^p ^^-//, P" '""""™ " '"'"'""I!" i iii'i.a..i.i^ ).iiiiintmiii!miiuiiiiiii..iiw ra ! W m . .i -^ I ■ r-> WAR HISTORY of SANTA CLARA COUNTY EDITH DALEY Edited and Published By SANTA CLARA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY I) miiiiJiiiii.L.t Bmi i iiii iii iii,.iiii,iLiiiiiiiiiL I irmfwrri nTTirT. l|||lll|||!l^llll,ll^mmlJllJlllJ[^l!J:!l.llul|llllWlllllJlllllll tlT^n1l^B^^ GIFT OF f^^ A complete list of the names of the men who entered the service of the United States from this county during the war, is nowhere to be found. Much effort has been made to perfect the list for this history. It is important that whoever discov- ers the name of a service man that has been omitted, shall write such name in this book, in its proper place, in the printed columns. Also write the name on a postcard and mail to the undersigned, for in- sertion in a possible second edition of this history. H. J. B. WRIGHT, M. D., Ryland Bldg., San Jose, California. > » • "• » 415553 _ _ ^ . ^.-,- ,,*.• -i,.^ .»,. »^.,. ANNOUNCEMENT „The Santa Clara County Historical Society earnestly desires to preserve the record of the noble work done and the sacrifices made by the people of this county in support of our nation during the world-war. This book is offered to our fellow citizens for that pur- pose. The descriptive text— the first half of the book — was written by Edith Daley while the war was in progress; the accuracy of her statements and the felicity of her composition are important factors of this history. The remainder of the book has been produced by the historical society at much cost of labor and without hope of pecuniary reward. H. J. B. WEIGHT, President. Santa Clara County Historical Society. San Jose, Dec. 22, 1919. THE WAR HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY VjT he great volume of war work activities de- ^■^ scribed in the following pages is the result of many co-operating forces. Each patriotic worker deemed his obligation equal with the soldier in the trench, to do and sacrifice to the limit of power in response to every call of the government. Every War Work organization was imbued with this splendid spirit of true Americanism and every patriotic effort and sacrifice has made history for Santa Clara County, that will be everlasting. If we were to single out one of these as being more important than the others the press is cer- tainly that one. The numerous papers published in this county have undoubtedly made possible the marvelous organization of the War Work Council with all its ramifications and detail, the Women 's Molilized Army, the Red Cross ' wonderfully aug- mented activities, and various other allied organi- zations. And space is here taken to enter a recog- nition of the power of the press in this work. Let us not overlook the fact that churches, schools, fraternal societies, social and scientific organizations, business concerns, the widow with her mite, and the boot-black with his brushes, all united in one great heroic and patriotic effort to resist the vicious Hun. WAR HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY Santa Clara County's part in the world war. Things in the process of making rarely reveal their true significance. We await completion be- fore measuring values. During the hurry and stress of war-time responsibilities when even the average easy-going citizen was called upon to bear unusual burdens, we did not realize that the activ- ities in which we were engaged constituted the making of history. Time mellows experience and the story of yesterday's fighting on the home line will be painted in softer colors by reason of the interval and the perspective we have gained. With the fifth liberty loan, the victory loan campaign, a thing of the past and its files already dusty, the state, the county and the city awaken to the fact that various war activities were illumi- nated pages in the great world war history. The fighters in the home trenches had their battles and their victories no less than did the sons of Old Glory who followed the light of its stars overseas. The war that had seemed very far away sud- denly came near — so near that the cold steel of the enemy touched warm American hearts. Ger- many had started it. We suddenly knew that it was up to us to finish it — at whatever cost. On April 6, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson signed the resolution of congress declaring the "existence of a state of war" and asking that all the resources of the United States be ' ' directed to prosecute hostilities against the German govern- ment