The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-23

1 radical. change of scenery. We halted at a devastated village from which the Americans drove the Germans in Sep tember and l can think of many places more suitable and desirable as winter resorts than this. When we leave and where we go, l have no idea, which seems to be the case with everyone else around here. However we have been ! quit busy even though we have not moved. I was in the line continuously until a couple of days before the armi- stice. We were marching to another place in the line to start another drive when the end came. We were between Yer dun and St. Mihiel when we stopped. TWO BIG BATTLES
 1 During the big offensive which the Americans launched in September. 1 was in the fighting west of the Mouse, be- tween the Aisne and the Aire rivers, in the Argonne forest, all to the north and east of Verdun. and then southeast of Verdun. The last sector I was in, the one I left just short time before the armistice, was near vigneulles, southeast or Verdun. Of course, like most Ameri- cans, l served sometime in Alsace and the Vosges. While we had no offen- siye there, we were prevented from be- ing bored as there were plenty of patrol raids and artillery actions and high ex- plosive. In the last sector of trenches
 
 250O gas shells my company during the relief and before daybreak That wasn't quite as exciting as charging German strong points but it was not exactly the kind of place one would choose for a vacation
 My company commander was wounded in September, and I have been in con- mand of the company since then. Some times for a week or more I have been 1 the only officer with the company At others we have as many as seven as- signed or attached The number of men has varied from 250 down as low as 65. Recently quite a few of the old men who were wounded in September, have come back, but I understand that those wound ed later who have not yet recovered will be sent direct to the states.
 HAD WIDE EXPERIENCE
 T was pretty lucky to get away from my old organization-the Forty-frst di- vision-in July It was originally splen- did division and was commanded by Lieutenant General Liggett, who was in command of the first afmy all during the big fighting. When I was at an army school last winter, all the avail the five divisions we had over there then--the First, Second, Twu-Ity- sixth, Fortysecond and Forty-first. Soon after I joined the Forty first it was made re- placement division and all the privates were given to fill up the other divisions. The officers and noncoms trained placements, were made instructors at schools and were given various other duties which were necessary, but not nearly so attractive as the line. I did a little of everything from delivering lectures on military tactics to bossing wood cutters Applications for transfer to combat divisions were forwarded but not returned. However in July, quite few of us were relieved by new officers and assigned to line divisions. I was fortunate in getting with the Thirty fifth, as I got to put in my time in Alsace and the Vosges, and finished that before the Americans undertook any of- fensive action independently. We were in the line continuously until the end except time consumed in changing sec tors or being re-equipped and getting filled up with replacements
 "The first four months after I came over here were put in at French, Brit ish and American army schools and period in the line with the Canadians at Vimy ridge. In those days I neces- sarily travelled much and saw quite a bit of the country, Including several trips to Paris and other cities of inter est But for the past four months l have not been in an inhabited town and all my time has been spent in devastated country. Quite naturally I am looking forward to leave with great pleasure. Two officers from ea6h battalion in the division can go at time and I am the eighth on our list, I hope to get away about January l.
 Getting back to Alabama seemed so far in the future before the armistice that I never thought much of it. But now that it is all over, I can't keep from thinking about the return and hoping that everything that makes it necessary for us to stay over here will be finished as soon as possible. I feel about like a man who is in a big hurry to get some where but has to wait on delayed train Speaking of coming reminds me. What was the matter with the national elec- tions? It seems that while we were over here trying to make things safe for the democrats the republicans walked away with things in the national elections. I tell my republican friends over here that that will all be changed two years from now when the army gets back and casts it's vote"