Jackson County journal. (Sylva, N.C.) 19??-19??, 1918-08-16

nding behind the British lines.
about daylight came the barrage. 1t
was pretty big thing-the biggest we
ever heard. The time came for the
charge and we pushed out.
"a few of our boys were too anxious
and they got so close to the barrage
that they were hurt. My pal was
struck by shell beside me-"
Again he stopped and this time there
were tears in his eyes and a lump was
working in his throat. There was 81
lence for moment, then he went on:
1--WE were advancing toward Hamel
village and had to go over one slope.
then down into little valley and up
another hill. We got along all right,
but down in the valley there was a lot
of barbed wire that held us up some.
1 know l got caught, but not for very
long.
''Our men were fighting like any
thing and killing a lot of Boches who
were in the trenches and shell holes.
good many of the Germans were
yelling 'Kamerad,' and surrendering
too.
1.-TWO Of the Boches came running
up to me with their hands over their
heads. didn't know what to do with
them, but an officer came along and
sent them to the rear.
Wounded, but Killed Two.
"Then we went on and had about
reached our objective when something
hit me in the leg and 1 went down. 1
tried to get up but my leg wouldn't let
me and 1 was dizzy. While I was on
my knee l saw two Boches charging at
me with fixed bayOnets. l had the
butt of my rifle resting on the ground,
my finger on the trigger, and / fired
when they were about ten yards away.
One of them fell over dead, but the
other kept on coming and was On me
before I could throw in a fresh cart
ridge.
'Then I knew l had to fight him
with the bayonet like a man. So
got to my feet somehow, and as he
jabbed at me with his bayOnet / par
ried it with my rifle and then swung
the rifle to his head as hard as
could. The blow broke his skull and
he went down.
THAT'S all I remember until / woke
up and found chum beside me. he
had gone out and brought me back"
That finished the personal story OF
this boy who had fought and killed end
been wounded, but he had something
else which was much on his mind
After much hesitation it finally came
!, out.
81 wonder if my little girl at home
, is happy" he said anxiously, referring
to his sweetheart in Chicago. The
: correspondent told him she certainl!
would be very happy and proud tc
know how well he had done.
81 hope she will be-" he responded
! thoughtfully, and then added:
"WOuld it be too much trouble fO
I you to drop her just line to let he
know that l am all right? l dom
know when I shall have a chance t
write"
:, That letter will go Immediately, bu
! pending its arrival the girl in Chicag
l should know that he is wounded, but
/ as he himself says, all right. AppaI
4 emily, his wound is not serious.
! German prisoners, taken recent!
4 have been surprised to learn of tn
II number of Americans on this side
q The German higher command has bee
spreading reports that the oversee
8 troops were not arriving i'm such nun
a bers as the entente capitals had statet
q The German prisoners admitted ru'
a fully that the drive had been conduc
!. ed with cleverness and invincible cou
& age. To this praise was added tell
4 gram from Field Marshal Haig to tn
Z forces involved, including the Amer
! can detachment, expressing his war
congratulations.