davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-11-16

He was such an old man he had not
been out to the front before In this
war, but from the colors he was wear
ing On his breast | would be willing to
wager that this was the first one he
hadn't been In for a good many years.
We reached the c~hurchyard without
anything exciting happening, but l was
among those graves. The place had
been all shelled to pieces and the bod
les blown out of the graves. After
about fifteen minutes search we found
the grave we were looking for by the
inscription at the base of a crude mon
ument and marked it so we would be
sure to find it again. The body of the
prince will probably be reburied else
where In more peaceful times.
When we left the graveyard the Of
ficer asked how far it was to our
trenches. / told him that it was less
than a mile, but that it was mighty
risky business going up in the day
time. When the colonel found that it
was such a short distance he wanted
TO go up and see what they were like.
I was under his orders, so there was
nothing for me to do but take him
there. I spoke of the snipers again,
but he didn't seem to care for all the
snipers In the German army, so we
started up the road.
We hadn't gone 200 yards before a
bullet plnged by close enough to give
a wooden man heart failure. OF
course | ducked, and the old man no
ticed it. You can imagine how | felt
when he said: IF you lear any snip
ers you might let me know. I'm get
ting rather deaf lately"
Well, | admit that | sw0re.
Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-11-16

ualties from that raid; eleven were
killed. There was only n British sol
der and one French gendarme killed
among the military; the remainder
were all civilians. A military funeral
was given them all, and 1t was OF
the most solemn and impressive cere-
monies l ever witnessed. British SOL
diers carried our poor chap and French
soldiers carried the Frenchman. The
civilians were carried by their own
townsmen.
Each coffin was wrapped In the ma
tional flag, and escorts and firing parties
Of each of the three nations were In
attendance. The Belgian Old Guard,
the old veterans, turned out with their
the service In the church. and In fact
until the whole funeral was over, three
aeroplanes, one Belgian, one French
and one English, circled back and forth
over the city. The streets were lined
with soldiers, all with reversed arms,
and the band played the dead march
all the way to the cemetery.
This was only the first of many raids
on us In this town, and many a poor
civilian who had harmed no one met
his death In this way.
If 1t is still standing there is very
near the front at Viamertinghe, not far
from Poperinghe, a chateau where one
of our divisions had their headquarters.
the corps headquarters being at Poper-
inghe. 1t was a beautiful place built
on the old style, with enormous grounds
and a moat all around 1t.
While sitting on a table In a room In
this chateau / first heard n of our
really big guns fired. l knew that these
guns had been placed In the grounds OF
the chateau somewhere, but at the time
I lever thought for a moment what
was likely to happen when they went
into action. l was talking to one OF
the fellows about an air raid that we
had just pulled off.
Suddenly and without the slightest
warming came this terrific explosion
Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-11-16

wouldn't get back this morning. Oh,
well, c'est la guerre, do with me what
you will"
However, he was a German a great
many of our enemy could speak the
kings language.
We knew that sooner or later these
aeroplanes were going to take a good
stiff crack at us, and we were expect
ing it every day. The first air raid on
Poperinghe came about a month after
we had taken the town over. / had a
new car, and | had been out with it for
a trial run. When / got back to Poper-
inghe l ran into the Grand place and
stopped in front of the general billet,
where the corps and guards were nv-
ing. / had the engine still running and
was just sitting in the driving seat
listening to 1t.
1t was a cloudy day, and l remember
hearing an aeroplane, but l thought IL
was one of our own, for one of our
flying grounds was close by. Suddenly
a taube shot down through the clouds.
and a second or so later there was a
deafening explosion, followed by two
others in quick succession. The first
bomb landed about thirty yards away
from where I was, and the pieces flew
all around me.
Altogether there were forty-six cas-
Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-11-16
rather sick at having finally been sue

rather sick at having finally been sue
cessfu1.
Around 8 O'Clock we started back to
the car, and as we were going through
the wood we saw one of our poor fell
lows sniped. We had several batteries
of artillery in the vicinity, and this
chap was an artilleryman. He a
walking up a path which Joined the n
we were on, the junction Of the paths
being about 100 yards ahead of us. We
could hear the poor devil whistling as
he came along, but his whistle was cut
short by the crack of a rife. We rushed
to the spot where he had gone down,
and we found that he had a bullet
through his right lung.
l got out my field dressing bandages,
and we bound him up, tying the pad
on the bandage tight over the bullet
hole. We carried him down until we
Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-11-16
Continued from last week
SYNOPSIS


