Anoka City (part 1 of 3)

State Bank Of Bethel

Anderson, Betsey Anderson, Carl Anderson, August Anderson, Marshall Anderson, Harry Anderson, Bert Andrews, John Ahl, Alex Beck, Win. Bird, R. L. Fenson, Axel Bergquist, John Bryant, Chas. Bradeen, R. A. Bodine, \'. G. Bennett, E. A. Breyen, L. J. Carlstedt, A. B. Clark, Thomas A. Carlson, C. M. .

Anoka State Bank

Blanchard, Albin Coulter, Chas. Caswell, Arthur A. CiUey, A. G. Carlson, Swan Car!son, John A. Carlson, H. H. Cram, J. E. Cassel, N. A. Chase, A. W. Cameron, Chas. Carlson, Frank Clarke, Wm. Clenn, Ole Carlson, Hulda Cramer, L. C. Crandall, James H. Colburn, Gravdon B. Collison, C. E. Caswell, I. A. Caswell, Mrs. I. A. Cutter, Mrs. Mary S.

October 7th election of officers to the local chapter of the Red Cross occured. A. E. Giddings was re-elected chairman Mrs- A. R. Woodmansee secretary and Frank L. Salter treasurer. Four out of town auxiliaries sent representatives to the meeting, Mrs. Cable representing Centerville, Mrs. Rootes, Twin Lakes; Mrs. Hare, Nowthen, and Mrs. Bradley, Sunset Auxiliary.

EtEUTENANT ELY, it U otin reverently to acknowledge the lervice youh»ve rendered. - ^ To your country and our*, you gave aH you had to give, a life, young and buoyant, offered when you had but juil arrived at tife't fulleit under- - and more than thii no man can give.

Bui in the givinft, »ir, you gave ai weD the oulpoor of your -tout young heart - '.ha', all of u» to whom you paw along the touch might offer prayA, and carry on in better xindent&nding of that ennobled caute for which no tacrifice thall be in vain.

Some of u* are far behind tho fighting line* of France to4)ay. For circunutanoe haa made two battle line*, and there must he therefore ihote gone to fight, and otheri kept behind to carry on athome.

went to the poit thai day. that your lait letter to ihote proud parent! you left back home contained a mettage not alone for them, but».itmple and sincere, for all your countrymen ai well.

It did, indeed, for you uncovered the heart of all A merica when you wrote, "/ want to lay in ctoging. if anything happens to me let'* have no mourning in tpiril or in dieii, for like a Liberty Bond, it ia an invettment, not a lost, when a man diet for hii coanlry."

Do ytm think, LieutetWDt Ely. that we ihall »oon forget your admonition - or thai we ihaJI not proudly (abacribe for all we powibly cAn of yoyr country'! Liberty Bond», which you to nobly glorified?

Indeed, we can do no leu, for it secma to ui that e«c9) aubacnption bUnk niuit bear your p&rting aalatatian - "for like a Ltberty Bond, it ia an inveatment, not a loaa, when a bad <bea for hia country."

A Proclamation

"Believing that all our Citizens should, in some public way, show to the World that we are standing loyally behind 'Our Boys,' who are giving their all, to make the World safe for democracy, I do hereby designate the time of 12 o'clock noon each day during the continuance of the war for such a showing, and respectfully request and urge all our Citizens to stand still for two minutes, as a loving tribute to our men in the battle front and on the seas." JAMES B. BERRY, Mayor.

Buy United States Government Bonds Of The Fourth Lxbe B. T V Loan

The questionaires which the government required that each registrant fill out and swear to, were very lengthy documents and as complicated as they could well be made.

Many of the registrants had great difficulty in filling them out properly, members of the Legal Advisory Board being called upon to such an extent that it seemed best to ask that a volunteer Questionaire Clerical Force be on duty each day and evening to assist in this work.

Questionaire Clerical Force

On the evening of October 12th a forest fire, which had been burning in Aitkin County in the peat bogs and underbrush for some weeks, was fanned by a high wind and swept east over Aitkin, Carlton and a part of Pine and St. Louis Counties, destroying millions of dollars' worth of property and taking the lives of probably a thousand people. The exact number will never be known as many perished in the lakes, marshes and rivers, and their bodies will never be recovered. Others were burned until not a coat button remained.

commanding officer of the 12th soon after midnight. Captain Charles F. Krueger of Company "H" at Hinckley, telephoned asking for orders, in view of the situation. He was directed to have a special freight train made up, call out his company, provide them with two days' emergency rations and blankets, and proceed to the fire district, take charge of the situation and report. He carried out his instructions so well, and the women of Hinckley and Pine City co-operated with hot coffee and food so splendidly, that, when hig^her military authority reached Moose Lake, some ten or twelve hours later, there was an emergency hospital in operation, rescue work was under way, telephone connection had been established and the rapidly increasing forces were able to begin active work in the more remote burned districts.

Sunday afternoon there came a demand for light motor trucks to bring in the dead and injured. Governor and Mrs. Burnquist were at the scene of the disaster and Adjutant General Rhinow was organizing the forces for the most efficient work possible. But it was Sunday and trucks were badly needed but seemingly could not be had.

Captain Arthur L. Reed, Company "A" of Anoka, was directed to call his company for active duty and to get eight light trucks somewhere. He secured ten, had a local garage opened, filled up the machines with gas and oil, and, in an hour and a half was on the way to Moose Lake. The trip was indeed a strenuous one. The night was cold, the roads were rough and the air was so saturated with fog and smoke that cars were not visible ten or fifteen feet apart. The company traveled all night and well into the next morning, arriving at Moose Lake in time to be, by several hours, the first motor unit in the state to reach the scene of the disaster. Untiring press agents of other units have sought to claim the credit for having been first on the scene of disaster and have gained a great deal of publicity for their organizations. However, the above are the facts presented for the information of those who prefer the facts.

Captain Reed was immediately placed in charge of all the Home Guard companies on duty at Moose Lake and so well did he and the men under his command do the work assigned to them, that, a month and more after they had left for home, thankful refugees told the battalion commander of the 12th that "the Home Guard brought in the dead and buried them, brought in the injured and helped them, cleared up the streets and highways of debris, fought fire, put up temporary shelters for homeless people, repaired the light and telephone systems, and did the real work; the National Guard ("Home Guarders themselves but the month before") kept order and the Motor Corps was among those present."

This is too severe upon the last two named organizations, as all of the state troops did great service in the fire district and the home people have every reason to feel satisfied with their efforts.

Bugler

Meanwhile Company "F" from Rock Creek, Company "D" from Cambridge, and Company "G" from North Branch, had been ordered to Moose Lake, rosters of the officers and men follow as a matter of record:

Second Lieutenant

Lieutenant A. A. Kranhold was ordered to the office of the Adjutant General at St. Paul and made superintendent of transportation. He was on duty there a week.

On October 15th the C. O. of the 12th, the remainder of the staff and Company "B" of Columbia Heights, Company "C" of Elk River and Company "E" of Osseo were ordered to make another all night drive to the Village of Aitkin where fire was menacing the town and refugees needed aid.

This organization was given the care of all territory west of the Village of Lawler and remained in charge of the situation there until relieved on November 2nd. The Tenth, and Eighteenth Battalions of Home Guards and several fragments of other units were also placed under the above command. Special mention should here be made of the meritorious work of Captain Frank H. Koos who served as intelligence officer, Captain George H. Tyler, in charge of Military Police, Captain M. E. Bean, as acting Adjutant; Lieutenant, Medical, F. E. Vrooman and Lieutenant J. C. W. Sellers, Supply Officer, who purchased the supplies for not only the territory assigned to the 12th but of the Lawler fire district as well. It was the intelligent co-operation of these officers, the remarkable energy and admirable team work of the men under them, and the aid of the townspeople of Aitkin that made possible any success which may have attended the efforts of the Guard in the Aitkin fire district.

First Sergeant

As the state had done nothing to equip the men of the 12th, this strenuous service found them not properly prepared. Spanish influenza was prevalent over the entire state. Overw^ork at tasks to which they were not accustomed and exposure resulted in the deaths of three men of the Battahon. Bn. Color Sergeant W. H. Rand of Big Lake; Private C. D. Kaliher of Elk River and Private C. W. Robertson of Hinckley, died after returning to their home stations. Two hundred and ten men of the command were ill with influenza and pneumonia after returning to their homes. That there was no illness and no accidents while the men were actually on duty is little short of a miracle in view of the conditions which prevailed.

As the true magnitude of the disaster became known over the state a number of men volunteered to go to the fire zone to aid. These men arrived at a time when most of those on dutv were worn out

All That Remained Oj The Village Of Automba After The Forest Fire

The generous people of Anoka could be depended upon not to overlook this opportunity to aid the suft'ering refugees. Mayor Berry requested George D. Hilliard to take up a collection. He did so and the money was sent to Governor Burnquist for relief work. Anoka was again the first on the job in this matter, and a Duluth paper found its way into the fire district and told the people there that Anoka had extended the hand of sympathy with more than a thousand dollars for them. If the givers of this money could have been at the little Village of Automba a few days after, where every sign of human habitation had been destroyed, and heard some of the refugees who had lost their all, thank an Anoka officer of the Home Guard for what they had just read about Anoka's generositj^ they would have felt well repaid for their kindly impulse.

