TROUBLE WITH MEXICO--WORLD WAR--DRAFT LIST--LIST OF SOLDIERS

TROUBLE WITH MEXICO 1916-1917

For nearly three years preceding 1916, depredations had been committed upon United States citizens and capital invested in Mexico, by Mexican bandits. United States troops had been sent into Mexico for the protection of American citizens and property.

About May 20, Carranza sent an arrogant communication to General Pershing in command of the United States forces, stating that any movement of the American expedition in Mexico, except north and out, would be considered hostile, and a signal to begin hostilities. Very soon thereafter, two Mexican raids were made into the State of Texas and both bands of marauders were pursued beyond the Rio Grande.

On account of these punitive expeditions, Carranza threatened attacks upon those making them and began a northward concentration of his forces, and a general call to the civilians of Mexico to arm themselves. On account of this movement on the part of Carranza, being a culminating event of the condition of affairs for the last three years in Mexico, President Wilson issued a call to the country's National Guard for immediate service at the Mexican border.

The National Guard comprehended in this call in the United States numbered in the vicinity of 100,000. This call was issued on the 18th day of July, 1916, and included the entire militia of New Hampshire with the exception of the battalion of the coast artillery. New Hampshire's quota was one regiment of infantry, the battery of field artillery, one troop of cavalry and the signal corps.

At 11.45 o'clock in the forenoon of July 20,1916, in accordance with the Adjutant General's order, the militia of New Hampshire was called to arms. The call was made by the blowing of whistles and ringing of bells, and was responded to at once by all within reach of the alarm.

Upon the 28th of April 1916, the State of New Hampshire leased of Horatio K. Libbey his farm upon the Mast Road, for one year, and upon expiration of lease renewed the same to expire 1918, as an encampment for the 1st N. H. Battery. A detachment of men were stationed here with the guns and a number of horses. In anticipation of trouble between the United States and Mexico previously referred to, the battery was recruited to its maximum strength, mustered into the United States service, and here remained in camp until October 3,1916, when they left for the border and were stationed during the winter in San Antonio, and St. Leon Springs in Texas, where they remained during the winter, and returned to New Hampshire the 11th of March, 1917.

The Goffstown soldiers in the battery were: Rollie C. Beard, Sergeant; Howard L. Caswell, Corporal; and Privates Ralph C. Caswell, Harlan F. Dow, Leonard J. Langley, Lewis S. Richards, Lawrence Seiberlich and Harry A. Simpson. In the first regiment of infantry, Private William Milne.

WORLD WAR

On the first of July, 1914, the powers of Europe were virtually at peace. The sails of Germany, Austria, Russia, England and France were unmolested upon the high seas. Their commercial traffic was reciprocated in each other's ports. Ex-change of commodities in the ports of the world, even, was unmolested. For years the theory of the settlement of all national disputes by arbitration had been advocated. That civilization had made great advancement toward perpetual peace was proclaimed from the pulpit and platform.

In fact, some even predicted that people had so far advanced that the prophecy of Isaiah had almost become true, and ~' that nation should not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." But in a very brief space of time a great change occurred, not only in Europe, but also to the great misfortune of the American people, in our home land; yea at our very doors and in our households. It is not my purpose to inject into these pages a history of the war, but briefly to attempt to carry the reader along to the time that the war was brought to the people of the United States with such especial significance.

It would be a vain attempt to undertake to explain very fully, in these pages, the previous history of the central powers of Europe; neither can the direct cause of the war which was precipitated within so short a time be here fully explained. The revolution in Turkey in 1908, which was plain to be seen was an open declaration to the Serbians by a Germanic power that their hopes were at an end, and the imposition of the Austrian Government over Serbia further impressed them with the idea of domination.