William ]. Robinson. a young American
on a busIness trip in London, catches the
war fever and enlists In a British cavalry
regiment and lands at Ostend in October.
1914.
Made driver of an armored car and takes
part in battles about Ypres. Transferred
to the army service corps, has further
fighting experiences as a motorcycle rider
with machine gun attached and as a dis
patch rider.
Describes Christmas of 1914 in trenches
south of Ypres. Fearful losses. Kills a
sniper and tells of Belgian spies.
A brush with German cavalrymen. Tells
of motor work and work of chaplains. doc
tors and nurses.
Witnesses Royal Horse artillery in ac-
ton. Has a narrow escape and takes ref
uge in a cellar. Is sent to Paris.
Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-11-16

came to the artillery quarters, and
there we gave him over to his COM
rades, who rushed him to the nearest
field ambulance. l do not know
whether he recovered or not; 1 have
often wondered about 1t.
We found our car where we had left
it, and we were back at headquarters
before dark. On the way back the old
colonel made a remark that l believe
he really meant. He said: I've en-
joyed these two days immensely, and
1t brought back the days Of my youth.
Fate has decreed that my body shall
remain In England. but God knows
that my leart lies with you boys our
here In the trenches"
A rather funny thing happened soon
after this which shows what a man
who doesn't know the ropes will do
when he gets excited. There was a
very strict order to the effect that no
man other than n detailed for the
work should touch or In any way dis
turb an unexploded enemy's she'll. A
heavy penalty was imposed for dis
obeying this order, and no n but a
man who didn't know any better would
think of doing it.
A new regiment came up and went
straight into rest camp before going
into action. A private in this regiment
happened to run across an unexploded
shell one day, and, being the first he
had ever seen, he was greatly excited.
He picked it up and came dashing into
camp with it. Before showing it to
any one else who knew any better he
went straight to his commanding off,
Ger to exhibit his find.
"Oh, look what l found sir" he said.
'It's a German shell that hasn't ex-
ploded."
as it really?' said the officer. well,
I'll tell you what you can do with it.
You will take it into that field, and you
will dig a hole five feet deep, and you
will bury your find there, providing, of
course, 1t doesn't explode In your hands
before you have time to carry Out this
order. Corporal, fall in two men and
see that this nan obeys the order"
You may be sure that that man never
SO much as looked at an unexploded
shell after that.
During the time I was at the front 1
put six automobiles out of commission.
According to an estimate made after a
year of war, the average life of an au-
tomobile is eight days and the life of a
horse is about thirty hours.
nho 6-cf auto I 1oct moe dino 20 on
CINE trouble, and l had to abandon it
for the salvage companies to take care
of. The second one was destroyed by
a shell In the city of Ypres while I al
having some dinner. The third one /
lost during the scrap for hill 60. l got
stuck In the middle Of a field, and as it
was in doubtful position l set fire to it
and trusted to luck that l had done the
right thing. The other three were used
up by the fearful condition of the roads.
We knew several days before the at
tack came ON hill go that there was
something in the wind. Our mining
and tunneling companies had been
working day and night, and I noticed
that the artillery seemed to be concen-
trating in that vicinity. Reinforce
ments were brought up, and everything
seemed to point toward some doings in
the near future.
Two days before the attack came Off
I was warned to hold myself In readi-
ness to take a motorcycle machine gun
into action, but I was not told any,
thing about when I was likely to be
wanted
Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-11-16

