July 22.—The senate late yesterday by a vote of 61 to 15 adopted the construetion of the naval appropriation bill, providing for a three-year program, including four dreadnaughts and four battle cruisers to be constructed at once. Invitations have been issued by Miss Louise McCready and Miss Em- ma Klein to 25 guests for a party which will be given Monday evening on the Klein lawn. The party will be in honor of Miss Margaret Ham- rick and Miss Adeline Davitt of Minneapolis, who are visiting in Be- midji. Miss Gertrude Malone = went to Grand Rapids today where she will spend the week-end. Changes Are Goming Thick And Fast NOYHING— O WORRY , ABOUT-YOURE. BY GOLLY- T GAY RIDOF MY WFE AND R\D OF MY A DEAD ONE, ANY WAY- Cani KiLL Yo TWICE ! BALD HEAD - THIS \S A 00D =~ ONE_ ISTHAT OLD LON(— LEGGED TINX<TH Boss AND TH'OTHER. 1S THIS LIL/ STANLE ¥ m"‘%’”fd}gfil’&i‘:flfimflmmj BISHOP GORBETT TO BE N BEMIDJI TOMORROW Rt. Rev. T. Corbett, bishop of ‘Crookston, will be i Bemidji tomor- row and will administer confirmation to a class of 40 at high mass at 9 o’clock a. m. at St. Philip’s church. INTERNATIONAL FALLS AT BEMIDJI TOMORROW The International Falls baseball team will be the :opponents of the Bemidji nine at the new athletic park tomorrow afternoon beginning. at three o’clock. “‘Smoky’” White will be on the mound for Bemidji. FOREST FIRES REPORTED IN KOOGHIGHING GOUNTY (By United Press) St. Paul, Minn,, July 22.—Many forest fires have broken out in North- ern Minnesota. The state forestry de- partment today received reports of fires in Northern St. Louis, Cook and Koochiching counties. Cook county reports heavy fires on the Canadian side with smoke pour- ing densely as far south as Grand Marais. All available men have been called out by Ranger Orr of St. Louis coun- ty to fight a fire in the Virginia and Rainy Lake woods. A large tract of timber owned by the International Lumber company near Ray, Koochiching county, has been destroyed. Ambrose Holland of Kellher ar- rived in Bemidji this morning and will assist at the First National bank for some time. He was accompanied to this city by his sister, Miss Elaine Holland. By "HOP" 1D LIKE TO CasH N - TMTHRU! GERMANS LOSING ADVANTAGE OF THE NATURAL GllVEI}- British Advance and Encounter Enemy Third Line Fire; Teu- tons Use Gases. SHIPS MAY BATTLE OFF ATLANTIC COAST Unsuccessful German Attacks are Re- ported in Paris; Air Squadron is Busy. (By United Press) London, July 22.—General Haig today reported progress of the Brit- ish troops in an intense artillery com- bat. Guns roared continuously on 5 the -British front for the past twelve hours. The Germans poured gas ex- plosive shells over the British front lines. Dispatches indicate that the Germans are losing the advantage of natural cover. 'General Haig has about captured Delville and Fereau woods. The British are encountering the full effect of the enemy third line fire. The allies in Peronne Sec- tor are fighting from the high ground with the enemy below them. 4 Germans Unsuccessful, Paris, July 22.—Unsuccessful at- tacks by Germans were reported in today’s communique. All of the at- tacks were repulsed. The attacks oc- curred at Molin, Soustouvent, Fuim, Fleurery, Damloup and Stdie. The. French air squadron bombed 115 heavy shells on Metzablon in Vosges. One French squadron failed to return. Deutschland Still Here, Baltimore, July 22.—The Deutsch- land failed to take advantage of a . terrible lighitning and rain storm here last night. It is still here and it is rumored is now awaiting the arrival - {% of the. sister ship, Bremen. e It is rumored that war submarines are escorting the Bremen. If the war submarines are escorting the Bremen a battle with the British = ‘blockade fleet off the American:coast .2 is likely. 7 TRAMP IS HURT ON FREIGHT TRAIN Cass Lake, Minn., July 22.—A man giving his name as Joseph Domorski was seriously injured in the Great Northern railroad yards while steal- ing a ride on a freight. Domorski had come into the yards on a “gon- dola” carrying 12x12 timbers. When the cars were switched Domorski was caught by a timber and rammed into the box car ahead. He was doubled up against the car, his feet bent back and was seriously injured internally.. The end of the car had to be sawed out to allow his release. He was taken to the county hospital at ‘Walker. s CASS LAKE IS HOLDING ANNUAL INDIAN FAIR Cass Lake, Minn., July 22.—The third, annual Tri-County Indian fair . was held in Cass Lake this week. This fair is for the three counties = of Hubbard, Cass and Beltrami and anything grown or raised by an ex-_ 3 hibitor or a member of his family on land in any of these three counties, all hand work not over two years old, the work of the exhibitor or mem- bers of his family was entered. - oA MISS ELEANOR LIGHTNER = WINS GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP (By United Press) St. Paul, Minn., July 22.—Miss El-" eanor Lightner of the Town and Country club today won the Minne- sota Woman’s golf championship by defeating Mrs. W. A. McLeod of White Bear, two up and one to play. FOUR NEW INFANTILE PARALYSIS CASES IN STATE (By United Press) St. Paul, Minn,, July 22.—Four new infantile paralysis cases were re- ported today. Three of the cases are in the Twin Cities and the other in Perham, Ottertail county. S STATE TO GET $30,000 - ; FROM LOWRY EST. (By United Press) St. Paul, Minn., July 22.—The state will benefit by $30,000 inher: itance tax next week in the probating of the $1,500,000 estate of the late & Thomas Lowry, street railway mag: nate. - Members of the organization hay- ing control of the private hath house = at Diamond Point will hold a me ing at the bath house tonight at el o’clock. Every member is urged 'be present.