The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-08-07
LETTER FROM THE FRONT.
Lieut.. W. Il. McCutchcn Writes Graph
icalIy Of Life on The Front Line
in France.

The following letter from Lieut.. w.
l.. AIcCutchen to Mr. @. H. Foley,
gives the intimate and interesting de-
tails Of a soldiers life on the battle
front in France in simple, yet graphic
manner that brings before the minds
eye a picture Of the daily duty Of our
men somewhere in France:
June 80, 1918.
Dear Otto:
I have been intending to drop you
line or two for quite a while, but up
until some time back nothing Of much
moment happened in my young life
over here. For about six weeks now
1 have been with the regulars, and
quite a few things have been going
on. I finally got located as I wished
Am a platoon leader in the line. I
had a chance at one or two "cushy
jobs in other lines, but preferred to
take my chance at a job up near the
flashing Of the guns" Being with
troops is great after being a casual
at some Of these schools.
We have been within range OF the
artillery for about four weeks. Had
our turn at the front for ten days and
have been back now resting for a
week. We are in support now and
are entirely too close for comfort.
Shells are screaming over my head
now going both ways. and the only
reason we don't get shelled cut is be-
cause ''Fritz" doesn't know we are
here. We are in thick wood whlcn
protects us pretty we'll from obser-
vation Our company kitchen is about
l-2 mile away on the edge OF the
wood. Today at dinner we had
kitchen has been located by the smoke
or by men walking out in the open.
Consequently Fritz dropped few
over about meal time One or two
went a few feet over our (the of1icers)
heads and fell right among the men
It is marvellous that nobody was &C
tually killed. We have to be very
careful. We do our moving around
at night; and its case Of keep un-
der cover or camouflage.
We had no actual fighting at the
front, but were much exposed a
times. mo Mans Land here is
river about as wide as the Black. We
keep men posted along the river al!
the time. There is no trench system
along this front yet. The Germans
have been across at points recently,
out are content to stay on other SIDE
now. Our battalion made one raid
across the river and got 5 or Huns
with no loss to US. The night w5
came out, one Bosche wandered
across at a. dam and was picked ur
by the platoon adjoining me. He had
had a few drinks and said he was
sick of fighting. That's what they
ali say, but they seem to have
enough OF the other kind left to give
/ lot Of trouble. Its pretty creepy
1own or the river at night. Once II
awhile a rifle cracks, Or a machine
gun opens up on something suspicious.
There are@no trees Of any size alons
the river, 5sst low bushes right on tbs
bank. SoIle places there is no cover
at all. We've heard Fritz on the 9TH
sr bank several times. The banks are
high and dry, with beautiful hlsh
hills on each side, especially the 9TH
ar side. Enemy planes come arounc
IN bunches I hear a few not far away
now. You can tell the Bosches by the
peculiar hum OF the motor The anti
aircraft boys (Archies) pop away a
them faithfully, but don't seem tc
Interfere" them much. AT night
on1 Two hfCS
tempted to get my "trusty' Colts T.
and take a crack at them. One We:
brought down in my sector at the
front. The Bosche artillery blew /:
up the next day to keep US from
salvaging it. / observed most OF .thf
:helling from a point Of wood abou'
200 yards away and I figured thes
expended about $4,000 worth OF am
munition on it, 1t certainly takes
lot of shooting to do a little damage
You hear guns belching most OF tn;
time. We have heard some pretty
tough battles not far away: could
see the vari-colorcd signal lights. etc
We haven't heard any big fights late
~. Right near US, there has beer
some night shooting. but it didn
amount to much.
All the people have left this sec
tion-all houses are open and every
thing thrown out over the floors b
soldiers looking for valuabics- al
stock, poultry, etc. has been eaten
The wheat is about ripe for cutllhs
and it is very fine hereabouts.
| had my headquarters in one llttlS
village near the river. ] had cellar
for my men to stay in, and l put up !;
a. nice house; had nice cooking an
things generally in good shape. In
bed was fine and soft, all feather beaS
here q or mattresses on all o
theml. There was big old grand
father CLOCK ticking right at my hea1:
| When 7 left there I went to anothe
| place on the river. 1t rained for wv
davs. ! didn't even have ralncoa'
No cover from rain. ] blanket, ans
.ve missed getting in chow for :
DAYS. This is ''some war bue l real
lv like it. There is much con!eo.
naked up with the tragedy.
REGARDS to yoCr good wife. Mrs. j
and the kids Write ne.