davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1918-09-19

! finally left Il and took a chance right
through the wheat, and by some LUCK
although all their machine guns were
hring on the field they did not hap
pen to get on us We finally reached
our woods. and every one was com
pletely worn out. There were no
dugouts, SO ! took the men up a
small rayine and we stayed there
for the night.
The following morning saw one
~ the worst incidents have seen.
saw one shell kill six men and
! wound seven: one OF the wounded
was a lieutenant with whom | was
talking at the time II was a stray
shell. and was Just one OF those I'M
lucky accidents ] don't see how /
got out. but ! was just lucky After
that gathered what men had left
about half OF them, and took them
about 4 mile back to shipping sta
ton for the Red Cross, th1t is wAcie
they put the men in the ambulances.
and left them there for the day. They
dropped scattering shells through
our woods all day, and the lucky
devils dropped several shells OF HE,
mixed with gas, right in the rayine
al that shipping station, and got
about half of the men we had left,
and where we thought they were
perfectly safe. So by night our cap
tain was with the battalion and there
we're two second lieutenants of our
company left and about thirty men.
Lieutenant Mckenzie was the other
beside myself. and he had small
piece of shell in his arm and had
cen badly shocked in the morning.
Another battalion went over the
same place the following morning,
and the unit on their left gained
their objective We were back In
the woods in reserve again. That
night ! was pulled out by an order
from regimental to take all the men
/ needed and connect regimental
lido. with the advanced battalion by
a relay OF runners ] took ten. men
and left two every half mile. All
had to go by was a very poor map
and a compass, and the regiment did
not know where our advance battal-
ion was. ! hurried ahead, and final
~ ran into some of our men and
found the battalion about three hill
ometers from where they were sup
posed to be- l got back at o'clock,
wet through and worn out. The next
morning our lines advanced and we
moved forward, and we kept follow
ing until the 22nd, when we went IN
to help them out. We had to ad-
vance across a field that was check
cred by "bosh" machine guns. wei
went after them, but they were too
strong, and they decided to call IN
our artillery for the first time, We
lined up again on the gath to take
the position, or what was left OF H.
AT any cost, and we had several com
panies in reserve, when just before
the zero hour the word came down
to sit tight, and then we were re-
lieved. We went back in the woods
for a week and most Of the men got
a salvage blanket, and we brought
up our kitchens and had plenty 70
eat for the first time since the Attn
We received some requirements
there. and thought for time that
we we're going back in, but they
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1918-09-19

difficulty in bringing up food we
got one meal day and that came
about midnight We stayed there
until the 18th, when we got orders
10 begin the drive, and our first OBJ
jective was railroad track, 500
Yards across a wheat field, from a
wood II took us three hours hard
walking TO get to the woods, and we
went over al 7:45 in the morning of
the l Sth. The boys were acting per
fectly and we went over In four OF
the finest waves you ever saw. We
had a ravine TO cross just before we
got to the track and the "bosh' had
several machine guns set up in there.
We pushed over to the ravine and
then / went with the boys down In
with the bayonets. but we had no
use for them, for what "bosh' that
were left had been shot a number
Of times.
got a shot at one, but some one
beat me TO him, for he fell just as
shot. and know did not get him.
We had the men dig in as soon asI
we got to the track ] had my men
dig holes along the bank close to the
top, hoping in that way TO be out OF
the way Of their shells and down
enough so that they could Just seel
over the top. They commenced she'll
ing us in about an hour and to my
sorrow ] saw some shells coming
from one side from wood about one
mile to my left; they dropped about
twenty-five six-inch shells along the
foot of the embankment and within
about twenty feet of us, but most
of the men had a pretty good hole
by that time, and ! made them stay
down in them. / did lot of worry
ing, fearing that they would correct
the DETECTION just little and then
the shells would drop right on us,
hut for some reason they did not,
A little later a machine gun from
The same woods commenced dropping
bullets in on us, and 1t looked as
though they would get the men for
all could do. BY noon our position
was becoming untenable, for one or
the units which was to take woods
so yards on our left was driven back
and the "bosh" shifted a number
of M. G. into that woods, and there
we were with the "bosh" shooting
from the front, the side and a little
from the rear.
I Immediately reported the facts
to the captain, and with him we got
up on the track and took look. 1t
was a short look, for they were fir
ing at us within a minute but we
saw that we were in trap, and That
Ell they had to do was to wait until
night and then come over and take
us. The battalion commander came
down as soon as he got our report,
and told us to sit tight while he went
back for orders. We received orders
at Q o'clock that night to get back
TO the woods we had started from
any way we could. We buried what
dead we had and sent the wounded
10 the rear, and when they got
pood start we started back through
4 ravine on our right. ] have been
through some pretty good shelling'
hut never saw anything like the
barrage they laid down on that ra-
vine. and l don't see how any of us
got through. 1t got SO bad that !
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1918-09-19
Lieut.. Rogers Experience

