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. Mr. William Horlich. Tr.
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RACINE COUNTY IN THE WORLD WAR
A GERMAN SOLDIER'S GRAVE
CAPT. WALTER L. HAIGHT 12Ist FIELD ARTILLERY
FOREWORD
P REPARATION of this volume was begun primarily in the interest of the former service men of Racine County. It was realized as early as January, 1919, that im- mediate steps must be taken to collect their records while the facts were still obtain- able, or the task would become impossible of accomplishment.
It was the hope and expectation of the author that others would assume the work. but when it became evident that they would not, he reluctantly agreed to attempt it. Previou, efforts had been made to have a similar project financed with public funds, but had failed because of the large amount involved. Several suggestions were made as to the best way of insuring the success of the book from a business standpoint In most instances they involved contributions, or sale of space. Such plans, while legitimate, and often necessary, usually give rise to charges of favoritism or prejudice, and they were re- jected.
In the end it was decided to accept no donations of any sort and depend entirely upon the sale of books to cover the expense. It is gratifying to find that the former service men and civilians have supported the venture so generally in subscribing to the edition that there will be no financial loss.
After spending a year upon the preparation of "Racine County in the World War," the author is more than ever convinced of its importance. It would be difficult for the average reader to realize the difficulties which beset the path of one seeking the truth in regard to some of the simplest matters connected with the recent war. Many organiza- tions of civilian war workers kept no complete records; in other cases the documents had been mislaid or lost. It was assumed that it would be an casy matter to gather photo- graphs of soldiers and sailors for publication, when no charge was made for the insertions of a picture. but it was anything but simple. The main difficulty lay in the fact that most of the "subjects" had to be persuaded that there was no hidden scheme to get money from them. Arguing with 5,000 men takes time in itself, but it is disheartening task when there is added to it the job of first catching the 5.000 men with whom one desires to argue.
The principal part and purpose of this project was the gathering of individual records of former service men and women. This involved copying records of the History Committee of the Council of Defense, the Red Cross, the various local Boards and lists published from time to time in the newspapers. These were checked against "honor rolls" of numerous societies churches, townships, schools and industrial plants. Note was made of all who applied for the state bonus for ex-service men. Where complete information was not then at hand regarding a man, letters of inquiry were sent to his last known address, and efforts made to get in touch with his friends or relatives
There was no official record to which reference could be made. If any are unrepre- sented. it is not due to any lack of effort on the part of the publishers, but because the men themselves and their relatives have ignored the pleadings for information presented to them in newspaper articles, letters, advertisements and circulars.
It should be a fact worthy of some thought that in the Autumn of 1919, one year after the World War was ended, there was no complete record of the men who served their country in that war from this county: in fact. not even an accurate list of the Racine men who gave their lives for their country. If the disclosure of that truth arouses enough interest to insure that the search will be continued until that record is completed. it will have justified many times over the time and labor spent upon this book.
In regard to this volume itself, it may be said with absolute confidence that it con- tains as correct a list of records as could be obtained at this time, and a far more complete list than is possessed by any county in the state of Wisconsin. That being true, the author feels that no apologies for minor errors are necessary. Where misstatements of fact occur. the only explanation to be made is that the data was gathered in the great part from the men themselves. more than 3,500 were interviewed personally and nearly this number of certificates of discharge were copied. As to the others, every available source of in- formation was sought.
It may be that the names of some who were not legal residents of the county are included in the list of service men. Where doubt existed on that point it was decided to give the benefit of it to the man affected and not risk doing an injustice to him by being too technical in interpreting the term "resident." There are also many Racine County men who now reside elsewhere, but who are strictly of Racine County in an historical sense. Others who entered service elsewhere are now full fledged Racine County citizens and as such are entitled to a place in this work, which will serve to make easier their ab- sorption by the community,
Arrangement of the chapters of the book followed no exact plan. but it was intended that they appear in a sort of chronological order. There was no purpose of arranging them in the order of the importance of the topics discussed. Broadly speaking, most people will remember the events of the war as having occurred about in the way they appear in the subsequent chapters-military and naval preparations, civilian activities at home for several months, and then the gradual development of the military strength of the nation until it culminated in a complete and glorious victory over the foe
To make clearer some facts of local interest it became necessary to develop the topic of military operations somewhat beyond the lines originally laid down, but it is hoped that this will serve to make the pages the more interesting. The collection of pictures, both of local and general subjects adds a great deal to the value of the work.
