The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1918-08-08
BROOK|NGS BOYS
ON FIRING LINE
LETTER FROM LIEUT.. ANDERSON
TELLS OF ARTILLERY ON
THE FRONT LINE
OTHER OF OUR BOYS ARE CLOSE UP
Boys Describe The Life In Camp And
Tell OF The Ways Of The People
In France And In Ergiand

The Register has received a very
interesting letter from Lieut.. A. e.
Anderson, who has been on the fight
ing front line ever since the American
troops were pushed up to the front.
We can see from what Ed. says that
the boys at the front are watching the
actions of the folks at home, and our
support of all the government meas
ures gives them courage and fighting
vim:
A. 18th F. A., Am. E. F., June Is,
191S.--My dear Brooke: / really am
ashamed Of myself for not having
written before, and today when your
letter came l simply made up my mind
to write to you whatever happened.
| have been so busy though since the
last letter I wrote you that I have not
had very much time. When Fritz
started his third drive we left our Sec
tor and went to a real Give" one, and
believe me 1t was "alive."
We had a wonderful trip up here
partly on train, but mostly ON horse
back. 1t was a great trip through
some of the most beautiful parts of
France; through these quaint towns
that only exist in beautiful France,
and orchards, fields and vineyards
truly a wonderful trip. And then n
night we found ourselves on the front
again. l will never forget that even
ing. We had gone into a village for
a rest and supper. Just as we were
about ready to feed, a boche plane
swooped down on us. AS luck would
have it We had our machine guns
ready for action and we brought down
the boche-our first victory on this
sector. After dark that night we
slowly wendell our way up to the
front, laid our guns by the stars and
We're ready for the Hun. We did not
have long to wait as we were called
to fire a barrage shortly afterwards.
since then we have changed our po-
sitions three times, going forward
have smashed three of the kaiser's
pet divisions and sent them back for
repairs, and we have mussed up two
others quite a bit. Our division has
been mentioned in both French and
American general orders, and the ru-
NOR Is that we are to be decorated
However, that is only a inc There
is one satisfaction though, we have
met the best the kaiser has and we
have stood the test. Not only that,
but we have pushed ahead a short dis
lance.
We have tasted real war too, and
The hun has tried everything from
shrapnel to gas on us thinking by do
ing so that he would get our num-
ber," but so far we have handed it to
him just ten times as strong. From
prisoners statements, We kept him
from getting any food, sleep or am
munition for three days by our artil-
lery fire. They also say they do not
mind rifles nor machine guns, but
they are simply scared to death of the
American artillery fire.
l have been right up at the battery
position until last Saturday, when l
was sent back to take command of
the Echelon, and for a rest. However,
I'd just as soon be at the battery pO-
sition as now my job is to haul I'M
munition all night long, and l assure
you 1t is far from pleasant and nerve
soothing to have an ammunition train
on the roads under shell fire, but as
the French say, "c'est la guerre." l
wish you could come up here and have
dinner with me. l have a wonderful
dining box with some boards
nailed on top of it for table, a tar
paulin for roof and just plain air for
walls, doors and windows. Newspa-
pers for table cloth, and a real, honest
~to-goodness chair. Our meals are
very good-all the meat, bread, veg
etables, jam and butter we can eat.
We don't know what a meatless or
wheatless day means over here. The
only thing We want 10Y is about five
million Americans over here. right
now ready to take the field, then we
would show you a drive that really
was a drive.
Your efforts back home are surely
appreciated by us Over here. and we
are mighty proud Of the way We are
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