The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1918-10-31
TELLS OF WARS HORRORS.
Capt. w. G. Dixon Sends Interesting
Letter to His Brother, Mr..
Harry Dixon.

near Dillon, is in receipt OF the fol-
lowing letter from his brother, Can't.
VIM. G. Dixon, who Is in France. Be
fore joining the army Capt. Dixon
was prominent physician in Nash
Vile:
well, it is about seven months
since left the good old U. S. A., and
have seen a good deal Of this war
in this time. AS the soldiers say, 1T
is hell of a war, but it is the only
war we've GOT
with the artillery saw some
thing of the war fixed positions, where
the lines were in the same place they
had been for some time, and where
gun positions, roads, ETC., were elab-
orately camouflaged. For awhile we
were in what is called quiet sec
tor, and then for awhile in one of
great activity.
When 1 was ordered away from
the artillery and reached this organ
ization, / found them in a quiet,
peaceful village where there was very
little to remind one of war. 1t so hap
pened, though, that we were in the
area which the Boche took in their
offensive of the latter part of May
when they reached the Marne, and we
had to leave our peaceful place one
night between midnight and dawn We
moved along for several days, usually
going six or eight miles, then the
trucks would haul up supplies to the
troops, and sometimes evacuate civ
ilians. If necessary, that is, if the
Boche had advanced enough, the next
day we would repeat the same pro-
cess. During this time 1 saw some Of
the most pitiful sights l have ever
seen. 1t is bad enough to see soldiers
suffer as a result of war. but when
it comes to a question of seeing old
men, women and children forced to
leave their homes; to see them
struggling along the roads, probably
carrying everything they are able to
save in a bundle or pushing it along
in a wheelbarrow, you begin to rea-
lize what suffering war brings to
the civil population of an invaded
country.
Some of these sights 1 don't think
will ever forget. One night when we
with years, painfully trudging along a
wheelbarrow, loaded with what few
things they were able to save. By
turns they pushed the wheelbarrow,
while the other led a reluctant goat.
They looked dazed and confused, as
well they might-going was hard for
them on account of their years, and
because the roads we're literally chok-
ed by other refugees trying to escape.
troops and artillery going up to meet
the Boche.
Il saw on another occasion an old
man who, when told he must leave
refused, and had to be
forcibly put into a carrion, screaming
all the time that he would not go, but
would stay and die in his home.
lone day / was asked to see
woman who was sick. I found her
of hay, which was drawn by six white
oxen. / managed to get up with the
aid of a ladder, and in a short time
delivered her of fine strapping boy.
These are only a few instances out of
many, for we were witnessing such
scenes throughout the days of the
retreat. l never felt as sorry for peo-
pie in my life as / did for these poor
refugees.
Towns and Villages Wrecked.
"Of course, we were very busy
throughout the German offensive,
and then, when the French and
Americans launched their counter at
tack, the rush kept up. AS the Boche
were pushed back, We were able to
see the destruction left in the wake
OF the fighting; towns and villages
that l was familiar with, the peace
full village in which l Joined this or
wrecked. l went into the house l
had lived in-furniture, books, orna-
ments were destroyed, and everything
was in a confused mass on the floor.
The house had been struck by shell,
but the inside damage had evidently
been deliberately done.
Seeing these towns after they had
been shelled gives you an excellent
idea of the power Of modern artillery
and also an idea of the destructive
ness of war.
After the Boche were pushed back
the civilians began to go back to their
homes Having seen their homes.
couldn't but think what home-com-
ing they would have. l don't believe
people generally, realize what these
people have suffered, and will suffer
for years to come as a result of this