Funeral For Victims Of The Forest Fire At Moose Lake

As several Anoka County men were serving in the now famous 42nd Division in France, this tribute to these men from the commanding officer of the Division is reprinted:

A year has elapsed since the formation of your organization. It is, therefore, fitting to consider what you have accomplished as a combat division and what you should prepare to accomplish in the future.

Your first elements entered the trenches in Lorraine on February 21st. You served on that front for 110 days. You were the first American division to hold a divisional sector and when you left the sector June 21st, you had served continuously as a division in the trenches for a longer time than any other American division. Although you entered the sector without experience in actual warfare, you so conducted yourselves as to win the respect and affection of the French veterans with whom you fought. Under gas and bombardment, in raids, in patrols, in the heat of hand to hand combat and in the long dull hours of trench routine so trying to a soldier's spirit, you bore yourselves in a manner worthy of the traditions of our country.

You were withdrawn from Lorraine and moved immediately to the Champagne front where during the critical days from July 14th to July 18th, you had the honor of being the only American division to fight in General Gouraud's army which so gloriously obeyed his order, "We will stand or die," and by its iron defense crushed the German assault and made possible the offensive of July 18th to the west of Rheims.

From Champagne you were called to take part in exploiting the success north of the Marne. Fresh from the battle front before Chalons, you were thrown against the picked troops of Germany. For eight consecutive days, you attacked skillfully prepared positions. You captured great stores of arms and munitions. You forced the crossings of the Ourcq. You took Hill 212, Sergy, Meurcy, Ferme and Seringes by assault. You drove the enemy, including an Imperial Guard Division, before you for a depth of fifteen kilometers. When your infantry was relieved, it was in full pursuit of the retreating Germans and your artillery continued to progress and support another American division in the advance to the Vesle.

formally commended in General Orders by the French Army Corps under which you served. For your services in Champagne, your assembled officers received the personal thanks and commendation of General Gouraud, himself. For your services on the Ourcq, your division was officially complimented in a letter from the Commanding General, 1st Army Corps, of July 28th, 1918.

To your success, all ranks and all services have contributed, and I desire to express to every man in the command my appreciation of his devoted and courageous effort.

However, our position places a burden of responsibility upon us which we must strive to bear steadily forward without faltering. To our comrades who have fallen, we owe the sacred obligation of maintaining the reputation which they died to establish. The influence of our performance on our allies and our enemies cannot be overestimated for we were one of the first divisions sent from our country to France to show the world that Americans can fight.

Hard battles and long campaigns lie before us. Only by ceaseless vigilance and tireless preparation can we fit ourselves for them. I urge you, therefore, to approach the future with confidence but above all with firm determination that so far as it is in your power you will spare no effort whether in training or in combat to maintain the record of our division and the honor of our country.

Charfes T. Menoher

On several occasions during the past week it was my good fortune to have detailed to me men from Company "A" to fight fires along the Kettle River near Moose Lake, Minnesota.

This letter is written to you in appreciation ol the excellent services rendered by the men of the above mentioned company. They were untiring in their efforts and did cheerfully all the work they were called on to do.

1. Private 1-c Elon W. Tollin 146,343 Battery P, 151st Field Artillery, on September 21st, 1918, displayed extraordinary courage and devotion to service. While under heavy shell-fire from the enemy artillery, he assisted in repairing telephone lines and maintaining essential telephone communication.

At this time there were forty-eight Junior Red Cross auxiliaries in Anoka County. They were busy making an allotment of three hundred property ba^'s for soldiers in hospitals. Miss Anna Brezler was the county chairman for this energetic organization.

Miss Anna Brezler

The drive for funds for the Seven War Activities was arranged for November 11th to 18th. The chairman was L. O. Jacob, vice-chairman, W. A. Blanchard; vice-chairman, J. P. Coleman and trea- the irritating news that the report was not true and everybody went back to work confident that peace was but a few days away anyhow. When the authentic news did arrive in Anoka, about three o'clock on the morning of November 11th, pandemonium J. P. COLEMAN certainly reigned in the old town. The first news was spread bj' means of the fire and church bells. These rang steadily and vigorously. With each hour the enthusiasm increased. When the first papers reached town at seven o'clock telling that German Willie, his rabbit faced spawn, and all the lesser brood had fled into Holland, the uproar increased.

Very few people made any pretense of going to work. Dignified business men left the doors of their shops swinging and were out yelling on the streets. Wild war whoops echoed among the sedate residences along Ferry Street. Bon fires were lit. Old Glory soon flew from every store and home. Automobiles were decorated with flags. Dynamite, exploding along the river, shook the windows.

Company "A" under command of Capt. A. L. Reed, turned out and paraded the streets. The employees of the Lincoln mill were on parade with flags. The pupils of the public schools next_ appeared_ flag laden, and gaily decorated automobiles with joyous occupants honked about.

At two in the afternoon another parade, the largest by far ever seen in Anoka, took place. It was led by a fife and drum corps, Company "A" Red Cross nurses, members of the G. A. R., pupils of the schools, and a vast crowd in automobiles and on foot.

Private Albert Walter Peterson, of Ramsey township, died in the service of his country at Camp Cody on November Sth. Death was due to influenza. He had left Anoka with a quota of men on October 22nd. The funeral was held November 11th at the Swedish Lutheran church and burial was at Oakwood cemetery.

Private Oscar V. Engbloom died at sea on his way to France on October 6th. He had been sent from Anoka on August 9th to Camp McArthur, Texas. The funeral was held from his home in Burns, November 7th and a detail from Co. "C" of Elk River was present as a guard of honor. Burial was in the Burns cemetery.

At the November election, Minnesota's war governor, J. A. A. Burnquist was re-elected by a large majority. In Anoka County he received 1,490 votes. The Democratic candidate received 577, the Socialist 40 and the Hun-partisan, 309.

Miss Cleo McLean was one of the young ladies, thirty-two in number from Minnesota, Montana and the Dakotas, who bad been training for service in France with the Girl's Red Cross Motor Corps.

The Electric Line gave a load of fuel to the Red Cross in November and an Eastern Star food sale resulted in $26.57 for that same organization.

The Third ward, with a committee consisting of V. C. Beasecker, Gus Peterson, E. P. Babcock, John Vader, S. A. Parker, Harry Nelson, T. G. Pease, Herman Case and J. P. Coleman, was the first to report having oversubscribed its quota in the War Activities campaign. Centerville reported its allotment subscribed and paid in full.

The death from disease, while in the service of his country in France, of Axel Stromgren, was reported late in November. He died September 20th.

Private Frank C. Schuldt of Burns township appeared on the casualty list of December 1st, having died of disease while in the service of his country.

On Saturday, the last day of November, all Anoka County felt the loss of a personal friend when confirmation was received of the death of First Lieutenant Edward B. Cutter in action in France. It had been reported some daj's previously that he was missing in action, and this generally meant for aviators the supreme sacrifice. But all had hoped, until a letter was received by his mother on November 30th that her only surviving son had died a hero's death.

Long before this letter can reach you, you will have received official word of the death in action of your son, First Lieutenant Edward B. Cutter, on the 21st of October, 1918.

That day was an important one in the Verdun offensive, which is now reaching such a splendid culmination. We received an urgent message from the Corps Commander requesting that a plane be sent over the German lines to ascertain the enemy's power of launching a counter attack. Lieutenant Cutter and his pilot Lieutenant Hugh Broomfield, were next on the alerte list, and in spite of the unfavorable weather, were eager to go. The sky was full of low lying clouds with open spaces between them, a condition which favors surprise attacks by enemy planes and machine gun fire from the ground. They left our airdrome (then at Souilly) at about ten o'clock. When they had failed to return at twelve o'clock we made inquiries of all balloon and ground units that could be reached by telephone and learned that an allied plane had been seen to fall at about 11:15, in the sector over which they had been operating, within the German lines. Our investigation was thus suspended, and although this report caused us much anxiety we hoped that we would hear that our comrades were safe, even though prisoners in Germany.

A few days ago our lines advanced again so as to comprise the territory over which they had flown. We immediately caused the distribution of the enclosed circular, 500 copies, and on the morning of November 7th received a telephone message stating that a wrecked plane was lying at the point in question. Our Squadron Surgeon, First Lieutenant J. J. Livingston, volunteered to go at once to the spot. They set out at noon on the 7th, passing through Montfaucon, and reaching Cunel over mired and shattered roads, exposed to enemy artillery fire after night fall. On the morning of the 8th, yesterday, they found the plane and nearby the graves of our two comrades. The bodies were carefully removed under Dr. Livingston's directions, and he tells me that there is no question about their identity, which is established by the temporary markers, and the identification tags. They were carried in our ambulance to Evacuation Flospital No. 6, located at Souilly (on the road between Bar-le-Duc and Verdun) where they arrived yesterday evening. This afternoon Lieutenant Foster and I, representing the Squadron, went to Souilly and attended the funeral and burial service. The only available Chaplain was the Rev. J. H. O'Mahoney, of the Catholic diocese of New York City, an excellent and broad minded priest, who was glad, at my request, to read the Protestant service from my Episcopal prayer book. We saw that the marker was properly inscribed at the head of the grave before we left. The grave is No. 90, plot No. 2, Section D, American Cemetery at Souilly-sur-Meuse, and the cemetery adjoins Evacuation Hospital No. 6 at that place.

