100 Years ago in the Saratogian

Wednesday, Aug. 14, 1918

Lieutenant Colonel Morris N. Lieberman, commanding officer of the 105th U.S. Infantry regiment, including National Guard troops from Saratoga County, has been reported killed in action in Flanders.

Lieberman died on August 8, reportedly at the head of his men, currently fighting alongside British troops against German forces in occupied Belgium.

Originally based in Troy, the 105th is the former Second New York National Guard Infantry regiment, including Company L of Saratoga County. Lieberman himself is not a local man. He was transferred to command of the 105th from the 23rd Infantry while the local troops trained in trench warfare at Camp Wadsworth in Spartanburg SC. He first joined the military in 1901.

Passengers from Europe die of strange disease

A wire-service report from New York City states that five passengers who recently returned to the U.S. from Europe on an ocean liner have died of a “strange disease,” while eight more have fallen ill.

While a physician tells reporters that one of the passengers died from bronchial pneumonia, “it was reported the ailment was Spanish influenza, which has been epidemic in parts of Europe for some time.”

The unnamed ship carried a total of 738 passengers. “Health officers at Quarantine asserted the disease was not Spanish influenza,” the report concludes.

Letters from the boys in country’s service

The local men whose letters home appear in today’s Saratogian had not seen combat yet when they wrote, or at least they don’t describe any fighting. None are from the 105th Regiment.

“Suppose the races will soon be starting in the Spa?” wrote Howard Leonard of Battery C, 58th Artillery, to his mother, Mrs. John Leonard, “Are there many horses coming in, and does it look like a good season? Judging from the way the folks in the U.S. are being steadily hammered for money, there won’t be many with coin enough left to come to Saratoga.”

Joking aside, “We’ve been reading lately about the big [Red Cross] drive which has just been put across. Great work. But I wish all who gave could see the work their money does over here.”

Writing from Lempdes in southern France, Leonard describes a July 4 celebration in the nearby town of Clermont-Ferrand. “The French people go wild over an American parade, and shower the men with flowers and cheer like mad.”

Leonard is still getting used to French currency. “There are five francs in a dollar. We get paid in hundred-franc notes, and on payday there’s always a lot of crap shooting. You should see the ‘Froggies’’ eyes open up when they see the money changing hands.”

-- Kevin Gilbert