USA > Indiana > Allen County > Fort Wayne > The pictorial history of Fort Wayne, Indiana : a review of two centuries of occupation of the region about the head of the Maumee River, Vol. I > Part 65
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The Fort Wayne district includes a large part of northern Indiana, and large delegations have enlisted from the cities of Mishawaka, Hammond, Indiana Harbor, Gary, Huntington, South Bend, Elkhart, Kokomo and Marion.
Under the provisions of a law passed by Congress, the govern- ment pays private soldiers $30 per month instead of $15, as formerly ; corporals receive $36, sergeants $42, quartermaster sergeants $44, first sergeants and members of non-commissioned staff $51. The revision of the scale does not affect the continuous service pay, which is much higher and wins for the soldier an increase with every re-enlistment with the colors.
THE DEPARTURE OF BATTERY D.
Although thousands of men already had been recruited for the regular army from the Fort Wayne district and sent to Fort Thomas, Kentucky, previous to the departure of any of the local military units, keen interest centered upon the entrainment of Bat- tery D, First regiment, Indiana National Guard, on the morning of July 2. Battery D, with recruiting headquarters at the courthouse, was the first unit organized in Fort Wayne following the declar- ation of war with Germany. On the day of its departure one hun- dred and ninety men, escorted by a parade composed of a platoon of police, the Elks' band, Civil War veterans, Spanish War veterans, the Fort Wayne Council of Patriotic Service, Battery B, Company B, Signal Corps, Boy Scouts and relatives of the department soldiers,
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FT. WAYNE'S ANSWER TO THE CALL TO WAR
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were taken by a special train over the Lake Erie and Western rail- road to Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indianapolis. Thousands of cit- izens thronged the streets and the vicinity of the railway station, where addresses were made by Rev. John R. Quinlan, rector of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, and Rev. Arthur J. Folsom, pastor of Plymouth Congregational church. The officers of Battery D at the time of its departure from Fort Wayne were: Captain, Mark A. Dawson; senior first lieutenant, Luther A. Mertz; junior first lieutenant, C. A. Brintzenhofe.
BATTERY B SUMMONED
Fort Wayne's second military unit, Battery B, First Regiment, Field artillery, Indiana National Guard, was mustered into the serv- ice of the United States and departed for Camp Benjamin Harrison over the Lake Erie and Western Railway on the morning of Sunday, March 5. A great parade, following an address delivered by Judge Samuel M. Hench, department commander of the G. A. R., from the balcony of the Anthony hotel, preceded the entrainment. The bat- tery officers, at the time of departure were : Captain, Sydney S. Mil- ler ; first lieutenants, Leonard F. Wood and Lee Hensley; second lieutenants, Ferdinand H. Scheffer and Henry C. Moriarity.
COMPANY E, FIRST INFANTRY.
Company E, First infantry Indiana National Guard, a large proportion of whose members saw service on the Mexican border in 1916, found but little difficulty in recruiting to war strength for the conflict with Germany. Ray McAdams served as captain of the company, which made prompt preparation to answer the call to the colors. The recruiting headquarters were located in the court- house. The company was ordered into the federal service August 5. COMPANY B, INDIANA SIGNAL CORPS.
Company B, of the Indiana Signal Corps, recruited in Fort Wayne, was officered as follows : Lynn O. Knowlton, captain ; F. W. Kuhns, senior first lieutenant; Bert S. Hawkins, junior first lieuten- ant. The recruiting headquarters of the corps was located in the Old National Bank building. The drill quarters were located in Library Hall, Calhoun and Lewis streets. The officers of the Fort Wayne Signal Corps Association, with headquarters in the Old National Bank building, were: F. W. Kuhns, president; W. A. Monahan, vice-president ; C. L. Strodel, secretary, and S. F. De Wald, treasurer. Company B was summoned for federal service August 5. RECRUITS FOR THE NAVY.