Lieutenant Cutter joined our Squadron on the 24th of September. He immediately began his active career as an observer at the front, and after a very few hours over the lines made his reputation solid among us as those of observers who had been at the front months instead of weeks. Until the time of his loss I was his flight commander, and Captain Schauffler (now commanding the Third Observation Group of which squadron is a part) was our commanding officer. We frequently had occasion to comment upon his keenness and skill as an observer, after missions in which he brought back full and accurate reports under adverse conditions of weather and enemy fire from the ground. It was on just such a mission that he and Lieutenant Broomfield were lost to us. Of Lieutenant Broomfield I am glad to say that he was without question one of our most expert pilots, and I am therefore certain that nothing was left vmdone by either of them which the utmost skill could do. Their last flight was not only in keeping with the traditions which have grown about the 90th Squadron, it has added to and enhanced them. They and their work will remain ever fresh in our memories and memories are made long of friendships and associations formed in danger faced together.

Lieutenant Cutter was as much enjoyed and liked as a friend as he was sought after as an observer. He was like me, a lawyer, and I judged after a short acquaintance with him, that he brought to his profession a trained and finely balanced mind. Though he was not given to discussing religious matters, we all felt that he was a man of strong Christian convictions. It is pleasant to us to recall that he spent some time reading his testament the night before his loss. The ideal nature of his private thoughts was also revealed to us by some verses inscribed on a slip of paper which fell from his diary when his friend, Lieutenant Foster, was arranging his effects. Lieutenant Foster tells me that he is sending this paper to you in his letter of today.

Now the great war seems to be drawing to a glorious close. We of the 90th feel that no single officer has contributed more of unselfish devotion to duty in waging it than your son and our comrade, Lieutenant Cutter, and we are proud of his death as we are proud of his life with us.

Norris E. Pierson

For the Squadron and myself, I send you the warmest sympathy in your great loss, and am believe me. Ever sincerely yours, NORRIS E. PIERSON, First Lieutenant, A. S., U. S. A., Commanding

A food sale given by the ladies of the G. A. R. for Red Cross, made $14.00, and the last of the series of entertainments arranged by Mrs. J. S. Lawson raised the suras from this source to nearly two hundred dollars. At this last entertainment Miss Maria Sanford gave a lecture. She was eightytwo years of age. The club women of Anoka presented this remarkable lady with that number of carnations at the close of the entertainment. On the program were Miss Dora Kohen, and Miss Eulalie Chenevert. Mesdames Sellers and Burnett ushered.

The Red Cross rooms at the Armory were closed until the sixth of January in order to give the women an opportunity to rest until that time and enjoy the holidays.

As the men who had gone to the colors began to return it was the busines of those who stayed at home to see to it that a job was ready for them. On December 24th, John Palmer of the Anoka County Public Safety Commission announced the appointment of L. O. Jacobs to have charge of getting the soldier and the job in touch with one another.

Former employees of soldiers were urged to reemploy them and those wishing help were asked to make known the fact. Places were found for men, who wished work, very rapidly.

On the long casualty lists published the last of December, there, under severely wounded, the names of Privates Myron A. Faber, Clayton A. Porter, Herman M. Lange.

Of interest to Anoka people will be an incident related by a Minneapolis minister in writing to friends from London. He stated that, on the day the armistice was signed, he was in Trafalgar Square. A big Yankee soldier climb a lamp post and announced to any who cared to know that he was "from Anoka, Minnesota." Possibly some one who reads these lines may be able to identify the chap. The last casualty lists at the close of the year contained the names of Sergeant Levi J. Merrill, Private Samuel T. Berg. Private Felix Peter Domler and Private .Xndrew Dahlstrom as severely wounded.

Rev. Thomas W. Barbour was placed in charge of the Home Service Department of the Red Cross to aid returning soldiers who might need assistance.

Dr. and Mrs. F. E. Vrooman of St. Francis were among the first to give a "welcome home" feed for the returning soldiers. They had as guests Messrs. Stewart Robinson, Alfred Shadick, George Stewart, Albert Rodgers, Ray Nelson, Ernest Shadick, Clarence Schwab, all of whom had been discharged except Nelson and Schwab who were at home on furlough.

Rev. T. W. Barrour

Company "A" of the 12th Bn. MHG gave the annual dance at the armory New Year's Eve and it was truly an evening of jollification. Returning soldiers were there to a considerable extent and the fact that more were on the way home lent greater joi^ to the occasion.

1. I have for acknowledgment final report of ygur Battalion during the recent forest fires in northern Minnesota, which I find indeed complete.

2. In this connection I should like to express my appreciation, and I am confident His Excellency, the Governor, would concur with me, of the splendidly thorough and self-sacrificing work accomplished by the state troops in general, but mention as especially commendable the rapidity and alacrity with which Companies "A" and "H", your command, responded to the call of necessity, and the unselfish and untiring manner in which they performed the tasks they were called upon to meet. The co-operation of the boys mitigated in a great measure the appalling features of the great catastrophe, and I wish you would pass on to them the assurance that their efforts are recorded with just esteem.

John Palmer, as chairman of the Anoka County Public Safety Commission, announced, January 7th, that there would be a campaign for funds during the week of January 12th to 19th for the relief of Armenian and Syrian sufferers from the war.

The armistice had by no means stopped Red Cross work. During December a large box of linen for France, 600 pairs of socks, 100 sweaters, 300 property bags, and 78 hospital story books were sent from Anoka, the last tv\'o items being sent by the Junior Red Cross.

By the middle of January Anoka was well on its way back to a pre-war basis. It was announced that there was no longer any danger of a fuel shortage. The public library was opened afternoons as before the fuel shortage had its vogue. The Lincoln mill was being remodeled within in order to again grind the flour for which it is famous, the Beasecker Harness factory was back on a peace basis after having made 9,000 harnesses and 20,000 halters for the government.

The Red Cross Salvage Corps closed its store room on Second avenue and the Anoka Chapter of the Red Cross began to call in the knitted articles being completed by the auxiliaries of the county.

Time for the collection of funds for the Armenians and Syrians was extended. Rev. T. W. Barbour was made chairman of the local committee, L. O. Jacob, secretary and George W. Green, treasurer.

ington of the death from wounds of Henry Wuest of Anoka. He left Anoka June 28th, 1918, and was at Camp Grant and Camp Upton before sailing for France. The last letter which relatives received from him was dated October 18th, his locality at that time, of course, not being given.

The name of First Lieutenant Edward B. Cutter, January 20th, appeared on a list of American officers cited for bravery in action and to whom the American war medal was to be llMllllll awarded.

For several weeks men had been returning from training camps so rapidly that one could not keep track of them all. And yet their delighted relatives and friends gave them a mighty cordial welcome W ^B^^t^KB and many a home was the scene of festivities unknown there for a year or more. During the week GEORGE W. GREEN of January 25th the following, old members of Company "B" reached the home town from overseas:

Receipts

Chairman W. J. Annon of the War Savings Stamp committee made his final report for the year late in January. It was impossible to make a complete list of all who had invested in these little securities as many had done so without giving their names to the committees, many had purchased them outside of Anoka County and some, very unfortunately, felt their interest in Uncle Sam's welfare cooling to such an extent that they actually cashed in their stamps at the local postoffice. While these last people were within their rights in doing this, they were certainly far from patriotic in their behavior as they merely put the government to more expense in the matter and did not retain their investment long enough to be of any service to the government. Some even disposed of their stamps and deposited the money in the banks for no apparent reason at all.

In the report from Mr. Annon given below Columbia Heights is not included as a great many people there purchased their stam.ps in Minneapolis. However, it may be ^^^^^^u|v |g|r 1 taken for granted that that * "*" village did fully as well as the rest of the county.

January 28th the annual dinner of the Commercial Club was made a gala event in honor of members who had returned from cantonments and overseas. A silent tribute was given to Lieutenant Cutter and the other Anoka County men who had given their lives for their country and Lieutenant-Colonel A. F. Pratt told of his experiences since leaving Anoka in August of 1917.

In February Anoka relatives of men who still remained in Europe either waiting to return to America or as members of the army of occupation, received numerous letters telling of the battle experiences of these men and their comrades. Before this time the strict censorship had not been sufficiently relaxed to permit much of this.

As you know and maj'be expected a letter from us both some time ago but we were so busy traveling on Dad's Letter Day so we could not write but I will try to do the best I can now.

Since I left the United States, a year or more ago, I've been in Halifax, N. S., England, France, Belgium, Province of Luxemburg, and now we are located near the Rhine river, Germany, so I can say I have seen auite a bit of Europe. I sure would like to take a trip through the Scandinavian countries also.

