, 1918-12-19
LETTERS FROM SOLDIER BOYS.
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The enemy had machine gun nests and
snipers scattered over the landscape.
so you see it was a pretty hot place, es-
p~ecially when o take into considera-
ton the artillery fire. 1t was a great
experience. Icannot describe it and do
1t justice. | can tell you about it bet
ter than / can write it. 1t was on Sun
day, too, the Goth of September. I had
sort of wanted to be in one real battle.
and l was. However, once is really
enough.
a few days later we went back be-
mind the lines to rest and reorganize.
We were soon on the trail of the Hun
again and finally came up here, where
we Jared better at the front, for it was
warmer and drier. and we had better
shelter to sleep under. Also we did
Lnothing but engineer work. but were
under some artillery fire.
The Germans fought mostly with ma
chine guns. L don't think much of
their craftsmanship. If Il bunch of
n had been in their place when we
went over the top, we would have been
annihilated, or nearly so. They are
great at running, though, for we ran
ike the devil and couldn't catch up at
all. The Chateau Thierry battles
which Guy Toothaker was in were
fierce, but / know of many who are
worse off than he in that battle. Had
those marines not beer backed up and
reinforced by some engineers they
woul have been wiped ont entirely. 1t
was the beginning Of the end And
such an end What do you think of it?
0 15.EWe spent n day in the
home of a well-to-do Belgian. 1t SEEM
ed rather strange to be in a house that
tTac lfanINF 49, .I.I --I 49,
Yes, / have seen some wounded and
also dead Germans. Also. I sometimes
see some of II own wounded. As for
wearing that tin hat. it's the only hat
| have now, so i must wear it or 70
b~areheaded. They used to seem heavy
but we are accustomed to them now.
3 Anyway, they never leak when it rains
Better get some of those good things
ready for mt that i am to eat when |
get back
] took over a hundred shots at some
Huns n while back. Don't know wheth-
Ter ! extinguished any of them or not.
they were so far away and were run
ming. They are good runners
This is certainly n fine, rich country
where we are now. Most of the land
is in cultivation; some is planted to
grain, which Is already mp. They raise
some tobacco here and lots of turnips
and mangel wurtzels. I've seen no al
falfa. but occasionally a small patch
of clover.
In France the roads were nearly all
macarthur. Here they are cohble stones.
On. ON way back from the front II was
n common sight to see the refugees com
ing from toward the firing line. Usual
~ they came In family groups. Some
o real pitiful. A few had carts
with n horse or COW TO draw them.
Others pulled the carts themselves.
Some even had small wagons with dogs
hitched thereto. Most of them Ind
whaelbarrows. They are great on snch
vehicles here N have some monster
w~heelbarrows.
Yon should SOC some OF fine holes
made in the roads by German mines.
m could easily set a good-sized room
In them.
We are still having fine weather. Int
Its pretty durn chilly. The Belgians
are having some kind of a holiday ia
day. They are almost us great for flag.
as the Americans. The streets are
nblazc with them.
Thanks for the sweet peas YOU sent
me. | am sending Won y Belgian rose.
mnst close and eat some brend and
apple butter. I Just bought a francs
worth Love to alr
Wilbur g. Toothaker.
Co. &C. 316th Engineers.