In the fall of 1912, the Balkan States and Greece made war upon Turkey, were successful and reduced Turkey in Europe to an insignificant strip, and settled the conquered territory among themselves as they had agreed before the conflict; on account of which the German powers intervened and gave the Balkans to understand that they must be ruled by Austria. This was not to the liking of Russia by any manner of means. The whole trend was as though Austria had said: "I intend in the future to be the great European power in the Balkan country, and Russia and you cannot prevent me." This, of course, was very disagreeable to Russia, and she resolved to avenge the national insult.

Second, France, since 1870, had been sorely grieved over the loss of Alsace-Lorraine, and no doubt had many times resolved that should an opportunity present itself she would avenge that which she considered a great wrong committed against her, on account of loss of territory as a result of the Franco-Prussian War.

Third, The creation of a very large and comparatively new merchant marine by the Germans, as a part of German expansion, and a fear on the part of England for the supremacy of her naval power, and particularly a fear of naval superiority in the narrow seas to the east and south of the British Isles, were a cause of intense anxiety to England. She having a great desire to retain what she had long possessed, the mistress of the seas necessarily looked with gravity upon Germanic expansion.

Whether some or all of the events before mentioned had an indirect bearing, or were the cause of a deep seated animosity, we will not undertake to say. There is, however, a certainty, that each caused those nations afterwards known as the allied powers to look with anxiety, and no especial friendship upon Germany and Austria. But not withstanding these facts Russia and France were not aggressive, and England not until the obligation rested upon her.

Let us for a moment turn to Germany and Austria. On June 28, the Crown Prince of Austria was assassinated by Serbian subjects, and on July 23, less than a month thereafter, the Austrian Government issued a note to Servia, saying in substance "We will impose Austrian rulers over you, and claim all rights of sovereignty in clean despite of Russia." So far toward a world ruling in the east.

Two days later, July 25, England proposed a conference with Germany, Italy and France, and tried to avert the war. Germany said: "We will hold a conference relative to the western powers, France, England and Italy, but we will do nothing to prevent Russia and Serbia from suffering final subjugation or war." A week of delay occurred to France and England, but Germany did not delay, and in the meantime did all in her power to prepare for war.

August 2, France began to mobilize her army, five days at least after Germany -five days of valuable time lost to France, and dishonorably gained to Germany. The same day Germany violated the neutrality of Luxemburg, seized the railroad passing through her territory to France, and covered her country with troops. Luxemburg is a small independent Duchy between Germany and France of less than one thousand square miles, and a population of 240,000. Now Luxemburg was made independent in 1867, and to her, neutrality had been guaranteed by a congress of powers of which England, France and Prussia were guarantors, and this neutrality was not supposed to be violated.

Belgium which had long existed as an independent nation, and whose neutrality had for seventy-five years been guaranteed in a solemn treaty by the same powers as guaranteed to Luxemburg, Prussia being a party interest; Belgium which maintained her honor by strict neutrality in the Franco-Prussian war, was at once despoiled by the German army in direct violation of guaranteed neutrality, an army showing no regard for treaty, honor or international law. Belgium is geographic-ally situated between France and Germany and north of Luxemburg, has an area of 11,000 square miles, and population of seven millions.

Both Luxemburg and Belgium, on account of their guaranteed neutrality, had very inadequate means of defense, and the verbal protests of their rulers were in vain. The German Army soon occupied Liege, Brussels, Namur and two months later, Antwerp. The latter place on account of its naval importance and as a seaport, the Germans in previous years had looked upon with a covetous eye, and openly given Europe to understand, it was ultimately to come into their system or their rule.

Inferentially we deduce in a course of reasoning that the German powers fully believed they could, and would conquer the world. Therefore, what does it matter about former treaties relative to Luxemburg or Belgium?

