The Red Cloud chief., 1918-06-20

ter II. Mead, of Franklin, published
in the Sentinel and giving a graphic
pen picture of life at the front.
Somewhere in France.
Dear Friend:-
just a few lines to let you know
that Franklin is and has been rep
resented on the firing line for some
time past. In fact we were the second
national guard division to get to
France and we found our place on the
line in due time. When the Germans
found out that there were Americans
/ opposite them they very quickly or
ganized an attack TO test the mettlc of
the newcomers. II was in the early
morning hours that they laid down
their barrage, lifted it to advance, but
found a counter barrage on their own
lines and so lowered their own again
and again lifted it for the attack but
were not able to gain a footing in our
lines. Few found their way in but
they seemed to remember that they
had forgotten something and went
back after it.
Our baptism by fire was costly so
far as men are concerned but it is
quite enough to say that we are Amer
lean soldiers and yield no ground to
the enemy. My own company lost
seven men and one Stokes Mortar, q
large shell 220 m. M, making a direct
hit on the piece nd taking the whole
crew. The other crew neal them were
so aggressive in their counter barrage
that nor of the enemy entered the
lines Oh that sector. Officers who
were in q position to observe say that
they threw q perfect "Wall of fire on
the German first line trench and
when they found there was no one
coming they applied their energy to
the End. The French officers decorated
my lieutenant, who was in charge,
with q CroiX-de-Guerr and accord
ing to the custom of the French the
platoon is privileged to carry a Croix-
de-Guerre banner on the march.
We have been in the line almost
continuously since February 26, and
have had only two men wounded since
the big raid.
Life in the line is not as bad as
most people probably think it. |
do not recommend it as a summer
outing or anything on that order but
with $50 men on the line steadily for
over two months and only seven killed
and two wounded is not bad. l have
also lost two from disease and two By
accident.
There is a lot OF book work con-
nected with rogimontal and battalion
administration besides the orderlies,
runners, cooks, supply and mess SER
gcants, etc. There must be telephone
and telegraph men signallers of var
'ous kinds. These are under the dir
oction Of a lieutenant and are known
as the Signal platoon and have charge
Of all communication from tho front
line back.
Trench warfare calls for now weap-
ons one Of which is the Stokes Mortar.
A wicked mule to say the least.
We have our own little Engineer
company to take care of our own
work Very useful and very busy.
There are said to be tanks and |
Eonw there are machine gums on the
other side so we have a little method
Of u own Of returning their COM
pliments. This is our Infant artillery
consisting of a battery Of young
cannon. With proper care and plenty
Of fresh milk and a little oats they
might grow into real siege guns, but
at present they are small but vicious.
Just now we are handling two sep
arate kitchens drawing rations for and
7 feeding 367 men. Food is carried TO
; q lot of these men in the trenches,
{ others come to their meals by shifts
and SO it goes. Really great sport
when everything goes nicely.
Besides the barrage, patrol and raid
of the boche we have to contend also
with attacks of %collies, rats and straw
feas. It is said that the men sleer
= with their clothes on to keep them
away from the rats. One man wrote
: home that he lost a pair of shoes anC
t could not find them for several days
d One night he woke up and saw a raj
h wearing them and so got them back.
Franklin is sending quite a few mer
n but not enough yet. Every mar
e should come who is able and any MAJ
e who claims exemption on any ground.
other than physical disability or tn.
care of aged persons or small
children should have a coat of yellow
e. paint. If they knew what | know ant
d then would not volunteer they are no
good citizens.
,e Sincerely, Walter H.Nead,
1ct Tinut 1913 Info,t,,,