Norwich bulletin., 1918-11-08
DANIELSON

Danielson had another celebration Thursday afternoon-and evening" and night. Another celebration. Ap- parently authentic reports that Ger many had signed the allies arlnistice terms came over the wires to Daniel son business men during the early afternoon from various large cites. irrcluding New York. and this was deemed sufficient guarantee that there was cause for celebrating. So Dan ielson celebrated. If New York was tearing the roof off the city, why shouldn't Danielson rip the shingles off the roof? It was not long after o'clock when things began to happen, First a lone whistle Screeched out the call of victory, then others joined in, and it was not long before the whole town was in the midst of q tumult, Mills began to close up at S.30 and by o'clock the streets were thronged with happy, cheering multitude. an- Mous to give voice to their enthus&s | asm and to acclaim the close CT the 1 fighting in the world war. School children, bearing flags, paFaded the streets, automobiles, gaily bedecked in the national cplorS began to fit about and the air seemed surcnarged with | the spirit of victory. Then someone began to spill flies in the ointment, '"Tte Associated Press says that there 1 is no official confirmation that Ger many has signed the armistiee terms" 'The Norwich Bulletin says it has no confirmation that Germany mas signed the armistice." Those were ene re- ports that began to filter through the crowds, but they had little effect. The people were started on their celebra- 1 tion programme and there was no stopping them. What was true in Danielson was true also in the town of Plainfeld and all along the Quine- baug valley. It was taken for grant, cd that if Germany hadn't signed, she would have to soon. so the Americans at home did what the Americans over there have been doing ever since they landed in France-beat the Huns to lii!
 If the celebration of the people of the towns hereabouts was again pre- mature, it was no more so than the celebrations in New York, Boston and many of the important cities of New England-if that helps any.
 l However tenable the ground there- for, the celebration was one that will live long in the memory of those who had a part in. or witnessed, it.
 During the evening Danielson had such a night as has seldom been re- corded in the towns history. The real celebration was inaugurated by a parade of the Connecticut Mills or aanization and this was followed by ar endless procession lasting into the small hours of the morning. This may not have been the final victory celebration, but it was ,:vely one and well in line with the progress ot
 events toward the end that is sure tt
 come.
 Private Philip Roberge, 103rd Ma.
 chine Gun company, hero of the Bel leau woods fight and decorated witt the distinguished service cross hy | General PerShinG, is at his home il Danielson. Private Roberge arrived
 Thursday morning from an infir1nars at Cape May. N. J.. where he has beer receiving treatment for d %ounu thar cost him his right eye. He has a r days leave of absence. From tht minute that he stepped off the trair
 until he got to sleep. sometime last
 night, .Danielson people accorded hin a continuous ovation. He is the firsl
 DanielSon soldier who has fought 1T
 France to return to his home. and ht comes back a hero of whom all here are proud. Private Roberge is moi
 given much to talking about the epi, sode that won him the honor decora- ton, but. after much questioning, ar
 outline of the incident was obtained from him, and it was much as fol lows:
 On the 18th of July, the first day ot the great offensive that has since spelled doom to the German cause Private Robefge went into hell of firt swirling through and over BelleaI wood. He was one of four volunteer stretcher bearers detailed to carry tn,
 American wounded from the first lin:
 dressing station back to clearing sta
 tions only a short distance beyond th' line of actual combat Private Ro , berge was on his fourth trip back iron where Red Cross workers were givin:
 first aid to the wounded and one O 5 the four men carrying a wounded sol dieF on a stretcher when he receivet
 his wound. He had llnelt beside tn stretcher to better protect with bur lap and other coverings the body 0
 the wounded soldier when shrapne burst only a few yards away. a frag ment striking him on the upper par l of the bridge of the nose and, gIanc ing, tore out his right eye.
 : In spite of the excruciating pair . Private Roberge continued to hell
 carry the wounded man and proceede : about a mile before shadows began t . form before his eyes and his field c vision began to darken. He kept 0 ] until he was physically unable to con tiuue to carry with the other stretch l CT bearers and,y after directing ther l to the shortest route out of the actus r battle zone, he made his way on foe n and unattended to the little old For S ambulance that was standing dow
 the road, as he puts It. and cIinbe = in. He was driven to a dressing sta ton and a new bandage placed owe
 his wounded eye. He had stopped t apply his first aid dressing himsel ! followed by his departure for hom and he says it seems like getting bac in Gods country to again walk on th
 soil of the United States.
 . The war is not all fun, neither
 it all terrible, in Private Roherge
 vlew. q had a. good time on man : occasions" he said, "and we got $ . used to normal shell fire that we nevt f paid much attention to it, continuin
 our games of blacl1iack when we hal
 pened to be playing cards and Il
 Boches started something"
 Private Reberge, telling about or
 of his trips up to the front line a
 ter wounded men in the Belleau woot
 fight, tells about proceeding alor
 through a field from which the Amer
 cans had swept the Huns when he. sa
 g German prone upon the ground, ar
 apparently dead. Knowing the Hun
 he took no chances as to the man, b.
 ing dead, but approached him cal
 tiously, meantime cooking the .45 pi
 tol which he was carrying for prote | ton. Upon close approach the pro!