Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 59, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 March 1918 — IN FIRST LINE OF TRENCHES [ARTICLE]

IN FIRST LINE OF TRENCHES

ARE LOCAL BOYS, WHO ARE MEMBERS OF RAINBOW DIVISION IN FRANCE. ~ Colbnel Robert H. Tyndall, of Indianapolis and the 1,800 brave Hoosier boys of his command, the One Hundred and Fiftieth Field Artillery Regiment of the famous Rainbow Division have been on the firing line in the Lorraine region, probably near Luneviile or Reillon for several days, according to official reports from Washington, which means that a number of Jasper county boys are now receiving their first taste of real warfare. Last summer, shortly before Company M departed for Hattiesburg, Miss., Major H. B. Tuteur selected eight men from the local organization to help make up the Indiana section of the Rainbow Division, which was hurriedly rushed to France. The men selected were: HOWARD J. AMES. RAY G. BOTT. HARMON CLAYTON. FORD E. McCOLLY. WESLEY N. HURLEY. MELVILLE F. PATTERSON. EDWARD PEREGRINE. ROSCOE REEDER.

Dispatches for the week have revealed that the, infantry regiments from Ohio, Alabama, New York and lowa and the trench mortar battery of Maryland have been in the thick of the fighting, but until the War Department statement was made it had been supposed that the artillery units of the division had not gone to the battle line. It is cheering news that while the Tyndall regiment has been exposed to the German fire for a week, presumably since March 9, not a single casualty has been reported from that regiment. 0 No details are so far available concerning the part the Rainbow artillery is playing in its first experience at the front. Dispatches indicate that the various units of .the division have been sent in among the French for firing practice under battle conditions. It has been the practice for new divisions to remain at the front for only a week or ten days. That the Indiana boys are in good hands is indicated by a statement made by Brig. Gen. Snow, chief of the field artillery division of the War Department who says: “Col. Bob Tyndall will give a good account of himself. He is a good soldier and a fine gentleman. The Indiana boys are in good hands when they serve Col. Tyndall.” Edward Rose i« also a member of the Rainbow Division, being a member of the First Indiana Field Artillery Regiment. With the advancement of the Rainbow Division to the fijst line of trenches, the total number of Jasper county boys who have been subject to the German fire is in the neighborhood of twenty-five. So far none of our boys have been wounded and but little sickness has been reported among them. They are all proving to be fine soldiers and no doubt will give a good account of themselves before the war is over.