Putnam patriot., 1917-10-26
Echoes From Near the Firing Line

the first from the pen of William Leard, Putnam railroad man, now with the engineers corps in France. He enlisted at the same time as Ma ioney, James, Dow and the others.
 After saying that he is we'll and tel ling of an uneventful trip to England, although there were several submarine scares, he says:
 After months journey on land and sea we have al last arrived At our final destination, "Somewhere in Franee,n on the western front within three miles of the front and the first line trenches.
 J pon arrival we entrained for an English camp where we remained five days. We slept in tents on old mother earth. On August 10th the entire regi- ment paraded through the streets of London. The streets were lined on both sides by a'dense crowd It was said we were the first foreign troops to parade on British soil under arms since 1066 WeImade ereditable ap' pearance. The English spoke of our stern faces and military air. We re- ceived a tremendous ovation, passed by the American embassy in review, proceeded to Buckingham palace and St. James park. Here we were re- viewed by King George and other state dignitaries including Prime Min isteF, Lloyd George Luncheon was served the entire regiment, including several bottles of tonic, sandwiches and confectionery.
 An unexpected feature of our Nisit to the park was our reception by dele. gation of Civil war veterans, members of which reside in London and It's surroundings. We gave them great reception. When Old Glory was seen floating over their grey heads the boys gave them tremendous greeting
 After leaving camp we arrived in France and remained encamped on the outskirts of a large city. We were fitted with gas mas ks of two patterns and steel helmets to De used as pro- lection against flying shrapnel'
 The city referred to appeared as though it might have been built in the middle ages. The streets were paved with round cobble stones and the side walks were flag stone, where not cob bic stones. The houses were of brick or limestone with tiled roofs. Most of the inhabitants, especially the women, were dressed in mourning, which gave the first indication that we were in the midst of war ridden Europe. The city was fairlyup to aate with street rail- ways, electric lights, telephone ana telegraph. These inventions called to mind American ingenuity having US usefulness in foreign lands.
 We then proceeded to our final des, tinaiion within three miles of the hr- inc line. Continual bombardments are going on about us night and day and with the dropping of bombs from air craft, which at times literally ln- fest,the heavens, together with the deafning roar of the big guns barking necessarily at night and continuing nntil early dawn it certainly makes inc setting realistic to say the least. you folks back home in America can not imagine what "1mps Of Hell' these mispnided Huns are, who openly pro- fess to be Christians and go so lar as
 .S h tzn In boast close alliance with the rreator. Desolation and ruin are everywhere apparent and 1t is beyond ,,.ords in describe the scenes we wit ness from day to day, the result oi some evil, tiendish act, which presents itself at the most unexpected moment
 In this particular place, what was once peaceful village of some size, smuggling in a valley, Is now In fuins' Not A cottage is left standing, the town either having been shelled or DOW Il m Every tree for miles around, shade or fruit, has been cut do~h anu allowed to remain where II ieii' ->o' an atom of material that could pos sinly he of use to the Allies was sr Ioxed in remain intact. The inhAoi- tants so we are informed, were either taken into captivity by the Huns Or killed in defending their lives or prop ertv. The whole scene baffies des- cr,ntion and m sy better be left to the imagination.
 ,,one etoss roads, standing out in hold relief against the sky line, Is h..s eross bearing 4 life sized image of Christ crucifed. Many sucn eni' hlems of christianity may be seen s,.Dding throughout the country, con s,;,,,,ng All that is left of the hamiels. wna,nsT allowed to remain by design =, ,,,a,wise. is a matter of conjecture. ps tbst as,it may, there they stand s,s,,ng mnte testimony of what trans hired here the past few months The saaI,ng that comes over one on nrst pc ho,s;ng this emolemn of christianity, aszingon these ruined villages, per hans never more ts be rebuilt, Is De- vona power to- describe. Aoanoohed trenches with oarbed wire entangle- nen.s stretch ont in front of mem TOT
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