We will here insert a few comparative dates to show when and by whom the declarations of war were issued, with the hope that it may be instrumental in helping the reader keep in mind in how short a time and by whose official acts the greatest war in the history of the world was brought about:

   On July 28, 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, and at once began the mobilization of her army, as did Russia on the following day. July 31, the German Government declared that the state of war existed in Germany, and on the following day, August 1, declared war on Russia, and likewise began the invasion of Luxemburg. August 2, Germany demanded a free passage for her troops across Belgium. August 3, Germany declared war on France, and August 4, Great Britain on Germany. The situation on August 4 was briefly this: Five great powers of Europe engaged in war. Russia, France and Great Britain, called the allied, or Entente powers upon the one side, and the German Empire and Austria-Hungary, called the Germanic powers, upon the other side. The warlike relations between the countries was further augmented by the declaration of war, on August 6, by Austria-Hungary on Russia, and August 10, by France, and August 12, by Great Britain upon Austria-Hungary.

The whole world could see at a glance on that day what they have since learned to their sorrow: that from July 28 to August 10, 1914, was committed that which could not then, nor never will be undone.

The following is a brief extract from an edition of the London Times, issued on the morning of August 3, and reprinted in the United States papers: "The die is cast. The great European struggle, which the nations have so long struggled to avert, has begun. It is idle to dwell upon the event; it will speak for itself in a fashion which all can understand. It means that Europe is to be the scene of the most terrible war that she has witnessed since the fall of the Roman Empire. The losses in human life and the accumulated wealth of generations, which such a contest must involve, are frightful to think of." That day, frightful, and terrible to contemplate, we have seen with its ruinous consequences, and the whole world has learned the result.

The German Army advanced into France, and by the first week of September had a battle line of over three hundred miles in length. The French Government was removed from Paris to Bordeaux, and later the Belgian Government withdrew to LeHarve in France. The Entente powers executed a specific contract or treaty, not to make peace separately, and the United States proclaimed neutrality.

Upon the part of Germany, the conduct of the war was the most inhuman and barbarous of anything ever previously conducted. Methods hitherto unknown, either among civilized or barbarous nations, were introduced. In addition to over-running neutral Belgium, in open defiance of treaty, her citizens were murdered, women outraged, and school boys rendered unfit for future military duty by being deprived of right hands.

Submarines were early in operation upon the high seas; on the 22nd of September, 1914, three armoured cruisers of the English Navy were met by a submarine, torpedoed and sunk. This was less than two months after war was declared, and showed a long preparation on the part of Germany to make a world contest, and in February, 1915, the submarines began a campaign of piracy and pillage which they pursued as long as the war lasted.

Merchant and passenger vessels were sunk without warning, no time allowed passengers to save themselves, and constrained by necessity to go down with the ship. Airplanes hovered over defenseless villages in the darkness of the night, and dropped bombs and explosive shells upon the inhabitants. French hospitals, sheltering sick, wounded and dying soldiers were likewise bombed, and the helpless inmates caused additional suffering and death. Poisonous and asphyxiating gases were employed by the enemy at the second battle of Ypres, April 22,1915, for the purpose of suffocating the French soldiers, not only those in the trenches, but those suffering from wounds.

The war, with all that is inhuman, goes on. The United States had hoped to avert it; hoped they would not be drawn into it either directly or otherwise; hoped that the flower of the land in brave men and boys would not be called upon to give their lives for that for which the United States were in no way responsible; hoped that the wealth of the nation would not have to be spent for such a purpose, but hopes were in vain.

We, as a nation, did all in our power to avoid being made participants therein, but Germany intended to conquer the world, and she intended to draw the United States into the war if possible. The Kaiser reckoned without his host, and spoke too quick when he said, "the territory of the United States would be given to Mexico, and he would stand no nonsense from the United States after the war," and, as a matter of provocation to the United States, overt acts were committed which no people would allow to pass without national notice. The reader may recall that on August 4, 1914, the same day Great Britain declared war on Germany, President Wilson proclaimed the neutrality of the United States, and, upon the 13th of the following November, proclaimed the neutrality of the Panama Canal Zone; but, notwithstanding the neutrality of the United States, notwithstanding the explanation and defense of the same by the Secretary of State, notwithstanding the lengthy communications of the United States relative to their commerce, notwithstanding a notice from the United States that she should hold the German Government to a strict accountability if any merchant vessel of the United States was destroyed, or any American citizens lost their lives, Germany replied: "That her war zone act was an act of self~defense."