/ of the Guns Had just Been Fired.
that lifted me off the table and dumped
me halfway across the room The
whole place rocked, and every window
In the house was broken. We rushed
out to see what had happened and
/ found that one Of these gaas had just
been fired. l mention this merely to
show what damage the conclusion
alone will do.
During the time the divisional head
quarters was in this chateau the strict
est rules were enforced regarding keep
ing under cover and showing no signs
of activity around the place. To look
at it from the outside one would never
dream that on the inside several gen.
erals and their stats were working
a tremendous fighting machine. No
autos, motorbikes, bicycles or horses
were allowed within the gates, and
when a man went in he had to keep
under the trees all the way. At night,
while the place was brilliantly lighted
on the inside, not even a glimmer
showed from the road. l guess it was
about the most quietly conducted head
quarters on the whole front
Viamertinghe is so close to the firing
line that it is only a matter of a couple
of minutes before an aeroplane can be
right over the place. OF course our
corps headquarters at P~operinghe was
bigger. but was not so near the front.
After those big guns of ours went
into action there it was only a matter
of a few days before shells began to
drop in on the place. I happened to be
ON the otter side of Viamertinghe
when the bombardment commenced,
and 1 had to through it on my way
back.
AS usual, one of the first places to go
was the church, and as l passed by l
caught a glimpse of the edifice burning
and the priests working feverishly try
ing to save some of the contents. AS
usual, too, the people were In a panic,
and the road was crowded with them.
One night I was called and warned
for special duty the next day. l hadn't
the slightest idea in the world what it
would be, but I'll confess that I was
surprised when 1 found out. I was
wanted by a colonel who had been sent
out from England to find the grave of
Prince Maurice of Battenberg. His
resting place was thought to be in the
Menin churchyard, and I was to guide
the colonel up there and vas placed at
his disposal until the grave was found.
Now, the Menin churchyard was
never a pleasing proposition, and from
what I could see it vas going to be
far from pleasant this time. "Hellfre
corner" was just opposite the church
and a very unhealthy spot. Prince
Maurice had been killed near Ypres
while fighting for the English and hur-
riedly buried In the ~churchyard, which
had been so constantly shelled that it
was feared his body had been obliter-
ated. English royalty was anxious to
know If his remains were still marked.
We went up to the Porte de Menin,
In Ypres, In the car and decided to
leave it there, as 1t was not advisable
to let a car stand very long on the
Menin road. AS we went up the road
/ warned the officer to be careful, for
there were plenty Of snipers about.
Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-11-16

one OF TOUR surVlVor0.
out as we'll for us as it did for them.
l saw one case In which the using of
one of these things was very disas-
trous. One of our fellows put a bomb
In the sling and started swinging 1t.
AS he tried to let it go the whole thing
hit the man standing next to him full
in the jaw. OF course 1t exploded and
killed several men who were standing
near, including the fellow who had
tried to throw it.
During an attack in the Menin trench
es l saw an incident that l will never
forget. Our fellows had taken two
lines of trenches in a very few min
utes. In some places there were Ger
mans occupying a part of a trench
while we held the other part.
A big Ifishman came dashing up with
a load of bombs, and as he anne for
ward l saw these Germans raise their
rifles to fire at him. The Irishman was
too quick for them, though, for he
chucked a bomb into the trench they
were in, and l heard his yell, "Splir
that between We, We swine"
1t wiped out the whole crowd of them,
of course, and the best part of it was
that the Irishman didn't alter his stride
the least bit. The expression has be
come quite popular among "bombers."
We hadn't been in Poperinghe many
days before the German aeroplanes be
gan coming over us. They didn't do
any damage at first, and l wondered
why they didn't drop any bombs. Ev-
cry morning about 5 o'clock two or
three taubes would appear and fly
back and forth for a few minutes, and
then they would go away, and we
wouldn't see any more of them until
the next morning at the same hour.
At last we got used to them, and they
didn't bother us at all. One In awhile
our gun would bring n of them to
earth, and then there would be one
grand rush to the place where the ma
chine had fallen. ! saw one fellow fall
one morning. and as l had by motor
bike l hoped on and dashed down the
road to try and find him. He had come
to earth safely, but his engine had been
put out of commission by a piece of
shrapnel. He had set fire .te the ma
chine and was calmly sitting on the
ground some distance from where it
was burning.
Some flying corps fellows were there
just a few seconds ahead Of me, and
they made him prisoner. AS he got to
his feet he remarked In perfect Eng
lish. 81 had a presentiment that !
Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-11-16
s.Mh.a
MONTHS
X AT II
ThESFRoNT
An American Boys
Baptism of Fire
By WILLIAM ]. ROBINSON
By WILLIAM ]. ROBINSON
An American Boys
Baptism of Fire
Copyright. Little. Brown & Co.

