Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-05-28
SKINNER HITS
PR0-GERMAN
D|SL0YALTY
G Company Corporal And
Private Montgomery
Boost Red Cross.
CROWD FILLS PARK
TO HEAR SOLDIERS

The pro-German and the slacke
were given a lambasting and singled
out that the world might recognize
them by Corporal Merle H. Skinner II
his short address at the city par
Thursday night. Preceding Skinner
Private Albert Montgomery O
Stuart spoke. The two young
Pershing emissaries were give1
a hearty and sincere welcome BY
that crowd that thronged the park ant
for time disregarded the keep OF
the grass" signs, to see, be near to ant
hear the young heroes just lately bacl
from the front line. They came witt
messages from other Ottumwans anc
other lowans still fighting for liberty
under the Stars and Stripes in France
Their presence was like benedictior
to hundreds of wives, mothers, sisters
fathers and sons Of the men who ars
"over there"
CROWDS BRAVE RAIN
" They were billed to talk at 1880 fol
lowing a few selections by the First
Cavalry band which gave it's weekly
concert In the &ark last night, advanc'
ing the time half an hour. Long be
fore the time fixed the crowd was
there. Rain and threatening weather
was no hindrance, umbrellas and rain
coats were numerous, but many came
without them and all came to hear and
see the men of Pershing's Fifty back
for few short hours with friends IN
Ottumwa.
It was not until after o'clock that
the speaking began and despite the
more than half an hour wait, the
crowd did not lose patience and none
left though they were restless. AS
soon as Corporal Skinner and Private
Montgomery appeared with local Red
Cross officials in the park, despite the
fact that the band was engaged In
playing a selection, some could not re-
press their enthusiasm and clapping
Of hands welcomed the boys in over
sea caps and khaki and announced
their presence to the crowd.
M. B. Hutchinson opened the meeting
by q short Introductory in which he
told of the second war work drive OF
the Red Cross and introduced the two
soldiers who told among other things
something Of what the Red Cross Is
doing for the lads "over there"
PROUD OF loWA's RECORD
Private Montgomery was the first
speaker and won his audience from
the first. A mere boy and full of that
spirit OF America that is commonly
called "pep," the thing that is counted
on to conquer the Hun, he got away
fine. The false stories about the sol
diers having to buy Red Cross articles
were nailed and he had an abundance
Of cheering and good things to tell OF
this wonderful organization which he
termed the greatest mother in the
world.
He complimented Ottumwans and
1owans generally for the response to
the Red Cross and the Liberty Loan,
saying, Nothing so impressed me
with the force of the truth that Iowa
is proud OF her 16sth regiment and the
boys she has in the service. than to
come back here to help cell Liberty
Bonds in other states and find dear old
iowa the leader and first of all in her
loyal support Of us boys.
1--WE have the best division in the
best army of the world and the best
regiment or at least one Of the best
in that division, the grand 16Sth, and
her officers and her men are all broth
ers and prouder Of nothing than the
fact that they are from Iowa, the best
state IL the best country in the world
America"
The food they are given to eat,
white bread sometimes as often as
three times day, was said to be a
part of their bill of fare and Private
Montgomery, in referring to the
"chow' said it was fine and the boys
waxed fat on It. I'VE are not regular
n our meals when in the trenches and
sometimes 60 beyond a meal hour, but
one consolation Is that when we can't
00& neither can the other fellow"
Speaking Of the American and
French girls, he humorously alluded
to the latter as "They are not the pic
lures we had painted In our minds:
they're painted all right, but not in our
minds. Believe me, they are some
painters and can give any of our girls
cards and spades in artificial complex
ions, but that is where you girls have
them bested; nature has supplied you
with what they use artificially"
TELLS OF RED CROSS
The Red Cross work among the sol
0leTS was UWell upon dI SOiue leUStH
by Private Montgomery. He said at
starts away up in the front line
trenches where first aid is given and
as soon as man is hit he gets at
tention. Then there is the central
dressing station where more Red
Cross aid is given. There is more of
1t In the regimental headquarters and
at the base hospitals which are filled
with angels of mercy and ministering
men who are dedicated to the allevi-
alton Of pain and suffering of their
fellows. Finally the Red Cross Is
found even farther back and away
from the danger save from the merci-
less and bloodthirsty German airmen.
in the convalescent hospitals in south
ern France or in England. In all these
one finds the care of a kind mother.
the ministering touch of angel hands,
the soothing words of those you in
love and revere-the Red
Cross nurses; the kind and helpful
physicians and surgeons working all
hours and for one sole purpose, the
comfort Of their brothers who are