Not So Long Ago .... Cry Havoc!
THIS CONCERNS the war only as it touched on Hanover. At first it was little more than current events items for history class. Carleton Potter and a few others joined the French Ambulance Corps. Opie Horton sent back letters to The Dartmouth and poems to The Bema. Dick Hall's death was impressive but not personal. Much more interest in the spiritual conflict between those who wanted summer credit for Plattsburg and war, and Joe Larimer and the Polity Club who wanted peace. Max Spelke almost sailed on Ford's Peace Ship. Several ambulance units were formed and went overseas.
The fever started in February, 1917. From then on till Easter vacation everyone wore little flags and ran around organizing mosquito fleet crews, picking their own skippers and mates. The boys from Lynn and other coastal spots were the most active. After Easter came Captains Chase and Keene, and the trenches. Five hundred left College for Newport or the farm. Everyone else drilled and dug trenches and stole fence wire to make entanglements. Harry Hillman, Jigger Pender, and Charley Stearns were majors. Jim Langley carried the flag. Joe Myers marched his company to annihilation in the reservoir. Bub Frost and Fran Faulkner and Al Googins and Will. I. Levy took it seriously; the rest of us were terrible. Tuck School offered a military stores course. Stan Jones wrote letters from France. Homer Eaton Keyes published notices about the Liberty Loan and draft age.
The next fall Russ Potter won a croix deguerre and '19 won the baseball series.
The Dartmouth advocated "Fatimas for France" in Christmas packages. Many smoked Omars in those days. Grover Cleveland Loud led an assault on increased prices at the Nugget. Military drill became an elective course, taken by a few. President Hopkins went to Washington in January. A faculty committee organized to buy soft coal for fraternity houses. Cliff Meredith ran a high-pressure campaign to have undergraduates stay for Commencement. The College service flag grew heavy with stars.
The 150 th opening exercises were attended by 400 upperclassmen, 400 freshmen, and 300 drafted men in a training detachment. The President spoke on "Time is the Essence." On October 1 the S. A. T. C. started. Fraternity houses were closed and The Dartmouth refunded 60 cents on the dollar. The Gym became G. H. Q., and hospital for "flu" cases. Mass. Row and Hitch, were the student barracks; the Fayerweathers were given to the draft detachment; Ort Hicks' under-age "Boy Scouts" were in New Hamp. Mess was in Commons, except when we sneaked off to the Bagley Club for breakfast. The officers were freshmen from Maryland State. Casey Bevan and Perk Brotherhood exchanged overcoats. Condemned Russian rifles were issued, but no ammunition. "Fit to Fight" was shown at the Nugget. The Navy gave a minstrel show featuring Jock Murray, Gerry Stone, and a rooster named after a 2nd lieutenant who is now in Roosevelt's brain trust. It was all over before Christmas vacation, and the College started its second term the day after New Years. The spring was lovely.
Parade for the Assistant Secretary of War President Hopkins reviews the local Vigilantes.
