The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1918-07-25

WHICH contalneu goiu rings, WatcheS,
precious stones. etc. The business Of,
the marauders fiourished here In vitry.
The soldiers In the supply columns en-
countered very little actual danger;
they had an easy time as compared
with soldiers fighting at the front.
We soon reached the cathedral and
reported TO Lieutenant Elm. He also
had defended his fatherland at : safe
distance and here in the city, freshly
shaved and in immaculate attire he
looked very presentable.
The contrast was vivid as he stood
before us who were torn. dirty and COW
cred with blood. with unkempt hair.
with boards grown and caked with
mud and dirt.
We were obliged to wait 50 we sat
down and looked around us. The
church was full of wounded; many
died under the hands of the doctors.
They were carried out to make room
for others. The dead were carried to
one side, where whole rows Of corpses
lay. We counted more than sixty.
On our way to vitry we had begged
some bread. but We were still hungry
and ogr-feld kitchens were nowhere in
sight. The crews of our field kitchens
as well as our forage officers and non.
commissioned officers prefer to defend
their fatherland many kilometers be-
hind the battle fronts. They did not
care about us as long as they were
not obliged to go within range of the
artillery fire. Comradeship has its
limitations with them.
Other field kitchens were near by.
They had prepared more food than
their companies needed. Many for
whom they had cooked VIII never eat
again. We were invited to come and
get whatever we wanted.
We had scarcely finished eating
when we had to march on. Presently
we were Joined by more members of
our company. Our captain appeared.
One of our officers reported to him the
number missing. He stepped in front
of the company and said cheerfully.
Good morning, men," although II was
seven O'Clock In the evening. A growf
was the only response. We were then
ordered to go to the wagons standing
OF the north side of the town, where
each man was to supply himself with
cartridges and three hand grenades.
We gathered at the wagons at o 80
o'clock and each man took 500 car
trldges. his three grenades and matches
to light them. On the way to the wag-
ons, we saw everywhere formations be-
ing hastily organized from stray SOL
diers and we received the impression
of some great activity In preparation.
The rain had begun to fall In tor
rents. As we took our places we saw
the streets filled with troops wearing
special uniforms to protect them
against the weather. These uniforms
consisted OF a suit Of weatherproof
clothing, n cap. such baggage as must
be taken on a march. n tent ciorn. rent
sticks, dishes and. with the pioneers.
trench tools. Thus equipped. we stood
in the rain and waited. ignorant OF
what lay before us.
We were ordered to take the breech
locks out OF the guns and put them
in our bread bags. The guns now
were no good for shooting. We now
began to understand what lay before
us. night attack was planned with
bayonets and hand grenades. and the
measures which had been taken wore
taken SO that we would not shoot nt
one another In the darkness.
We stood and waited until eleven
O'Clock. when the order suddenly cnme
to 90 into quarters. We did not know
what 10 make of this after all the
preparations. We could tell from the
drum fire and the red glare In the sky
that the battle Ind not lessened In
violence The sky glowed. ilIumined
by the burning villages and farms.
On the way to our quarters we heard
the officers saying among themselves
that final trial had been Intended to
defeat the French. This had been the
reason behind the preparations for the
night attack which had now been
called OF.
Headquarters apparently had de-
cided otherwise. Perhaps II was known
there that nothing could be accom-
plished by attacking and the order was
given to begin the retreat which was
PIT into effect the next morning at six
o'clock. We did not realize then that
this was to be our last night in vitry.
We were sheltered In n shed for the
night. As we were very tired, we soon
were fast nsleep. We were aroused at
four O'Clock In the morning. everyone
was given loaf of bread and ordered
to MI his canteen with water. after
which the march began. Although we
we're ignorant OF our destination, the
Inhabitants of yitry seemed TO under
stand where we were going and they
stood on the streets throwing US sig
nfficaut glances