The Oskaloosa herald., 1918-10-03
THE OLD THIRD REGIMENT HAS
BATTLE EXPERIENCES.
EIGHT DAY FIGHT HITS HALF
Regiment Acquits Itself With Glory in
Fight North Of Marine. Probably
Back in Line After Rest.
Profiteering in France

France, lost 1,40O officers and men
or practically half of it's combatant
strength, in the eight day chase in
which the Huns were sent pell mel
back across the Marine between Sois
sons and Rheims, is the statement o.
Col. f. II. Bennett in a letter to La
fayette Young, publisher of the Capt.
tai.
Colonel Bennett tells of the i'm.
menSc quantities of stores and ammu
milton abandoned by the fleeing Ger.
mans, of the numbers of German dead,
and of the splendid behavior of the
Iowa boys in the twelve.mile drive.
Colonel Bettett's letter is dated Aug.
%. He states that the regiment will
likely be in rest billets three or four
weeks from that date, therefore is
is very probable that the Hawkeye
organization has recently returned to
the front. D..
Colonel Benefits letter follows:
Life has been very strenuous with
the Forty-second division and the
168th infantry, particularly since be-
ing relieved June 20, from the Bac-
carat sector in the Lorraine. Our &C.
tivities there were around Badonviller
which have been largely published,
so there Is no violation or orders in
writing this.
Since leaving there we have been
on the Champagne front for two
weeks; then relieved and put in the
line of advance in pursuit of the re-
treating enemy across the Marine in
the reduction of the salient between
SCISSORS and Rheims.
I'VE were in the pursuit eight days,
which was plenty, and the regiment
was relieved Aug. 8. very much ex-
hausted and depleted in numbers. Dur
ing the eight days the regiment lost
] 400 officers and men, or about so
per cent Of the effective combatant
strength.
II wish | could describe in fitting
way our CXpcricnceS-thC scenes on
the battlefield over when the enemy
had prccipitately retreated. They
abandoned an enormous amount of
war material and millions Of rounds
of shells of all Calibcr. They also left
large number of dead, and, in fact,
their whole retreat showed signs of
being very hurried. The Rainbow di.
vision. unfortunately suffered quite
severely; but that Is to be expected.
Our advance while in, was about
twelve miles.
THE regiment. as usual. behaved
splcndidly, and If | had the time
could relate numberlcsS instances OF
personal bravery which go to show
the quality and spirit of our troops
The division has won much common
dation from French and American
| high commands for their conduct in
these operations.
THE situation. as you know, has
| changed materially on the west front
in the last thirty days, and from be
, ing a German offensive it has turned
TO an allied offensive. The results are
most favorable and must exert a ire
mcndouS influence on the political
| Gituation of the central powers: it will
| no doubt. do much to hastcd the end
of the war. can fancy the jollificatior
| caused in the United States by the
news OF the allied successes, and par
| ticularly the results of the American
operation.
Have Time to Rest.
I'VE were relieved Aug. 3, and have
| been in rest since, but was not sure
that we would have rest Of any ex
tent, so did not cable Governor Hard
ing TO that effect until today. expec
| that we will be here in rest and train
ing about three or four weeks longer
Our ride down the Marne valley t
this areo last Sunday was very dc
| lightfuI. The day was fine and thu
people all out along the river and thu
canal cheering US as the train wen
by. 1t was quite a relief, these scenes
of beauty. after the endless week
and months of ruined and deserte,
villages. France indeed, is a beautiful
country. and its beauties were enjoye'
to the utmost.
Eggs at 81 Per Dozen
I'VE are now back where village
are untouched and occupied by pee
pie. Living is high, with eggs at $
and $3.50 per dozen, and other thing
in proportion. This makes the SUI
pect profiteering. and the people Q
France are certainly making none
off the soldiers. They will need 1t I
rebuild their country,
"Your friends in the regiment ar
well, having survived the last operi
tions with the exception of Lieut.. .Da
Newquist. who had both arms badl
broken, by shell fire in the last a
tack. Am told he is getting alon
nicely"