Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-08-09

OF what is going ON, vet I've found
that the whole thing is very differ
ent from what one thinks it is.
Before you take a trip to some
part of the country, to a town or
city, which YOU have never seen
you form in your own mind what
the place looks like and when you
get there it is altogether different.
At present, TO very great extent
this same rule holds when one gets
over here and sees little of what
is going on be finds many things
different from what he thought
they would be.
I've seen some of the front and
have had expe riences up there
that I never dreamed, f. I'll notify
to enumerate them for | know
they would not get by, however
I'm going to tell you of my first
trip up for I see no reason why it
would be censored. Just after
dark I was told to go to dressing
station. Well, things were pretty
hot up there when our soldiers
" ere delivering their first big show
You have read about it long before
now. To go on, everything was
working O. K except my Ford.
Eanyh wv l reached the station but
was not there long until another
boy and ! were sent to another.
| was alone but there were two on
the other car. | was following
along behind when, all at once
while coasting down a small hill
my car gave few loud "ehuoks'
and went dead. | got out and
began to investigate and pretty
soon the Huns began to drop shells
close by. 1t sure dosen't take
long to distinguish between Our
shells and those coming from Frl.z
tho it was not the first tim | had
heard shells FROM both our artiiIr:r
and his sing thru the air. The
hum of those coming is very differ
ent from the buzz of those going
lover. While | was trying to find
the trouble the car ahead Of me
had been over to the station and
was on its Way back. The driver
stopped and the boy with him go;
out and we both began to work On
Henry and had found the troubl =,
but we couldn't work long at q
time for when you lear one OF
'.Fritzes" shells coming you hit
the ground or preferably ditch,
and along side of the road Was .
pretty good sized ditch and several
times while we were working we
hit it and lost no time doing it
The longer we worked the hotter
things got. Pretty soon one fell
about thirty yards from us and
some explosion it made. As it
happened the boy who had stopped
to help me did not get his head
down far enough and a small piece
of the shell cut the edge of his
,helmit and cut him slightly across
the forehead. 1t was very soon
after this that we got out of there
and went to the nearest dressing
station. We both went into the
base and the rest of the night |
worked with another boy but
things had quieted down right
much for we passed along the same
place several times the same night
but there was not much action.
When we went out the next day to
get my car | expected to find it
shot up pretty badly but only a
couple small pieces hit it and they
did it no harm. A pretty warm
reception I thought Most of the
time we do not find it like this but
at that time there was very nervy
action.
For several days we have been
doing evacuation work away back
from the lines. In fact we are
having very soft life. Yesterday
some boys and | visited an Aero
base. Saw lots of planes 60 up.
1t was very interesting for had
not before investigated the combat
plane so closely.
The place we are now situated is
fine. Some. of the most beautiful
scenery around here l ever saw
1t is a custom of the French to
plant trees along all the principal
roads and the rows of trees stretch.
ing across the country and making
these highways very picturesque
The trees are at an equal distance
apart $50 it. or morel snd kept
trimmed up.
l havn't much more to say.
Everything is moving along fine
Having ideal weather. Don't
know how long we will be at this
place.
Write soon for your lett are
very interesting.
Hope all are well.
Your cousin
IL C-aol,on