USA > Wisconsin > Racine County > Racine county in the world war > Part 18
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You never saw people read newspapers the way they do. One can hardly wait to get a daily paper and scan the bulletins to see whether the Americans have driven these aw- ful Germans back a few more miles. Usually they have! The long casualty lists make sad- der reading, but there are few surprises in them, for the government notifies families of the wounded and dead before the names are given to the press. Racine appears in the list quite frequently lately, as you probably are aware. How our hearts go out to the moth- ers who have lost their boys!
I suppose the censorship of soldiers' mail is necessary to keep spies from getting news, but it seems hard that you cannot write all of your experiences and let us know where you are and what your regiment is doing. You must remember everything, and tell us later when you come home.
Ever since the war began the women have been spending lots of time knitting so I sup- pose you will have plenty of sweaters and warm socks when winter comes. It is the custom for us all to carry our knitting and start working just as soon as we are seated anywhere-in a street car, on a train, at lec- tures or while making calls. There are no par- ties nowadays-just gatherings to work for the soldiers. Refreshments are never served by patriotic people, excepting sometimes just a cup of tea, outside of the regular three meal hours. I think there would be a riot if some- one were to give an old-fashioned reception or luncheon this year.
These customs give time for work, and save food. You probably remember that a meatless and a wheatless day each week were instituted before you sailed. There is no law, but every- one is very strict in observing them. Mrs. went to Milwaukee last Spring and remained to dinner with a friend's family. It was a meatless day, and when the hostess brought on a roast beef, Mrs. - --- just got up from the table, grabbed her wraps, and departed without saying good-bye! That's the way good people feel about such things. We have wheat flour, of course, but we are sup- posed to use as great a quantity of substi- tutes (such as corn meal or rice) as we do of the wheat and everybody is very careful to do so. In fact you have to buy the substitute when you buy the flour. When someone re- marked that she might feed the substitutes to the chickens, as she could afford to buy plenty of wheat flour for her family, she got a cold shoulder right in the knitting bee the other day, and although we were all friends, some- body reported her to the food administrator to have her case investigated! You see, peo- ple are not supposed to even joke about cheat- ing you boys of your food and clothing. It is not considered decent, when so many are suf- fering and dying for us.
The coal situation was pretty bad last year, and most of us ruined our wall paper and per- haps our furnaces by burning soft coal and anything else we could get for fuel. But we all are willing to wear our wraps in the house occasionally if it will help give the navy the necessary coal. The heatless days in stores and public buildings certainly saved a great deal of fuel. I hope next winter won't be as cold as the last. For a while we had two heat- less days a week for stores and offices.
Speaking about women's work, there has arisen the term "pig-knitting," which is ap-
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Top Row-H. C. Stearns, C. C. Clausen, H. C. Kamin, E. T. Anderson, Clifford Naleid, S. Ciampaglia, John Corombo. Second-R. W. Pinto, L. C. Pugh, S. E. McKee. O. C. Gastrow, F. L. Chour. W. H. Rastall, Mike Hijenia. Third-J. H. Hogan, Axel Olson, H. N. Chambers, O. Q. Chambers, Vincent Novak, M. Falewicz, J. J. Hilt. Fourth-H. Vartasen, T. Keochakian, A. W. King, S. C. Christensen, P. J. Wisnefsky, R. A. Hyde, F. C. Reinardy. Fifth-F. C. Pella, P. T. Weber, Earl Anderson, R. J. Buetow, Aug. L. Hanson, P. J. Prudhom, Marvin Whitton. Bottom-L. J. Heimes, Arthur Jensen, J. H. Ruelle, C. A. Pope, Modesti Proflis, N. Dadian, H. Yahnian.
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plied to work of this sort done for one's self when we are supposed to be knitting for serv- ice men. Rather a descriptive term, don't you think ? One doesn't dare wear any knitted material, no matter how old, for fear she will be accused of pig-knitting.
It is astonishing how many service flags are displayed around Racine. It seems as if three- fourths of the houses have them, many bear- ing two, three or even more stars to represent men in service. I think it is a pretty custom. Some have gold stars, now, to stand for those who have given their lives for the cause. The blue stars on a white field, surrounded by a rectangle of red, are very striking and signifi- cant. I am so proud of mine. The Stars and Stripes fly from almost every home.