Lieut.. Paul H. Roger writes the
following interesting description OF
the fight at Chateau Thierry, one OF
the fiercest in which the Americans
we're engaged. A photograph of the
wheat field battle ground appears In
the current Leslies' Weekly:
France, August 6.-Well, I final
iy got little of what came over
here for, and / can't say that ! was
lust crazy about it. We went into
another sector on the Fourth Of July
and for a week | had my platoon ly-
ing in some holes in wheat field,
and thew had to keep covered with
straw to keep the "bosh" from finding
out where we we're. We had to lie
in those holes eighteen hours day
and believe me. eighteen hours is a
very long time. At night we were
along a bank at the side of road.
The "bosh" sent over a heavy patrol
one night, and we made short work
of them
At the end of seven DAYS we were
taken back into a reserve position III
a woods about three kiloneters from
the front, but that was worse than
the front, for we had very poor shell
ters, and they sholled up with b'th
high explosive (HE) and with gas
So that we got very little sleep. Dur
ing all this time owing 70 the great
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1918-09-19
When the Huns woke Up

"The Germans evidently learned
something of this relief for they
sent over a heavy barrage twenty
minutes after we arrived, hoping to
get some of us, as we moved in. All
we lost that night however, was
sleep.
1.-THE next day ] got my first bap-
tism of fire when a sniper let fly at
ME at long range. AT least, it must
have been long range. because he
missed me several feet, although he
fired from four or five shots before
could get out of sight
beginning the next evening the
scout platoon started in to make No
Mans Land, or what the Australians
call it. 'Odt Land This we did in
side of four or five days with the ex-
ception of one point, an old house
about fifty yards from the German
trenches, when they placed machine
gun at different times where 1t could
cover points behind a section of our
line. We made repeated attempts
TO reach it. but were always forced
to seek cover from the machine gun
fire. Finally, however, our trench
mortar battery blew the house to
pieces and ended our trouble in that
direction.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1918-09-19

" ANA - p Va Eus u u u n u u u -
WHAT ABILENE SOIDlER SAW ~ - -,
"' IN THE FRONT SERVICE IN FRANCE "a
Rs Iieut- Fran Little -
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1918-09-19

