New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-07-23
Fed on, Bread and Water.

We'll, to continue where L left off
while ago, VIC thought we would prob
ably stay in this town d while, so
started out looking for food and to
make coffee if possible. About the
time we were ready to partake or u
little coffee high officer rushed up in
his auto and ordered us on route i'm
mediately. We distributed rations of
bread hurriedly and started hiking.
We hiked all that day up to mid
night in the hot sun, having no
sustenance but bread and water,
finally ending about five miles behind
the line we eventually took over. That
hike was the worst / ever experienced
ofttimes I thought 1 should drop out
but somehow / stayed in. AS 1t was,
we lost our company commander and
about one platoon altogether, most of
the men eventually turning up, and ]
was in command Of the company all
that day.
about midnight we bivouacked and
laid down for a nice sleep. That night
we received the new company COM
mander, of which [ was glad as
wished to be with my platoon.
I'VE were allowed to rest there al
though ! thought that Boche planes
overhead would bomb us, and we were
routed out again at a. m, leaving
everything but combat packs behind
We hiked some more until daybreak
and lay on a road behind another de-
serted village till 10 q. M. when I re-
ceiyed orders to take two platoons
and guard the front of the town, on
the support line, where it was threat |
ened the Be chodlouw. offs u
ened the Boche would attack. We |
stood by all day expecting any minute |
Developments on our front but none |
occurred. All these days and nights |
we were under hostile shell-f1re, but |
luckily none of our company was hit. |
The company on the right of my po-
sition had IA casualties from shell |
fire.
I'VE finally learned we would be |
relieved by an army organization, but |
it was midnight before we got away |
after I had shown their lieutenant all |
particulars. Just as we were going |
the deserted town the enemy |
started Smelling heavily all around us |
and it did not take us long to bivouac
and l learned from one of my ser
geants that the organization reliev-
ing us had to vaCate our old position |
and retire as gracefully as possible. [
was mighty glad to leave.
I'VE camped in a woods until the
next day and received orders TO move
into the front line. We moved up |
Indian fashion, through the woods
and high rye, everyone keeping very
quiet and no talk above a Whisper
We finally arrived at the entrance to
a pitch dark raVine. Hero [ was or
dCred to lead the company until
every man should be in and wait
there until daylight. | started telling
the man next to me to hold to my
belt and so on down the line. ! shall |
never forget going up that hole. I
had to feel my way through water.
bushes, mud over tincans, abandoned
boxes, rocks, etc. Final
ly we reached the end and waited
there until daybreak. About that
time. I received orders to take the
into the line. which was
done, and when everybody was set
tied, the company commander showed
up.
THE French had been in this posi-
ton but the Boche had driven him
out and "Frenchy" left lots of stuff
behind. Rifles bayOnets, rations am
munition, etc which we promptly
collected The marines had driven
out the Boche.
After being there several hours