The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1918-03-07
BLOOD IS
CALLING BRITISH BLOOD
Letter Direct From the Trenches
Shows Britons Awaiting German
Offensive

An intimate letter from the firing
line somewhere in Flanders" has
been forwarded to Will f. Holbein,
secretary of the Minot Association of
Commerce, who is the Local Branch
Chairman of the Military Training
Camps Association. This organiza-
ton is assisting British and Canadian
subjects to enlist under their own flag
to fight in our common cause against
Germany. He has application blanks
and full information and is working
in cooperation with the British Cana
dian Recruiting Mission. A great in
flux of British and Canadian recruits
is now expected as the United States
is working on an agreement to make
them subject to the United States
draft of they do not enlist under their
own flag.
"The situation generally is just
right for the British people, that is
to say, fairly tough" said Major
George w. Macleod, D. S. O., Sec
ond in Command of the 49th battalion
Canadians in a letter to Maj. A. Wal
lace Owen, Commanding Western Di-
vision, British Canadian Recruiting
Mission, which was sent to Mr.. Hol-
bein by Major Owen. Major Mac
Leod and Major Owen served in the
same battalion in France during the
heaviest fighting which has been seen
during the war. He went to France
three years ago as Lieutenant and
has seen continuous service, taking
part in all the battles engaged in by
the Canadians. His Distinguished
Service Order was won at the battle
of Courcellette in the Somme fighting
and a bar has been added to the Dis
tinguished Service Order for his action
at Passchenddeale.
The letter follows:
"Best of everything for Christmas
and the New Year to you. Your
letter of Nov. 14th just arrived. No
doubt by this time you will have re-
ceived some dope on our northern trip
(the battle of Passchendeale). Got
some pounding but as usual men were
Wonderful and did all that was ex-
laected. In officers are lost, Old Oliver
Travers, Percy Belcher, Bishopeci,
Rusioni, Stone, Van Patten killed,
Bradburn, Upton, McMundie and a
few more wounded and 1870 Of other
ranks so that you can see some time
was had. However, the Corps beat
the Dutchmen to fragile on our
front. We are back in the line just
north of our old stamping ground.
"The situation generally is just the
right kind for the British people, i. e.,
fairly tough. The German has had
such a successful year trimming up
Russia, Roumania and Italy that when
his troops strike the western front
they are full of ginger. However we
do our little best to prove to him that
he still has the contemplate to deal
with. Everyone is contemplating a
big German offensive either against
ourselves or the French. Personally
l think it will be the latter as there
is little doubt but that they are count
ing on American assistance. If the
German could give them good pound
ing before the Americans are in suffi-
cient strength to help stand the shock,
there might possibly be a wave of
pessimism develop that would be fatal.
However, there never has been such
close cooperation as exists at the
present time between ourselves and
the French and if Mr.. Boche starts
anything he may get the surprise of
his life.
eve are all greatly pleased with the
election results in Canada. Of course
the men here voted solid for conscrip-
ton. One is more proud every day to
belong to this splendid corps Of ours
which without any braggadocio is
without a doubt the strongest fighting
machine of it's size in the world today.
Everyone is very much pleased
with the Americans over here. They
are splendid looking lot of men and
officers and their manners and attl-
tude leave nothing to be desired. Once
they start in l think that the German
will have some real fighting to handle.
Zone is gradually beginning to real
ize the meaning of the expression
war of attrition'-with the enormous
slaughter which has been in progress
for over three years, the German and
ourselves are beginning to show the
strain-we see it in the type Of men
and officers as regards physique. Our
training of course possibly counter.
acts to a certain extent this loss OF
physique, but I would not care to see
the average unit today placed along
side it's former self-similarly with
the rest of the belligerents. 1t is at
this iuncture that the Americans ar
rive and one is Immediately struck
with their appearance. The, tirst'
million men from the U: S. A. should
nearly be able to finish this war-pro
vided they are not used in driblets
Given completely new army, say OF
two full corps or possibly three, in the
spring and the end of the war should
not be long postponed. =,
81 do not think that we are at the
last ditch by a long manner OF means
We have been in tight corners before
and will no doubt fight our way ou
of the present one. He must finist
the Job this winter or he never vii
and all we can do is to meet the blov
when it comes, or possibly anticipate
that blow by one Of our own. Th'
German grand strategy has never beel
anything but simple. His tactics ar
different. His strategy has been sim