South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-11-14
TOMMY ATKINS WRITES
OF EXPERIENCE IN WAR
Letters Received in City Friday
Give Both Sides of European
ConfliCt-TeIlS of Scots in
Action.

Two letters were received in Mish-
Awake Friday. each OF them giving
entirely different accounts Of the pro-
gress Of the war. A resident OF the
city, who has a brother with First
Gordon Highlanders, received a letter
from the latter IN which he speaks ~
the successes Of the allies. lie land
cd In France about the end Of
August and trained up-coUntry to St.
ColumnierS, wEere draft OF men
Joined the Gordons. He was engag ed
in the fighting which took place ere
the Germans had TO shift across the
Marne- He says they were near a
village held by the enemy, and under
very hot fire. The Germans were diff
ficult TO shift, and the British had a
hard Job in getting them out Of the
trenches. Eventually the artillery
tire proved too much and, the Ger
maxim fire is good. but the rifle fire
IS anything but deadly, and one has
little TO be frightened of.
He says he has noticed that when
once the enemy thinks itself beaten
they are off, and one can scarcely get
at close quarters with them. The
GordOns, he states. never got nearer
than $50 yards TO them. The Scotch
regiment reached the village after the
enemy fled and were billited there
over night
1t was difficult 20 estimate the
German loss, for wherever possible
the dead are put out Of sight. and
some OF the trenches are filled with
them, with q covering OF earth thrown
on the top. He saw one German dead
in a trench with his rifle on his
shoulder, having apparently been shot
in the head when preparing to fire.
The British artillery fire was par
ticularly deadly. as the woods along
side the village amply showed.
The part OF the regiment to which
the writer was attached returned TO
headquarters next day with several
hundred prisoners, whose places In
the fighting line were taken by others.
After a spell Of work at headquar-
ters on guard duty etc, the Gordons
once more resumed operations In the
lighting line between La Bassee and
Lille, opposite 10 part OF the forces
under Won Kluck. While lying in the
open field along with others, taking
part in an attack, the order to re-
tire was given. but was unheard by
some sections. The Germans were
getting nearer, and when the situa-
ton became critical. the men prepar-
ed TO leave for a safer place. The
poor firing OF the German infantry,
lie says. was once again proven Six
teen OF the GOrdens made their way
across the level through a bog. with
the enemy little over 1000 yards OF,
and only two were wounded.
The writer OF the letter says all the
GOrdOns are looking forward for
Christmas in Berlin or Scotland.
In a letter to Mrs. Minnie Miller
from a relative in Kelsterbash. Ger
many, the writer says:
Il believe you know of the war that
Was forced upon Us by England. France
Belgium. Russia, Japan, Servia and
Montenegro. Seven nations have re-
ported against us up to this time.
YOu may know that the Germans
eyes were opened. Kaiser William
and our whole nation. from the
youngest to the oldest, were opposed
20 war. il was forced upon us. We
can see the unity OF our German
brethren and never before have we
stood SO near TO each other. Every
man, myself included, marches with
God and true courage, into the field
of battle and are confident that they
will return as victOrs to their respec-
tive homes. Our youngest brother,
John, now &c years DID, has been in
the army since August the 90. Our
brother Peter was no soldier but he
stood his examination on the 18th
inst. and was assigned 20 the infantry,
but IS yet at home. On the seventh
of August 1 was drafted as an extra,
and must again leave on Monday.
oct. 10. IN about four or six weeks
4 will be prepared for action and will
then go into the battlefield. Dear
aunt, 1 do not believe that Germany
and Austria viii be conquered, for
up TO this time our armies east and
west. have made splendid progress
and we will not retreat one inch. We
are continuously cOnquering Russian
and French forts and Belgian sea-
ports. All OF Belgium and a large
part OF France is in German posses
sion. We soon had our own land
cleared and now the war Is reflected
on French. Russian and Servian ter
Jitory. Only our armies IN Africa and
china do not fare we'll. When we
are through in France we will free
our colonies from the crafty English
men and japanese"