Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-27

Copyright, 1918. by Setc York Times Co.
with the American Army on the Msrne,
June %.
Private James A. Donohue. of Bufalo,
whose exploits in escaping from the Ger
mans after an enforced stay in the Ger
man lines for twelve days have been
TOLD has given your correspondent FUR
ther details OF his experiences Here is
the story. as he tells 1t himself:
Il was doing my best to exterminate
that part of the Teutonic race which was
before me-" he said. when my company
got all shot to hell. all scattered around.
I had my bayonet working well and had
done for two boches when ] saw in the
half-darkness group of soldiers who
7 thought we're Americans. I got into
them and saw they were boChes. |
started in with my bayonet. but there
were more than twenty. and something
hit me an awful wallop on my head. The
next thing 7 knew I came to back of
the boche lines and a German soldier
kicked me and took me into an officers
house. where | was questioned. He
asked me how many divisions were
northwest of Chateau-Thierry.
II thought I would make II good and
strong, and ! told him forty American
divisions and thirty French divisions
The officer seemed to get mad about this
and he kicked me, yelling 'Schwein
schwein American Then they kicked
me and l was knocked out into the
road.
II had had nothing to cat and nc
sleep. but they took me out and gave me
an AK and made me cut wood. They led
me into the woods. where I was forced
TO work cutting houghs from trees with
which TO camoufage the positions OF
machine guns. They would dig hole
stick a machine gun in it, swing II
around, and then take the gun away and
fix another hole. They seemed to be pre-
pairing for an American advance.
Il got two hours sleep that night and
the next day I was given a shovel and
set to work mending holes in the road
One big hole ! filled with mud instead
Presently big gun came along and
stuck in the hole. | think it must be
there yet. Then the next day I had 10
help camoufage some more. working
almost twentyfour hours. | was right
up among their guns and every now and
then an American shell would come
over and ra iSe he'll. All got to eat was
black bread and awful soup. The Ger.
mans had cheese and better bread and
"Htli ! 'pulull cat Nldl lntN gave INV
| they would taunt me and ask If didn't
| know enough to stay out of their way
"Onc day my work took me near a
group of important German officers
What was my surprise to see three mer
| in American uniforms come up to the
German officers and report. then receive
orders and go away again toward the
American lines. ! also saw seven Ger
mans dressed in French uniforms. who
evidently had been getting into the
Allied lines and coming back with dope
4 was kicked so much and treated SC
awfully that I lost track of time anc
didn't care much what happened to me
FINALLY. one day | decided to take 6
| chance and try to get back, for If I go
shot | was no worse off. That nigh
| the sentry placed over me went to sleep
He was snoring soundly. | got hold o
the pick | had been using that day anC
| left the boche sentinel so he will neveI
aid the Kaiser any more. and started
toward the American lines.
II had to lie in the grass for the mex
seventeen hours while it was light, witt
nothing to eat. The next night l crawlec
forward some and found some blacl
bread. which was weeks old. Crossing g
stream ] soaked some of this and ate
| II. I lay in the woods the next day
| That night. when ] got out between thu
| lines. both the Americans and the Ger
mans started barrages. I said It's al
| up with me now | hid under a hum