The most graphic account Of the
great war that has yet beer written
comes from the pen of a Twenty-Five
year-old Boston boy. who has just re-
turned from France, where as dragon
guardsman. dispatch rider and motor
car driver he served fourteen months
under the British flag. Out of thirty
one motorcycle dispatch riders he wa
one Of four survivors.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-17

baseball and the word has been passed
to President Ford that time would be
idly spent in attempting to place a
team in Boone.
Boone's failure to secure funds for
team brings the task Of securing an
eighth city to complete the circuit up
to final effort at Ottumwa where
there Is yet fighting chance or to
the atmittance OF Lacrosse with its
added travelling expenses. Indications
that the wisconsin city will secure
the franchise are growing more certain
daily, and 1t is not unlikely that the
Ottumwa franchise VIII be passed to
Lacrosse within another week.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-17
AMUSEM ENTS.
1.-THE Lilac Domino" Pleasing Light
Opera, at Odeon.


Opera, at Odeon.
For the first time at the Odeon Fri
day night local audience saw the
light opera, "The Lilac Domino" pre-
scented by a large company under the
direction Of Andreas DIPPED. The audi
ence, which was small, did not go into
OBSTACLES over the production which.
however, contained much that was
pleasing. unsteady the opera was
above the average musical comedy, yet
not up to the standard of THE
Chocolate Soldier" and other modem
light comic operas.
The Cuvillier opera is deliberately
staged and elegantly costumed, much
attention being given to detail. 50 that
the effect is finished. Some of thu
music is especially catchy, and the
chorus sang well. Individually there
We're no remarkable voices but this
fact has ceased to be disappoint-
ment in musical attraction. Bradford
Kirkbride, tenor in the leading role
Of Count Andre, displayed a very
good, and by far the best voice.
Yvonne Darle. who played opposite
him in the title role Of Georgine, the
lilac domino" failed as far as voice
Is concerned to rise to the demands
OF leading soprano. Her voice was
not at all displeasing, altho at times
she flatted noticeably. Her acting was
good, and she made very winsome
Georgine. The comedy roles were in
quite ordinary hands, and tho in all
respects clean, the comedy at times
appeared to be forced. The dancing
woo ~ htoh cffler that nf Tu1ia
Fontane and Louis l.. Pitcher being
especially clever.
Among the more pleasing musical
numbers were THE Lilac Domino
which furnishes the dominating strain
OF the entire opera; THE Sunny
Riviera" and "Song Of the Chimes"
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-17
BASEBALL susBLE svRsTED.
Boone Booster. Fail to Raise $500

Boone Boosters Fail to Raise $500
Necessary to Enter c. A. Circuit.
The baseball bubble has bursted at
Boone. Hopes OF league team have
gone glimmering when the Boone
boosters failed to raise the 5000 neces-
sary for admittance to the Central as
ISOLATION.
Altho considerable enthusiasm was
aroused among Boone fans by the sug-
sestion that Jimmy" Archer be secured
to manage Central association team.
those boosting the project failed to
arouse $500 worth Of interest, and
without the $500 to post as a guaran-
tee TO play out, the season there was
no possibility Of securing 4 franchise,
Boone Is not ready to re enter league
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-17
oeaI Weather Record

The extremes of temperature Friday
were 43 and %, compared with 81 and
20 Thursday, and 80 and 26 a year ago
Friday. At O'clock this morning the
temperature was Is. compared with
SO at the corresponding hour Friday
morning. The rainfall Friday was 10
of an inch.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-17

night her brother was studying his ar
ithmetic lessons assiduously. After CALI
ing to him several times without re-
ceiving a reply. she appealed to her
father to stir him up.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-17
wiaaw Granted pension.

Mrs. Bertha RAIN, of this city. has
been allowed widows pension of Sl2
q month, according to an announce
ment made at washington.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-17
uunsiuhborIv.

