The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-11-08
REV. R. M. HOUGHT0N.
Continued from Page -

made from Paris and he was sent almost |
Immediately to the Toul sector, where |
the 26th division made up OF New Eng |
land troops, was located. Later at Cha
teau- Thierry he was thrown in direct |
contact with the Brattleboro and Yer
mont boys and was with them during
the six days of the terrible battle.
He told of the expectation of the
troops going somewhere for rest when
they were recalled from the Toul sector
and when on troop train for - hours
and thought they were going to Paris to
take part in the Fourth of July celebra-
ton. but were thrown i'll soon at Cha
teau- Thierry. The speaker was sent to
Paris by army officers to cash checks
and was there on July 4. He rejoined
the division at the front which included
the marines, only "A of whom were left
OF a company of $50 and four regiments
of the 26th division who were taken III
| to relieve the marines.
1t was when the troops were stationed
| in this sector that he was able to get
| haircut. only To find that the barber
was none other than Cook Eddie Con
yer of Brattleboro. Here. too, he saw
the Miner boys. George Messer, Ralph
Cudworth and Lieut.. {. Arnold Pellet.
The first troops of tie division TO 60
in were the lOlst They were followed
bv the l04th, the l03d and the l02d.
| When the orders came at 3 o'clock Satur
day afternoon to 20 they Went with
rush and bound and kept ii up all Sat
urdav night and all day Sunday, and the
ONLY thing for the Germans to do was TO
run. and they have not had chance TO
stop since The ground was covered with
German helmets, rifles, bayonetS. etc.
and a lady'> little blue jacket and it was
proven that there We're at ieast two
women out there helping the German ma
chine gunners.
Rev Mr. Houghton had carried a large
supply Of chocolate nut bars. These
were broken in half and each of coo men
had half a bar, which was the first they
had to eat for 80 hours. He also had
carried smokes enough to 90 around. In
returning for supplies he met artillery
officers who asked If he knew where the
infantry officers were and he was able to
tell them The infantry had gone 50 fast
the artillery could not keep up with
them.
The following day, Monday, he re
: manned at headquarters to help in bury
: ing the dead and 10 splendid young fel
lows were placed III graves that day
which the speaker said was the hardest
day he passed The next day he re
turned to the front and Joined the boys.
! When they were in the corner OF a wood.
they were sighted by German airplane
which shelled them Three men were
Z killed and several wounded about 80 fee'
! from where the "" man stood anC
I among the wounded was George /. Mes
; ser \ ma ior of whom Mr.. Ioughtor
I had grown very fond. was one OF thos,
c killed. and it took several men nearly {
: whole day to dig grave. as they wer,
d shelled every time they made an appear
:. ance.
II one impressive sight which the speak
c er witnessed was 100 airpianeS eomin'
o back one evening from a bombing eNpe
ditNn He said the colored troops haC
t done splendid work and told many Incl
n dents related by those troops.
o The many slides made from photo
e graphs taken by Mr.. IIoughton, throw
s on the screen included destroyed build
ings y NJ c. T. units men being deco
rated for distinguished service by Off
GERS, Captain Locke Of Saxtons River
: Y. NJ {. A. canteen American cemetery
!. Beaumont ridge Paris Metz road
trenches at Seicheprey, old bell a
Seicherrey with American major OF
l either side. Mr. Houghton looking acroS
4 No Mans Land POO yards from the Boch
/ line, l03d infantry on parade before tn
I officers, empIacemcnt of q large calibr
l German gun upon which the speake
1 stood within p hours after il was lcf
/ by the Germans at AIoewe, vacation re
sorts at AK Les Bains planned for tn
u boys when on leave and it was at on
i of these places that he met julius Kuec
l of Brattleboro Many other views wer
4 thrown on the screen.
At the close Of Rev. Mr.. Houghton
address Mr. Durham announced that tn
4 talk would be repeated in the Auditorium
l this evening al $ o'clock, when anothJ
l capacity audience is likely TO be presen
Salt Lake City believes Great Salt lax