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JRETIRED MAJOR WANTS COMMANDGerman So Loyal To ['. S.«He Wants Command OfBattalion.OITLB I1KADS LISTWent Through Li\il AndWars — \\ i 11s Promotion.tiwnf i —*WASHINGTON. Fob 17 An elderly, . military apjuviring man frequently walks into Lie executive offices of the white iioti e in these daysof national anxietv lie is unac-1 costed by the special policemen guarding every entrame to the white, house grounds. lie walks unquestioned through the squad of secret service men specially detailed to t guard the president. Sometime* he passes an open door of President Wilson a private otiice and looks for a moment at the president at work inside.And every drop of blood in bisveins 1* German!The present German-American situation. which has resulted in everywhite house entrance being efciseiyguaided, no person being admitted to the grounds when there is the slightest question as to his identity., with special passes being required in most instances; notwithstanding all j these precautions to protect Presi-] dent Wilson from unv possible attempt u.ijn his life from any source, this full-blooded, native born German goes as lip pleases in and out of the executive Offices, while the man who severed relations with “the Fatherland sits alone in a room there with tho dors unlocked.Who is he? What does lie want?He is Major Charles I . A. l.oel -fler, United States army, retired; andhe wants to be in command of the first battalion to tire a gun in theevent of war between the I’nited States and Germany.Major Lochler has not bate for his Fatherland; but he is so loyal anAmerican that ho wants to be the first to lift his hand to defend the United States when she is assailed from any source.Shortly after the break of diplomatic relations was announced officially by President Wilson in hisnotable address to congress, hundreds of offers for active service with the United States army began pouring in upon the officials in Washington from retired army officers, and Major Loeffier’s offer stood at the head of the list. His was the first. He was at his residence in Washington when the president left for the capltol that day. lie bought an extra edition of a local newspaper and learned what it all meant.Straightway he walked to the executive offices of the white house and called upon Secretary to the President Tumulty.“I want to be the first to serve my country if we have war, he declared simply. “Please put my nameat the head of the list of applicants for service.”Major Loef tier's request may never be granted.While he is of known loyalty to the United States and has received promotions and honorable mentionseveral times because of bravery in battle, officials here believe he will never be given a chance to wave a sabre and shout orders on a battlefield with the stars and stripe flying above him. Major Loeffler is gettingold, too old for active service. His eyesight is not as good as it should be for work in the field of war.Major Loeffler first began to serve the United States in the Civil war. He was only a child then and had just come from Germany, but lie said lie gave his heart to this country the first day he arrived; so in the latter part of the war he enlisted a* a drummer boym *Again, in tin* Spanish-Ameriranwar, lie went to the front wearing an American uniform, it was* in that war he won promotion from lieutenant to captain and from captain to major, and algo received honorable mention several time*.rI he honorable service of Major Loeffler in battle in only part at the thingg he has done for bis govern* ment. When the? Spanish-Arnerican war ended he returned to Washington and since has assisted in important scientific work of various bureaus of the war department.Now' Major Loeffler almost daily comes to the executive offices of the president to remind white house official* that he is still eager to take? t up arms to defend the I nked Statesif it should be necessary.
Newspaper Details
Canton Daily News
Canton, Ohio, US
Sun, Feb 18, 1917
Page 30
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
MD, USA 22 Dec 2021
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