New York's Fort Wood in World War I

I have been writing about this fort in my Not So Forgotten: War of 1812  and Tattooed On Your Soul: World War II blogs.  This fort is the base of the Statue of Liberty.  You can read more about Fort Wood in these two blogs.  Click on My Blogs to the right of this blog entry.

The fort was built in 1811, and by 1904 being used by one company of Signal Corps troops and a sub depot for Signal Corps material.

On July 30, 1916, there were a series of explosions at the nearby Black Tom Wharf in Hersey City that severely damaged the post and did $100,000 damage to the Statue of Liberty.  These explosions were deemed to be an act of sabotage by German agents, even though the U.S. had not yet joined the war.  This is another reason that led to the U.S. entering the war in 1917.

During World War I, Fort Wood was used as a coastal defense fort and supply depot.

--DaCoot

Statue of Liberty's Original Torch Removed To Museum-- Part 2

The move on Thursday, November 15 was the latest chapter for the icon that "has crossed many miles in its lifetime,"  according to Stephen Briganti.

The torch left France in 1976 and was brought to the United States where it was exhibited at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia and then it went to New York City's Madison Square Park.  The torch made the trip to help raise funds to pay for the statue's pedestal.

It went back to Paris in 1882 and then returned to New York Harbor along with the other pieces of the crated statue in 1885.

The torch was held high by Lady Liberty from 1886 to 1984, but modifications to the flame changed the original design over the years.

Glad the Original Is Going Inside.  --DaCoot

Statue of Liberty's Original Torch Moved to A Museum-- Part 1

From the November 16, 2018, Northwest Herald (McHenry County, Illinois).

A photo showing the original torch of the Statue of Liberty being transported in New York City.  The torch was removed in 1984 and replaced by a replica.  It is being moved to a new museum on Liberty Island.

From the 1980s until now, the torch was at the base of the statue.  Visitors watched as its base and detached flame were slowly and carefully removed to the museum which will open next year.  The torch altogether weighs 3,600 pounds.

The new museum is about 100 yards from the statue.

Officials with the National Park Service and the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation said the torch was removed in 1984 because it was too badly damaged to restore.  In the process of taking it down, the largest free-standing scaffolding to that time was erected.

Being housed inside will help prevent further deterioration.

--CootStat

The Problem With Crickets in 1943

From the August 29, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1943, 75 Years Ago.

"Crickets and more crickets are being found throughout the city and the business section was again overrun last evening with pedestrians encountering much trouble as they walked along the main streets.

"Thousands were swept into the street as the merchants arrived to open their stores this morning, doorways and along the edges about store fronts being literally covered."

--Cooter

The Case of the Bubbler Loafers in 1918

From the August 29, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"Of late there has been much complaint about men and young men, loafing around street corners, using the bubbling machines as resting places.

"The bubbler on Fourth  street was occupied for over a half an hour by three fellows and many people, rather than disturb the loafers, went another block for a drink of cold water.  People in the habit of doing this this should remember there are others in this world who are glad to take advantage of a bubbling fountains and not monopolize them for an hour at a time."

Drinking fountains were called bubblers back then.

--  Cooter

"Atomic Attack" At NIU in 1968

From the August 8, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1968, 50 Years Ago.

"The United States will be under 'atomic attack' for 24 hours this weekend as nearly 30 Northern Illinois  residents take shelter in a university dormitory here.

"The shelter is in the basement of the 13-story Stevenson Towers on the Northern Illinois University campus will house participants from age three to adults during a drill  conducted by NIU's disaster preparedness committee."

Better Prepared Than Sorry.  --Cootbomb

A Ginger Ale Crime Spree in DeKalb in 1918

From the July 18, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"The DeKalb police department, or rather a member of it had a little experience yesterday afternoon, all due to the fact that a case of ginger ale was unintentionally left left out of doors.  The kids sneaked down the alley, four of them in all, each helping himself to a bottle of said ginger ale.

