Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1915-09-10

| firmly believed that | could dump
few of them into the canal.
A few days before that, in day
| light, I was out in the bushes farther
up the bank at this place and got
two shots snapped at me, but this
time l thought it was too dark for
me to be seen. 1t was very early in
the morning-so I thought. 1t was
raining a little and I was soaked
from crawling through the wet grass.
l finally got my position and wait
ed about an hour without a target.
Then l caused a big racket on my
side of the canal and a bigger splash
on the other side, and started work
ing my bones back toward the trench
again You see l had crumbed the
deal and would not get another tar
get at that place. | knew the Ger
mans would have me in the canal in
a few minutes if l stayed. SO
did not stay.
The rain had turned to mist and
down along the canal it was pretty
thick and dark and l knew l had an
hour before daylight But, curses!
A breeze came down the canal, the
mist floated away and I found myself
looking along the German lines, in
almost broad daylight.
of a
POST at the right of the canal, told
me afterwards that they saw me very
plainly and came near slamming a
few shots at me, mistaking me for
an Aleman.
Boy, oh boy. l never stopped for
cover, for there was none there that
would have saved me. l ran for 1t,
but | got almost to the trench Dead
Man's) on the left bank before a shot
was fired For once the German sni-
pers were off their guard and | was
pleased-and not hit
We always have a good laugh after
anything comes off lucky, and we
had good one that time.
We picked up lot of souvenirs in
Dead Mans Trench. Hundreds of
rounds of French rifle cartridges
wrapped in packages of eight, left
by the brave little Frogs when they
fought there against the Germans.
French and British bayonets and
equipment and rusty rifles every
where, scattered about over the
stiffs made the place look like the
real thing.
Am having a beautiful time here.
Have enjoyed every minute of the
time I've been at the front.
If I can keep the bullets and such
nonsensical things from penetrating a
perfectly good skin, I'll see you
again. If not so successful of course
that is another story.
Have not seen a Yank out here
yet kick in, but what went to his
death with a joke in his teeth.
Send over about 1000 Texas rang
ers and every German will be out of
Belgium in 80 days time. Garry on.
Well will finish this windy letter
and give you a rest | hope to slip
you more and better later on. You
get all the big stuff from the Asso-
ciated Press, Wen say, and I'll slip
W. hn VIII To
Red"
And in the meantime let us hear
from you, and give my regards to my
friends.
Always your friend
P. S.-Received your paper with
letter published. Thank you for the
consideration, and I was pleased to
notice photo of myself printed.
RED-again.
P. S.-Again-7:00 D. m.-Just re-
turned from our sniping post NO g
The Germans got the range today
all right A whiz-bang a in. high
explosive) landed in our traverse,
killing the spotter, wOunding the
Belgic artillery observer and tearing
up the position generally. The
man sniping-lucky dog-got out of
it with nothing serious happening to
him.
Argentine and l carried on" with
the sniping in the deserted position,
to the Wonderment of the more tim
id ones, to such good effect that I
succeeded in earning another notch
which l will cut into my pipe stem in
the morning if never plan any
more. The climate here is not con-
ducive of well laid plans turning
out right SO l always add an eff"
to my plans.
We never knOw-We just toddle |
along Well good night.
Your friend,
RED.