Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-11-02
OTTAWA BOY WRITES
Of PRESENT BIG DRIVE
CONTINUED from Page ID


from every direction. from all sides.
In front and In back of us, burst forth
into q chorus OF thunder that is in
dtscribable. From every direction
the shots we're whistling and scream
Ing over our heads and falling into
the German lines. The sky became a
mass OF fire and flame and the ground
'trernb.ed as II q great earthquake had
suddenly broke loose.
So deadly was the fire from our
guns that the Germans could make
Only uncertain reply, and it was quite
unusual to hear German shell
whistle by The night was changdf
from darkness into veritable fur
nace of fire Then for six hours this
terrific bombardment continued, until
$50, when our boys went over the
top.
As this hour approached the BON
bardment grew more intense, so to
describe II would be useless, for 1t
would be impossible AS our men
went forward they swept everything
before them, and for three days and
three nights this battle continued,
until Sunday morning our men dug
themselves in to resist any counter
attack the enemy had planned.
They penetrated the enemy's lines
for a depth Of seven miles and gained
their detectives at much earlier time
than had been planned.
Soon after the attack began pris-
oners started TO come in, and they
told Of the terrible effect of our fire
upon the Germans. During the first
day OF the battle | went forward sew
eral kilOs farther toward the lines and
Witnessed some wonderful sights. |
saw some wonderful air battles
watched battery of OF big fourteen
inch howitzers in action for about an
hours and until nearly became deaf
from the noise, saw a number Of OBJ
Eervation balloons brought down by
the planes, set on fire and the OBJ
servers escape in parachutes. and all
such things along this line.
Everything was like clockwork and
the enemy was just baffled amid beaten
at every corner. Since this affair
things have been rather quiet; the
noise OF the cannon has been much
less, OF course and the great excite
ment for the past few days has been
listening TO Jerry throw over few
Of the big ones and watch them light
and laugh at him because he made a
poor shot. However, we still are re-
membered by him at night with his
planes now and then. and he drops his
pills around us quite Frequently.
The only thing that made us sure
dropped few over for about an hour
or so and put them right in back Of
Our mess shack and nearly spoiled
our breakfast He made a few holes
about ten feet deep and fifteen feet
wide, so we had to hunt a new place
to sit down with our dinner.
The other night he caught bunch
OF US mapping and he came over with
his planes and dropped one in back
of us before we had time 70 even
duck II was just drop fiat ami Jay
there until he got tired playing with
us, and then got up and watched him
shell a few places on the side and in
back OF us. These are our usual ex
periences, and so far he hasn't sue
ceeddd in doing any real serious dam
age right around us About as close
as he has dropped them from me was
block, and few pieces Of shrapnel
whizzed by me and landed some place
but he has been real considerate with
us. This morning he whistldi a
couple of. big ones around US, but they
landed several blocks away so il
made no difference.
Well, Gus. | can't think of any more
to tel you just now ! have no doubt
but that you have read all about the
affairs over here by this time, and
you will get it from the newspapers
much better than could tell you.
The weather has been rather cold
and disagreeable. but this little cave
is pretty comfortable, ana with twt
candles for writing lamp we have
enough luxury to be very well salts
fed with
moved out of one hollow the other
night into a new one, for the rats in
the former one were lite too large
and thought they might accidentally
get mixed up in my blankets anC
carry them off, and then I'd be lit
tie cold without them, but thos,
things all go in the game and it's 6
great experience
| have been enjoying very goot
health, and aside from a few bites
by our friend, the cootie. and a weel
or so of some kind of French itch,
surely can't complain. Write me wher
you have an opportunity, for we surely
appreciate a letter from home friend.
to the utmost Know that you are
very often in mind, and with sincere
regards to you and Mrs. May, believe
that ! am, sincerely, JULIE.
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