The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1918-12-19
CAPT. ]. WHITE
IN HUN BARRAGE
Kenosha Young Man Writes
of His Experiences While
Doing Observation
Work in France.
HAS A VERY CLOSE CALL
Two Men Of Company r Have Been
Killed and Six Wounded BY Shells
From the German Guns-Huns
Are Now Powerless.

Two very interesting letters have
been received by George S. Whyte,
from his son, Captain Jesse1 Whyte,
who is with the 31oth Engineer Corps
right up in front of the firing line in
France. One of these letters was
written October 81 and the other No
vember II. Both are reproduced here
with. They are as follows:
October 81, 1918.
Glad to hear you are getting good
reports of our American army, and I
know you will continue to get them,
as we sure are heart and soul for
licking the Hun
They dropped some propaganda here,
but our men just laugh at it and fight
all the harder.
The papers are full of rumors about
Austria quitting. I'd just as soon she
would quit, as we could then give the
Hun more attention. I am afraid she
will quit before long-at least before
we do much damage in Germany, as
we certainly ought to give them
good taste of what they have given
poor France.
1t will take long time to rebuild
these towns and roads--why, the
country is nothing but series Of shell
holes, and it viii take great deal Of
labor to get it in shape again.
/ am glad to hear all the news about
she factory and the erection of hotels
and cottages. I am also glad to know
that you purchased $500 worth of Lib
erty Bonds for my account
obliged-gla yon did it.
I moved up forward a bit today and
am running the advance P. G. post
of Oommand) for the chief engineer of
the 9Th Army Corps. It is a good job
and I have lots of responsibility.
I am fairly close to the front line,
but it is not at all dangerous. Have
had few close calls which I have not
mentioned in mothers letters, as there
is no use worrying her. Most Of the
trouble has been from shells-pieces
of high explosives and shrapnel have
come pretty close to me. Yesterday
when I was up at the front, few
machine-gun bullets whizzed by
pretty close to my head-close enough
to hear the ziss-ss.
I was inspecting road running
through the woods, up near the front
line, and had to crawl along Indian
fashion, in order to keep from being
observed by the Huns. 1t was great
sport-saw a few huns and wanted to
take shot at them, but did not do so,
because we wanted to work unobserved.
Got all the information I wanted and
started back. We hadn It gone far be-
fore a Hun barrage started behind us,
and whether they saw us or not, I
don't know, but the shells crept closer
and closer to us, and finally we had
to run like the dickens to keep far
enough in front of the barrage, so as
not to get caught in it. Some shells
landed pretty close-too close for com
fort-kicked up mud all over US, but
fortunately no one was hurt.
There have been a few killed in the
regiment, but not many. I am sorry to
say two men in my old company F
were killed-and six wounded few
nights ago by shell. It is too bad,
because they didn't get a chance at
them, as they were busy repairing
roads and bridges.
We are close to the front now, and
you will hear some good news around
this date, [ hope-or rather I know
you will; so if I don It write for few
days, you will know I am exceedingly
busy, but don It worry, because expect
to be at it night and day for while,
and won't get a chance to write.
am in great shape and feel fit as
dollar. Plenty to eat and smoke and
what more does fellow wants
We have had very fine weather,
lately and this helps lot, because dry
and firm roads makes it easier for us to
give the Hun what is coming to him. j"
November IT, 1918.
The Huns are on the run, and [ have
been following them fast. I have been
moving forward ahead Of our troops in
Iorder to inspect bridges and railways.
I have just returned to the camp to-
day, after being gone for an entire day.
I am fortunate enough to have a car
at my disposal, and can, therefore, go
faster than the marching troops.
I went through several villages, and
was the first American or ally to reach
these towns. / received very warm
welcome from the citizens.
/ reached the most easterly town