The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1916-08-25

uospllNl at Neullly, where ! can have
every comfort.
"Of course you WON'T worry about
me. will be just as good as new
soon, and really this is true.
"The Germans peppered the life out
Of my car. No one goes over the road
In daylight, but the fellows brought
me back the next day handful OF
bullets taken from II, and said they
could get me bushel more If de.
sired them.
"For three days | was not allowed
10 eat or drink and could hardly move
in bed. My spirits were high, too. |
will try TO write better and take more
pains. Goodhy. WILLIAM.
"Neuilly-sur-Seine, July 10, 1916"
Later he wrote:
Dear Folks:
"Well, | am here aud fine. This
is wonderful hospital, and they
surely treat you great. am just
getting back to normal and have
no temperature. The doctors here
are the best in the world and surely
know their business.
"When my wounds heal up, which
they are fast doing, I will be just as
good as new, no scars at all. am
very happy here and hope every day
that you are as happy and never worry
about me. | think ! have done a
small part Of a great work, and my
medaille shows what the French think
of my services. 1t is given for dis
cipline and valor, and by the way,
what amuSeS me. there is an annual
pension Of 100f. have been treat
ed wonderfully mnce | have it given
to me.
81 am the only ambulance boy who
has been given a Medaille, and | am
told that Mr.. Balsley, an American
aviator, is the only other American
who has It. WILLIAM"
Driving Under Fire.
Another letter wildly describing the
experiences of ambulance drivers at
the front, was sent 10y the young
American who volunteered TO take
charge Of the first ambulance provided
by members of the New York stock ex-
change. In that letter to his parents
the writer says:
well, Pm still alive and kicking, hut
the Lord only knows why. | finally
started work at Verdun on the Dist
of June. I quit the 9TH OF July. /
hope never to put in a reign Of terror
like that again. The first night we
started we were greeted with gas
attack and had t9 wear our masks for
about three hours. Luckily they were
the weeping kind, that is, it makes you
cry like the devil. If you breathe
enough of it, 1t makes you very sick,
but II wasn't the aSphyxiating kind
We went from Verdun to n poSte de Sc
cours. just behind the first line
trenches, about 500 yards away from
the Poches. 1t was in the cellar of
what remained Of house; the rest
Of the place was nothing but piles Of |
bricks, etc. There was another post
half way between, and another little
farther to the left.
"The road out was under continual
she'll fire all the time, and the second |
night they shelled the poste de secours
very heavily. | came up the road, and |
Just ut the entrance TO the little town
net Waldo, who said that they were
;hellng the place and to be careful.
started on, and then whistle and
)oom-just ahead of me at the side
If the road a shower of stones. etc.
10 damage. went on, got into
punch Of soup kitchens which were
blocking the road and stalled my mo-
or got out to crank it. just got II
;olng, when the next one arrived
hit me on the ankle and
Knocked me over got up, found MY
eg all wet and no feeling in it, so
concluded | was wounded.
~ got in the car and started back
o Verdun to get 1t fixed got about
hree hundred yards away and then
egan to feel things in 1t, so | felt it
gain. 1t seemed all right, and my
lands weren't red so l concluded
wasn't wounded, and it must have been
piece Of brick that hit me- so
urned around and went back again.
nd some more shells arrived. Found
DAWSON, and we took TO a shell hole,
nd lay there about fifteen minutes.
Barber and johnson were lying un-
er their cars just in front OF us 1t
It up for a while and we went on to
ne poste. Found another man chang
lg a tire in front of the poste, with
art Of the front Of his car gone. He
lvted me to aid him. couldn't re-
Ise bait l never felt so Hike killing a
erson in my life. The crazy idiot,
tting there changing shoe. with
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