The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-09-06

numerous air battles Thus ended
the first day and we were sitting
pretty near where a lot of the boche
field pieces had been. We had all the
souvenirs we could desire. l chung
to helmet to send you and had
pistols and all sorts of instruments.
Since we went forward again the Sec
ond day and l got hit, / saved moth
ing. &
Nine Hundred in Cave Give Up.
/ was on the back edge of deep
ravine with eight or ten guns. Our
front line was well across the ravine.
in which there were some boche with
machine gun. They stuck and
couldn't be dislodged. l stood above
the entrance and watched them fire on
road which they could see. Need
less to say they made nuisance of
themselves and we wanted them out.
A tank backed up to the entrance
and exchanged shots with them. 1t
was good to watch them firing at
each other at about ten yards. In
spite of all they stuck and all day
whenever a boche plane came over
they sent UP signals. In the evening
they surrendered and, instead of
eight or nine. as we expected, ar
least 900 boche came out. of that cave
and gave themselves up. There were
colonies, and majors, and they
brought cut horses, carts, and all
manner of material. Next morning a
Frenchman who used to- live in the
town near there and knew the cave,
took in party which brought out
800 more boche. We later used the
cave as a dressing station and lay
there three or four hours. 1t was
enormous.
A fairly quiet night, during part of
which the captain and l slept in a
trench little less than six feet by
one and half and four feet deep.
Crowded as we were, we slept be-
cause it was the first night in fire.
A short advance the next morning
foiled boche counter attack and we
had a day of considerable artillery
and machine gunfire.s
In the evening about six was with
the major when he received note
to 'be ready to attack any minute"
At that time our barrage was start
ing and the Moroccans were going
over. We had not expected to go.
However, we went and through per-
feet, hail C'rather bromide, but darn
true") of machine gun bullets. -One
just ducked ones head and walked
forward. Same as the day before. At
first many boche kamerading, then
nothing but machine guns to stop us.
mn Inf0 ,;y,1
chine gunners and they were on one
flank. Still the boys just walked on
1t one went down someone picked up
his load1and carried on.
It's wonderful how close the shells
can come and not get you. Time
and again l walked through the
smoke of one and out to the light
without being touched. Finally
piece caught me above the hip and
knocked me about ten feet My SER
geant came up on the run, thinking l
was done. 1t was just dazed and was
up by the time the boys got by.
About fifty yards further the bullet
got me and l curled up in shell
hole. 1t was too small for comfort,
as the bullets and shells were bit
thick. So l crawled over to nice
big one and took my pack off and
made myself comfortable.
l had cigarettes and matches and
was sitting rather pretty l wanted
to sleep, but didn't dare, because I
was a long way from home For a
few hours ! sat around. / had dressed
my leg and capman came by and
looked me over. He found where the
bullet went in, which hole l had
missed. Towards dark l started
back, aided by an officer who was
shell shocked and his runner. A little
way with them andsa couple of run
ners took me little farther and left
me in another hole near wounded
boche. Later q chaplain and a sur
geon took me- to a road
After few hours beside the road
our supply officer came by and took
me in on the ration cart He had
been looking for me for three hours.
Had been up front with chow, the
first in five days. The balance of
my journey is as follows: Ration
cart to regimental aid station, ambu-
lance to ambulance dressing station.
truck to field hospital. another truck
to hospital train, the train to a hospi-
tai in Paris. Here 1 stayed two days
and was operated on, and then an
other train here. The trains were
United States hospital trains and
sure are fine. Regular United States
cars.
Thus endeth my story, and trust
you can read it. I've seen nearly
everything he has now and rise to
remark that there are no three boche
as good as one of our boys, which
boys are probably the finest there
are. Believe me, I'll go anywhere
with them. They are regular SOL
diers and one cannot say too much
for their spirit, pluck and endur-
ance, not to speak of plenty of hu-
NOR. It's supper time and I'VE raved
long enough. Lots of love. Allan.
Miss Maroaro Meas Ioft 81. mn