The Oskaloosa herald., 1918-04-25
WORD RECEIVED
FROM THE FRONT.
LIEUTENANT GUS pRlNkLE RE.
TURNS FROM FRANCE
TELLS ABOUT MAHASKA BOYS
Interesting Address Before the Sam.
mics Mothers Club Sunday After
noon. Highest Praise for the
y Men. Predicts Long War

Gus Drinkle, second lieutenant with
Company II of the 16Sth regiment of
the Rainbow division on duty in
France, is home visiting with his par
ents, Mr.. and Mrs. A. T. Drinkle, No.
500 B avenue East Lieutenant Drinkle
has honorable discharge from the in
fantry but the fact that he is still
wearing uniform is significant
He arrived home Saturday noon,
coming from Chicago. He has been in
America for some time since arriving
from France He has been at Wash
ington. New York, Chicago and other
places dispatching special business
and now returns to his home here for
q period of rest.
Since his arrival in the city the
Lieutenant has been the most sought
after man in town. Every parent who
has boy in Company H orin the ser
vice for that matter, wanted to see
Drinkle and to have personal assur-
ance that their boy was all right and
to learn by word of mouth what was
going on in France how the boys
fares and thousand and one other
things. Every one, for that matter is
a anxious to hear first hand information
of how and what the boys are doing
in France,
Talks to Mothers.
II was with the thought of getting
word to the mothers and parents OF
Mahaska county boys with the least
effort the suggestion was made that
Mr.. Drinkle addressed the Sammies'
\ Mothers Club at the Council Chamber
in the City Hall Sunday afternoon. 1t
was goou idea for the Lieutenant
was able to reach so many of those
directly interested. When 1t became
known that the Lieutenant was to tell
about things in France every member
of the club who could possibly reach
the city hall and numerous visitors
dropped in to hear from our boys in
France.
Mr.. Drinkle gives a most ericourag.
ing report of each and every one of the
boys from little Phil Plaster to Cap.
tain Springer. Gus says that physically
the boys are eft" They are far better
than when in America. They have de-
veloped into a splendid military body.
and are as fine lot of men as one
would care to look upon. They are
men, men in every sence of the term,
and parents and friends have reason to
be proud of the company individually
as q whole. The esprit de corps is
above criticism. The morale is all that
could be desired. The boys are typical
Americans and their vim and vigor,
ambition and determination is match
for any foe. Where they are and infor-
nation of that character cannot be de-
yulged.
yes, We have plenty to eat and it
is the best obtainable. And the closer
to the trenches you go the better the
food. We have our own company cooks
and the provisions are capably listrl-
buted. AS to comfort, sleeping quar-
tiers, ETC., there is not word of COM
plant The men share and share alike.
Now that 1t is warmer everything is
all right but during the winter it was
cold and with little chance for fires
on account of the scarcity of fuel, But
no one suffered. The Americans are
more able to meet the conditions than
are the inhabitants, the people with
whom theY were billited."
In the Trenches.
Eyes Company III. has been in the
trenches, in training and out on mo
Mans Land on patrol duty and is
taking its place in the regiment and is
fully up to all expectations. Yes, also,
Company H has accounted for its
share of the enemy and they win be
in line for more when the time comes.
They boys had no more than entered
1.-THE trenches than they had visitors,
German high explosive shells. 1t so
happened that the shells We're ineffec-
tive and did no harm but they are
no. popular with the rank or file of
the company" Mr.. Drinkle brings
home the nose of one of these shells.
the first one that came over after he
was on the line. 1t is an interesting
object to say the least. Only piece
of brass with steel nose and fuse at
tached but it would be capable of Civ
ing man a nasty clout if one came
in its path. Mr.. Drinkle brings home
a number of mementoes, post cards,
etc. He has sample of the gas masks
work and these are on exhibition in
the Herald office window.
How did the men deport them
selves in the trenches?"
"They were curious of course. the
closer they came to actual service, but
they were ready and impatient for the
experience and when once in they be-
haved like veterans. The boys have
been moved back from the front now
10 give other companies their chance
and place. When the troops first came
to the front line trenches they inn
took things into their own
handa s1rhis IL uuiet sector" the |