Most of them lived in wooden bar
racks. while a few were housed tenn
porarily in tents until the remainin
barracks, then under construction,
could be completed. A very few OF
them we're outside the double wire
enclosure working with pick and
shovel: the rest we're loafing about
the camp. smoking and talking, some
out of doors, some in the canteen,
and others in the amusement room,
where a victrola and piano were
grinding out "Tipperary, accompan-
led by several voices in German. As
We passed the door a German officer
who stood just inside greeted us with
Hello, Yanks, have nice trip"
Going to the Front
Shortly after this we started NOV
ing toward the front line. We set
out one afternoon at p. N. and
mrached until 2:3O next morning,
when we stopped at small village
and went to sleep in an orchard. me
battalion moved out again at noon
and ! nearly got left because ! over
slept. This trip lasted three days,
in which time we covered about sixty
miles, arriving finally at railroad
station. We entrained IN box cars
for a two-day ride After leaving
the train we had another days march
to our rest billets We were here
two weeks before moving up to an
other small town, which we soon left
for the line
1--WE loaded our men in trucks for
the trip to a point near the trenches
and arrived there after ten hours |
run. Leaving at $50 p. m. we start
ed to climb the hill that was before
us. We climbed until 4:30 a. m,
when it got so light we were forced
to hide in the woods to escape Ger
man aeroplanes. Several came over
lust before noon, but we remained
under cover and we're not discovered.
about 1890 I received orders toI
take the scout platoon, sixty men
who are taken from the companies
and trained for patrol work, snip
ing, etc, up to the line. ] had been
battalion scout officer in charge OF
this platoon for some time. We had
to hide under fence once to escape
the airplanes, but they went over
without bothering us and we got to
the line in due time. That night the
rest of the battalion moved in.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1918-09-19
Bullets VS.. Grenades

"The present all-American drive
in the American sector bids fair to
deal heavy blow to the kaiser. It
has been planned ever since last
spring and the summer spent in ar
ranging the details. 1t is probable
that the seth division is taking part
and it is possible that Company H
may have a chance later unless their
division is in it already. 1t is moth
ing to worry about, however. In a
drive the soldier faces bullets, while
in trench warfare he lodges gre
nades as well. Personally. I'd much
rather have the bullets"
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1918-09-19
When Losses Came

"Most of our casualties were from
grenades or flying pigs, large gre
made shot from compressed air gun.
The German name for them is grunt-
werfer, hence the American appella-
ton. On the larger part of our bat
TALON front the German trenches
we're about fifty yards away, making
continued at all times. I had one
this sort of fighting practical. and 1t
rather close call when ten-pound
bomb hit near me-and failed to ex-
plode. Many of the German shells,
bombs. etc, are faulty and fail to
explode. have counted four out OF
six three-inch shells which failed to
explode after being fired. The per-
centage will not average this high
but it is very great.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1918-09-19
Boche Treachely

zone instance I know of illus
trates very we'll the saying that the
only good boche is dead one. Amer
lean soldiers advancing near Fismes
suddenly saw lone German some
hundreds yards away with his hands
in the air yelling 'kamerad' at the
ton of his voice. Seeing no other en-
emy in sight the Americans were
surprised to encounter some rather
uncomfortable machine gun fire from
the front when they got to the Ger
man. They found him still yelling
'kamerad.' but to his ankle was at
tached a wire, the other end of which
was attached to the trigger of ma
chine gun some fifty feet away and
which. by means of the wire, he had
been firing on the Americans. This
was an actual happening and 1t is
also recorded that no German pris-
oners we're taken that day.
"Such incidents are not uncom-
mon anywhere on tHe lIollI'
German prisoner behind the lines Is
the most happy and contented per-
son in Europe. He has plenty OF
food. good quarters and not nearly
enough work. I have seen small
gangs of them working on the docks
at seaport towns and have also seen
big husky Germans in uniform rid
ing out to the field with a French
farmer to help cut his wheat. The
farmer was unarmed. and although
the German was twice HIS size, there
seemed to be no fear Of trouble.
81 visited a prison camp where the
British held about 1000 Germans
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1918-09-19

best trained and best equipped avia-
tor on the western front, He ~
probably the equal of the German IN
nearly every respect He has car
ried out numberless raids into Ger
man territory, evening the score for
damage done in France ! have seen
towns almost depopulated and great
sections of them blown away by air
bombs. | spent two weeks one time
in small village five miles from a
railroad center of about 10000. FOR
seven nights in succession and at in
tervals during the rest of the time,
German airplanes bombed this town.
Their objective was the depot, OF
course. but they missed 1t every
time, blowing up the whole business
section of the town and many resi-
dences and apartments besides. At
dark every evening the population
of the town took blankets and hid
in the woods At exactly 1890
every night the hum of the planes
would be heard and the anti-aircraft
guns would open up. In few min
utes the explosion of bombs would
be heard and windows would rattle,
In every town for several miles
around. This town, as well as a
OF others / saw, was forty
miles behind the line.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1918-09-19

