American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1914-10-01

N4N $500
artillery ire thai moved us down.
However, We entered St. Prix. Hardly
had We done so than we were met
with shell fire and a violent fusillade
from the German infantry. Our colonel
was badly wounded. He is the
third We have had. Fourteen men were
killed around me. We got away in a
lull without being hit.
The 7th, Sth and 9th OF Septem-
Der We were constantly under shell
and shrapnell fire and suffered ter
rible losses. ! was in a house which
was hit several times. The fear OF
death, OF agony, which is in every
mans heart, and naturally so, is a
terrible feeling. How often I have
thought of you, my darling, and what
/ suffered in that terrifying battle
which extended along a front Of miles
neal Montmirail, you can not posi-
bly, imagine.
Under Fire Four Days.
"'Our heavy artillery was being
] uctu lQl lut clfEt VI AAauB'AHtH W.
wanted it badly, as the enemy had
theirs in force and kept up a furious
bombardment. For our days l was
under artillery fire. 1t was like hell,
but a thousands times worse.
ION the night Of the 9Th the order
was given to retreat, as it would have
been madness to attempt TO hold our
position with our few men. and we
should have risked a terrible defeat
the next day. The First and Third
armies had not been able to attack
with US, as we had advanced too rap
idly. Our morale was absolutely
broken; in spite of unheard of sacri-
fees We had achieved nothing.
"I cannot understand how our
army. after fighting three great bat
ties and being terribly weakened, was
sent against a position which the
enemy had prepared for three weeks
but naturally ! knew nothing OF the
intentions of our chiefs; they say
nothing has been lost.
In a NOIQ. We ltAlltA wv 80
Cormontreuil and Rheims by forced
marches by day and night. We hear
that three armies are going to get into
line. entrench and rest and then start
afresh our victorious march on Paris.
II was not a defeat, only a strategic
retreat. ! have confidence in our
chiefs that everything will be success
full.
"'Our First battalion, which has
fought with unparalleled bravery. Is
reduced from 1900 to 1874 men. These
numbers speak for themselves
Amongst the minority happenings
of interest is the following;
During a counter attack by the Ger.
mar Fifty-third regiment on portions
, of the Northampton and Queens regi
ments on Thursday, the 18th. a force
of some zoe of the enemy were allow.
! ed 10 approach right up to the trencf
= occupied by a platoon of the formei
regiment. owing to the fact that they
had held up their hands and made ges
, tures that were interpreted as sign'
hat they wished to surrender. Whel
. thew we're actually on the parapet o
) the trench they opened on u mel
J pointblank.
{ 'IInluekIy for the enemy, however
2 fanking them, and only 400 yards dis
tant. there happened to be a machin'
e gun name by a detachment OF IN
e Queens. This opened fire, cutting
e lane through the mass. and they Eel
hack to their own trench with grea
10 loss. Shortly afterwards they "er
d driven back with further loss by
n battalion Of guards which came up i
support.
n Incident or the Disc.
An incident which occurred som
II little time ago during our retiremen
n is also worthy Of record. On Angus
2S during the battle fought by tn
e French along the Disc, between La
d fere and Guise. one Of the Frene
commanders desired to make an a
reconnaissance. II was found, howeve
p that no observers were available.
IS Wishing to help our allies as niue
as possible, a British officer attachf
IS 10 this particular French army yo
Is unteered to 90 up with the pilot
N observe. He had never been in an a
c. roplane. but he made the ascent al
ty produced a valuable reconnaissance r
port.
incidentally he had a duel in Il
air at an altitude of 5000 feet wi
b. the observer of a German Taube mo
u oplane. which approached. He fir
er several shots and drove off the no
IL tile ~aeroplane. His action was mu'
so appreciated by the French.
In view OF the many statements
en- the press as to the use OF Zeppeli