The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1918-12-24
DAWSON BOY TELLS
ARMY EXPERIENCES
JOHN MELTON HAD THRILLING
TIME NIGHT BEFORE ARMS
TICE WAS DECLARED.


life on the firing line, which is part
of letter written on November 18th
by John Melton to his mother, Mrs.
w. b. Melton, will not only be inter-
estlng to the many friends of the
young soldier, but will thrill every
reader of The News:
Had quite a time getting to NV
new company Reported at 1880 on
the night of the 10th lust in the
rear of our advance company. Had
left my bedding roll with the supply
ccopmany and had only a pack with a
lew thlngs-one blanket, overcoat
and gas mask.
AS turned the corner in front of
reglmental headquarters a gas shell
fell about 20 yards from me, killing
one man. | saw the crowd scatter
and what seemed to be smoke rising
from 1t; so got my mask ready and
before | knew it had a throat full of
1t. l put my mask on and kept it on
sometime after everybody else had
pulled theirs off. Soon another one
fell and l had the same stunt to do
over, and was not able to report for
some time. | sneezed and coughed
quite a good deal and my eyes ran
water. / thought every minute the
building would be struck, so was not
much in love with that locality.
After having reported | learned
that my battalion was leading the
regiment, so l got some idea where
was to go. About $50 |, with a
machine gun company and a few of
ncers, pulled out for our companies
We walked down a road torn up with
shells and ankle deep in mud in single
itlle, while shells were flying over our
heads. Could hear them coming for
some distance like the propeller on an
alrshlp, so l spent about half the time
ducking, for l couldn't tell where
they were headed. l was given some
orders to deliver to the commander of
my battalion. After | had handed
them over he told me to report to my
company commander. After jumping
few bitches or old trenches, holes |
and fences l found my commander
a. first lieutenant-lying on the |
ground with two blankets. He told
me to crawl under, and, after spread |
ing my one down on his, | did so. |
After delivering my message l began |
asking questions. learned that | was
second IN command; that | was to /
take charge of the second wave and |
at a. m. we would pass through |
the battalion in front to fight the ma |
chine guns and snipers.
Il didn't sleep much, for the shells |
were making too much racket. The |
shells began to pass not so far over !
us nor so high, so l suggested crawl
ing into a hole; but the lieutenant |
SAID That is nothing so we STAYED |
there until they got closer and he
SAID he expected it would be best
we got up and stopped over to pick
up our blankets when we heard one |
coming, but it did not pass over. The
art was soft and wet, which was |
about the only thing that saved us,
for 1t fell fifteen feet from US and |
exploded. We hit the ground as soon
as we heard it hit, and dirt fell over
us. We went few feet and lay
down IN a hole a machine gun man !
mad dug. They are about the depth /
OF the body, as long and as wide. so |
you don't miss much Of being on top !
OF the ground. After we crawled in |
/ slept until runner came with a |
message about 1 o'clock, to delav the |
attack until Ito find out about !
the armistice.
Just before II we heard few
Germans singing, then bugles blow |
nc for the first time in four wears. |
1hen we had orders to remain where |
We were. that all firing would cease. |
he cannon that had been rumbling !
a. night and morning and all shells |
mat were flying stopped at once. Ev- |
efFbody got up, built fires to warm |
o.E and the boys began to sing, tell
lekes, etc. The next night | slept
tire same way, but without the music
G. freight trains flying through the
ar. 1t 1ained a little | got wet a
h,Ie and slept a little. Yesterday
w moved back a few miles to a
= WI, SO now | am sleeping in a
r sc the Germans built. | expect it
would have been quite an experience
TO have gone over the top and quite
"a hcaor, bat am satisfied to have
2een with the army on the front at
a. II. November II, 1918. when the
war ended, as we'll and healthy as I
was % Years ago.
Can't tell everything that han
pened and everything | have seen.
|NN H''Q some time getting mere,
travelling by rail, trucks, wagons and
walking. Will be in this country for
acme time yet, for we so from here
20 one Of the towns in Germany.
VIA write you where I have been and
where | am as soon as I know they
will not object
Il Go not expect Will reported un-
till it was all over"
BTTFON I'M IIyAp erAx17c