The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1918-04-18
MinOt Man Returns From France,
Telling Thrilling Experiences
Says French Expected Retreat.

Telling Thrilling Experiences
Says French Expected Retreat.
F. c. Upton, of the Minot Motor
Sales Co., who for the past five
months has been in France and Eng
land in the interest Of an exporting
firm engaged in the sale of farm trac-
tors to the governments of the war
ring countries, returned Wednesday
evening: accompanied by Mrs. Upton,
who had gone to New York to meet
him, upon his arrival in America. F.
c. is looking hale and hearty and de-
spite the restricted diet imposed upon
residents in Europe at this time his
girth has increased quite materially
and an enormous camoufage mus
tache has so disguised his features
that even his closest friends pass him
upon the street without recognition.
Mr.. Upton's return just at this time,
when all thoughts are centered upon
the terrific battles of Picardy and the
fact that Mr. Upton has personally
visited many of the scenes of that
struggle, makes his observations Of
unusual interest to the public. In
speaking of the outcome Of the war,
Mr.. Upton says there is no question
as to it's ultimate end. The allies will
win, but this year will not see the ter
rible Hun vanquished He says if
any one doubts the righteousness of
the Allied cause he should go to
France and be convinced. He saw
but three Of the Minot boys in France.
Chas. Cloid, formerly with the Stone
Ordean-Wells Co., and C. G. Kinney,
formerly custodian of the K. P. Home
in Minot, he met in Paris. Martin
Nelson, formerly with the l. H. c. he
saw Somewhere in France" driving
motor ambulance He visited Toul
prior to it's occupation by the Amer
lean forces. He says that it is an i'm
portant city and has great historical
associations. At Avignon in southern
France he saw an immense fortress,
the strongest in France, which was
built in the 18th century. He was in
London during three air raids and up
on several occasions when alarms
We're sounded, but the Boche planes
were stopped by barrage or headed
off by allied planes. He was in Paris
when three air raids occurred. He
was there when the Germans first be-
gan their bombardment of the city
from distance of IS miles. The gun
began firing Saturday, March %, and
that day fired "a shells. The next
days24 more came along and on the
following day but three. It was lat
er learned that the gun had burst,
killing five of the operatives. The
bcr,bardment was resumed three days
afterwards.
Speaking of the big German gun
shelling Paris, Mr.. Upton said that at
first the people of Paris could not
figure out where the shells were COM
ing from. The bombardment took
place in the day time. Scouting planes
were sent up to see if the shells could
possibly be dropped from some sort
of an aeroplane The French got
busy, and within a short time had
made an. actual photograph Of the big
gun from an aeroplane and the Paris
papers were out at three o'clock that
afternoon telling all about it. Mr..
Upton was standing within 200 yards
of large building which was struck
by one of the shells thrown by the
big gun. He says that by the time
the shell arrives it's force is almost
spent and the greatest damage done
by this shell is from the explosive it
contains. The shell is 8 1-2 inches
in diameter with three inch casing,
giving a 3 1-2 inch chamber for ex-
plosives. The French estimated that
the shell has to be thrown 20 miles
high in order to travel rs miles.
He was in Paris the first nine days
of the Battle Of Picardy, as the first
great German drive was called, leav-
ing Paris on the morning Of the 28thA
His knowledge Of conditions was OBJ
tained direct from soldiers and the
wounded returning from the battle
field and from Red Cross workers. He
talked with American soldiers who
participated in the Cambria drive.
There were two wounded men who
had been fighting along side the Brit.
ish. One was from Oklahoma and
one from Indiana. The former had q
foot shot off and the Hoosier lad had
broken leg. One Of these boys in
replying to a question as to how the
Americans fight said that he saw an
American soldier when surrounded by
the enemy turn upon his captors and
kill two Of them with q spade before
they "got him." Mr.. Upton, asked it
he knew personally any details as to
the losses on our side in the Battle OF
Picardy, said that he knew nothing
except as he was told by a fellow
traveller on the trip home. His in
formant was bishop and his duties
as an attache Of the Y. M. G. A. ne
cessitated his visiting the front line
trenches at frequent intervals. This
man told Mr.. Upton that upon the
third day Of the battle he stopped at
a house where % American soldiers
lad dead ranged side by side await
ing burial and he asked one Of the
attendants what toll the Americans
exacted in return and the young sol
dier pointed toward ridge and said
with significance, "Go up there and
you will find over 400 dead Germans" !"
He said that he had no opportunity
to sec any Of the atrocities ct first