Celebrating History: War news fills the paper

By Emily Mayer

There was so much war-related news in the Aug. 24, 1918, edition of The Havre Plaindealer, it will be a challenge to get it all in this week’s column, but I’ll try.

War always creates casualties, and this week we learn one of our own has fallen for freedom’s cause.

HAVRE BOY IS KILLED IN DEMOCRACY’S CAUSE

William Cross, son of George H. Cross of Joplin and Mrs. Minnie Cross of Havre, was killed in action, August 15.

William formerly attended school in Havre and was one of the first Hill county boys to enlist after war with Germany was declared. Prior to the time of his last enlistment he was in the state militia and served on the Mexican border.

Arthur, another son, is now serving with forces in France.

Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., Congress was debating expanding the age limit for draftees to 18 to 45 years, and Hill County was preparing to send more of our boys “over there.” Thirty-nine men were to leave for training on Aug. 30, and another 39 were selected to leave sometime after Sept. 1. Articles about two other local men regarding The Great War was also published in the Plaindealer.

JESTRAB MADE HEAD OF IMPORTANT WORK

Marshal Industrial Resources as a War Effort

At a meeting of representative business men of the state, at Helena the eighth sub-region of the resources and conservation section of the war industries board was organized, and Frank Jestrab of Havre, was elected a community vice chairman to represent the Havre district. Mr. Jestrab has just returned from a very important meeting of this section, held at Helena. This newly created division is expected to play an important part in the assembling of the industrial resources of the nation for the prosecution of the war. Its efforts are expected and designed to contribute to the fullest industrial co-operation and development of the greatest efficiency among employers and employees. The disturbances in the industrial life of the country occasioned by war demands which will keep on increasing make necessary efforts of the nature proposed to insure stability that our war program may not be hampered. Through this agency, a survey will be obtained of the manufacturing and labor resources, showing the possibilities of diversion in part or entire to other lines of endeavor if needed by the government.

ELWELL WILL LEAVE FOR TRAINING CAMP

Attorney Will Enter Artillery Officers School

Charles B. Elwell, U. S. Land Commissioner, has received notice to report at the officers’ training camp at Camp Taylor, Kentucky. Camp Taylor is a training school for artillery officers to which Mr. Elwell made application for entrance in July. Mr. Elwell expects to leave early next week but Mrs. Elwell will remain for present at least to attend to many matters of business which he will be unable to complete before his departure. Mr. Elwell has been here about five years, coming from Washington, D. C. and during his residence here has made a wide circle of friends.

Women, of course, were not being overlooked when it came to contributing and supporting the war effort. A thrift stamp contest was going to be held for women over 18 years of age. Women who wanted to participate in the contest needed to contact their county director of war savings in writing that she is going to sell thrift stamps. The top two sellers would represent the county at the state fair in Helena Sept. 9 to 14. The trip was all-expenses paid. Of course, the ladies would be chaperoned.

The Plaindealer’s editor chimed in, announcing that Hill County was eighth from the bottom of the list when it came to thrift stamp sales in Montana. He states, “It is true that Hill county has been hard hit by the drouth but with the thought of those boys who are so cheerfully giving their lives, we believe the people of Hill county will change this record.”

It wasn’t as though people in Hill County were lazy or stingy. Hill County consistently oversubscribed on Liberty Loans, was among the leading counties sending our boys “over there,” and extremely active with Red Cross efforts to support the war. The local Masons were helping, as announced in this article found in the Plaildealer.

PLAN MASONIC PICNIC TO BENEFIT RED CROSS

The members of the Masonic fraternity and the Eastern Star are making arrangements to hold a picnic at Assinniboine on September 2. They anticipate a large attendance of the orders locally and the adjoining towns. They will leave the Masonic Temple at one o’clock in the afternoon and have a very extensive program arranged for sports at the post. There will be a baseball game in which both ladies and gentlemen will participate and will afford unlimited foot races for men, women and children, and expect to devote the whole afternoon to amusements. Each person will bring their own luncheon and ice cream will be sold and the proceeds donated to the Red Cross society. In the evening they will have a dance in the large hall there, and from reports made, they expect a very large attendance.

An entire new column was dedicated to the “Doings of the Red Cross” in Hill County. The column was chock-full of all kinds of activities women were doing to support the war effort, from silver teas in their homes to knitting socks for the troops. The column announced:

More women are desired at the Red Cross rooms in the Court house to keep the machines busy and to help with the many other kids of work in progress.

With all that was going on and Hill County citizens being extremely generous in other war efforts, when it came to thrift stamps it seems there just wasn’t enough money to go around to every effort.

Two other war-related entries were found in the “Of Local Interest” social pages:

Miss Margaret Stranahan entertained delightfully one evening last week at which Sergeant Heath who is visiting Havre on furlough, was the honor guest among a large gathering of friends.

T. A. Ross, assistant to county agent Banker, has received notice that his application for entry into the training camp for artillery officers at Camp Taylor, has been granted. Arrangements for his departure had not been completed yesterday.