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XCAPTAIN McQAlN'S LETTERAoamr County Boy Who Has ^ain-Bl) 1 1H!'i CHON IN LClJUOPBkt 1 !The many friends of Gapt. Robert A. McBain, who was horn and grew to manhood near Nodaway, will be pleased to hear from him and to read his interesting letter, addressed to his mother, Mrs. Elsie McBain, of Nodaway. The letter is dated “Somewhere in France’’ August a, and addressed to “Dear mother,” as follows:1 must take this chance at sending you a few lines as I may not get an-■* other chance for quite a long while.- I urn very sorry I could mL send you a line or so before this, but I am sure the papers in America have been keeping you posted as to the reason why. We sure have been giving the Ilun’s all the hell they could wish for.If lhev ever laid a mind to sneer at what the Americans could do it ought to be very certain they have other ideas by now. Our brave, manly boys do not know what it means to surrender and to iaku any prisoners is too much bother. They are making a fine, clean sweep of it as they go along. 1 saw hundreds of the Iluns in just the proper condition—they will never bother the peace of the world any more. I only wish I could describe the fine appearance of the . battlefield after the Boche had tried \\\o get away. Of course some did “ get back, but more had to remain for '■(very good reasons. If you, or any ' one else, ever had any question p» your mind as to who is going to win this war, just dismiss all questioning and wait til! we all come home bearing the palms of victory—there can bo no defeat to an army with theideas of battle that our fine men have.*! They are not mean or brufnL hut determined that evil and wrong shall not persist to dominate what is holy and righteous in the world. To talk with one of our men fresh from I he trenches is to hear one of the finest sermons that ever was preached. But they do not preach by talking—theydo and accomplish—v«u know how the old bonk says it is By their fruits ve shall know them.” They are meeting this situation with just as Cine— yes finer- spirit as any martyr that over lived. They are going up to race death with the most remarkable spirit that ever dominated the mind or heart of any one. Mother, I do not say this in any dogmatic or pseudo-| religious mood. \uV in a perfectly sane and normal frame* of mind— these heroic men of our army and that of all our allies, vn lo the front moved and dominated by the power of the Holy .Spirit and by the example oT ♦' Omit Masfer, who is their leader. The most fervent religion (real religion) exists among the men who arc hove in France offering their lives as a , ?' iHe ^odav. When this great..'fluis -- t orr .uivVl* go hmft , entneemise men have haa their sotiis~tr rnrrtftw4r*f «* d *^rr rWfr*^rrrf~TVtlT‘J^ know all too well what the price of right anti liberty is.I had the painful experience of laying one of my splendid men away forever a day or so ago. Ho was hitiiy a shell from an air craft. Four of them were hit hut only one failed lo recover. My men made a nice box out of some boards we found and lined it with some white cheese cloth which I secured from one of the Red Cross nurses. We laid him away in a beautiful litlo garden along with a few other heroic Americans. It was a solemn occasion for all of us, hut every man left the sacred little spot with the del rumination that this struggle must go on to a successful finish. T made a complete history of the accident and of the man and placed it in a glass liottlc and buried it with him about two feet below the surface of the ground. When hisbody is brought back home there will lie no mistake who he is now. He was a very fine chap and his death has left a cloud of gloom among *h, hut nevertheless our spirits are not broken and we are not scared or lisrour-aged—quite otherwise. His blood will he avenged ten thousand fold.The weather here has not been very rood. We have a great deal of rain because of so much heavy cannonading. At limes (here is a continuous roar and mostly at night. Whim Ibis is going on the whole ,:kv ilt; a oleum. It is a most magnificent sight hut. awful in its effects. ,[ had a fine loiter from Lillian, who was in Red Oak at flu? time she wrote it. Tell her I will do my best lo reply soon, but time is so precious fo inn now it is doubtful if 1 can find the lime to do so. Do not worry if von should not hear from mo for some time, but just know we are. all chasing the Boche off the face of the earth. Ho is op the nn now. oral wn will keep on pounding and chasing him until he has hud enough of his own medicine. Don't ever douhL what he is going to get. We me over hmi* and can sen it and we know just how it is going to he done. Ju.tt take my word for it we mre going to finish the blackguard and that anon. Lot everybody be cheerful and happy for a great day is coming. 1 am ur ul-iinktinli a ito-irat ney ing theonneethe:»nd•redputmo*niiythenn.ways, your own son,Hodt. A. McBain.
Newspaper Details
Adams County Free Press
Corning, Iowa, US
Sat, Oct 05, 1918
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
CA, USA 30 Jun 2019
Other Publications Near Corning, Iowa
Adams County Free Press
Corning Republican
Adams County Union
Adams County Gazette
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