The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-09-13

and enter another town, or rather the
she'll of one, its looks remind you OF a
picture OF an historic town IN runs.
There is not a sound house in the village
and the church is practically Knocked to
pieces, only portion of its splfe still
standing erect to bear testimony OF Its
former grandness. No one Is seen except
a few guards who are here to make sure
there are no spies lurking about.
The sound of the machine guns and
automatics is very distinct now, 50 It Is
evident that we cannot be over mile
or two from the front lines. Do you
want to 90 any farther tonight, or are
you really convinced there is war?
Very well, we will wait till another
time before we visit the front lines.
| As we retrace our steps we meet body
/ after body of men marching in single file
or by twos. At first we believe they are
raiding party, for they are armed with
rifles, round about, and bayonet, but up
on closer inspection we notice our mis-
take, for each man in addition to his
arms has spade, pick, or axe. They
are going to dig new trench or enlarge
those already made close to the front
lines. Not word is uttered, not light
ed cigar is seen, as they pass, for the
enemy is too near to take any chance.
Just before we get back to our billet
we see several bright stars Shoot into tn,
sky followed by other similar ones al
along the front lines 1t is the signal o
the Huns for an artillery barrage, eithel
as preparation for one of their raids o
a preventative to an expected one o
ours. Quick and brilliant flashes ligh-
up the sky, followed by distant thunder
like reports. The sound of the eXplo
sions can also be heard although most o
the shells are breaking close to the from
lines Suddenly a terrific crash IS heart
close by. almost violent enough to ia
us off olr feet. No, don't jump, it i
only one of our own war dogs replying
Then all around Us we can see the flashe
and hear the reports of our guns as the,
take up the challenge giving Fritz eve
more than he is sending. Nothing give
, an Annex soldier a greater thrill tha
to hear the sound of his own guns, 70
our artillery mean business every tim,
. The duel lasts tiercely for Is or 20 mir
= utes, then everything is quiet once NOR
! Gas signals have gone mp along the line
! but we disregard them as we are fl
: enough away to feel perfectly safe, O
q pecially because there is SO little wind
: The next day we learn that the trenC
. digging party was IN the path of pa
! Of the bombardment and lost couple
. men who We're hit by flying pieces
- shrapnel. Two or three men were sligh
> ly gassed. We feel sorry Tor them. b.
we are thankful that We decided to tui
i back.
i Most of this letter is a copy of one
10 wrote to a friend, for / thought you mig
be interested in reading a crude desert
ii ton Of sqrpe Of alfe FIRST inpFsssioHs
II had while near the front line. 7 vi
X you could see-a portion of from son
II safe spot, for words are faint to pictu
: some Of the scenes and Experiences +,
4 have over here, OF aoRfse this war
20 terrible in many ways. but there is.
- grandeur and fascination to it that m:
: seem odd to any one who has never 9
- perenced it.
70 This letter is much too lengthy 50
5 will close at once Remember to ia
~ things a. easy as possible during hayiI
y Gluck auf
:. EVERETT