In May the increase in the personnel of the navy from 87,000 to 150,000 created a broad demand for men in this attractive branch of the service. Under the direction of Quartermaster R. Wort a live campaign in Fort Wayne resulted in the enlistment of scores of men from all portions of northern Indiana at the government building headquarters. Special interest was aroused by the display in the Allen county courthouse of a large "Whitehead" torpedo of the type used by the United States navy.
NAVY LEAGUE BRANCH.
At a meeting held May 14, the Fort Wayne branch of the Navy League was organized with the following officers: President, Dan- iel B. Ninde; vice-president, James M. Barrett; secretary, J. M.
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THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE
Kuhns; treasurer, F. E. Hoffman. The purpose of the league is to "keep alive popular interest in the navy and to drive home the fact that what has been accomplished is but a beginning."
ALLEN COUNTY HOME GUARD.
Within the ranks of the Allen County Home Guard were in- cluded none but men of previous military experience and who were unable to respond to the call to the defense of the colors. The organization was formed under the sanction of the war department, with the following officers : Captain, John E. Miller ; adjutant, John H. Johnson; district captains, Daniel W. Kintz, Peter A. Thompson and John C. Jackson. By the middle of July, one hundred and seventy-five men were enrolled, the members including those who had seen service in all wars and campaigns since the beginning of the civil war. Many veterans of the rebellion were included in the ranks. The object of the home guard was to deal with such riots and disturbances as might claim attention, following the departure of the troops.
THE MOTOR RESERVE CORPS.
With the appointment of a committee composed of Dan N. Beers (chairman), William M. Griffin and Austin W. Stults, acting in conjunction with a Commercial Club committee consisting of J. M. Kuhns (chairman), George Waldschmidt, J. E. Elliott, Oscar Brokaw and Heeley Link, a number of motor car, motor truck and motorcycle units were organized for emergency service within the state of Indiana.
THE OFFICERS' RESERVE CORPS.
Beginning on the 26th of April, scores of Fort Wayne men between the ages of 21 and 44 passed the preliminary examination held at the Commercial Club entitling them to enlistment in the Officers' Reserve Corps of the United States Army. In making possible the opportunity for untrained men to enter the military service of the United States and attain to rank without first com- pleting a course at West Point, many citizens fully equipped men- tally and physically to meet the responsibility after a three-month training were secured. These were ordered to Fort Benjamin Har- rison, Indianapolis, where were assembled men from three states in one great officers' training camp.
Capt. George L. Byroade, U. S. A., supervised the work of the Board of Commissioners of the Officers' Reserve Corps, of which Capt. E. H. Kilbourne was the chairman, assisted by the following named executive committee: Edward A. Wagner, Stephen A. Cal- lahan, Harry W. Muller, Harry G. Hogan, Martin H. Luecke, Byron H. Somers, Frank G. Hamilton, Edward R. Lewis, Arthur K. Rem- mel, Joseph C. Hutzell, Dr. H. O. Bruggeman and Edward C. Miller. An advisory committee was composed of the following citizens : William C. Schwier, William M. Griffin, S. F. Bowser, Theodore F. Thieme, Dr. G. M. Leslie, A. A. Serva, E. E. Greist, S. K. Blair, Robert M. Feustel, H. C. Rockhill, John Wilding, S. E. Mulholland, G. A. Jacobs, J. B. Franke, W. H. Bensman, Henry C. Berghoff, P. F. Griffin, A. S. Bond and E. C. Miller. Applicants were judged upon points of general appearance, address, education, sobriety and
The stage on
the island, where the ac- tion of the pageant took place.
A portion of the amphithe- atre; capacity, 14.000.
The audience on Sunday af- ternoon, pre- ceding the pageant. The photographs are reproduce d through the courtesy of Forbes M. Mor- rison.
VIEWS OF THE PAGEANT GROUNDS, RESERVOIR PARK, JUNE, 1916.
ALLEN COUNTY'S FIFTH COURT- HOUSE.
