[Transcriber’s Notes]
Here are the definitions of several unfamiliar (to me) words.
batmen: Soldier assigned to an officer as a servant.
batushka: Village priest.
drosky: Cart
felcher: Second-rate medical student or anyone with some medical knowledge.
hors de combat: Out of the fight; disabled; not able to fight.
junker: Aristocratic Prussian landholder devoted to militarism and authoritarianism, providing the German military forces with many of its officers.
knout: Whip with a lash of leather thongs, formerly used in Russia for flogging criminals. To flog with the knout.
mashie nib: Mashie-Niblick (mah-she nib-lik)—Wood shafted golf club with about the same loft and length as today’s seven iron.
poilus: French common soldier, especially in World War I.
verst: Russian measure of distance; 3500 feet, 0.6629 mile, 1.067 km.
viand: Choice or delicate food.
volplane: Glide in an airplane without power.
I (Don Kostuch) am the son of John Kostuch, then from Detroit, who was a Mechanic in the 339th, Company M. He saw some action in the fall of 1918 but due to flu, exposure and a dislocated joint, was evacuated to England on December 1, 1918 before the gruesome winter described in the book. {sources: “M” Company 339th records and Golden C. Bahr papers, 1918–1919.}
Fort Snelling, Minnesota The following text is copied from a newspaper clipping in the book. The Declaration of War is on one side and an incomplete local news item is on the other side.
From The Indianapolis News, Monday, April 9, 1917
U. S. Declaration of War
Sixty-fifth Congress of the United States of America
At the First Session
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday, the second day of April, one thousand nine hundred and seventeen
JOINT RESOLUTION
Declaring that a state of war exists between the Imperial German Government and the Government of the people of the United States and making provision to the same.
Whereas the Imperial German Government has committed repeated acts of war against the Government and the people of the United States of America, Therefore be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the state of war between the United States and the Imperial German Government which has thus been thrust upon the United States is hereby formally declared; and that the President be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to employ the entire naval and military forces of the United States and the resources of the Government to carry on war against the Imperial German Government; and to bring the conflict to a successful termination all of the resources of the country are hereby pledged by the Congress of the United States.
?? Speaker of the House of Representatives
Thomas R. Marshall
Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate
Approved 6 April, 1917
Woodrow Wilson
From The Indianapolis News, Monday, April 9, 1917
COUNTY PLEDGES AID FOR FOOD MOVEMENT
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED, AT COURTHOUSE MEETING.
APPEAL MADE TO PEOPLE
The movement to make the state of Indiana economically and agriculturally prepared for war, as recommended by Governor James P, Goodrich, had its beginning in Marion county at a meeting of farmers and those interested in soil cultivation held Saturday afternoon in the criminal courtroom.
The necessity for the efficient utilization of all the soil resources of Indiana were emphasized in addresses at the meeting, which was the beginning of a plan to create a county-wide interest in the movement.
Another Meeting Monday.
The general idea of the need for greater food production, as outlined at the meeting, will be crystallized into definite plans for meeting the situation at a meeting called for Monday night, to be held in the criminal court room. Representatives of commercial, labor and civic bodies and organizations of all kinds are invited and requested to attend the meeting Monday night and assist in the work.
Stirring appeals to the people of Indianapolis and the county to respond to the agricultural need which this country faces in the present war period were made by speakers, including: Charles V. Fairbanks, formerly Vice-president of the United States; the Rev. Frank L. Loveland, pastor of the Meridian Street M. E. Church; H. Orme, president of the Better Farming Association, and Ralph M. Gilbert, county agricultural agent.
Resolutions Adopted.
Resolutions were adopted at the meeting pledging the support of the citizens of Marion county in all measures taken for the defense of the nation and urging the people to respond to the resolutions prepared for greater and efficient food production. The resolutions prepared by a committee composed of Mord Gardner, Ralph C. Avery, Fred L., Smock, John E. Shearer, C. C. Osborn, Grace May Stutsman, Charles P. Wright and Leo Fesler were as follows:
“Whereas, By joint resolution of congress and the proclamation of the President, war has been declared on Germany, and
“‘Whereas, The President has earnestly appealed to all citizens to support the government in every possible way, and our Governor has called, for meetings in each county to plan preparedness in every occupation. “Resolved, That we, the citizens of Marion county, assembled in meetings at the courthouse do loyally pledge the support... [torn]
The following map was provide by Mike Grobbel (http://grobbel.org) who photographed it from the Frederick C. O’Dell Map Collection, Folder Number 9, Map Number 1, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. Mr. Grobbel is the grandson of “CORP. C. A. GROBBELL, “I” Co.” mentioned on page 284 as a recipient of the French Croix de Guerre. The correct spelling is “Grobbel”.
Corp. Grobbel received the Distinguished Service Cross, not mentioned in this book.
Sketch Showing Location of
FORTIFIED AREAS
[End of Transcriber’s notes]
Hundreds of Miles Through Solid Forests of Pine and Spruce.