Thursday, July 5, 1923. President Harding departs for Alaska.

 President Harding boarded the USS Henderson for Alaska, departing from Tacoma.

Marine Corps guard for President Harding.

The Henderson was a troop ship.

Tuesday, July 4, 1922. Independence Day.

It was, of course, Independence Day, and parades and celebrations took place in communities across the country, such as this one at Takoma Park, Maryland.

Sybil Bauer shattered a series of female swimming records on this day in 1922, swimming at Brighton Beach.

Bauer, who became engaged in college to future television host Ed Sullivan, went on to swim in the 1924 Olympics. The marriage did not take place, however, as she died at age 23 of cancer.

At Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, the Marines reenacted the pivotal day of the battle.

The last race at the Tacoma Speedway took place.

January 22, 1941. The Fall of Tobruk

British Commonwealth forces, together with some allied forces from occupied countries in Europe, took Tobruk.

Australian soldiers after the capture of Tobruk.

The taking of the town from the Italians was an early major British Commonwealth victory which is heavily associated with the Australian army, which played a major, but not exclusive role.

Scuttled Italian cruiser burning at Tobruk.

The loss of the city was a major Italian defeat and was demonstrating that Italy was rapidly becoming an detriment to the Axis cause, not a plus.

Other events of World War Two on this day:

Day 510 January 22, 1941

A great photo of Tacoma Washington on this day can be found here:  Tacoma, January 22, 1941.

Tacoma was about to be forever changed due to World War Two industrial production.  It'd never look like this again.

April 12, 1919. Turmoil.

Villers Carbonnel, France.  Formerly a village of 500 souls.  April 12, 1919.

Scenes like the one above may explain French discontent with the Peace, as reported by the Casper Daily News.

Bolshevik sympathy was reported as the cause of the recent mutiny or near mutiny in the 339th Infantry's Company I, fighting in northern Russia. That may seem extreme but in fact there was some truth to it. The Michigan contingent to the unit had been drawn from National Guardsmen who included a fair number of immigrants from Finland who held fairly left wing views going into service and who were, in fact, becoming somewhat confused over their role in Russia, and loosing sympathy with it. Of course, simply wondering why they were fighting and dying in a cause that they hadn't really signed on for had something to do with that as well.

Speaking of Bolsheviks, plenty was going on in Bavaria, as the paper noted.  On this day the German Communist Party seized control of the Bavarian government, displacing the anarchist who had taken over a couple of days prior.

A little closer to home, tragedy struck in Fremont County when Harry Kynes from Shoshoni, only recently returned to the United States, died of what was undoubtedly the Spanish Flu.

Also closer to home, the news had now broken that Col. Cavendar's death was a suicide, as we earlier related, and was in the news again.  

We discussed the sad tale of Col. Cavendar here earlier.  His death was first reported as a heroic sacrifice, and then it was discussed as a scandalous example of mistreatment of National Guard officers.   

The weekly The Judge was looking at baseball.

The magazine The Judge used a play on words on its cover, relating labor strikes, which had been much in the news, with striking out in baseball.

The Saturday Evening post was looking at Spring.

Tacoma Washing, April 12, 1919.

And Tacoma was photographed.

And so one really eventful week drew to a close.  Communist revolution in Bavaria, a mutiny in the American Army in Russia, the assassination of Emiliano Zapata, Japanese troops firing on Korean civilians. .. it must of been frightening to pick up the paper.

It was July 4, 1918.

Equestrian Show, Remounts from Ft. Lewis' Remount Station, Tacoma Washington.

Marching sailors, New York City.

Razzle dazzle camouflage example on a model ship, note the American and Japanese flags on the building in the background.

Japanese, Italian and American flags on the Hotel Savoy.  Dignitaries viewing parade.

Parade, Washington D. C.

23d Infantry Regiment veterans of Chateu Thierry at the La Place de la Concorde, Paris.

Parisians cheer American troops.

American soldiers passing in review at the Place de I'ena on the Avenue du President Wilson, Paris.  The statute is of George Washington.

American Army band, Avenue du President Wilson.  Group of wounded soldiers watching.

General William Scott at July 4th celebrations in Bordeaux

Allied officers at Belgian Headquarters salute the American flag, July 4.

Wounded American soldiers being transported to the Cafe des Ambassadeurs, Paris.

Wounded soldiers arriving by truck at the Cafe des Ambassadeurs.  Boy Scouts on left.

Ship builders were busy.

Camp Meigs, Washington.  USQMC

Remount Station, 1917

Relates back, in some ways, to my attempted poll on Working With Animals.