The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1918-04-26
YORK SOLDIER WRITES
OF THE CAMBRIA FIGHT
Lieutenant Hunter, Serving With
British Army, i'm Thick of
Battle.

York, April 25.-The first direct
news from a York county boy who
has been in the sanguinary fighting
that marked the mighty German
drive at the allied lines south of
Arras was received here in a letter
from Lieut.. Phillip w. Hunter. for
merly OF York, to his mother, Mrs.
j. j. Hunter. Lieutenant Hunter
who was graduated from the Medi-
cal college Of South Carolina in 1914
and did postgraduate work in New
york before beginning the practice
OF medicine here, offered his ser
vices to the government immediately
after the declaration by the United
States of war against GERMANY and
soon received his commission. He
was assigned to the British forces in
france and sailed for that country
In August. Lieutenant Hunter was
with the British army in the fierce
struggle around Cambrai, where he
had many trying and hazardous ex-
perlences. The unit of the army
which he was with distinguished IT,
self for conspicuous bravery in the
recent fighting and won the high
commendation OF Field Marshal Sir
Douglas Haig. Lieutenant Hunters
letter dated France. March 80 -
follows, in part:
wish | could give you some idea
OF my share in the battle, but will
wait awhile for that. Our division
did splendidly and was one of the
first mentioned by Sir Douglas Haig
Tor good work. We feel very proud
or ourselves, l assure you. or
course we could not do what we did
without some losses, so now we ere
out to recuperate and get reinforce
ments before going back at the Ger
mans again.
The men are in fine spirits and
are far from being beaten. We have
had some interesting marches
through towns and villages and a
good train journey. Yesterday
while waiting at one station for our
train, King George came to us. CON
graduated the colonel and smoke to
many OF the men. had a good look
at him-the first royal parsonage 7
mad ever seen. Now we are weI1
away from the tumult. Just before
going into the battle | received IA
ietters, all written last August and
September. | certainly enioyed
them, old as they were. when 7
could snatch the time to read them
me good wishes and assertions of
prayers in time of danger could not
have reached me at a more annro-
pirate time. l felt that | must he
safe with so many prayers being Of
fered for me.
1T Is wonderful. the spirit of the
men before going into action-ouiet
ana composed. and lots Of them so
ypn"S and full of life. There is no
mumuring, no hanging back. all
though they know some of them will
not return. And then, after the at
tack. each man searches for his own
pa To find that he has fallen or nj
least gone down wounded. But II
isn't so bad as you would think. as
the gap soon closes and life goes on
as before. And then all the noise OF
hattle-shells screaming overhead or
bursting near, rifles cracking. ma
chine gun bullets whizzing by. The
birds are building their nests and
singing as though nothing were han
pening. and the fields are yellow
with daffodils, just as we have our
oX-eyed daisies.
The weather has been glorious.
the sunshine warm and bright. The
nights have been cold. but after
chasing about all day we were able
to sleep where we drop in the dew
grass. with no cover at all. and all
though ] would wake up almost
frozen | never felt better in my life
not sign OF cold or anything.
It's a great life.
Il must stop now and try to get
this of.