The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1918-09-11

@A2&ZA1 have been horri-
fled to have heard that some one here
had killed another person. Letters
from lover there" where our brave :
boys, Clarence Bailey, Francis Ma
gin, "Ken" Oberlin, Lyle Madden
but what's the use of trying to tell
their names. they are all doing good
work, driving back the armies of
those who would enslave the world.
The first letter is from Lyle Mad
den to his parents, Mr.. and Mrs.
Charles w. Madden and is as follows:
Somewhere in France, Aug. 10, 1918
Dear Mother and Father:
As am not very busy today /
thought / would drop you few lines
to let you know that am we'll and all
o. k. and hope this letter finds you
both the same.
We are still out on our rest period
and dom know just when We will go
back after the Huns again but it
won't be long and then / won't have
much time to write. But dent wor-
ry if you don't hear from me for
two or three weeks at time because
you know when we are ON the lines
there isn't any place to mail letters.
because we go so fast that they can't
keep up.
On the last drive we were in we
pushed back the Huns between II and
10 miles in seven days. So you can
make up your mind that the old 32nd
division makes them sit up and take
notice. The chaplain who helped do
the burying said that there was be-
tween A and Germans killed to one
American. And our boys took lot
of chances, because they went so fast
that the artillery could not keep up.
And you see they did not have any
artillery protection the last three or
four days, but they kept on going
just the same.
For three days and nights all the
boys had to eat was raw bacon and
hard tack and were fighting hard
night and day and went through ter
rible artillery fire from the Huns and
also machine gun fire., Also saw their
best friends fall right beside them,
and even at that besides being so hun-
CRY, tired and dirty they went over
the top singing. Now just show me
better soldiers than that if you can,
> but it can't be done.
4. / do not know how far the boys
would have gone if they had not run
out of ammunition. When they run
out they dug themselves in and held
the line until the ammunition train
and kitchens caught up. They they
ali filed up and with new supply
of ammunition they took about
mile or little more of No-Man's land
before they were relieved.
/ have not seen a town or house
since the 9th of July that was not
hit by shell or all torn to pieces.
and most all Of the towns are nothing
more than ruins. Well. there isn't
much more that can write about and
besides the war is nothing to write or
talk about, because it sure is hell if
there is any such place.
was up to dinner with Kenneth the
other day. He is feeling fine.
!. also saw Ben Longan and Orville
Klock but did not see Spencer Smith
as he has been shell shocked and in
the hospital, l suppose you will won
der what shell shock is. Well it is
; caused by the terrible noise and con-
cussion of shell landing close to you.
J 1t is nothing to have one land and
knock you down.
Well, I am back to regimental
headquarters and was glad to get
. back. am back with Capt. Hogarth
again and am driving motorcycle for
the officers. / have got an Indian
machine and side car.
Ben is also in regimental headquar-
ters but is in the Signal platoon, but
l see him every day and also see Cy
and Paul every day.
/ got nice long letter from Mrs.
Bailey yesterday and also one from
Hattie and Uncle Geo. and Aunt Let.
Say, you tell Mr.. and Mrs. Me-
ginley that they owe me a Letter. /
wrote one to them about six or seven
weeks ago. Just ask them if they
got it. !,
Well, / will close for this time and
will write again before we go back to
the front. We are now about two
or three miles from the front lines.
AS ever with love from your son,
Private Lyle G. Madden,
126th Regimental Headquarters, 32d
Division, A. f. F., France. via N. Y.
The second letter is from Corporal
Clarence G. Bailey and came as the
; first after a lapse of long period CT
anxious waiting by his family here.
+. Clarence's letter follows:
On Active Service with the American
Expeditionary Force, July 27, '1S.
Dear Ones at Home:
Don't think / have forgotten you
!, for my mind turns homeward pretty
often. I'm telling you. Well first
l. will tell you that this is the first
letter that / have written in long
time but it is not my fault for once
more / have been away on trip and
in place where we can't write let
ters.
Well once more we have shown
them what the "Yanks" could do and
we sure did good job of it. Old
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