to a successful termination. ' ' Resources meant not only men but money — money for the maintenance of our dwn army and navy, and money to loan our allies against the coming of that "successful termination." We were reminded of what Napoleon once said, that the three essen- tials to the prosecution of successful warfare were money, money and money." Fifty years ago over three billion dollars was raised to provide for the expenses of the civil war. In 1917 the country's wealth was eight times as great and the banking resources 20 times as great. Whatever America had to do she was able to do. There were two ways of raising the amount needed: Germany's method of taxation or the issu- ance of bonds. Uncle Sam borrowed, giving his interest bearing promissory note to every man. More than 10,(\0ft loyal citizens led by City Man- ager Thomas H. R«et3,rwbo jv^is ie!jpcn,siJ)l,e for the day's success, marched through tte- oity'S. streets while the Stars and Stripes waved above them and bands played Dixie and America — and the thrill- ing Marseillaise. Thousands of hearts swelling and throats tightening queerly when the flag went by I We began to realize that war encompassed us all. That night, at a great mass meeting in the high school auditorium hundreds unanimously pledged hearts and hands to the country's cause. There we renewed our "allegiance to the flag and to the high principles of liberty, humanity and justice which it represents. ' ' On May 3, 1917, the announcement was made that the first offering of bonds authorized under the finance law Would be $2,000,000,000. "Liberty Loan" issue, open to popular subscription at par; subscriptions to be received until June 15. Bonds to be dated July 1 and ready for delivery then. Bonds were attractively exempt from taxation — except estate or inheritance taxes, and bore three and one-half per cent interest. Denominations were from $50 to $100,000 and payments arranged on easy terms, two per cent payable on applica- tion. The 12 Federal Reserve Banks were desig- nated as the central agencies in their respective districts. Santa Clara county's quota was approx- imately $2,000,000, this amount being figured with the bank deposits as a basis. Boys were enlisting — volunteering. Adolph B. Canelo Jr., offered his services to his country and hurrieid home from Columbia university at this time, being ordered to the Presidio at San Francisco. L. M. Farrell was made a lieutenant colonel and ordered to important duties in the San Joaquin valley. We were watching this San Jos- ean 's rapid military rise with neighborly interest and pride. Katherine Burke, the dynamic Scottish hospital worker who had seen experience on every fighting front, Kvas here thrilling us with vivid word pictures of things overseas. Colonel Theo- dore Roosevelt was using his most strenuous endeavor to gain permission to raise a regiment for service in France. This touched us closely through our own Dave Dobbins whose patriotism woman and child who offered him their savings flamed to meet that of the First American. Dave or their wealth. Secretary of the Treasury W. G. McAdoo, on April 10 predicted the amount of the bond issue that would be needed. Then we began to talk of buying government bonds as we might have talked of purchasing a commutation ticket previously. Men talked it over. Bonds. A big issue. Not all at once but as funds were needed. When Uncle Sam asked for a "loan" it meant that real war was ahead. People checked up their savings. More and more flags fluttered out everywhere. The sky was ablaze with them. A new tenseness and seriousness pervaded business circles. Then came the never-to-be-forgotten nation-wide observ- ance of Preparedness Day — on April 12, 1917. didn't go then. Roosevelt was rejected by his country and this tragic disappointment Dave Dobbins shared. Nothing daunted he went to Canada and enlisted there. We glorified in his determination when he returned to San Jose for a few days some months ago in the natty uniform of an English aeroplane instructor. We began to hear of war gardens and food conservation, of the council of defense and regis- tration. There were frequent flag presentations and we learned how to properly salute Old Glory. Men who kept their hats on when the grandest flag on earth "went by met strangely questioning looks. We were absorbing the war spirit. It came to us in larger measure when we who stayed at ,WA.P^;lJlSTORY OP SANTA CLARA COUNTY home realized that by buying bon^i ,we could fight with our,',nft)he^.; ■•.,•■•.",•■ ; ; ,'/, , _' Abotft'-thi's'