"The American soldier gets the best
of food at all times. I have known
them to receive fresh tomatoes while
in the trenches. These, as we'll as
all other supplies, had to be drawn
I'D a mountainside by cable.
zone Of the most interesting
phases of the war is the part played
by the airplane.. The few American
aviators operating on the front seem
to be doing very good work. 1t IS
probable. however, that there are a
great many in France. as saw great
numbers operating about Paris.
"The British airman is BY far the
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1918-09-19


only a question of time now until the
end. but the general opinion among
army officers in France is that it VIII
take at least another year to do the
job properly.
German Soldiers Know 1t
The German soldier realizes that
his cause is lost. Every prisoner
taken has nearly the same story
that Germany has no hope of win
ming the war. They are glad some
one is going to win so they may go
hack to their homes and live in peace
hut do not seem concerned as to the
outcome. providing it will end soon.
after being interviewed and hav-
ing discovered that the Americans
are not going to kill them after all
although their officers told them they
would. they go back whistling OF
singing, glad that so far as they are
concerned the war is over and that
thew are TO De dCCOIuSu lhS bSSS
treatment.
"After raid by unit from our
regiment one night two German SOL
diers lay in a shell hole in No Man $
Land and in the morning surren-
dered to our troops. They said that
If the Germans were not afraid the
Americans would kill them their
whole platoon, about fifty men, would
surrender.
at is said that the Americans take
no prisoners. The statement is near
" true. | think. 1t is certain that
prisoners are very much in the
way. especially German prisoners
who, after having surrendered, shoot
their captors in the back the minute
they have been started back to head
quarters.
The Washington times., 1918-08-02
GIVE 'EMAL|FT"
MOVE SPREADING
TOOTHER CITIES

Washington's "Give EN- a Lift
Club" is going to have brothers in
bther Eastern cities.
Visitors coming to Washington
pave 30 been attracted to the red
Hgn pasted on over 1000 windshields
Of automobiles, ANY man in khaki
is welcome to a seat in this car.
Hold up your hand and 1 will stop.
that they declare their cities will
adopt the same.
The secretary to the mayor Of
Newark, N. J., called at The Times
office asking for information as to
bow to start club in Newark. The
Times gladly told him and furnished
him some sample placards for wind
shields.
I believe every person owning a
ear should have one of those signs on
pis windshield" declared the Newark
man, "and II they do pot, claim they
are slackers, Every person here at
home has got to get into the service,
y It's no more than helping a soldier
down the street once a day"
Representative citizens in Wash
lngton On governmental business
from Huntington, W. Va: Harris
burg, Pa, and Detroit, Mich, have
visited The Times 'Give EN- a Lift"
department. and declare a similar
eluo, will be formed at, their towns
upon their return home.
The Washington times., 1918-08-02
SECRETARY BAKER
WRITES PRAISE FOR
HEROES OF PICK"


Secretary Of War Newton d. Baker
deeply impressed with the patriotic
spirit manifested BY the $50 mine
workers OF Mercer county, Pa. who,
though retired on account OF age
went back TO work as soon as they
learned Of the country's vital need
for more coal, wrote today Q letter OF
appreciation to United States Fuel
Administrator Harry A Garneld He
wrote:
Ny Dear Mr., Gaffeld:
was greatly Impressed when
learned recently about $50 retired
miners In Mercer county, Pa. rec
ognizing the nations urgent need
Of increased fuel, had Volun-
teered to 60 back to the mines
and serve their country there.
This Is the spirit which free
and liberal government always
engenders. and which insures the
tTiumphs OF our arms and aims
should like, through you, to
send q personal greeting to these
heroes OF the pick. Cordially,
yours, NEWTON d. BAKER,
Secretary Of War.
More and more the operators and
mine workers are coming to realizs
the force OF President Wilson's
statement that ~the work Of the world
waits on them"
The Washington times., 1918-08-02
GERMAN IN JAIL
FOR PARROTS SAKE

