Evening journal., 1918-08-29
FINDS BATTLE zone
INTENSIFIED HE'LL
Congressman Butler Tells
of Stirring Times With
Boys at Front
AMERICANS STOPPED
HUN DRIVE ON PARIS


WASHINGTON. Aug. PITTS exas-
gersted HE'LL It's hell intensified" de-
crsred Representative Thomas s. Butler
Of Pennsylvania upon his return to
Washington from the battleneds Of
France.
For six months while / was living
with the troops from my own town OF
West Chester at Fismette, on the north
bank Of the Nesle River, ] never saw
a light except the light Of bursting
shells. There was never a minute OF the
twenty-four hours in the day that shells
were not crashing over that little town,
killing the American troops that were
occupying a.
Il was in Fismes on the south bank
Of the Vesle when the 10th Pennsyl-
vsnia forced the river. ] saw the Ger
msns blow up the pontoon bridges laid
by those brave troops five times before
the Americans finally got across and es-
tablished themselves on the north bank.
II used 20 be in the Civil War that the
battle line was where the infantry
was lighting, but now it is miles be-
hind the infantry lines. No man is safe
II he is between Paris and the front.
Five companies from my district
BOYS had known since childhood, the
barber who shaved me at home, and
even my chauffeur, were in the fight
ing while ! was there saw them be
fore they went into battle and | saw
them when they came out and some
or those / expected least 10 have proven
themselves 10 be the greatest heroes. I
was like a country school teacher dur
ing the six days and nights ] was with |
them-I lived wherever they would
keep me. ] left them not to come |
back TO represent Congress. but because |
i realized that a man who was not in /
khaki was OF no use there.
Hard 10 Leave Fighting.
'Whten / was a small boy and
storm would come up / remember that
my mother used 10 run out and get the
little chickens and put them under the
coop. So 10 was with me. When the
big shells would begin cracking all
around | would hear someone say in
lhe dark Where Is Mr.. Butler2 and
would realize that I was a source OF
,onoern to them. Although no man was
'ver treated more courteously am sure
hey felt a sense OF relief when l de-
,arted. That was the only thing I
ould not stand-leaving those men
here to flght the battles for me and
ny country. l could not stand the
Genes Of desolation, but TO say good
ye 10 my kinfOlk and my neighbors
vas one OF the hardest trials OF my
lie. Is
Il brought home dozens Of letters TO I
mothers in my district from their sons !
ver there. ! traced the Twenty-elghth [
Division, made up OF Pennsylvania \
roops, all the way from the Marne 10 1
he Nesle by the names of the crosses
nat marked the graves. on some
'rosses a battered helmet OF the hero f,
would be hung; on another, tho boots !
of the soldier Graves by the hun
ireds tell the tale Of the desperate
lghting done there by our boys. The n
americans are regarded generally as ,
ne most courageous fighters on The 4
western front n
The Australians have been regarded J
s the flercest oombatants on the Allied {
ide, but while we were in the Marno
ector one OF them said: a
The American marines are good n
ghters. but they are a little rough. g
he Germans. too, realize the worth OF
he Americans, despite all the attempts q
lade by the Kaiser 10 rldlcule them, d
nd minimize their effectiveness. Here g
a significant incident: "A man whom r
know well, one Of the transport men,
as in certain French station three n
ays before left there on the 10Th OF d
ugust, and he told me that he had a
ist seen some Frenchmen taking a
ign German officer through when a
rench officer OF high rank said in a B
arcastic tone to the captured Teuton.
IN the Road 10 Paris To that the II
erman replied in perfect English. by "
Cd. you did not stop US. It was the 81
ankee.' a,
o Fear Of Germans. a,
! don't quote anybody. simply have p
from the fghtng men who have
cen IN it-all they ask Is a chance TO &
atch the German in the open. They h
ave no more fear OF the German than n
have OF my own people. II the ar al
llery will drive them out OF the towns
he infantry will do the rest. r
"One Yankee was lying behind a lit
e pile OF earth that he had thrown B
2 as protection, when a she'll struck
, close that it threw dirt all over d
i'm, and turned him completely around. u
9 jumped up on the mound. shook II
Is fist in the direction Of the Germans D
ID shouted: You've got my name and r
idress but you did not get the date.
bat is typical Of the cool manner in Ia
hich the Americans fight with shrap- 5a
y snd high explosive shells breaking 4C
Ter them all day long.
"A young man OF the town in which tc
live who would be known among us 81
skinny has two notches on his
lie which he is entitled TO because he in
s put two Prussian Guards. Ger i2
any's best soldiers, on their backs. pr
le OF them he killed with a bayonet. lie
gave me a button that he cut fro.
9 Prussian's coat 20 deliver TO his
'ther. II had a miniature crown on
Really the only cheerful men I saw Nc
er there were the German prisoners vic
cry House is Pulverized. tn
The towns through which thel
nerlcans made their way to the Vesle arr
tet