The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1918-06-27
LIEUT.. ERNESTJ. Milan TELLS
OFHIS EXPERIENCES INFRANCE
BEFORE 4 CAPACITY HOUSE

The great audience which assemb-
led at the First Methodist church at
1880 O'Clock Sunday evening to hear
Lieut. Ernest j. McLain describe his
experiences and observations on the
battle front in France was thoroly
representative of the community and
was highly complimentary TO the
speaker. The church was crowded
to its capacity by an assemblage com
posed of people of all shades of re-
ligious opinion and proclaimed the
public interest in the war and the de-
sire 10 learn at first hand what is be-
ing done by the Allied troops in
France and Belgium to end it and give
the world just and lasting peace
Lieut. McLain is the first of Ere
mont county soldier boys to return
from France and the splendid gather
ing Sunday evening was a sort of com
munity recognition of his patriotism
and devotion to the flag in volunteer
ing for army service He may well
feel proud of the tribute thatswas paid
him by his friends and aequaintances
at that time.
Preceding Lieut.. McL.ain's address
there was special song service under
the direction of the choir in which the
congregation took part. The first num-
ber sung was: Onward. Christian
Soldiers and the concluding one:
America The speaker was present
ed by Rev. Konkel, who said that
formal introduction to Lieut.. McI.ain
who is in all respects Canon City
boy. was unnecessary and would not
be resorted to. THAT his friends viii,
be glad 10 hear him am convinced
by this s-cs: assemblage, which has
gathered to do him honor"
Lieut. McLain il a pleasing speak
er and made an excellent impression
on all who heard him. He began his
talk by telling the audience of his go
ing to France under instructions from
~ War rdspszktanenk kifl - dIfif1Jt
ton corps last ran and Of his remain
ing there until May 10. 1918. when he
was ordered to return to the United
States as military instructor AT one
of the army cantonments in this
country He arrived in France Oct
6, 1917 and remained there almost
seven months: large part of which
he was in active duty in the trenches.
He described the equipment of the
American soldier in Europe: his feel
ing of fright on first going into the
war zone: the kind of life he leads in
the trenches and she'll holes and of
the thrill that takes possession of him
as he goes over the top" He painted
vivid picture OF mo Mans Land; of
what il is and of the dangers of cross
ing it at any time OF the day or night
He told of the protection of the fight
ing lines on either side of IL by means
of barbed wire entangiements; OF its
patrol at night by armed guards; of
the occasional clashes there between
the rival forces: of the raiding parties
who stealthily enter it at night: of
baIItEtS idtu GONn III lIOut OA II
by artillery fire and of the charges
that are made across il by the in
fantry when the signal is given
Lieut.. Mcl-ain told of the German
gas attacks on the Allied lines and of
the methods of warfare adopted by
the Hun. The original plan of at
tempting to gass the Allies. said 1t.
McLain, was long since discontinued
because its effectiveness depenred up
on the wind carrying it towards the
eneny's trenches. As the wind. four
fifths of the time is blowing in the
direction OF the German positions. the
attacks caused greater casualty in
their own lines than anywhere else.
Gas is now thrown by the Germans
into the Allied trenches by means of
explosive shells
Lieut. McLain. exhibited specimens