davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1918-01-09
FRED CURTIS WRITES
FROM GREAT LAKES
Orleans Township Boy at Great Lakes
Naval Training Station Writes an
Interesting Letter to Ridge
way Folks.
SAYS HOME PAPER PRIZE
AND ANXIOUS FOR THEM
Says He Would Rather be a Private
All His Life Than Dishonest i'm
Order to Get Promoted.

Great Lakes Naval Training. Ill.
Co. j. 1st Reg.
Barracks 129
Jan. 1, 1918.
Dear Mr.. and Mrs. Shoemaker:
Your letter received last night, |
certainly am glad to receive letters
from my friends at home. We read
and re-read them.
Life here is somewhat monotonous,
same drills, same food, day after day.
Today being New Years we have no
drills or work I'm wondering where
l will spend next New Years, and
what changes the present year holds
for us.
AS it is a holiday everybody is IN
dress suit and white cap, ready for
the special dinner we are to have.
Yesterday morning l met a boy
from Decorah. He has been here for
some time. He is going to bring me
a Decorah Public Opinion to read at
home. A home paper is prize here
and is looked through again and
again.
Yesterday afternoon Elmer Pow
ers stopped off on his way back to
Virginia. l certainly was glad to see
him, for he is the first person I have
seen from home since coming here,
and we had quite visit. 1 got two
camp together. Elmer saws the Great
Lakes Training Camps are great
deal larger than those at Quant.co,
va.
About two-thirds of the men in our
regiment are from the south, the re-
mainder of them are from the Dako-
tas and Minnesota. Some of course
are rough while others are quite de-
cent sort of fellows.
/ am told that in order to get rap
id advancement one has to stretch the
truth but when | left home | made
UP lily W Nv lll4hSo Oi NhN
square. / would rather be private
all my life than to be dishonest in
order to get promotion. What are
bars, chevrons and eagles on the
arms, and other ranks of Office when
one gets them that way. We can't all
be commanders, admirals or officers
in the navy, and after all as Lincoln
said "God must have loved the COM
mon people because he made so
many of them 1t isn't easy to do
the right here, but I'm trying my best
to do it.
How are the Ridgeway folks? Tell
them Hello! for me.
Some time later l will write you
about the camps here when l have
become more familiar with them.
l shall be glad to hear from any
of the friends who care to write me.
Your friend,
FRED CURTIS.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1918-01-09
Il. TOrgensOn i'm Letter to His Sister
Mrs. Martin Abramhamson, Tells
More About Soldier Life.
GERMANS WILL GET THEIRS
WHEN HIS co. GETS OVER
Says They Will celebrate Fourth in
Berlin and Play the Star Span
gied Banner on Kaiser's
Piano.
Camp Pike, Ark.
Dec. q, 1917.


Dear Sister:
received the box and it was o. X.
1t sure tasted fine. thank you for
1T. Sure was surprised to see them
little handkerchiefs. Thought you
must have made mistake; will send
them back. Some of these DAYS | am
going to try to get over to the can
teen to get some candy for the chill
dren. We are still under quarantine
and 1T will take two weeks or may
be a month yet. There are lots of
them out of this barracks in the hos
pital who had mumps and measles.
have felt fine all the time, only had
a little cold is all, but the most of
them have them. Was you over to
Salverson's Christmas? / got a box of
cigars from Ida Ramlo, a box of can
dy from j. Burreson and Christmas
card and two books of stamps from
Alisa, Christmas card from Orville,
steal mirror from Minnie, $40 from
Gilbert. That's pretty good isn't it?
Guess | would received more than
that If | had been there. They sure
thought it was too bad that l couldn't
get there for Christmas. We'll | won't
be home until after the war. | don't
think it would cost so much, and
maybe l wouldn't have very much
time to stay, but l think | will be
home in the spring for good. See by
the papers that the Germans want
peace. Well they had better; because
when Co. B gets over there we won't
even leave the name. Heard the big
Crups cannon factory burned down.
That is the biggest factory in the
world, so that will be hard on Ger
many. We expect to celebrate the
Fourth of July in Berlin. Fla Ha.
About the first of June l am going to
play the Star Spangled Banner on the
Kaiser's piano. Gee won't they think
a lot of me When l get back sup
pose you will be proud of your brave
brother, Ha Ha. What does mother
seem to think about these letters.
Well it sure is great life if you
don't weaken. / suppose Martin has
received the letter by this time, so
you know about all that has happen
ed out here Don't think / told him
about the guard shooting himself on
Monday night about 10:30. They
thought it was some one IL an auto
who shot him, but the next morning
they found the empty cartridge in the
gun. Guess he didn't do a very good
job, and he is in the hospital now.
There were 1900 in the hospital last
Friday. Well guess this is about all
can think of this time, will try to
write more later. as l have a lot Of
letters to write now. Hoping to hear
from you again soon, and wishing
you all good luck, with love to you
all, from your
Brother.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1918-01-09
Camp Lewis.
Dec. 16, 1917.
Dear Sisters:

