Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1918-01-03
FloHTlMo IN the
FRONT LINE TRENCHES
Frank Burke Writes Interesting
Letter Describing His Elk
perlences.
Somewhere in France, Dec. I2.
My Dear Mother, Sister and

Somewhere in France, Dec. ~.
My Dear Mother, Sister and
Brothers.:
Yesterday we We're given per-
mission to write of our having
been in the front line trenches.
suppose a great deal has been
published in the newspapers, but
possibly can tell you a few of
niy own experiences.
Before we left we understood
that it was quiet sector we We're
going to hold, but if they call that
quiet, l would like to see a real
active sector. We hiked about
two miles to get in our position,
and all the while we did not know
when one Of the numerous shells
might drop among us.
We we're fortunate to have very
favorable weather during the time
we were there. Only once did il
rain. l will mention that later.
We started rather early for our
position and it was light enough
so we could easily see without
falling in shell hole, and could
distinguish the long file of our
men, which seemed an uncnding
one. Not word from anyone.
The only sound was the tread OF
feet and heavy breathing by The
time we took our position ii was
very dark. We could hardly see
ten feet ahead. | and the rest of
the signal squad was stationed
with the reserve on the second
line, in dugouts. When we went
down in them the water was about
10 inches deep and almost up to
the lower hunks. Duck walks were
over the water SO we did not have
to wade in il, but all we had to
do to wash Off our shoes was to
hang them over the side of the
bunk. Later some of the men got
real Industrious and carried most
Of the water out. 1t is wonderful
the way the dugouts are built.
and they are very large. would
like to tell you more about them.
One thing, they are quite warm.
Later our squad was moved to
the commanding officers dugout,
which was in close connection
with both the first and second
lines. We also act as runners. |
was sent Out about 1890 that
night to the first line and it was
so dark in the trench had to go
through, | ran into almost every
side where l turned. | didn't lose
any time getting back, though
The firing on both sides was
very slack during the daytime,
but as soon as darkness came, it
would be a regular Fourth of
July celebration, only little
Ihore so. Both sides firing ISIS
and iO5's. A great many of the
Boche ISIS came a little too close
TO he comfortable A number OF
their shells did not explode. |
examined one and it did not have
a sufficient amount of copper, SO
they are trying to use as little as
possible. The machine guns kept
up continual fire most of each
night. It's horrible. but it's
pretty in way.
There were several machine
guns stationed close to our dug
out, and the Boche sure do hate
them, and they are trying to get
them all the time with their big
guns, sometimes using shrapnel.
A shrapnel she'll is one timed to
burst in the air above the target.
1t throws parts of the she'll all
around the vicinity where it
bursts and has a terrible down
ward velocity. When man gets
hit with that he might as we'll say
good night. One of them might
burst hundred yards away and
still person. is in danger. Some
OF them did burst at that distance
from us, and they made it known
70 us that they were around.
During the time we were there
We had two meals day, but plen-
~ then, even more than we are
getting now. There was French
interpreter in our dugout and at
meal time he would exchange
bread with US. They have the
coarse brown bread and ours
tasted like cake to him. At least
he said So He would give us
about five times as much of his
for ours. They get a pound of
bread each day.
The Germans have a rocket they
shoot in the air, on the same mod
ell as our sky rockets, only when
they burst, parachute opens and
Q white flare comes slowly down.