The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1918-08-29
VISIT BOYS IN ITALY


small mountain village. We made cot
fee over a hre by the side of the road
and from our own commissary feast
ed on bread, canned meat, beans and
jam. The dust from the crushed rock
of the road settled on the clothes and
faces of the men, every man looked
like a white spectre. The dust was
a pasty white, and not a man could
be recognized. Often the road ran
through a tunnel, then along the edge
OF a chasm. 1t was a moonlight night
and frequently We saw the blue wa.
ters OF the Mediterranean far below
We arrived in camp at 5 o'clock the
next morning-eleven hours on the
road. Capt. Harper, who left the Bos.
ton Teck. school, and a career at
home, drove his car through the long
hours of the night, face and clothes
besmirched with grease and dust. iok.
ing with the men, helping repair ma
chinery and assisting with the dead
trucks. About 2 o'clock in the morn.
ing we stopped on the crest of a noun
tain for refreshments when the boys
sang MY Old Kentucky Home" and
other familiar songs, closing with the
new chorus to over There which
runs:
over here, over here, send the word,
send the word, we are here,
And we all are working, we all are
working; no one is Sinking, never
fear.
Mother dear, dry that tear, soon your
worries will all disappear.
We are over, we're glad we're over
And we won't come back till it's over
over, over here"
And through all that long night
with its troubles and discomforts no
mar uttered a cross word, a com
plant or an oath.
After a long sleep | visited the
camp at 6 O'Clock p. m. for mess. Not
a man had slept during the day. They
were too busy, for they were getting
ready to move to the front.
was standing on a busy corner of
this, one of the Oldest cities of the old
Roman empire, when some n e
slapped me on the back and called
my name.
| turned and embraced Congress
man Dowell! Dear old Cash. l didn't
know he was within four thousand
miles, and he thought vas in France.
With him were Congressman Sweet of
Iowa, and a dozen other U. S. con
gressmen. They had just arrived
from home and We're like a lot of YER
dant ~untraveled youths from the farm,
keen for information. gave them
the first news of the great offensive
by the Americans and French on the
Marine and they fairly jumped with
Joy.
Then we called on the American
consul and our naval commander,
the old house where Columbus
was born and then to camp where
and men gave them a cordial
reception. | hunted up the Iowa chaps
Cn,, nOuyA11 nrI Sv-aat
and the boys declared it was like see
ing their own home folk. The con-
expressed themselves as de-
lighted with the spirit and morale Of
Our troops. They went on to Rome
night, appointments having been
made with Ambassador Page and the
king of Italy. From there they were
to go to the Italian front, then to
France.
In order that two good Iowans may
learn to love each other they must
have some fun together. The
bit of fun that Dowell and | had in
the congressional bout two years ago
our appreciation. Least
we had 4 whalein' good time to-
over here.
Speaking to the boys at camp,
DOWell said: Men, we want you to
that Our government intends to
stand behind you and support you 20
the limit in everything and in all
ways. Our fighting men are coming
by the millions. and coming fast. Our
vast storehouses in Europe are al
ready crowded to bursting with every
conceivable sort of supplies you need,
and more ~storehouses are being built
and more shiploads Of supplies are
every day. Your president,
your congress and the people are sup
you with all our tremendous
resources. We believe in you, and
you will lack nothing from home that
will enable you to prosecute the war