The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1918-12-24
LETTERS FROM SOLDIERS
From Claude H. Dresser.
France. Oct. 1918.


periences. There are many times can't
write until the censorship is lifted but
they will keep until my return any
way.
I guess Twyman is part Of the armv
or occupation, as | see his Division.
the end, was one OF the ones to 90.
For the past few days my com
pany has been seivasing the stores
left behind by the Germans in their
precipitate flight
Dad. you would have to be here.
really, TO appreciate the amount OF
stuff the boche left nv company is
several kilometers within the boche
line The sector we are on is the one
that has figured more in the recent
press dispatches than any other. and
is part o. the famous "Hindenburg
Line
The Hindenburg Line IS marvel OF
defense. ! viii try end give YOU little
picture OF its strength as saw it yes
terday.
The front line trenches were on the
summit Of : great hill which con.
handed the entire valley Of the -
river below. To the right and left were
other hills whose trench system Joined
those OF this hill.
In front Of the trenches was an i'm
penetrable mass Of barb wire, waist
high and probably so feet across The
approach up the hill was protected b.
Invisible trip wire.
The front line trenches were dug
into the solid rock (the entire hill -
solid rock below the upper crust OF
SOLD and We're further reinforced with
concrete. You cannot imagine the
painstakIng care in their construction
Pack OF the front line were other
trenches parallel to the front lines.
and as strongly built. Here it was
that we found dugouts 40 and so feet
under the ground and concrete
throughout. Every dugout was laden
with hand grenades. rifle grenades.
flares, gas bombs and other munitions.
At various places in the communi-
rating trenches We're barb wire gates.
which. in case the frst lines were talk
en-. could be let down to stop the adj
vance tor the rear. All the spacs
above ground and outside the trenches
was covered with barb wire.
Several hundred yards back OF the
front line was dense forest and tnis
was intricate network of communi-
munition dugouts. command posts. ar
tillery emplacements. etc.
We found many command posts "a
mmandlng officers quarters) just
as they had been lsft. German news
papers were on the table and cigar
cites Uttered the floor. I have gotten
various souvenirs. among them being
a bell that was evidently used By the
-
attached to q string above his head.
Everywhere you would find belts OF
machine gun ammunition; there are
millions of rounds OF this ammunition
in these woods alone.
In the woods at regular intervals
can be seen metal plates with strikers
attached with the warning sign Muir
fur Gas" 1t was evident that our gas
gave him he'll.
The back areas are covered with
grave yards containing their dead.
From the elsborateness OF the con-
struction OF these grave yards. it was
evident that he intended holding this
conquered territory forever.
Every grave. with few exceptions.
has a stone headpiece, with inscription
cut in. In the center OF each grave
yard there is usually a large statue
representing a mourning Fstherland
There are many isolated graves OF
boches who were buried where they
fell
All along the road you can see stone
drinking fountains Of very elaborate
design and usually dedicated to some
boche hero.
Another prevalent thing along the
roads Is the pillbox. This is a low
structure. built of concrete and rails
for machine guns. They usually COM
mand the road in each direction.
All the hills in the back areas
where there is no danger Of she'll
FIRE, are covered with rest billets.
where Jerry has burroued in true Ger
man style. All these billets have
stoves. electric lights, baths. etc.
AsI told you In my last letter. am
quartered in one of these biliets, it
having formerly been occupied b.
Oberlfentenant Kind.
Yesterday talked to several boche
prisoners. who were working under
the direction Of French guard. They
seemed we'll informed on current
events. but were surprised when told
that our armies were in possession OF
the Rhine.
one of them told me that he had
heard President wilson was TO be over
next week. So YOU can see they keep
Up Oh the news.
Il is quite = contrast as to the diff
ference in the way we handle the
boche prisoners and the way they
handle ours. have never seen a
boche prisoner that appeared under
fed or underclothed.
Dad. would have hated to have
lived in this world had the cocl>-sure. (
nestial. Nultur OF the Hun been forced 1
upon Us, as would have been in case I
Of our defeat.
The deliberate, systematic iendish- +
ness OF his purpose. the Gripping OF I
humanity. is apparent everywhere in /
this devastated region.
More than once have I thought or (
the eloquent words OF Mr.. Johnson. I
the painter. as he spoke TO Company L. (
in the early days Of the war. and the
truth in what he said.
The mark Of the hun system has
eft its fndelible imprint on every
ooche that fought in the xaiser's army
You can tell it the minute you talk
to one OF them.
With some OF the boche prisoners
the truth is just beginning to dawn.
rhav see daily the democracy of our