The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1919-02-18

interesting to our people but the ex-
periences of one of our own boys is
of especial interest and for this rea-
son as soon as it became known that
Lieut.. Gottlob A. Neuffer had been
through the big push, had been gass-
ed and wounded and was on his way
home, all our people were anxious to
hear him tell of his experiences.
When the young soldier arrived in
Abbeville however, he showed a tan
talizing modesty about himself and
refused to talk. In fact he goes so
far as to say he has had no "wonder-!
full experience"
The young Lieutenant is genu-
inc volunteer, enlisting with the An
derson Machine Gun Company of
1st S. c. Infantry, as private and
serving throughout the time his COM
pany was on the Border. After his
Border service he returned to Able
vile and enjoyed the pursuits of
peace for some time, then he was
recalled to join his company and
prepare for the big war. In the make
up of the army our troops were as
signed to the 11Sth. Infantry, 30th
Division. Lieut.. Neuffer preferred
the Machine Gun Company, and was
stationed for some time at Camp
Sewer, where the men spent their
time in drilling, marching, eating,
making love to the girls, looking
handsome in their uniforms, and,
otherwise, making soldiers Of them
selves. y
Lieut.. Neuffer was assigned to the
Advance School Detachment and in
company with about one hundred and
forty officers and an equal number
of men, sailed from .Hoboken on
May 9Th, 1918. There were seven
thousand, five hundred men on board
this ship, the George Washington,
since made famous by the Presidents
trip, and the trip was without event
save one submarine scare through
which Lieut.. Neuffer says he slept
peacefully. The George Washington
docked at Brest, France.
"How were you received by the
French people when you landed?",
"1here were plenty Of people
around, said Lieut.. Neuffer, but
there was no demonstration. Every
man got his baggage and hiked out
to Barracks three miles out Of
Brest. We were followed by a crowd
of children, Of course, one little fel-
low was particularly noticeable for
he sang in English, "What the. hell
do we care, the gangs all here" and,
as usual, asked for pennies. We
stopped in one Of the old Barracks
established by Napoleon and after
making ourselves as comfortable as
possible, watched the negro soldiers
play base ball, and waited for it to
get dark enough to go to bed. The
negroes were still playing at ten
thirty and it was still light so we
went to bed anyway.
After this we were sent clear
across France and stayed a month in
an old fort built by Julius Caesar
and in a town fortified by the Rom
ans. The city wall still stands and
to Americans was an impressive
sight. We stayed here a month and
in the mea- time my Regiment had
come oversees, landed in England,
crossed the channel and landed at
Calais. I r"ioined them at Nortlen-
linghem and in company with a few
Scotch and Irish officers, we had a
big celebration in honor Of our ar
rival and celebration Of any kind
in France means plenty Of good
champagne to drink. The French
have never discovered the good uses
Of water as beverage and many of
them are not particular about using
it for bathing purposes.
We stayed here for three weeks
going through the same drills and
fo-r,. - ~, ,;1;+orv 1ifo ne that ar