Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-09-14


received by his relatives in Augusta
from Sergeant Harry r. Hopkins Of
the Supply Company, 1913 Infantry
ed Maine) now in France. both de-
layed in transmission from France.
He tells of the strenuous 6-months
service in the trenches Of the old I'd
Maine and also gives encouraging
news from his brother John, who was
sent to the hospital, suffering from
shell shock. In letter to his BROTH
or he says in part:
France, Aug. /, 1918.
Have heard from John and he is
now all right. Also saw Doc. Nolan
who was at tho field hospital from
which John was evacuated and he
said John was exhausted coupled
with a slight fever, the same that has
been prevalent among the troops;
I nothing serious. But l am glad he
| was out of this last mixup. as it was
fierce one. | shall not forget it in
/ a hurry.
\ We have como back, ana are now
/ located in quite a city, away from
he noise of it all and God knows the
boys deserve it. l think we will get
Il good long rest. When YOU know
that we have been up against it
since February, YOU will know we are
tired and glad to get away from the
racket. The French and English
send their troops in for month
or 50 and take them out; but
not so for us. 1t was q continu-
Gus grind. OF course W. We're on a
quiet" sector some of The time, but
that word quiet" does not mean a
great deal in that line.
| hope the news you are now and
| have been getting shows things off
! fcrently. This last trip we were up
| against some OF Germany's strongest
and best and l am not lying when l
say that our infantry was going so
| fast that it was hard work to get
supplies up to them. In this open
warfare, the Yanks just eat it. The
! Huns from now on, have so to dig in
| or retreat. as | do not think there
will be any letup, now that We have
/ them started.
/ / have some souvenirs | got off a
! Boche. He didn't object-the top OF
| his head was blown off. Will send
them when l can.
/ His letter to his brother in law,
| John Z. Deehan. says in part:
Am sorry that I cannot pass your
| letter to John, because YOU know he
is not with me now and | am glad
that he was not with us on this last
| trip, the second battle Of the Marine.
| OF course you know where we were
| fighting, but believe me. it was a
/ bear! All the other engagements
were chid's play compared to it. We
are now out for a rest and God
; knows we need it, as we We're at it
for six solid months and what there
is left of the division certainly de-
serves all the rest it can get and
then some. But we have the salts
faction of knowing that none of them
had anything on us and the Yankee
Division has been mentioned more
than once in General Orders and now
it passes into history.
| have a Boche belt with a brass
buckle and "Gott Nit Uns' on it. |
got it from a Hun of the Sd Reg.
Prussian Guards and a big brute he
was too. We followed the infantry
pretty close and we were on the spot
a few hours after the Germans had
evacuated this town. / saw sights
that I never can forget. The Yanks
had them on the run and it was hard
work keeping up with the infantry,
they were going so fast. 1t was a
hot day and you could see nothing
but rolls and American equipment.
where the boys had cast them one
side to chase the Huns in their shirt
sleeves. Why, to see the Frenchmen
fight in weather like that with over
coats on It's no wonder the var has
lasted four years.
/ was up to see Jimmy Boyle (Au-
gusta lawyer yesterday. He is with
the 101st hospital. a few miles from
here. He looks fine and has a good
position in the office, all clerical
| work.