During the time we were on the Lorraine front for a while and then we were rushed to the Champagne front for that awful battle of July 14th. At 12 o'clock, midnight of the 13th, it broke loose and it was just one continual rumble for about 24 hours and we won there as we did at Chateau Thierry, which was the next place we were shoved into, which was awful as it was so hot and the dead and decaying horses and men smelt something fierce. From there we went to the St. Alihiel front but it was easier there as there was not quite as much resistance as at the other places, but we were kept busy anyway. From there we went to the Argonne, the strongest of German strongholds which we also chased them out of in short order and from there to the Verdun front where we also had a battle royal. I only wish you could have heard the bombardment - it was fierce. After we had started to advance we could see the damage our shelling had done - in some places there was not over a few feet of earth that was not torn up; it was just like a plowed field, so you can imagine the sights and also the chances a man had in such a place. The last bombardment opened up right after midnight on October 31st, Milroy's birthday; it will sure be remenabered. From there we drove them beyond the Meuse river. We sure felt good when we started firing over the Meuse into the Sedan as that's the place France fought so hard for in 1770. From there we continued our march and are now near the Rhine and I am glad for one that we don't have to duck shells and look out for gas an}' more as it sure was a strain on a man's nerves. When I get home T can tell you more about it as tliere is an awful lot to tell yet.

Alilroy and T are both feeling fine now and getting fat again as we are being well fed and the oeople have treated us fine. T don't know how I talk any more; for a while T tried to talk French and now it's German which is easier tlian French was to me.

In the operation of the selective service there were not a great many who set up their being aliens as grounds for exemption from military service. There were some of course and the names of these may be^ found immediately following the four shameful affidavits recorded below.

That this action upon the part of these persons may be a matter of permanent record in Anoka County, copies of the sworn statements which they signed follow:

I, Carl Johan Robert Johnson, do solemnly swear that I reside at New Brighton, R. F. D. 1; that I am registered with the local board for .A^noka County, IMinnesota; that my order number is 887, and serial number is 325: and that I am a citizen or subject of Sweden which is neutral in the present war. I further swear that on the 17th day of February, 1915. I declared my intention to become a citizen of the United States in the District Court of Anoka County, at Anoka, ^Minnesota, under the name of Carl Johan Robert Johnson; that I hereby withdraw my intention to become a citizen of the United States, which withdrawal I understand shall operate and be held to cancel my declaration of intention to become a citizen of the United States in accordance with the act of congress approved July 9th, 1918; that I herewith surrender my duplicate copy of my intention to become a citizen of the United States, serial number 74.

I, Carl Oscar Albert Johnson, do solemly swear that I reside at 3605 jMonticello Avenue, Chicago, Illinois; that I am registered with the local draft board for Anoka County. jMinnesota; that my order number is 828; and serial number is 339: and that I am a citizen or subject of Sweden which is neutral in the present war. I further swear that on the 19th day of February, 1912, I declared my intention to become a citizen of the United States in the District Court of Anoka County at Anoka, Minnesota, under the name of Karl Osker Albert Johnson: that I hereb.v withdraw my intention to become a citizen of the United States, which withdrawal I understand shall operate and be held to cancel my declaration to become a citizen of the United States and shall forever debar me from becoming a citizen of the United States in accordance with the act of congress approved July 9th, 1918; that I herewith surrender my original duplicate copy of my declaration of intention to become a citizen of the United States, serial number 35.

I, Max Moiniier, do solemnly swear that T reside at Giroux, Manitoba, Canada; that I am registered with the local board for Anoka County. Minnesota, that my order number is 928, and serial number is 12; and that I am a citizen or subject of Switzerland which is neutral in the present war. I further swear that on the 6th c\a.y of April, 1916, I declared my intention to become a citizen of the United States in the District Court of Hennepin County, at ^Minneapolis, Minnesota, under the name of Marcel Mounier; that I hereby withdraw my intention to become a citizen of the United States, which withdrawal I understand shall operate and be held to cancel mv declaration of intention to become a citizen of the United vStatcs and shall forever debar me from becoming a citizen of the ITnited .States in accordance with the act of congress approved

I, Carl Oskar Bjorkman, do solemnly swear that I reside at New Brighton, Minnesota; that I am registered with the local draft board for Anoka County, Minnesota; that my order number is 638, and serial number is 346; and that I am a citizen or subject of Sweden which is neutral in the present war. I further swear that on the 5th day of December, 1914, I declared my intention to become a citizen of the United States in the District Court of Anoka County at Anoka, Minnesota, under the name of Carl Oskar Bjorkman; that I hereby withdraw my intention to become a citizen of the United States, which withdrawal I understand shall operate and be held to cancel my declaration of intention to become a citizen of the United States in accordance with the act zen of the United States and shall forever debar me from becoming a citizen of the United States in accordance with the act of congress approved July 9th, 1918, that I herewith surrender my original duplicate copy of my declaration of intention to become a citizen of the United States, serial number 69.

Picking up the story of the work of the Sammie Backers at the opening of the fall term of school, their activities may be thus summarized and completed with the roster of student membership which follows:

October 15th, 1918, the "Sammie Backers" re-organized. As before, an executive committee was appointed, which was composed of two seniors, Eunice Bailey, Harry Stewart; two juniors, Eleanor Piper, Paul Giddings; two sophomores, Jean Barrett, Wallace Larson; two freshmen, Helen Caine, Arthur Giddings. This committee selected Wallace Larson president, Eleanor Piper secretary, Helen Caine Treasurer.

November 20th fifty boxes of Thanksgiving goodies were mailed to the boys in the United States camps. At the same time Christmas letters were written and mailed to the boys in France.

December 10th Christmas letters were written and mailed to the boys in the United States training camps. The total number of Christmas letters mailed to the boys of the Anoka High School "over there" and "over here," which included those mailed November 20th and December 10th, was two hundred and fifty.

The Seniors chose for their especial war activity the publication of an eight-page paper. "Senior Shrapnel," for the boys in the service. Two issues were published the first semester and one the second. The members of the staff were Alia Humphrey, editor-in-chief; Gladys Turnquist, assistant editor; Helen Goodrich, business manager: Edith Brockway and Irene Bourgeois, camp reporters; Grace Ridge and Vera Miller, overseas reporters; Lillian Rydell and Ruth O'Connor, High School reporters. This staff and the "Sammie Backers" committee were associated in keeping an up to date record of the boys' addresses.

With The Colors From Anoka Couxty

To briefly summarize the work done by these people, in a little space, it will be remembered that the period covered was from February 1st to November 9th. Classes were organized and taught by Mrs. Sarah Fagundus and Mrs. P. E. Woodward who received their instructions and credentials from the Minneapolis Chapter of the A. R. C. The number in the classes was twenty-four. The graduates in Standard Surgical Dressings were: Mrs. J. C. W. Sellers, Mrs. G. K. Hagaman, Mrs. A. E. Giddings, Mrs. H. H. Carlson, Mrs. Harry Sherman, Mrs. L. J. Greenwald, Mrs. R. P. Chase, Mrs. W. A. Blanchard, Mrs. Lydia Wehlitz, Mrs. W. H. LaPlant. Mrs. G. J. Hastings, Mrs. G. W. Green, Mrs. Frank L. Salter, Mrs. W. F. Slater, Mrs. J. C. Johnson, Mrs. J. C. Erlander, Mrs. George Pearson, Mrs. Maud Burnett, Mrs. James Ward, Mrs. Oliver Snow, Mts. Roe Chase, Miss Wirz, Miss Edith Merrill, and Miss Amanda Moberg.

Library Hall was used until the cjuarters became too small. The main floor of the Jordan Block was then used and outfitted by gifts from local merchants. Called from the city, Mrs. Fagundus resigned her position and Mrs. A. E. Giddings was appointed Superintendent of the station with Al'rs. P. E. Woodward Head Instructor and Mrs. L. J. Greenwald Work Room Supervisor, assisted by the supervisors whose pictures appear herewith.

During the nine months of work, 16,480 dressings of all kinds were made, over half of which were the large pads and hand sewed bandages and dressings.

Of the 226 workers enrolled, 43 earned the first cross representing 32 hours of work, 20 the second cross representing 72 hours of work, and 10 the service iDar representing 128 hours, these credits being exclusive of all other time given to other war work.

This book would be by no means complete without special mention of the Junior Red Cross which was organized by the scliool teachers of the county imder the supervision of Miss Anna Brezler.

the organizers and, in most cases, a pupil was made treasurer. In so far as the information was obtainable, the following roster is correct.

Such splendid work was done by the twenty-eight rural auxiliaries of the Anoka County Chapter of the Red Cross and so many of the tireless workers were not actually members of the organization, that not only is place given here to the names of these auxiliaries, but rosters of the workers of each are appended:

The nurses' survey of Anoka County, undertaken as a part of the nation-wide campaign of the Red Cross in September and October, 1918, was in charge of Mrs. -A. E. Giddings. She was assisted by Mrs. F. E. Vrooman of St. Francis, Mrs. William Dye of Fridley and Mrs. J. F. Shaefer of Cedar.

All graduate and trained nurses and those having experience as practical nurses were required by order of the War Department to register in this survey whether they were able or not at that time to serve in that capacity. Complete questionaires were filled out and sent to the Northern Division of the Red Cross, thus furnishing information regarding nurses available in case of epidemics or other calamity.

Graduate And Trained Nurses

These, having completed the Red Cross course in Elementary Hygiene and home care of the sick were required to answer the questionaire: Miss Mary Coleman Miss Bertha Gow

There are a few men and women in Anoka County whose v\'ar services will never be recognized. All the recognition which these will ever have has been expressed in the formal thanks of the government which thanks they have received.

They are the persons who have aided the American secret service and the Department of Justice, aids of the American Protective League and of the Minnesota Commission of Public Safety.

Their deeds cannot be recounted in this book and their names may not be made public, but the service which they have rendered must be noted in a general way.

