Evening journal., 1918-12-31
some PIONEERS
KILLED BY SHELL
Soldiers S Letter Brings In
formation OF Few Casual
ties as Peace Nears
HALEY NEAR WHERE
The SHRAPNEL HIT

According to a letter from a member
OF the 59th Pioneer Infantry Delaware
Reglmenp received by his father In
this city yesterday, several members Of
one company OF. that regiment were
killed or wounded in the closing days
OF the war when German shell burst
near where they were building roads.
The soldier who wrote the letter stated
that he had been unable 10 learn the
names Of the men who lost iheir lives.
A letter received from Lieutepant Lol-
onel j. Austin Ellison OF the 59th Pio-
neers recently stated that no Delaware
boys Of that regiment had been killed or
wounded.
The soldier In his letter scored SEN
at0r salisbury and wrote that If II had
not been for senator Saulsbury's attl-
tude the members Of the Pioneers
would have been soldiers instead OF
laborers" In Europe.
While Francis A. Haley. member OF
Company NJ, J9th Pioneer Regiment
took no part IN any actual lighting dur
ing the war, he had nevertheless some
thrilling experiences, being under con-
slant Hun fire for two months while he
was engaged with the engineers half
mile behind the front line trenches on
the Argonne front. Haley sent this in
formation In a letter 90 his mother.
Prior 10 enlisling In the spring Of 1911
he lived with his parents at No. 5i2
North Harrison street.
Hor fstro u4aufhs no txr1a ia d gnnfinn
OF engineers that was under constant
FIRE On one occasion, while at Gen
court. the Germans started an unusualiy
terrific bombardment Of The section.
Shells were flying an around him, Pri-
yate Haley states, but he hastily took
TO cover in his dugOut and escaped un-
injured. IL was in that assault that be
came closest TO being struck, ne says.
Explaining the force Of the shells, Pfi-
vate Haley says that when they explode
ihes bore a hole ~ feet deep and 20
feet In diameter and the concussi y of
the explosion will kill an wi,hn a cer-
tain distance OF the landing place OF
the smell.
Another narrow escape that he had
was while going after some bread Co
use with some mOlasses that one OF bls
companions had. A German aviator had
been watching about that section at
nights for some time, and Haley and
another soldier had scarcely eft the
dugout for the bread when a bomb was
dropped on their abode. wrecking 70.
on the way for the bread. the men
had TO pass over about a half a square
OF white clay road. so that their forms
d.
aviator, who Immediately opened lire
on them with a machine gun. Taking
cover in the grass. the soldiers escaped
being hurt, but, With bullets fyins as
close as three feet TO them, they suf7
fered some exciting moments until Tie
departure Of the German airman.
Haley says he and three other soldiers
dug up the body Of "a dead French avia-
tor. former French prince which
had fallen in battle, for the familS of
the dead airman. for which they were
rewarded with 100 francs, equal 30
about 500
The writer also states that he rode
into Fleville, Germany, with The engi-
neers, 20 do some work ther3 shortly
after the cessation Of hostiiitics.
Private Haley has been static lcd at
Liny, about two miles from Dun. on the
Argonne front. He went overseas v iih
the Pioneers on The Leviathan, fC-mcrly
the Naierland. arriving in 8rcs5 N sew
en- days The trip could have Deen
bade in five days only for the fact ihat
the steamer had 90 go 500 miles out Of
its course 10 avoid the U-boats. lie
has experienced the coolies. he says,
but got rid OF them by securing new
Uniform He is in excellent health, be
states, and is earnestly in hone that no
more wars so flegce b-eak out.