Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-09-08

from his home town in Hart,and
carlton county. n. B., and has seen
service for two years and nine months
being twice wounded.
private Hanning arrived at Halifax.
Nova Scotia, some time ago. in com
pany with several hundred other
wounded Canadian soldiers and on
GERS, who returned for furloughs or for
an hme' and before finally reaching
tnls cltN, he has visited in Hartford,
'onn.. with relatives. His mother.
Mrs >. }. Hanning of Eastern Avenue.
went to Halifax and met her son and
accompanied him home. On his horne
ward journey through the States he
wore the regulation army suit and be-
ing recognized as a return was he
seiged with questions about over
there" until he was weary. At one
point along the journey he and his
mother met a number Of L. S. soldiers
on their wav to cantonment and he
was Immediately hailed and piled with
queries.
Gives No News
But right here, for the benefit Of all
those interested, l want to say, that
although Private Hanning has just re-
turned from the center of the fighting,
and although he sits and stares into
space thinking. and no doubt seeing
before him most vivid memories OF
what is going on over there, he does
not answer questions, or at least he
does not answer them in any way as
to give even the merest degree of in
formation which would be of any mil
itary value. He will tell YOU what you
can read in the paper and maybe add
a detail or two which the war writer
has omitted and which sheds a thu
man interest" light on the story and
he will say, There is so much, but of
course l cannot tell you" Private
Hanning, most loyal to his King, feels
that all soldiers coming from the
scenes of the actual fighting should be
most careful of what they say. In
speaking of how spies work in Eng
land he said that wounded men are in
vited to ride with women posing as
being kindly interested, and that in
the course of the ride the women ask
the soldiers all kinds of questions and
they. unthinkingly, oftlmes give out
information that proves Of value to
the enemy.
went to visit Private Hanning at
the home Of his mother, Thursday af-
ternoon, and he entered the front
room imping, his right limb seeming
to be afflicted. He wore the regula-
ton suit. with the exception of his
"hlouse". which I thought should be
called q coat. and which he told me
was at the cleaners He also wore the
heavy top coat and the regulation cap.
He is most pleasing to meet ana
manly. well-set up young CHAP. 'hur
his mother says that she can see big
change in him since she saw him last
He will not talk very much and one
las to use their imagination a eood
deal hut what 7 cleaned and what
imagined was this:
In "No Mans Land"
A chan Joins the army and goes to
war. He goes to England, or at least
If he is y Canadian he does. and then
he goes to the scene Of fighting. There
with his fellow comrades he marches
and marches, but he doesn't know
until a. short time before, that he is
going into actual fighting The com
mand Of which Private Hannlng was
a members, arrived at the front hEcs
and Within n very short time hao
charge of their section of the line. or
seven hours a soldier fights in the first
line trenches, for seven hours ne
works in the support trenches ana
then he is sent to the rear to rest.
which means a chance for little
sleep and to wash up and clean up.
The day time is for sleeping and the
night time is for fighting. The herceSt
of the fighting is done at night time
Tho FIRST line trenches of the Allies IN
northern France may be as near as 10
or % feet to the German first line
trenches. And mo Mans Land he
tween. is the most dangerous ground
private Hanning was wounded while
on NO Mans Land" and laid there
for two days before assistance came.
Then he was taken to the rear and
remained for several days longer pc
fore finally reaching the hospital. AS
no Law on his cot preacher OF the
eospeI came to him and asked MIN
what word would he send homo, the
good father fearing that he was pretty
rear the end The following is copy
of the letter Vahch Mrs. Hanning re-
ceived ct that time
Canadian Corps H. G.
Mrs. s. ]. IIanning.
Hartland.
Carlton Co, n. b.
Dear Mrs. flaming: At the request
Of your son, Pvt. F.. G. Hanning, NO.
sa4oo. lam writing to tell you that ne
was wounded in the side about sept
18th. 1t was impossible to get him
cut from the trenches Immediately
hut on Sept. 10Th we took up party
of ninety men and carried him ana
nine Of his wounded comrades out 70
the Field Ambulance where the Med
lea, officers gave them every possiole
attention. They described his condi-
tion as wonderfully good. I hope you
will hear from time to time OF his con-
slant progress towards recovery. ana
T consrat,;late you on the magnificent
vor,, he has done in the great strug-
gle in which the Canadian Troops are
now engaged.
Yours sincerely,
fsisned) Captain A Fl. McGreer'
Hon Cant. Canadian Corps, Sept. %,
1916"
Plenty For All
There is plenty Of everything for the