The Washington times., 1915-11-06
WASH|NGT0N|AN WINS
DISTINCTION IN WAR
Fortunes Of Battle Place Well
Known Resident Of Capital
Second in Command.

The fortunes Of war have placed a
one OF the regiments that has been do
ing a lot OF the lighting in the allied
trenches In France during the past two
or three months. The fortunes OF war
almost wiped out the regiment, killing
or wounding thirteen Of the eighteen
officers who participated in an attack
on the German trenches.
The Washingtonian Is well known In
this city. and is man whose name
is known throughout the country. lie
was one Of the captains OF the regiment
at the beginning OF the fight, and when
1t was over found himself next In rank
to the colonel. He 30 distinguished ID
himself that ne was mentioned In dis
patches and was used In reorganizing
the shattered forces after the battle.
For obvious reasons his name has
been withheld by his parents In giving
to The Times copy Of letter that
has Just been received from him tclling
OF the Rght. The letter follows:
Dearest Father and Mother:
Many thanks for your letters. II
Is long time since last wrote
II seems months. though II Is really
only Ave days. Well. ] had my nrst
larry keen @ on another like It. We
t!sS%S.s' srsnesss opposite ts us. but b", did mo-,
succeed. We had three shots at 1t.
could i've in the trail Of nre that
was directed on us. and we suffered
accordingly. We lost thirteen oiri;
cers-six killed and seven wounded
out Of eighteen that were In tho at
but another officer and self man
aged to bring back his body the
same night. ] was lucky as I was
with the last part of D Co. and we
were Just going to charge. in fact
I asked the colonel II we could
trying to recall the others. We
lost very heavily-about four hun
dred men our casualties amount
to-awful, isn't It. The German
wire was not broken, and people
who have been through Neuve
this. We had an awful time In the
trenches the next three days as we
had to holl long line and had no
troops to relieve us and ] was the
only available officer to carry out
orders as the other two were ma
chine gun officers. and there re-
mained only the colonel and adtu-
tant who were both too busy with
reports etc. So poor little Pat
had to run about the line
LOOKING a1ter tnlnRS, ana reOrGan-
izing. etc. The colonel told me yes
terday that my name hal been
mentioned in dispatches. so am
very pleased. 7 must say II was
nightmare. and ] had no sleep at
all for the first forty eight hours.
We were expecting the Germans to
attack and all sorts OF scares were
raised and the sentries and men
were rather nervous. The Germans
shelled us with gas shells so we
always had to be on the lookout
for gas. We used gas In this at
tack. but round about our brigade
II was not a success and Gassed
lot OF our own men. but further
south opposite Loos II WAS a great
success. We are off to 2. lYpres)
tomorrow. The French have done
awfully well. and so have our
troops. The Ninth division did very
well and broke through the Ger
man lines on the right OF our brig
ade. The German positions in front
OF us were very strong. but they
may he forced to leave II.
7 went into the fight as Junior
captain. and after II was over am
second in command of the battal-
| ion. that is to say as far as rank
goes-after the colonel comes my
self.
Best love. Your loving son.
(Signed) PAT