The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-23
Howard Huffman Had Great
Experience in France.
At Front With Provisions Dur
ing Battle of Argonhe.
TELLS Of STALLS ESCAPE
Topeka Captains Machine Was
Blown to Pieces.
Big Celebration ut BreSt of Pre-
mature Peace.

Working to lift the wheel Of an auto
truck out of a shell hole up near the
Argonne forest during the September
drive were two Y. NJ. c. A. men. one
of whom was Howard Huffman, of
Topeka. The shells continued to fall
about them on the road as they
worked. II have prayed enough in
the last hour" Huffman's companion
told him, ito last me for a week. l
believe roy sins are forgiven that far
in advance and my safety provided
for" When the shells first began to
fall near their truck of provisions for
the boys up in front, they were enter
ing a village. A military policeman
stopped them in the darkness and told
them to get to shelter, They en-
sconced themselves beneath two large
stones in the basement of a ruined
church, and as soon as permission was
journey again. On the road they en-
countered the shells and shell holes
that brought out so fervent demon
stration Of piety from one of the men.
Was Aliens Driver.
Huffman, who is former Kansas
university man and an expert electri-
clan, volunteered as an automobile dri-
yer and repair man with the Y. M. c.
A., and was sent abroad last spring. He
mas SAhSC OCCh Will the
division in all their fighting until the
10th Of November, when he sailed for
America. He arrived at his home in
Topeka a few days<ago. He has been
with Henry Allen ever since Allen
went to the Y. M. C. A., and was AL
lens driver on the first trip the Kan
sas governor-elect took after his long
illness with diphtheria.
Huffman told today of the bachelor
quarters maintained for a time by
some OF the Y men in their section
In the party was Allen, his secretary
who is a New York millionaire; George
Hoyes, of Topeka; J. w. Waldron and
Huffman. Their efforts at pancake
baking, at frying bacon over a lighted
torch, and eating at improvised dining
tables formed part of the wonder
ful time" they had in France.
just Before Battle.
Tho bravery of the American
troops Is something that every Ameri-
lean has reason to be proud Of" Huff
man said. None of them were finer
than the men of the Thirty-fifth. 1
went up to the front with provisions
a few hours before the boys went over
the top beginning the five days battle
OF the Argonne. The men were quiet,
put there was an air of expectancy
along the lines. and everything was in
readiness when the word should be
given to go over. the boys anxious to
start before the enemy could get a
chance to come at them first A cap
tured German colonel had to say of the
artillery opposed to them that he had
never seen a more skillful and deadly
use Of the heavy guns
HUFFMAN told a story of Captain
Elmer Stahl, who was the command
ing officer of the radio company
made up chiefly of Topeka men. Cap
tain Stahl was riding his motorcycle al
some distance ahead of his troops
Shells, one after another fell in the
| road ahead of him. and learning thai
his men might be trying to follow him
ne turned his machine about an6
| started back to order them to cover
He found them taking protection in
| camoufieged shelters along the road
He left his motorcycle in the highway
and made for shelter himself. Scarce.
ly had he left his machine, when q
shell struck it and blew it into a thou
sand unrecoSniZab1e pieces.
Not Much on Dragging.
Huffman is very little prone to tel
of the suffering and horrors he wit
| messed at thu front, and he says moth
ing at all about his own exploits. He
seems the sort of man who has gone
quietly about the business he went to
France to do, without much notion OF
met among the soldiers or of acting in
the capacity of uplifter and do-good
His job was to get supplies to the front
and this he seems to have done, keep
ing his eye on the road ard his mind
on the task, without much lettering
and entertaining along the way.
Among his journeyings, Huffman
traveraed the famous Dead Mans
HILL" the contest for which cost sc
many lives in the first battle of Yer.
dun. Briefly touching that expert.
ence. Huffman said that in crossing
that hill one frequently upturned
half-decayed- boots from which the
bones would fall. and many a Ger.
man helmet that glittered so bravely
on the hill in those early days of the
onsweeping conquest, rolling aside
revealed a skull.
Huffman received permission to re-
turn home early in November At the
time he left. the Thirty-fifth was al
Verdun. but the division was not in
action. There was a rumor then that
the division would be sent back fol-
ction at the Argonne front. 1t is not
known whether or not they went
back before the signing Of the armi-