Alma record., 1919-01-02
sTITT TELLS OF WORK
Continued from page one)

Ali MS Dccl 10 Itlufn Nlb iof Idt.
Shells seemed to be falling every
where and the noise of their explo-
sion together with that Of our guns
made the din terrific Orders had to
be shouted from man 10 man in the
line. IL was not light enough. when
we started, to see much but one could
distinguish through the gloom and
dust and smoke, the artillerymen
feeding their guns and forms of men
running hither and thither. IL looked
like confusion but really it was
order. III never forget this scene of
flashing powder in the gloom. When
we had advanced about kilometer,
an overhead shrapnel exploded very
close to me. The concussion made
me dizzy for half day. also found
an extra hole in my overcoat and a
cut in my breeches but my skin was
more lucky; II escaped entire.
My gun had been blown up in my
dugout the night before and was
carrying one that simply was good
only ~ handle to bayonet. II
would not Shont.
One of or boys being wounded !
was sent back 10 help carry him TO
the dressing station. When l re-
turned our section had advanced and
between il and me was heavy
barage through which no one was
passing So | siuply laid around in
shell holes all day.
| was then on a real battle field
with nothing to do but wait. That
night went to the hospital myself.
was sent there for shell shock. but
| think il was more Of nervous ex-
haustion. The things saw that day
on the field will tell you some other
time. Ii was my first day, and now
we know undoubtedly my last day in
battle. was in the hospital and
convalcscent camp about six or
seven weeks and am now being sent
around from one place to another and
not staying long in any place. Just
at present | am three or four miles
from the city Of Toul, staying for the
time with the 33Sth Infantry. This
is one Of the regiments that was in
Custer when ! was. | think my old
Co 340th is near here and I'll surely
hunt them up If | can.
am spending lots Of time wonder
ing where | am going. Ny outfit is
now marching into Germany and |
surely would like TO take the trip.
There is only one other trip | would
rather take, that is to the States
which you may be sure I'll take the
first time il is offered me, and |
think it won't be many weeks until
it is. However, have found out
that in the army you cannot make
any predictions, military affairs being
run so much by special orders, things
change very rapidly. So let us not
make any plans but only wait for
Uncle Sam to say Enough" to me.
When you wrote the one notable
and still preserved-letter that
actually received. Pa said, There
seems to be victory in the air over
there" | guess there was but ! hard
/ ly knew it then, but on the 1lth day
of November from TO 6, saw il
in a manner I'll remember as, long
as | live When we knew of the
signing Of the armistice there was
shouting and cheering that made the
camp ring. | was then in a GONZALES
cent camp near Chalons. But it was
not until o'clock after the boys had
quit firing I'll a. M, that all France
went "over the top" in JOY as they
had previously done in deadly peril
The same spirit prevailed.
Four o'clock was the hour set for
blowing whistles. ringing bells. AZ
the time appointed. the noise Of blow
ing whistles and changing bells filled
the air with deafening sounds. A
few tried to shout but somehow the
spirit of the boys failed to take fire
II seemed as wet powder, strong il
latent energy bat failing to ignit,
when the fuse had burned itseli
away am sure that many felt "a
|, that then was the greatest tim'
for rejoicing Americans had eve
, known, and it seemed that i was t.
pass away without the expression o
. the joy that lay in every heart.
! Minute after minute slipped past
: during which We waited and listene,
, to the bells and Whistles. The mac
ton grew actually oppressive. Blu
bark, Buml Bum! Bum! You coul
hardly hear, but the breeze sprunl
/ up and louder it came, Bum! Bum
= Bum The band was out; a muunu
| as Of an approaching storm in
\ forest filled the streets. Buml Bum
a Bum! Still louder now and we coul
a hear the fife whistling yankee Doc
{ die" and then the storm brok'
c Everyone cheered and shouted and
the open throat was the soul Of vic
torious America. IL was the e>
preston Of the realization 90 "a yea
and a half Of hope. But satisfact.o
| of such a realization could not /
Z fully obtained even by this. But th
: whole band was near now and
longing strains and full chort
e poured out the suffering and trump
g of France in the "MarselIaise. A
with an order to charge we starte
n 70 run with one accord toward Il
n music, only stopping TO give 90
i Glory" the respect that every so
. dier loves and is required to rende
\ we fell in behind the band and in e
minutes we were parade 1000
II strong We had the Kaiser, too. az
n he rode rs he should-suspended
the neck
d We marched to neghboring villag,
y and did not get home until way pa