The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-07-21
Capt. w. A. RaWlS
Graphically Writes
OF Fighting Front

The following letter written by Capt
VIM. A. Rawls. Jr.. to his mother
graphically describes some Of his ex-
periancss on the fighting front in
France and will be OF interest to his
many Pensacola friends:
France, June 18th, 1918.
Darling Mama:
This is the first chance to write.
since my joint letter to you and papa;
since that time have been through
some trying and exciting times. The
situation became acute due to the
drive. and we were called from south
ern France for Immediate duty. We
have been In the thick Of the fight for
a whole week, and are now back in a
quiet deserted French village for a rest
of few days. We leave tonight for
q march to another town. and get
there IN the morning. -Four nights ago
the Germans made . terrific lombard
ment Of the town In which my COM
pany was biIleted. and my casualty
list IN wounded and dead amounted to
twenty-seven. including three 1ieuten-
ants killed outright: since that time
have become q fatalist, and feel that
my time simply had not arrived One
OF the shells wounded all Of my four
cooks, and we were giving first aid
when a high explosive shell burst ten
feet away from me, which resulted In
the majority Of the casualties. Black
dark, no lights allowed, and shells
falling like hail! an experience I shall
not soon forget had been out with
two lieutenants posting a platoon on
the fighting sector, and we had just
returned to our rooms for the night,
at one o'clock a. m, when the bonn
bardment began. These same two,
and one other. were dead fifteen min
utes later. I think now lead a
charmed life, as it is nothing short
Of a miracle how escaped without
scratch. have just written letters
Of sympathy, and a narrative of the
incidents to the relatives Of the dead
officers. ana did my best to tell all
1 know they want to hear.
Leuts. Ban. N. c., Mayes, s. c., and
jackson. Colo; you probably saw their
names In the casualty lists
We have been in the hveliest sector
on the front, and we can well believe
It, Tonight we go to q sector which
10 not dangerous. because II il so very
quiet. Don't worry a bit about mo in
connection with the foregoing as ]
shall always be safe
Quite a number Of Germans have
been taken prisoners IN the last few
days. and they. when questioned, all
agree that Germany Is not farinR SO
well, and the French feel that the war
viii not last through the coming win
ter. wrote to Ethel yesterday. but
left out much OF the above because
She might be unnecessarily frightened.
In this town the ofi1cers are occu-
plying two elegant vacated houses, and
we have been living like kings Tho
French people. in their flight left their
chickens. cattle. etc. and the French
government gives these to the Amerf-
can officers IN preference to the possi-
biiity Of their railing into the hands
OF the boches. Last night was the
nrst time have slept in bed in two
weeks, and Il certainly was comfort
able.
We are no longer having trench war
fare, but open fighting. which is much
more difficult. This part Of France,
where we now are. Is most beautiful.
and one can hardly blame the Ger
mans for desiring II. A Section Of
the Y. M. c. A. goes to the front with
us, and supplies us with all the lux
urfes" Of life. such as paper, smoking
materials, chocolates, etc.
In my stay at the front I have not
experienced any gas shells, but the
high explosives are something terrific
In the house we are now occupying
we found a cellar loaded down with
bottled cider, and red wine twenty-six
years old; this, Of course, we have
enjoyed very much.
Tho American troops, with little
more training, will be able to easily
whip Germany. The Americans are
natural born fighters, and the French,
although they have fought WELL ought |
to have won long ago.
Last night a town two miles from
here was bombarded and we slept in
the cellar of thic house, where ample |
protection wac afforded.
Your last letter to me was about |
May 7th. So another Is about due now
and Is eagerly awaited.
My little girls are In my thoughts /,
at all times. and when I rejoin them
I shall be SO happy the world won't
be big enough to hold me and my Joy
together. TWG
Pardon this scratch, but I am So
pressed for time that I fear shall
soon forget how to write.
Give everybody my love. and with
my best love to you all. I am,
Yours devotedly.
WILLIAM
UT vrTTNV"