This magnificent structure, costing $817,600, was dedi- cated September 23, 1902. The dimen- sions of the building are 134 by 270 feet. The distance from the street level to of Liberty is 225 the top of the statue feet. The clock dials are thirteen feet in diameter.
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NAVY BEIDE TO 000 MEN +
IVY NEEDS YOUR NAVY D MEN 40.000 D PATRIOTISMI SNOW TOUR PET " TODAY ENLIST TO
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COLORY
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STIRRING SCENES OF 1917.
1. The entertainment of Battery D. 2 and 4. Glimpses of the great Lexington Day parade. 3. "Whitehead" torpedo at Navy enlistment headquarters, court house. 5. Red Cross girls "decorating" young men on conscription registration day. 6. Ar- tillery equipment of Battery D on flat cars for shipment to Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indianapolis. 7. Ceremony attending the departure of Concordia College students for the Officers' Reserve Camp, Fort Benjamin Harrison. S. A group of Red Cross workers. Photos by Leonard Brandt, Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette.
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FT. WAYNE'S ANSWER TO THE CALL TO WAR
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the ability of the individual to command respect and obedience. For the first time in the nation's history age restrictions were revised so that the age limit, placed at forty-four years, permitted the enlistment of many men of mature years.
With a splendid spirit of patriotic co-operation, many mercan- tile and other establishments granted vacations to employes who entered upon the officers' training course, which opened at Indian- apolis May 14. One of the notable features of the enrollment was that of a group of students of Concordia College, the prominent German Lutheran educational institution of Fort Wayne. The fac- ulty announced, on the 5th of May, that one hundred per cent. of the eligibles in the school had applied for admission to the training corps. Eleven students were accepted.
Late in June a second military training camp was ordered and the office was again opened and a like body of men for the officers' corps was enrolled for the camp which opened August 27.
Dr. Budd Van Sweringen was appointed a captain in the medical corps of the officers' reserve corps.
COUNCIL OF PATRIOTIC SERVICE.
One of the first steps in the general organization for war work was the formation of the Fort Wayne Council of Patriotic Service, which sprang into being in April, when it became apparent that many local forces, all seeking to give effective support to the gov- ernment, were in danger of conflict of purpose. The council had its inception at a banquet at the Anthony Hotel on the evening of April 13, when the representatives of various organizations were the guests of the Quest Club. The object of the council was "to centralize and co-ordinate the efforts of Fort Wayne organizations along all lines of patriotic service.". It welcomed to its membership one delegate from "any and all clubs, associations, societies, feder- ations, religious and civic bodies, labor unions, educational and fra- ternal organizations and other groups of individuals, without regard to age, sex, color, nativity, religion or previous affiliation, so long as such members are citizens of the United States, of unswerving loyalty to the government of the United States."
On the 31st of April, at the Commercial Club, William H. Scheiman was elected president of the council, Frank E. Bohn vice- president, Charles R. Lane secretary and J. Ross McCulloch treas- urer. Scores of organizations united in this central body or "clear- ing house" of ideas and systematic work.
ALLEN COUNTY COUNCIL OF DEFENSE.
On the 27th of June, acting upon the request of James E. Good- rich, governor of Indiana, Judge John W. Eggeman appointed the above-named officers of the Fort Wayne Council of Patriotic Service, together with Fred S. Hunting, Rev. A. J. Folsom and Mrs. George Evans, to serve as the officers and members of the Allen County Council of Defense, which later performed valuable service in con- nection with the war movements of the community. This local council was a part of the Indiana Council of Defense, which was subordinate to the national organization. Mrs. Clark Fairbank was named by Governor Goodrich as a member of the Indiana Council of Defense.
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THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE
SPLENDID RESPONSE TO THE RED CROSS APPEAL.
