Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-05-02
PART OF PARTY SENT TO AID IN
ADVOCATING LIBERTY
BOND SALES.
NOW IN CHICAGO WITH
OTHER TRENCH COMRADES
Tour Of State Probably Will 30 Ar
ranged Men Have Run Whole
Gamut Of War Experiences - Ser
geant Hawkins Says Fritz 10 Bum
Fighter Under Ordinary Conditions.
pecial to Times-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, May Am arousing
members of the 163th infantry former
ly the Third Iowa, when they reach
their home state Sunday or Monday OF
this coming week. Their itinerary in
Iowa has not been announced other
than that they will reach Des Moines
possibly Sunday or Monday.
The three men are Sergeant Owen
G. Hawkins, of Red Oak; Corporal
Merle Skinner, of Ottumwa, and Pri-
vate Albert Montgomery, of Stuart
These Iowa men with five other OF
their trench comrades are now In Chi
cago working for the third liberty loan
When these men, wearing their bat
tered trench hats, marched thru the
streets Of New York City, they were
given tremendous ovation. The great
city was on fire with patriotism and
evident appreciation of the work these
men have done in the trenches. Now
three of the group are coming back to
their home state and probably for a
brief visit with the home folks
These Iowa soldiers have run the
whole gamut of war experiences, have
engaged in desperate fighting, have
participated in raids, repealed German
shock troops. have been under drum
fire and gas attacks. Sergeant Owen
c. Hawkins. of Red Oak is a veteran
of the Spanish American war. having
served in the Philippines. All of the
of France. Sergeant Hawkins wears
the French war cross and the other two
men have been cited to receive this
honor.
Sergeant Hawkins led raidng party
in the Lorraine sector whiCh killed five
of the enemy and took two German
prisoners. Private Montgomery, OF
Stuart was q member &C a squad
which did heroic worls in rescuine
wounded men from mo mans land
Corporal Skinner has been cited for
bravery inH~raids and in repulsing en-
envy attacks.
Fritz Bum Fighter.
Sergeant Hawkins in telling of the
in Chicago said:
Fritz is bum fighter ordinarily
The raid which won my men distinction
was pulled off in broad daylight and
there was no surprise party. 1 led my
platoon over the top and across the
stretch between our front line trenches
giving the enemy time to open vigor-
GUS artillery fire. -
"The shells exploded all around us
Bullets whizzed past our heads and one
of our fellows was clipped in the arm
but continued. In the real fight that
followed we killed five and took two
prisoners. We could have taken more
but it was risky to spend any more
time there because we knew reinforce
ments were coming up.
AS a fighter, in my opinion, a Ger
man makes a great Splinter. All our
fellows have supreme contempt fol-
the Dutchmen, altho we realize that il
is going to take two more years to
conquer them as they are whipped to
death by their military party and can't
quit.
There is little formality among the
men in the overseas forces. Twice
while I was in the front line trenches
General Pershing paid us a visit and
tcomplimented US. When we would
salute and attempt the usual formali-
ties he would laugh and tell us, Fight
Never mind spending the energy salut-
ing He's the idol of every soldie,
over there"
Des Moines is planning heartfelt
welcome for the men when they reach
the capitol city. If they get in in time
Sunday afternoon they will participate
In the Salvation Army parade which
that organization is putting on to raise
a war fund. The men will be met al
the station by Mayor Fairweather and
Adjutant General Logan and other Off
Gals including Brig Gen. r. N. Getty
of Camp Dodge. Governor Harding will
be in Duluth, Mimi, on a speaking tour
and hence can not take part in their
welcome here. However, he will meet
the men in Chicago possibly today.