The Missouri Miner: Editors-in-Chief: Gerard E. Ebmeyer

Research Project: 100 years of
The Missouri Miner 1915-2015

Est'd. 1915, Fred Grotts, Founder

Gerard Ernest Ebmeyer
EIC 1916-1917, 1920

In the September 13, 1918 edition of the Missouri Miner, the Missouri Miner staff published a letter to the Editor from Gerald E. Ebmeyer, the third Editor-in-Chief of the Missouri Miner, who would later return to the Missouri School of Mines and the paper to serve again as it's editor. Ebmeyer wrote to the Miner from his military unit overseas, and provides a unique view of World War I from the front lines, long before embedded journalists broadcast wars via satellite.

A Letter from EB

     On Active Service with the
             American  Expeditionary 
             Force, August 18, 1918.

The Missouri Miner.
Mo School of Mines.
Rolla, Mo.

Dear Mr. Editor:

It gives me great pleasure to pick up my pen (pardon me, I meant pencil) and start in to write some letter which may or may not be finished at one crack, as the life of an average soldier is a matter of conjecture in these turbulent days on the Western front. Kind of warm place for an old ex-editor of the venerable sheet which you now have charge of.

This really lengthy intro--time rather than any thing else--time to collect my thots [sic] and think of stuff which may interest you, and at the same time be invulnerable to the eagle eye of the military censor.

We--I speak of our division in general, and "Shorty" Thomas, X. Smith and myself in particular, have been overseas for some time already enjoying all the privileges of a full-fledged American. Our trip from an Atlantic port to an Atlantic port on the other side was uneventful, except for a few submarine scares, which did not materialize. The "tub" we came over on was guaranteed never to exceed 9 miles or knots per hour, and it lived up to the guarantee. She was "meat" for a lurking sub on the return trip to the U.S., but managed to make port again with a big hole in her side. Yes, I'll be frank to admit that most of us got sea-sick, but it only affected me for two hours one morning, after which I was good for three helpings (I wouldn't call 'em meals) of food per day straight thru.

One of the few agreeable surprises I got was our railroad trip from an English port to a rest camp in the same country. The trains were speedy, and the Frisco couldn't have done better. (I used to be a customer of the Frisco side-door Pullman reservations). Arriving at the rest camp we all lined up and tramped thru the town, and up a long grade to our objective.

Personally, I am no great admirer of the British people--much less their rations--and I'll venture to say that the 314 Engineers were not a bit sorry to leave for la belle France.

Our trip was made in a fast boat, and the next morning we were riding at anchor in a French port. Here we rested a day or so, and then boarded a freight train for a training camp in central France. Troops travel in freight trains, on account of scarcity of passenger coaches. Every little box car is placarded with a sign which reads: "Hommes 32-40; Chaveaux, 8.' (Men 32-40; horses 8.)

Naturally, the trip was far from convenient, and we were all glad to get off at a little station in a peaceful valley, which proved to be our destination. All I saw of Paris was the Eiffel Tower from a distance of about 9 miles. Then came another hike to our billets in a small town 3 miles from the railroad. The billets were far better than I had hoped for. After a month of hard training we took over a sector, and are now at the last stage of the long training grind, viz: facing the Germans. Motor trucks conveyed us from our last place to our present location.

I have been transferred from my Engineer Company to the Headquarters Detachment of the 89th Division, and have charge of the map section of the Divisional Intelligence Office. It is very interesting work and I have seen and talked to German prisoners, of all descriptions, besides seeing all sorts of rifles, grenades, and even propaganda balloons used by them. That's about all I can think of at present, and altho it may be "old stuff," it's the best I can do under the circumstances. If I'd received a letter like this during the slack period when my associates and class reporters were not supplying enough copy I'd welcome it, even if it was no credit to the high standard of literature upheld by the Miner. Ben Culbertson and the Colonel will vouch for that last statement I'm sure. Ben will also cuss if he has to run this, because I've written all over the paper, but paper is scarce here in France.

How is Dr. McRae and the rest of the faculty at the old Alma Mater? Kindly give them our best wishes and regards for another successful year. We'll be back as soon as possible, you can stick a pin in that. Whoever you are, Mr. Editor, you have my hearty cooperation in whatever you do, even though my assistance cannot necessarily be of much value to you. Keep the old paper "a-going"--it's worth it. I'm for you, even if I'm a long ways off.

               Sincerely yours,

                                "EB,"
                    Alias Corporal G.E. Ebmeyer
                    ...Headquarters Det., 89th Div.
                    A.E.F. via New York.

P.S. Give all the boys, Ben Culbertson and Col. Woods included, my best. Am well, and getting fat. We have air raids about five times per week--it's a "unique" sight to see the anti-aircraft guns open up on them. Occasionally they drop bombs into the town.

1916-1917
Missouri Miner
Board

John K. Walsh
Associate Editor
deceased

Mark L. Terry
Business Manager
deceased

Henry W. Doennecke
Assistant Business Manager
deceased

Wayman Crow
Advertising
deceased

J. Walter Scott
Advertising
deceased

Francis H. Geib
Local Editor
EIC 1918

William H. Reber
Circulation Manager
deceased

Osher Goldsmith
Assistant Circulation Manager
deceased

Clemence Hippard
Staff Member
deceased

G. D. Clayton
Exchange Editor
deceased

Thomas Patrick Walsh
Senior Class Reporter
EIC 1917