Fort Wayne found itself captured in the great wave of patriotic fervor which swept over the country during the week of June 18, when the national government asked the people to contribute $100,000,000 to carry to the battlefields of Europe the hospital requirements of the American army. It was the appeal to loyalty to the American Red Cross. Within the prescribed time Fort Wayne and Allen county citizens subscribed a total of more than $112,000, or $32,000 in excess of the county's quota. Of the total amount secured, $92,250 was subscribed in Fort Wayne, and $19,850 in Allen county outside the city. The week's campaign closed with a great demonstration at the Elks' Temple on the evening of June 25. Said one of the newspapers in describing the scene :
"Flags waved, voices trembled with emotion, men and women stood and shouted hurrahs for Old Glory and the Red Cross flag, as the greatest campaign ever waged in Fort Wayne and Allen county came to a close. Allen county's patriotism and generosity had been written with letters of fire upon the nation's roll of honor by a Red Cross subscription of more than $112,000, and the jollification was a fitting climax to a week of sacrifice and patriotic endeavor on the part of the workers and the people. With the walls and ceiling draped in the national colors, Miss Columbia and Uncle Sam, attired in the Stars and Stripes, as dominating figures, and an arch of victory erected in the center of the hall, a most appropriate setting was provided for the culminating feature of the campaign which moved the citizenship of Allen county as it has never been moved before."
Among the effective slogans used during the campaign was that which proclaimed that "If you don't come across, Germany will !"
The organization which managed the campaign was officered as follows: B. Paul Mossman, general chairman ; Judge John W. Egge- man, Abe Ackerman, F. S. Hunting, Henry C. Paul and Samuel M. Foster, members of the executive committee; Harry G. Hogan, gen- eral captain of the city teams; William C. Schwier, general captain of the county teams. The captains of the city teams were Albert E. Thomas, J. Wade Bailey, E. A. Wagner, Stephen A. Callahan, H. A. Perfect, A. A. Serva, Guy Scott, Henry Beadell, Charles M. Niezer, Martin H. Luecke and A. S. Bond. The captains of the county teams were David O. McComb, Will Johnson, William A. Tonkel, Dr. George W. Gillie, Edward G. Hoffman, William John- ston, Samuel S. Kelker, Christian Vonderau, Henry A. Wetzel, Wil- liam F. Ranke, A. W. Grosvenor, Allen Hamilton, William Eggeman, A. J. Hutchins, Byron E. Hayes, August Reiling, Edwin W. Miller, Adolph W. Lepper, David C. Stout and Dr. J. E. McArdle.
The work of the solicitors was opened at a banquet at the Anthony Hotel on the evening of June 18, when, in the midst of an exhibition of patriotism and enthusiasm probably unsurpassed in the city's history, the first $10,000 was subscribed by ten citizens, each giving $1,000 as a beginning, with the promise of a dupli- cation of the amount in case the solicitors failed to secure a total of the required $80,000. Addresses were made by B. Paul Mossman, Judge John W. Eggeman, Charles M. Niezer, Prof. Louis W. Dorn
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FT. WAYNE'S ANSWER TO THE CALL TO WAR
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and S. M. Foster, of Fort Wayne, and Prof. B. J. Nelson, of the University of Chicago.
A parade on the afternoon of the closing day added to the patriotic spirit of the Red Cross week.
CENTRAL RED CROSS SUPPLY DEPOT.
In July, Fort Wayne was selected as a central shipping point for Red Cross supplies for all chapters of the state of Indiana north of Indianapolis. At the beginning, this included one hundred and twenty chapters all of which, with those organized since July, send their hospital supplies to the central depot for distribution as required. Mrs. A. E. Fauve, appointed by A. F. Bentley, state director, was named as the inspector-in-charge. Headquarters was opened at Nos. 626-628 Calhoun street (the Foellinger block).
THE FORT WAYNE RED CROSS CHAPTER.
