Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-09-05
ANDREW RENNES
RELATES STORY
0FBATILEFR0NT
Returns to City After Spend
ing Many Months in Hos
pital in Washington.
Intends to Resume Patriotic
Work as Soon as He is
Able to Do So.

To lose a leg after one month in
the trenches is the thrilling exper-
fence Of Andrew Rennes, son of Mrs.
Carrie Rennes, 90S Chestnut street,
mes was one of the first Grand Forks
boys to enlist for service in the reg
ular army, doing so at Fargo in July.
1916. He was first stationed at Fort
Dupont. Del, and was shortly trans
ferred to Fort Wadsworth, N. Y,
, where he volunteered his services
June, 1917.
Accompanied by IS other volun-
teers from the same camp young
Rennes sailed for France on the "An-
tillas" with 1900 members Of the
battery, landing in France at the sea-
port st. Nazaire in August. From
here they were taken to Valdoie to a
French camp where they received
months training before leaving
for the Nancy front. Here they were
sandwiched between the French for
two weeks. receiving the most rigor-
Gus training under French COM
mand.
Gets Shot in Leg.
According to the young soldier,
after the first siege at the front, the
American men were sent back from
the Nancy sector, to await the ar
rival of the Americans who were to
take over the French positions about
June 10. During the time of the
fighting in Lorraine a short time la
ter, in n of the less important bat
ties, Private Rennes was shot in the
right leg.
In a most optimistic and CHEEKY
manner the young maj described to-
day the sensations experienced when
being hit by what was afterward
thought to be a four-point high ex-
plosive: Three Frenchmen game to
his assistance at once, he says. They
bound the wound properly" the lad
says, gave me a couple Of cognacs,
a cigarette and placed me on a
stretcher. Within half an hour 1 was
in a first aid station"
From the time Andrew Rennes
was wounded on February 81 until
July, he was kept in an Ameri-
can hospital in France. On July rs.
after his leg had been amputated
and he had recovered sufficiently. he
where he was confined to the Walter
Reed hospital in Washington, D. C.
= Praises War Organizations.
Very interesting and wonderful was
the description of the work of the
ASAASA SoAAl11lIILCSo W1l1CIl MI. HCHI6S
ays may be found everywhere. THE
Red Cross and the Salvation Army
come first" he says. II do not mean,
however, to slight the K. c. or Y. M.
c. A. for they likewise are perform
ing a wonderful work over there
The Red Cross is found on the bat
tie field and as near the battle field
as possible" he a y the Salvation
Army workers approach and are
waiting at the gates of the trenches
with hot coffee and goodies.
When questioned as to the length
of time spent in the trenches, the
varies. His experience, he said, was
that after eight days Of so-called
"gun-manning'' the boys were given
two days to rest and clean up. During
this time they worked at night dig
ging and performing various duties
which could not be done in daylight.
The artillery seemed to be doing
great work. Rennes said that when
he was at the front the artillery
duels, sending heavy explosives and
shrapnels seemed to be making the
biggest gains.
Not Yet Discharged.
Young Rennes arrived in the city
from Washington last evening on a
short leave. He has not been dis
charged from the hospital and must
report within a certain time. How
ever, his military career is practically
finished as he is now physically UNI
able to again reach the front. His
manly spirit and true patriotism
spoke up when the young man ex-
claimed: II am going back to Wash
ington, though; they can use me in
some branch of domestic SERVICE" ;