Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-04-19
CLERGYMAN
FROM U. 5.
D|E:FIES hun
New bedford, Mass, Priest
Wins Affection of Sol
diers In Front Line e
Trenches; Youthful Bank
ere Proves Her0ism.
AMERICANS HELP
FRENCH IN ATTACK
rBy As.ociatsd Pres. stafr

lBy Associated Press stan
Correspondent1
With the American Army in France,
April 17.-(Delayed) &c Commanders Of
units who participated in the several
days fighting last week in company
with the French in the Apremont
wood sector are finding it dimcult to
pick out men who especially distin-
guished themselves In the operations.
One commander said that every man
acted like hero and 1t was hard to
choose the most deserving cases.
One Of the most popular men with
the soldiers on this sector is the Rev.
Des Wales, a Roman Catholic priest
Of New Bedford, Mass, who is living
with the men in an unofdcial capacity.
having come to France as q repre-
sentativelof the knights Of Columbus.
PRIEST BRAVES SHELLS
When the attacks began Father
Des Wales. Drawing the dangers Of
sheii and machine gun fire, went to
the casualty clearing station near the
front line to administer to the wound
ed. He assisted in dressing the in
juries Of the soldiers and gave to
each man q word Of cheer. He handed
out cigarettes to the men who
smoked.
Hes % game AZ they make 'em
and every iAch Z soldier" said .
dough boy, while other soldiers spohsss
Of the ins1tZption furnished by stAA -
priest. ~ s. !; ssf,s.'' III s11sYs ss II S
Another popular man II = Young
banker Of Springfield, Mass, who wac
pressed into service as q Stretcher
bearer. He was the smallest man in
the outfit and after several trips be-
came so exhausted he was unable to
hold stretcher. He refused to give
up and had his companions tie the
stretcher to his wrists with rope 80
as to enable him to hold 1t on the
journey from the front line to the
dressing station.
! HELP FRENCH IN ATTACKS
Twice in twenty-four hours an
American company assisted French
troops, in a neighboring sector to re-
gain trenches temporarily taken by
the Germans. The. company was led
by captain who took his troops over
the top in the face Of the most violent
machine gun and artillery hre. Each
time he succeeded in driving out the
enemy and infiicting heavy casualties
and then In strengthening the posi-
tons.
CORPORAL DIES FIGHTING
A most pathetic story from the
American lines is that of a young cor
poral who was wounded fatally after
fighting for four hours. A piece OF
shrapnel struck him in the head. He
had grenade in each hand. Giving
them to his companion he said:
II guess I'm done. Please write to
my mother and tell her how it hap
pened. But here-take these grenades
and for Gods sake don't waste them. "
The corporal fell in faint and died
in hospital the next day without re-
gaining consciousness.
"coME ON AND FIGHT"
At one point on this sector there was
space Of only fifteen yards between
the opposing trenches. A day before an
attack the Germans threw note into
the American trenches. It read:
what are you? Canadians or Aus
tralians?"
Come over and find out" was the
reply thrown back by an American sol
der. The infantryman VINO related the
incident added:
"I guess they know who we are now
and they will not be likely to forget 1t
for some time"
HERO SAVES COMRADES
One lieutenant in listening post
with small party Of men was cut OF
from the remainder Of the platoon In
Fridays attack. He tried to send up
rockets to signal an American barrage
but the rockets failed to work. A pri-
vate then volunteered to run back with
the message. He passed through three
lines Of barrage fire without being
harmed and delivered the message.
The American gunners laid down a
barrage Immediately and saved the
lieutenant and his party from the
bands Of superior force of the enemy
which was headed In their direction.