The story of the civilian war work was taken almost entirely from official records. Names of workers were obtained from those who were empowered to select and publish them. For instance, the names of Liberty Loan workers were obtained from the Chairman of the Liberty Loan Committee and where any question has arisen as to the personnel of the various sub-committees, his list has been referred to as authoritative.
For the interesting collection of portraits in the book, the thanks of the entire com- munity are due to E. f. Billings, Harry J. Leonard, John A. Hood, G. A. Malme, Julius Pavek, Tom Anderson, 1. B. Grant, and, in fact, almost every local photographer for their generous cooperation in selecting and reproducing photographs of former service men. It has been found impossible to give them credit for this in connection with the pictures themselves in every case, and this opportunity is taken to express my own appreciation and that of the men so generously served.
Fred. A. Wright, took pictures of almost every draft contingent before it departed from the city, and the great majority of these groups have been furnished, and are repro- duced here. They are of great historical valuc.
John A. Hood, not only offered the use of his collection of wartime views, but very generously gave over his studio for many days for the purpose of re-photographing portraits which were not suitable for engraving in the shape they were received. Views from his collection will revive wartime memories when readers scan many pages of this work.
It would be impossible to give due credit to the scores of war veterans and other citizens who gave of their time without stint and in various ways assisted in gathering and preparing material for this work. Lieut .- Col. William Mitchell Lewis, William Horlick, Jr., Frank J. Hilt, Max J. Zirbes, John A. Brown, Mrs. J. G. Chandler, Eugene W. Leach, Walter H. Reed, Miss Minnie Queckenstedt, William W. Storms, and many others have rendered very great assistance in the work, and offered to do even more if desired, with no other purpose than to sec that a suitable record was made of those events which soon would have become a dim memory if not collected in some per- manent form.
The ex-service men showed their very great interest in the history at all times and they have been the principal supporters of the project from the standpoint of the business management. It is earnestly hoped that their support will prove to have been justified as it was in their interest that the task of preparing the volume was undertaken.
The author feels that this work is not entirely completed, and will not be for some years. The request is made now of all readers that if errors are detected or omissions noticed, that the fact be communicated to him by mail and at some future time it may prove possible to publish these corrections in some form so as to make the work more nearly perfect.
W. L. HAIGHT
ERRORS Page 237 and 241-Under cut, second line, it should read "Next to bottom'' instead of ""Third" and "Next to top" instead of "Seconil''.
Page 243-Third line under cut. first name should be "Louis Wawrzynkewicz''. Page 264-Following twenty- sixth line, first column, the following should be inserted. ""Di visions participating in the Muese-Argonne battle were those numbereil 1, 2, 3. 4. 5. 6, 26. 28. 29. 32. 33, 36, 37, 42, 77, 78, 80, 82. 89, 90, 91 and 92'',
CONTENTS
-
Page
The Outbreak of the War. .
Chapter 1
15
Chapter 11
Racine County Prior to Hostilities.
19
Preparing to Fight
Chapter 111
23
Navy Clcars for Action.
Chapter IV
27
Racine National Guardsmen Called
Chapter V
29
Chapter VI
Volunteers Join the Colors
35
Chapter VII
Racine and the Selective Service Law .
30
Chapter V111
Training Camps in America
51
Protection at Home.
Chapter IX
Chapter X
Racine County Council of Defense
57
Chapter XI
Women's Committee, County Council of Defense .
67
American Protective League.
Chapter XII
Chapter Xlll
Semi-Official Auxiliary Organizations. .
85
Chapter XIV
Racine's Financial Offering
. 91
Chapter XV
Racine Chapter, American Red Cross. .
. .
.112
Saving Food to Win the War ..
Chapter XVI
Chapter XVII
The Effect of the War on Home Life.
158
Chapter XVIII
Clubs, Societies, Polities and Incidents .
.171
53
75
.133
Effect of War on Racine Industrics.
Chapter XIX
. . . . . . 181
Chapter XX The .V. E. F. in Battle. . .
