The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1918-05-16
A WINNING SPIRIT.
INSIGHT OF THE MARVELLOUS
CANADIAN MORALE"


ence with young Canadian officer on
the French front for some time and
some of his letters are unusually in
structive. He has decided to permit
the publication of the last one as it,
contains some new information. ThiiI
is something along the line that our
townsman Tim Fritch is experiencing
somewhere along the front line.
France, April 4. 1918.
C. Yer Ploeg.
Dear Friend:-Receivei your letter
dated Feb. 3, 1918, a short time ago
but have had very little time to do
any writing lately but will try to get
a few lines away now.
Well there has been some intense
fighting lately but our brigade has not
shared in it so far. We have done lots
of maneuvering however, and did long
marches. Short turns in the line AMI
out again. Have had many interest
ing experiences but owing to army or
ders am not at liberty to tell much.
Can just say that we have held the
line in varied places and fortunately
the Boche has not seen fit to attack
where We were. We are in a position
now, however, to meet him when he
moves again. All are in the very best
fighting trim and have no doubt but
what the corps will uphold its splen-
did record Have been working long
hours. We are ON new ground and
consequently there is much reconnoit-
ering to do and much work to do SO
work parties take up all the remain
inder of the time and We get the odd
bit of sleep between times.
Since | wrote you last my platoon
has competed with the other Is pla-
toons in the Barracks and won ana my
platoon is now entitled to enter the
brigade contest. Had much extra
work to do as they were carrying out
a separate ljyllabus of training and
were under my own supervision CON
fine when the big offensive started.
The boys were all keen and while the
platoons chosen by the other three
battalions were out of the line for the
past two turns in, was not afraid to-
meet them any time. The competition
is an army affair carried out in each di-
vision The platoon3 go over course
of $50 yards advancing from $50
Yards, bayonet drives on sand bags
advance to 300 yards five rounds bay
nf ha Z
reaching the 200 yard line where they
fire as many rounds as they can not
to exceed Is. The Lewis gun fires
three pans and the length of time is
31a minutes for the entire course. |
Style and dash also handling of pla- |
toons were counted. If the Boche
does not clean up on us We may yet
run off the contest.
We are not suffering for want of
eats or clothing but our ration of the
former is, of course limited to a rath-
err little varied one We can, however,
it by purchase at times.
Really are not Luffering along these
lines and in our own little company Of
fcers mess we always share are Ca
madam parcels so get added variety.
our principal discomfort now lies in i,
not being allowed to carry sufficient
kit Owing to so frequent moves have
mad to cut down the weight to 80 lbs.
and that does not allow one to carry /!
many comfort OF course our bed
rolls stay behind when we go into the
line and we do not take off our clothes
until we come out again ana not many
nave become used to an existance like
his, but being here to see the job fin
shed we DO not complain but carry
IN. The last dugout we were in was
% feet below the surface and very
little chance for ventilation ana OF
course only candles for light After
being relieved at about p. m. we
for three hourse in a driving
rain with full battle order, to camp
Of huts with little chance to build
fire. II Is the stand to" that is most
uncomfortable, especially after one
-as been in the line for considerable 4
period. We are, however, adapting
10 conditions, always bear
ing in mind that others have Jared
worse thar we.
VIII have been in France five
months within a week and am still
it. Think weigh more now than at
any time since left Canada.
Yours truly,
I tant IT uaufalrpanp