Dear Sisters:
| AS it is Sunday will again write
you few lines for pastime. haven't
received a letter for long time, so
| will scribble few today and see ii
1T will help any. l am well and enjoy
ing life as much as can be expected.
| am getting tired Of having it rain
every day, as it has rained for two
weeks or more. 1t has been so long
since saw the sun that | suppose
l would not know what it was if I
should happen to see it. We were out
digging trenches few days ago and
OF course it rained all day. We had
the cooks out there cooking our din
ner on the field ranges, the same
[ones we will use when we leave here.
We all came in at night wet to the
skin. | was made company mechanic
the other day and will get six dollars
more per month as long as I get by
with it. l guess, perhaps, can hold
the job down though. for it is not a
very particular job. 1t does not seem
/ possible that Christmas can be only
a few days off, as it has not been cold
enough here to freeze ice more than
once. One fellow from our company
| deserted over a month ago and went
back to Glendive. l Saw by the paper
tOQay Whera the nOlice hroupht hin,
back to camp again. suppose he will
be court marshalled and get all that
is coming to him. We will be payed
off again Monday or Tuesday. Ray
mond Broghammer is still in the
hospital and is doing quite well now.
AS news is scarce | must close for
this time. With love to all,
! Your brother Clarence.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1918-01-09
37O,303 Await Summons.

OF the total registration Of 9,5S6,-
sos the number called and eXamin-
ed was 3,0S2,949, and of these l.
.057,363 were certified by the boards
for military service. Since the first
call was for olly $4,000 men, there
now remains 370,363 men awaiting
summons to the mobilization camps
OF all men examined 730,756, or
.23.7 per cent, were rejected for ply
steal reasons. This shows an improve
ment in the physical condition OF the
young men. of the nation since ciVii
war days, for at that time 80 per
CONTINUED from firsr page.)
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1918-01-09
\ New Years Marriage.

On New Years day at the parson-
age of the Norwegian church in this
city, Rev. Glesne officiating. occur
red the marriage of Mr.. Carl NJ. Sell
ness to Miss Ida Josvanger. The bride
is one of Madison townships excel
lent young women, who has host of
warm friends. She is a young lady
OF culture and refinement, and will
make an ideal helpmate for the hus-
band Of her choice. The groom is a
son OF Mr.. and Mrs. John Selness, OF
near Mabel, and is one of the sterling,
young men of that section. Mr.. and
Mrs. Selness went to the Twin Cities
on their honeymoon AID returned
home Monday night, and have since
been receiving the congratulations OF
their many friends. They will make
their home on a farm near Mabel.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1918-01-09
Bakers Sale Great Success.

Sidney Bakers sale held on Jan.
8, in Bluffton township was a great
success. Col. Walter Keefe cried the
sale. Mich cows sold as high as $110
a head, and other stuff sold proper
tionately high.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1918-01-09

Many an anticipated trouble looks
like mountain in size, but after it
has passed it looks more like pin
head. =
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1918-01-09
Somewhere in France,
Dec. IS, 1917.
Dear Folks: :

Dear Folks:
We are settled down now for few
DAYS at least, so will write a letter.
We have had more travels than ever
expected to take and have seen lots or
interesting sights and things. Also
lots of strange people. We live In
CONTINUED on last pagej
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1918-01-09
New Quota Plan.

