The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1918-12-26
POLK COUNTY BOY
IN HARD FIGHTING
,ovd w. Ship Writes From France
and Expresses Hunger for the
Homefolks and Turkey
"Ships of Our Dreams"

"A HnDeI ~
Carlisle, France, Nov. 81, 1918
Editor Mena Star, Mena, Ark.
Dear friends at homes To night is
thanksgiving eve and if you all knew
how | long to be with you at this
time YOU sure would feel sorry for
this old soldier. A piece of turkey to
me would look like a ray OF sunshine
from heaven. We will probably do
our duty on the old standby tomor-
now bully beef and hard tack and
cup full of something they call
coffee. But then we never kick at
things like eats, for now that trench
life is over and dugouts and shell
holes are a thing of the past-noth-
ing is too hard, our only thought is
the "ship of our dreams" the old boat
that win carry us to our loved ones
at home.
have had many narrow escapes
and have been nearly gassed twice,
but have been more than lucky on all
occasions
Certainly am proud that / can say
have been with the 9th division
and enclose a letter from Maj. Gen.
ORyan to his officers and men that
would like you to print and would
say | have followed my unit thru
all of the battles named in his letter
and my praise of the men and their
morale under these trying hours and
DAYS of hell and fire, well words fail
me. heroes were made every minute
and some will never return to re-
ceive their praise, as / will be able
to do. We probably leave France
Dec. IL. But nothing is certain in
the army, and think we are going
to give "big show" in N. Y. City
Dec. II.
4 merry Xmas to one and all and
happy New Year.
Lloyd w. Ship.
The letter referred to by Mr.. Shipp
follows;
October 81, 1918.
Since the 25th of September
period of nearly one month-the di-
vision has been engaged almost con-
tinuously in fighting and marching.
Some of this fighting involved a
leading role in one of the fiercest
battles of the war-the breaking of
the great Hindenburg defense line.
We have suffered the loss of some of
our best officers and men, but I'M
fortunately such losses are incidental
to battles of such magnitude. Only
divisions highly trained and disciplin-
ed, possessing the greatest conf
denee and morale and at the very top
notch of their strength could have ac-
eomplished what this division and our
comrades of the Goth accomplished in
that great battle. Only such divis-
ions could have met the sacrifices de-
nanded, and with morale unimpaired
have renewed the advance in the
manner characterizing the operations
Of the past two weeks.
This is not the occasion to des-
eribe the Hindenburg defenses or the
details Of the battle for breaking
them. That will doubtless be done
after the war The same comment
applies to the details of the opera
tons since that engagement. Never
theiess, the Division Commander cam
not withhold this expression of his
admiration and respect for the valor
and discipline as well as the endu-
q rance and spirit manifested by Off
GERS and men throughout this long
= period of fighting. These sentiments
are stimulated by the events of the
past week, when reduced in strength,
the Division attacked the enemy,
took the town of st. Souplet, forced
the crossing of the lie Selle River,
and against strong opposition sue
cessfully assaulted heights on the
other side. Since that date the Di-
vision has attacked daily taking by
assault the town of Arbre Guernon
md number of strongly fortified
arms and forcing a withdrawal Of
ne enemy to the Canal de La Sambre
In this latter advance the Division
captured more than 400 German of
ileers and enlisted men, and vast
amount of military property includ-
ihg fleld guns, great number of
machine guns both light and heavy,
sht-tank guns, trench mortars,
dumps of ammunition and railroad roll
ing stock. In all this fighting the
eharacter of enemys resistance and
{ she extent of his losses are indicated
py the large number of enemy dead
on the field.
Inc efforts of the past month con-
s1tute record to be proud of, and
'ner value is indicated in the COM
mandatory letter from the Common
uer IN Chief of the British Expedi-
,.lonary Forces which has been pub
nsned for the information of the Di-
s y Officers and men have justi-
iied the estimate made of the divis-
ION, when after its arrival in France
y was selected to hold Mt. Kennel
seetor against the expected great eff
lott OF the enemy to drive through
= the sea. They have justified the
.plnions Of their fighting qualities
formed when the crisis with the evac-
uatlon of Mt. KENNEL, has passed.
ana the Division promptly attacked
ana took vierstaat Ridge, being with
,ne 5Oth division on our lift, the first
sann;i troops to fight on foreign
Tok-. NJ ON