Catoctin clarion., 1918-11-14

pFODleIH III computing accurate
casualty lists without delay, problem
that probably has r"t occurred to the
American people, was revealed by
George w. Titus of Mshawalla, Ind,
on his return from six months serv-
ice with the Y. NJ. G. A. in France.
Frequently, he said, American soldiers
are killed in action or wounded Sc.
verely many days after they were
supposed to have left the front for
u leave resort. Just how this might
happen, he explained as follows:
"Our boys are so willing to give up
the rest and easy time which they
trenches that very often they remain
at the front and go into action with
relief units, som lines French or Brit
ish troops, days after they should
have been in a leave camp recuper-
ating for another tour of duty at the
front. At Scissors l saw many wound
ed men come back to our field hospital
after their own units had retired to
the rear.
Separated From Units.
1T Is difficult to understand why
this could happen unless one had seen
how fighting men may become separat-
ed from their units in hard battles.
They 60 over the top together but
after that anything may happen. Thus
1t may turn out that when units are
withdrawn to make way for relief
forces, small groups will become de-
tached from their own companies.
While waiting around for some Of
their fellows the lure of the battle
will become so strong that they rush
back into action with units that they
have never seen before.
II recall particularly one case where
1t was necessary to divide company
that was scheduled for leave and de-
tail half of the men for reserve duty,
The captain stated the case briefly and
asked for volunteers. 1t is all the
more remarkable when you consider
what those men had survived to know
that every man In the company VOlun-
teered for the service that would keep
him near the 'front.'"
Titus said that the thing he would
recall most often from his store of
experiences in "Y" work was the Inn
pressive spirit of the fighting men. At
Cantigny, he explained, men were COM
ing out of action practically shot to
pieces. But as they lay on their cots
in the field hospital they joshed and
laughed In spite Of the pain they suf-
fered.
"At one moment" he added, "a
wounded man would groan as sud-
den pain darted through his body, and
the next minute he would be laugh
ing and saying: Cad, did you sec
those Huns run!
Source Of Wonder.
"The walking wounded were always
a source Of wonder to me. I cannot
imagine how some Of those men man
aged to make their way back to the
dressing stations without assistance.
I saw one man with both arms dan
Cling helpless by his side-I know that
only by supreme nerve was he over
coming the pain he suffered-and I
heard him tell two stretcher bearers
not to mind him but to keep on and
bring in man whose legs wouldn't
bring him."
Titus was with trench mortar bat
terry at Cantigny in May when the bat
terry threw 776 big bombs into the
village in one day. He said that these
trench mortars, which never had been
used before by the United States
forces, were most destructive and sent
the Germans on the run in such q
hurry that heavy guns which they had
abandoned were found loaded and
ready to be turned upon them when
the Americans captured the village.
He brought back a priced treasure,
a watch that was purchased in Toul
by the men of the battery and pre-
sented to him with purse that con-