Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-12-21

We unloaded at night and stayed
under cover ali the next day rest
ing because we had made a two
day trip in more box cars We rode
all night to a woods where we
crawled in and hid for about a
week One night we left here and
Went to another woods where we
stayed about two weeks. Then l. as
gas y. c o., got orders one night
TO 90 to the front lines. We rode
our horses a big part of the night
and as we got nearer we could hear
the sound of guns and the further
we went the palmer it grew. Then
we could Sc the night signals and
star shells. Whenever a star shell
shells. Whenever star shell
lighted up the sky we had to duck
out Of sight. Finally we reached
the place-it was in a town named
Bouconville. I had to give our po-
sition the once over for gas and
then go back and report. In two
days the battery went up.
Under Cover.
We were in position about two
days before the big drive of st.
Mihiel started. One night there
wasn't thing in front of US and
the Germans were only 200
yards from us. We saw many
German planes come over-when-
ever they did we had to duck be-
cause they would take pictures and
disclose our position. All our
moves were under cover. and all our
work was camoufaged So well
I did we keep under cover the enemy
did not know we were there and
we took them by surprise
on Sept u. at l a m. the ami
/ versary of our artillery career, we
opened fire on the enemy. We were
just in front of Montsec, a very
high hill, where the French and
British lost $4,000 in % minutes.
II was raining and the boys were
knee deep in mud firing the guns.
We fired until a. m-then the in
fantry went over the top When
they got to the German trenches
they were empty. Our barra2e was
so perfect that they left everything
and beat it. We followed at noon
and advanced to Xyray but we
could not catch up with the retreat
ing enemy. On Sept IA we started
to another front There was a gas
alarm while we were firing our
guns so you can see how adverse
were the conditions the boys
( worked under and it was a half
hour before I could give the all
clear sign.
Start for Verdun.
We travelled overland to the Yer
dun front We Travelled for six days
or rather nights. We hid in the
woods in day time and Travelled by
night We were bombed several
times by enemy planes. We were
in a woods one day and l got or
deTs to go 10 the front lines again
/ rode all night and reported back
two days later This position was
/ in a valley at Neuvillie We did
not dig any pits here but fired from
the open. l was assigned q new
job at BOucOnville-a munitiOn
nOn-com. | was responsible that
the boys had ammunition and be
! Iieve me it is no snap. For five days
J and nights | did not sleep over an
hour at time, and there were only
about twelve of those hours.
Begin Last Battle.
ION Sept 26 We started our last
big offensive battle of the Ar
gonne forests. We started in at ?
O'Clock midnight and did not stop
until 10 the next morning. We fired
over several barrages because the
Germans resisted our infantry and
we had to drive them with artil-
. lery fire We tried to follow but
the roads were cOngested and We
could not help our poor doughbOys
who were % hours without artil-
F Iery support We were under fire
several times and a few OF our men
and a great number of horses were
killed. FINALLY we got into posi-
ton after advancing eight kilomet-
ers We were right in the open, in
plain view of the enemy, but we
Gidu Carc-we were helping the
doUgkbOys. ! had to go back again
from here and get some ammuni-
ton. l had 80 men and as many
horses on seven w 1ns. We rode
all that afternoon. al right and a.
the next day We got bd < just as
they were firing the last round. l
was in the saddle Al hours ana only
had a little corn beef and 10 hard
lacks, plenty of water
Into death Valley
These woods were fierce, just
one hill after another We were
in this position few days and then
advanced eight kilometers more
into Death valley and it sure was.
We were under fire all the time.
Every time the cooks had a bite to
cat and we went to get it we were
sheIled. This place was in val
ley between Very and Montfaucon.
The Germans had been there four
years and knew every inch of
ground We had gas, mud and