Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-04-24
CAPT. PETIT HOME
AFTER q MONTHS
FOREIGN SERVICE
lContinued from page IL


armistice was Styled he was ordered
to put on his captains bars, by the
surgeon general, but iIa never re-
.eiyei his official captaincy until
about one week ago.
Cant. Petit was interviewed this
morning at his home on Paul street.
hy a reporter of the Free Trader
Journal, and he Willingly consented
to tell of his overseas service, pro-
vided he wasn't written up in a sen
sational manner, or called a hero.
His interview was very modest and
he did not wish any credit whatever
fer his work overseas, but he spoke
IN glowing terms Of the work Of the
French ana British soldiers and cs-
oecially of the wonderful and glor.
ious lighting the soldiers of the Unit
ed States did after they arrived ov-
erseas.
When Capt Petit first arrived in
France he was stationed at the base
hospital in Bolonge, for one month,
fighting the trench fever. About Sep
tember 1st, he was orederd 10 Arras
with the British regiment ana from
here was moved up to Ypres, to
serve as the physician of an ambu-
lance company The middle of the
month he was sent TO the third Ca.
madam casualty company stationed
1t Popringle, which was six miles
behind the railhead at Ypres. He re
NAMED there from September 18th
ntil October 2Jth. during which time
| 5000 cases passed thru the hospital
md it was not at all unusual to OPP
rate upon $50 cases inside "a hours
His chief work at the hospital was
! airing for blood TRANSMISSION cases
md any soldier who gave his blood
wounded comrade at arms, was
tied by the British government. The
! goldiers who volunteered uftcnest {,
give their blood to save the life OF
ther men, were the Australian anC
scotch soldiers.
On October 26th Capt. Petit wa,
'ent into the line near Ypres as {
attaliOn medical officer He wen
thru the heavy October defensive il
his sector, and was one of the %
men Of his battalion of eco who came
nut safe at the close of the struggle
ONE wonderful and hair raising ex
)eriences, Capt Petit division wa.
givan their rest period Eight day.
ater, when it became known that thu
italian troops were in need of i'm
mediate relief his division was or
Tered to Italy. They marched 70
our days, until the Italian horde
When he was stopped and sent bacl
IS the United States had not declare
var against Austria. and a Yank wa
not permitted to fight with Italy.
He was reassigned to the 19sh Rri
ish Division and rested until Nov. /
near Cambria He went through tn
big battle on Nov. 1G, when for tn
1rSt time the big British tanks wer
used The Huns smashed through t.
line at Councillor, and Lieut.. Petit
Iivision was rushed from flanders t
help stop the BoChc, 1t was at thi
point that a company Of United State
engineers who were building a raj
road near by rushed into the line
and held them until reinforcement
| arrived These engineers were organ
led under Lieut. AlpaUgh of Spring
ield and Lieut., Etheridge Of Chicago
These men rendered a very grea
service TO the allied countries an,
were decorated for their work by 81
Douglas Hais
Lieut.. Pettit's division went in nea
Cambria and was Instrumental in re
gaining the territory the BocA
had taken from he French. II wa
while here he was transferred TO tn
bth Wiltshire Division. and remain
with them from the middle of Deccu
Der until the middle Of February, who
he was relieved and went back to
rest area
Everybody was preparing for Tia
Zig German offensive which the int
iigencc Office had been informed woui
aome during the early spring. and tn
Eth Wiltshire was sent INFO intensiy
training to prepare to be counter a
ack division They practiCed defer
sives from air raid attacks, tank n
tacks, and every sort of an attac
modern warfare would be likely t
bring about Many times theg #
eciyed word the BochCs were comm
and prepared TO meet them. The
were stationed on the bank of tn
horde Canal, and the entire canal b.
had been filed with field artillery an
long range guns for harrage fire.
The intelligence office reported tn
Boche would attack them on Marc
10. and a barrage fire was started Z
midnight on March and cpt up unit
s O'Clock in the morning. but tn
/ Huns did not attempt to make the
attack 1t was again reported In
Huns were coming on the 18th, tn
10Th and the 18th, and the same PR
gram of harraga fire was repoa'e'
but the Germans did not seem to il
tend advancing, ana the soldiers an
officers began 10 thing the long prom
ised spring drive was not coming OF
| On the mDrning of March 81 at