The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1918-07-27
COUNTY BIDS
BOYS farewell
LAST CONTINGENT OF 1917 REG
ISTRANTS OFF FOR CUSTER
IRON co. BOYS GOING ACROSS
Local Boy Writes From New York
and Says Iron County Boys
Are Going Over Soon

Following the usual demonstration
one hundred and eleven men left over
the North Western road last Thursday
night to join the forces of Uncle Sam
at Camp Custer. The departing men
were about the last of the 1917 regis
trants. The August contingent TO be
sent to the same division, will be
made up largely of the young men who
registered on June s.
Long before the hour of departure
the crowds were to be seen upon the
streets, waiting to bid the final fare
we'll to their pals and sweethearts,
brother and sons. Meanwhile the Sc
lects were answering to roll call and
receiving comfort kits given out by
the women of the Red Cross.
At about $3.50 the selects and their
friends gathered in front of the Lock-
wood where the usual patriotic pro-
gram was carried out The McKin-
ney Steel band and Alpha band was
on hand and rendered several appro-
pirate selections, after which Hon.
Frank James gave short talk to the
boys wishing them God-speed and
success in their fight for Liberty
The parade then started from the
Lockwood and marched 10 the depot.
The city band and members OF the
Michigan constabulary headed the
parade and were followed by the draft
selects, most OF whom were accom-
panied by wives, sweethearts and
| friends.
At the station the train was wait
ing and the men Immediately got on
board and opened the windows to bid
their last goodbyes AT about 6:15,
with the accompaniment OF cheers and
tears, the train pulled out and one
hundred and eleven more boys were
added to Iron county service flags
Iron County Boys Going Across.
In letter to his mother in this
city, John Gurskey. who is in the hos
pital service at Camp Mills, Long ISL
and. y. Y, says that there are 10000
Michigan boys located there and
ready to go over soon He also says
that there are many Iron county boys
among them, large part being boys
that left here last month for Camp
Custer. In his letter he gave the
names OF the following Crystal Falls
boys he had already met up to the
time OF writing:
Leo Rabichaud. Josiah Hoikka, Dave
Mendelson, Joe Wilnowsky, Irving
/. Tufts, Frank Dawson, Gust Palm,
Charlie Runland, Lawrence Larson.
Arthur Beck and Karl Soderberg. He
also says that he met other boys he
knew from Iron Mountain and other
upper peninsula towns.
The largest contingent OF upper
peninsula men that has left for France
Is about TO SAIL II Ii has not actual
ly embarked for overseas. The gov
ernment has finally authorized the an
nouncement that the S5th division has
! left Camp Custer. Its departure for
Camp mills, on the Atlantic seaboard
began July IL, when the first train
pulled out. Following In rapid sue
cession, and as smoothly as II the op-
GRAFTON had been rehearsed, the other
sixtysnine trains needed to transport
the division left at close intervals. II
is quite within the bounds OF possibil-
ity that the S5th Is already afioat
though no definite word az TO that has
yet been given out.
Most OF the Iron county men
i'm fact OF the upper peninsula men
who have been fed into the hopper
OF the national army have gone into
the S5th- Already some OF them are
overseas for during many months tn,
S5th was drawn on for replacement
troops and fll out other units here and
there about the country. In fact, for
so long did II fulfill this function that
the question was discussed whether u
would be continued as a replacement
division indefinitely. But some weeks
ago preparations for departure were
got unde. way, and the s5th will soon
be In France.
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