In the United States, during the war, there were 250,000 men giving their time to this sort of war work, and some of it was mighty near real work. From these sources the bureau of investigation of the Department of Justice averaged more than 1,500 reports and complaints a day. Nearly 40,000 slackers were rounded up and inducted into service. Deserters were apprehended, some in Anoka County, and turned over to the department. Pro-huns were watched, wheat hoarders detected, violators of the food regulations cautioned to be more circumspect and a general eye kept on any inclined to yearn for trouble.

The American Medical Women's Hospital Association had a representative in the city of Anoka in the person of Dr. Flora L. S. Aldrich. This association is composed of four thousand women a.nd these women managed, financed, equipped and staffed three large hospitals in Belgium, France and Serbia. All of the expenses of these three hospitals were met by these women and the work, undertaken at the out-break of the war, is still being continued under the direction of the Red Cross. Dr. Aldrich was state chairman for the Belgian Infant Relief committee.

The gathering of books and magazines to send to the soldiers for use during the very few idle hours in camp, was a service in which Anoka participated.

Dr. Flora L. S. Aldrich

Mrs. Goss had charge of the gathering of books to send to the camps. The first shipment consisted of 136 books and was sent on September 17th,

1917 to Camp Cody. Another large shipment soon followed. The last shipment was sent out December 1st, 1918 to the State Library Commission and brought the total number 'h'p\ of books collected and shipped up to 400.

G. H. Goodrich had charge of the gathering of magazines for this same purpose. He was assisted by an active committee and a ton of magazines were sent, largely to Camp Cody, some to Fort Snelling.

At the conclusion of the operations in which we have been constantly engaged together since September, I find the opportunity to express what I have often felt during that period - my genuine appreciation of the support the 151st Field Artillery and yourself have always accorded the 84th Infantry Brigade. It has been invaluable and most reassuring. The rapidity with which you have brought the elements of your command to the aid of the 84th Infantry Brigade, the speed and precision with which you have opened fire, the closeness with which your artillery, despite nearly im,passable roads, blown out bridges, difficult terrain, rain, mud and enemy fire, has followed up the rapid movements and shifts of the infantry, have been recognized with pleasure and a sure sense of gratitude by all elements and individuals of my command.

The 151st Field Artillery has fired accurately, rapidly and whenever requested. Its liaison with the infantry has been intimate, daring and most satisfactory. Its personnel is magnificent. The courtesy and professional attainments of its officers are exceptionally fine. It has at all times been abreast of the highest standards of gallantry and technical skill.

Now, as the field of their successful struggles for Hills 288, 242 and the Cote de Chatillion and Landreset-St. Georges lies about the division during its reassembly, the accuracy and power of the fire of your regiment on the enemy organizations, wire and sensitive points, in this steep and tangled terrain, are unrolled before the troops who made the fight, with a poignancy that increases, if that is possible their confidence in your command.

A little information regarding the organization of the armies and navies of the United States might prove interesting to those whose relatives were in the service during the war.

It should be kept in mind that army regulations are being changed from time to time and probably always will be as long as the profession of arms is a part of the machinery of civilization. The data here given is accurate up to the time of the writing of this part of this book, late in the summer of 1918, and possibly very few important changes will have been made before its publication.

The army consists of the Regular Army, a permanent Federal Force made up of men who enlisted for given periods and are paid during the war a minimum of $30 a month, with higher pay according to rank, the National Guards of the various states which were federalized under an act of Congress of June 3rd, 1916, and the National Army which is composed of men drafted from the United States, between the ages of 21 and 31.

The Regular Army is officered by men who have graduated from the West Point Military Academy or who have gained their commissions from the ranks. They are commissioned by the President of the United States with the exception of Lieutenant- General and General, who are commissioned by Congress.

National Guard officers of the states were commissioned by the Governors of the states. National Army officers were either selected from the two groups above or commissioned after courses at officer's training camps.

Beside the above there was the Officer's Reserve Corps and the Enlisted Reserve Corps. The officers were assigned variously throughout the army and the enlisted men from the reserve were trained and given duty in the Quartermaster Corps, Engineer Corps, Ordnance Corps, Signal Corps, etc.

The regiments of the Regular Army were numbered from 1 to 100, the National Guard from 101 to 300, and of the National Army from 301 on up. The Brigades of the Regular Army were numbered from 1 to 50, National Guard from 51 to 150, National Army from 151 up. The Divisions of the Regular Army were numbered from 1 to 25, National Guard 26 to 75, National Army 76 up.

For purposes of administration Minnesota was grouped with West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin. North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado in the Central Department with head-' quarters at Chicago, Illinois.

The main mobile fighting units of the army are the Infantry, Field Artillery and Cavalry, the last named being used very little in the war. To these might be added the fighting aviators. The first three are known as "the line."

The Infantryman or "doughboy" depends upon his own shanks for his transportation, except when covering great distances in a very short time. Then he is piled into a box car, a motor truck or whatever vehicle may be at hand. He has something of a load to carry on his back at best. Here are some of the things which he has to pack about with him:

Rifle, bayonet, scabbard, belt, bacon can, canteen, canteen cover, condiment can, cup, fork, haversack, knife, meat can, spoon, first aid pouch, shovel, shovel carrier, oiler and thong case, gun sling, pack carrier, front sight cover, cartridges, blanket, poncho, half a shelter tent, five tent pins, tooth brush, soap and towels, underwear, extra socks, steel helmet, gas mask, and a few other odds and ends. Some of the troops carry axes and pick-mattocks instead of shovels. At best the usual load of the infantryman runs from fifty to seventy-five pounds.

The Field Artillery has played a conspicuous part in the great war. The artillery has been called upon to pave the way for the advance of the infantry. The Field Artillery is in no way less mobile than the infantry and became so expert in moving the pieces and in accurately placing barrages or curtains of fire ahead of the advancing troops that many lives were saved in the attacks and many otherwise impregnable positions taken by infantrymen.

And yet, at the opening of the war, it is stated, that there were in the United States but 160 trained Field Artillery officers who had had a year of experience in Regular or National Guard units.

The Coast Artillery is not a part of the mobile force of the country. It is used for the protection of our coast line and guns of great size and large calibre are used. The heavy field artillery is made up of units using larger and more cumbersome cannon.

In the artillery the unit is a battery which is subdivided into platoons and the platoons in turn are divided into sections. Mathematics enter very largely into the training of an artillery officer. A working knowledge of plane and spherical trigonometry is needed in order to qualify for this job and that, possibly, is why the artillery has been rated just under the engineers in the service.

The Staff Corps is a very essential part of the military machine and probably as little understood generally as any branch of the service. A glance at a plan of organization may be helpful.

The General Staff Corps is headed by a Chief of Staff. It is the duty of this department to study military problems, plan national defenses, mobilizations, and officers from the General Staff Corps are detailed t» aid the generals in the field.

The Adjutant General's Department keeps the records of the officers and men and is managed by the Adjutant General. Orders emenate from this department and here the correspondence of the army is centered. An Adjutant is attached to each battalion and to each regiment to keep these records and look after similar duties.

The Inspector General's Department is in charge of an Inspector General and his force inspects property, the fitness of officers and men, equipment, supplies and audit accounts.

The legal department of the army is the Judge Advocate General's Department. Here military law holds sway. In this department is also included the Provost Marshal General's Department under which the selective service or draft was worked out. It also includes the Military Police and the Provost Guard which keep order in camps and cantonment*. This department has charge of all prisoners of war as well and looks after their records.

The Medical Department has general charge of sanitation and includes the Dental Corps, Hospital Corps, Army Nurses Corps, Sanitary Corps, Veterinary Corps and Ambulance Corps. A Surgeon General is in command.

The Signal Corps takes care of the transmission of mesages by signaling, by wire or wireless, by airplanes, balloons, etc. The Aviation is also in the

The rapid evolution of warfare has developed several new units undreamed of a few years ago. Among these are the gas and flame service, water supply service, surveying and printing services, road service, army pontoon service, forestry service, quarry service, and dozens of others.

The variety of hat cords worn by the men has been very confusing to most people. A general officer's hat cord is all gold, a field officer's is gold and black with gold tipped tassel, a line officer's gold and black, a reserve officer at a training camp, red, white and blue, the infantryman's cord is light blue, artillery scarlet, service school detachment, green, cavalry, yellow, engineer's scarlet and white, quartermaster corps, buff, ordnance, black and scarlet, signal corps, orange and white, medical department, maroon and white, staff departments, black, field clerk, silver and black, Y. M. C. A., steel blue, and Home Guard, Maroon.

Officers have to purchase their own uniforms but have certain allowances for quarters, heat and light, have a ten per cent increase of pay every five years and ten per cent increase for overseas service.

All privates are paid thirty dollars a month, first class privates receive thirty-three; corporals, saddlers, wagoners, farriers, and third class musicians receive thirty-six; sergeants in the line, cooks, horseshoers, band corporals, musicians of second class, radio sergeants and firemen receive thirty-eight; sergeants of the various corps, band sergeants, musicians of the first class, color sergeants and electrical sergeants receive forty-four; battalions sergeant-major, sergeant buglers, master gunners receive forty-eight dollars; regimental sergeant-major, regimental supply sergeants, quartermaster sergeants, ordnance sergeants, first sergeants, battalion sergeant-majors, sergeants of the first class, all receive fifty-one dollars; first class sergeants of the Medical Corps receive fifty-six dollars; hospital sergeants and master engineers, junior grade, get seventy-one dollars a month; band leaders, etc., receive eighty-one dollars a month. All uniforms and equipment are furnished the men.

