The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-03-30

i, ty-sixth) division. They started the Boche on the run and Kept him thas way until the armistice was signed.
 Tt was during the second day Of the big drive at Chateau Thlerry that re ceived my wound in the shape of piece of shrapnel> in the right leg. One or the big German 'S8s landed just little too close to me. l was put out or the fight and was sent to the hospltah where I remained for about two weeks I and returned to duty with the company arrived just in time to take part III the St. Mihiel offensive, which was big offensive, but the driving was not so difficult as to what We had been ac- customed to. In this one drive the Americans captured over 16,OO0 prlson- CTS. It was not any trouble al all to take prisoners while on this drive. for they all seemed to be SICK or the war and considered 1t a relief to be taken prisoner. After we had com pleted the drive the 167th infantry was held in line, and we held the front line positions for 10 days before being relieved.
 "We were no sooner relieved than we were sent to Verdun to take part in the Argonne drive. As you doubtless know, the strongest point of the Ger man line was in the Argonne forest, west of Verdun. But the dash and brav- cry of the Americans was too mucn for the Germans here, and they had to fall back to stronger positions. One or these positions was Hill 2SS, which was the central point of the strongest po- sition then held by the Germans. The 167th, Alabama and the 16Sth, Iowa, which compose the Eightyfourth in fantry brigade, under the command of Brig. Gen. Douglas McArthur. was des- ignated for the attack on this strong position. While the taking of this hill ho q tion seemed impregnable, the Eighty fourth infantry brigade attacked and captured this hill in a way that war ranted the admiration of the whole American expeditionary force. For this extraordinary feat the commanding general of the Fifth army corps com mended the feat in special orders, re- fering to the excellent accomplishment of the brigade in capturing a position l so strongly fortified.
 Having broken the Germans last stand they were forced to retreat in a 1 most demoralized manner. As they 1 retreated they destroyed both roads and | bridges in an effort to stay the Amer l ican line of communications, but, as usual the engineers were on the job, l and while the wagon trains and kltch- Y, ems were delayed for few hours, our l infantry kept hot on the trails of the | retreating Germans. They made their 1 l heights of the Mouse river. It was here
 that we encountered quite a violent machine gun and artillery barrage, but l we didn't stop. We forced them to re-
 tire just across the river to the city of
 Sedan. If the armistice had been signed just half day later, this famous Ala l gama regiment would have had the
 honor of taking Sedan, the city over l which so many battles have been
 fought, and the most historic of any in | France.
 l DEMORALIZED RETREAT Il Having finished the big task as- I signed to us over here we began our march toward She German border as a
 part of the American armYof occupa- 1 tion. It was practicallyVa months hike from the French border to the German border, traversing part of Bel gium and crossing through Luxembourg.
 "The thought which is now occupy
 ing Us most, is when shall we begin that advance westward. The grand old
 city of Birmingham Is our next obJec-
 tive, and I want to reach 1t as soon
 as possible, where I intend to dig in
 and consolidate my position.
 ! Orders have been issued from gen eral Headquarters of the American ex-
 peditionary forces, stating when each
 division shall sail for the United States.
 The Rainbow division is scheduled to t1eave here the latter part of April. So,
 you may look for us the latter part of
 May, provided nothing else holds us up,
 such as the 'bolsheviki'
 l Another important matter which
 must touch on, is when we arrive Tn
 the grand old U. s. A. and receive that
 honorable discharge,' we will be looking
 for something akin to job am go-
 ing to ask you to keep me in mind. but
 after fighting both the Mexican war and
 coming over here and taking part in
 this La guerre,' I feel as though
 could sling the old brush better than
 ever before.
 T would appreciate a letter from you real soon, for the letters from
 home have a tendency to make the
 staying over here more pleasant. Your
 friend. JOHN P. DAVIS.
 "First Sergeant. Company K. 167th In- franty."