Sugar is scarce with us, as I suppose it is with you. We are limited pretty closely, and no one uses it any more for such useless things as frostings, puddings, etc. Restaurants give one lump per customer, to be used on the spot. We can get 10 pounds for canning if the sugar deputies are sure we will not waste it. Per- haps we can get more for this purpose if the supply equals expectations, as they try to en- courage canning in every way.
One funny thing has resulted from the war. Attics that have not been cleaned for years and years are being emptied to meet requests from the government for war material. Old books and magazines, old copper kettles, feath- er beds, woolen and leather goods, and almost any kind of metal, is wanted. The Red Cross collects old automobile tires, and car owners are expected to throw them in a heap which has been started on Monument square. We even collect nut shells and peach stones for making chemicals to go into gas masks. Rub- ber is badly needed and high in price. Long ago they asked for field glasses for the navy; old lenses of all sorts for cameras, etc., and worn out gloves to make wind-proof vests for aviators. We don't buy many new things either; it is considered unpatriotic to waste money on clothes, or decorating homes or in hiring done what we can do ourselves. Labor must be used for war work. Travel is also dis- couraged excepting when on government busi- ness. When one does go on a train, as likely as not he will be awakened in the middle of the night between stations to be informed that the car is to be taken off and attached to a troop train. The meals on trains are awful, too, since the government took hold. Even the little children have learned to refuse candy and to cut down their sugar ration at home to help
the soldiers. They are so enthusiastic, and try so hard to help! Many of them contribute their pennies to aid the funds raised to adopt orphans, and they help in every other way they can. Little Genevieve went without sugar on her oatmeal for two weeks, and said she did it so you could have plenty in your coffee in France. Wasn't that sweet ?
Lately we have been having "gasolineless Sundays" at the request of the fuel administra- tion and it warmed my heart to see how promptly everyone discontinued the use of automobiles on Sunday. The streets were ac- tually deserted excepting for occasional old ramshackle horse-drawn rigs, and puffing pedestrians. And every Sunday has been beautiful weather for riding in the country, too. However, people have that much more time to sit in the parks or on porches and knit for the Red Cross. It never was comfortable knitting in an auto, anyway.
We have seen the order that we can send small packages to our boys in France for Christmas but we must have a form letter from you authorizing it. Only one package, the size of a 2-pound candy box can go to each soldier, and there is lots of speculation about what to put into it. We know so little about what you need. One woman plans to get thir- ty articles in the box, such as a stick of gum, stamps, a couple of cigars, cigarettes, kodak picture, fountain pen and so on. As nearly as I understand from your letter you would like a good pocket knife and some candy. If you really need anything else, please let me know when you send the order. I want so much to give you something you want. It has seemed hard not to be able to send you your cigarettes and candy every week as we had planned, but 1 presume if everyone did that there wouldn't be room on ships to carry food and ammunition to the two million over there.
Father sends his love and tells you to keep after the Kaiser until you get him. He is working day and night on all sorts of war work, Liberty loans, etc., and I think he is feeling blue because he can't take a rifle and jump right into the thick of it. He is so proud that his son is on the firing line. You should hear him talk about you! Write us as often as you find time and tell us all you can. May God bless and keep you, my dear, brave boy. MOTHER.
In the back yards of almost every home, men and women worked with spade and hoe and rake to help increase the production of
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10
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MI
Photos by Pavek-Grant-Malme
Top Row-H. J. Sanders, 1. F. Gillen, G. F. Botsford, Rudie Mensior, Edw. Buetuw, Ernest Maik, W. C. Higgins. Second-A. C. Sittig, H. A. LaFortune, Geo. Zigich, Walter Sorensen, F. H. Boehmer, A. P. Dienken, B. V. Olson. Third-J. Simonak, H. C. Bauer, L. T. Flynn, H. W. Phillips, Joseph Zobac, Frank Pfister, R. E. Ileath. Fourth-C. T. Skow, Walter Jonas, H. E. Iverson, Otto Oertell, Adolph Jensen, Irvin Bauman, H. A. Ruston. Fifth-J. Pistulka, W. H. Frank, P. F. Rossman, M. Ohanian, Ansger Hanson, F. H. Schreiber, Thos. Evans. Bottom-W. M. Dederich, John Herchen, Clinton Killips, J. J. Bonnar, J. Bohnsack, A. B. Madsen, C. J. Kannenherg.
