The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1918-09-19

out on the ground. cIawled into a
shell-cratcr about three rods away and
lay for two hours with dead German
and a live one don't know which
feared the most a. the dead one was
in terrible shape Finally Fritz threw
over a gas she'll near MS and thought
ii was all OF ! was TOO weak to XIII
the live German and set his mask and
the dead one had none So just
pressed m, face into the damp, fresh
earth and soon the wind blew the gas
away
soon Eot little strength and
crawled about 2o6 Yards over ridge
and 10 the rear. All the time a Boche
machine gun nest was snlping at me
as I crawled through the knee-hgh
grain My hands and less were slight
ly burned where l had crawled through
the mustard gas on the ground
tainted again from loss Of blood and
my last recollection was OF seeing those
terrible big black German planes
circling over the battlefield only 200
feet in air seeking to drop bombs in
the shell craters where We were trying
30 reform our lines | was picked up
by Brancardtcrs about p m. and car
had the satisfaction Of having a Ger
man lieutenant and three privates car
~ me on a litter back 10 the regimental
dressing station. From here I went
back TO the division field hospital and
from there to an evacuation hospital.
and then direct 10 Paris. reaching there
about $50 a m. after an all night ride
in truck and motor ambulances. Part
OF the way | had as a companion
crazed sengalese trooper tnegro) who
was shot through the mead and was
stark naked Very pleasant The
French have several divisions OF the
sengalese. Moroccan and Algerian
troops here. used principally "a shock
troops They will not stand under con-
tinued shell FIRE I have heard.
During our advance, my platoon tooh
four German women prisoners whether
simply prostitutes or machine gun car
riers ! do not know. I would not have
believed II had not seen them and
sent them back under guard. They
were dressed in short held-gray skirts
and blue blouses and caps. They came
out OF machine gun nest and strong
point 1t is an established fact. how
ever, that the Boche is using thousands
Of prostitutes. medically examined and
certified. up in his front lines.
Well. as yet I have not killed any
of these Boches who throw up their
hands and yell "Kamerad" I am glad
to say that my men do not follow my
example however Simply. give my
personal prisoners a kick in the knee
cap to cripple them and send them TO
| the rear.
Personally ! can see no end to this
war for at least two more years. While
we have over q million troops here.
stiH a large per cent Of these are non
combatants. serving back n the s. O. 3.
and the troops Of the line are OF coaa-
parative little Importance as yet Per-
haps three or four million troops OF the
| line viii begin to swing the tide. but
it's a long way TO Berlin
This is a wonderful hospital We are
in here Major Theodore Roosevelt. Jr.,
and Captain Archie Roosevelt are both
here I have met the captain and find
| him an excellent fellow. Officers here
say both Of them are regular dare
devils in action. They both feel badly
now over the death Of their brother.
| Quentin who fell behind the Boch.
lines.
: Ambassador and Mrs. Sharpe visited
US the Other day and shook hands Cen
/ PershinE called but did not 20 through
this Onicer's ward. Mrs W. X. Wander
/ bilt. no practically supports this hos
pital is here n nurse uniform every
day have had several talks with
| her
! have severe jagged cash in M
left foot about FIVE inches long. Sew
eral bones are broken and it viii be
/ two or three months before l can
hobble AGAIN. I NAV never be able to
campaign again. that is. stand long
marches. with pack. and drill all day
on my feet
| Well. write to me often and give me
all the news. Remember me to Your
mother l hope that her health is much
improved. cabled my wife about M
{ injury. IS I did not want the War De
/ partment to notify her first. As 1T isl
! ! suppose she has started to swim
across the Atlantic.
Good luck to YOU and write me often
1t. y. A TOWI4E. Jr.
| Am NIL Hospital, Nouilly. Paris
To his cousin. Zeph Campbell Of East
Chicago