Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-11-06
HISTORY CANNOT DESCRIBE THE REAL
THING-THE FIRES OF HE'LL LET

HISTORY CANNOT DESCRIBE THE REAL
THING-THE FIRES OF HE'LL LET
IBy Corporal Fred O. Melvin, Co. d. sIs Sup
ply Train, Am. p. o. 776 Somewhere in
France, September "a
Dear Dad Havn't heard from you 10. over
a month but have written, believe, every
week. ! fine and having a wonderful
experience even though there isn't great
deal of pleasure in it. We are we'll fed and
clothed and generally have 4 good place TO
sleep in hay loft the soft cushion OF
truck seat. II isn't very cold yet but
don't think cold weather will be more uncom-
Portable than the rain we are now having
suppose you have already read of the big
drive started yesterday morning. II
sure wonderful, but the only part We could
take in il was the hauling of supplies, which
we have been doing for two weeks. 1t would
he impossible for me to describe the scenes
I've seen in the last few days-guns OF all
sizes, hundreds of them going TO the front,
thousands of men in all branches of the ser
vice laOded with packs and guns, going TO
the front lines autos and trucks with sup
plies and ammunition going and coming. All
this ] have closed my eyes and saw while
reading history when | at school, but
never expected 20 the real thing. All
this only preparing for the drive, but at
about ten O'Clock, night before last, it seemed
that the devil had opened the gates OF hell.
and we could the fire for miles 80 the
east and west and the rumble Of guns shook
the ground even back where are. and
are at least five miles from the front lines.
There LET up to the noise hut il keeps
getting fainter as they advance, and today we
eanonly hear a distant rumble of the big
guns. BefOr the drive started we were haul
ing TO the front and shell would burst
Us once in a while and air0plane came
down and opened machine gun FIRE
night as we we're near the front, but they
can't hit anything because they arein too bic
hurry TO get back where they won't get hurt.
] heard today that We captured $500 prs-
oners Yesterday but only hearsay- ! don't
think I've seen more than 500 come this way.
and ! saw them loading to be shipped south.
They are bringing our wounded back to the
hospitals near here. but ! haynt seen az
many / expected to see. Yesterday the air
was as full of aeropiaHes you ever
Fords in Westby. We got Hun plane
yesterday, and lost two observation bal
looms which / saw down. have seen tao
air scraps and many times I've Hun
machine fired at with cur antiaircraft guns.
Well, dad, ! can tell you lot more BY next
spring. so don't expect me TO write very much
it's hard to get chance TO write Don't
worry dad, I'm safe as on the road and viii be
home next spring.
October Srd.-They are sure going to Berlin.
dad. I'm in no danger. don's worry. Will
be home Christmas.
FRENCH PEOPLE GENEROUS AND TALK
ALIVE
IBy Private Tenny E, Hanson; Battery G.,
69th ARTILLERY. G. C. Am. +. r, south
western France. September 1871
Dear Mother Received thirteen letters and
two cards last night, 50 have been quite busy
reading them got one from Henry the Day
part of July. Sd they we're quite old had
quite time reading them. for only light
Is candles. and few Of them fer the number
Of boys. 20 had 70 take turns ] had been
ont walking just fer exercise and TO see shat
the country locks like There are many small
towns as the people generally live together
and have their farms al around. One thing.
Ehen you get out Of toNn you cannot help
meeting the people and they fairy load you
down with grapes Met two women last
night each one rad VhseI harrow fun Of
the Ehite ones. and they are good They
hlied ny hands with grapes and | offered to