The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-07-03
FOOTBALL Stars
CHUMS ON BATTLE
Line IN FRANCE
Lieut.. "Litz" BUSINESS
Writes Interesting Let
ters From Firing Line

Lieut.. "Litz" Rusness, who is on
an ipmortant assignment on the bat
tie line in France, found time during
quiet hours to write intensely in
teresting letters to his brothers, Ben
and Oscar, at Moorhead. It is nat
ural that the old football star and
coach should mingle with other stars
of the gridiron; but these are all
outshone by Father DeValles, chap
lain of an infantry regiment.
The first letter, to his brother, Ben.
follows:
An Ideal Day In France.
This is the most beautiful day
have yet seen in France. The sky
is clear, the sun is shining brightly,
the air is warm, no wind blowing, in
fact all goes to make an ideal day.
The guns are silent or nearly so, for
only now and then does one Of them
speak forth. The silence is a bit too
prolonged to be for the best.
II am at present up with the in
fantry as artillery liaison officer,
(A.L.O.) For your information will
briefly state the duties Of such an
officer. Artillery and infantry could
never work together with success
If it were not for liaison. Artillery
in order to support the infantry,
must know exactly where the latter
proposes to do. Infantry, in turn
must be advised as to the limits and
possibilities Of artillery fire. For
example the infantry may wish the
artillery to destroy machine gun
emplacement of the enemy. The A.
L. o. advises as to the number Of
shots required and how near the
emplacement our infantry may ap-
proach and avoid possible casual
ties from our own fire.
Directing a Barrage.
Another example is the initiating
of a rolling barrage in which the in
fantry must be informed as to the
margin Of safety as they follow the
advancing curtain Of fire. a rolling
barrage is used in attack and Is reg
ulated by expressed intervals of
of time, the artillery increasing its
range gradually as the infantry ad-
vances. I might give many other in
teresting examples but from these
you will get an idea OF what am
tunity as it gives me a clearer view
of what the infantry is doing, and,
incidentally, q closer view of the
Boche.
"a few days ago I was at the
Echelon, or horse line; and while
there roomed with Chaplain Stock
pole Of the 102 F. A. Horses and
religion do not always harmonic;
and I fear I shocked the chaplain'S
finer sense more than once by the
choice adjectives used in describing
some Of my NANCY, sprained and
crippled nags. Working around
horses has a tendency to enlarge
ones vocabulary.
Chaplain De Wales Decorated.
Getting back to where 1 started.
Rather a coincidence that on this
to. the infantry drew a
bunk alongside the chaplain Of this
regiment. He is Father De Wales
Of the 104th infantry; and you doubt
less have seen his pictures in the
American papers and magazines for
he has been cited and decorated by
both the. French and Americans for
gallantry under fire. He is a young
man; always on the ich and doing
a. wonderful work among the boys.
Il suppose the news Of the big
battle over here arouses consider
able interest back in the States.
From what I read and hear from
the new arrivals America is booming
along in great shape, concentrating
all her strength and power on win
ning the var. It's a Dig task hut as
sure as cay follows nigu: We will lie
in the end. German pI:de
and conceit must be crushed even
though It be necessary to use the
last man and last dollar of America
In the second letter, written to his
brother, Oscar, reference is made to
L, oh T0k
writes:
LAS long as the Boche remains
quiet there is little to be done. This
Is just such day and find worlds
Of time to write and read. Any kind
Of book reads well under such cir
Papers and magazines
one reads and rereads until every
word, even Of the ads, is chewed
and digested. Some of the ads. with
pictures of men and beautiful women
in evening dress make a fellow think
Of the good old States.
Pictures of Movie Stars Useful.
Back at the Echelon I kept the
office walls pretty well covered with
pictures Of famous movie stars.
Major Rushford, the regi-
mental medical and sanitary officer
came around would first lead him
into my studio He liked women
pretty well I am sure for visit
to the gallery always put him in a
pleasant state Of mind. Needless to
say the psychology OF it had effect
for my barracks, kitchen and quar-
tiers invariably passed inspection,
managed always to have a new
picture for each visit Of the major.
The day after Elsie Janis entertain
ed us I had the boys hunting high
and low but we couldn't find a pic
ture Of Elsie. She is indeed clever
on the stage. =
while at the Echelon I banged
around considerable with Lieuts.
Card and Wendell Percy Wendell
is better known as Bullet Wendell
Of Harvard football fame. You, no
doubt, recall reading of his exploits
on the gridiron-the All-American
half. He certainly is some chunk of
muscle and strength. He was our
town major. Each military town has
such an officer, Whose duties are
that Of a mayor. He is
the main squeeze in other words;
and il anything is wanted in the way
of blllets, hunks, lumber or the like
it is up to Percy.
Z "sulIet" Wendell Coming Home,
'Lieuts. Card and Wendell are
among the officers selected from the
regiment to go back to the States
as instructors; and they will start
for home 'tout-a-suite.' Both are
pleased to go back although Wendell
breads the trip across. While at the
front he tried balloon observation
and that got his goat too and they
had to lower the skiff. Lieut.. Card
is from Minneapolis. We were at
Fort Smelling together and have
been together most of the time since,
He was married just two weeks be-