The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-02-08

| With the British we also saw serv-
| ice with the Australians and we made
a big hit with them. In their actions
and ways they resemble us very much.
| Both the Tommy and Aussie had
about been ready to throw up the
/ sponge. They had heard about
Americans coming over in droves but
they had seen very few. Our presence
with them, l maintain, had much to
do with our brave Allies success We
we're in on the original drive of
theirs.
Mass and Holy Communion.
I had opportunity TO attend Holy
! Mass regularly when over with the
/ British as we were in and out of the
lines and our camp was near an In
faltry Regiment which had Catholic
I chaplain. | also attended Mass one
day at Corbie III church that had a
big shell hole in it. Mass was cele-
/ b.atCd by an Australian chaplain. l
approached the Sacramento at every
Mass l attended.
In The middle of August we left
/ The British and came over to the
American sector. This necessiIated a
three-dayS' train ride and we had
another good view of the country.
had u feeting glimpse of the outskirts
Of Paris at 600 o'clock on Sunday
morning. We also passed along the
Marine and saw the battlefield Of
Chateau-Thierry, where the Yanks
held the lire and pushed the enemy
back. on July Il and turned the tide
of the war. The French were retreat
ing and shouting "Finis Paris" and
our fellows for - hours without a
rest held on doggedly, airplanes
bringing food, ammunition, etc.
The Gibraltar Of the War.
We were hardly settled when we
were taken up to the lines northwest
Of Verdun. saw this citadel, the
Gibraltar Of the war, the place that
has held the Hun back many times
and that gave the name Clown
prince to the Kaiser's pet. There is
a chain of forts all around Verdun
which itself is big fort.
Let me describe our big battle on
September &c. -. -
For days and days preparations had
been made for this conflict. Night
after night the roads were jammed
with troops and transports OF every
kind. ..s,
Tanks, cannons and guns Of all
sorts, every kind of vehicle, am
buiance wagons and transports, passed
in tAis procession. There was no end
to it and one could but admire and
wonder at our country's efforts at
war which now was reaching almost
perfection It has been said that the
greatest attack in history was
launched as the largest number of
guns we're engaged here, nearly 5000,
and the troops engaged numbered in
the hundreds Of thousands.
To give an idea of how our army
was progressing and how smooth
everything went the men and guns
were conducted to their places so
secretly and quietly that, although
they came many miles, the enemy did
not know even a small part OF the
strength and could only speculate
what it all meant. ..,,
in the arrangement of the plan of
battle our division was on the extreme
right Across the river was a German
stronghold and he had plenty artillery
and machine guns. No Mans land
was 500 yards in width, nothing but
a marsh and swamp and our en-
gineers constructed pontoons, duck
boards, etc. No detail was missing
and everything was to go according to
plan When | look back cold shiver
comes over me and | wonder what
miracle happened that allowed me to
escape scot-frea from my various en-
gagements with the enemy. | know
that your prayers and my mothers
had a great deal to do with it.
The Battle of Verdun.
It was 11:30 Thursday, night that
the battle was to begin. 1t was as
silent as the grave a few minutes be-
fore this time and it was a beautiful
night. Exactly at the appointed time
the bombardment commenced. In
staRtly the whole night was filled with
roar and thunder, coming from all
directions in my rear The shrek
and whistle and whine and clamor of
the shells made fearful chorus as
they were hurled in the direction of
the enemy.
From every quarter came the fash
Of the explosions, until the night was
lighted as bright as day. Signal
rockets and flares galore went up
from our lines and our foes. 1t looked
as if the heavens were ablaze and
raining fire. 1t was scene that will
forever live in my mind.
The bombardment naturally took
our foe by surprise as he had held his
position for four years, the French
being unable TO penetrate. They had
felt secure and had strongly fortified
themselves but our attack was SO
great that they were stupefied and
their reply was uncertain and I'M
steady. 1,
For six hours the artillery bonn
bardnent went on. | have heard it
said that it is estimated that each of
the guns fired on an average three
shots minute and that 100000
Droiectiles and charges of ammunition