MARCH 1930 Legion A HAPPY COMBINATION OF THE WORLD'S BEST TOBACCOS Copyright 1959, Liggett & Myers Tobacco Co. A wide grin covered the face of the Commander of the armies Battle- Line By M.M.Capps Bossy THEY 'rudged along. The men of away that they had left their noonday said that a cow could not make long the 113th Held Artillery had just food on the stoves as it was being pre- marches, that she would never be able been through their "first baptism pared by the cooks. A huge cabbage to keep up with the regiment, that if she of fire" at St. Mihiel. They were patch nearby provided vegetables, and did she certainly would be worthless as under orders to go to the Argonne Forest meat was also to be found. It was not a provider of milk. They argued that "with the least practical delay." The many minutes before these youngsters the Army was not called upon to provide march was long. The roads were muddy had the pots boiling in true Southern cow rations and for these reasons they and as usual it was raining along the style and most of them that day enjoyed urged that quicker benefits in the way Western Front. a real Carolina meal. Meantime, other of butchering be derived from the cow. The outfit, largely made up of North foragers had captured a wild hog on the Their suggestions brought loud protests Carolinians, was in none too good humor hills overlooking Thiaucourt and these from the d etail. The protests were despite the success at St. Mihiel. They mountain lads made quick work in con- upheld by Major Bulwinkle and the were dog-tired and hungry, many of them verting this animal into barbecue. Battalion Adjutant, Captain Robert were ill. They had seen one of their It remained, however, for two replace- Beaman, now an investment broker of crack batteries suffer heavy casualties, ment youths from eastern Tennessee to Norfolk. and one of their most popular officers. make the prize capture. They succeeded The cow remained with them. She en- Lieutenant Douglas, of New Jersey, in rounding up a milch cow which had couraged the troops. Oftentimes during killed by direct German fire. The march, provided cream for the coffee of the the long marches a word along the line except for a rather small part of the way, German officers at that point. The cow that the cow was going strong brought was of necessity made at night. Smoking was fat. She had been well cared for. It cheers from the tired group of fighters. was prohibited and this added nothing to was obvious to those who knew their Extraordinary efforts had brought forth the "enthusiasm" of the men. cows that she would be a splendid addi- cow food from a French farm. 'She ate hay But most of the boys remembered with tion to any farm, home or pasture. But along with the horses. She was provided longing one good feast they had enjoyed what was to be done with her on the with a gas mask. She kept up her quota since going on the lines. After the closing Western Front? The problem was placed of milk. She produced about two gallons of the St. Mihiel salient they had made before the Battalion Commander, Major a day during that long march from St. their headquarters for the greater part of Bulwinkle. He agreed that the cow should Mihiel to the Argonne and during those a day in the barracks used by the German be "attached" to battalion headquarters long days the regiment was battling at headquarters for more than two years. detail. She was. Skeptics frowned. They Avocourt, Montfaucon and on the way On arriving at these barracks they found to Sedan. She made it possible for the that so swiftly had the German troops, men of "her" detail to have fresh milk who were able to escape, made their get- George S h an ks daily with their (Continued on page 40) MARCH, 1939 I — ; — (ffforQodandcountry ,u>e associate ourselves togetherjor thefollowing purposes: C/o uphold and dejend the Constitution'' Jofthe'ZlnitedStates oflTlmerica; to maintain law and order; tofoster andperpetuate a one hundredpercent CThnericanism topreserve the memories and incidents ofour association in theQreat'~War; to inculcate a sense ofindividual obligation to the com- munity, state andnation; to combat the autocracy ofboth the classes andthe masses; to make right the master ofmight; to promote peace andgood will on earth ; to safguardand transmit to posterity the principles cfjusticefreedom and democracy ; to conse- crate andsanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.