New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-27

Somewhere in France, July ITO
day makes four months we have been
out here. Having few hours to spare,
will try and briefly give you an ac-
count Of what we have done.
Our first spell of the trenches came
while we were in Montmorency Bar
racks, at Bethune. We marched from
there to Festubert, a distance of about
six miles, TO the first line. The first
time | entered the trenches was at
night. and well ] remember keeping
awake in the bitter cold, expecting any
minute the Germans to come over. In
the morning ! took few distinct
peeps at the "Allemands'" berricade in
front of us. OF course, did the usual
sniping ct imaginary Germans. Festu-
bert at that time was a front where
both the English and Germans put their
fresh troops to get them used to shell
fire.
Ny second time in the trenches was
Easter, and oh, what a holiday! Luck
;ly. we were only in the trenches two
days at a time, as il rained the whole
Of Easter Sunday and Monday. The
country around here is very fiat. Two
and half feet below the surface al
ways finds water. and with little rain
the ground turns into one mass OF mud.
Easter Monday felt most miserable.
sat in the dugout thinking Of the
people at home enjoying themselves,
and the three others with me were
growing about the rations we had for
that day. We were unable TO make any
tea. as the rain had dsmpened our
wood and paper. Toward evening we
cheered up and amused ourselves by
singing. and toward p. m. we were abb
solutely happy, and our relief were
thunderstruck when they arrived to
find US so cheerful. After one or two
working parties, we marched back to
Bethune and thence to Auchel.
Here we were entrained. and then we
vera moved to Lapoynoy TO act as
reserve 10 the division that captured
Hill 60. etc, and also entrained for the
bigger event to come. We were not, |
am glad to say. required at Hill CO. but
the trains were in readiness TO move
US az one hours notice the whole time.
Gets First Taste of Battle
Saturday. May IS. commenced my
first battle and experience of war. On
cur left lRicheborg PAvOuel we ad-
vanced without artillery preparation by
a surprise attack, and held the posi-
lions by bombing hard and straight
shooting.
Early on Sunday morning. az about
! o'clock the British advanced on the
centre position, Rue de Lille. by what
we used 20 call Dead Cow Farm. At
this point. between our lines and the
Germans. there were two dead cows,
which neither party would allow the
other to fumigate, disnfect or bury.
In the end. however, an English soldier
crawled out and put some chloride Of
lime on them. About a. m. our bri-
gade advanced to consolidate and hold
the first and second German lines and
the original British line. Here Com
panv A obtained German flag and
Private Day, Company A. won the
II. c. VI. We cleared some Germans
out Of two farmhouses which they had
turned into forts. for which Sergeant
Hayward, Company {, obtained the
d. c. VI and ! lost a chum in Lance
Corporal Healing, who led our bomb
ing party.
with June came a change OF trenches
and we relieved the Guards at Yer
melles; then had another spell in re
serve, after which we moved 70 de-
lightful village known as South Marco,
of which later.
There are one or two garden cities
here that used TO be occupied nv the
mine workers, and South Marco is q
good example The gardens at the back
and front Of the houses are full OF
vegetables. which we made the most Of.
On both sides the tall towers Of the
mines make fine observation points.
Artillery duels occur here on an aver
age Of twice day. Sometimes we fell
lows in reserve catch strays and have
TO leave a decent meal to dive out into
tho coilore