The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1918-12-03

! among the soldiers. we nave nau q
great many letters from the young
soldiers in France and from these
the people have gathered some idea
rs to the work they are doing. This
letter is published in order that the
people may see just what the hu-
name agencies connected with the
war work have been doing.
! American E. F., France,
Oct. 26, 1918.
Chief Justice Eugene B. Gary,
Abbeville, S. c., U. S. A.
Dear Cousin Eugene:
l sent you photograph Of myself
in uniform a few days before sailing
for France about six months ago.
Trust that it reached you.
came over on transport in
company with another Y. Secretary
and about ten thousand troops. Our
fleet brought the largest number of
American soldiers that had ever
crossed the Atlantic up to that time.
Were we'll guarded by, vessels of war
and were not attacked by subs. At
ter spending a few days at our port
of debarkation, I reported at our
head office in Paris. Was detained
there two weeks, waiting for move
ment orders. Spent the time very
agreeably seeing the sights. Saw
about all there was to be seen, in
cluding Notre Dame, Palace of JUS
tice, Versailles, The Madeline, Arch
of Triumph, Eiffal Tower, Bois de
Bolougne, Fuilleries, Place de la
Concorde, Place de la Bastille, Grand
Opera House, etc etc. Heard the
opera Aida.
! I was assigned to front line work
with a division of "regulars." At
! first we were on very quiet sector,
though one of the most beautiful
sections of France. Later were a.
vanced to a somewhat more active
sector and are now, and have been
for some time, in one of the most ac-
tive sectors on the front.
My work for some time was that
of Cashier for the division. Was pro-
NOTED a short time ago to the posi-
ton of business manager of the div
ision, which position I am now hold
ing.
In time of stress, all of us get out
into the field. 1t may interest you
to hear of my experience in connec-
lion with this present drive.
I was assigned to certain regi-
ment which was to go into the pres
.nt fight. At first we camped for
bout week where the pra:ent drive
began, on one of the most famous
battlefelds of the war, sleeping in
dugouts. From there we went up to
a point taken from the Huns a few
days before. While in the dugouts
we were shelled a little by the enc
nv. cut only a few casualties re-
suited. Reaching the next camp we
were she!led with more effect, losing
a number of men. One shell struck
close enough to throw dirt over the
wheel horses of the wagon on which
I was riding, a portion of the shell
penetrating the helmet of a French
soldier just in front of me.
That night I slept in a hole scoop
ed out of the ground about a foot
deep, which gave some protection
from shell fire. Had two gas alarms
but had gas mask handy, so suffered
no great inconvenience. We had
many Shells shrapnel and high eX-
plosives, to pass over US and some to
explode quite near, but comparative
ly little harm was done. The next
morning high explosive shell struck
and exploded Immediately in front
of me, about Is or 20 feet, but for
some reason or other, failed to strike
me. Spent that afternoon distribut-
ing chocolate, cookies, tobacco, ETC.,
at the dressing station for wounded,
I Also helped the chaplain bury some
of the fellows who died there. Slept
that night in wagon. The next
tmorning served hot chocolate to the
men returning from the firing line