Virtually saying, you can sail where we say on the broad ocean and no further, on the 28th of April, 1915, an American vessel, The Cushing, was attacked by a German airplane; and on May 1, the American steamship Gulflight was sunk by a German submarine, but the crowning act of all, the one as infamous as any in the submarine career, occurred upon the following week, May 7, when the Cunard Line Steamship Lusitania, on a voyage from New York to Liverpool, with 1,918 persons on board, was sunk ten miles off the Irish coast by a German submarine. The vessel sunk within twenty minutes after the attack, with a loss of 1,154 passengers, 114 of whom were American citizens.

There was quite a lengthy correspondence between the United States and the German Government, and the principal fact as stated by the United States, was "that the Lusitania was a great steamer carrying more than 1,000 souls who had no part or lot in the conduct of the war, and was sunk without a warning, and that men, women and children were sent to their death in circumstances unparalleled in modern warfare."

In another communication from the United States the statement was made "that the Government of the United States was contending for something much greater than mere rights of property, or commerce of the seas; it was contending for the rights of humanity." The final note from the United States closed with this statement: "That the repetition of certain acts would be regarded by the government when they effect American citizens, as deliberately unfriendly." The sinking of American vessels continued through 1915 and 1916, and American citizens were drowned in consequence thereof. On account of the great loss of life and property of the Americans, President Wilson demanded restorations, reparation and indemnities of Germany on the 26th of December, 1916, to which Germany replied, "they should carry on unrestricted submarine warfare," and on January 31, 1917, the German Government announced"that all vessels, neutrals included, found within certain zones would be sunk without any precaution taken for the safety of those on board," and, as a natural consequence, on February 3, 1917, diplomatic relations with Germany were severed by the United States, and the German minister, Bernstorff, was dismissed.

On the 12th of March, for the safety of mariners and passengers, the United States announced that an armed guard would be placed on all American vessels sailing through the war zone, and likewise refused the proposition of Germany, relative to their interpretation of an ancient treaty. For three weeks, days of suspense, days of anxiety, days of anticipation that war might not come to the people of the United States, were passed.

The 65th Congress, which had been chosen the preceding November, met in response to the President's special call at 12 o'clock April 2,1917; swarms of pacificators covered the capitol steps to use their influence against the declaration of war.

Upon the assembling the blind chaplain offered prayer, in which he said, "God of ages, our father's God and our God, whose holy influence has shaped and guided the destiny of our Republic from its inception, we wait upon that influence to guide us in the present crisis which has been thrust upon us. Diplomacy has failed; moral suasion has failed; every appeal to reason and justice has been swept aside. We abhor war and love peace. But if war has been, or shall be forced upon us, we pray that the heart of every American citizen shall throb with patriotic zeal."

That was a solemn hour, and one in which the honor of the nation was to be taken into consideration. The President officially asked Congress to declare the existence of a state of war with Germany, and on the 6th of April the declaration was made, and Austria-Hungary severed diplomatic relations with the United States, which in turn was soon followed by Turkey, and in the following December the United States declared war on Austria-Hungary.

The declaration of war by the United States caused intense excitement, and the people firmly resolved that the honor and integrity of the nation should be upheld.

Two of the important factors in conducting a war are men and money. In the case of the former, recruiting offices were opened and the enlistment of volunteers began, which was continued until July 20. The National Guard, which consisted of the organized militia of the state, under the direction of an act of Congress of 1903, and the National Defense Act of June 5,1916, was soon mobilized and mustered into the United States service.

Upon the 18th of May, 1917, the selective service, or National Draft Law, was passed, which required all men between the ages of 21 and 31 to register on the 5th day of June, 1917, and from this list on the 20th of July, at Washington, were drawn the names for the first army under selective service. The law was afterwards amended to provide for two supplemental registrations to include those who became 21 years of age on June 5,1918, also August 24,1918, and a third amendment to include those between the ages of 18 and 45.