"Discovering that Officer Sid Rowe was on their trail they began to run.  The officer chased them for some little distance,and then after they had disposed of the goods by hiding, stopped.  The officer told them to go get the bottles, take them back here they got them, which they did, and report to the station.  The boys were given a severe reprimand.

Crime in 1918?  --CootAle

When Presidents Lied or Misled U.S. to War-- Part 4: Lincoln and FDR Are Exceptions

Michael Beschloss does give two examples of American war presidents who did not follow the other three:  Abraham Lincoln and Franklin D. Roosevelt.  He says the two waged war for higher moral purposes (saving the Union, abolishing slavery, defending democracy from Fascism).

And, they educated the public about why the country was sacrificing so many lives and so much money, though he does discuss FDR's internment camps and Lincoln's suspension of habeus corpus among other wartime abuses of power.

--Cooter

When Presidents Lied or Misled U.S. to War-- Part 3: Woodrow Wilson and WW I

President Woodrow Wilson tried to inscribe democratic ideals on the world order during World War I.  But his disdain for Congress and failure to educate the public about his wartime agenda backfired.

He jailed his antiwar foes and faltered at persuading the American people to back his idea for a League of Nations.

--Cooter

When Presidents Lied or Misled U.S. to War-- Part 2: The Spanish-American War

James Polk followed James Madison's (War of 1812, see the Nov. 19, 2018) Not So Forgotten: War of 1812 blog post) agenda when he concealed his westward expansion policy.

President William McKinley wanted to go to war with Spain in the 1890s and used what was a faulty boiler causing the sinking of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor.  He even promised to free the people of Cuba from Spanish occupation.

So in 1898, we went to war at his behest without his consulting Congress or the American people.

But what it really was an attempt for an American empire.  He grabbed the Philippines from Spain and demanded the conversion of its people to Christianity.  (I thought the people of the Philippines were Catholic when the U.S. took over.)

--Cooter

When Presidents Lied Or Misled U.S. Into War-- Part 1: The Mexican War

From the November 16, 2018, Washington Post  "When presidents lied or misled the nation to go to war -- and when they didn't" by Matthew Dallek.

I wrote about President James Madison and the War of 1812 in my Not So Forgotten: War of 1812 blog today.

Anither president and his war:

In 1846, President James Polk responded to the ambush of a U.S. military patrol near the Rio Grande by asking Congress to declare war on Mexico.  Polk wanted to get control of California, New Mexico and Arizona and extend slavery and the nation westward.

Thus said the author of the book "Presidents of War" by Michael Beschloss.  His book details how presidents "weaponized deception."

"They hid the risks of war from soldiers and civilians, used false pretexts to fight their wars, and they waged wars even though the republics survival was not at stake.  With too-frequent acquiescence of Congress, [presidents] have seized for themselves the power to launch large conflicts almost on their own authority."

--Cooter

Fox Lake-Grant Township Hist. Soc. Meeting Today: Old Time Radio

The General Meeting will take place today at the Grant Hall Museum at 411 Washington Street, Ingleside, Illinois, at 9:30 a.m..

The agenda today includes election of officers followed by a recreation of an old radio program by the Radio Players of Lake County.  If  you wonder how they used to make the old radio programs like Ralphie listened to ("Little Orphan Annie") on "A Christmas Story" you will see it done live.

See You There.  --Cooter

Sgt. Henry Gunther, Last American Casualty in WW I

From Find-A-Grave

Birth:  5 June 1895 in Baltimore, Maryland.

Death:  11 November 1918 (aged 23)  Chaumont-devant-Damvillers, Department of de la Meuse, Lorraine, France.  He was originally buried at a U.S. military cemetery in France.  Body exhumed and returned to the United States in 1923.

Burial:  Mount Holy Redeemer Cemetery in Baltimore, Maryland.   Section W, Lot 301.

