Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1918-04-17
MANCHESTER BOYS
under Shell fire
SERGEANT WELTERLEN WRITES
i OF HIS EXPERIENCES IN THE
TRENCHES.
ARTILLERY DOES GOOD WORK
Conditions in Trenches Trying to Men
Who Stand As Stone Wall BE.
fore the Hun.

After many weeks without mail
from any Of the Manchester boys who
are with the Expeditfonary Forces IN
France, letters again arrived in Man
chester the first of the week. 1t has
been known that the 16Sth Infantry
had participated in the recent en-
gagements, and naturally much anx-
iety for the safety of the boys has
been felt by their people at home.
This anxiety was greatly relieved
when mail was received.
Through the kindness OF Mr.. and
Mrs. Henry Welterlen Of this city
The Democrat is able to give its read
ers extracts from a letter which they
received from their son, Sergeant Roy
Welterlen, who is with Co. H Of the
16sth regiment, and who has been
under shell fire in the trenches IN
France.
Sergeant Welterlen writes as fol-
lows:
Somewhere in France, March 18th,
1918.
Dear Folks:
"Have received so many letters
from you lately thought would not
begin to answer them until had
day or two all to myself. However,
it looks as il I would not get that
time for while so I will start one
now.
II received your boxes, also box
of nice candy from Miss Riddell and
Miss Richardson, also one from J.
Hutchinson, which had cigars for the
boys. Your letters found me in dif-
ferent localities each time, but al
ways well and with no chance for
kick. Have been doing considerable
moving around lately and am now
about due for another move.
"I have been in the trenches about
which we have heard so much, and
know to some degree just what men
must endure in order to live there.
was in for a while and while there
l saw quite little of trench life.
can see no reason why a man would
like to give ten years Of his life to
stay there a week. although am
mighty glad I was there and am look
ing forward anxiously to the time
when we 60 back in to do our bit 9
second time. I was not in the trench
with our company, but was in town
on M. P. duty. However, was in the
front line with Company B, 16Stn,
when the enemy attempted raid,
but which was beaten off with heavy
loss to them. I was out in his bar
rage" and know full well what the
term means. Was asleep in our quar-
ters when it started and at first 1t
sounded like the bottom had dropped
out of hell. We were soon safe IN
our own dugout and before long our
artillery put over the prettiest sup
port ever. It surely was sweet mu-
sic to hear our own shells whistling
overhead, to light among our enemy.
Before long we went out In 1t, ana IN
a very short time it was all over, with
scarcely any damage to us at all
Aunt Soph's state artillery surely did
and have done some wonderful work
in supporting our infantry while IN
the trenches. You will certainly hear
of the great work they have done for
us.
Not blowing our own horn or the
like, the 16Sth has done some good
work also. It is certainly wonderful
how the boys stand up under fire. IL
I could tell you of some OF the THINGS
the boys have done you would all
wonder how they did it. The COOL
way they take shell fire is wonderful.
Then think of how they stood in mud
and water. knee deep, while at their
post in the trenches in the cold and
without word of complaint. They
have surprised everyone, and espec-
tally the French.
Just now we are on our way back
to rest and training camp, some
where in the rear. At present we are
in reserve" until our whole regiment
is relieved. We are still where we
can hear the "big boys" talk. 1t was
certainly great experience and will
be worth good deal later,
We have been having very little to
do but clean up, boil up and do a
few details. Yes we all got "coo1-
ies"-gray backs, but are rid of them
now 1t surely looked like a bunch
of hoboes in the jungles to see the
boys all over the hillsides either
boiling up or reading their shirts. y
A man surely gets dirty in the trench
es. Imagine four or five days with
out washing or taking off our shoes.
Sounds great, don't it?
We have only been doing our bit
anyhow, and there will be lots of
others to help cut
Well, | certainly appreciated your
letters. Have about dozen from
Manchester to answer
Am as ever,
SERG. ROY WELTERLEN,
Co H, 16Sth u. S. Infantry
(The above letter was O. KID by