Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1919-02-06

Schauenberg. Germany.
Dec. IL. 1918,
Dear Aunt
Well aunt the armistiee is signed and
| an in Germany with the 9TH division.
We were in a small town near Nancy
when the armistice was signed and now
we are here in this village in Germany.
The largest cities near here are Coblenz
which is about forty miles away and
Trsr. don't know how far that is
We. hiked 1t all the way. Some hiking
toe. about twelve to fifteen miles day
can now tell you little of my trav-
cling in this country. We left New
York on the morning of May the fifth
on the steamship Olympic We were on
the water seven days. In the morning
of she seventh day we sighted two sub
marines We shot at them and missed
them but the boat rammed one of them
and sunk it, the survivors were picked
up by one of our conveys. We landed
at South Hampton, England, on the
eighth day. From here we went to
Dover through London. We took boat
from here to Calais, France, arriving
there at ten a. m on May 18th. That
night Jerry came over and dropped
bombs into the city but no harm was
done From then on we were continually
in Danger. We did not stay here long
but went to a town called Desvers for
training. We were here for a short
time when we took hike and train ride
to. little town called Doue, going
through Paris. We were here for little
while drilling under the French. We
could hear the roar of the guns and see
the flash at night Sometimes we could
even see the observation balloons,
From here we went to a town called
MAY en- Multeine. Here we went into
support. We stayed in the woods all
the lime and had to stay hid. On the
night of the 18th we liked to the front
and started going over the top at two
o, clqSk in the afternoon of the 18th.
This was during the Chateau Thierry
drivl We were here for four days.
Heslsis wnefe the Germans started rum
ming We went into support again on
the 9Th of August on the same front
but farther ahead.
We started at town called Cherry on
the yesle River. The Germans made a
stand here. They had hill overlooking
our lines. We were in kind of a horse
shoe and they were firing at US from
three sides. We held our ground though.
was in town called Villa Savoy right
on the river dressing wounded men. We
were relieved on August the twelfth.
After this we had a little rest again
We went to a little town called Grand
On September the seventh we went in |
to the lines again on what was supposed
to he quite sector near Verdun. 1t
was not quiet very long. We were
there few days when the Americans |
put over an eighteen hour barage and
the st. Michel drive was started and
we took part in that From here we
vert into support back of the lines. |
We stayed in the woods about all the
time. We liked nights and laid around
during the day On August 9th we
vert into action again on the Argonne
front This was pretty stiff front too.
The Germans had some barracks, beer
gardens and moving picture theatre and
some fine dugouts here and guess they
hated to give them up. They fought
pretty hard here. They used about
everything they had liquid fire. gas,
high power shells, and dumped bombs
down by the wagon loads. They even
dropped hand grenades from aeropanes.
They dropped shells around our dress
ing station. We took good many pris-
oners. They were all glad to be taken
too. We had quite seige Of it here.
We were relieved on October 18th then
we lay in support for another week.
This was our last back for rest. This
was our last encounter. went away on
nv leave soon after this. While was
on my leave the aImistice was signed.
A few days after ! came baek from my
leave we started our hike for Germany.
We left a small town near Nancy on
the 10th Of November. We crossed into
Lorraine at three p. m on the Y. We
STAYED here week then went further.
W. crossed into Luxembourg at nine a.
M. on the Bird Of December and into
Germany ut 10 80 a. m. the same day.
We are still going forward.
Well aunt now guess ! have written
enough for this time 80 ! will close, !
sent you picture from Grenoble while
on my leave. Did you get it?
From your nephew,
SGT FRANK ENGELs,
Med. Dept. 54th Inf. 4 Div. A. E. F..