Last Casualties of World War I-- Part 2: France, British, Commonwealth, American and German

**  Augustin Trebuchon was the last Frenchman to die when he was shot on his way to tell  fellow soldiers that hot soup would be available  after the ceasefire.

**  The last British soldier to die was George Edwin Ellison of the 5th Royal Lancers who was killed at 9:30 a.m. while on a scouting mission.

**  The final Canadian and Commonwealth soldier to die was Private George Lawrence Price who was killed in his trench just two minutes before 11 a.m..

**  The last American was Henry Gunther, who is generally recognized as the very last soldier killed in the war.  He was killed 60 seconds before the Armistice went into effect.  He was killed by German troops, who knew about the Armistice, but Gunther was charging them.

**  The last reported German death was Leutnant Tomas who was killed after the Armistice.  he approached advancing American soldiers saying he and his men would be evacuating houses they occupied, but the Americans did not know about the Armistice.

--Cooter

Last Casualties of World War I-- Part 1: So Sad, 2,738 Deaths On last Day

From ANSWERS:  "Who Was the Last Casualty of World War I?"

Even after word reached units that the war was to stop at 11 a.m., firing continued right up to that time.  Some Allied artillery units continued firing so as to use up ammunition so they wouldn't have to cart it off.  Allies also wanted to ensure that should the fighting start again, they would be in the best possible situation.

As mentioned in the last post, there was also the "honor" of firing the last shot.

As a result, there were 10,944 casualties on that last day, including 2,738 deaths.

All For Nothing.  --Cooter

WW I's Last American Death

NOVEMBER 11, 1918

Last American KIA in WW I.

Army Private Henry Gunther, of A Company, 313th Infantry Regiment, 79th Division, was Killed In Action while charging a German machine gun nest at one minute after 11 a.m..

He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

End of War, Nov. 1, 1918: Casualties

ARMISTICE ENDS WORLD WAR I

2,171,560 Americans serve on Europe (1.39 million see active service on the front).

Casualties:

53,513 combat deaths

63,195 other deaths (mostly due to pneumonia and influenza)

204,002 wounded in action

58,000 gas casualties (2,000 fatal).

WW I, the End-- Part 6: Armistice Signed, Fighting Continues in Africa

Armistice Day is now commemorated as Veterans Day.

NOVEMBER 11, 1918

At 5:10 a.m., in a railway car in Compiegne, France,  the Germans sign the Armistice which is in effect at 11 a.m. -- the eleventh hour of the eleventh month.

Fighting continues on the Western Front until precisely 11 a.m., with 2,000 casualties on both sides.

Artillery barrages  also erupt as 11 a.m. approaches as soldiers yearn to claim they fired the very last shot of the war.

NOVEMBER 12, 1918

A final action occurs as Germans in Africa under the command of the elusive General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck encounter British troops in Northern Rhodesia, where news of the Armistice had not yet reached.

It's Over.  --Cooter

"The Deadliest Weapon In the World" USMC

Today marks the 243rd birthday of the United States Marine Corps.  Tomorrow marks the 100th year since the end of World War I, and, of course, Veterans Day.

Probably the greatest compliment ever paid to the Marines is this quote by the Commander of American Forces in Europe during World War I, John "Blackjack" Pershing.

"The deadliest weapon in the world is a Marine and his rifle."

Oh Yeah!!  Thanks General.  --CootMarine

WW I Ending-- Part 5: Austria-Hungary Signs Armistice, Kaiser's Government Collpases

NOVEMBER 3, 1918

Austria-Hungary, Germany's only remaining ally, signs armistice with Italy, leaving Germany alone.

NOVEMBER 8, 1918

At Compiegne, France, six representatives of the German government are presented with armistice terms by the Allied Supreme Commander, Marshal Ferdinand Foch.  The terms include the Germans leaving all occupied lands, the Allied occupation of Germany west of the Rhine River, surrender of weaponry, including all submarines and battleships and indefinite  continuation of the naval blockade.

