The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-05-31
IA, GRAY GLAD TO
| ESCAPE GUN NOISE
x.okuk Captain in Medical Reserve
Corps, cover There" Writes Let
ter Home About Nes.
Experience.
SLEEPS THRU BARRAGE
|s,w He Doesn't UNDERSTAND How the
American Boys stay % Long IN
der Fire-sees Shell
destruction.
sleeps THRU BARRAaE

n the II. S, medical reserve corps II
rrance has been up to the front lint
trenches, recently on a tour OF IN
spection.
He confesses in a letter home thai
~ 10 Glad to be back at lhe base agar
awav from the noise Of the big guns.
Al the same time he admits sleep
inc through terrible barrage thai
was being laid down by the Amertcar
forces and eliciting the compliment
from his "bunhe." 4 believe vol
could sleep through hell"
Captain Gray says his conscience II
clear, which explains why he Slept
boundly.
writes:
SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE. May
i was sent on tour of inspection
hat was most interesting from every
angle. it gave me wonderful trip
cross the country from the quiet zone
nto the active and the days were per-
ect, warm and clear. But am truly
lad to be back, and will never leave
Ibis station unless ordered. and the
o. says, Never again
"We left for the front, going over
line roads and beautiful hills. One
tould not imagine death and destruc-
ion so near, but finally we struck the
Evidences of combat: trenches. wire
entanglements, numerous graves, for
ksts literally torn to pieces, villages
azed and now quiet Finally observa-
hon balloons were observed, indicat-
ny the danger zone was near. With
roops all around and the roar of big
Euns plainly heard. we finally reached
bur destination. had lunch and then
listed the actual. or real active sec
Tor, In company with the colonel and
lis medical officer.
Visits Big Guns.
1--WE visited the big guns In the
Foods that had been gassed one hour
before, and saw the guns in action,
ring shell every two seconds. It
Fas wonderful sight, and unat-
ended as it happened, by danger, as
be Huns had been silenced; at least
here was no reply except the gas. We
ould smell and taste that very plain
!, but the wind was pretty strong,
ind had blown most of it away: be-
ides we were thoroughly protected If
had been strong.
"You know queer sensation went
yer me as we walked through a field
the batteries The field was liter
lily torn UP by Hun shells; 1t was
eally field Of holes. but as they
Fere putting none across was 0. X.
Shells Hum.
However, the shells singing through
e air made me shrink. as could not
III whether they were coming or 60
g, but. at that was not afraid; and
hen you get close by the guns you
Pnt hear anything but the roar and
link little Of the danger But don't
e how the boys stay in that noise SO
ing
1T took me about three hours to
hish our work and believe me, was
eased to leave it all behind. Stayed
night about four miles behind the
enches, and you know how soundly
sleep. Well at 4 a. m. they put up
oarrage, and nv bunLie woke me.
e said he thought I could sleep
rough hell, and I assured him I
Pped to if had to go there It was
ident that | had good nerves and a
Far conscience for it did not phase
sl'nnbers. And the noise was ter
pie. It sounded like the roll on a /
are drum, only frightfully loud
Went Back to sleep.
l went back to sleep in few min |
es and arose at o'clock. had |
eakfast, then visited the evacuation |
spltal and saw some interesting |
PfK, then started home But will |
Ee the most to tell you, by our own |
eslde, far removed from the danger |
II was the most interesting expert |!
&c that have had and needless to !
II is sufficient for all time to come |
mat Variety You must not wor- |
'os we are in no danger here. We |
iariy busy again, have some |
ncn patents, but no bad ones.
just finished my work at the hos
al held court and fined one of the |
and Will finish this epistle rather
4 90 to church Believe you will |
&c inc mail could be greatly i'm
eu; IL is most month now since
MAD real mail, and 1 know you
sent many letters. We are
ing a shower for change, but
.ne looks Of the soil, they will
Eg. 'neS iaise any
NJ - sunkie Mate Gone.
NY ounkile' had to 90 to the pain.
olVision. will miss him verv
ns as ne was full Of fun; fear he
@ get back with the organize /,
o. ne is young enough for front
''fh' and they are short OF young |,
los cat SO VIII say
H. A. GRAY, Ii
Base Hospital 80.
"A. P. o. 732, A. e. FL
aand hundred thousand women In
ni.e are engaged in aerieulfuraI