Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-31

FrNate Lawrence IL. Powers, of the
10th Machine-Gun Battalion, once Sc
verely wounded and once almost fatally
gassed. but now
"Du,cb SoIJ;ors back with his unit
and holding down
Are Devils; but section of Ger
Dutch Stores the rear of the
Aro Fipo0 army of oCcupa-
ton, has a poor
opinion of the Ger
man soldiers, but is strong for the Ger
man stoves The dugouts he and his
comrades are now occupying are very
comfortable. he says in letter to mis-
mother. who lives at 1929 Brandywine
street. The Dutch soldiers are devils"
he adds. but the Dutch stoves are fine
We have lots of wood to burn and fine
grub. Meat, potatoes. bread. jam, coffee
and plenty of everything. cigarettes and
candy. It's pretty soft now, nothing to
do but keep tidy and drill bit. Not
bad for Thanksgiving dinner, when
you consider how far we are from
Telling of the battle of "Eppermont,"
one OF the big engagements of the Meuse
campaign, Private Powers said his bat
talon got into action about 3 O'Clock in
the morning, Just In time to be welcomed
by the German barrage. Later he and
his comrades chased the Dutchmen out
OF some woods, but lost a lot of men
while doing So The young soldier pays
tribute to the cool courage of the ambu-
lance drivers, who took their lives in
their hands every minute of the day
chasing up and down shell-swept road
carrying out the wounded and bringing
back food and first-aid kits.
Referring TO his own wounds, Private
Powers said: II was in the hospital
twice, once for an operation and once
for being gassed. But / am feeling all
right now" His family has never heard
from him how badly he was hurt or
why he was operated on. From a com
rade they learned that. he came very
close 10 losing an arm. In fact, nowhere
in his letters does he speak OF himself,
but only Of what his battalion has done.
His division took part in practically
every big battle OF the final campaign
the list given by Private Powers In
cluding Belleau Wood, Chateau Thierry
Eppermont and finally OF the Toul front.
He also gives q list of the towns his
battalion has passed through, and the
roster is long one. The list is APP
pended Just as written by Private
Calais, Lor gueyille. Nielles, Co-Belge
Fruges, Anwin. Fenewe. Noise le- Sec
Gennesse. Rebais, Wells. Mausons, No
ciernss, Cohen. Dravegny, Archis Ce
Ponsart, Courville, Fismes, Fismette
Colongenes, Domans, Epernay. Brugny
contrission, Reyigny. Lesislette, Bel
mont, Toul, Essey. Theaucourt. Jauiny
Cranberry, Harmont, Busciers, Non.
said, Bordoe, Nevers, Metz and lot OF
others that cannot remember"
Private Powers Joined the colors last
July, being just eighteen years old when
he enlisted He was sent TO Camp Han.
cock, saw and grabbed a chance Tor i'm.
mediate service abroad by Joining the
machine-gun unit and sailed for France
month later. He was an apprentice
carpenter when he felt the urge to dc
his bit for Uncle Sam.
Private Thomas ". Rafter, Battery E
lnield Artillery. was severely woundet
October III, according 10 an official tele,
gram and letters received by1his sister
Miss Agnes Rafter. 2226 South Twenty
third street In a letter dated October
10, he said that on the following daO
he was 10 move up closer to the VerduT
front and that. he and the other fellows
were as happy over Il as II they wer,
EoiuK 20 q Fourth OF July celebration
letter written by a comrade q few
days later told OF how Rafter wal
woundod. on the last day OF the war
in hofh legs and the right arm. Th'
trIend added that. despite the severity
~ his wounds. Rafter WIS doing fine
Unftef ia eighteen years old and en-
listed last May. He was trained a
Camp Jackson ana sailed for France n
July His parents are not living ant
tofbfo Joining the c0lors he made hi
nfiuo pf se2a Reed street. brother
1fhn tNfniyfhrea is ~ Camp Mead,
With ne nlolor ffapeporf cqfpA