Chapter XXI
The Navy in Action
Chapter XXII
Battery C, 12 ist Field Artillery
225
Battery F, 121st Field Artillery
Chapter XXIII
.235
Chapter XXIV
The Racine Ambulance Company.
2.47
Chapter XXV Facts Regarding Various Branches of the Army. ..
. 203
Chapter XXVI
Soldier's Songs; Getting Wounded. 28-
Chapter XXVII A Racine Man's Experiences in the Army. . 205
Chapter XXVIII
The End of the War
310
Chapter XXIX How Wounded Men are Cared For. 324
Chapter XXX
Some Letters from Men in Service. .. 330
Chapter XXXI
The Soldiers' Return: Veterans' Societies
.349
The War in Pictures
.301
Chapter XXXII
Incidents of All Sorts From Everywhere . . . . 401
Chapter XXXIII
Some Figures and Facts About Casualties and War . . . 417
Chapter XXXIV
The Wonderful Occasion of a Supply Train Wreck
. . . . . . . .. 425
Work of Welfare Associations
Chapter XXXV . . 432
Died in Service
.435
Chapter XXXVI
Records of Men and Women in Service .
407
Additional Records.
590
Index of Illustrations 001
.. ...... 197
.213
RACINE COUNTY IN THE WORLD WAR
A HISTORY
By WALTER L. HAIGHT Captain, 12Ist Field Artillery
10
1109464
Published at Racine, Wisconsin, in January, 1920 By Walter L. Haight and Frank P. Haight
Copyright tozo by W. L. and F. P. Haight
Engraved and Printed by Western Printing & Lithographing Co. Racine. Wis.
(TRADLE COUNCIL
TIIE SYMBOL OF SACRIFICE
Scene at the raising of Racine County's Service Flag, with its 1500 stars, February 22, 1918. ( Illustration Next Page )
PHOTO BY WRIGHT
PART I MILITARY PREPARATIONS FOR THE CONFLICT
CHAPTER I
THE OUTBREAK OF THE WAR
W HEN an assassin's bullet slew Arch- duke Francis Ferdinand of Austria at Serajevo on June 28, 1914, it is doubt- ful whether anyone in the whole world antici- pated that the act would precipitate a conflict involving all the great powers.
Austria sent her insolent ultimatum to Ser- bia on July 23, and the statesmen of Europe grew grave. Even then but few foresaw more than another "Balkan storm cloud" such as had frequently threatened European peace, but which usually had been banished by a wave of a diplomatic wand. As the days passed, the very stupendousness of the conflict which was threatened made it appear impossible that civilized governments could permit its begin- ning. With Germany upholding Austria's stand; Russia declaring herself bound to sup- port Serbia; France assuring Russia that the republic would lend every aid to the autocracy in case of war; Great Britain insistent that Germany should not attack France by sea or through Belgium, the consequences of the first offensive step were certain to be of tragic im- port. It did not seem that the Central Powers would dare assume the responsibility of un- leashing the whirlwind of war.
Through these fateful days, America watch- ed from across the seas-at first with an air of amused tolerance at "much ado about noth- ing," later with surprise at the growing crisis and finally with the startled, shocked expres- sion of one who for the first time recognizes that what he deemed a clever bit of stage play is, instead, a gory tragedy of real life.
Then, on August 1, 1914, the storm broke. Germany declared war on Russia. The Aus- trian army advanced toward Serbia and man- ned her own eastern borders. Russian troops assembled all along the Teutonic frontier. Germany's green and gray clad hordes, gather- ed together almost over night by means of her marvelous mobilization methods, dashed toward France over the ravished fields of neutral Bel- gium. France called her manhood to the col-
ors and began the long and terrible fight for her very existence. Great Britain hesitated but three days, and then her navy sallied forth to check the marauding German ships of war, and her first regiments joined the French on the continent. The Balkan nations armed themselves and prepared to take sides as their best judgment dictated. Italy, for years in the Triple Alliance with Germany and Austria, de- clined to take part with them in the assault upon the peace of the world, and became an armed camp, albeit neutral.
In the brief span of a week, there was hard- ly a city in all Europe unaffected by the con- flict. And before many months had passed Belgium, eastern France, Poland and Serbia were drenched with the blood of their defend- ers and of the invading hosts.