NOVEMBER 9, 1918

The Kaiser's Imperial government collapses in ruin as the German Republic is proclaimed with Friedrich Ebert heading the new provisional government.  Kaiser Wilhelm seeks refuge in Holland.

It's About Over.  --Cooter

WW I Ending-- Part 4: Collapse of Austria Hungary, Armistice With Turkey and Mutiny in Germany

OCTOBER 24, 1918

In Italy, Allies crush the Austrian-Hungarian Army which has 30,000 killed and 400,000 captured.

OCTOBER 29, 1918

Czechs declare independence from Austria.  Two days later Slovakia does likewise.

OCTOBER 30, 1918

Turkey signs armistice with Allies, becoming the second Central Powers member to quit the war.

NOVEMBER 1, 1918

After pausing to regroup and resupply, Allied  armies continue the attack against the Germans.  U.S. armies advance on the Meuse River.

NOVEMBER 3, 1918

Mutiny strikes the German Navy at the ports of Kiel and Wilhelnshaven as sailors refuse to put to sea for one final battle with the British Navy.  Uprisings begin in German cities and there is a fear that this could turn into a Bolshevik uprising both with the German government and Allies.  This causes a real sense of urgency to the armistice negotiations.

--Cooter

WW I Ending-- Part 3: Allies Break Through Hindenburg Line and German Army Retreating

OCTOBER 5, 1918

The Allies break through the last remnants of the Hindenburg Line.

OCTOBER 6 AND 7, 1918

The state of Yugoslavia proclaimed signalling the beginning of the break up of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in central Europe which had existed for six centuries.

Poland proclaims itself independent from the Russian Empire.

OCTOBER 13, 1918

The German Army  involved in a general retreat from a 60-mile  portion of the Western Front. in France.

OCTOBER 23, 1918

Wilson informs Germany that any negotiations could not include current German military leaders.    Ludendorf disavows this and is forced to resign by the Kaiser.  Civilians are now to do most of the negotiating.  This was the basis of the military's "stab-in-the-back" defense after the war.  They had been sold out by the civilians.

--Cooter

WW I Ending-- Part 2: German Government Notified of Military Collapse and Wilson Asked

SEPTEMBER 29, 1918--

Bulgaria signs an armistice with the Allies, becoming the first  of the Central Power to quit the war.

OCTOBER 2, 1918--

Ludendorf  informs the German legislature in Berlin that the war is lost and that armistice negotiations should begin immediately.  The German politicians are shocked by the news, having been largely kept in the dark by the military and Kaiser until now.

OCTOBER 4, 1918

President Woodrow Wilson receives a request from the German government to start armistice negotiations.  The Germans figured he'd be more lenient than the British or French.  Wilson replies with a list of demands as prelude of discussion including  German withdrawal from all occupied territories and an immediate halt to U-boat attacks.

--DaCoot

World War I: The End Fast Approaching-- Part 1: Germans In Dire Straits by September 1918

From The History Place.com/world history/firstworld war/index.

The History Place:  World War 1

1918:  A Fateful Ending

SEPTEMBER 28, 1918

Confronted by the unstoppable strength of the Allies and faced with the possibility of military defeat, German General Ludendorf suffers a nervous collapse.  He informs his superior, Paul von Hindenburg, that the war must be ended.

The next day they meet with the Kaiser and urge him to end the war.

The German Army is becoming weaker by the day with huge troop losses, declining discipline and battle-readiness due to exhaustion, illness,  food shortages, desertions and drunkenness.

The Kaiser agrees with them.  An armistice must be reached.

--Cooter

Camp Wadsworth, S.C.-- Part 4: Specialized Units and the Slavic Legion

Camp Wadsworth also had several specialty units including military police, construction workers,  cooks and bakers and even a remount (horses) unit.

