The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-04-01
ALLOW SIX WEEKS FOR
REGIMENT TO RECOUP
AFTER TRENCH DUTY

FRENCH FRONT. March . LORE
Spondrnce of The Associated PreSS).-
Six weeks were allowed in some IN
stances for 4 regiment 10 lie IN 4 rest
caInp for refit,ins and restoration "l
its efficiency, after Il period 81 nara
service in the first line trenches. TAKE
the case Of the "999th hi" niTy' 4
fictitious number Of 4 rct. i'Slnlcnl'
for example:
When the men came down 10 inc
cantonmrnt six weeks ago from inc
sector that had been holding me
"gy9th' looked somewhat the worse
for wear. The men were. dirty an"
fatiyued. and their uniform. WIRE lar
from being Of the 0rigina. bright horl'
zon blue Of the time OF their lSa"t'
There were a few gaps IN IN: F"'hH'
although not Of a serious nature !H'
there had been no big engagement.
Arrived in thu small country town.
thu, various squads were tnld OH :"
their billrtS, were packs were throw
off. arms ranged. and everybody OK
cent tho SQUAD! settled down To rest
iThp following morning the entire req
mrnt was inspected and note 4 Ian
,n of the mems requirements IN the
way of g uniforms. Then there was
4 general washup OF dirty artlc!es VI
clothing and the men went IN groups
10 the hot and cold showrT o"'hS Lo"
Installed in every c~antonment. ~hIie
many visited the company harder. hF
rhe end OF thu day Il complete chahee
had come over the appearance Oh 'h'4
men.
on the ensuing day he roll was
! called 0i those mrn entitled 10 '"t
regular ten days furlouEh dur /" ''e''l
avery four months and large groups
'of them speedily made heir wa |"
1bn nearest railroad station from
which 4 "icavr train WAS S"cheouic"
IN start.
All 10 no! rest in the rest. camps
Thu, work there i sometimes very
, hard for the men : kent larry C''',
stanrly at exercises with he oa!ohr.
and ordinary mGnua, exercises; inrl
must ,rritci themselves IN inc ~"
formations brought about ny N'uu!-
rjcr;iOns in the tactics necessary iva
rho most efficient employment OF 'HF
automatic rifle. iar ri(It-%IrNanr ~"
W.. nanL-cr.uair. "a we'll as IN '"t
host mnIhndS Of m~anruvrrlnc, al! I"
n.hich undergo constant change.
r. i. no al! hard work. however. Tor
tho mon find plenty ot opportunity l"
: indulge in e~n""i*. Whlrh are s''",'!
, rnrurracr,i by ~. "l.'''rS' u! 'nr
lime The period OF rest - "F"F IN" AZ
,,hr mon hlyr returned from luTiouSH
~ regimen! is in i condition OF tne
highest efficiency. while inc S'Ia,h
ram, which ,hr !:.aN has suffered while
un,1nr constant bnmNardmcnt III ihs
= trenches has r"mp1rtrly worn on.
II, WIS in this state OF efficiency ana
r~onnra, ~Cho"riHHss that the 99'i'
found itself when the bug!cs rams o"'
thn r~rvri!lr ON h." morning OF IT'S ~
,rrn IA IN, trenches. After br"ahIHN'
of hot, rrfI,.r ami nr"ad. the regiment
starred off on it's 23-milc march 70 'hH
sector 20 which. it had been sign
With the men carrying their h'H>!
. ,orks and arms. The lac" WIS h"' ray
Ia The very sensible arrangements
az th, F-rnri. regulations call inr d"
tom minnie halt very hour, whirh J."
hicniv aaprrciatrG b. ihr men. "c"'
,v.tiyr miles is 4 long way VAIN over
IA pounds weigh. IN ones BACK. Az"
whcr dusk fell and they "ea'hCn inc
Immediate rear Of III" lron' positions
moro wrrr many weary ones anlohE
,h,r Every ROW and again Il smell
from ,h,. German batteries away FNh'
lnr wpnld scream overhead, and some
,i-,.s NM of them would strike IN"
ground nearby. In the DARKNESS WIS
. WAS rather ~diSconcertlnG 10 lhT NJ"
! hands. hu. veteran comrades woulo lE-
assure them.
81 length, 10 avoid useless losses
tho r,pn were ordered TO enter ih'
winding communication trench !'ad-
ing IN the front lines. A liaiaon agent
from the regiment about Ia b" r"I'r'e9
nv the "Iogth" met them her" 10 lcha
them 10 the proper sector Of the" mo
for i, was very easy 10 go aS'rA!
thrnn~h ono Of thr numerous arteries
IN The absence of any light. and IA
fals~ route might have led IN" r'S!-
mrnt far away from its destination.
Perfect Silence had 10 ht k"P'' inr
sound travels far ~ NiCht. The only
noise besides that u: Stri"klnE smells
y;s The Footsteps Of m" tired men
murn,d h. the mud.
Eventually the sector was reached
ana here tho officers Of the outgoing
regiment handed ever 10 those OF the
"99gth" plans Of the sector. gave all
;hr indications ~ 10 dangerous points
and accompanied them while they
posted their scntrirs and small and
great guards.
The regiment had taken over the
srctir. ard all a. silence.
lsiIirFlMIa nnFEN