Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1918-05-23


it for articles of their home city,
Reedsburg Marshall Graft, a former
Baraboo high school teacher, also is
interested in items, and inquiries of
me what is going on in Baraboo. We
all do so enjoy it. You can't begin
to wonder or realize what it means to
hear from home. The paper is read
before letters.
I want to tell you about our trip to
the trenches. Sunday evening
packed my pack and got it ready to
start at o'clock Monday morning
1t had in it: Two blankets, shelter
half (tent), tent poles, pins and guy
rope, poncho (rain coat, pairs of
socks, suit of underclOthing, towel and
soap, toothbrush and paste, mess kit
and knife, fork and spoon, bacon can,
salt, tea and sugar can.
With our rifles we had load, and
we arrived at the trenches at 9 o'clock.
We took our position in the support
trench. l being a bomber wbre a red
band on my arm. Each kind of SOL
dier was designated by different bands.
| was on guard in my sector until
noon, when relieved. Then we pitched
our tents and covered them with leaves
and made them as incOnSpiCuOuS as
possible At 1880 we all were in the
trenches, as all men are in from 7:30
until $50, sunset hours. Orders were
given to halt everybody, pass only
those who were able to give the coun-
tersign If you captured a prisoner,
you received a 24-hour pass. If you
were taken you were confined to quar-
ters seven days. The battalion was
out, companies | and M against L and
X, we being on the offensive. At 8
o'clock l left with patrol to watch
for the enemy. We lay on the side of
a communication trench. We were to
let them come and pass, then to follow
them up. They could not go back be-
cause Of us, and forward they would
meet our men, sO~they would be cap
tured | stayed here until midnight.
They never came. l was relieved and
then we had a lunch and went to vest.
At 3 o'clock orders came to move
pitch dark and to roll our packs. Well,
| felt and located all my things and
packed up We moved up to the Zine
of resistance" trenches. Here, we
were near our captains and officers
quarters. I was detailed to bring up
the dinner and breakfast. | did this
nd hod tn
Tuesday evening we were given new
countersign and new signs to show
what company we were in.
At 7:30 l took my position in the
trench to watch. Some of our men
were in the front line trenches and
some were in scouting parties to To-
cate the enemy. These parties were
to give the first. line trenches aid If
attacked. We were all very watchful
because the night before a raid was
thirty prisoners taken. One of our
boys had his clothes nearly torn off
in an engagement while on Sniper
duty. So we were watchful, and it
was so quiet. I was on the second
line At 11:10 came the most unearth-
ly scream I ever heard. The enemy
had attacked. The men sleeping were
rushed into our trenches for support.
My hair raised two inches. We heard
the boys come up the communication
trenches. Excitement prevailed. Then
the noise stopped and we thought we
were next. But soon word came the
enemy was beaten back. So l was re-
lieved and slept until $50. At 9, we
left for the quarters after having a
war meeting and exchanging prison
ers. Our major was pleased with the
work.
We had splendid meals while there
and good lunches at midnight. We
had "a hours off, when we were back
in quarters. Most of us men slept.
The camp was surprised to have
two aerop1anes pass over us yester
day. They passed between and were
invisible sometimes. LOapOke, the avi-
alton camp, is 40 miles from here.
Guess this is all now. Regards to
everyone Yours,
LOUIS JACOBS.
Co. L 345 Inf