The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-09
new BOOK IS OUT|BATTERY A FIGHT
"Tbe Reclaimers Has Just Arthur L. Engle Tells of Big
by Harpers. September DrlVe'
1t Another Delightful Nc Topeka ORGANIZATION hou'eu
carter Production Huns and Took Trenches.
SCENES LAID IN KANSAS WORE OUT THEIR CLUIHtS!
Eastern Girl Finds Romance BOYS Have Bath for
Among Sage Brush Long Time
Prepared for Very Germans Tried Every way IL
Large Sale Get Local Fighters.
Topeka Organization Routed
Huns and Took Trenches.
WORE OUT THEIR CLOTHES!
Rows Did Not Have Bath for q
Long Time.
Germans Tried Every Way 10
Get Local Fighters.

Mr.. and Mrs. ]. H. Engle, of 1884
Harrison street, have received a letter
from their, son, Arthur L. Engle, who
ia a gunner in Battery A, recountng
his experience joy-riding in pattie
airplane, and telling of his delight IN
the commonplace job OF getting
bath. ,.
both with Battery A, were formerly
employed in the Santa Fe offices: The
letter was written just after their re-
turn Tn rest camp after the September
drive.
Engle describes the work OF the bat
terry, located in a wood, driving the
Germans out of their trenches, moving
their own guns up as they advanced.
and finally occupying the abandoned
trench of the enemy. He says that in
the engagement none OF the battery
bows were killed, tho some were
wounded.
Wore Out Clothes.
1--WE are back now" he writes, TO
get new clothes and equipm|nt, and
we need them, as the clothing We had
was about ready to rot off. I stole
bucket just before dinner and heat
ed some water and took bath. You
can't imagine how good and different
it made me feel. 1t was the first one
1 have had for more than month,
ana we Qdu pScIl iii a "AdA AAuo 0AAN
dirt. A circus rousty had it on US for
cleanliness a hundred ways. 1 hope
we get some new pants. as I have only
about two inches of mine left"
He goes on to describe the shelling
of the German position. I'VE were in
the first position before the big drive
started when we got the word to give
them hell. We drove them out and
back. The woods were full of guns OF
all sizes, and I couldn't begin to de-
scribe the roar of them. 1t wasn't long
before it got too hot for Fritz, and he
pulled out. We had to advance to
keep them in range, so we took our
rush and pulled up into the gun posi-
lions that Fritz left. We had to be
on tip-toes then for sure, SO as not to
touch anything that might connect
with a bomb or a mine left for US by
the Dutch. None of the battery boys
were killed, but we had some close
calls. We learned the sound of a
shell coming our way, and flattenins
out on the ground comes very natural
when we hear the shells coming. The
Dutch tried hard to get Topeka S
Crack Military Organization as the
Journal calls us, but we got them in
stead. We were shelled, gassed, ma
and a mine exploded. As they didn't
kill any of us with all that, guess they
haven't a chance"
Ride in an Airplane.
/ Engle tells of his ride in an airplane
H was gazing at the machine when the
pilot came up and granted him per-
mission to take a flight with him. He
says of the trip:
zone of the boys strapped me to the
| seat and they started the engine.
was all excitement then, as I was sure
| of getting to go up. 1 sure felt big
sitting in the old plane with my fur.
lined helmet and big goggles on wait
ing to be off. Well, when the motor
got warmed up he held up his hand.
and they let go. She hesitated just a
second and then the engine speeded up
when she reached a speed of seventy
miles an hour. Believe me, the ground
| sure faded away. We climbed to about
1900 feet and then Strengthened out
He put it most to full speed then. and
1 thought we were travelling already.
he opened her up. We were flying
at the rate of 100 miles per hour now
and climbing all the time. We ran
| into the clouds at a little over 5000
| feet and believe me that was some
sport. You can't see a thing but a
faint outline of your plane and you
lose all idea of direction. You don't
|
| sideways or what. Well. pretty soon
| was conscious of a sinking sensation
| My heart and all it's relatives came up
| in my mouth together and all of sud-
den we came out IN the clear right side
up to my great surprise. just diving
was all. We dove down to the 5000
foot level and continued our flight
We flew over some large French towns
| that looked about the size of a dime
| We did some keen turning and circlins
and some more diving, and believe me
when they make those fancy turns
etc. you sure open your eyes. I wasn't
a bit sick or scared either. I sure did
like it fine. We never saw any boche
planes, tho. The longer I stayed uI
the more anxious I was to meet q
Dutchman. 1 didn't care much abou,
meeting one at first. 1 was too busy
We made a fine landing and hoped
out in "A No. 1 condition"