Also, IL the interest of fair dis
tribution Of the military burden, he
proposes that the quotas of states OF
districts be determined hereafter or
the basis of the number Of men in
class one and not upon population.
One million physically and other
wise qualified registered men VIII be
found in class one when all question
naires have been returned and the
classification period ends Feb. 8. To
this the extension of registration 70
men turning 21 since June OF last
year and thereafter will add 7OQ,-
000 effective men a year.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1918-01-09

There is. no place like home when
1t comes to drawing a small salary.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1918-01-09

Class one comprises:
Single mei without dependent rel
atives, married men who have habit
ually failed to support their families,
who are dependent upon wives for
support or not usefully engaged, and
whose families are supported by in
comes Independent of their labor un-
skilled farm laborers, unskilled in
dustrial laborers, registrants by or in
respect of whom no deferred classif-
cation is claimed or made, registrants
who fail to submit questionnaire and
in respect OF whom no deferred elias
siflcation is claimed or made, and
all registrants not included II any
other division of the schedule
The plan places upon unattached
single men and married men with in
depended incomes most of the weight
of military duty, for the aggregate
number of men in the other divisions
of class one is very small.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1918-01-09
Beats "German Efficiency"


General Crowder finds that the
first call surpassed the highest ex-
pectations of the friends of the Sc
.lective service idea.
mo great national project was ev-
er attempted with so complete reli-
ance upon the voluntary cooperation
of citizens for its execution" he said.
The vaunted efficiency of absolu-
tism of which the German Empire
stands as the avatar can offer Ioth-
ing to compare with it,"
Analyzing the first call, General
Crowder shows that 9,5S6,5OS men
between the ages of q and 81 years
registered themselvs. 1t has been
necessary to arrest only $50 evad-
ers and OF these 2,263 were released
after having registered. Final analy-
sis viii show that only .0O026 per
cent of the men within the prescribed
age eyaded registration.
A rough figure OF SO per cent fail
ed to appear for examination, but
most OF these already were in Europe
in the American, British aad French
arm les
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1918-07-31
STUDENTS WARNED NOT
TO BURN MIDNIGHT OIL

The supply of kerosene will run
short next winter and the government
is urging every user to do his part
toward making every gallon to do full
war duty by giving forth its full
measure of light and heat. Saving
can be accomplished, it is said, only
if care is given lamps, lanterns, heat
ers and stoves.
The director OF, oil conservation of
the United States fuel administration
issues these rules for fuel-oil saving
Keep all lamps and lanterns clean
Let the light out; don't confne it be-
hind smoked and dirty chimneys.
See that burners and wicks of all
oil burning devices are clean. Clean
burners require less oil and give bet
ter lights.
Don't allow a lamp, lantern, heater
or stove to burn minute longer than
is necessary. Don't light one you can
do without.
Don't use coal oil for cleaning pur-
poses. Hot water will do the work.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1918-07-31

off when this terrible thing will cease,
let US hope so any way.
How are all the folks around hcme?
Tell them all hello for me. Now /
have just been to supper and we had
a fine feed; will tel what we had !:
Mashed potatoes, brown gravy,
bread, fig sauce, ,roass beef and cof-
fee. Not so bad, as you can see we
have all we wish for and it is good
and clean.
l suppose our sweater is most fin
ished; how warm l shall be; it surely
will come in handy this winter when
it is cold and bad weather.
Our boys get along splendid with
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1918-07-31
SHORT TALKS OF DOINGS
IN THE WAR COUNTRY

