Bisbee daily review., 1918-08-13
MANTON WILLIAMS $ WOUNDED DURING
 BIG BATTLE
FORMER CHIEF CLERK OF E. p. & S.. DEPOT HERE WRITES INTER EsTINeLY TO HIS MOTHER OF ATTACK WHEN HE WAS STRUCK BY THREE BULLETS

Numerous friends of Manton Will Hams, formerly chief clerk of the El Paso & Southwestern office force here, will be interested to read the following letter, written to his mother, describing his experiences while at- tacking the Hun trenches. May 20. with the marines. That was his first real taste of war and his last, as he was wounded badly.
 The letter. which appeared in a re- cent issue of the san Patricio County News. published in Sinton, Tex, says:
 Somewhere in France, June 2S. My Dear Mother.
 I have wanted to write you for sev- eral days but did not feel strong enough.
 Do hope that you all have not been over anxious about me Have wired you twice and intend doing so again today. Trust they came through O. K. k Will te you my experience as mean as possible. Got my first taste of real war on May %. Had been in qIct sector for some time until Huns started spring drive when we were shifted to, part of line effected by drive and placed in reserve for a short while. We were afterwards sent into the line on May 18th went over the top at -- We gained our objective at little cost and o course held it ont the Hun ma le several counter attacks which were repulsed but not without cost. Our casualties were considerable but the enenly's were much more. It was really the first real fisht for the Americans and our men fought cour- ageousiy. Since the Marines haze dis tingUished themselves, the Amegicans are now very mreh admired by the Allies for their bravery and fighting qualities Am thoroughly convinced that our men are far superior to the Hms and feel confident that with 5N perienee we will be as good as our Allies.
 s I was wounded May 29th in counter attack and sorTy:to say Idil not get to see inc show through Was stFuck by @ machine gun fhree times. Was ad- vancing with nay Platoon from sup port to first lire trenches when ma chine gun opened up on us. Of.cOurse we dropped and started advancsBg by rushes. or each man would run 90 yards and drop. They got quite a few of us and got me when was with in 90 yards of destination. The com ter attack was failure and was thcn taken to the hospital that night.
 The first bullet struck me in me side passed under spine and small of back and out other side. the second struck rib in the left side and glanc- ed out without doing any damage, Was lying flat at the time I was hit Third struck me in the back as I was being carried of- the field and lodged in up- per chest. Am still carrying it around No vital parts were struck but the bul- let which passed under the spine struck nerves and was Daralyzed for a few minutes after being hit. After passing away it left my lower limbs numb and they pained me constantly for more than q week, Got no sleep except when under morphine. Am able to walk around the house 8 bit now and doctor says it will all clear,up in time Will probably take a month yet. Have heen taking messages for some time which is the only thing that helps me
 Lieutenant D., a friend oi mine. has friends in whom we are both with now. Lieutenant B
 was wounded at the same time I was. After he was able to walk Mir M. who is an Ameri- can took him from the hospital to his apartments and after I got able Co walk they insisted on my coming. Have been here four days. Mir. M
 - married a French girl who is doctor: she is awfully smart and treats us like a mother. Wish you world write her when you have time. ! Mir. has been here several l years. He is a civil engineer and rep 1 resents Sturdavent works; beyond l military age but very patriotic. They