The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1918-12-06
S. T. RUSSELL WRITES
Relates Many Exciting Thrills of the
Battlefield.

Somewhere Else in France
October %, 1913.
Dear Mr.. Morrah:
It was long, long time ago when
I received your Letter. Well, 1 can
truly say that I have been too busy
to answer before this.
When we came over here, we went
to an artillery training camp where
we were in training for ten weeks.
During this time I was located at
a big hospital where I learned much
about medical first aid.
From this place we moved, by rail,
(which required four days and
nights to join the first American
Army. ....,
We Immediately went into action
and since the first day I have been
day and night doing my bit towards
licking the Kaiser. So you see my
time has been well taken up and l
know you will pardon me for not
writing before this.
Mr.. Morrah, I have often thought
about what you said about sending
you a souvenir from the battlefield.
Well, since Sept. IL could have
picked up bushels of them; but you
know how it is now-the mail will
not. carry any package Of this ma
ture back to the States, but when l
come home, and it looks now like
that will not be long, I'll bring you
something fine.
.. Well, we have just been giving old
Fritz b. On Sept. IL the First
army started drive in the St. Mie-
.ilels sector: know you read all
about: this in the papers. We went
over the top in fine style and every
thing was carried out to the small
est detail. ..
e I shall never forget my first day
in battle. Our. artillery put over
the barrage all night long, and be-
iieve me, it was SOME barrage.
Just at dawn, the dough boys went
over the top, and we Immediately
moved up to another position in or
der to. back them up; and then I be-
ran to. feel and, see what war really
is. Our barrage had caught the
Hun during the night as he retreat
ed. and dead Germans, horses and
battle equipment were lying in
heaps and piles. The sight was sick
ening to me at first, but only for a
minute. I can stand any amount of
scenes like this now, for I am used
to it. The drive was a complete
success and we gained all of our OBJ
jectives sooner than first expect
ed. From the st. Miehiel sector we
were ordered to the front in the Ar
gonne Forest-where a much bigger
drive was put on. Suppose you also
read an account of this drive. Here
II forces met with a much sitter
resistance. The Germans were well
fortified and with all of their hea-
Wy artillery, machine guns, aircraft.
etc., we had mans sized job to go
up against. We knew it would be
a hard fought battle, but the Sam
mics never wavered and waded in
to win. and we won. 1t was a
bloody battle, but we were winning
all the time. Fritz put up counter
attack after counter attack, but to
no avail. Each time they were
hurled back, leaving the field strewn
with their dead. Many of them were
taken prisoners. Back of the German
defence lines in these wooded hills,
stretched open fields. They knew
once they were driven to the open
it would be good night for certain.
and they fought hard to retain their
positions, but our boys worked so
fast Fritz wouldn't stand hitched,
and when we left there they were
"selling out" on a big scale.
From the Argonne front we were
,FA.
where for the present it is compara-