The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-11-29
and
GAS NO TERROR
FOR U.S.. BOYS
Sammies Quickly Learn To
Slip On Masks And Take
To Dug-outs
NEPHEW OF FARGO
WOMAN IN TRENCHES
Says Allies Fire Six To Ten
Shells To Every One
By Germans

ShrapneI and gas are no longer
strangers to the American troops in
the trenches, there is absolutely no
doubt as to the final outcome of the
war and for every shell and bullet
the Germans send over, they receive
from six to ten in exchange, accord
ing to Wiley e. Jones. who has writ
ten Mrs. L. Giannini, 324 Eighth
street north, Fargo, from France, un-
der date of October 8.
will skip the details of the trip
across the Atlantic" writes Mr..
Jones. Sufficient to say that we
passed through all the thrills at
tendant upon an Atlantic voyage at
the present time. Sea sickness
claimed a great many of us as vic
tins. We went to bed one night
breathing a fervent prayer that the
ship would not go down to awake
praying, perhaps more fervently,
that she would"
Somewhere In France"
Mr.. Jones says that one morning
the troops yentrained for a certain
port and that night sped across the
great English channel, daylight find
ing them in the country where
Caesar wrote, "Omnes Gallia, divisa
in tres parties est" In the dusk of
the third day, following and to the
accompaniment Of artillery fire, the
troops detrained to the final destina-
ton, Somewhere In France
Imagine yourself taken and
placed in the midst of the conflict,
which you read and see pictures Of
in the daily papers, almost before
you realize where you are, and you
can imagine and no doubt under
stand my feelings" relates Mr..
Jones.
I'VE are stationed on one of the
important battle fronts, doing the
work for which we enlisted. At pres
ent we arc attached to one Of the
divisions of the British army in
readiness to be with the American
troops when they take over their
portion of the line.
Gas Alarms Mean Cover.
Rapidly this life is making vet
Grams of us. I know that we were
the first American troops to be UNI
der fire. When the gas alarm sounds,
1t is but matter OF a few seconds
to slip a mask over your head and
face and gas loses its terror. When
one knows how to properly adjust
and to use a mask, no gas can pene-
trate it and no one is allowed out
here who does not know how to use
il. Fritz uses several varities of
gas, sending it over by two different
methods, clouds and shell. The
former is easily distinguished by it's
density and color and is projected
from tanks on wind which blows
from four to eight miles an hour from
his trenches across No Mans Land
The gas shell is known by it's sound
as Ii travels through the air. 1t has
Ia peculiar warbling sound, easily
told from the high shrill, high whis-
tie Of shrapnel or the deafening roar
of a H. E. shell.
when FTitzie locates our position
and sends his regards in the shape
OF few 'shrap' my railroad train
ing certainly stands me in good
stead; namely, AT all times take the
safe course, and that is clamp on
my helmet and hike for cover, usual
ly a dug-out. Nix on the shot and
shell screaming stuff Nice to read
about but would rather have people
say, he surely can run than doesn't
he look natural AS my opinion is
shared by some million others, it is
usually a dead heat.
Returning Shell Fire.
There is absolutely no doubt as 70
the final outcome and while seeming
ly slow, Ii must be remembered that
they are fighting purely upon the de-
fensiye, in country which they
have occupied for three years in
which time it has been made almost
but not quite, impregnabe. The
kaiser and the German empire are
paying over and over again for the
destruction they have wrought
"One thing more, my cup will be
filled to overlooking when / see -
and - slipping through this Shiny
muck plastered from head to foot
with mud, now and then sliding in a
shell crater up to their chins, and at
regular intervals Hopping face down
ward at full length to get away from
'shrap. Understand, they are wear
ing three stripes on their arms. I,
likewise, am wearing them, but
shoulder straps, chevrons, orr just
plain buck Every one works. and
works hard. It is not a bad life at
that. Lots of discomforts. but no
actual hardships. Plenty to eat,
warmly clad and comfortably shell
tered"