Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1917-11-14

We were very fortunate the other
lay to see a German plane brought
Town by one OF the French and several
). us got permission to go and view
the wreck.
The plane had been hit in one of its
most vulnerable parts, the gas tank,
and it plunged to the earth in , sheet
Of flame. One German jumped before
the plane reached the ground but his
parachute refused to open and he suf-
fered the same fate as the one who
stayed with the machine.
Planes are constant visitors, they
have no important target and excite
no attention among the soldiers until
they are overhead, when everyone
scurries to the nearest shelter.
There is more danger from falling
shrapnel fired from the anti-aircraft
guns than from the bombs.
AS you know the old truth, that
what goes up must come down" APP
plies to instruments Of war as we'll as
other things.
Yesterday we were expecting a gas
attack and those Of us near the front
took care to have our masks where we
could easily get them. Carelessness
accounts for many of the fatalities and
consequently the authorities paid
everyone visit and made sure that
each had mask.
However the attack did not materia-
lize..
The gas may have worse effect but
it can not smell worse than did the
mask. 1t would take deadly poison
gas to make one wear a mask for any
length of time. With our masks and
helmets only some peculiar or distinct
physical peculiarties, such as bow legs
would identify one from another.
We acquired friendleSs boy OF
about fourteen over a mouth ago who
accidentally strayed into our camp
took a liking to it and straightway
called it home.
I can not say that he came with bag
gage for all he possessed was few
clothes and large amount of dirt.
He won his way into our affection by
his cheerful ways and through his will
ingness to chop wood and other work.
The other day the forty men each gave
a franc and a half towards getting him
some clothing with the result that he
is now an entirely different looking
chap. AS he started off to the movie
show in full regalia and with a few
coins in his jeans he was perhaps the
happiest boy on earth. He now has
reached the stage where he enjoys
taking baths and brushing his teeth
proof conclusive that he is conner.
Many a great man got his start in life
this way.
[ have again written quite lengthy
letter but before 1 close there is one
thing which l wish to tell
A miraculous escape of a French
aviator. 1t reads much like fiction. He
is in hospital near here now.
While flying over the German lines
he was set upon by two Germans. He
to get one but the other got
in good position and gave him sever
al shots from his machine guns. One
bullet hit the Frenchman on a medal
which he carried over his heart and
surely would have killed him other
WISE The medal was badly crumpled
but the bullet was DETECTED so that it
made only a slight wound.
| say that he was lucky.
I received five letters to-day among
them yours Of the 9th I do not need
to tell you how glad l was to read the
contents. 1 understand there is quite
an accumulation of packages at Paris |
and presume | will find the one from
you when l go there.
With hopes of being able to write |
you something definite soon as to
what I am going to do.
| remain,
Your affectiOnate son,
NEIL. |