The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-06-03
FIRST DIVISION AT FRONT
MANkATO MEN WERE MEM
BERS OF CONTINGENT
Society Organized and Battle
Dates Are Going to Be OBJ
served In Future

Thrllllng moving pictures OF the
members of the famous First di-
vision close up in action against the
German forces, will be shown in
Mankato in the near future. these
pictures were takeei right in the
midst of the heaviest fighting of the
war, with the aid of tanks, where
the photographer was protected from
the rain Of shot and shell. Head :
quarters OF the First division, To-
Gated at Camp Dix. n. j., have sent
out number of films taken by the
members OF the signal corps of that
division. These are said to be the
best action" pictures now in exist
in five of the decisive battles of the
World war Plans are now under
way 10 show these pictures in Mime
apolis and later in Mankato.
Among the members of the fighting
First division in and about Man
kato are: Edwin and Edward Krue-
ger of Rapidan, who served in the
Headquarters company of the Six
teenth Infantry; Alexius Parlova, a
member of the Fifth Field artillery,
Nicholas Kiffe, a member OF the Sixth
Field, artillery; Cecil Wench, a
member of the Fifth Field artillery;
Kenneth Hoerr of A company, Six
teenth infantry; and E. d. Gordon of
l. company Sixteenth infantry.
Society of First Division.
What is now known as the Society
of the First Division. was organized
soon after the American troops first
entered Germany, for the purpose of
prepetuating the memory of the divi-
sion, and the deeds done by its mem
bers. The organization now consists
of the present members stationed at
Camp Dix, N. j., and all of the ex-
So far the society has erected five
monuments on five of the great bat
tie fields of the World war. where
Americans, took no little part in
turning the tide of battle in favor of
the allies Those monuments are
about thirty five feet in height and
were DESIGNED by the American
sculptor Davidson at Paris. An
American Eagle with dropping wings
over a base of shells. and a bronze
tablet bearing the names Of the
particular battle make up these
monuments. These monuments were
erected at cost of 100000. the
money being raised by the division
while it was overseas. AT the pres
ent time steps are under way to erect
monument at Washington, d. c.
Congress has already granted space
for the monument on the grounds
near the capitol building. So far a
fund of $4,000 has been raised for
that purpose, but the aid of the divi-
sion is to raise a fund of $150,000 for
that purpose. Before leaving France
a fund of $4,000 was placed in trust
there to pay the French people for
keeping up and identifying the
grounds around the monuments erect
ed to the memory of the American
soldiers who laid down their lives
on the five great battlefields of the
World war. III
The Official Publication.
The Official publication of the di-
vision is The Bridgehead Sentinel,
the publication of which was first
started in Germany while the Amer
lean troops were stationed there
and since then the headquarters OF
the publication have been established
at Camp Dix, N. ]. This publication
is boosting the organization of branch
societies of the First Division in as
many states as possible. Already ten
planned to establish sub organiza-
lions in different towns in the states.
In the near future It Is planned to
form such an organization in Man
kato. E. D. Gordon who attended the
state meeting at Minneapolis, on
Cantigney anniversary Saturday, May
%, says that in all probability in
stead of holding the five meetings of
the year in Minneapolis. at least one
of the meetings will be held in Man
katn