The daily progressive-miner. [volume] (Ketchikan, Alaska) 1915-1919, 1918-05-16
with the American expeditionary

expert His letter was written just
before the German drive began. 1t
gives an intimate picture of deva stated
Belgium says the Tacoma News. The
letter in part follows:
Wish was an author or poet for
the time being that | might picture
things as they really are.
4 got orders at the gas schoo, say
ing that | would be attached to the
division of the British army for a
period of seven days. and we were TO
start by motor truck at 10 O'Clock on
Sunday. Was very cold, but enjoyed
the trip as there was so much of in
terest to see.
Towns Are Demolished
stopped at town in Belgium for
lunch, and a good meal it was too. But
what a town-not a piece of glass left.
the town being shelled pretty regularly
b. the Germans. Many buildings are
completely destroyed, and what few
CA ACAt kSk A~Oly AtShCQ
by shrapnel The ceiling in the room
where We had lunch had IL shIapnel
holes. counted them. The waiter
said that happened in 1915.
After lunch we continued the jour-
ney TO the front, and did not have to
he told we were getting near. for l
could hear the big guns roaring. And
such q terribly destroyed country one
can not imagine. You would have to
see it to believe it. The ground is
mass of shell holes. We passed vii
lage after village that sad not even
one wall left standing; others had a
wall here and there. As a general
rule there is nothing but the traces
OF the foundations to show where the
houses once stood. Even the trees
are shot away. People cannot locate
their property, and even streets are
gone.
''One would think il a place where
hell once was. but from where the
devil had TO move because it got TOO
warm. Just now the big guns opened
up suppose there is raid on Poor
night for raid, as it is raining hard.
Describes Pill Boxes.
1T wasn't just part of the country
this way. but just as far as the eye
could reach. Arrived at my destina-
ton about 4 o'clock in the afternoon,
in much the same desolate country
only more so. After leaving the truck
/ had to go forward on duck boards.
which are board walks. Stopped at
the support line where l am billeter
in hut with four British officers. one
being the brigade gas officer. the fell
low / work with while here. and a fine
chap he is. They are all simply great,
| think. and such gentlemen.
Arrived al the hut just in time for
tea and after the gas officer showed
me around bit. saw some German
pill boxes as they are called. They
are machine gun emplacements built
Of concrete and steel. some OF them
very large. with room TO accommo-
date 10 10 60 men, and one is quite
safe in them, they being wlei con-
structed and the walls almost three
;eet thick.
English Raid is On.
ALSO walked along in the old Ger
man trenches. 1t was only last July
and August that they showed the Ger
mans back for distance OF six miles
Had dinner at I and while We were
eating runner came in with some
papers for one of the officers, and he
said raid was going to be made on
the German line In the course of the
night
Wasn't long before the artillery
opened up and the officers said the
raid was on and We all went outside TO
see it. Saw the English let down their
barrage, then saw the Germans send
up their 5. o. s. signal calling for
their barrage. Some racket they
made, the firing lasting about 80 min
utes. The flashes from the cannon
and the rockets reminded me very
much Of severe electric storm Not
thinking OF the fighting part OF It, il
was some spectacle.
The officers tell me it is quiet on
this front now What must 1t be @hen
there is show on! A SHOW is
what the British call fight
Walks on Duck Boards.
To-day / walked over Is miles, and
va $50 taken up with the things I |
didn't realize | was tired until I got
back to the hut. By then | was all
in. Started out this morning with the /
sas officers to go to the front line. |
but | tried to examine everything on !
the way. and it was lunch time before |
We got fairy started. Visited many /
E.ore dugouts and pill boxes one in /
particular. where German officer and /
a woman were both found dead, shell /
having got through an opening The /
woman was said to be his wife. The
entrance 20 the shelter was all fixed 1