Celebrating History: Gussenhoven return delayed by the Great War

As the effects of The Great War raged on in Europe, it was only a matter of time before it started to affect the U. S. labor force. Articles in the Sept. 21, 1918 edition of The Havre Plaindealer stated the government was still in need of stenographers; auto owners were encouraged to “dispense with chauffeurs” to fill mechanic positions; another article estimated a 1 million-person shortage in unskilled workers and that the shortage for skilled workers was getting serious, but went to state that jobs on farms, railroads and in mines remained well-filled as these were deemed “essential war industries.”

Threshers were urged to keep their machinery away from stack grain, as there had been several incidents in Big Horn County of fires happening near the machinery during harvest, losing grain as a result. Extra castor beans had been planted in eight Southern states and California, and were being imported from Haiti, Cuba and Santo Domingo for use in war aircraft, and editors were urged to be cautious when publishing letters seemingly coming from American prisoners of war, as the letters were being heavily censored by their captors and the information was unreliable.

The Gussenhoven family had their own unique experience with the war “over there.”

JUNIOR GUSSENHOVENS CROSS THE WAR ZONE

After an absence of five years Pauline, Charles, Adolf and Margaret, children of Joseph Gussenhoven, arrived home two weeks ago. They went abroad to attend two of the noted schools of the Netherlands, and after their five years of work they show the evidence of the highly intensive training of the foreign schools having an equipment far in advance of that usual at their age. Charles and Adolf attended the institute Geubbles at Dueven and the girls received their education at the Ursuline convent at Venray. They came across in the big liner Baltic with only one other first cabin passenger and only nine passengers altogether on the ship which rode high in the water as a result of so light a load. Their return follows many months of effort on the part of Mr. Gussenhoven to get them home, their passage was paid for months ago but delay after delay prevented their getting it. Last May they started to return on the New Amsterdam but were taken off the ship by officials because of the strained conditions then existing over the Dutch ship controversy. The Baltic, on its outward journey through the war zone was convoyed by a flock of eighteen destroyers which raced back and forth encircling the ship constantly, but no submarines were sighted.

The RMS Baltic has her own place in maritime history. She was part of the White Star Line and launched in 1904. The Baltic was the largest ship in the world until 1905. On April 14, 1912, she sent word to fellow White Star Line ship RMS Titanic that there were icebergs in the area; we all know what happened there.

The ship was later pressed into service during World War I in 1914, transporting war materials, evacuating Americans from Europe and sending troops from the US and Canada to fight in the war, among their passengers was none other than Major General John J. Pershing in 1917. After years of delivering passengers safely and assisting in other liner disasters saving the lives of some of the other ships’ passengers, along with being in a collision with a German passenger ship in 1910, she was scrapped in 1933.

The Plaindealer was joining other newspapers across the U.S., encouraging those on the home front to “do their part” by publishing pieces in their editorial column.

INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY

This war is not to be won by one man or hone thousand men or one million people. It is to be won by the united efforts of the individuals of many nations.

Every American citizen has an individual duty to perform an individual share of the responsibility. The more powerful and effective the American forces are the shorter will be the war, and the fewer lives lost, the greater number of American soldiers who will return home victorious.

Every American who economizes in consumption of material, who increases production, who saves and lends savings to the government, does something to win the war.

RUTH CLUBS

Before long everybody in this country will be in uniform, and belong to some kind of patriotic organization. Every woman who lives in the country ought to belong to a Ruth club; if there are no neighbors, she can be “Ruth” herself. “Ruth Clubs” are gleaners; they help with the harvesting, not grain alone, but anything that grows. They gather up what might else be lost. They take the green tomatoes, when the frost is about to do so, and make pickles and preserves mince-meat out of them. Mincemeat? Yes, delightful fruity mincemeat. Everything that can be used for food they garner into bins, boxes, barrels, and jell glasses. There are not dues, no parliamentary procedure; and the uniform may be that of the “farmerette” or simply the good, old-fashioned gingham apron. Hou can have a Ruth club by yourself, but they are more fun as the membership increases and the story of the accomplishments should be sent to the chairman of the local women’s council of defense.

The Plaindealer and Security State Bank were gearing up for the fourth Liberty Loan Drive the following week, again running a full-page ad declaring at the top: “Pouring Forth Our Earthly Treasures For Treasures That Are Godly.” This was followed by a huge propaganda piece stating why you should buy Liberty Bonds, along with a big illustration of an angel clad in the flag outstretching her arms to the masses.