The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1918-07-10

one can tell me That these lOr-
rible crimes committed by them
are isolated cases and that the
German people are not to blame.
| personally think that the Ger
man public is as much at fault
as the government. No civilized
people would do what they have
and | am positive that no red
blooded American could be
forced to commit the crimes
that the Germans have. I have
seen the country that has beer.
devastated by the Huns; cities
with not a building left stand
ing.
| am happy to know that the
people in America have at last
awakened to the great task be-
fore them. This war isn't over
yet and every mile the Germans
gain prolongs the war just tat
much longer. Of course you
read and probably get more
news than we do. l understand
that they are stopped all along
the line and that the allies are
all holding. You can count on
the Americans giving a good
account of themselves. If the
pacifists could only travel along
the front line here and see the
He'll of it all, I believe they
would be converted to the
cause.
The trenches were in fine con-
dition this time. We have had
such wonderful weather and
there was little mud to be
found. We were very fortunate
in not receiving much fire this
time. The men on our right and
left suffered. We had a good
view of mo mans land" which
we controlled by constant pa
trolling.
l watched the Boche artillery
on our left one day in prepara-
ton for a raid. All day long
they kept up the fire and I could
see geysers of smoke and dust
flying up into the air. 1t seemed
as though the entire ridge was
afire. After dusk rockets and
flares of all colors and descrip-
tons were sent up into the air.
ridge was afire. 1t was a Won
derful sight to behold, but when
we knew of all the misery and
suffering it was causing, our
hearts were panied for those
who were forced to resist until
the last.
One of the despicable tricks
the Boche used on our men was
to send over several men, with
their arms over their heads,
crying "Kamerad! Kamerad!
we are deserters. let us in!'
Then the men in the rear threw
grenades into our trenches. Our
men opened fire and drove them
back after inficting a number
of casualties in their ranks.
About an hour later they sent
over a protective gas attack. It
was sent over three times. l
am not permitted to tell more.
Our men are anXiously awaiting
a chance to meet them hand to
hand.
A Frenchman brought down
German plane over our lines.
1t was terrible to see the plane
burning in the air with the pi-
lot trying to make a safe land
ing. The flames spread so rap.
idly he lost all control. The OBJ
server jumped and was crushed
to death while the pilot burned
with his plane. l have little
souvenir.
| was in Paris when they fired
on it with the long-range gun
and also when they raided it
with aeroplanes. | was sent out
to the 32nd Division for five
weeks as regimental instructor
IN automatic rifles. 1t was quite
a change and rest. Ny company
was in the line when | returned
50 | had to get busy watching
for the Boche. 1t is rather hard
on the nerves being under fire,
these long-range guns reaching
quite a ways back. The morale
OF our troops is excellent.
You would be amused to see
the primitive way the farms are
working COWS or a
cow and a horse and usually in |
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