In addition, anti-aircraft machine gun battalions, signal battalions corps artillery parks and pioneer infantry  regiments.  There were also several military schools there as well, including one for nurses.

It was also the training base for the Slavic Legion intended as a regiment of non-naturalized volunteers from nations in the Balkans.  This group was only partly trained when the war ended and they were demobilized there.

Beginning in February 1919, the War Department began carrying out salvage operations at Camp Wadsworth, sending usable items to other posts that remained open.

Several of the camp's buildings were sold and moved to other places.

Most of the area that used to be Camp Wadsworth is now within the Spartanburg city limits and has been developed as  the Wadsworth Hills residential neighborhood.

--Cooter

Camp Wadsworth-- Part 3: The 369th Infantry Regiment (Blacks) Was There

The camp was used for individual training and bayonet practice.    They also dis unit level  exercises.  In addition, love fire ranges were established 26 miles from the camp where rifle, machine gun and artillery training was carried out.

In addition to the 27th Division, the  96th Division trained there, but the war ended before they were trained and they demobilized there on early 1919.

The 15th New York Infantry Regiment, a unit of black soldiers with white officers, later federalized as the 369th Infantry Regiment.  Tension with local population, who had been promised that no black soldiers would train there caused the Army to  rapidly transport the 369th to France where they completed their organizing and training.

They were assigned to the 93rd Division which was made up of other black units.  The regiments of the 93rd Division served in World War I as part of the French Army.

--Cooter

Camp Wadsworth-- Part 2: Named After a Union General and Built In A Hurry

Continued from October 29, 2018.

It was decided that a division of the New York National Guard would train there.

Camp Wadsworth was named for Union Brigadier General James S. Wadsworth, a prominent man from New York and who had been killed in 1864 at the Battle of the Wilderness.  His son, James S. Wadswoth, Jr. was also in the Union Army during that war.  His grandson, James Wolcott Wadsworth Jr, was a U.S. Senator from New York during World War I.

There was a two-month deadline to build the camp.  Starting in mid-July 1917, thousands of civilian workers cleared trees, laid pipes, built roads and temporary structures.

National Guard troops from New York began arriving in August.  Eventually, all units of the New York National Guard's 6th Division were there and were federalized as the U.S. Army's 27th Division.

They departed for France in May 1918.

--Cooter

Another Nurse to the Front in WW I

From the August 29, 2018 MidWeek  (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"Miss Zaida  McDole of Elva, who volunteered some weeks ago for service in the nursing department for the American Red Cross, left this noon for Camp Merritt, N.J., where she will probably start in a short tome overseas.

"Miss McDole is a most efficient trained nurse and will be able to do splendid service in  in behalf of our boys at the front who are wounded."

--Cooter

The Factory Goes to the Farm For the War Effort

From the August 8, 2018, MidWeek "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"As another way of showing their patriotism, a crowd of the American Steel & Wire company fellows went out to the farm of L.H. Hopkins last night after work and put in two or three hours in the field.

"A more patriotic aggregation in the city than the steel fellows cannot be found.  They have always gone over the top in any drive that has been instituted here and are now willing to take up labor on a farm after working hours, if it will help win the war."

A serious manpower shortage in agriculture because of World War I.

--Cooter

Pieces of the First Zeppelin Shot Down in France

From the September 19, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"Prof. E.C. Page of the Normal school, founder of the Normal  museum of history, received another curio in the shape of two pieces of material cut from  the first Zeppelin that was shot down in France."

World War I.--  CootZep

Canned Fruit for Wounded Soldiers in 1918

From the September 19, 2018, MidWeek  (DeKalb County, IL)  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"A barrel of canned fruit is to be made up by the ladies of Clare and sent to the Wesley hospital for the benefit of wounded soldiers.

"You may bring the fruit any time before the first of October to the home of Mrs. J.A. Daley and exchange it for an empty fruit can."

All For the War Effort.  --Cooter