Iowa Old Press
Upper Des Moines Republican
Algona, Kossuth co., Iowa
Wednesday, July 3, 1918
ED MOLINE IS HOME
Enlisted in Navy April 6, 1917- Crossed Ocean Six Times -
Is On Medical Survey Owing To Injured Eye - Enthusiastic Over Red
Cross Work.
Ed Moline, an Algona boy, son of John Moline of this city,
arrived home Thursday on an extended furlough, due to an injured
eye, received from the fumes of a compound used in cleaning
boilers, and may never be able to resume service in the Navy, but
expects to enter some other service.
Ed enlisted April 6, 1917, the day war was declared, at
Minneapolis. He was sent to Norfolk, where he was in camp about
two months, then to Philadelphia where he spent three months in
the navy yards. He has worked upon the U. S. S. Iowa, U. S.
S. Von Stuben, formerly a German vessel; U. S. S.
Minneapolis and on the U. S. S. Henderson,
America's first transport ship. In July he was sent to New York
and shipped on the Madewaska, formerly the Koenig
Wilhelm, he with eight others, being the first American
sailors on this vessel, which was also a former German vessel.
This boat was entered at once as a transport and with impressive
services, the flag was raised.
During a trial trip of two weeks, during which time the guns were
tried out and a thorough inspection made, it was discovered that
on the bottom of the vessel, many false rivets existed, which
made the vessel unseaworthy. This was done by Germans and several
spics were arrested, one of whom was aboard the vessel with three
feet of fuse and two explosive caps. They are now in some prison.
The Madawaska carries a crew of 250 men and in transport
work carries about 1000 soldiers. Ed made three round trips to
France. The first trip was made without anything out of the
ordinary happening. On the second trip, two soldiers died and
were buried at sea. The bodies were properly wrapped and covered
with the American flag. Weights were attached and the remains
lowered with appropriate services, which were very touching. On
the return trip, five nurses and a number of soldiers were
brought back. One of the
nurses, whose husband was a soldier also on the vessel, gave
birth to a child, which is said to have been the first baby born
on an American man-of-war. They arrived in New York, Christmas
Eve, and it seemed good to get home.
On his third trip home, they were attacked by a submarine. They
saw the torpedo, which passed about 100 feet ahead of the, but he
did not see the sub. Three shots were fired at it but it
evidently escaped. This occurred on a Sunday morning about 7 a.m.
On these trips, the transports go in convoys. Two torpedo boats
on each side of the three transports, with an armed cruiser
leading. When they enter the danger zone, they are met with other
torpedo boats, and a vessel that zig zags ahead, sweeping the
seas for hidden mines. On this same trip, one of the navigators
apparently lost the course, and later was discovered to be a spy.
Formerly, sea gulls would follow vessels crossing the sea and
would live on refuse thrown overboard. Many of them now starve,
as nothing is permitted to be thrown into the sea, not even
cigarette paper. The vessels are loaded with soldiers and depart
from the American harbors at night and during the trip no lights
are permitted and smoking is not allowed after sundown.
The last trip home brought 150 Americans, suffering with
tuberculosis.
France is old fashioned, the buildings being chiefly of stone and
brick. Four days were spent in Paris and among other sights, the
tomb of Napoleon was visited. He saw several German Zeppelins and
says the air was full of flying machines, resembling many birds.
The transports, he said, carry depth bombs, arranged to explode
by clock work and water depth. They also encountered some rough
seas, but he did not at any time suffer much from sea sickness.
The food is good and plenty of it, and a feast is always in order
on holidays. For three months, he was in naval hospital in New
York, having his eye treated, and assisted in the Red Cross
campaign. He collected about $500 for this cause at the winter
garden, having a stretcher draped with the colors. He has also
purchased two liberty bonds.
Ed states that America is preparing for a long war, but it does
not seem possible that it can last much longer, and would have
been over before this, had America not entered. German prisoners
unload the transports and are under guard, but they have an
expression that shows they are glad to be prisoners of war.