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foodstuffs. To this purpose was dedicated the extra hour of daylight gained by setting the clocks ahead one hour. There were many blisters created and many spinal columns ached from the unaccustomed toil, but Racine people raised hundreds upon hundreds of bushels of vegetables and assisted materially in supplying the home demand for food. This not only saved money and relieved market conditions, but saved transportation by obviat- ing the necessity of bringing so much food- stuffs to the city by rail. This was an im- portant consideration and every community which tried to make itself self-supporting was doing a big work for the nation.
Whatever was asked, whatever was de- manded, it was the intense public sentiment which kept every one hard at work, no matter how he might view any particular decree of the government. "Slackers" were not toler- ated; evasions of any rule or order were looked upon as little better than treason. Public opinion did what no autocratic law could ever have done in America, and it was fortunate that the government was prompt to see this fact. The only legislation regarding civilians which was needed was an espionage law to control enemy aliens. Even the censor- ship of the press was voluntary-and there- fore much more strict than if the authorities had attempted to force it upon the news- papers.
What America accomplished in her homes, and the way in which it was done, will be an eternal testimonial to the ability of a free people to adjust themselves to any conditions to uphold the nation of which they are a part.
In addition to all organized war work, there were, of course, innumerable individual plans for helping the government and the men in service. Mrs. L. K. Merrell, for example, traveled to Waco, Tex., while the 32nd Division was encamped there, and spent sev- eral weeks sewing and darning for the Racine boys there. The number of socks repaired and buttons replaced is not a matter of rec- ord, but if the figures were known they un- doubtedly would be astonishingly large. This unique service was much appreciated by the boys, not only because of the work itself, but because of the spirit in which it was done. Later on Mrs. E. B. Belden did similar work at Camp Custer, where her husband, Judge Belden, was giving his time to camp Y. M. C. A. work.
One rather odd incident of the war was the attempt of some sentimental government official to tack the name "Sammy" onto the American soldier. It was intended to be used
as a casual greeting to a soldier, much as "Tommy" is applied to the English fighting man. There were two prompt reactions. The first was an acceptance of the idea by thou- sands of civilians all over the nation, who felt that any suggestion from Washington should be obeyed. The second was a sharp and un- mistakable roar of protest from every army camp and bivouac clear up to the front in France. No such "kiddish" title for them! Well meaning and benevolent gentlemen were snubbed and even rebuked profanely for using it in addressing soldiers to whom they had not been introduced. All American soldiers . were "Yanks"; sailors were "gobs"; one man addressed another as "Buddy"; members of the infantry demanded and were granted the honored title of "doughboys." All the wel- fare artists in the world could not give birth to a poetical name that would be accepted in place of these. Among themselves, service men might yell to some stranger, "Hurry up, Jack," or "Hi, there, leather-legs," or even more weird and profane expressions, but the men preferred to have civilians call them "Soldiers" or even "Mister." They detested the idea of petting and coddling, and the diminutive "Sammy" smacked of this, even though it was derived from the name of the American national figure, Uncle Sam. This very objection to being considered as a crowd of little boys was what caused the fervent protest against measures taken to keep them from drinking, to protect their morals and to force them to save money. They were will- ing enough to admit the merit of all these ideas, but it grated upon them to have a part of the home-staying public assume a "holier than thou" attitude which allowed civilian "slackers" and "profiteers" to do about as they pleased while every reformer and plat- form lecturer and paid welfare worker insisted upon all sorts of restrictions being placed upon the habits of "our poor, innocent boys," Psychologists probably can discuss the whys and wherefores of this feeling on the part of the soldier better than can a mere writer. One very evident reason for it was that the majority of American soldiers were not boys, but grown men old enough to vote and con- duct themselves as men. Another was that the normal activities of a member of an army in training allowed no opportunity for any carousing or dissipation, and he objected to hearing the constant implication that he was on the way to perdition, and needed the watch- ful care of some salaried uplifter. The Amer- ican army had the highest rating of all armies for morality because it was composed of
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Photos by Billings-Grant-Hood
Top Row-Matty Smith, Thorwald M. Beck, Paul Collins, Clarence Lange, O. F. Bilhorn, Al. Wagner. Second-E. L. Woods, Herbert C. Hoffert, A. C. Fredericksen, Harry Groenke, Walter Klapproth, Arthur Klapproth. Third-Geo. Salak, Earl Hanson, Harold R. Olson, R. V. Davis, Guy A. Benson, Werner G. Hinz. Fourth-Irving C. Kappel, Martin Buerger, A. C. Davidson, Wm. Sheahan, Albert Davies, J. T. Corr. Fifth-Newton Perry, Clarence Theisen, J. J. Waitesek, G. W. Frost, Bert Perry, Dell Van Wie. Bottom-Andrew Tilton, H. J. Rodgers, Arthur Fritchen, John Newman, Walter Hansen, Max Zirbes.
