The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-01-30
Tells Story of the Horrors Of
War to Some Friends in
New York.

NEW YORK, Jan. 29.-"sure it's a
long way to Tipperary. a bally sight
logger way than l could have believed
two years ago, but as sure as thele
are saints in heaven our lads will get
there"
lance Corporal David Williams,
back from the front, was in q some
what Respondent mood the other night
despite his cheerful pre- tc,ion. II
was not because two shell wounds
which he carried away rs souvenirs
from the HODGE district, give him an
occasional twinge Of pain that he re-
fused to smile often. 1t was the fact
these wounds, REINFORCED a few
months later by a charge Of gas which
made him unconscious ten hours, in
capacitated him for participation in
the final stages Of that Tipperary
march which he is confident is coming.
David Williams, now % years old,
was a lockerman at the Montclair Golf
Club when the wal started. He was
a r~escrvist Of the Royal Irish rifles,
who had seen three years service, and
when the call came he sailed from
New York August 3, 1914. was mo-
bilized in Belfast as a riaeman Au-
gust "a, and September 6 he was in
France with the first expeditionary
force.
Lance Corporal Williams-he won
the promotion at Neuve Chappelle-
told his story Of the a to a party OF
friends at ia Third avenue, where he
is visiting. He exhibited his wounds
one on the stomach. one on the right
leg.
Praises SaxOns as Fighters.
I'VE had Saxons against us in Elan
ders and we used to exchange friend
lyt greetings with them every even
ing" he said in explaining he did not
cherish hatred. "They were good
chaps, those saxons, and humane. And
how they could fight"
Early in September, Williams's COM
mand, after w%ithstanding two attacks
b va detachment Of von Kluck's army,
was driven from its trenches near
Scissors. The Irish rifles marched
for eight miles-"each lad with a one
pound tin OF beef'a day and that too
salty to eat"-to Bethune, later cross
ing La Bassee canal into Belgium.
Then they had their baptism Of fire.
"For twelve days we advanced and
retreated alternately" said Williams.
I'VE never knew where we were go
ing or what we were to do till we
reached Neuve Chapelle. We had
barely got our trenches dug--we we're
in a potato field and the soil was so
soft we dug with our hands--when
the Prussians under Vol Buelow at
tucked us. We drove them back three
times, the last time in hand to hand
lighting, and when we got through
there was nothing but q thin red line
left on each side.
Hold out another six hours, four
hours, two hours, till the reinforce
ments come, was the constantly re-
peated order. We thought the re-en-
forcements never would get there.
Companies A and B, which were next
to- mine, charged with bayonets and
were wiped out. Finally Chat was
my company-got the word to advance.
with the re-enforcements we took the
enemy's trenches, but Of the 1900
mon in our command in August only
H. remained after the last charge
Volunteers as a Scout
Company .C's' captain wanted men
to volunteer to act as connecting fire
Ito creep along several. hundred
yards to a neighboring village and
pass back information Of the Ger
mans activties-and Williams ard
two others responded. Near Hooee,
williams acted as q grenade carrier
in a small company which took two
lines Of trenches.