Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1918-09-30
PAUL ESTENHAVER
WRITES FROM FRANCE
Former Town Boy Relates Incl
dents Along "ouiet" Sector.

United States District Judge d. c. !
Westenhaver. formerly Of this city. !
now of Cleveland. O. has received
the following letter from his son.
Capt f. p. Nestenhaver. now in
France with GO. c. 18th Machine
Gun Battalion, which will be read
with enterest by the young officers
many friends in this city:
The letter. which was written nm.
der date of Augusut 81. reads.
My Dear Dad, AT this writing am
well and in my usual good health.
When | last wrote said that was
near the lines. and would probably
go up the nrrt day. and so I did. to
take command OF NJ G. company
supporting an infantry battalion In
the first line trenches. Have been
here week now and will probably
be relieved soon. My twelve guns are
spread out over a territory of several
miles, each platoon of four under
the command Of a lieutenant My
headquarters is mile or so back.
and ii takes some walk to go around
to the gun positions. Brigade head
quarters is farther back. and division
headquarters back futhor yet. There
was an awful lot Of stun TO familiar.
ize with. coming in as did. and I
am a long way from having done so
fear II will be a couple months be.
fore get the run of things in new
outfit.
As said before this is very
! quiet sector. See good many planes
land couple aeroplane fights. Three
boche planes just flew overhead
about supper time down The road
aways they dove and fred at an au.
tomobile: you could hear the rat-tat.
tat of their machine guns. very
plainly. Have heard plenty of shells
whistle overhead, but none has land.
ed anywhere near me; saw Ger
! man observation balloon attacked by
an aeroplane and set on fire The
Germans have put over two raids:
the first time they put down bar.
rage and caused our infantry casual
| ties of about six killed and fifteen
wounded The other time they were
driven back, leaving a couple of
dead behind; both were very small
operations. The line here has not
moved for a long time,
Have horse once more, also
bicycle. use the latter mostly. Have
not yet seen a German. although
lay on hill the other day with field
glasses. searching their trenches. try
| ing to pick up one.
| Had little fun the other night.
The boche were reported to be dig.
ging trench by night at certain
place, SO by day we picked spot
! for two of our guns, prepared the
data to lay on the spot by night.
marked the position with stake. as
is the proper practice. then at II p.
m. brought UP. the guns in cart. left
them some distance back. brought
up the guns to the spot, fired about
five hundred rounds in couple Of
minutes and. speedily retired, with
what success is not determined
The war news from other sectors
continues to be splendid, though, of
course. by the time this reaches you
the situation will have changed again
Perhaps you have heard the slogan
Heaven, Hell or Hoboken by Xmas"
which Is accredited to Gen. Pershing.
Left nearly all of my clothes in
Paris, and am glad that did. Hope
TO get back there again in few
months any way. While there bought
myself one thing that should come
in very handy and brought 1t with
me, to-wit, fine English trench coat
with detachable wooden lining. 1t is
said TO be absolutely waterproof and
is very warm
Can hear the booming of the guns |
at intervals aus ! write. II may be
there will be a little excitement to- !
night Well, | must close now. Don't
worry about me as long as ! am in !
near as | can see. and will let you
know when | leave.
Somewhere in France. Paul.