The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-09-13
KATO NAN IS IN THAT
HUNT FOR THE BOCHE
ENJOYS LIFE "OVER THERE;
WRITES OF HIS DOlNGS
Takes Part In Raids; Attacks OF
Teuts Who Use the Gas
Shells

a newspaper published in Waimes,
Hawaii. 1t was written to w. V.
Hardy of that place by Lieutenant
Clinton P. Ffrestone. Lieutenant
Firestone, the son of Mrs. Lou E.
Firestone, was born in Mankato
Mimi, but has lived in California for
the last seven years. He received
his commission of first Lieutenant at
the second officers training camp at
the Preside, San Francisco, last No
vember He was fortunate enough 10
be sent with group of selected men
to the most famous artillery and
= cavalry school in France, for train
ing in the French guns.
This letter gives his impressions
of the fighting zone:
"Over Here" May II, 1918. Dear
Colonel: Finished the school with
flying colors and now hunting season
has opened for me for the boche.
Am ASSIGNED to q French battery
for few weeks. This is quiet
sector, so have a fine chance to run
around.
On the way up here from. the
school was amazed to see the num-
and the preparations we are making.
Passed our engineer outfit at work on
the railroads, double tracking and
building yards. We have some real
mans engines and cars over here now
and they look like something COM
pared with the dinkies the French and
English have. Saw United States
Forestry outfit at work. They took
over a French sawmill that was cut
ting 1000 feet per day and they are
now cutting 10000 feet At one camp
we are building a bakery that is a
dandy, costs over half million
Passed couple of flying schools and
they beat county fair. Also train
ing camps and supply depots with
large warehouses and repair shops to
repair everything,-shoes. clothes
guns of all caliber and tractors and
engines. This war is one mighty
big game and real business. 1t is
impossible to realize how much it
takes just to back a fighting unit
Signs of Fritz.
The town where | left the train
is about Is kilometers from the first
line and in time of peace has a
population of 100000. but now there
are only about one fifth of them liv-
ing there. Everywhere are signs O.
visits from Fritz by air raid and
long range artillery. Had not beer
off the train 10 minutes until heard
a great deal of firing and there the
Hun was and the anti-air craft guns
were letting him have it, The
chances of hitting him were not
much, but they kept him up 1000 or
5000 meters so he could not see or
take photos.
The battery / am with is seven and
onehalf kilometers from the boche
first line, live in dugouts and twice
now he has driven us in with his gas
shells. That is the worst part of the
war. Fritz is using mustard gas now
which is not fatal but will burn if if
gets on one, and more so if the part
of the body or clothing is wet. and
will cause blindness that will last a
couple of months, but we are well
protected against it with gas proof
dugouts and when out and it is around
wear the gas masks, rubber boots
slicker and rubber or oiled gloves.
Are having lots of rain and have
to wade around in the mud you reaS
about
The French are farming within
five kilometers of the first line. 1t
looks out of place. but as most of the
Smelling takes place at night. it makes
polite enough war to allow the
farmers 10 work there.
Too Bad About William
In this sector in 1914 there was
some very heavy fighting and the
Germans were in here good dis
lance. Am told that William was here
waiting to lead his army into the city
where / got off the train The
graves of both French and Allie
mander are thick through here. On
the German graves are wooden
crosses with the number buried, but
the French do not give the number
as the. effect would be bad on the
men fighting here now. A short dis
lance from cur position Is the grave
of 1000 French; French officer who
was in the battle gave me that as
the number
The French have had some very
heavy losses, but now they are play
ing as safe a game as possible The
soldiers / have seen are fighting
looking lot and are certainly well
cared for France is giving them the
best she has.
There is, no question but what it is
up to us to win this war
Have been up to an observation
post in No Mans Land several times
to adjust and observe nv fire and
have visited tho .Erouch fret lines
Everything is in ship shape, all
trenches named like city streets and
signs to give you directions to diff
ferent places, such as dugouts, tele-
phone, visual signal, first aid, and
other stations.
Raid Pulled Off,
Just two days before / came the
French pulled off a raid and there
are still some of the soldiers out in
No Mans Land 1t is about 500
meters between the two lines. After
raid things are a little active for a