The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-18
HELMET TELLS
TRAGIC STORY
OF The TRENCHES

What happened to the wearer of
the German helmet sent to his faith
err by Bruce Awrey, a Hawley MINI.
boy. from the trenches. Somewhere
in France, must be imagined by
reading between the lines. The his
1 tory OF the helmet-"still half omit
ted" would not pass the censor.
Following is the intensely interest
ing letter received by his father,
Thos. Awrey, who is spending the
winter in California.
Nov. Q. 1917.
Dear Father:
was glad to learn that the steel
helmet reached you D. X. 1t is the
kind now used by the boches and
believe the same as used at the be-
ginning of hostilities. personally
found the one you have, in the most
wonderful and unique dug-out I've
seen on the western front, shortly
after an advance made by the
Colonial troops. The entrance was in
the basement OF a ruined chapel, a
narrow curved stairway down some
ten feet below the surface.
After roaming from narrow apart
ment to apartment, each just wide
GIOuku
either side, ceiling of curved cor
rugated iron, and floor made Of
mother earth, connected with tight
oil-cloth doors (prObably to keep out
our deadly gas which is heavier than
air and fills up every hole and crew
ice in the ground). l came to anoth-
err stairway. Going down / found
another network OF apartments al
most the same as the first except
much damper and not connected with
doors as above.
never was much of a miner, and
always dislike very much being un-
derground especially when there Is
great possibility OF running on a few
hidden Fritzes. On this level found
a German kitchen which by all APP
pearances was deserted in a hurry.
Not being in any rush, and hungry
as well (both my failing when there
is anything to eat and a place to
rest) lighted q fire, put on some
water to boil and explored the place
for eatables.
I found in abundance German
black bread (have been satisfied with
our own issue ever since) jam. bis
cults, smoked ham. potatoes. cheese,
coffee. and Al German mess tin
which I've used every day since. In
half hours time / had table set Mt
for a king-in war time. Wishing
the Kaiser poor health / enjoyed a
splendid meal.
On my way out I was surprised to
find still another entrance going
down into the bowels of the earth.
Not being a gutter / went down to
find still another level which had
been living quarters 4S hours before,
much colder and as Shiny as the bot
underground nest that I found the
helmet you have.
At this stage of the game drop
ped my candle almost putting it out.
MY first thought was If / still had
nv matches. They were missing.
How 1 valued that little candle light,
for I realized too well the impos-
sibility OF getting out in the dark.
Securing another candle carried
one in each hand. At that time ]
valued those candles as much as my
two eyes. Even with a light 1t took
me over half an hour to find my way
out to sunlight.
When out l filled my lungs with
fresh air and rested in the warmth
of the sunny side Of the rock heap,
part Of the ruins OF an old church.
1t was not until then that fully re-
allied the stupendous preparations
made by the enemy to hold their
positions on the western front
Still the British, with their prep
aration were able to force them out
Of their holes at a new line OF de-
tense.
Now you have O. little history con-
nected with the helmet, true 70 a
Word-still half omitted.
The rest regarding the same dug
out and others, ] viii tell YOU in per-
son when / return.
During my first months In France
I spent all my spare time OF duty
roaming over the old battlehelds,
exploring dug-outs and studying
everything In connection with Them
AZ the time / did not realize the
chances took, for was too int0xi-
Gated with the wonderfuiness Of II
eli. None can begin to imagine the
preparations and cunning oe IL all