The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1918-09-20
SGT. PAUL PHAR|S
DESCRIBES BOMBING
OF CITY IN FRANCE
Believes Huns Beginning To
See Futility OF
Barbarism

The following letter has been re.
ceived by Mrs. Mary A. Pharis from
her son, Sergeant Paul Pharis, who is
in France
This is typical summer day, the
sun Is beating down and there is not
breath of air stirring. The thermom.
eter is running about 110 degrees and
the only ambition one has, is to sleep
went into the city this morning on
commission and experienced hot
time. This is fete day in honor of
one of the saints of Catholic church
and everyone is dressed up in his best
The predominating color of their dress
is black as there are but few who
have not lost husband or relative in
this great conflict They have q spe-
cial reason for rejoicing and celebrat-
ing today.
Last night the Boche sent over
bombing squadron of about five planes
and bombarded the city and vicinity.
The siren blew about $50 p. m. and
in ten minutes the excitement was on
in full blast.
I'VE are situated a short distance
from where the bombs were dropped
and our dug-out shook and rocked like
boat One of the bombs struck a
civilian hospital, going through three
stories and exploding in the basement
The building was badly wrecked but
fortunately there. was no one serious.
ly injured
Another shell fell in the street in
the central part of the city and tore
a hole about four feet deep and eight
feet across in the stone pavement
The houses on both sides of the street
were wrecked. The walls still stand
but the doors and window castings
and inside partitions were demolished
by the blast. All the windows within
radius of 15O yards were broken,
ether by the blast or by pieces of
shell. The bomb which struck the hos
pital went through the roof third, Sec
and and first floors, doing practically
no damage, just small round hole,
but after 1t exploded in the basement
one could not tell whether one was in
room or junk shop. What advan-
tage or pleasure these damn Huns
get from bombing city like this
can't see.
"There are practically no soldiers
stationed inside the wall and there is
nothing of military value. ! really
think that they are beginning to relax
that their efforts are in vain, and are
doing what they can to advance their
kultur before he end comes.
"On the way back from the city
stopped at the Red Cross and had a
lunch One large cheese sandwich,
two big, fat, creamy doughnuts and
two bowls of fine lemonade all for the
large sum of II centimes or IA cents.
This is just little example of what
the Red Cross is doing for the boys
over here. 1t is not so much what
we can get to eat or the physical COM
fort but 1t is the wonderful spirit of
welcome and good cheer with which
we are always greeted by the fine
American women, the best of all, who
are carrying on this inspiring work
among the soldiers. Many weary
lad has been made to forget his trOu.
bles and take a fresh grip on life
through the homelike influence of this
band of gallant women. They form
the connecting link between the boys
and their homes In the good old U. s.
A.
Just returned, Tuesday, from a
beautiful and interesting trip. Went
about go miles southeast of here to
where bunch of our men are station.
ed. Our route took us through the
agricultural section, magnificent val
leys covered with grain and other
foodstuns lying between the lofty
hills. The grain was being harvested
in some places with a modern binder,
in other by the old method of using
sickle and binding 1t up by hand,
"The Renaissance of modern inven.
tiOns has not as yet been experienced
in France, but 1t will come about
quickly when the Americans demon
strate to the people how much easier
and quicker their work can be done
with mechanical aid. One thing which