The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1918-12-06


us and at six runner came up and
reported that Sumner was killed. He
commanded the mchine gun company
with us. He WAS hit early in the
fight by a bullet, 7 hear. / can get no
details. At the start he remarked:
| This looks easy-they do not seem
to have much art Hughes head
quarters we're all shot up. Turner lost
Il leg.
"Well. we just lay there all through
the hot afternoon. 1t was great-a
shell would land near by and you
would bounce In your hole.
"As twilight came we sent our wa
ter parties for the relief OF the
wounded. Then we wondered if we
would get relieved. At nine o'clock
we got message congratulating us,
and saying the Algerians would take
over Mt midnight We then began to
collect our wounded.
| Algerians Badly "Shot Up"
"The Algerians came up ut midnight
and we pushed out. They went over at
daybreak and got all shot up. We made
the relief under German flares and the
light from burning town.
"That night the Germans shelled us,
and got three killed and u wounded.
We moved bit further back to the
crossroads, and after burying a
few Germans, some of whom showed
signs of having been wounded before,
we settled down for a short stay.
ut looked like rain, and so Wilmer
and went to an old dressing station
to salvage some cover. We collect
ed lot of bloody shelter halves and
ponchos that had been tied to poles
to make stretchers, and were about
to go when we stopped to look at
new grave. A rude cross made OF two
Stats from box had written on 1t:
"Tester S. Wass. Captain U. S. Ma
rines, July IS. 1915
1.-THE old crowd at st. Nazarine and
Bordeaux--Wass and Sumner killed,
Baston and Hunt wounded, the latter
on the 18th, clean wound, l hear,
through the left shoulder. We then
moved farther to the rear and camp
ed for the night. Dunlap came to
look us over; his car was driven by
n sailor, who got out to talk to few
of the marines. when one of the lat
ter yelled out: Hey, fellows Anyone
want to see n real live COPYRIGHT this
way The COB held a regular, recep-
ton. A carrier pigeon perched On
tree with a message. We decided to
shoot him. It was then quite dark, so
the shot missed. then heard the fol-
lowing remarks as l tried to sleep:
Hell he only turned around;' Send
up flare;' Call for barrage,' etc.
The next day further to the rear still.
n Ford was lowed by with its front
wheels on truck
"We are now back in q town for
some rest and to lick our wounds. AS
| / rode down the battalion where once
companies $50 strong used to march,
now you see 80 men with kid second
| lieutenant in command; one company
commander Is not yet twenty-one.
First Robbed, Then Buried.
l"After the last attack I cashed in
the gold you gave me and sent II home
along with my. back pay. i have no
idea of being bumped Off with money
on my person, as IL you fall into the
cnemy's hands you are first robbed,
then buried perhaps, but the first is
sure.
"Bnston, the lieutenant that went to
Quantico with father and myself, and
of whom father took some pictures,
was wounded in both legs in the Bots
de Belleau. 1t was some time before
he was evacuated and gas gangrene
set in. He nearly lost his legs, am
told, but is coming out o. X. Hunt
was wounded In the last attack, got
his wounds fixed up and went back
again till he had to be sent out. Cof-
fenburg was hit in the hand-all near
him were killed. Talbot was hit
twice but Is about again. That nc
counts for all the officers In the COM
pany that brought over. In the first
fight 1O3 of the men In that outfit were
killed or wounded. The second tight
must have about cleaned out the old
crowd.
ITO picture fight, mix up lot Of
hungry, dirty. tired, and bloody men
with dust, noise, and smoke. Forget
the clean swords. prancing horses, and
Tapping flags. At night, gas-filled
woods, falling trees and bright, blind.
ing fiashes-you can't see your neigh
bor-that Is war. In the rear II Is all
confusion. The general told me Hurry
to such place. all goes well. we are
advancingp His staff. miles away, all
clean--one was shaving. another eat
ing hot cakes-we had not had a hot
bite for two days. AS reached my
jumping-off place. wounded men.
killed men. horses blown to bits--the
contrast
1--WE advanced ten kilometers, with
prisoners and guns. and the bells rang
In New York for the victory, while
vc'l-dressed girls and whife-shirted |
mon, no doubt. drank our health In
nv lobster palnce"