The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1919-02-21
HOME FROM FRANCE

was the last leg of a long trip from
the battle front of France to Oroville.
washington, which is quite a distance
when reeled off in miles. Mr.. Sexson
was a member of Battery F. 3i6tn
lNeld Artillery, 91st Division. Owing
10 circumstances over which TIN, regi-
ment had no control the 34Gth did
hot see active service. although the
Infantry regiments of the division
look part in the last and fiercest fight
ing of the war, right on the eve of
The armistice, and the loss of the
tlvision was cruelty heavy. 1t was a
great disappointment to the boys that
they did not get crack at the Huns,
Ind very fortunate for the Huns for
he 346th earned a reputation in the
framing camp of being one Of the
host accurate artillery units that had
yer practiced over the training range.
he regiment had been motorized and
Vas just preparing to move forward
Fhen the big thing was off. A few
ays more and they. would have been
eppering the pants of the flying
nemy.
The division sailed for France 'uly
B, 1918, and landed in England from
thence 1t went on into France. Re-
lrning the boys sailed from Brest,
rance, January 2 on board the bat
eship st. Louis. reaching New York
hnuary 15 After short time spent
the training camp after arrival in
rance the 346th was designated as
shock regiment and were detached
om its division. 1t was whirled
way to small town in the Metz
ctor, sixteen miles from the cring
be, and apparently became lost for
ere it remained within sound of the
|nnonading. Originally the regiment
bs armed with 3-inch guns. but ar
Eing in France they were given the
fench 75s which Mr.. Seyson states
ere the most accurate, most easily
lndled and the most rapid fires of
" artillery in use. Here was a
hgnifcent regiment, most formid-
ly armed, in a condition of almost
rfect drill that was held off at a
pc when the infantry needed the
pport Of artillery. Moreover, the
GERS and men were wild to get into
scrap. However, no doubt such
Ptances were not unusual in the ruck
war extending over vast terri
~ and embracing hundreds of
pusands of men.
Mr.. SexsOn passed over the battle
DIS Of Chateau Thierry and the
od-drenched land from the Marne
st. Mihiel. He saw the effects of
as conducted by the blood thirsty
ruthless Hun. Nothing was
red from the hands of the invaders.
BY swept the country with the
Dn Of destruction. The humble
tage and the imposing chateau
e food FOR the torch. Towns and
ages were reduced to pulverized
The land is honey combed with
explosive shells. The forests
slashed and torn to ribbons by
lery fire. Desolation marks the
re country where the armies were
ppled in deadly combat for four
4 Is. Everywhere there is an inter-
able and intricate tangle of barbed
SO twisted and mingled that to
b hngle 1t is going to be tremend-
1 task. Mr.. Sexson says the coun-
cannot recover from this blight OF
for years to come. And in the
amation of this land turks con-
ht danger. Many shells buried
mselves in the soil without explod-
and those loaded shells will be
constant menace to the men who
the SOIL
dr. Sexson says the most formid-
e spot he saw on the line that he
tied was a hill, or knoll, raising
Of the plain near st. Mihiel. This
was occupied and fortified by the
rmans from the beginning of the
r up to the time that 1t fell to the
vance of the Americans. It was
pregnable from frontal attack.
the summit was concrete fort
htaining heavy guns, while the en-
e hill was girdirOned by a system
tunnels, concreted and steel rein
iced and could sweep an open
nntry for eight miles around Some
the rooms were 40 feet under
ound, where men enjoyed the lux
fous furnishings of private home,
Finished with articles stolen from
fench residences. Away down un-
r ground were stables where horses
pre- kept beyond chance Of injury
pm shells. Branches of these tun-
els would extend out to the hill
hes where in narrow concrete pro-
cted slits machine gunners could
and pour a deadly fire on an ad-
lncing force and at the same time
perfectly immune from danger. All
le ingenuity of these scientific bar
lrians was applied in perfecting the
efenses of this hill. The French
led to storm it, but lost thousands
men in the effort. The Americans
Jade no direct attack when that Sec
Pr was turned over to them, but push
g out on both wings surrounded the
ovation, cutting off all communica-
ons and as a result the Germans
|ere forced to give it up.
Mr. Sexson visited a number of
|rench towns and cities but was dis
ppointed in not being able to see
|aris. He says that Metz Is the most
eautiful city that he saw in his tray :
is. He tried to get into Verdun but
that time a Gordon of military po-
Ice prevented any one from entering
be place.
The young man stated that cordi-
ions at Brest were deplorable, on ac-
|ount OF lack of accommodations for
he troops sent to that port for en-