The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-03-15
Sergeant Nichols Told Vivid
Tale of Battle Line
SCALDED PRO GERMANS
Dr.. {. Bushnell Talked STRAIGHT
Americanism At the kato
Armory

SeISedAI H. IL. NICHOLS OF the
Second Canadian Battalion, recent
ly returned from two years active
service on the western battlefront,
and who bears seven wounds re-
ceived in battle, gave thrilling de-
scription of life at the front to a
very large audience at the armory
last evening. DR.. j. E. Bushnell of
Minneapolis accompanied the SER
geant, and also gave an interesting
| address, both speakers showing the
absolute need of America backing
the soldiers to the utmost if the
world war is to be won for democ-
racy. The MEETING was primarily
to show the Importance of the pres
ent campaign for the sale of war
savings stamps and thrift stamps.
Seated on the stage were the
speakers, R. E. Brown, chairman of
the B;ue Earth county campaign
work, G.. M. Palmer. president of
the county Red Cross organization,
and Attorney J. E. Regain, vice
president for Rlue Earth county of
the America First association.
Mr.. Palmer presided and intro
duced the speakers. He stated that
he was undeservedly honored by
being asked to preside, and was TAX
ing the place of R. E. Brown, chair
man of the county war savings work
who had modestly declined to pre-
side. He told of the unceasing lab
ors of Mr.. Brown, who was deter
mined to make the campaign in Blue
Earth county great success.
we are here to learn more about
the conditions in America and
abroad said Mr.. Palmer. 1--WE want
to know more about them and what
our own boys will have to face. We
have speaker here tonight who
spent two years over there being
one of the first Canadian bows to go
over He then introduced Sergeant
NICHOLS, who was enthusiastically
greeted
Struck From the Shoulder.
Sergeant Nichols who undoubted-
ly was one of the finest young men
OF Canada when he enlisted at the
outbreak, of the war. gave his audi
ence heart-to- heart talk, and did
not use bit of camouflage when
explaining what he had seen at the
front.
Offer Made BY Canada.
Back in 1914, when the call of
war began" said he, Canada offered
the mother country something like
lS,OO0 men. The offer was accept
ed and voluntary enlistment at once
began. Thousands of men immedf-
ately enlisted, and those who were
accepted had to be picked men, per-
feet in every way. We were sent
to camp in a place where it was un-
broken brush, and in the course of a
few days had transformed it into a
real army camp, with main streets
and other modern things, even to a
moving picture show. That picture
show was to have change of pro-
gram every day, but once he thought
ne would slip one over on the bows
ana gave the same show twice.
consequence. moving picture man
dlscharge-exit moving picture
snow. Thirty-three transports were
required to take us overseas. On
some of them the soldiers were
treated fine, but we were unluckv
and received poor treatment. al
.nough our government was paying
for the best. The transport was
owned by Scotch-Jews' quite a COM
olnation, and they were out for what
money was in it. We got to England
and arrived 1T Davenport harbor
The people had received word that
the Canadians had arrived, and had
congregated at the docks to cheer
us. The people gave us good things
TO eat, which we got aboard by
means of rope thrown over the
side OF the ship, to which they tied
the parcels. One night we en-
parked and marched in to the town.
The people had gone to bed, but the
sound of 1000 men, with iron plates
on their shoes marching on the
pavement awok everyone, and they
came out to cheer us.
wouldn't Let Girls Kiss Them.
me English girls came out to
KISS the boys" owned the sergeant
modestly, but the Canadian bows
are shy and wouldn't let them. When
we marched into the camp grounds
1t was beautiful day, Just like
Florida weather. Later we were or
dered to France, and took a long
".
we landed in France we were ALI
given coats, donated by a nobleman
of Russia. After marching ashore
we got on the freight cars and were
taken toward the battle front. We
were not allowed to drink the wat
er at streams or wells, as we were
told 1t had been poisoned by the
Germans. When we got to our des-
tination we found that we had to
wade in mud knee deep to get into
our quarters. The next day we had
drill, and after few days the or
der came to Move up sixteen miles,
On those marches we learned to ap-
preciated the good wooden socks.
nome made onas. The machine
made socks are no good.
Knit WOODEN Socks,
Just do one Of these marches for
la few miles il you can and see
what viii han9An - ~sssssss ss>4 s'sss.----s