Neutral nations, aghast at the holocaust, sent words of horror-stricken appeal to all warring peoples, and silence was the answer. The Central Powers, by their mighty blows, hammered their way almost to the gates of Paris in September and were checked and driven back across the Marne, Belgium was a ruin, held by the invading forces of the Kaiser. Russian armies penetrated into Germany and then were hurled back in a rout far inside their frontier. Serbia was overrun. Montenegro took arms in behalf of Serbia and then Turkey joined her fate with that of Germany and Austria. Italy was finally forced into the Allied camp in 1915. Japan early had put her navy to the task of avenging a hatred felt against Germany ever since the Chino-Japanese war, and entered the Alliance against the Cen- tral Powers.
On land the movements of armies soon nearly ceased and trench warfare was ushered in. The opposing forces faced each other across mined areas and barbed wire entanglements, the warriors in systems of earthworks which reached across Belgium and France from the English Channel to Switzerland, from the Tyro- lean Alps along the northern Italian border,
16
RACINE COUNTY IN THE WORLD WAR
through the Balkans, and from the Carpathians to the Baltic sea.
On the seas, the German merchant marine rushed to friendly or neutral ports to be in- terned. Teutonic raiders, bold and desperate, darted across the sea lanes destroying Allied shipping and spreading terror to distant colo- nies until they were finally sunk or driven into permanent hiding. The German and Austrian fleets were bottled in their fortified harbors, from where they continued to threaten their foes.
In the air, great fleets of aeroplanes crossed and re-crossed the firing lines to spy out ene- my movements and spread death along the highways and railroads. As the struggle pro- gressed, bombing planes were developed which dropped explosives upon towns and forts and railroads. Dirigible balloons were sent from Germany to strike terror and carry destruc- tion to English cities. London was bombed re- peatedly and many innocent non-combatants were victims of the ruthless campaign of hor- ror. Paris was also an occasional victim of aerial attacks.
Effort after effort to win a decision on land failed. The battle lines remained almost sta- tionary for two and a half years. New de- vices of warfare appeared. The German chem- ists reverted to an ancient and discarded method of killing, and developed poison gases that could be released from tanks, or convey- ed into the enemy lines in shells and bombs. They suffocated, burned and in other ways slew and tortured thousands. The Allies re- ciprocated in kind, and soon all soldiers at the front were provided with grotesque looking masks containing chemicals to rob the gases of their power to kill.
Clumsy gasoline tractors were armored and armed, and rechristened "tanks." They ground their way across trenches and wire entangle- ments to deal death among the foe. Machine guns and automatic rifles of great ingenuity were perfected, and on battle-fields in time of action a veritable typhoon of bullets swept from side to side from concealed positions. Artillery was developed to a point of efficiency hitherto undreamed of, and the long range, ac- curacy and destructive power of the great mis- siles made territory within their reach impassa- ble by human beings at times. Opposing in- fantry lines were so close that hand grenades, bayonets and short-range mortars replaced rifles for raids and daily minor brushes. The efficiency of weapons of all sorts almost totally prevented daytime actions in the field, and fighting was done at night or in the misty gray
of the dawn, when Nature clothed the troops in a mantel of partial invisibility.
Finally, terrified by the blockade which was threatening her existance, Germany launched her trump card-the submarine. Creeping out of her naval bases, the U-boats issued forth to sea hidden under the waters. They passed the blockading fleets and invaded the sea lanes along which ships brought food and other ne- cessities of life to Great Britain. From their safe position beneath the waves, the command- ers of the submersibles searched the seas with periscopes, located the merchant vessels, and launched the torpedoes which sent them to the bottom. Hundreds and hundreds of Brit- ain's finest ships were thus destroyed with heavy loss of life. Frequently no attempt was made by the assailing U-boat to save passen- gers or crews of their victims.
Driven to desperation by her own domestic troubles, Germany threw caution to the winds and sank every craft which could be success- fully attacked, regardless of its nature, provid- ed that it was being used to help feed and clothe the hated British.
