The Oskaloosa herald., 1918-09-12

WI 'iiSIts II was Uy TAT the NOS
interesting war talk that has beer
given in This city because it came
from one everybody in town knows
and because it touched upon the ex
rloits Of those in whom we are all
interested locally. The big audience
was also favored by several special
solos by Mrs. Cammack accompanied
on piano by Miss Jennie Frye. Rev
Alexander McFerTan gave the invo
cation.
Story Of Company.
Lieutenant Hoar began with the OK.
perience Of the company beginning
last February when they first moved
to The front and entered the trenches
to get taste of the real thing. "Sey.
erai of us officers" said Pete and
some Of the non-coms had been there
once or twice but 20 the men it was
all new. We were sent to a quiet sec,
tor in southern France. France sends
her men there to rest, hut we went
there for our first glimpse Of no mans
land. We were brigaded with several
regiments Of French soldiers sent
there to rest. The first battalion,
comprising Of A, 3, c, and d com
panies were put in the front lines with
us in reserve and the Third Battalion
behind the Second In this particular
sector the two armies seem TO have
an agreement that when here they
rest and when they fight they will go
to place where they are supposed TO
fight. Well, as soon az we got in, the
First Battalion decided they had
come over for war and opened up.
But the French soon stopped them.
Both Hun and polius would do their
washing and hang It out on the barb
wire, in the day time, in sight of each
other without being molested. The
French wanted TO test the American
so they would take them
out with them. The Germans noticed
this change in uniform and made pre-
parations to find out who they We're.
drawn and the Americans left entirely
in charge Of some 1000 yards of
trench. The first time German came
out to hang up his clothes he was
one came and he met with the same
fate. Next the Minnesota Artillery,
which we think is the best in the
world. opened up and threw hundreds
of shells into their trenches"
Surprises Boches.
After this little surprise the Doch
decided 10 find out who the new com.
ers were, SO one morning they sent
over a barrage, which cut off fifty-five
of our men who were in an advanced
outpost. But our Minnesota artillery
began on them and simply annihilated
them. The few remaining fled back to
their own trenches without taking a
single prisoner. We then wanted a
taste ourselves of going "over the
top. But the Germans were wise that
we were making preparations for a
raid and when we got there we found
the first and SECOND line trenches de.
serted except for few old peglegged
men left TO send up flares. After their
first attempt the Germans tried again
and again to take few prisoners but
until the last two weeks OF the two
and half months we were there did
they succeed. Then 1t was only six
men who while acting as scouts de
cided TO end the war and capture The
entire German army. Talking o.
scouts, you should have seen the frs
time lieutenant called for volun
teers for scouting duty. The men JUS
naturally mobbed him as they al
wanted to 30. After the first time W.
chose them. In this scouting II was al
ways the lieutenants place to go as
the captain was too good a man u
take any chances and the sefgeant'
hardly knew enough.
First Taste Of Gas
ut was during this final two week
that we got our first taste of gas
The gas shells which are about tw'
feet long and eight inches In diane
ter are thrown into cur lines by a sor
of mortar. This time in the one
quarter square mile where we wer
located, some 1000 shells wer
thrown. Most of the boys succeeded
in getting on their gas masks withou
so much as getting one Whit of tn
gas while others were more curious.
Company Rivalry
"The men of Co. II are always try
.ag to Guido Co G. of Ottumwa an
I! Co. G.. always trying to Guido Co. u
Well, one day we were working sid
by side in front of Hill 20f when
South Carolina infantry charged tn