Norwich bulletin., 1918-08-27

The following extracts from letters of Captain John s. Blackmar of this city give interesting sketches of mili- l tary life over there:
 July il.
 The enemy put over few hundred 1 gas shells on nearby town a few l nights ago, and gassed about 100; | not dead, but sent to hospitals. Con- | sequently, We sent over 1000 gas shells the next night as a retaliatory l measure.
 Last night we had an amusing incl dent. Everybody was in bed, when sud- denly the horn blew the gas alarm (our first).
 We put on our masks and mackin- toshes over our pajamas and went out. l tested for gas and found none. re- moved my mask and went to my in 1rmary two doors away to give the re- call. As I opened the door it was surely an amusing sight by candle hent The men were all UP in all stages of dishabille and slickers. sprayers ready and pointed at the door. They look very grotesque in their masks-li<e pig. or like an elephant with his trunk cut off. The wind was too strong for a gas attack, and from the wrong direction, but the guard saw gas signals from the regiment on our right, so sounded his horn.
 July IS.
 This won't be much for a letter. as Fl am writing on my lap by candle light. We moved out Saturday night and arrived at this place after a three mile march. It was raining when we started, the road was muddy and | rough. and I was about all in when I arrived. The boots have too thin soles for long walks and rain coat, overcoat, etc, made quite a load.
 Yesterday noon we were notified 1 to be, ready to move by motor truck 1 at moments notice, but at eight p. 1 m. it was declared of. Last night we 1 heard a violent artillery fire all night. and today's communique says that the Roche made an attack on forty kill i ometer front, and the French and the Americans are fighting heroicalfy | They did not get by the firs- line to- 1 day. Tomorrow we have a nine mile | hike to another sector (reserve), but 1 yours truly sent for his horse today 1 and it is now here, ready.
 | July IS.
 Another move and entirely different scene. Started quietly about 10 D. m and wound down the hills. through woods and a ruined village to the main road, long white stretch in the moonlight. After leaving the village a Trench officer who was riding be- side me said: "This is a bad place for the Boche shell the railroad station every day" I peered around, but could 1 see no station, only the tracks They had apparently done a good job, for there was no station left Expected ev- cry minute to hear a shell sing, but none came. A little farther on I heard up on the side of the bank in the dark ness, a sure enough American tune whistled bH some one. I called out That sounds like a familiar tune The voice answered ''yes." I said i And that's good English" Not or your life, it's American" he said. "Sc are we" said I. How long have yor been over?' %Oh, about Il months; i where are you going?" "Just this side of -" said L Good luck" was the last heard. He belonged to some American engineering outfit that was unloading those cars.
 It was a long tiresome march (tht men carried packs weighing anywhere from 60 to 50 pounds) through twr ruined villages, and by that I meaI absolutely ruined; stone houses tha were mere shells, no roofs, walls down or standing like gaunt white specter: | in the moonlight. Not a sign of Tiff, anywhere. We'll. finally we brancheC off and started to climb and a stead! climb it was for while The horse! | could hardly pull the ambulance up
 And the men! Caved right in, anC sprawled out by the side of the road The officers went up and down, givins 9 word of cheer here and there, ant we finally got to the top, and the1 along 8 big plateau. The road run just under the crest of sight. finall. down Q steep hill sharp turn to tn
 left in among trees, and into 8 par
 italy ruined village. Billeting officer
 were there. directing the men to tn
 houses and barns and they, turned ir
 clothes and all. I got my anbulanc
 unloaded of it's supplies, turned m
 horse over to Phillips, and turned il at A.90 a. m.. tiSed and happy
 In the morning I was up at eight. in
 specting the sanitary conditions of tn billets.. Every one was tired Gnd lame
 but today they are drilling. playin ball, etc, as if nothing had happen ed.
 We are now in reserve for coupl of weeks in a village some five mile |, from the line It is a peculiar plac' | way down in a valley in a pocket wit high hills on three sides-like the Pro :, file House, but the slopes are nc wooded; tlIey are grazing land. and tn
 trees are in and around the village
 few miles tC our right is the histort
 town that the Germans could not gt
 in spite of launching thousands men at it.
 : July 21. !, How does the war news strike yo 41s5 . 360 guns, and two colonels and staffS S and still going on We are still in tI }. same place and have no share in tn; r business. They failed here once aft Il great losses and my opinion is that r l, one will be allowed to try again, ar Il by winning. belittle the former leat S CT who failed Time will tell. Wasr t 1t peculiar that we shonld know abol
 the intended attack? We did not g course know where it was to begi = but were prepared: and we were e few miles away from one end of h Heard the big offensive start on Jun n 15. We could hear the. guns all nigl e and the next day, and at night cou = see the flashes like heat lightnin t Many niehts we could see distant ligh Il ing of tte sky. and could hear nothir h the guns were so far away.
 q This village is like the first one v n arrived at. built of cement and ston le with tiled roofs. No civilians live her h nor have they since the offensive e two years ago. They cannot push l. back now any more than they cou n then, and I don't believe any one W y he allowed to try. They will take !, j. chances of some general doing wh " Fsonnie'' could not do.
 %
 le TROTTERS OF CLASS
 'e WILL RACE AT FAI s The general consensus of opinion