Previous to the period of the solicitation of contributions for the nation's Red Cross war fund-indeed, before the declaration of war-an important and active chapter of the organization had been organized with a membership numbering thousands of the patriotic men and women of the city. B. Paul Mossman was the chairman of the chapter, with Mrs. A. J. Detzer vice-chairman, Dr. Jessie Calvin secretary and Frank H. Cutshall treasurer. Opening with a meeting at the Majestic Theatre, addressed by Ernest P. Bicknell, director general of the civilian branch of the Red Cross, who had recently returned from a tour of the European battle fronts, a membership campaign under the direction of Edward C. Miller and Mrs. A. E. Fauve resulted in the rapid growth of the chapter. Headquarters was opened at No. 126 East Berry street. Mrs. Charles E. Bond was chosen, in June, to serve as general chairman, with Miss Winifred Rowan (Mrs. Harry Boyle) secretary, suc- ceeded by Miss La Von Sperry. Others who were especially active in the work of the chapter during the earlier weeks were Rev. Henry B. Master, Mrs. F. I. Brown, Mrs. A. L. Johns, Mrs. Allen Hamilton, Mrs. William H. Rohan, Mrs. Julia Fay Randall, Mrs. P. J. McDonald, Miss Alice Knight, Mrs. G. H. Heine, Mrs. Ellis Branson, Mrs. Ralph Clark, Mrs. John Evans, Mrs. Herman Mack- witz, Mrs. George W. Beers, Mrs. Harry L. Askew, Mrs. William McKinnie, Mrs. Arthur K. Remmel, Mrs. C. J. Schoo and Mrs. Joseph Lohman.
The jurisdiction of the Fort Wayne chapter was expanded to include the entire county of Allen, and, later, the counties of Adams, Noble and LaGrange. As rapidly as the workers could be trained in the methods of the organization, many classes of men and women were organized for the study of "first aid," and these came under the instruction of a group of volunteers among the leading physi- cians and surgeons of the city, with Dr. Miles F. Porter as chairman. Many women's classes in the home care of the sick were placed under the instruction of Miss Frances Ott, of Morocco, and other experienced Red Cross workers. Other classes made a study of the making of clothing and supplies for hospital and field service, and vast quantities of supplies were prepared in accordance with specific instructions from the national society and with strict con-
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THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE
sideration of economy of materials and energy. Much of the sewing was done in the homes of the class members and in the various churches and rooms of the societies represented. Miss Mary John- son, a Chicago Red Cross nurse, served as the first instructor of the class in the making of hospital supplies.
In June Charles R. Lane was appointed chairman of the com- mittee on civilian relief, with the duty of attending to the wants of families of soldiers and to organize his committee for counsel and advice in financial and other matters in this special branch of the Red Cross service.
FORT WAYNE'S RED CROSS HOSPITAL UNIT.
Early in May twelve of the leading physicians of Fort Wayne, together with twenty-one graduate Red Cross nurses in charge of Miss Elizabeth E. Springer, composing a group known as Hospital Unit M, fully equipped for service in France, placed themselves at the nation's call. This unit, backed by the Fort Wayne chapter of the Red Cross was financed by a fund of $6,250, as required by the government, given by twenty-five individuals and business firms. The physicians included in the original unit are Dr. Miles F. Porter, major and director; Dr. Allen Hamilton, captain and assist- ant director ; Dr. Henry O. Bruggeman, captain and chief of surgical staff; Dr. Kent K. Wheelock, surgeon-captain; Dr. John H. Gilpin, first lieutenant and surgeon-anesthetist ; Dr. B. W. Rhamy, first lieu- tenant and surgeon-pathologist; Dr. Dean Metcalf, first lieutenant- surgeon ; Dr. Charles G. Beall, chief of medical staff and captain; Dr. Charles R. Dancer, physician-captain; Dr. Garrett VanSwerin- gen, physician-first lieutenant; Dr. Miles F. Porter, Jr., physician- first lieutenant, and Dr. B. M. Edlavitch, bacteriologist, physician- first lieutenant. In July, Dr. Harvey H. Martin, of LaPorte, Indiana, and Dr. Herbert Senseny, of Fort Wayne, were added to the list, when Drs. Miles F. Porter and K. K. Wheelock, were compelled by a ruling of the government on the question of age limit, to withdraw. Dr. Hamilton succeeded Dr. Porter as major and director.
