The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-12-29
Soldier Boys Go into
Detail Of Things at
the Very Front Line

concert and some speeches also. We
didn't have very good eats on the
boat, but got along all right. The
name OF the ship was II. NJ. 5. Mel
ita. There was something like 2,S0O
men on ship besides all the bag
gage. We went northeast by Nova
Scotia, came down between Scot
land and ireland, we could see both
countries at the same time. Believe
me that land surely did look good,
too. got up about o'clock one
morning and looking through a port
hole, saw land. We landed in Liver
pool, England, on the 9th OF July.
Left there next day on train and
went TO Winchester, England, to
rest camps. Left there on the 18th
and went to Southampton. Got on
cattle boat and crossed the Eng
lish channel. Sure was rough rid
ing. | got so sick that night, |
couldn't see hardly. We landed in
lie Havre, France. Stayed there two
days, then got our first beer! Davis
opal OF mine) played the piano so
those British soldiers gave US all
we wanted. Got on a freight train
there with SO to 40 in one car. Went
through France about 10 miles south
of Paris. could see the big tower.
Talked to some French girls (niX),
tried TO rather, our first experience
irving to talk with them. Went up
the Seine river. saw some of the
most beautiful country then there is
in France. Went on, got off the
train at Recey. Stayed there and
drilled for month. Then the COM
pauies left and went north OF Toul.
| stayed there in charge OF bunch
of casualties, almost three weeks,
Salvaged for the Doth Division. |
went to all the little towns around
there, Aigny de Due was where Fred
was, but didn't get to see him. Sent
Is cars of salvage to Is sur Till
and four cars to Dijou, of service
able stuff. Had the best meals there
| have had since been here. Had pie
nearly every day, got fat, weighed
l62 pounds when | left.
From there went to Cratillon,
thence to Chaumont, where General
Pershing had his headquarters.
From there to Ranges, to Toul and
At the latter place stayed all day.
Then went to Manacourt and from
there to my company.
Shot Down Balloon.
They were in a French hospital
north OF Toul, sure was glad to get
back. We left that night and went
north. up on the Toul sector about
four miles from the front Next
saw my first boche plane,
our anti-air craft guns shot at him
)ut didn't get him. He went on and
hot into a big observation balloon
md set it on fire, burned up and fell
o the ground. Surely was exciting
or us. Then on the llth the big
lrive started. This was called the
,t. Mihiel drive. We moved over to
iricourt and worked with another
hospital and helped them take care
If the wounded There was con
tant roar OF guns. We then went
,yer to Rogerville and helped care
or gas patients. Left there about the
9th Of October and went back to
}lenard les Toul, about eight miles
outh Of Toul. Stayed there six days,
hen came north, close to Nerdun
O Blircourt. about six miles from
Ierdun, then came on north to Sept
;orges. There is where | saw my first
ierman shell fall and tear up the
round. Also saw the big naval guns
n action. We were right among
hem, moved over on hill, east OF
lattitois and were under shell fire
III the tinN. Shell fell about 25
ards from me and made large