Little Faith was possessed OF a most
friendly disposition. To satisfy her
need for companionship she demanded
speech affectionate and often. One
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-17

]. f. Tallett left Friday for Grand
Rapids, Mich. to attend the national
hNNl.nN contest.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-17

Moonlight dance at Redman hall to-
night. Music by Robertson's orchestra.
Advertisement.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-17

Mrs. Lynn Bothell, of Gilman, re-
turned home Friday after a visit will
her father, c. r. Rogers.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-17

Violin lessons Wednesdays and Sat
urdays. over is South First avenue
Cassie Mull;ne aux Richards.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-17

To Rent - Seven room house on
North First street. F. l.. Meeker,
special administrator, estate Thomas
Swearingen.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-17

Moonlight dance at Redman hall to-
night. Music by Robertson's orchestra.
Advertisement
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-17

Mr.. and Mrs J. b. st. Clair, OF Con-
rad, were In the city Friday on their
way to Gearing to visit the latter's sis
ter Mrs. J. H. Johnson.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-17

Mesdames Thomas Eames and Em!.
Strand, of Ncwburg, were visitors in
the city Friday.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-17

Mrs. Ella Stoddart and sister, Mrs.
Chloe Bloomfield, went Friday to Col
fax for a brief stay.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-17

Mr.. and Mrs. ]. p. Sexton, OF PICKER.
.na, were Friday visitors In the city.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-17

Miss Erna DAHL Of Dillon, visited
friends In the city Friday.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-17

Mr.. and Mrs. John Weber, over 1874
West Main street. are parents Of an
eight pound son. born Friday.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-17
CITY IN BRIEF
Murray. 1ewelen upstairs.

Murray, jeweler. upstairs.
Mr.. and Mrs. ]. p. Sexton, OF PICKER
.na, were Friday visitors in the city.
Ter sale--Burr oak fence posts on
Sh,r1i farm five miles cast Of town
". c. Ellis.
Mesdames Thomas Eames and Emf!
Strand, Of Ncwburg, were visitors in
the city Friday.
Moonlight dance at Redman hall to-
night, Music by Robertson's orchestra.
Advertisement.
Mrs. Ella stoddart and sister. Mrs
Chloe Bloomfield, went Friday to Col
fax for a brief stay.
Mr.. and Mrs. John Weber, over 1874
West Main street are parents Of an
eight pound son. born Friday.
Miss Luella Collins. Of Pittsburg
Kan, was in the city Friday on hei
way to Bromley to visit her brother
NJ. Morgan.
Turn over a new leaf, begin now to
wear tailored clothes made for you, to
fit your form as We'll as your ideas and
taste. Fred TAYLOR the tailor.
Mr. and Mrs. Louis Rolf, Of Rose
Creek. Mimi. who are visiting the lat
ter's parents. Mr.. and Mrs o. e. Shay.
er, at Gilman, were in the city Friday
Next market sales in Marshalltown
Saturday, March a. and Tuesday
March p. Phone us what you vii
have to sell. Plumb Bros, Mason 4
Shoemaker. .e
The james skexg wall Paper Com
pany Is now prepared with complete
line Of artistic papers and large force
of expert paperhanSers to do your
work when promised. The James ,Skegg
Wall Paper Company.
Remember that it is Everist, the
wall paper service man, who has the
wall paper, workmen and ability to dc
all work when promised Twenty more
rooms can be cared for on short notice
Ev erst's wall paper house, opposite
the NJ. E. church. Everist's.
Mrs. Charles Andre, 900 South Sec
ond avenue, was hostess Friday after
noon at the regular meeting OF the
ChattererS' CluD, whose members ell
joyed the time socially and with their
fancy work At the close of the after
noon the hostess served refreshments.
Word received from Conrad is that
Daniel Russie, a former old settler OF
the northeastern part of the county,
has been stricken with partial paralysis
at his home in Conrad His condition
is very critical. Mr.. Russie is a pioneer
of the county and lived in Vienna
township until he moved to Conrad a
few years ago.
The organ which will be used by
the Cathedral Choir at the Methodist
church next Tuesday evening, has
been especially built and has double
set Of reeds with remarkable volume
and tonal qualities. In addition 4
frs. class piano Is used with each
number. Competent musical authori-
ties consider this number Of the COM
munity lyceum course to be one of the
best Of the season. General admission
% cents Committee.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-17

Miss Luelia Collins. Of Pittsburg
Kan, was in the city Friday on hel
way to Bromley to visit her brother
M. Morgan.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-17

Turn over new leaf, begin now to
wear tailored clothes made for you, to
fiji your form as We'll as your ideas and
taste Fred TaNior the tailor.