The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1918-07-10

IN many DAY was that OF last Sun
day evening, when Lieut.. H. l. Halton,
of the First Canadian Regiment spoke
on the true conditions in the war zone.
Lieut.. Halton has served in the Reg
ular Army 19 years. He was wounded
q number of times. Hence he is in q
position to know whereof he speaks,
and he told the story in way that the
most simple could understand, and
know what our own boys are going
through.
He said in part
On August 4, 1914, Germany de-
clared war on France. For months
her army had been drawn up on the
border, reinforced by heavy artillery
and all that goes to make war. France
wanted to know the meaning of this,
and when she sent an inquiry, Ger
many replied that they were there
for strictly peaceful purposes, for the
yearly maneuver practice. Then came
the proclamation of war, and the truth
was plain. When the news reached
Canada, it was seen at once that Eng
land would be drawn in. Upon declar-
alton Of war by England a call was
with the small population of Canada
it seemed this was impossible, but to
our amazement. in very short while,
not 81 900, but 100000 men had volun-
teered for service. It was impossible
at this time to send all this number,
so FL 900 were chosen to furnish the
First Division. If this was men,
ber. The remainder of the 100000
wep sent into training.
This division was carried over on
81 transports. Four lines were form
ed. Two ship lengths were allowed be-
tween the ships, ana we were con-
voyea by heavily armed vessels. On
the way over we were attackd by sub
marines, but they were sunk with
out doing our ships any harm.
On reaching England we expected to
go into training for siS months, but to
our surprise, were sent immediately
to the front.
Germany had come with an army Of
100000 men against the Belgians,
who with an army of 900 men held
them for Sc hours, giving the French
an opportunity to rush men to the
border
We admire general who can adj
vance successfully, but we must ad-
mire as much the one who can retreat
successfully. The retreat must be
made not minute too soon, else dis
aster will follow, and not minute too
late, or he may be surrounded by the
enemy and cut off from the read The
IcIIeaI from MoIlS ullueT Hcn olnlCH
worlds history.
Then came the reinforcements un-
der General Foch and General Petain,
and the enemy was driven back SO
miles.
When boy ] have very often
strolled over the countryside of Bel
gium with my comrades. There were
the marvellous roads made under the
directions of the Caesars, and later
improved by the Spanards. Beside
the roads were tall poplars, and back
of them beautiful apple orchards.
Farmers taking their produce to town,
the wife busy at her duties inside the
beautiful little cottages, with .hcir
red tiled roofs, and the children going
to school. There school takes up at
500 o'clock in the morning and closes
at 500 in the evening. The cathedrals,
lifting their spires to heaven. Today
the roads are shell torn, great craters,
some Is feet deep and 35 feet across
are. there; the poplars are gone; the
orchards are destroyed; the farm
house in ruins; the beautiful cathe-
drals, with their wonderful mosaics,
once the pride of the world, a heap Of
ruins. Such is the work Of Germany.
Before Calais we were given the
word "On no account give way to the
Germans" Germany wanted Calais.
Why? Of itself if was unimportant,
but it was the key to Britain. Britain
of herself was not important, but she
blocked the way to America and she
must be destroyed. Germany has
eagerly watched and wanted America
for thirty years. In the last Is years
Germany has increased 10 millions
England has increased in the same
time only 100000, while France
Had decreased 100000 Germany
must have q chance to expand, and
America was to be made the place.
Our army of 81 200 men had been
told by the authorities that we could
expect no rcinforcemcnts for ID days,
and we were against trained army
Of 100000 men. During three days of
this time 5000 guns bombed our posi-
tions continually. No such lombard
Inent has ever been before or since.
On the 7th day we were gasscd. The
men poured the water from their
canteens on the ground and rubbed
the mud so formed on their eyes and
nostrils in order to keep from being
strangled. Seeing the forces Of Cam
: ada were not to be beaten back, the
Kaiser himself issued orders that CAL
ais must be taken at any cost, They
used an army Of 10000 men against
an army Of 10,000--all remaining of
our forces. Upon the arrival Of rein
forcements the Germans were driven
back II miles.
When was in the Boer war was
captured while on horseback, but man.