— Preamble to the Constitution ofThe American Legion. v n~he Jim eric an March, 1939 Vol. 26, No. 3 LEGIONMAGAZINE Published Monthly by The American Legion, 455 West 22d Street, Chicago, Illinois EXECUTIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES EDITORIAL AND ADVERTISING OFFICES Indianapolis, Indiana 15 West 48th St., New York City AST October when this magazine CONTENTS the Legionnaire interest just about I blithely announced a $1,500 COVER DESIGN covers the whole range of human en- prize contest for short stories By W. Lester Stevens, A. N. A. deavor. There are stories of personal or articles written by Legionnaires it BATTLE-LINE BOSSY 1 experience—war experiences predomi- Ey M. M. Capps was little prepared for the deluge. In nating—vivid, dramatic, intensely hu- Illustration by George Shanks fact the writing strength of the Legion man; short stories, and articles on DEMOCRACY AND SPORT 5 was greatly underestimated. Now By Gene Tunney hundreds of subjects; poems, and we're flooded, engulfed, encompassed Cartoon by John Cassel on down the literary scale to cooking about and almost sunk. We have piles MY GRAVY TRAIN 6 recipes, or up the scale, as you please, of manuscripts on chairs and tables, By Cornelius H. Reece since a competent wordsmith tells us: Illustrations by Frank Street the office corners are filled, and there We may live without friends, we may live FISTS OVER FINLAND 8 is yet a big reserve in packing cases without books, By Irving Wallace But civilized man cannot live without and cartons to draw on. The contest LAUNCHING THE LEGION 10 cooks. officially closed on January 16th; the By Eric Fisher Wood Now, just another word about the editorial staff—who are the judges Drawing by Herbert Morton Stoops contest. The rules plainly say that it are just getting a good start on first A BIG STICK FOR UNCLE 14 will be impossible for the staff to reading and making the first tenta- By Frederick Palmer Decoration enter into correspondence regarding tive selections. by William Heaslip O' 16 manuscripts. Don't please, don't More than five thousand Legion- LAND PLENTY — By Jay N. Darling ask us to plow through six or seven naires responded to the invitation to Cartoons by the author thousand manuscripts, filed in order submit manuscripts in the contest THEN CAME SUMMERALL 18 of receipt in cartons and packing cases, some sent in more than one, in fact By Fletcher Pratt to find one entry. It just can't be one Legionnaire writer sent six. So NO TRUCK DRIVERS 20 done. the number of scripts to read and con- By Fairfax Downey sider—and each one will have careful Illustration by J. W. Schlaikjer TT IGHLIGHT of the month of REFERENDUM FOLLLES 22 reading and consideration—far out- LI. March is the twentieth birthday By John Thomas Taylor runs the number of individuals com- Legion, (see Cartoon by William MacLean of The American peting. It is hoped that the names of "Launching the Legion," by Eric ARCHIE GROWS UP 24 least the can the winners—at tops— By Robert Ginsburgh Fisher Wood, in this number) , when be announced in the next number of EDITORIAL: finish the job 27 on the night of the 15th, Posts every- the magazine, but that is not a definite BULL'S-EYE GOLD 28 where are asked to honor the old- promise. At any rate, we can and will By Winsor Josselyn timers with special events such as promise definitely to make a complete HISTORY AS IT IS WRIT 30 "founders' night," or "charter mem- report at the earliest date possible. By Boyd B. Stutler ber night." The climax of the Legion's BEHIND THE FRONT 34 birthday program will be a coast-to- By Wai.lgren coast broadcast, an hour in length, WHERE did they all come from? BURSTS AND DUDS 35 That's easily answered. The Conducted by Dan Sowers packed with entertainment and mu- manuscripts came from all over Amer- HALL, LITTLE CORPORAL! 36 sical thrills and a special message ica, and some from Legionnaires tem- By John J. Noll by National Commander Stephen F. porarily residing in foreign countries. FRONT AND CENTER 64 Chadwick, which is expected to But don't ask us to tell you what these eclipse all previous programs. The Legionnaires wrote about—that can- program will start at 11:15 p. m., not be done within the limits of the IMPORTANT Eastern Standard Time, originating in reading space of this magazine. Up the studios of WJZ, New York, and A form for your convenience if you wish until now, after reading and judging will be carried over the blue network to have the magazine sent to another ad- hour after hour, it would seem that dress will be found on page 49. of the National Broadcasting Co. Legion. Entered as The American Legion Magazine ia the official publication of The American Legion, and is owned exclusively by the The American Legion.