Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1918-12-07
LESLIE DEvROEY
IN BIG FIGHT

Excerpts from four letters received
this week from Corporal Leslie De-
Vroey. All were written previous to
the signing OF the armistice.
"A.E.F., France.
"We were in the big drive from the
start and my widest dreams were no
comparison to what the real article is.
| never would have been satisfied
if | had not come and helped to do
my bit | am very close to the birth
place OF my father SO | shall have to
try to do a little more if possible than
just my bit. Our division was com
mended FOR the fine showing and work
done. The Good Lord" as we'll as
my Guardian Angel were with me
all the while. | know, as numerous
times it looked as though was billed
for home
was also in an air raid. Was seat
ed on bank just about pa feet above
the road and a bomb burst directly in
front OF me, just missing the bank and
Les. There was something doing ev-
cry minute Dick was also in the
drive and was O. K.-t the last time ]
saw him. We passed through Paris
again the other day on our way here.
wish you could see the position | am
in trying to write | have had Sc
we're cold for the past week, but work
ing and sleeping in wet clothes, it
can't be helped. was IS hours at one
stretch working in the rain and mud.
without a cup of coffee, and eat if you
were lucky OF course you know
what luck | have, altho' | am lucky
to be alive today, so it could be
worse"
Somewhere in Belgium.
"We are waiting the word to go
over the top, bridge a river, or build
road, or anything else we may be
called on to do. This may sound po-
etic but il is the real dope. The guns
are barking and sending out peace
terms" to Fritz on all sides OF us and
they had better start to sit up and take
notice or they will wake up in the
near future with the YSnks in Berlin.
They have been in the habit of light
ing day or two and then digging in
and taking it easy for several months,
but the Yanks are not giving them the
chance to dag in. The last front we
were on, the Allies said it could not
be taken but they didn't know the
Yanks' style and we took positions
and strongholds that had been an i'm
possibility before We started the
same thing here, so OF course, there is
only one outcome.
Later: this is another day we have
gone forward about ten miles. the
shelling is little heavier We are on
about the size OF Los Angeles. This is
Nov 3. A few days ago two other
boys and myself visited the ruins of
a town the size of San Jose, also lis
In the evening | was on guard at
our own camp.
Later; After the strain of the front
lines we entered the town mentioned
above, under heavy shell fire, when
each moment it was a question OF
here or hereafter. All that night and
the next day the town was under
heavy shell fire. The way it appeared
the Fritzies tried to destroy the whole
city after we had driven them out.
We can get along far better in Bel
gium than in France, so I'VE were in
vited into a private home and the
best was none too good and we were
invited to come daily This front is
iar different from the others. | had
as good meal as have had since
arrived in France. | would not be
surprised if tody would be one ofsthe
liveliest | have ever spent We have
been resting few days and are ready
to begin again. Our men have taken
strongholds that our Allies and Fritz
thought were too strong to be taken.
The Germans had things fixed up for
a life of pleasure, theatres, bowling
alleys, pool and billiard halls, beer
gardens, electric lights, pianos and
the best OF furnishings. These were
all in their underground cities with
REINFORCED concrete walls OF 20 to 80
feet thinkness, but that is all taken. 1t
was one OF our first victories and since
then we haven't given them much time
for trench warfare. General Pershing
said there would be no digging in for
the winter. 1t was either fight winter
and all or he would take his bows
home, and he doesn't stutter when he
says things.
Later; This is another day and we
are again at the front, busy replacing
bridge the Huns demolished when
they retreated There is strong talk
of peace going the rounds but we will
only recognize peace when we receive