The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1917-12-06
CharlestOnian Writes of His
Experiences at the Front
with the Artillery
BILLITED IN A VILLAGE
All of the Comforts of Home with a
Private Family in the War
Zone

>. Stoney, neld aftlllery, united
States reserves, writes most interest
ingly of the European war zone. Ex-
cepting portions omitted pursuant to
the censorship regulations these let
tcrs follow:
October 2.
One of the beauties of France is
the color of its ink. | had my choice
of violet and black. This is the So
called black.
"Our battalion has been on the
front for more than week now. Bat
terry \ moved into n we'll CONSTRUCTED
French position, and has fired consid
crably. Just day or so ago Batter
les 4 and = changed positions, and
now Battery b has the nice place and
A is digging new one in the mud
about eight fccct deep. During all
this | have been left just behind tie
lines in charge of all of the horses
and most Of the men of the battery.
"Last night I took some fresh men
up to the line. 1t was wonderful
ride-onc of our rare clear day and
reasonably temperate. The patches OF
woods which even on the duiicst days
have all the colors of the rainbow
were gorgeous in the sunlight and
the wide stretches of fields seemed to
have more kinds Of green and brown
than ever before.
Acroplanc Battle Overhead.
"The long sweep of road carried us
through. one after another, little
towns, all the same and all interest
ing. The last part Of The trip was
made very interesting by an airplane
fight going or overhead. The number
of plane soaring in the clouds did
not seem to have mon in them. They
were like flock of swallows at sun
set circling carelcssly. Only the shrap-
mel bursts from the anti-aircraft guns
did not fit into the picture.
"The last few villages we passed
were all ruins. We came back
through them by moonlight. Nothing
but bare bones of houses standing
with the moonlight showing through
their blank window holes and doors
Weeds had grown thick within and
between them and seemed to lie the
only life of the town. Our big caii-
sons rumbicd through the quiet stree $
without awakening anything but
echoes. Occasionally we would pa
a bunch of Frenchmcn, who would
should 'Kameradc,' Amcricaines,' a
we passcd-or some American troop
who shouted various other things.
"In one of these villages during q
halt someone shouted: Hey, Gus
Stoncy, is that you I answered, and
found that it was James Holmes, with
some 'doughboys.' He tells me there
are several Charlcstonians along the
line hcrcabouts.
GAS we came on back we saw a
great lot of air firing going on, with
a bunch of star shells and rockets.
which added much to the scenery. 7
found out this morning that the
Boches had been bombing a town not
far away.
October 3.
81 wish you could be able to take
in this beautiful country with me.
| have been getting an occasional ride
out in the afternoon and seeing Won
| darf,,1 +b;,rc A fou, dove onn mo-.
off with another lieutenant and an
int nrpreter to visit nearby town with
a big cathedral 1t was beautiful
day, and I suggested taking little
byroad round by the valley The in
terprctcr seemed doubtful, but final
ly came along, but these French by
roads have habit of petering ont
among the fields.
Old Cathedral Inspected.
"Just as we got on top of the ridge
and in reach of fine view, this one
ing anything out Of it, took out across
a great rolling bayfield,, where | could
see great stretch of valley, with half
dozen little French towns. But the
Interpreter was Mortified. He cou, ln't
conceive Of anyone going acJ5ss coun-
try with no road or path. I believe
he thought we'd get lost and be shot
at sunrise or something but he took
counsel with an aged agriculturulist
across the field and we wound round
the hill to the main road which was
in plain sight much to his satisfac-
ton.
"Whcn we reached the cathedral we
moored our tecds and went in. He