Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1918-09-06
FROM THE FRONT

The following interesting paragraph
are from letters written by Leslie e
Eddy, and kindly loaned to the Jour1a
BY members Of the Eddy family, ot
Dietrich:
Since we came to the front this last
time, we saw some real war. and had
the satisfaction OF taking little piece
tins earth, which the Germans claiGl
as their own. away fro mthem. Also
found out that a fellow forgets to l.c
Scared when he thinks the Germans afe
coming over. He could fight and die
without any more fear than he has in
a football game, believe. The main
trouble comes in ducking those big
shells. The be VS. all have \ tood time
laughing at my firing on a Boche plane
that came down within 400 yards Of US
He was disguised as an American, and
the only way | could tell him was by
tho cross on the tips Of his wings. He
passed us several times. Some, think
IN Annex" waved at him,
but about that time 1 saw the cross
- shot at him, more to
hurry the opening of my champaign
against the Germans than anything
else. He fired at us with his machine
gun a while, and then left us to the
artillery, which was quite heavy at
times.
We have been having the finest Of
weather, and the last few days have
been stationed here in a town which
they seldom shell, and which was full
Of berries and other things. We were
q r ret sugar, and some grease
from our kitchen, and, as result,
all the rhubarb, gooseberries, ripe cur
rants, Strawberries and cherries are
picked and stewed. We afso dug most
Of the potatoes, which was really a
shame for they were 30 small There
were few green peas that went quick
Tell Trncle Carl not to be afraid that
he is going to miss seeing something
BY not getting here in time. He will
be able to see plenty, believe, though
hope he never sees a bit of 1t. If
there is anything worth missing 1t is
war and this is war in earnest.
All the boys feel good to think that
we are under the French general, and
have a lot of confidence in him. We are
willing to hand it to the French as
fighters, but America need not be
afraid of some one coming over there
and hacking our country off as long
as we have as good men as we have at
present. 1t is strange to see how men
and boys who will back down from a
personal encounter where fists are the
onlv weapons will brave the fire on the
front and ready to fight to the finish
Al Hny of them ever need is a little
tonic, and they have the best when
they see the Boche coming.
have dug a good deal of trenches,
though and a good many at night, un-
der quite heavy she'll fire.
We have just been relieved
from the front, and today I am in
V ~ A. ha-e in one of the towns
back of the lines.
ref tiIne on the front was a
rather easy one, and was a record
breaker for these dam licei / went
out on my first wire patrol, and had
n little scout about mo Mans Land"
We were supposed to go to a certain
place and listen to see what the Ger
r-~-~ r-e-e doing. for we could hear a
good deal of noise from our lines. We
r e ',r way along our wire, stopning
aow and then to listen. 1t sounded
fo re inst like we were going to run |
right into a bunch of old farmers, |
r. ~or could hear the swish of a |
scythe, here and there. Being a farm
Pr myself. I forgot that I was man |
hunting, and although I had a tight |
grip on my pistol. I believe I would |
have had TO see them start something /
before I would have shot at a hay |
maker. They were cutting the wheat |
md grass down in front of their trer- I
up and throwing grenads at /,
hem.
One day was on top of our trench |
oolsing out toward the German lines.
when, to my surprise. Isaw a bunch 1
# Americans coming toward me. walk
ng straight. as though they were own
'rs Of all thew surveyed. saw, at a
-lance, that they had a German when
l,ov cot nearly to our trenches, two
eft the party and returned to the
German trenches, where they got the
ouinment of the prisoner. and came
'ack with some pistols and a small
f. G.. They had crent out of our lines
nd cut most of the wires on the
serman side and crawled into a trench
nd covered a sleeping Prussian. and
liked him OFF. When they had got
early to our trenches they realized
hat thew had left a machine gun. They
ror'ptlv turned around and returned
o the lines, and getting the guns slung
hem over their shoulders and marched
or'e. This was all done in broad day.
ght, which makes it a remarkable e.
eat.
The German is very crafty and clev-
r. but while he is figuring on this ,
lever stun. the AmAerican pulls OF ,
,me fool thing that must depend on ,
he quickness OF the act. and the luck |
an American. to pull the stunt.
OtIR Sol DIER Rows