CHICAGO. Aug. 2.-"Hoch der
kaiser! Hoch der kaiser!7
sergeants J. J. Delaney and NJ ].
Mccabe thought that through the
open window they heard a man carry
ing on a conversation with a graphic
phone.
'Hoch der kaiser: Hoch der kaiser?'
Let's investigate" said Sergeant
Delaney.
They did. Leo Deringer was seated
before q pet parrot teaching him
what is to prove the swan song of
the German army.
Leo Is now In jail and Delaney has
taken IL upon himself to be private
tutor to the parrot giving him les
sons In American patriotism that al
ways ends:
Three cheers for the Red. White
and Blue!"
The Washington times., 1918-08-02
IF YOU KNOW ANY OF THESE
SOLDIER BOYS PHONE THE
TIMES, MAIN $3.50, BRANCH7
BEFORE , p. N.

General Pershing's casualty list to-
day, one of the largest thus far re-
ported, contained 23s names, divided
as follows: 42 killed in action, As
died of wounds, 126 severely wound
ed. died of disease. died of acci-
dent and other causes, 6 missing in
action, and wounded. degree un-
determined. Fifteen OF the casualties
are from one city, Pottsville. Pa
The list, together with the ad-
dresses OF the next. Of kin, follows:
KILLED IN ACTION
CAPTAIN.
Walter MeCauIey Gearty, Phila-
deIphia, Pa
LIEUTENANTS-
Merritt Dunbar, Walnut, n. c.
Charles w. w. Field, North
windham, Me.
Herbert n. Jones, Meade, Kan.
James Aaron Pigue, Nashville,
Tenn.
Joseph Clovis Smith, Rochester.
Robert IA. Turner, stntesviIIe.
N. c.
SEhGEANTS.
Jerry J. DriseoII, Clifton Springs,
N. Y.
Henry II. KIernnn, BrookIyu.
n. Y.
Henry T. Newman, Manchester.
Conn.
Angel G. Pappas, Ipswich, Mass.
Edward Il. stOffIet, AIbuFtis, Pa
CORPORALS.
Harrison Garfield Hayes, Flint,
Mich.
James Muller, AndaIusIa, Pa.
BUGLER-
Robert POrcein, Fayetteville,
Walter p. Atkins, New Brighton.
Pa.
BarthoIomeo Auto, Detroit, Mich
Ernest ID. Bannister, Cumming,
Ga.
william J. Bauhof, Philadelphia.
John c. Bolton, SchuyIkIII Haven,
Pa.
Everett J. BushweIIer. Dunmore,
Pa.
Samuel w. Forman. brooklyn.
Milton ID. FuIEhum, WATERFOWL,
9. ID.
James e. Kane. Jr., New York.
Richard KoppIIn, Jr, Webster
Groves, Mo.
Frank Kutch. POttsviIIe. Pa
John II. Leach, Charles Town, w.
Va.
Joseph Levanoviteh, oIyphant. Pm.
The Washington times., 1918-08-02

