Denver labor bulletin., 1918-12-28


neers had to go out around these era
ters with the road until they could
bridge them. The roads in this sec
ton were exceptionally good. Va
renne was pretty warm place when
we went into 1t. The park selected
for us to do our work in was sit
uated on top of the hill, surrounded
on three sides by ruined houses and
the main road passing the fourth, or
south side. Varennes Is big town
built on the north and east side of
a large hill. We billeted in dugouts
and holes. Myself with two other
fellows had our house in the side of
building where shell had hit. We
were certainly fixed up right-fire-
place and all. This big building was
like castle. and to the north side
was an abrupt hill. covered with dug
outs and cabins and stairs leading
from a road up to them. From the
| road up to the house on the top il
was about the equivalent of six
story building. We were up even
ahead of the six-inch. or 155mm
guns. and things were pretty inter
| esting. Every time the guns would
shoot plaster would shake off the top
of our little house. We remained
here until November 2, when we
were relieved.
"One Monday afternoon a bunch
of the fellows. myself included, went
up to Charpentry after some tanks
, to be brought back for repairs. We
had to go fairly close to the lines.
and the road was in plain sight to
FritZie. We got there all right. but
coming back / had the sixth tank.
| FritZie spotted us and commenced
shelling the road. He had a pretty
accurate range. too. One shell, l 155-
nm. landed about ten feet to the
right of my tank and threw dirt in
on my feet and legs. He never hit
any of the tanks That was the near
est a shell had ever landed to me.
and / am satisfied that owe my life
TO that tank. Another day we were
out after tank where it was Grip
pied and a plane swooped down on
us, using his machine gun You
ought to have seen us duck. in and
under the tank.
"Fritzie used to shell the cross
road about four hundred yards south
west of our camp every noon We
got so we knew the sound of the
gun explosion, which could be heard
before the whistle of the shell com
ing. 1t would have been good
night for some of us if he had
changed his range slightly, but
guess the road was more interesting
to him.
| Then came full moon in the latter
part of October, and FritZie COM
menced the old afraid stun. On
bright nights he would come over
and drop a few compliments in the
form of bombs. Believe me. they
surely make the earth shake some.
You can hear the sickening hiss of
the bombs drorping thru the air. and
then the awful thunder and shaking.
| No lights are permitted, and one
night shortly after Fritz had bombed
| Rarecourt l was there, and the ne
gro NJ. P.s would 'holler' their heads
off if one even lit match. They are
certainly comical.
Mother sent Fats address to me.
and / found out he was up on the
front to the right and north of Exer-
mont. in the Eighty-ninth division.
tried to 20 up and see him. but
never succeeded, as worked the day
we had off on our house.
| November 2 we started back. in
trucks, to the tank center. near Ian
gres. and arrived the following eve
ming. We slept the night of the I'd in
a fine hay NOW in Gondrecourt. and
had fine nights rest. We passed
the birthplace of Joan of Arc.
We are now at our center, which
Is "A camp ABOUT thrte KlIOIltterS
east of the main center. We have re-
ceived about fifty new tanks from
i the factory and now are detailed to
keep them in condition for the new
men from the States, who are get
ting their schooling
"Langres is quite a town. being
well fortified. One can see the old
walls and moats and to go into II at
the present time we have to go thru
the gates and over the drawbridges.
| well. Dad, this Is some long let
ter and covers my experience rough
ly, but will serve to let you know a
little about all have seen. VIII try
to explain it all more minutely when
get home-in the near future.
hope (say. about ApriD.
Read this over to the folks and
Bess, and it will save me writing IL
all over again to them individually.
suppose they are anxious to hear
some of my experiences also.
How are. the machines acting by
now? Are you still figuring on get
ting one-ton truck? I will certain
ly be glad to get back, SO as 10 keep
your machines up again. When
peace is signed we will probably pa
rade few times in various places
and then be mustered out. Well, so
long. Good luck to you.
Your SON FRANK"
Private F.. E. Liston. 321 Co. 302
Center. A. f. F.. A. =. o. ia,
France.
GA merry Christmas and happy
| 4 M.t