Passengers from neutral countries were num- bered among the victims. Ships of neutral na- tions engaged in trade with the Allies were sunk. Protest after protest was made. The German government explained, apologized, ex- cused her actions by various subterfuges-but the disregard for international law and for the rights of humanity continued with a few intermissions. When the Cunard liner Lusi- tania, bearing hundreds of Americans to Eng- land was sunk off the coast of Ireland with a loss of nearly 1,500 lives of men, women and children, in May 1915, the United States gov- ernment finally spoke. President Wilson, af- ter a year of patient efforts to keep this coun- try from becoming entangled in the awful con- flict, sent to Germany a note which demanded that her disregard for law and decency cease. For nearly a year the German navy indicated an effort to respect the rights of neutrals while still carrying on a successful submarine cam- paign against British and French shipping. Admiral von Tirpitz declared, after the war, that had the Kaiser continued to disregard neutral rights at that time England would have been decisively defeated before America could have entered the war in force, and would then have been able to prevent American transports from crossing the Atlantic when this country finally declared war. He declares that the mildness of the campaign for the rest of that year enabled England to take steps to over- come the submarine menace to some extent.
However that may be, it was the following
RACINE COUNTY IN THE WORLD WAR
17
F
SAYING GOOD BYE TO THE BOYS WHO LEFT JULY 2, 1917
This was the day the Batteries left for war. Some of the old campaign hats of the men may be seen far in the crowd. The Battery men were sure some attraction that day. Lower picture shows an exciting moment.
18
RACINE COUNTY IN THE WORLD WAR
spring when U-boat commanders again became heedless of neutral rights and on April 19, 1916, President Wilson sent an ultimatum to Germany threatening to break off all relations with her unless the killing of American citi- zens on the high seas cease. Again the Ger- man government hesitated between the two possible courses of action and again the danger of starvation was temporarily lessened in the British isles while a more humane policy of warfare was being followed for a time by the Central Powers.
On January 31, 1917, the advocates of un- restricted submarine warfare against the Allies, regardless of any neutral rights, won out in Germany and the Kaiser declared his in- tention to the world of destroying England at all costs. The United States immediately on receiving this insolent declaration, severed diplomatic relations with Germany and armed her merchant vessels. She could not permit any nation to close the high seas to her law- ful commerce, as Germany frankly stated it intended to do and plainly was trying to do.
As this rebuke had no salutary effect upon Germany but rather seemed to incite her to new acts of lawlessness against American ships and American lives, President Wilson in April, 1917, addressed Congress asking that war be declared against Germany, and it was so de- clared on April 6.
In his address President Wilson cited the many acts of barbarism committed against America and Germany's refusal to heed words of friendly warning; action of the German gov- ernment in sending hundreds of spies and secret agents to this country to wreck indus- tries, promote strikes and disorders and influ- ence legislation; and her recently detected ef- fort to incite Mexico to engage in war with the United States.
At the time this country officially entered the war our military forces were on a peace- time basis and entirely unprepared as to strength, equipment or supplies to begin any offensive action except on the sea.
Germany was flushed with victories on land, and with three years of successful effort to prevent invasion of her own soil. Great Brit- ain was on the verge of starvation. Admiral William S. Sims, U. S. N. is authority for the statement that the British government in- formed him officially in April that the Allies would be forced to admit complete defeat with- in five months if some means were not devised to end the submarine menace.
Russia had withdrawn from the Alliance totally defeated by the Central Powers in a military sense and torn by revolution within.
Italy had made no headway against the Aus- trians and was soon to suffer a terrible defeat on the Isonzo front. In France the Allied spring drive, upon which Germany's foes had staked everything had just proved almost a total failure.
The world at large did not realize the terri- ble straits in which the Allies found themselves at this stage. The rigid censorship kept the curtain of secrecy between the terrible picture of future disaster, and the public. At all costs, Germany had to be kept in ignorance of how near she was approaching to victory.
Only in Asia Minor did comparatively un- important victories come to the British ban- ners, and they helped to break the spirits of the Turks and Austrians who might otherwise have aided Germany more effectively on the western front.
The manhood of France had been decimated by the war. Every house, it seemed, mourned its dead. There were no more reserves. Great Britain and France had both put forth their greatest efforts and failed. From now on they could only hope to ward off total defeat until the Americans could come to their aid. And Amer- ica had to start almost from the bottom to create an army. Its navy alone was ready for war.
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