The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1916-08-10
Decatur County Soldier BOY in China.

from Morris w. Linden, to his moth
er, Mrs. Nj. Linden, Of near Pleasan-
ton. will be read with interest by his
many hoyhood friends in this coun-
ty. Morris is member of Co. l, 10Th
! U. S. Infantry, now stationed at
/ Tientsin, China:
Tientsin, China, 7-10-16.
Dear ther:-Received your let
ter while at Leichuang but had no
chance or time to answer as we were
very busy while there, as the sharp
shooters and expert rifle men had to
shoot 500 and 1000 yards. l am sor-
~ to tell you but your son did not
| set to shoot those ranges.
| made 261 points preliminary but
tile days | shot for record the wind
was BAG and very changeably light so
the result was that my total score
was ga points and as | have told
you before that 202 are required for
marksmen, 23S for sharpshooters,
and 253 for experts. Last year l made
total of 234 1t may be next year
l will have better weather to shoot
and another thing, three-fourths of
the company used the Tongshan
range which is not near as good as
the Leichuang range.
| had to shoot at Tonshan owing to
the fact that | was stationed there all
the time.
! am going to explain what the
company was doing at Leichuang.
Well, l passed the sharp-shooter's
and experts course, then each SER
geant had to take one platoon con-
Sisting of two squads up to a certain
~ NV,
The captain estimates the distance
and point out to the squad leaders
certain sector which they were to
shoot at, then the squad leaders go
back to their squad (Which is already
formed in what is called skirmish
line, that is, they are all lying down
in line facing the same way with
about Is inches interval. If not 9TH
erwise prescribed by the platoon lead
er or commander.)
AS soon as the squad leader is sure
every man has seen where to fire, the
squad leader notifies the platoon
leader by holding up his hand. Then
when the platoon leader is ready to
open fire he blows his whistle to at
tract the attention of the squad lead
er who is the only man who looks to
the rear.
Every one else keeps his eye on
the sector of the target supposed to
be the enemy, which they are to fire
upon. When the squad leader re-
ceives the signal he then gives the
command to commence firing and
every man in the squad has already
had a line of sight so they come very
near firing at the same time In time
OF real action all that maneuvering
around is done under cover and is
meant for attack and surprise on the
enemy, which is carried on very fire.
quently in war times.
Then afterwards the first lieuten-
ant and second lieutenant take a
platoon consisting of four squads
each, and have the same thing.
Then comes the captain who takes
athe entire company. The captain
receives a message from the COM
handing officer Of t.. troop telling
him that the enemy is entrenched at
a certain place or hill and for him
company and gets them in action as
quick as possible.
This year Capt. Kock marched us
u SCy US IuSuuluS W. L. VI WL1C1
am a member) about ESQ yards, de-
ployed the company, pointed out the
enemy Cor targeD to the platoon
leaders which Of 1,st and End lieu
tenants and the two ranking duty SER
geants upon by the range finder and
they did the same as have tried to
explain before
From the time Capt Keck received
the message until we had moved up
and fired 1886 shots Yves Ia minutes
and 80 seconds, getting 1874 hits on a
line of l20 targets, representing
man kneeling, the closest ones were
706 yards and the farthest S65.
We were the highest company in
two battalions of the 18th Infantry,
now located in China.
was in Lieutenant Creed's pla-
toon. We fired at 80 targets 500
yards away getting SO hits on % tar
gets, out of 434 shots, figuring up
973 per cent which also was the
best made.
You. wanted to know something
about the European war. l am sorry
to say, that all the news we get is
from the United States papers which
are always 80 days late.
l never thought would get so far
away that it would take 80 days to
get a letter from home folks.
Well as it is nearly time for dinner
this afternoon being pay day Chat is
we think 500 I'll close for this time,
sending love to you and best wishes
to all my Iowa friends.
Morris w. Linden,
Co. I, 18th Infantry, Tientsen, China.