The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-02-04

not my purpose now to tell
It over againA l do wish. however, to
give some Impressions gathered in
visit to the battlefield today.
A small party of newspaper cores
pondents was conducted to the Cha
teau Thierry region in military cars
by two American captains, who had
been appointed as guides.
We passed through Meaux. the
point nearest Paris reached by the
German hordes in 1914; we saw Bour-
esches and Vaux. literally knocked to
pieces by shell fire last summer, and
now inhabited by few villagers who
have crept back into habitations ap-
parently ready to fall down about
their ears.
We saw great trees along the road
side, felled by the French last sum-
mer In their retreat in order to give a
free field Of fire for their machine
guns and artillery. We saw miles OF
barbed wire entanglements, relics of
1914. that stand as grim souvenirs OF
time OF dread and terror. We passed
along roads pitted with shell holes,
filled with dirt temporarily while
awaiting the attentions of permanent
road builders.
Belleau Wood was not the scene of
great battle, but the engagement has
q peculiar interest for Americans .e-
cause of the exhibition Of pluck and
determination shown In wrestling from
tho enemy most difficult key posi-.
ton, which was defended with the ut
most tenacity.
Leaving our cars by the roadside,
We entered field alongside the wood
Before US was stretch OF the rough.
est hillside imaginable, with trees
slashed to pieces, and with underbrush
and broken branches lying every
where. We mounted to the top of the
hill with difficulty, crawling over fal-
len logs, lodging shell holes and
pieces Of trench, and watching warily
all the time for "duds-unexploded
shell and grenades.
BE very careful what you investi-
gate" warned one of the captains.
AN old shell may look very innocent,
but II you handle 1t, you might not
live to see Paris again."
The marines came up to the wood
from the southwark, and for three
weeks they struggled to drive out the
Germans, who were plentifully sup
phSA VIVA AldCAAlC GUNS, dAu W ~ Adu
plenty of cover behind rocks and
trees. twas desperately hard fight.
The American artillery cut the woods
to ribbons before the marines went in,
but the Germans had hidden in fox
Pits and little holes they had dug into
sheltering banks, and were ready. The
American casualties amounted TO at
least half Of the number OF men en-
gagged
AS We walked over the hill we found
many mute evidences of what had
taken place q few months before.
Here is a hole where an American
boy died." said Captain Miller Here
is his cartridge belt, his canteen, and
some odd bits OF personal belongings,
just as they were left behind"
One Of our party gave an exclama
ton, leaned over. picked up bit OF
water.soaked paper. 1t was part of a
pocket testament, no doubt the gift OF
a mother. All about lay empty tobac.
co boxes Of tin, bearing names OF
brands familiar at home. Close al
hand was a book of cigarette papers
A few, steps further on l saw O tin
box on the ground. 1t had contained
shaving powder, and through it two
bullets had passed. A broken Amer
lean bayonet. stained and rusted, was
close by, and a little further a tooth
brush. On every hand were to be
seen little fragments Of things of ev
erday used.
AS we walked further over and
down the hill, in the direction Of the
gradual German retreat, we found
many grim traces Of the former pres
ence OF the enemy. Bits OF German
clothing and blankets wer everywhere
and parts of black leather belts. In 8
shell hole lay a German boot. In an
other hole we saw the foot of a de
ceased enemy protruding from the
ground. In another hole bare skull
Gas masks on every hand, left OF
the ground when their OWNERS needed
them no more. We're common. So wer,
unexploded German potato mashe
grenades, SO called from their shape
One OF the party picked up numbe
Of empty rifle cartridges, dropped b,
German sniper, who had bee,
downed by one of our men. Unmis
taxable traces of his demise was Wis
ible. Farther on we found a dis