Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1918-11-13
OVER THE TOR ON TWO lrHn @crs
s. Il. Russell Writes Of His We on
the Baltic Fronts.

with the American forces in France.
Somewhere in France, Sept. -.
My Dear Mother:
This Is the second time have been
over the top-and on different rgnts
each time. In the first driya nc
made everything was carried cut to
the miunte, and was really more
successful than we had expectct We
advanced 80 kilometres in this drive
and captured between fifteen aud
twenty thousand prisoners and nics
and piles OF ammunition, one bun
dred cannon, and more machine rs
and rifles than we have been stlle TO
count up yet. Our casualties re
very small. We had none captuIcG.
and but few were killed or wouatcd.
first started picking up hcl0cls,
rifles, pistols and lots Of diNf2l mt
things for souvenirs, but soon found
that they were too burdensome aud
threw them away. l got two }el,
man wool blankets, three pah: or
Yoolen gloves and two pairs OF yool
socks, all of which l am hangin on
to for the real cold weather w, erc
expecting.
The drive we are now in has NBt
started. 1t began three days ago,
and after the first day we advanced
and have since been, and hope to oo,l-
tinue, using German dug-outs. The
one am now in had stuff of all kinds
in it. l think it had been used as a
telephone station, and this paper
am writing on is some that they ,ett
We have Just stopped firing with the
artillery for a few minutes for tne
infantry to ad"a0co, and nov fhenl
Is Just Ono con jnuUuS Clattey Of Nv
chine guns and rifles in front hy StSe
jnIantN, Our aeroplancs hnyai%y$t
iropned rs Il message SAYING ma ,INH
infantry is doing iiuo wOrk yaG Slil
advancing. Guess we will move our
artillery up closer in three or four
hours. Aeroplanes are flying over us
just like swarms Of birds. We can
see scraps" between the Allied and
German planes most any time during
each day. Am wonderfully glad to
be able to say that now we have the
control Of the air. This morning the
Germans flew>over our lines and shot
down one of our balloons. The two
men who were in it jumped out and
came down in their parachutes un-
hurt. One OF the German planes was
shot down by our planes and fell
oboul t"o SdIuS Ill OIL
this dng-out that am in. The mans
head was crushed all to pieces.
Lieut.. Speed and went out to bury
him after about an hour, but found
others digging a grave for him. We
are going ahead in this drive just the
same as in the other one. German
prisoners are being sent back by the
scores. Am told that this is the big
ho
and extends practically to all fronts.
Have just heard that the whole drive
is successful.
October I'd.
We were ordered to advance, and
I haven't had chance to finish this
letter till now. Am now in hole In
the bank of a road with Lieut.. Speed.
We dug this ourselves, and it being
behind hill, we are pretty safe from
shell fire. We both stayed in this
little hole last night and felt pretty
comfortable until there came up a
rain. Then the water ran down under
us, so we just put down our steel
helmets and sat on them till day
light. We may be here again to-
night-can't tell yet. Am going to
try to fix the place better, so that if
we arc still here we can be little
more comfortable. / stay right with
Lieut.. Speed all the time and help
him "fix up" the wounded and send
them to field hospital. We have
seen all the horrors Of war and have
been through with lots, but we don't
mind the hardships as long as we can
get by as well as we have so far.
can't tell You near all want to, but
will say this much: We are giving
the Germans Just what they need,
and will soon wind them up. Then
we can come home with story of
war to tell.
| haven't been wounded yet; my
health is good, and am getting lust
about everything soldier can ex-
pect to get at the front.
Have just heard that we are going
to be relieved and we will then go
back for a rest. We have been on
the go now-day and night-rfor
nearly month, so am getting anx-
ious for a bath and a change Of
Don't think l have "coot-
les" on me yet, but feel like tall
over.
Hope you are all we'll and happy.
You must let tho balance Of the fam
lily hear from me through you, for
cant get chance to write to all Of
them. Keep tho family fires burning
and III soon be bnck--probably by
January. Your devoted son,
g Drouo11