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American men, and not because of any laws or regulations.
One of the tragic incidents in connection with the war was the epidemic of Spanish influenza, or flu, as it was called. This dread disease had taken its toll of deaths in Europe at intervals for many centuries, but never in modern times had it appeared in such malig- nant and fatal form as in the autumn of 1918.
Cases were reported during the summer from Austria, Spain, Germany and France. Whispers were heard of its ravages in Europe during July and August, but the real extent of the scourge was not realized at first be- cause of the belief of many physicians that its victims had succumbed to pneumonia, grippe, quick consumption or other diseases. It became epidemic in Spain before its exist- ence was really acknowledged.
Late in August, 1918, reports of numerous deaths began to be published in seaboard cities. By the middle of September the news- papers were commenting upon its spread in America. On September 30, an Associated Press dispatch told of seventy-five recent vic- tims, and health officers everywhere were warned to be on the lookout for it. Within three days it was announced in Washington that a careful survey had shown nearly 14,000 cases in the army camps. Movements of troops and draft contingents made its control impossible for a time, particularly as medical authorities were not certain of the exact steps to follow. Men going to camp were dying on trains. Morgues everywhere were full of flu victims. The civilian population was assailed by the plague. Hundreds were reported dead every day in the larger cities.
On October 7 a general warning was issued to close all theaters, prohibit public meetings, close public libraries and limit all traveling to a minimum. Eight thousand soldiers and sail- ors had died in American camps up to October 10. Hospitals were unable to care for all the patients, and the over-worked nurses and doc- tors were giving way under the strain of al- most constant labor without a chance to rest. Many of them contracted the disease. The average daily deaths in camp rose to 800, and every effort was made to find a way to check the pandemic before it should wipe out the whole population. Bodies of several Racine soldiers were returned home here for burial.
In Racine the disease made terrible headway. The Red Cross society was granted permission to use the Stephen Bull mansion, Eleventh and Main streets, as an emergency hospital and volunteer nurses were called for and pro-
vided. The house was filled with patients and every possible agency was enlisted to insure suitable care of the victims. Doctors worked day and night. Professional nurses were :carce in civilian life, and in many cases pro- vision had to be made to assist families where all the members were ill at the same time. The soldiers' canteen furnished soup to all who asked it. Newspapers published instruc- tions for preventing the spread of the dis- ease and caring for those who were ill. Placards containing similar information were posted in public places. In infected houses and hospitals, nurses and visitors wore gauze masks over their faces. People were warned not to sneeze or cough when others were near.
The epidemic here died down for a time, but there was a recurrence in December. Schools were closed for nearly a month. Even church services were taboo. By the first of the new year the disease was under control. but the long list of dead was sad evidence of its dire power. In all it is estimated that 500,000 persons died in the United States of the flu, and 227 of these were inhabitants of this city. Many others were broken in health and some of these became victims of other diseases while in their weakened physical con- dition. Two hundred died here from pneu- monia which resulted from, or at least fol- lowed, the flu.
During the long months between the arrival of the first contingents of American troops in France in 1917, and the ending of the con- flict, the people at home did but little celebrat- ing of American victories. Experience with "official bulletins" of other governments in 1914-15-16 had caused them to place small faith in the communiques. So when the first official accounts were given of the successful exploits of our armies in the early summer of 1917 the rejoicing, while sincere, was not noisy. As the days passed the fears of pos- sible untold disasters dissipated; the progress of the Allied armies became too evident to admit of pessimism. By October, when the Yankee hordes had begun their drive through the hitherto impregnable fastnesses of the Meuse-Argonne sector, there could no longer be any doubt of the superiority of the Amer- ican fighter over his foe, and then the daily reports began to be the subject of hearty cheers and enthusiastic applause undimmed by any dread of possible defeat.