The camps to which the men of the various National Guards were sent were also very largely in the south and were mostly tented cities costing not nearly so much money. The total cost of equipping the National Guard camps was about sixty-eight million dollars the first year.

The remarkable fairness with which these camps have been distributed over the country, the seeming neglect of the state of Texas, the parsimony of the government in expenditures of this sort must at once be apparent to the reader!

Officers for the vast army were trained in several series of officer's training camps. The first series was opened on May ISth, 1917, and twenty-seven thousand officers were commissioned. These camps were at Plattsburg, New York;. Madison Barracks, New York; Fort Niagara, New York; Fort Meyer, Virginia; Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia; Fort McPherson, Georgia; Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana; Fort Sheridan, Illinois; Fort Logan H. Roots, Arkansas; Fort Snelling, Minnesota; Fort Riley, Kansas; Leon Springs, Texas; Presidio at San Francisco, California.

The second series of officer's training camps was opened August 27th, 1917 and produced eighteen thousand officers. The camps were at Plattsburg, Niagara, Meyer, Oglethorpe, Harrison, Sheridan, Snelling, Leon Springs, and Presidio.

The third began January 5th, 1918, and at these men selected from the best of the men in training at camps and cantonments were given a chance to win commissions.

Concentration camps cost about thirty-one million dollars and were located at Camp Merritt, Hoboken, New Jersey and Camp Stuart, New Port News, Virginia.

Medical officer's training camps were at Allentown, Pennsylvania for the ambulance corps, at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Fort Des Moines for colored officers, at Fort Oglethorpe and Fort Riley.

Engineer officers began their training September 5th, 1917, at American University, Washington; Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and Vancouver Barracks, Washington.

Officers and men for the Quartermaster Corps began training January 5th, 1918 at Camp Joseph E. Johnston at Jacksonville, Florida. This camp cost the country $6,000,000 to build.

During the war a number of changes have been made in the organization of the army. For the purpose of making the terms used in this book more easily understood, this information is offered:

The insignia worn by officers and men in the army is confusing to most people who are unfamiliar with things military These cuts were very kindly loaned for use in this book by Rand, McNally & Co., of Chicago.

The rank of General has been vacant since the Civil war. General Pershing was the first ofi^icer elevated to that rank during the present war, in the United States Army. He was commissioned General in 1917.

The following insignia is worn on the shoulder loop which is fastened to the collar by means of a bronze metal button bearing the coat of arms of the United States.

Corps Corps

The insignia below is worn upon the sleeves of the overcoats of commissioned officers, at the bottom with point up. All are of black braid except that of Second Lieutenant which is brown.

Insignia worn at the top of the left sleeve of enlisted men in the Aviation; the figure above the propellor indicated the squadron to which the man belongs:

Chevrons worn on the right sleeve of overcoats, blouses, and shirts of non-commissioned oft'icers to indicate rank and several specialty marks:

The Daily Herald of Everett, Washington, in an issue on February 3rd, 1919, gave a very extended account of the exploits of a former Anoka young man, Private Charles Hall. Private Hall was a member of the celebrated "Lost Battalion" destined to become renowned as the "Light Brigade" of the Crimea,

"On September 27th, I was called with nine others to act as battalion runners, that is to convey messages from one command to another along the line fire. We ten took our posts the afternoon and evening of the 27th. At ten o'clock on the 28th the infantry again assumed the offensive, the boys of the 77th meeting with the greatest resistance from the kaiser's guard regiments, every man of whom seemed to have a machine gun. The fire was terrific. It took the 308th two hours to clean up a machine gun nest in this particular spot and from that time on we had clear sailing.

"We ran into a German village of dugouts and cleaned up that and investigated the place for hidden machine guns and then moved on. The place was also a railhead for a German narrow gage railway.

"On September 30th the 77th had a skirmish that developed into a regular battle. It took place in a German cemetery where the German dead of the great Verdun offensive were buried. Here the fighting grew so fast and furious that we runners were recalled and I was attached to a machine gun outfit as ration and ammunition man.

advanced over the hill into the valley of the Meuse, or one of its tributaries, I do not remember which. Here we had very heavy fighting trying to capture a German road and we consolidated in battle formation once again to break the German front. The 92nd Division, colored, was on our left and we started after the Germans.

"But the colored boys got rattled in the advance of Wednesday and, as we were in a deep woods, "blew up." Whether they were pushed back by the Prussian Guard or whether they retreated of their own free will, we will never know, but I do know this that 700 of us doughboys were suddenly isolated in an area two blocks square with Germans on both sides of us. We sent out runners but they never came back, we sent up flares and sent up carrier pigeons and in/ this manner the Yanks learned of our plight two hours after we had been surrounded,

"From the night of Wednesday, October 2nd, to the night of Monday, October 7th, our battalion was isolated on the northern slope of a bleak unsheltered ravine with the German army on the cliff above us and with a powerful German detachment deeply intrenched on the other side of the ravine so close that we could hear the calls of the officers to the men,

"When night settled over the forest on Monday our situation was desperate. What little food we had with us was gone on the second day. For three days we ate plug tobacco and chewed on the leaves of the underbrush, it was a good thing that poison ivy was not a native of France, For water we had to depend upon a muddy stream at the bottom of the ravine, and on one clear spring that

"More than one of our boys fell victim to a Hun sharpshooter in a tree position on the other side of the ravine looking down upon us. What few blankets and overcoats there were, which had not been discarded in the first fine rush which carried the ravine, had long since gone to wrap up the wounded. Our dead and wounded lay with us on the hillside. But 273 of our men came out of this scrap without wounds.

"We were drenched to the skin and weak from hunger and long exposure to the chill October wind. Major Whittelsey, our commander, and a man none of the 700 Yanks will ever forget, a real man, sent out nine Yanks to try to cut through the German lines to the rest of the 77th. But six were killed and three taken prisoner, two of these latter were sent back to try to get us to surrender.

"Then the Germans sent out an envoy, under a white flag, to ask us to surrender or be killed to a man and our Major sent back the good American answer 'Tell them to go to hell.' We Yanks then prepared to do a Custer finish.

"From that time until we were relieved, we fought off three Hun attacks with machine gun, rifle and bayonet. We could not have held out much longer as we were out of machine gun ammunition. We knew in our hearts that the rest of the boys were not very far away below us in the forest and trying to reach us. We saw planes coming to look for us in the fog and trying to drop food to us but all that reached us was a package of chocolate and a bundle of the 'Stars and Stripes' the army newspaper.

"Our battalion awaited its fourth attack without much hope and many of the boys were writing farewell letters home. There were some thanks whispered shyly for little unchronicled acts of kindness which the week had witnessed. Here and there some men promised to kill each other if it came to a question of capture.

"Then from out of the darkness on October 7th we heard a voice calling 'Alajor Whittlesey! Majo*- Whittlesey!' The boys along the line could hear him answer from his hole in the ground.

"We were happy, tired and cold but we lay down where we could and rested. I slept until 11:30 the next morning when my buddy woke me up with orders that we were moving. As I was sleepily stretching a German whizbang came along and T got my blighty. A shrapnel fragment had lodged in my hip and I was destined for the hospital."

Private Hall has the original of the last message which he carried from Colonel Smith to Major Whittlesey just before the battalion was lost. It says:

"I am going to tell you the story of the big drive which I went through. The first was through the Argonne Woods where we fought against machine guns. And if you read in the papers where the 308th Infantry was in a German trap and almost wiped out, you may be interested to know that we were the one who fought our way through and got them out. We are the 307th Infantry. They are the same unit. There was one Battalion and one Company in the trap and they were there for seven days without food.

We also took in Grandpre, and that was some battle. We were relieved by the 78th Division. We were at Docort, Arrocort, Raycort, and as far as the Meuse river and nearly at Sedan. We have been through the mill alright, I know now what it is to be in a war and I'll never forget it either."

So many Anoka County lads were engaged in the ]\Ieuse-Argonne offensive which really broke the back of the Hun, that the following report of that campaign, as written by General John J. Pershing, is given here. It is taken from the Stars and Stripes, the army newspaper overseas and is a part of his official report.

"On the day after we had taken the Saint Mihiel salient, much of our corps and army artillery which had operated at Saint Mihiel, and our divisions in reserve at other points, were already on the move toward the area back of the line between the Meuse river and the western edge of the forest of Argonne. With the exception of Saint IMihiel. the old German front line from Switzerland to the east of Rheims was still intact. In the general attack planned all along the line, the operation assigned the American Army as the hinge of this Allied offensive was directed toward the important railroad communications of the German armies through Mezieres and Sedan. The enemy must hold fast to this part of his lines or the withdrawal of his forces with four years accumulation of plants and material would be dangerously imperiled.