CONTINUED From Page One.)
might in this hell of bursting shell
and shrapnel and get them into their
little shelters, good only TO protect
from flying splanters.
AS Sergt.- Ivan Smith was getting
his men inside. shell hit the corner
Of the shelter and exploded not four
feet from his tin hat. The force Of
the explosion drove him through the
door and against the opposite side of
the shelter. He was dazed for a
minute and was slightly wounded in
the jaw by glancing piece of shell.
The same shell wounded Pie. VIM.
Burger in the back. Three other
shells hit within a radius of five feet
of that spot, so you can see the dem
sity of the barrage. The sergeant
recovered from his daze and gripped
himself to action. He explained to
his men that the barrage would soon
pass them by going back creeping
little by little to the support line,
while the Boche following closely
would come through the wire and be
on them next. So he and they ar
ranged for the combat. Each man got
set with his own particular weapon
the automatic, the rifle grenade, the
hand bomb, the bayonet--each man in
his own class and as socn as the bar
rage passed beyond them towards
our second line they came from their
shelter and fought it out. Just out
side the wire following their barrage
beyond the splintering area was the
Boche raiding party out in the hopes
of catching American prisoners, out
in the hopes our men had been so
shaken they would fall easy prey.
THANK God for the hours of hard
work, thank God for the hours of
steady and patient instructions by
Flint officers in this particular prob
lem. They grasped the situation and
made the only defense possible. The
sergeant touched off his flare calling
for our own artillery barrage so that
our artillery could locate the place of
need along the long front and prop
erly place their fire SO as to shut off
He placed his men
along their scanty shelter and opened
on the enemy with rifle, auto-rifle
and bomb. Star shells gave them
fleeing glances at their target and
then intense blackness would settle
down again. But these fleeing
chances gave direction and bomb and
bullet denied the Boche his goal. He
departed with his mission unsuccess-
full. And all through the action the
DEVILS tune of the war song was play
ed on its earthen drum and the
screech and crash of shell made con-
nected thought almost impossible.
But the Boche barrage had passed
beyond to the support lines and had
to come back. Lieut.. Oscar Wick
strom, the platoon commander, was
holding the line to the rear. The
barrage fell upon his line and smoth-
cred it in it's whitening fire. He
knew the dire need of his men caught
put front, so he took few men and
won through the barrage and joined
in the one-sided fight. Before going
forward he sent runner with a writ
ten message to Capt. Colladay and
this runner carried the message
the shrapnel swept zone to
the captain who forwarded it to me
giving us the first real knowledge
where the raid was launched. took
no chance on its being just raid but
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1918-07-31

called on our artillery for counter
preparat on fire and they gave it with
interest. When our batteries respond
ed and you could hear your own big
fellows going over you may know
things began TO look brighter. Mes
sages began to come through quite
freely and l cannot speak too highly
of Pie. Frederick Bclcom who crossed
the barrage three times carrying inn
portant messages, and also of Pie.
VIM. Gabram and Pie. Fred Gave who
were caught out in an unsheltered
watchers post and remained there
and worked their automatic rifles all
through the barrage in preference to
retiring to their shelter 90 feet away.
Also Pie. VIM. Buyer who although
wounded in the back quite severely
by the same shell that wounded Sergt.
Smith, yet stuck to his post and con-
tr buted his bit to the defense.
Not yet can i pass by the calm,
sure action of Capt. Colladay-calm,
and sure even though upon his mental
screen was passing the images of his
boys out front and their mothers,
fathers and wives. And finally sill
ence reigned.
But Fritz got his today. Our ar
illiCiy DltW Ills illllC lOWH. dIOuUU
which he had built his strong point,
artillery and it was arranged to teach
him lesson. So tonight / am ex-
pecting that Fritz is turning that cal
abash pipe around in his hand study
ing what next he can do that will net
bring as sure and complete a punish
ment. / would like to meet the fool
who said this was quiet sector.
There is no such thing when the Am
orleans get on the line.
Thus j have tried to tell you of
the most severe bombardment in this
sector since the "Blue Devils" made
their reputation and / might say cur
artillery could reach the particular
mountain upon which it was made. 1t
stands out Scared and torn. blasted
clean by the terrific bombardment of
that fight. On our own sector great
trees were torn, twisted and broken
up! told the colonel the other day
there was no need about bothering
with wood for us for Fritz felled it
and then split it up into stove lengths
for us. I-have tried to describe what
we have heard and see, but / cannot
help feel how inadquate is our English
language.
In closing want to say that all
the boys are we'll and the wounded
are getting along fine and are having
the best of care, but over and, above
all our men have justified their train
ing. We know that we will have to
stand the pounding, the hammering
of the Boche this summer, till our big
man power can be trained and equip
ped. If Fritz cannot win now he
never can. Our men all realize this
and realize they must be mauled and
clawed about a bit but hold they must
and hold they will, and while holding
look out for a few swift uppercuts
that will set Fritz's head a-jogging
and will hasten the happy day when
l can bring back to Flint the biggest,
best, cleanest body of men and best
fighters that ever trod in shoe leather.
Give all my friends my regards and
if you should see any of the fathers
and mothers of my men tell them that
the boys they gave to me are men
now and men that any city or com
munity could we'll be proud of; that
they are we'll; that couple days rest
is not in the dictionary, but that we
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1918-07-31