Thus by enlistment, by federalization of the National Guard and by selective service, was raised the army. The means, by liberty loans: the first offered June 15, 1917, $2,000,000,000; $3,000,000,000 was subscribed; the second offered October 27, 1917, $3,000,000,000; $4,600,000,000 was subscribed; the third offered May 3, 1918, $3,000,000,000; $4,170,000,000 was subscribed; a fourth offered October 4, 1918, $6,000,000,000; $6,989,000,000 was subscribed.

The army and resources of the United States were the means of bringing the war to a termination; space will not allow any extended account of the heroism and bravery of the participants. The future historian will do honor to those who contended and died at Lorraine, Toul, Belleau Woods, Chateau-Thierry, Alsace and Saint Mihiel. Their record is imperishable and a grateful people will ever hold them in remembrance. Neither will those be forgotten who were consigned by the enemy to the waters of the great deep, without a possible defense.

The man force of the United States Army was a little more than 2,000,000, and of this number, 322,000 were killed or wounded. The cost of the war to this country $21,850,000,000, and the army cost $14,000,000,000.

The Armistice was declared November 4, 1918, in which Austria accepted truce terms; and upon November 11, the German envoys signed the allied Armistice, and on November 21, 1918, the German fleet surrendered. The treaty of peace was agreed to at Versailles, France, June 28,1919. Two years, two months and twenty two days after the declaration of war by the United States.

We will try to partially record the part taken by the men and people of Goffstown in the World War. The early historian said, when the battle of Lexington. occurred: "The men of Goffstown left their implements of husbandry wherever they happened to be using them and started for the scene of conflict." In all conflicts of the nation, at the first alarm, our people have responded; the farmer left his plowshare, the mechanic his tools, and the school boy his book, at a moment's. notice. In the Colonial Wars, the Revolution, the Rebellion, the Mexican troubles, and in the World War the response was the same.

In the World War Lewis S. Richards, Lawrence Sieberlich, Harry A. Simpson and Howard Carswell, in the N. H. Battery, were under enlistment at the declaration thereof on April 6, 1917, and Robert M. Blaisdell, George A. Perley and Maurice Johnson volunteered in April; John A. Carlton, Charles P. Paige, Adolphus C. Carraway and Fred Wesley Wyman volunteered in May. On the 4th of June, 1918, a service flag was unfurled at the town house, and patriotic exercises were held. John H. Bartlett, Esq., of Portsmouth, afterwards Governor of New Hampshire, and P. H. Sullivan, Esq., of Manchester, addressed the audience.

The proportional part or quota of the four liberty loans assigned the town were each oversubscribed, as was also the contribution to the "Seven-In-One" fund, by a large figure. The contributions for the welfare and aid of the soldiers and sailors. were generous and timely, and the aid of the Red Cross Society and other war benevolences were greatly appreciated. But the day most anxiously anticipated was when the whistle blew the long blast in the early morning of November 11, 1918, announcing that the World War would terminate at 6 o'clock A. M., Washington time, on November 11, 1918.

The following is a list of the Goffstown soldiers with as complete a description as it is possible at this time to obtain, prepared by Frank C. Moore, War Historian, with some slight corrections from the records at the Adjutant General's office at Concord.

Their service is given so far as possible, and upon their record we would gladly comment, but none is necessary; bravely and well they did their part. The towns-people extended a welcome upon their return July 4, 1919, when the veterans in line were presented medals in recognition of their services for their country. I would not, above all, be unmindful of the one last named on the list, Fred Wesley Wyman, who gave his life in the defense of his country on account of submarine attack, and fate decreed that his body unblessed and unepitaphed should repose full many a score fathom beneath the waters of the English Channel.

List of Goffstown men in the draft order of July 20,1917:

Herbert W. Rogers was the first local man drawn in the draft operations. His number was 458. The other men and their numbers, arranged in the order in which their numbers were drawn are as follows:

       

ALHN Hillsborough County