The German army had as yet shown no demoralization, and, while the mass of its troops had sufifered in morale, its first class divisions and notably its machine gun defense were exhibiting remarkable tactical efficiency as well as courage. The German general staff was fully aware of the consequences of a success on the Meuse-.\rgonne line. Certain that he would do everything in his power to oppose us. the action was planned with as much secrecy as possible and was undertaken with the determination to use all our divisions in forcing a decision. We expected to draw the best German divisions to our front and consume them while the enemy was held under grave apprehension lest our attack should break his line, which it was our firm purpose to do.

Our right flank was protected by the Meuse, while our left embraced the Argonne forest, whose ravines, hills and elaborate defenses screened by dense thickets, had been generally considered impregnable. Our order of battle from right to left was the Third Corps from the Meuse to Malancourt, with the 33rd, 80th and Fourth Divisions in line, and the Third Division as corps reserve: the I'ifth corns from Malancourt to Vauquois, with the 70th. 37th and 91st Divisions in line and the 32nd Division in corps reserve and the First corps from Vauquois to Vicnne de Chateau, with the 3.Sth, 28th and 77th Divisions in line and the 92nd in corps reserve. The army reserve consisted of the I'irst, 29th and 82nd Divisions.

On the night of September 2.Sth our troops quietly took the place of the French, who thinly held the line in this sector which had long been inactive. In the attack, which began on the 26th. we drove through the barbed wire entanglements and the sea of shell craters across Xo Man's Land, mastering all the first line of defenses. Continuing on the 27th and 28th, against machine guns and artillery of an increasing number of enemy reserve divisions, we penetrated to a depth of from three to seven miles and took the village of Montfaucon and its commanding hill, and Exermont, Gercourt, Cuisy, Septsarges, Malancourt, Ivoiry, Epinonville, Charpentry, Very and other villages.

East of the Meuse, one of our divisions which was with the Second Colonial French corps, captured Alarcheville and Rieville, giving further protection to the flank of our main body.

We had taken 10,000 prisoners, we had gained our point of forcing the battle into the open, and were prepared for the enemy's reaction which was bound to come as he had good roads and ample railroad facilities for bringing up his artillery and reserves.

In the chill rain of dark nights our engineers had to build new roads across spongy, shelltorn areas, repair broken roads beyond No Man's Land, and build bridges. Our gunners, with no thought of sleep, put their shoulders to wheels and dragropes to bring their guns through the mire in support of the infantry now under the increasing fire of the enemy's artillery. Our attack had taken the enemy by surprise, but quickly recovering himself, he began fierce counterattacks in strong force, supported by heavy bombardments with large quantities of gas. From September 28th until October 4th we maintained the ofifensive against patches of woods defended by snipers and continuous lines of machine guns, and pushed forward our guns and transport seizing strategical points in preparation for further attacks.

The Allied progress elsewhere cheered the efforts of our men in this crucial contest as the German command threw in more and more first class troops to stop our advance. We made a steady headway in the almost impenetrable and strongly held Argonne forest, for, despite his reinforcements, it was our army that was doing the driving. Our aircraft was increasing in skill and numbers and forcing the issue, and_ our infantry and artillery were improving rapidly with each new experience.

The replacements fresh from home were put into exhausted divisions with little time for training, but they had the advantage of serving beside men who knew their business and who had almost become veterans overnight. The enemy had taken every advantage of the terrain which especially favored the defense, by a prodigal use of machine guns _ manned by highly trained veterans and by using his artillery at short ranges. In the face of such strong frontal positions we should have been unable to accomplish any progress according to previously accepted standards, but I had every confidence in our aggressive tactics and the courage of our troops.

On October 4th, the attack was renewed all along our front. The Third Corps, tilting to the left followed the Brieulles-Cunel road, our Fifth Corps took Gesnes, while along the irregular valley of the Aire river and in the wooded hills of the Argonne that border the river, used by the enemy with all his art and weapons of defense, the First Corps advanced for over two miles. This sort of fighting continued against an enemy striving to hold every foot of ground and whose very strong counterattacks challenged us at every point. On the 7th, the First Corps captured Chatel-Chehery and continued along the river to Cornay. On the east of the Meuse sector, one of the two divisions co-operating with the French captured Consenvoye and the Haumont woods. On the 9th, the Fifth corps in its progress up the Aire, took Fleville, and the Third Corps which had continuous fighting against odds was working its way through Pjrieulles and Cunel. On the 10th we had cleared the Argonne Forest of the enemv.

It was now necessary to constitute a Second army, and on October 10th the immediate command of the First Army was turned over to Lieutenant General Hunter Liggett. The command of the Second Army, whose divisions occupied a sector in the Woevre was given to Lieutenant General Robert L. BuUard, who had been commander of the First Division and then on the Third Corps. Major General Dickman was transferred to the command of the First Corps, while the Fifth Corps was placed under Major General Charles P. Summerall, who had recently commanded the First Division. Major General John L. Hines, who had gone rapidly up from regimental to division commander, was assigned to the Third Corps. These four officers had been in France from the early days of the expedition and had learned their lessons in the school of practical warfare.

Our constant pressure against the enemy brought day by day more prisoners, mcjsth' survivors from machine guns nests captured in fighting at close quarters. On October 18th there was very fierce fighting in the Caures woods east of the Meuse and in the Ormont wood. On the 14th the First Corps took Saint Juvin. and the Fifth Corps, by hand to hand encounters, entered the formidable Kriemhilde line where the enemy had hoped to check us indefinitely. Later the Fifth Corps penetrated further the Kreimhilde line, and the First Corps took Champigneulles and the important town of Grand Pre. Our dogged offensive was wearing down the enemy, who continued desperately to throw his best troops against us, thus weakening his line in front of our Allies and making their advance less difficult.

On the 23rd, the Third and Fifth Corps pushed northward to the level of Bantheville. While we continued to press forward and throw back the enemy's violent counterattacks with great loss to him a regrouping of our forces was under way for the final assault. Evidences of loss of morale by the enemy gave our men more confidence in attack and more fortitude in enduring the fatigue of incessant effort and the hardships of very inclement weather.

With comparatively well rested divisions, the final advance in the M'euse-Argonne front was begun on Nov. 1st. Our increased artillery force acquitted itself magnificently in support of the advance, and the enemy broke before the determined infantry which, by its persistent fighting of the past weeks and the dash of this attack, had overcome his will to resist. The Third Corps took Aincreville. Doulon and Andevanne, and the Fifth Corps took Landres et St. Georges and pressed through successive lines of resistance to Bayonville and Chennery. On the 2nd. the First Corps joined in the movement which now became an impetuous onslaught that could not be stayed.

On the 3rd, advance troops were hurried forward in pursuit, some by motor trucks, while the artillery pressed along the country roads close behind. The First Corps reached Authe and Chattillon-sur-Bar, the Fifth Corps, Fosse and Nouart, and the Third Corps Halles, penetrating the enemy's line to a depth of 12 miles. Our large caliber guns had advanced and were skilfully brought into position to fire upon the important railroad lines at Montmedy Longuyon and Conflans. Our Third Corps crossed the Meuse on the 5th, and the other corps, in the full confidence that the day was theirs, eagerly cleared the way of machine guns as they swept northward, maintaining complete co-ordination throughout. On the 6th a division of the First Corps reached a point on the Meuse opposite Sedan. 25 miles from our line of departure. The strategical goal which was our highest hope was gained. We had cut the enemy's main line of communications and nothing but surrender or an armistice could save his army from complete disaster.

In all 44 enemy divisions had been used against us in the Meuse-Argonne battle. Between September 26th and November 6th we took 16,059 prisoners and 468 guns on this front. Our divisions engaged were the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 26th, 28th, 29th, 32nd, 33rd, 35th, 37th, 42nd, 77th, 78th, 79th, 80th, 82nd, 89th, 90th, 91st. Many of our divisions remained in line for a length of time that required nerves of steel, while others were sent in again after only a few days of rest. The 1st, 2nd, 5th, 26th, 42nd, 77th, 79th, 80th, 89th and 90th were in the line twice. Although some of the divisions were fighting their first battle, they soon became equal to the best.

On the three days preceding November 10th, the Third Corps and the Second Colonial and Seventeenth French Corps fought a difficult struggle through the Meuse hills south of Stenay and forced the enemy into the plain. Meanwhile, my plans for further use of the American forces contemplated an advance between the Meuse and the Moselle in the direction of Longwy by the First Army, while at the same time the Second Army should assume the offensive toward the rich iron fields of Briev. These operations were to be followed by an offensive toward Chateau-Salins, east of the Moselle, thus isolating Metz. Accordingly, attacks on the American front had been ordered, and that of the Second Army was in progress on the morning of November 11th, when instructions were received that hostilities should cease at 11 o'clock a. m.

At this moment the line of the American sector from right to left began at Port-sur-Seille, thence across the Moselle to Vandieres and through the Woevre to Beronvaux, in the foothills of the Meuse, thence along the foothills and through the northern edge of the Woevre forests to the Meuse at Mouzay, thence along the Meuse connecting Avith the French near Sedan."

Every case of heroisin, every example of fidelity to duty which has been found among the men who went into the army and navy from Anoka County cannot be set forth in this book. But here and there a case may be selected to indicate that the men who went from here upheld the traditions of the county in a splendid manner. These instances are not related to focus the lime light especially upon the men mentioned but rather to show the stuff that Uncle Sam received when he called upon this county for men.

"Men working on the loading crews, commonly called Stevadores and considered the most strenuous work around a camp, work ten hours a day with but one day's rest out of every seven, same as all others.

