Daily Kennebec journal., 1917-11-05

times = doctor would say that If the pa
tient could see mother, friend or sweet
heart it would be just the needed thing
to bring him back to health.
The name of the soldier in such cases
was taken and passed to the Y NJ. c. A,
said Mr. Crossett. The Y. NJ. c. A. SENDS
for the relative whose presence is oe-
sired.
Mr. Crossett paid a visit to the front
line trenches and went to bed with sheiis
falling all around. He was awakened
early in the morning TO witness a thrill
ing air battle. He was at Nimy Ridge
and near the base of the hill saw Dig
naval guns sending 16-inch shells on their
a0-mile journeys. He crossed aoandoneo
trenches and what had been mo Mans
land to the trenches which the Germans
had occupied. Some of the excavations
had extended 80 and 40 feet down into
the earth The whole country had been
churned by trench fire and whole villages
completely obliterated. Where rain hao
washed away the dirt dead bodies could
be seen. He then came to smaller artil-
lery which hurled it shells but six or
eight miles. Just in front was the line
Of dugouts and sandbags, and right IN
line was the Y. NJ. c. A. hut.
In one side of the hut coffee, choco-
late, tea, and crackers were served 70
the men. In the other side were the
hunks occupied by the two secretaries
The hut was built of logs and was
covered with sandbags. The noise caus-
ed by the gun reports and the bursting
Of shells was so great that conserIa-
tion could not be carried on by the
occupants. A secretary told Mr.. CroS-
Sctt that he would be a happy man if
he could he sure Of going back to his
family after the war, but that eight
huts in that location had been knock
ed out of existence and he did not know
in what minute that one might suffer
the same fate, Two days later that
one was knocked out of existence,
said Mr.. CrosSett.
The speaker told of being in Flan-
ders in August at the opening of the
big drive IN that sector He saw the
vast preparations and the enormous ac-
emulation of supplies in readiness.
The association buildings were crowd
ed by men who, realizing the serious
ness of what was before them We're
IGll6IS IO1ilt. 1 mere was nv
muSic--hc said he did not hear a band
while he was away-and there was no
cheering. All wore serious faces. set to
do their duty. The artillery suddenly
stops, rockets went up behind the line,
and it seems as though all Hell is let
loose 1t seems as though the earth is
breaking to PIECES The shell fire goes
forward, forward and forward, ami
hilatins everything before it. The men
quietly and deliberately take their
places in the line and 60 on until they
lock with the enemy. Then another
line comes back. 1t is the wounded and
the doctors and Y. Nj. c. A. men come
to meet them" The speaker gave
sruesome description of the disposal
of the dead bodies. which, he said, were
piled in graves 300 feet long.
DO all you can in service. give all
YOU can in money, it is impossible to
give what these men did said the
speaker Woe to us if when the war
is over these men feel that they have
suffered and endured and that We have
had no part in it."
THE war" said Mr.. Crossett. will
never be won except the people At
tome make sacrifices: unless we stand
behind the boys over there who are
giving their all for YOU and me-