The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1918-09-06
SOUTHWEST MEDINA co.
LODI

John B. Mitchell, brother of Mrs.
William Faulkner, of Lodi, was wound
ed when the Americans made the big
drive against the Germans early in
July. On July 81 he writes:
Just a few lines and I know you
will be glad to know that was in the
big drive, but was slightly wounded.
Went over in the second wave and
was shot with machine gun bullet in
left leg above the ankle, but nothing
serious. Will be all right in a couple
of weeks.
On July 80, Private Mitchell again
writes to his sister:
Am in beautiful hospital, base No.
16, and will be all right in a week or
two, as my leg is almost well. Do not
feel any pain, thanks to the good care
from our own doctors and nurses. Will
be back with my outfit in couple Of
weeks. We sure had old Fritz run
ming and killed and captured a mob
of them.
like France very much. It is a
beautiful country.
John B. Mitchell.
Co. M, 18th Inf. A. E. F.
H. F. Plank writes from France on
July IA, to his mother, Mrs. Mary
Plank, in Lodi:
I have been pretty near all over
France, had nearly four weeks in
Paris and it is wonderful place. Had
air raids and the Germans used their
long range guns on us but they are so
common we did not pay much atten-
tion to them.
Have been placed in charge Of one
of their large machine shops and ex-
pect to be here for a long time. The
French people are wonderful people
and do every thing in the world for
you. Meet people most every day that
I have known in the States, and the
Ohio division Of the troops went thru
here two nights ago for the front.
This is the day that the French cele-
brate as we do the Fourth of July and
you would not think that there was
fighting a few miles away. Our
troops are certainly showing the Ger
mans how the Americans can fight and
the way they cut up the German divis-
ions in their last drive was fine. Our
machine guns killed so many that our
gunners were sick of the slaughter. /
can't tell you very much but / am all
right.
Lieut.. Harry Plank,
Ordnance Base 712, A. E. F. France.
Following is description of the
airship that circled over Medina coun-
ty last week, one Of the occupants of
which was Earl Leatherman, a former
Medina county boy, now with the
Goodyear Rubber Co.:
The ship started from the Goodyear
flying field at 4:15 Friday morning.
The crew consisted of Jack Beottner,
instructor pilot, Earl Leatherman and
Weymouth Finn, student pilots and
Jimmie McCloud, mechanician.
The course taken before daylight
was as near due west as could be
steared by compass. That took the
ship just south of Springfield Lake,
south of Akron, over Kenmore and
north of Barberton. The River Styx
valley was crossed just at dawn at
a point directly east of Poe. That
village was the first place recognized
after daybreak. From there the
course lead directly over the village
of Chippewa Lake. The ship was
then brought down close to the water
at the lake at about $50 a. m. The
lake was pretty we'll hidden in fog
and not discernable from any dis
tance. The ship idled over the lake fol
while but no one was seen at the
park. The next place passed was
Leroy. From there the course was di-
rected west to Lodi, which was reach.
ed about 6 a. m. Here about ter
minutes were spent in circling ove1
the village and talking tosthe people
below. ~ =,
From there the ship followed the
Wheeling & Lake Erie R. R. ovel
Creston and Orrville. From Orrvillt
the course was directed toward Mas
sillon. Along here an interestinf
race with freight train was indulget
in. The train was left behind befor'
Massillon was reached. About ter
minutes were spent in circling ovel
that place. From there the ship wa
driven in direct line back to tn.
Goodyear flying field. The fight end
ed at 7:45 having lasted three am
one-half hours. ;.
The ship 'is almost aM exact dupli
cate Of the ones built by the Goodyea
for the U. s. government: The lengtl
is ITO feet, the greatest diameter 81 \
feet and the volume $4,000 cubic feet
It is inflated with hydrogen. In
envelope is made Of gas-proof rubber
lied fabric. The car, which is sus