The Washington times., 1919-01-12

q few citations, but he had another
on the way, which would be a con-
slant reminder as long as he lived,
Of the late war.
'It's the .. G. R, decoration. he
said.
Explaining, he said he soon would
Undergo an operation and have n
band of gold placed around one of
mis- vertebra, which was fractured
when be fell to the ground after his
horse was shot from under him by a
shell in Argonne forest.
$50 you see, I'll be elected to the
Order Of the Golden Ring" he said.
smiling. ----
Was Dispatch Rider.
Sergeant Blaich demurred to tell
ing Of his experiences, saying that
he had not lost leg nor an arm.
But he was !gassed, suffered a shrap-
mel wound in the leg. was bayoneted
by a Prussian, and had his horse
shot while he was a dispatch rider.
Blaich is from Philadelphia, and
was an engineer on the Pennsylvania
railroad. He was a member of,
Company A, First Engineers, regular
army, when he went to France nearly
one year ago.
He returned from France last
month and is today at the hospital
for the operation.
Sergeant Blaich's company did not
remain idle long after reaching
France. Two weeks after landing,
real action at Cantigny.
wounded at CantiEny.
His first wound was received at
Cantigny, when piece of shrapnel
struck him in the leg. He refused TO
60 TO a hospital, but continued to
move forward with the platoon OF
which he wac in command, Some
hours later he went TO a first aid
station. had his wound dressed ard
a''Rt
er, south Of scissors.
This time he was
al.
rEing straight at the
attack began" Ser
Id. ''Now, to disturb
SITS is somewhat a diff |
70 do II in the face Of !
well, that's another |
training camps in this |
were taught to don our
six seconds. over there, |
ds is too long. could put |
and have time to spare If /
ed that long.
charged ahead, wearing the /
ersome masks, when a bullet |
- a machine gun struck my mask |
Ej.h a sharp snip and carried away |
,ne Of the. eye pieces. With the gas |
BURNING my eyes something terrible |
md thrilled by the excitement OF the |
.harge, couldn't stand to have the |
mask in my way, so I tore it from |
ny head and threw il away.
The burning in my lungs and stom- |
lch as I breathed the poisoned air |
about me became so sickening that /
was almost suffocated.
Watch Shot From wrist.
CHANGING down at my watch to learn |
he hour. could hardly believe my own |
eyes for just as I looked at it. # sud
lenly left my wrist, leaving only the
Gather band that had held it. A ma
chine gun bullet had removed it, but \
rad missed me. The stem to the time |
piece fell to the ground and / picked |
t up and kept IL for a souvenir.
by this time was unable to go |
'urther, and the next thing 1 knew 1 |
vas in a hospital"
When he was discharged, the young |
sergeant was listed as physically unit |
or duty in his old company. so he was /
made a dispatch rider.
II was while In this service that ne 1
made another trip. from. the battlefield /
IN a stretches. He has never fully re-
covered from injuries suffered there.
As a dispatch rider, It was his duty /
. serve as q messenger between the /
ines Of infantry and artillery.
Horse Killed Beneath Hin.
1t was in the engagement in Argonne
Forest that he had his horse shot from
,eneath him, and came near losing his
,wn life.
Il was sent from the artillery head
quarters some distance in the rear 10
ne artillery who were battling the en- .
my in the front line trenches he said.
Runners we're to meet me. and / was
o carry their dispatches back to the
lrtillery headquarters that they may
coordinate with the infantry, she Oe-
yan 70 shy, and almost refused 10 con-
inue up the rought path that We had
AIKEN on previous missions.
Il dis-nounted and attempted to
cad her, but still she ballIed and |
lctgd strangely. Finally, l again 1
and tried the spurs.
Just as she started on finally, a
she'll from an enemy gun hit and es
cred her breast. II happened /
quicker than I can tell it, !
saddle Saved Hin. I
AS I quickly and excitedIy raised .
my right leg and started to leap TO
The ground, the shell. exploded. ri
was hurled through the afr, saddle !
and all. IN fact :. was my heavy |
riding saddle that saved my legs |
from being blown off.
81 was conscious after I hit the /
earth some yards away just long /
enough 20 see that all there was left |
n Dolly was her bind legs.
"Twenty-fouT hours later, when / |
recovered consciousness, I was in a
hospital. A nurse was trying 20 give
ne nourishmept when revived. She /
old me that my spine was fractured.