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Show Chapter 13 WAR SERVICE AND EFFECTS SLATERVILLE FELT FOLLOWING WAR While we in our small community awaiting anxiously completion of the new modern chapel, unaware that anything would happen to mar the peace and serenity that appeared to be universal, were shocked by the startling news of the assassination of Francis Ferdinand, heir to the Austrian throne, in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, June 28, 1914. Though few realized at the time the far-reaching effect of that episode, which in reality, sparked the torch that inflammed a world conflict, in which a number of the great powers of the world, including our own United States, eventually became involved. Eyes of a curious world watched the march of events that took place in Europe. Nations were apprehensive of the effect they would have on the peace of the world as hostilities led to a declaration of war between Austria, Hungary, and Serbia, July 28, one month after the tragic assassination of the heir to the Austrian throne took place. Four days later, August 1, Germany, allied with Austria, Hungary, Turkey and bulgaria forming the Central powers of Europe, declared war on Russia, which drew England, France, and Italy known as the Allied Powers to the support of Russia. America remained neutral during 1915, 1916, and until the Central Powers violated an international agreement which provided that in event of hostilities between any of the participating nations, the beligerents would recognize and honor the right of neutral nations to sail their ships on the high seas in pursuit of world commerce, unmolested, Ignoring all agreements, the Central Powers, with Germany as the leader, outlined sharply defined war zones on the seas with the warning that a ship belonging to any nation, whether enemy or neutral, regardless of its mission, caught within a war zone, would be torpedoed. This brazen, repulsive ultimatum together with the sinking of an American ship, the "Lusitania," brought severance of diplomatic relations between the United States and Germany 3 February 1917, and a declaration of war against the Central Powers 6 April, the same year. It isn't difficult to understand the sorrow and anguish that penetrated the hearts of members of families as demonstrated in homes in our settlement, where a father or son, or possibly both were affected by conscription, which called for all men between twenty and forty years of age to register for the draft. Russell and Andrew Wheeler, sons of Mr. and Mrs. John and Mr. and Mrs. William Wheeler respectively; Thaddius Miller and Wallace Richardson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alma Richardson Sr., Earl and Leland Knight, sons of Mr. and Mrs. James Knight and Raymong Wilson, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Wilson Sr., represent our small settlement's contribution to the service of our country in the first world war. Amos Holley, Harold Field, and LeRoy Perry, sons of Henry Holley Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Elzy Field and Mr. and Mrs. William Perry Sr. respectively were drafted and sent to army camps but were soon discharged to return home because of disabilities. Russell Wheeler, nephew of the writer, has the distinction of being the first -146- man drafted from Slaterville and Weber County. He, with two others, Samuel Cottle of Plain City and a Scowcroft from Ogden, constituted the first contingent to leave Weber County. These men were sent to Camp Lewis, Tacoma, Washington where they were mustered into the 362 Regiment of the 91st Division. Messrs. Wheeler and Cottle, after training a short time at the camp, left for overseas service where they engaged on a number of battle fonts with their famous division, and spent some nineteen months in Europe, returning to the states to be mustered out of the service after the armistice was signed 11 November 1918, ending the war. During those hectic months, Mr. Scowcroft son of a wealthy family enjoyed relative security in an army camp at home. Andrew Wheeler, also a nephew, Thaddius Miller, and Wallace Richardson of Slaterville, and Gilbert East of Warren, were members of contigent that left the county later for a camp in California where they were mustered into the 328th Field Artillery with which they served in Europe for the duration of the war. Earl and Leland Knight, brothers, and Raymond and Wilson left the county with a later contingent for an army camp where they were detained for a few weeks before leaving for overseas duty. Leland, it is reported, served with the 145 Field Artillery, a Utah unit, and Earl left the states with the 34th Corp of Engineers, but was transferred to different army assignments during nineteen months spent in Europe. Mr. Wilson was assigned to the regular army with which he served for duration of the war. Going back to the intervening period between 1896 and 1900 were years of uncertainty. Hopes and aspirations of people in daily pursuit of vocations of life under anatmosphere of quiet and feedom, were disrupted by the out-break of the Spanish American War, which culminated from sinking of our battleship Maine, with the crew and navy men aboard in the harbor of Havanna, Cuba, by the Spaniards. To explain briefly, our settlement had a stake in that war to the extent that a native son, James Smout, son of Mr. and Mrs. William O. Smout, highly respected early Pioneers of Slaterville, volunteered when a call was made for men to fill army ranks after war was declared. James at the time, was in his early twenties, and was one of the first to rally to the colors in this locality. He engaged in active service in Cuba with the first Utah volunteer regiment. In the campaigns of 1898 he contracted malaria which disrupted his service to the extent that he was given a furlough late that year to return home to recuperate, but after a month's absence from the horrors of war, he returned to the army camp still weak and frail from his sickness, and a short time before the close of the war, he was given an honorable discharge from the army. Since 1918, many small conflicts with other nations have risen and like the wars before have called many into service and caused many hardships on people at home. In 1941, a second invasion was made by the Japanese when they got through our defenses and bombed Pearl Harbor. This was the beginning of a second world war. Many of the members of our communities were called to serve. This war lasted for four years. There were many things we here at home had to go without in an effort to see that our men fighting for our freedom were taken care of. Finally, in 1945, we had von the battle and an armistice was called. Great joy filled the hearts of everyone. -147- |