The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1917-05-25

no man power made could have pre-
vented us. We had casualties l am
a Lewis Machine Gunner and | alone
OF my team arrived over there. ! OPP
Grated the gun until II refused to go.
then changed the barrel, the old one
being red hot, and stu went on cut
ting them down ms they ran. in con-
{ fusion across the valley--then the
snow shut them out OF view. We had
taken one OF their most important
strongholds on which the Germans
had spent IL years Well. the snow
soon passed over and we had CONSOLE
dated. had my gun enlightenment in
good shape and we were ready for any
counter that Fritz" desired to stage.
II had hunted through the ammunition
pouches OF the enemy dead and gath
cred some explosive shell ammunitiOn
which by the way. Is the most cruel.
inhuman thing used in warfare with
these cartridges and one OF his rifles
began firing at any target that chose
10 attempt 10 run hnck we don't use
explosive ball stuff Germany does, so
these belong 10 MIN, no one had a.
better right TO them than he, and |
simply sent them over. You know
after entering tho body they explode
and the result YOU can imagine. Vel.
| had Just picked off twelve and had
laid tho rifle down when one OF our
wounded officers who had been maxi
ing mark in the snow for each one
] had stopped, wanted me TO make IL a
bakers dozen by getting another
Just then bah burst and gave me
my ticket To tile repair shop, After
getting the wound dressed an well as
possible. my right arm was useless,
but | managed 10 get the other one by
firing from my left shoulder then
the officer told me Iokingly | could
bo dismissed. He was "a good boy.
They are all good fellows over there
1t would DO an imposslbility 10 de-
scribe the bravery and good fellow
ship among our troops both men and
Officers Il then wanted 10 come back
alone, bur my captain would not hear
to that and went himself to get n
man 70 come over with me, but while
he was gone another man was hit In
the leg which tore a great piece Of
tho MUSCLE on, nso broke the small
bone. We had bandaged him up the
best we could, and he wanted TO get
out. so wo started. the two OF us he
with two good arms. | with two good
legs lie was "a stranger TO me but
wore the same uniform. Well, It
was great. my new pal and ! We went
over land. falling into every shell hole
and over every object that chose 10
get IN front of rs, and II nothing
stepped In our path. we would Just
fall anyway
Stin we stumbled on and finally got
10 our old front line trench which we
had no trouble falling into but we
could't fall out on the other side. l
could Use my friend FOR q steplad
der. but hadn't the strength 20 pull
him out. and he couldn't climb NJ
over mo, so as we were some dis
mnccout Of the line Of travel we JUST
came 10 the conclusion that our WIS
something more than mis- adventure.
when after some time We saw a man
passing on our right whom we called
10 and when lie arrived he turned out
TO be an engineer officer and helped
us out. He lifted ua out OF the old
ditch and gave US each ii drink OF
rum which raised enough steam TO
complete the trip 10 our dressing sta
ton. Wen. / was compelled 10 leave
my partner on Il board AT our COM
munication track | had carried him
two and ONE half miles. starting at
y. m. and II was then 1890 a, m, so
you SEQ the going was slow but |
sent two men 10 bring him In when
| arrived nj the Field Station. I had
exceeded human endurance and went
all in, The next thing / knew | was
on "A stretchcr coming out and finally
landed over here in "Bllghty'' as we
call old England Well. since Christ
mas | have been in seven large en-
gagements and then this advance. new
err getting "a scratch till this last trip
II Is only an accident II one gets
through the machine gun and shell
fire nj times. | have had my clothes
riddled with machine gun bullets, and
Sis, have carried pinned inside my
tunic my little Stars and Stripes. II
has two bullet holes in IL and has
been with me since | started. / am
mighty proud TO know that old Glory
viii fly officially over here, for you.
know, an American loves his flag. /
haven't forgotten although am proud
of being permitted TO fight my part
Of humanitles battle under the good
old Union Jack, and with some OF the
best boys on earth. You VIII never
be able 10 read this but can only use
my wrist and hand.
Kiss mother for me, and hope this
finds you both in good health II
leave me with fair prospects for re-
covery. and Sis, when you read what
| have written about killing don't
think Il useless murder for there Is