This day seldom falls on Sunday so that the loading crews are denied the pleasures of passes when the people turn out for a day of rest. It is a sorely needed period when it comes. No matter how big and strong they are, the labor is heavy and wearing.

"L,ast Tuesday, at the Third Company, a big quiet fellow who works on the loading crew was informed that it was his day off. Later in the day an officer discovered him back at work and inquired of the Sergeant if the man had not been told. When asked why he went back to work the man reluctantly replied 'Oh, they were short of men and the fellows said they were worked down, so I thought I'd go right on and work.'

I say at the front but, to be more exact, we are little less than 10 miles in rear of the front where there is Hun entertainment enough to please us. We made a flying trip from the States, over France to this section, it being less than two months from the time we were called until we reached here.

Ran across A. C. Kimball, Fridley and a couple other Anoka boys in this regiment. We are pretty well split up now, the company all remaining in this sector, however.

Our trip overseas wasn't vi^hat one would call a. pleasure trip. Sea sickness prevailed as might be expected. I wasn't sea sick but very sick of the sea. Cross it once more coming home and it will satisfy my appetite for sea travel.

Our trip through France was made in side door pullman, truck and long hikes, living in our pup tents till we reached here where we have French barracks and dugouts. Give me the barracks as the dugouts are damp and are apt to be already tenanted by rats. France would be great to tour after the war. The roads are Al, crushed rock, high, wide and handsome. The country up to the front is a great sight, hills, light timber, fields are models of neatness, villages off in the distances. Villages are only two and three miles apart here. The farmers living in these villages and working out of them.

We have done our bit, our work I can't state, in this big drive that started September 26th. As you see by the papers the boys have knocked h - out of Fritz and by news last 12 hours it is all over but the shouting.

We have been visited a few times by Fritz via aeroplane but he hasn't done much in our locality and hasn't earned his salt as a bomb tosser. Raids are at night and a great sight to see, the sky is one network of searchlights playing for these birds, and a greater sight to see our planes bring old Fritz down.

Would like to write a couple of pages or so but supply paper will not permit. We are all well and on the jump, getting our three squares a day and plenty of sleep.

The output of the Military Relief Committee of the Anoka County Chapter of the American Red Cross was indeed vast. The period covered in this report is from September 1st, 1917, to March 3rd, 1919.

to various camps but failed, for one reason or another - usually physical disability - to be enlisted for service. As these young men were not actually in the army or navy of the United States, their pictures are not included with those published.

Dramatic in the extreme was this young soldier's experiences in the front line ofifensive at Bois De Banteville in the early hours of November 1st, when his company lost six men killed and thirteen wounded by a big shell.

"I saw four men on my right and two on my left side blown to death with that shell, said Leger. "That is the closest to death I ever came. The sensation cannot be described. I saw my friends torn to shreds. I couldn't understand the miracle that had been worked, for I was in the center of the line, but I was not touched. Sergeant Joseph M. Johnson of Hood River, Oregon and I were left standing alone in that squad when the order was shouted to go forward. Shells had been coming over us all night. This was 2 a. m. and Sergeant Johnson and I fought on until 7 a. m. when we were called back to company headquarters at Sergeres. We stayed there until November 4th. Then we were ordered to the front again to help the Fifth Division across the Meuse at Brielles. There were thirty of us who had volunteered to throw a smoke screen to help the engineers put a pontoon bridge across the river. Our operation was successful. After we had crossed the Meuse the Gas Regiment was again ordered 'over the top' and we advanced a mile to relieve some infantry. I was knocked down twice that night, November 5th, by high explosive shells bursting too near.

"Sergeant Johnson told me he found me lying in a shell hole from shell shock. He carried me back to company headquarters and there I remained until November 11th, when the armistice was signed. The following day we moved forward to German billets and were putting ammunition in a shed, when someone dropped a lighted match or cigaret butt in a box of explosives and my face was burned."

Amos Leger enlisted in the army April 16th, 1918, joining the Engineer Motor Transportation Corps at Fort Meyer, Virginia, where he trained imtil June 20th. when he volunteered to go overseas for immediate service. The trip over was made in the U. S. S. Grant, a German ship before the war. He landed at Brest, July 13th, and two days later was hauling ammunition and supplies to the front lines.

Eager for direct fighting, he joined Company F, of the First Gas Regiment, August 29th and was dispatched to Luneville where he carried ammunition in 72 pound cases to the front, on his back, the trips being made at night, sometimes under heavy enemy fire.

"We were throwing gas bombs at the enemy at St. Mihiel, beginning the great drive at 5 a. m., September 12th, and after four days and nights hard fighting there were sent to the Argonne Forest. We hiked 82 miles with full pack, arriving in the big woods September 22nd. We laid in small tents under driving rain until September 25th, when our regiment went to the front line and over the top at 5:10 a. m. September 26th. We saw the hardest kind of fighting against machine gun nests for 48 hours. We were given a rest of ten days at Gerecourt. At the end of that rest I volunteered with 29 other men to throw a smoke screen in order to let a tired out division of infantrymen change. The screen was put up and the tired soldiers replaced by fresh ones. So far as known that was the first important shift of men successfully made in broad daylight, at least in the Argonne sector. I was at the offensive at Verdun from October 18th to 20th, and in those two days our company put over 250 gas bombs, causing great losses to the enemy, who was forced to retire, leaving the dead on the field."

After the accidental burning of his face, young Leger was on Hospital Train 58 for three nights and two days, his eyes bandaged to save the sight. He was treated at Soully field evacuation hospital, on the train and later at Base Hospital Lll, leaving December 29th and arriving at Brest January 3rd after a journey of three days and three nights in American boxcars.

"We were in mud to our ankles at Brest," he said, "ft rained 19 of the 21 days I was at Brest. It was cold and disagreeable but food was .good.

and although I had the flu, I told everybody I felt fine. I didn't want to be left behind, and I wasn't. We left Brest on the S. S. Celtic, January 24th, and landed at New York February 2nd. I was mustered out at Camp Dodge, February 20th, and now am back in Anoka, eager only to see a lasting peace."

It is manifestly impossible to publish in a book of this sort all of the letters submitted which have been received from Anoka County men in the service. The numerous letters, which have been used have been selected with the idea of giving as wide a variety as possible, including letters from men in different branches of the service and from men who hailed from various parts of the county.

"Today is a day set aside as father's day by the U. S. Army and the censor has lifted the ban on this letter. Each one of us is supposed to write a letter to his father today telling where we have been and what we have done and what battles we have been in.

"These letters are to be taken across the sea in a special ship so that you will receive them on Christmas day. I am here waiting for transportation to take me back to my company in the Motor Mechanics which is located in southern France and at one of the largest aviation fields in France. I have been on detached service since August 21st. Was working on aeroplanes and was in line for a commission as aviator when they came around looking for men who would volunteer to go to the front and run a water train for a big drive. I wanted to see the front and gave up my chance for a commission in order to volunteer for this service.

"Was put in charge of a section of the trucks and another Sergeant was put in charge of the other section, made up of thirty big five and a half ton trucks with the bodies removed and galvanized tanks in their places. Each tank held a thousand gallons of water.

"Then we started for the front which was about four hundred miles away. On September 12th the drive started and we were first behind the lines near the town of Flirey, which is about thirty-five miles northeast of the large city of Toul.

"We landed in Flirey about five o'clock in the afternoon, and the roads had been so badly shot up that it took us until three the next morning to make the next town which was Essey. We were so tired that most of us slept right out in the open although the Germans were sending shells all around us. Shells were hitting that road on which we were traveling that night very often.

"The next morning about nine we left Essey and went to Cannes where we made our headquarters until we came here. The Germans had their headquarters in that town just four hours before we moved in. They shelled the town about every day. One day I was walking down the street when I heard a shell come whizzing. It hit within fifty feet of me and killed eleven mules.

"We slept in dugouts all the time that we were there and one night I counted forty shells which came along but not one of them burst. They were what we call duds. Not over a hundred yards from my dugout one night an American artillery unit stopped. They had barely unhitched their horses when shells began to hit among them killing five horses and four men.

"We were stationed at Cannes until October 30th, and all of that time traveled roads which were under shell fire. Many times shells hit just in front of or just behind my section of trucks.

trucks got lost and started for a town in sight not far away. Soon German machine guns opened fire on him and he turned about and beat it the other way very quickly without anybody being injured. The truck was hit thirty times.

"I saw as many as thirty German airplanes over the town in which we were located, at one time and saw several airplane battles and balloons shot down.

"That front which we were on was the St. Mihiel front, and on the Metz sector. Some of the towns which we used to pass through while hauling water were Norsard, St. Benoit, Beney Bouillionville, Thiacourt. The last two towns were shelled about every day. I used to go to Toul after gasoline about twice a week and went once to Nancy after repair parts for the trucks.

"When they started the armistice I was near the Argonne forest and am still here. While we were on the Metz front the First, Rainbow and 89th Divisions were near us and I saw the Howell boys and Faye McAllister. They gave me some Anoka papers and I was indeed glad to get them, for I had received no mail while I was on that front.

"This town is pretty badly torn down and no civilians live here at all. Received a letter from Bellows some time ago but the censor had cut out over half of it. He is located on the Flanders front with the 27th Division now.