The evening world., 1918-05-02
Boche Met 75S' Fire and Were
Piled Six Feet High, Says
Truck Driver.
LOST ALL EQUIPMENT.
u. S. Motors Rushed 10 Aid Of
British and French Before
Big Drive Began.

That an American motor train was
called upon TO rush to the support Of
the British and French armies within
two days OF the beginning Of the
great German drive into Picardy Is
revealed by a letter just received in
Dover. N. J. William u. Carson Of
that city, who enlisted as a motor
truck driver and was sent to Join
Pershing's' forces many months ago,
writes wildly OF his own experiences
in carrying his truck to the very bat
tie front around Noyon. This is what
Private Carson writes:
Dear Charlie-I wrote TO YOU some
timo ago. but since then big things
have happened and by good luck
have had a chance 20 get in on them,
do my small bit and be in one Off
not the greatest-battle Of the world
and in history.
I'VE were called upon TO leave
where we were in two hours on March
"a, and after driving two days and
nights we arrived with our wonderful
division at the front in a new sector.
The Big Push had started two days
before and the first sight OF what war
really looks like was brought before
us at n city fifteen miles from here.
"Charlie, It was a sight to be
forgotten, and I'll always remember
IL. I'd like 10 go into details and tell
YOU the whole story, emitting moth
ing; but Of course l can't. I'll do the
best / can.
"As we were leaving this city I Just
spoke OF we saw tho retiring troops in
great numbers coming in-or | had
better say what was loft Of them. -Four
divisions were cut 10 pieces. Along
with them came artillery. refugees OF
every description, carrying what they
could OF their belongings. Some had
pushcarts. w~hoelbarrows. donkey
carts. dog carts, horses and wagons
Some with bundles on their heads,
Old men and women and children and
babies-some walking, somc being
carried. some riding and some just
lying along the road.
ROAD WAS contested WITH
THREE.WAY TRAFFIC.
The road was ~congested with
three-way traffic. Such a sight ]
never dreamed of-woundcd being
helped in by comrades and great con-
voys being rushed up 10 the front,
In this last bunch were twcnty-thrcc
of us. with our nerves all a-tingling.
going we knew not where.
But in the evening We arrived at
the front in the Noyon sector just
in timo to get In on the big battle;
and 1t was indeed some battle!
1.-THE Boche came on in countless
numbers In mass formation, only to
be met by great numbers OF 7j's or
three-inch guns used point-blank at
so yards. The slaughter was some
thing terrible. The Boche met the
7;'s and were piled up over six feet
deep. This may sound untrue, but It
is not. 1t is just as true as the day
is long.
The fighting was terrible and at
once we were sent in with our d!vi-
sion. We had not been in three
hours when We were forced to get out
of the village where wo were, only
hve minutes ahead Of the Germans
and In such great haste that we lost
everything we o-ned except u car
and the clothes on our back.
SHELLS FALLING LIKE HAIL,
TEARING DOWN BUILDINGS.
80. you see, We have nothing LEFT
and will have to start all oven again,
However. We got at another post and
went to work. And work 1t a For
ten days u nights, We have had
rve posts iund each one at tho front,
cyacuating down roads whore shells
were falling like nan, tearing down
buildings, ripping trees up by the
roots, cutting them oil as II with "a
saw ana blowing men ana horses to
bits.
You drive on, seeing the shells
hit on your side. in front and behind
and you wonder IL tho next ono will
get you. You hear one hit ut your
side OF the road and n spray OF dirt
m mud covers o and the car,
and still you are not hit. But the
whlstling shrapnel tells you that IT
was n close call.
You hear another and feel a jar
and when you get 10 the hospital YOU
find a few holes in our ear. My
car has been hit on three different
occasions and has eleven holes I'm It.
II Is n terrible feeling, Charlie. and |
asked my God to spare my life and