The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1917-09-01

divided among regiments in training,
though be did not lose sight OF them all,
Lawrence, Claire and Robertson are
three OF the shipmates he remembers
having since met somewhere inFrance. /"
He selected the artillery service, for no
particular reason. After ninety days.
drilling he was declared ready for the
front. He was in the second line of the
Fourth East Lancashire Regiment of
artillery, and was assigned to drive a
four point howitzer, which is a thirty
six FOUNDER, with four and one-half-
inch bore. On December II, 1915, he
was sent to France. given a few more
lessons behind the firing line, and
equipped for action. After Christmas
be was sent into action. He was rushed
from one point to another, never stay
ing long anywhere though under fire
and firing all the time.
His first real. long, sustained battle
was at Neuve Chapelle, near Pelgium.
It was after that when death came
closest to him for the first time. A
number of his battery were overcome
by gas. The Germans pumped clouds
of it from tanks, and he was caught in
cloud. He wore a mask, but it did
not prevent his asphyxation. The feel
ing was of nausea, and after he was
pumbed out he was sent to the hospital
The suffering clung longest to eyes and
ears, but when he was back in line after
sixteen days only his hearing seemed to
be affected. Then he was transferred
to the trench mortar corps. The NOR
tars are detachable guns which shoot
sixty pound bombs. There are six men
to a gun. The piece is divided and
borne 20 it's station with the ammuni-
ton, the men dividing the weight,
The men put the gun together, load and
fire. The firing is slow compared to
other guns, and the range short but of
high elevation. 1t is operated from
shell holes or dug outs covered with
legs in ssseeSyo. Mans Lead," s.ica is be-
tween the firing lines, or is rushed to
points between trenches, by means Of
horses. The type of warfare is danger
Gus and exciting enough to suit the
| most sanguinary. Thirty three men OF
the 120 in his company were killed at
different times. Shells perpetuully were
bursting around and among them, but
| Schultheis was never scratched. He
even says that artillery is much safer
than infantry fighting.
INFANTRY WAS BETTER FED
The advantage that he saw in the in
fantry service was that it was better
| fed, being easier found. He did not
wax fat in France. The rations were
all right, but they did not always come
up on time or in full, as ammunition
had the first call on the available tran
sportation. Most of the time he hac
cheese for break fast, "bully" beef fol
dinner, marmalade for tea, with tea and
| hard bischts to fill in. When he was in
any permanent position for time tht
food was better and included fresh meat
| The British ration is substantial enough
4 consisting of three-quarters of a pound
of meat, pound OF bread, four ounce;
each of bacon, cheese and I'm, an ounce
of butter half pound of potatoes, four
ounces of dried vegetables, such as
beans, and tea. Most OF it is cookel
/ into stews. Rum is issued twice 2 week
but there is not very much drinking in
the modern armies. The Young Mems
/ Christian Association and the Saliva
ton Army are close up to the thirG
line, occupying dugouts, and selling
off drinks, chocolate and other such
delicacies to men, besides what they
! give away. Schulthel's shilling day,
| the British soldiers's pay, was mostly
spent that way, and he came back broke
1t was May i3 when the home efforts
to otain his discharge succ eeded. H,
had to leave his uniform behind, ant