SELECTIVE CONSCRIPTION REGISTRATION.
Following a magnificent patriotic demonstration on the evening of June 5, the young men of Fort Wayne to the number of 7,785, who had not yet entered some branch of the service assembled at the places of registration in each city ward, in response to the President's proclamation, and entered their names upon the selective conscription enrollment. The day passed with a faultless spirit of co-operation and with no suggestion of revolt against the Pres- ident's demand that all men between the ages of 21 and 31, inclusive, should provide the government with full information covering many points of the personal history of the applicant.
Governor Goodrich, late in April, had appointed Mayor W. J. Hosey, L. H. Moore, Sheriff George W. Gillie, County Clerk David C. Stout and Dr. H. A. Duemling to serve as Allen county's repre- sentatives on the conscription board. Mayor Hosey, acting under instructions from Adjutant-General Smith to name a district board for each 30,000 of population in the city of Fort Wayne to act upon the legality of exemptions from military service, made the following appointments : William Geake, Gustav W. Boerger, Dr. L. P. Drayer,
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FT. WAYNE'S ANSWER TO THE CALL TO WAR
Adam A. Rinehart, Henry W. Lepper, Dr. Charles G. Beall, Walter A. Barrett, Albert T. Miller, Dr. J. E. McArdle, Dr. W. O. McBride, Dr. J. C. Wallace, Dr. A. L. Schneider, Dr. Dean Metcalf, Dr. H. M. Senseny, Dr. Lyman K. Gould, Dr. W. D. Calvin and Dr. Maurice Lohman. Mr. Geake and Mr. Boeger (resigned) were succeeded by Frank E. Stouder and H. G. Keegan. Dr. Miles F. Porter, Sr., was a member of the federal exemption board, appointed by President Wilson.
Upon the opening of the places of registration on the morning of June 5, the young ladies of the Red Cross, directed by Mrs. John H. Gilpin, congratulated each young man as he completed his regis- tration and attached to the left sleeve of his coat a khaki arm band. Of the total 7,785 who registered, 4,556 claimed exemption on account of "holding legislative, judicial or executive offices, total disability, the dependence of relatives or the following of occupations which would exempt them from military service." Among the remainder, 554 were listed as aliens and 61 as "alien enemies."
On the evening of Monday, June 4, the day before the con- scription registration, a "Liberty" parade of veterans of former wars, Boy Scouts, military organizations, Red Cross workers and fraternal societies, together with hundreds of young men who reg- istered the following day, forming a total of nearly six thousand persons, was halted at the courthouse square, where addresses were delivered by Attorney Albert E. Thomas and Prof. Louis W. Dorn, of Concordia College.
FORT WAYNE AND THE MILITARY "DRAFT."
Then came the momentous day of the military conscription lottery-commonly termed the "draft"-July 20, when scenes intense and solemnly impressive, recalled to the older residents the scenes of the civil war days. On the 13th of July, the war depart- ment had announced that the President's call for men for the "new national army" would require of Allen county 490 in the first "draft," of which Fort Wayne would provide 383. The numbers of those who were called from Fort Wayne and Allen county were announced during Friday and Saturday, July 20 and 21, and great crowds gathered about the bulletin boards and the newspapers were eagerly scanned not only by the young men who had registered on conscription day but by anxious friends and relatives who realized that this was the final call from the war department. The three Fort Wayne registration districts selected headquarters in the Harmar and Hoagland public schools and the Elks' Temple. To these head- quarters were summoned the hundreds of representatives of those called in the first contingent for examination. Here, also, all claims of exemption were presented. The first to pass the examination and who were proven to be otherwise eligible for service were enrolled with the new army, which immediately prepared for training and sevice.
On Saturday, July 21, the day following the "lottery," Captain Thomas F. Ryan, U. S. A., in charge of the regular army recruiting office in Fort Wayne, issued a plea to all drafted men to enlist before the official notice of the call was received by those whose numbers had been drawn. "Now is the young man's last opportunity to
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