Carl Link, ThomasviIIe, N. C.
Floyd ID. Niece, Lincoln, Neb.
George MaxneId, Rochester, N. ii.
Ellie c. MonEer, Caney, Kan.
Amos w. Morris, MInersVilIe, Pa.
Albert VI. MulIerschOen, PhiIa-
deIphin, Pa.
Francis L. O'NeIIL. Philadelphia,
Pa.
Hezekiah s. Porter. HIgEanum.
Conn.
John e. RabIneau. Richmond, Va.
Russ R. Richardson, San Fran
cisco, Cal
william II. Rotan, Baltimore, Md.
Harvey c. Wayne, Custer, III.
Clarence Wohlfeld, Frankfort,
Ind.
George YounEinger, BeIleviIIe.
N. J.
DIED FROM WOUNDS
Louis Farrell Fort Smelling.
ROscius Back, Vancouver, Wash.
James ID. Basey, TyrOn. N. @.
LIEUTENANTS.
HERMAN Il. bonsalI, ParnaSguns
Pa.
Elliott b. Clark. Weldon, n. c.
Alfred p. Conoyer, Keyport, N. J.
Charles A. Lewis, Birmingham,
Ala
SERGEANT.
John Suba, Indian HarbOr, Ind.
CoRPORALs.
Borden J. KenIson, SebaEo Lake,
Me.
Carl McGIothen, Sheldon, Iowa
Edward L. Mann, HOIyoke, Mass.
Charles J. Regan, CharIestown,
Harry III. Sherman, Calais, Me.
Clarence sOwersby, New Troy.
PRIVATES.
William b. Ackles, Red Oak, Iowa.
Francis Allie, Duluth, Mimi.
Antonio AnOefriata, Lawrence,
Clark w. Ash, MOntbOrne, waSh.
Russell Benjamin, Derry Village,
N. H.
Samuel Benson, Long Island
City, N. Y.
Frank BerkOfski. Eynon. Pa.
Warren Black, Ottawa. Han.
Arthur Brooks, Adams, Mass.
Clarence Enett Brown, Labanon,
Ind.
WILLIAM }. Callahan, woburn,
MASS.
Lee Coleman. Petersburg. Ind.
Willie H. Collins, Cairo, Ga.
stuart Logan CummNgs. Carne-
gle. Pa
AIRY A. Duke, DOEIer. Ala.
Johu NJ EiNzDafrfcL Sou,..,-tI1.
Mass.
The Washington times., 1918-08-02
JOHN K. SHIELDS
GAINS IN SENATE
RACE IN TENNESSEE

NASHVILLE. Tenn, Aug. 2.-In
complete returns today indicate that
John K Shields Is gaining on Gov
Tom c. Rye, who IL opposing him for
the nomination for candidate Of his
party for the United States Senate,
Last nights report showed GovernoE
Rye leading by 5000 votes, but later
returns had cut down the governors
lead to about 1.S0o.
Judge A z Robbins IL leading
Clyde Shropshire and Austin Peay for
governor.
Congressman R. W. Austin was de-
feated for renominatioA by ]. Will
Taylor, mayor Of Lafollette. Austin
was q supporter of the Administers
tion and backed the move to increase
the pay of soldiers Sam r. Sells,
Republican, has been reelected to
Congress from the First district over
Judge Dana Harmon.
The Washington times., 1918-08-02
new SWIMMING
RECORD IS MADE
BY D. c. WOMAN

A new swimming record has been
hung up at Chesapeake Beach, Nd.
for amateur women swimmers.
Mrs. Samuel Burieigh Milton, Of
Washington, swimming in company
with Harry seigsl. the musician. re-
Gently negotiated the distance from
the new pier at the beach to the old
pier at Holland Point ana return. a
distance Of about SIX miles. in lass
than two hours.
Ideal weather conditions prevailed.
but a strong current made things
somewhat exciting on the way to the
Point. This is the lrst time the six
mile course has been covered By q
woman swimmer at the beach.
Mrs. Milton Is q sportswoman, and
IL an active member OF the worlds
Life-Saving Alliance. which Il an,
auxiliary Of the Red Cross. She n
head Of the local alliance. and has
utilized her skill and endurance IN
swimming TO save life. She lives in
Washington, but maintains . sum-
mer home there.
Seigel also II resident OF wash
ington, and Il well known as q tai
ented violinist. He recently made .
trip from Colonial Beach. Va, across
the Potomac to Port Tobaeco. Nd, =
distance, OF thirteen mica