The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1919-01-24
PRIVATE DOAk TELLS OF
FIGHTING, ON TO GERMANY

btfed an BUCK, IA another OF the
lads who have gone on into Germany
In the service and writes an interest
ing letter Of his experiences from ST
Mthicl 10 the place OF his present
duty OF guarding seven miles Of rail-
road. The letter Is addressed 10 his
father Ed Doak. The son enlisted
from Colorado Here are some ex.
tracts from his fine letter
We went on the front about Aug
ust | and dug trenches. machlne-gun
inplaeeme nts and dugouts, that was
al the edge OF No Mans Land, until
the drive started there on the ST.
Mlhiei front We took Bangolor-tor.
pedJea. rifle belts and bayonets and
started up the trenches one night
About midnight every gun we had
cut loose and II sure made some
noise and as light as day. so the
big barrage was on. AT O'Clock that
morning with the barrage stili going
We were ordered over the top with
fxed bayonets. or course the dope
vas 20 give the Eoche little sur.
prise party and We certainly did
catch them OFF their feet. and had
walk.away with that battle with very
few killed. and what were killed died
fghting and not retreating.
After having made the drive we
htid the lines for about month and
had several killed and wounded.
From there we moved over on the
Argonne front where We made an.
other drive clear up to the Mouse
river and met very atiff resistance
and lost lots OF men, but fhe Yank
never retreats, When he goes over
tainly something doing.
After the drive was over and the /
signed we started our Jour /
ney To the Rhine river and have had I
some walking too. First We went in.
TO belgium where the people sure
ala treat w fine and the towns deco
rated 10 beat the band One place we .
came through had German uniforms
stuffed and strung % telephone poles.
one every block
From there we went clear across
belgium. then across Luxembourg and
through the north corner of the city /
~ Luxembourg and into Germany \
proper, where at present | am guard
Ing about IL kilometera or 8 miles of
railroad. There are seven of us who
nake trip up and down the track
'very six hours. We take turns 40
YOU see | am on duty six hours and
,r thirty.six, We are staying with
'eriian families, Two Of us with the
'amily | am with and | must say they
reat US fine. They insist on washing
'ur mess kits and bring VA lunch :
With hot coffee In the middle of the
'itefnoon. They are very short OF
ats and soap, also shortage OF !,
iour and coal. but lots OF beer. Ey. :
'rything Is high here Shoes about
20 per pair. suit OF clothes SIS.
'ntier 70 per ID. meat $50 per 10
nj wages las per day 40 how in ;,
ne dickens can laborer live heree
'pap costs 50 per bar like our laun :
Try soap. SO the people here have ;.
cry little % use. "
The German who lives where | am y
laying was ON the ST, Mihiel front :,
when We made the drive and he says
was not barrage We put over thor, -
mt that We we're throwing ammunition
amps at them. -
the houses, barns and hog pens !,
~ butt In one 40 You can imagine :,
hat the yards look like =
ne women hero. "a In France, =.
lash their clothes in the creeks and -
eat them with paddles They also :
are clubs and beat their grain ~
1resh Il In tho morning they milk -
heir cows then harness and tax,
ZEN out 10 pillow, Every place | j,
ave been. England. France. Hell, Ii
ta'h and Germany. are all n thous- "
nd years behind the good old L. $ y
We landed IN France about the
fiddle OF June and went By rnil To n te
VI" burg named 0ro1uavaux. get.
mr. there about July ist. where we a.
aNed until We went Ia the front Al
hen The scenery changed To all n
lins. everything be,ns shot down n
mi no civilians around We sure did 1t
ndure some hard ships With. IL last, s.
y Out In the mud knee deep In our u
tie pnptents and up In tho =
'FncheS With water half way 10 our :
alsta and the dugouts allied with !,
,ts. We we're often times awaken.
! IN the middle OF the night with I,
10 gas alarm and would have 10 put o
q our gas masks for an hour or two v
o's OF times the big guns would cut q
los" at as and the shells would nv 9
D thick that man woald not know
ow In the world they all missed !.
i'm A. Benny. town We captured =
Was sent 10 stake out SOME ground !,
~ harhed wire reimbursement and 4
al to cross a bis open space. There q
ERE fifteen or Va In all and the |
'oehe sure dld throw plenty OF L
hr1pnel az as. S