Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1917-06-06


Dear Doc: Z
believe before leaving Swift Cur
rent told you I'd drop you line. !
am a little late In writing but trust
you will excuse the pencil while !
proceed to fulfill my promise.
Well, Fritz got me pretty fairly IN
the Arleux attack. I was in charge
of the first wave in our Company and
we had taken the first German
trench AID gone about 200 yards be-
yond-in fact, was just we'll into
the village when I was hit in the Leg
and went down like log. One Of my
cOrporals and my runner saw me fan
and rushed to my assistance, carry
ing me to a sheM-hole. While undo
ing my Logging the corporal was HIT
in the head and fell over on top Of
me. I thought he was dead but he
came around. My runner applied
first aid and got my foot tied up.
This was about a. m.. We had to
stay there until a. M, and believe
me it was not very pleasant Machine
guns were playing over the shallow
shell-hOle, snipers were busy and the
Smelling was intense. One she'll part
Ily buried US We got a stretcher
about 8 and they started out with
me. It. only about a mile 20 oAr.
advanCe dressing station but some
mile, as Fritz was exceedingly ,wra-
thy ald was shelling furiously.
However, we got out safely and af-
ter ride on the trolley on the
trench railway, got into an ambu-
lance and was taken to a casualty
clearing hospital. There in the NOR
ming bout two o'clock went on the
operating table and awoke in bed
with very bad taste of chloroform
in my mouth. From there I was put
ON a hospital train and taken to
Boulogne. I spent one night there
and then crossed to "Blighty."
I thought first that it was a bullet
wound, but the M. o. says 1t is q
piece OF high explosive shell. There
was everything flying around so it
might be anything. It entered on
the right side of my right calf and
weat right through-taking practic-
ally the whole of the left side of the
car away. Today the doctor, on
looking at 1t, said: 'As an exhibit
ton Of meat 1t Is very good" am
doing nicely and It has cleaned up
very we'll but they tell me I will be-
months before can walk, which is
not very pleasant prospect. They
tell me though that will not be per-
manently lame and truly hope that
In this they are right.
Poor old Mac died like a hero. He
fell on the Hun parapet. The hardest
shock / have had so far was to run
across Macs body cold and stiff in
the German wire. Roy was very bad
that he did not have chance but he
has pulled through and will be all
right. Oh! it is some game, this
war game. We have Fritz beaten a
mile. There is just one thing the
Britisher has which he lacks and
that is "guts". Our boys are grand.
When they get the word to go lover
the top" they all together and they
go till they drop.
This Is a glorious spot right close
to the River Thames. Everything is
very nice-fowers, trees, lawns. ETC.
/ am right by the window so / can
enjoy it. Bed is becoming very tire
some though and the prospect of
long time in it is not very pleasant.
Such things as not being able to
wash yourself get on your nerves.
I would like very much to get
leave to Canada but don't suppose
that / can manage it, although l
think my fighting is about done.
There are nine of US in this ward
-four EngMshmen, one Scotchman.
one Australian, one South African
and myself. am Canada" so the
South African Is Africa" ald so on.
They are all very decent chaps.
Regards to Mrs. Ross and all
friends.
Sincerely,
MAC.