The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1919-02-11

just to let you know that every
thing is well, I send these few lines.
have heard that the censorship
had lifted just a little. Here goes
for a trial, but if you find large
portion Of this letter clipped out,
you may know that talked too
much. can't begin to tell you all
that / have. done since have been
over here. When we finished our in
tensive training in a little Town in
France, the order came for our first
trip to the front lines. was then
WAGNER driving a company tool
wagon. There were two tool wagons
for each company. Don't know how
it happened, but the two of us went
on the marine train and the company
followed on another train. We we're
warned that we would probably have
to unload under fire, and naturally
have to put on a little speed. Well,
of course, we were a little excited.
We pulled into the station just at
day break. There were lots of shell
holes, but didn't hear anything that
sounded like a gun, so began to think
twas all a fake. We unloaded, and
hooked to our wagons and followed
the marines through the town, but
they sent us back to the station to
wait for our outfit. We stopped IL
the town as we came back to water
our teams, and pulled on back TO the
station to wait. We no more than
reached the station. when we heard
the distant rumble of big gun
(The Frenchmen began to run for
the dugouts.) Then was when | heard
my first whine of shell. 1t didn't
sound so awful for it was my first
and | didn't know what they could
do. That shell passed over and hit
the town, and such an explosion /
never heard before. They threw
seven or eight into the little town
before they quit. Some French sol
diers and horses were killed exactly
where we had watered our horses a
few minutes before. Gee, but felt
good when l saw how lucky had
been. Well, as / have said, l won't
take time to go into details, but our
company came ON and joined us. We
stayed on that front for six or eight
weeks, building dugouts, machine
gun emplacements, observation posts
and such like. 1t was my duty to
haul material for different jobs ana
want to say that l was in some very
ticklish places, too. One place in
particular, l might mention. | was
out with load of lumber and was
about six hundred meters from the
front line, and think that the Boche
knew that the material came up that
way every night. Had the misfor-
tune to snatch the tongue out of the
wagon. Picture me, a Sergeant, and
a Corporal putting in the extra ton
que, with the machine guns splitting
bullets over us at regular intervals.
When we came off of this front, q
part of the Verdun sector, we
thought we were old timers, but we
were told that we had only been up
to that front for drill, and to get us
in readiness for trench warfare. 1t
wasn't very long until we found out
that it was the truth. We rested
about ten days, and one night the
company loaded ON French trucks
land such a joyride, % men to a
small truck) not knowing where we
were going, and having no idea in the
world that we were being rushed into
one of the biggest battles the world
ever knew. As usual we were with
the marines. There is no use Trying
to describe the battle, but the Amer
leans met the French in full retreat,
and they told the yanks that it was
no use to try to stop "Boche," as
they were too strong. But a marine