A man whom we may call Benny Vogel deserted from the 105th Infantry at Camp Wadsworth, South Carolina. In some way, he found his way to Schenectady, New York, where he proceeded casually to marry a young lady of that city, under date of April 19, 1918. The wife was watched. The deserter was caught and returned for punishment.
St. Matthews, S. C., reports: “On the whole there was little enemy activity. We unearthed six cases of discharged soldiers drawing government money who were not entitled to it, and eight cases of parties receiving allotments from soldiers for incorrect amounts. We changed such undesirable sentiment as existed in our community, and with tact and judgment rather than by drastic measures. We think our community is among the most loyal of any in America and doubt seriously if there is one per cent disloyalty here. Some who at first were lukewarm changed, and we knew it was due to the policy adopted by our organization. We worked on the Sunday law and the fuel laws, the food regulations, etc., all in a quiet way, but, we think, with good results throughout our county.”
GEORGIA
All sorts of stories show in the League files. One regarding submarine bases along the Georgia and Carolina coast was traced down to the purchase of a piece of land by a former grocery clerk, a naturalized German, who resided in Savannah for many years. He was outspoken in his sympathy with Germany before the United States entered the war. A report made by the Navy Department to the National Directors of the League states:
“On January 6, 1918, this man was tried in the city court of Savannah and found guilty of violating the prohibition laws. He was fined $400 and sentenced to six months on the chain gang. Before he had fully served his sentence he was re-arrested by the United States Marshal on a presidential warrant and subsequently interned.” The brief phrase “presidential warrant” covered many and many a case of naturalized Germans who became too loquacious in this country before and after we entered the war.
Atlanta, Georgia, had a nice scare about the report that a German U-boat captain had landed and was on his way to Atlanta, dressed in an American officer’s uniform. Operatives were out and trailed every military or quasi-military looking man on the streets or anywhere else. Their first haul included a major from the Judge Advocate General’s office and a Judge from the Federal Court. The next alarm came from two operatives who trailed an officer just off the train, who turned out to be a colonel of the Quartermaster’s Corps, U. S. A. The latter was able to make his escape. The Chief adds: “Just how many suspects were held up that night it would be difficult to state. Operative No. 3 turned in a report of his activities the next morning. It seemed he had held up the following personnel: One Lieutenant-Colonel, sixteen Majors, twenty-three Captains, forty-two Lieutenants, one Lieutenant-Commander, three Ensigns, and seven Sergeants—a total of ninety-two suspects.” He closed his report with the following heartfelt remarks: “Well, I didn’t know what kind of uniform the German had. Besides, every man I stopped was a blond. I didn’t stop any other sort.” D. J. reported it was satisfied that no German submarine officer had visited Atlanta.
ALABAMA
Birmingham, Alabama, was one of the most active and interesting divisions of the League. It took on 1,849 cases under the Selective Service Act, 76 investigations of pro-Germans, 123 cases of deserters, and 153 Red Cross loyalty reports, besides a large list of general war activities. Some of the star cases of deserter hunting at Birmingham are reported in another chapter.
Like many another community, Birmingham also had its wireless case, and like most cases of the sort throughout the country, it created much excitement in the division while it lasted. Certain mysterious light flashes, supposed to be signals, were reported along the top of a high hill on the outskirts of the city. Operatives detailed on the case could learn nothing, but still reports kept coming in. Finally, one astute visiting chief followed a high-powered transmission line along the mountain and found that the limb of a tree at a certain spot would touch the wire when swayed by the wind. The repeated rubbing had worn away the insulation, exposing the bare wire. When the limb came in contact with the wire, especially during a rainy night, a spark would be made when the limb and wire separated: The Chief adds: “When the limb was cut off, we received no further reports of mysterious signals.” There have been bluish-white lights which some thought indicated a wireless outfit in operation.
Montgomery, Alabama, reports one of those curious cases which were sometimes met with in the course of the League’s investigations. This was a straight-goods, dyed-in-the-wool, bona-fide conscientious objector. His name was W. A. P——, a farmer who had a son in the draft, but who needed him on the farm. He accompanied the boy to the examination board, after the young man had been arrested by the sheriff. He brought his Bible to the board and tried to prove that he was justified in his objections; that he was responsible for the care of this boy; that the Lord had given him that duty and no one else. The old man was violently opposed to bloodshed and quoted the scriptural words, “Thou shalt not kill,” and “Children, obey your parents.” The Chief had a long talk with him at his farm. He admitted that he told his son not to answer questions, and that he had another son who had attained his eighteenth birthday and had not registered. The Chief told him to be careful or he would get into trouble. He said, “I am not getting into any trouble; it is you people who are provoking the wrath of God.” All the agent could do was to tell him that he must come before the United States Commissioners. P—— was brought in to the Committee, and bound over to the grand jury. Before the trial, he stood up and remarked, “Let us have a word of prayer,” and prayed fervently for several minutes. He carried his Bible with him at all times. P—— seemed to be generous. “He came to Montgomery and brought a couple of gallons of nice syrup for the Deputy and Commissioners,” says the Chief. One would think that the A. P. L. would be glad to have peace at any price in such surroundings, even without syrup.