Maps were posted up in almost every home, and families gathered around these each eve- ning, with colored pins and long strings in hand, to mark out the progress of the Allied armies since the last communiques. The
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Top Row-Andy Rierstad, M. Basaksisian, Fair Demir, Jens P. Jensen, Peter Hanson, Ben Silverman, James Clancy. Second-Christ Benda, Geo. Neidhardt, J. J. Hegeman, llermon Jenson, A. C. Larson, Victor Rasmussen, T. Linneman. Third-Phillip Tentcher, Paul Kopecky, D. R. Nelson, L. A. Fishman, W. A. Holtz, Vincent Conto, A. A. Foxwell. Fourth-Louis Matson, Sam Aiello, John Murouski, P .W. Pea, Henry Sonturi, H .J. Murphy, Rudolph Zank. Fifth-Paul Boranes, John Dolce, Tony Cappazzo, E. F. Duray, R. E. Harter, John Belden, G. O. Zitka. Bottom-Carl A. Larson, Jacob Adams, O. T. Jacobson, A. F. Rose, Edward Evans, A. A. Gatzke, Ernest B. Haase.
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United States then saw that her labors and her sacrifices had borne fruit.
Only the rapidly growing casualty lists re- mained to cloud the ever-growing joy of the home folks.
No overconfidence was permitted. Every- one settled himself to work more diligently than ever to perform every task which might help clinch the victory. On Oct. 12, thousands paused in their work, in response to a semi- official suggestion, to face the east and shout "No! No! No!" simultaneously as an answer to the reported proposal of the Germans that peace terms other than unconditional surren- der might be arranged. America was de- termined to see the thing through!
The World War came to an end with the signing of the armistice on November 11, 1918.
The whole world celebrated the cessation of hostilities after more than four years of bloody strife.
Yet, by one of the strangest freaks of news- paper reporting in all history, the close of the war actually seemed but little more than an anticlimax to an announcement made on November 7, which spread from one end of the earth to the other despite frantic efforts of government officials and news bureaus to stop it.
It had been known for a week that the Allies had the Germans so completely "on the run" that only capitulation could save their sorely harassed armies from capture or annihila- tion. An exchange of peace notes had shown the Kaiser that only by unconditional sur- render could his legions be saved. The world awaited the result with nerves aquiver.
Suddenly there came a message from France to the United Press Association that the armistice had been signed. Not a word of ex- planation followed, and the censorship pre- vented further communication on that subject for some reason still unknown.
Before noon a bulletin had been posted by the Racine Times-Call at its office, and by newspapers all over the country. It consisted of these two brief dispatches:
"Paris, Nov. 7-The Allies and Germany signed an armistice at 11 o'clock this morning. Hostilities ceased at 2 o'clock this afternoon. The American army took Sedan before the armistice became effec- tive."
"Paris, Nov. 7- The greatest war of all times came to an end at 2 o'clock this afternoon. The Allies and Germany signed an armistice three hours earlier on the field
of battle. The German delegation had come into the Allied lines under a white flag."
The news spread like wildfire. Whistles were blown and church bells rung. Men stopped work, put on their coats and left shops and offices without asking permission or saying goodbye. Women locked the doors of their homes and joined the throngs. Flags were flung to the breeze everywhere. For an hour or more thousands of celebrants besieged the newspaper offices for further news. None was forthcoming. There could be no denial ob- tained, either. Officials of the government at Washington merely replied to all queries, "We have received no word. We cannot get into communication with headquarters in France. We do not know." This was considered as good as an acknowledgment of the truth of the story. The entire country accepted this view.
The subsequent celebration seemed to run largely to noise. Automobiles tore up and down the streets with strings of tin cans and bells tied behind. Horns were blown con- tinuously. Men yelled. Women cheered. Children shrieked. Perfect strangers shook hands with hitherto dignified citizens, and slapped them on the back, and the usually dignified ones responded to the strange assault by Comanche-like cries and outrageous antics.
By early afternoon not a store was open. Business absolutely stopped everywhere with- out warning or reason.
Evening came, with no further information, denials or details. The Racine Journal-News continued to stand fast on the word of the Associated Press that the government knew of no armistice, and was hooted for its pains. The Times-Call could get no confirmation or proof from the United Press, which said it had told all it knew and believed its corre- spondent.
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