The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1914-11-19
SOUTH DAKOTAN
WOUNDED IN WAR
DESCRIBES TERRIBLE COST TO
ALLIES IN 3s DAYS OF
FIGHTING.

Egan. S. D.-Two former residents
OF the Black Hills are serving in the
Austrian army, as recently report
ed in these dispatches. but so far
as known the only former resident
OF South Dakota who is dehting with
the allies in the European war IS
Alphonso Bourne, who for some
time was q resident Of Moody county.
and who was popular among resi-
dents OF Egan and other places in
the county. Mr.. ard Mrs. T. J. Relf.
we'll known residents of Egan, who
hefriended the young man while he
was q resident of South Dakora.
have just received a letter from him
which gives details OF the thrillinc,
experiences through which he has
passed since returning to Europe
and eniisting as 4 gunner il the
English army. He was wounded uut-
ing one of the battles and the let
ter is written from the hcs7t-a- in
which he now is receiYina treatment,
He landed in Belgium with the First
army corps of the British cxaedi-
.ionary force and almost Immediate
ly had his baDtism OF FIRE. He was
li1l tlR DutAlG vi -N1t.iS.. LIS l6kAtE tI..-
tinues:
Lose Half of Mem.
I'VE entrained TO Narpus. eoln,ug
into action with Our guns or the 18th
/ of August. fighting all day; we had
to retire during the night on to Mons
where we had another terrible bat
tie on the Sth ard 9th day q August
aenin retiring al night, where we
again fought all day on the 10Th.
losing many men; again r%etrearing
at. night to LeCotesu; in action
again all day and %retreating Of nights
and fighting al day. Twenty miles
north Of Paris We made & great
istapd for three days, when we la
lost over half OF orr men. We got
reinforced then with plenty more
fresh troops and then we BEGAN to
advance again instead of retreatingI
our first battle being at Lisney and
next day al LeNerberie: We again
advnced to Campaign, where we had
two more DAYS OF very heavy firms
aud then TO the river Marine, whore
it took us six days terrible lighting
with heavy loss of life to get to the
other side of the river.
1--WE advanced on to scissors tic
find that grand old city in flames
and ruins; also many other towns
and villages the same. When at last
we reached the river Oisne. wher,
we soon effected a crossing, hut: or
dear. what ? price. After getting t.
the other side the shells ard frinf
was awful. from the 9Th OF Septem
her right M TO tho 1~6th--sevcn dag
terrible fighting which I can oni,
describe as heing a Hell Upon Earth
Our battery was properly wiped ani
annihilated on The tfth. | was VAC
through both thighs. but, thank God
T an still alive, and not only alive
but am very lucky to have both m5
legs left as we'll, SO vow bet 7 wa:
very grateful when ] found mysel,
days after.
Germans are Stronger.
I am expecting very soon to ht
shifted to q convalescent camp Il
get my strength hack again. and q!
soon as l am we'll enough ! viii ~
Join a battery ct the firing line agar
Am sorry to see u troops arc still
occupying the same positions as the,
5 were when ! left them three week
ago. and they must have had Q yer,
hard job to do that, as the German
are much stronger in number thai
US.
81 had thirty-three days hart
fghting in all before I fell. SO,
think ] bear d charmed life. l d.
! not think | was meant to be shot g,
] vas the last one lett standing ant
alive on the 18th before j was hit
It's very heart breaking to see al
your comrader lying dead ant
wounded all around, AID it drive.
you mad TO see the poor women an
children lying in thetowns. We shol
all be glad 10 see the end Of TIL
terrible war"
q