been out and played few games with
the fellows, but am now on the job
again. ! am very warm and just
about ready to sweat quart Of per-
spirat on. Was about to tell you
what l did yesterday. In the Morn
ing / went TO the place of our work
with my section. About 10 o'clock
the two +. sergts. and myself went
TO the aviation field. While there
one of the aviators invited me to 60
up with him in his machine in the
early evening. So in the evening /
was there, Johnnie on the spot. /
went up for the first time in an aero
plane and / am telling you the truth
when l say / enjoyed it most of any
machine l ever rode in. 1t was SIM
ply wonderful, and have been prom
ised many more rides with him. We
rode above many villages and over
lot of country, the scenery was
grand, and SO much different from
above. 1t is just as safe to ride in
an aeroplane as in an automobile.
Now do not worry about me, because
/ have entered into a new method
and stage of travel. 1t is absolutely
safe, but would have been so much
illIcI. ndu lily Wllt Dctn dlOnk.
know you would haze enjoyed it i'm
mensely.
l have some beautiful souvenirs
over here for you. They were hand
carved for me by a French soldier.
If could send them to you, | would
do so at once, but | shall have them
with me when / return to you at home
again. We both hope it will be
very soon.
June 23.-The wind is blowing very
hard, also raining some. We had
rifle and clothing inspection here this
a. m. We also had one-half hours
drill so the f.. soldiers could have a
chance to see Americans drill but
guess we were out Of practice be-
cause only about four or five remained
and watched US, ha. They drilled
for us in the afternoon so we thought
it no more than right to return the
compliment. Well, drill is thing
of the past with US over here, we
have enough work so we are buy all
the time and drill is unnecessary.
1t is very muddy. We had 20 much
rain. Most Of us are equipped with
hip boots. We are all feeling fine.
do not think of hardly anyone who
is i'll, and / am getting so fat that
cannot button my clothes around me
any more. I am right in luck, the
Supply Co. sent my section all new
clothes, so today l have on q whole
new outfit. We have plenty of clothes
and a plenty to eat, maybe once in
awhile the wagon that brings our ra-
tions is little delayed, but usually
we are supplied with plenty, so you
see there is no reason to worry of US.
We are well cared for and want for
nothing but a chance to get at the
Huns and end this war then return to
the gold old u. s. A.
My friends, F.-segts. are leaving
me again this evening and it makes
me feel little blue because we just
got here with them. Well. that is
the way of the war, we are here and
there all the time on the move and are
liable to move any time. Some day
our job over here will be finished and
then back we will come with bands
playing and flags flying. That is
the glorious old time we are all look
ing forward to. | think it is not far
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1918-07-31

the French soldiers and are all fast
and good friends. | must go out
now to see them leave again and bid
them bonnie voyage.
Sergeant Wilbur +. Smith,
Headquarters Co., 10th Inf, A. Z.
f., via N. Y.
Roy Douglas, SON of Mr.. and Mrs.
N. C. Douglas of Smyrna, has written
the following very highly interesting
Letter to his parents:
Camp Jos. l.. Johnston, July IA, 1918.
Dear Mother and All:
Well, once more have found time
Continued on Page Five)
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1918-07-31

LET US then stand by the constitution as II
Is. and by our country II Is. one, united. and
entire: let IL be truth engrayen on our
hearts; let II be borne on the flag under which
we rally In every exigency, that we have one
country. one constitution. one destiny. DANIEL
Webster.
Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1918-12-13
Coats Worth
Up To
$29.75

Look at the Coats compare hem with any put them to the sevtSt tests men y"
will smNy buy they are the kind that will convince the most skke nG xm my are are me rMM
\ TIHRD to ONE-IALF LESS and nc" LEFTOvEIs in the lot til" very /" TIT
VI "a WORLD