The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1918-10-04
GETS HUN FOR
EACH RELATIVE
Ohio Boy Tells of First Expert
ence at Front.
has HIS SHARE OF THRILLS
Gives Vivid Description of How 1t
Feels to Go Into Battle for the
First Time-"We Licked Them
Clean Off the Map. They Didn't
Have a Look-in"-Tells of New
Treacherous Stunt of Huns.

Have a Look-in"-Tells of New
Treacherous Stunt of Huns.
How 1t feels to go into battle is
thrillingly described by Private Ray
Congleton in letter to his sister at
Uhrichsville, o.
81 just lately returned from going
over the top, and, believe me, it was
some experience. 1t sure was sue
cess. had my share of thrills. They
speak of the day of battle being glO-
riOus. Well, 1t is, in a way, and, in
another, it is outright hell. / can't
quite, describe the glorious part Of
1t, but when you have trained and
worked for certain length of time
how to shoot, how to attack, and a
thousand other little things of how
to act when in action, you have en-
dured lot Of hardships learning the
stuff.
"Then, when the real time comes,
you are crazy to see how things are
going to work out, and to see first
how badly you can lick the guy. you
have cussed for months, and who is
the cause of all your hardships and
sufferings. You wonder If you will
come through it, and, If not, you have
given your life for great cause and
a great country. These are some Of
the things that make the battle glo-
riOus.
The other Side.
"Then there is the other side Of 1t.
I went 72 hours without water. In
fact, I got so thirsty put stones in
my mouth, as they have certain
amount Of moisture in them. AS for
hunger, did not eat thing for three
days and three nights. But you don't
get hungry. There are certain things
that keep you from 1t. Once I was
right In the middle of two barrages,
and down as far as could get in a
shell hole. Well, never expected to
get out Of there, so I lighted up a
cigarette and thought over my past
life.
"When I got back to the rest billet
my shirt and breeches were nothing
but bunch of rags. My hands had
bled from blisters from digging in
l was some sight and there was not
much fight left I'm me, But, If neces-
sary, no doubt, could have been
game. You see, I got black eye
from the dirt thrown by shell. My
helmet was blown to kingdom come
bad place was knocked on the side
Of my nose. I had two pieces of
shrapnel I'm the right hand and some
lodged underneath the arm in the
skin. They removed it all with co.
caine, so 1t did not amount to much
I did lot even go back to the hospi-
tai. I stayed right there to get my
revenge. However, shall always
have one souvenir-the side of my
nose makes me look different, but
am proud Of 1t and consider myself
lucky.
/ Cleaned Them Up.
"As for the fight, we licked then
clean off the map. They didn't have
a look-in. We cleaned up those boys
brought up on kultur;' In fact, we
gave them little culture Americana,
and guess 1t did not taste very good
for they told us we were bloodthirsty
and I want to say right here that its
d-n good manners to be so wher
you are fighting people as treacher
GUS as the Germans.
/ zone Of the Hun officers said: 'Yor
are just bunch Of school kids This
| made us mad, for we were just as COO
! as cucumbers and laughed, joked ant
smoked when going right over, the
top and called to each other to know
How many you gotT My baby was
sure working and / burned up tive
rifles, so you can see old Henry SECOND
was stepping out. / believe got 9
German for every one of my relatives
"Here is one Of the Germans new
treacherOus stunts. They carry {
little revolver about the size Of {
mans finger and 1t has one .22-calibel
shell In 1t. They hold up their hand!
and holler 'kamerad,' and when the!
get chance they use 1t on you. The!
usually turn their backs on you, ant
when they hold up their hands this lit
tie pistol Is down In the palm Of thei
hand xxyhara x,o,, oop,t oao