Abilene weekly reflector., 1918-11-21

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16: The Alsace country was bad
enough but compared with the Ar
gonne Forest it was paradise. We
started and went through this ia
nous old forest of dense under
growth that was alive with mines,
explosives, machine guns and artll'
lery. 1t seemed as though every
German had machine gun or
cannon. We took all of the old HIM
denburg line in front of us and ac-
complished what military experts
considered impossible. They sent the
prussian Guards from Metz put we
treated the kaiser's favorite quite
rudely. Some prisoners from this
famous guard said I'VE were the
roughest guys that they had ever
met" I'll have to admit that they
were the toughest that we have ever
met also, but don't let them know II.
The boys from old Abilene are
fought like veterans and were the
bravest OF the brave. The censor
dosen't permit the naming OF cas-
ualties, but ! persume you already
know that some Of the old company
fell during the advance. Let me
assure you that they were always
true to their cause, their honor ana
their country. Abilene should feei
Justly proud of her contribution 10
the 35th division. 1t was my PRIV
ilage TO come into daily contact WIN
the old company, and can truth
fully say that the boys charged ma
chine gun nests and implacements
with a yalor that could not be de-
MED. They went on, ever ON, al +
though their ranks were thinning
ont constantly. They would dig in,
In the evening, and we would eaten
up with our heaviest guns ana NOW
the Boche down, when he put us on
his counter attack III the morning.
That was where we had at least an
even break with him, because he had
TO face our machine guns and we
didn't pass up the opportunity. Each
gun of ours shoots from one hundred
and fifty up to four hundred ROUNDS
n minute, so you can imagine how far
he advanced in his counter attacks.
Just as we would stop him with our
machine gun the brave lads OF the
infantry would go over again after
him and we would have another day
of advancing through dense forest
and intense artillery fire. How !
wish / could write to every parent OF
the boys that went out with us, and
give them a vivid description OF
their sons daring and sacrifice, but
the censor torbids. You may assure
them that no Drawer soldiers ever
fought and fell upon that Verdun
front than those boys Of Abilene.
shall always consider it an honor
and a privilege to have been a COM
panion and a friend to those boys.
/ visited Sergt Machen and Corps. ]
James and Dale Cutler the day be-
fore we started the drive. They were
all anxious to get at the Boche ana
their records are beyond human
praise. Corporal James Cutler was
leading his squad upon a machine
gun nest, and faced those profession
nj murderers until the last. His con-
duet was an example for his squad
and his leadership and courage ab-
solutely ideal. l can't say enough for
Young Dale Cutler, only young boy, :
yet so good a soldier that he had
been recommended to be a sergeant.
never knew a cleaner or finer lad in !
nv life and his disposition and per-
sonality were grand. The boys OF
his company believe that he will re-
cover.
Sergt Dick Jones of Enterprise,
without the aid of any officer, lead :
his platoon with skill, courage, good
Judgement, and efficiency. Good old
Dick reported wounded although un-
official reports say he viii pun
alright in time.
am back in the line again and \
have not visited the company lately i
so can't inform you about the other s
boys. / haven't heard from Sergt. +
John Machen yet. Dave Wilkie is Q. 7
K. The whole battalion has been q
for extraordinary ser n
vice and bravery, what more can be q
said of a man than to belong to such r
a unit.
When the danger was the greatest