The eastern cities are full of soldiers and sailors, and New York
City was much alarmed over the arrival of the German subs in
American waters and for awhile no lights were permitted at night
for fear of an aeroplane raid.
Ed was a first class petty officer. He left here last week for
Decorah, where he will visit his sisters, Lillian and Alice. His
father, who is employed at Fenton, will go there for an
over-Sunday visit with his children. The experiences had by this
young man are many and some of them cannot be printed at this
time.
ABOUT OUR BOYS - BIG CROWD SAW RECRUITS ENTRAIN FRIDAY
FOR CAMP DODGE.
Volunteers Wanted For Mechanical Schools - Next Call Last of
July. About 400 To Go.
A large crowd was present last Friday and with the Algona band
leading, the boys who left for Camp Dodge, were escorted to the
depot. They were the jolliest bunch of good fellows yet to leave,
and seemed anxious to get away for training and after the Huns.
WANT VOLUNTEERS.
The government is anxious to secure more volunteers for the
various mechanical schools and men may enlist for this service to
leave about July 25th. Enlistments should be in by Saturday, July
6th, for this work. Those accepted will probably be sent to
Austin, Texas.
MANY LEAVE THIS MONTH.
It is reported that all class one men will be called this month,
July 22nd or on one of the five following days. This will take in
the neighborhood of four hundred men from Kossuth county.
RE-CLASSIFY MEN.
The local board sent out a call for the appearance of all young
men in the draft who have been married since May 18, 1917, to
appear last Monday. These were to be reclassified if necessary
and the board was busy going over the questionnaires of about 77
of these young men.
OTHER NOTES OF SOLDIERS.
Joseph E. Lindbolm of Armstrong, whose name appeared in the list
leaving last week, had already enlisted and has been in the
service for some time, so was not here to leave with this group.
Henry Larson of Elmore left Monday morning for Chicago, where he
enters the Armour Institute as a student of Uncle Sam.
Mark Moore left Monday evening for Fort Riley, Kansas, and also
enters a government mechanical school.
Vall Naudain is expected this week on a furlough. He is in the
service and located in the east.
Glen Naudain is still at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station
and has made an instructor in physics in the aviation department.
Lt. Harold Cogswell, of Titonka, a former Algona high school boy,
visited Algona friends Sunday. He is an aviator at Kelley Field,
Texas.
THE NORMAL EXAM.
Number of Kossuth County Young Ladies Took Supt. Shirley's
Examination Last Week.
Supt. Shirley held the county normal training examination at the
court house last week. Catharine Casler, Ethel McFadden, Clara J.
Rich, Grace Shinkey, Agatha Caughlin, of Algona; Florence V.
Pearson, Lillian A. Pearson, Mildred Belmann, Fernando Steffling,
Addie M. Yeager, Mary Whaler, Florence Sandschulte, Rose
Mulligan, Bancroft; Hazel M. Whitehill, Bessie Babling, Hattie
Babling, of Burt; Stella Mae Estes, Mayme G. Frandel, of Buffalo
Center; Elizabeth Sanftner, Magdalene Sanftner, Dora L. Berggren,
of Swea City; Katie Dehnert, Martina Olson, of Fenton; Mary
Sartor, Frieda B. Fisher, of Titonka; Margaret Schaben, Irene
Schaben, of Hobarton; Vera M. Oxley, of Corwith; Florence M.
Smith, of LuVerne; and Mildred E. Thiel, of Renwick wrote the
examination.
BAD RUNAWAY - Young Man Meets Death When Team
Runs Away - Employed by Joe Aman.
Frank Ginn, who has been working for Joe Aman, was seriously
injured Monday, when his horses ran away near St. Benedict. Ginn
was thrown from the buggy and ran over. He was brought to the
Algona hospital. The doctors had little hope for his recovery. He
died early Tuesday morning. Frank Ginn came to Iowa this spring
from Salem, Arkansas. He has been employed by Joe Aman, who lives
on a farm near St. Benedict.
[transcribed by L.Z., July 2012]