Norwich bulletin., 1918-03-27
MoosUP.
Walton Butterworth, on Telephone
 Squad in France, Writes of Thrilling ExPeriences-How American Detail < Escaped sRoehe ShslIs.-se..
Somewhere in France.

Richard Daggett has received the following interesting letter from Wal ton Butterworth:
 f Somewhere in France
 Dear Dick;
 Your letter of Dec. s0th received about three weeks ago. I would have written sooner, but had so many lett ters to answer. and. besides that. we moved to another camp about two weeks ago. Since then I have been pretty busy
 Our last move brought us very near the front Here we are going through an advanced phase of our training which is. not only interesting and es- sential to the battery but of service to the French.
 One night this week the effect of our fire greatly assisted the French i1 tstemming a German infantry advance. Of course, it was a, small affair, but the rapidity with which the gun crews assembled and manned their pieces showed the commander that his bat tery was not as green as thsy may seem. The French general in com mand of the division occupying this sector, sent down a word of praise and thanks for the good work displayed
 
 On Telephone Squad.
 Being on the telephone squad. I have had several opportunities to go out to the observation station, which is Ia short way back of the allied in- fantry trenches. The first time I went out there all was quiet, except for an occasional firing from a 75 battery at our rear, which sent a shell or two over to MT. Boche every now and then.
 But the second day things were quite different. At about S.30 in the morn ing two detail corporals and myself were in a. valley short distance from the observation post to which we were going. The shells were bursting along the ridge of the hillNand on the oppo- site slope from where the observation post was located. Fortunately for us. the Boehe held his fire until we were over the hill top and a quarter way down near a French observation trench
 - Tumbled Into Trench.
 Just as we reached there we heard three dull booms and in a few seconds the whistle of shells. Into the trench we went fat on our bellies and one on top of the other The shells burst about hundred yards away. It was the first time that had heard a shell come whistling from the other fellow. At practice they were always in the other directions.
 We got into the observation post dugout all right but could do no dig ging in our new dugout for three hours on account of the danger. The Ger mans combed the hillside to our left in search of French battery, but their shells harmlessly dug the ground up. It was certainly lucky for us that they did mot change their defiection a few miIesi 's
 It just happened that we walked into it that day, but generally speaking. we are pretty safe from shelling.
 Salute on =Wsshinston's Birthday.
 Today we fired 21 shots over into Mrs Boche's territory as part of the program, but 1t also served as a salute birthday. The last time the battery fired the salute it was with blank car tridges, but this time it was the real stuff.
 At the gun position a portion of the battery lives in a great cave which is a kilometer in length and capable of holding thousands of men and a great. many horses.
 { Telephoning in French z.sga ! The detail has charge of two switch boards and every other day sends an operator ,aand two helpers to the ob- servation posts. So far. I have served a day and a, night shift on the bat talion switchboard The only thing hard about it was French calls. I can't speak very much French yet.
 We'll, there. are many things of in terest that could tell you about btN must put it off until the next letter.
 Remember me to your folks and my friends in Central Village. My best regards to you all
 WALTON