The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-05


other hours phone $3.50.
Corp. Roy E. Davies, son of Mr.. and Mrs.
Will Davies, formerly of North Topeka,
living at 1901 Monroe street, now of Los
Angeles, writes his parents from base
hospital in Vittel, France. At the time of
writing Corporal Davies had been in the
hospital sixty-one days. The letter was
published in Los Angeles paper, from
which the following extracts were taken: :
Now to tell you of some of my expert
ences at the front. The long night marches
were fierce. The packs would cut our
shoulders and pull the cords in the back
of our necks until we expected them to
snap Our knees and feet got wabbly after
about the third hours hike, and we swore
our legs would not take us n foot farther.
But thru it all the fellows would keep n
stiff upper lip and would laugh and Joke.
so we always managed to reach our destf-
nation.
Der II, and pitched our tents. This is n
part of the Argonne forest. and we were
to take part in the Verdun drive, Sep
Our artillery had been sending over a
barrage since a m. on n sixty five kilo-
meter, front: so you can imagine what a
wonderful flare that >was, as there were
1000 guns from three inches to the mon
ster sixteen-inch naval guns.
THAT night we took up position on the
reverse side of hill and dug in. The
next morning at 6 o'clock We went over
the top as tn, the first line, We advanced
Then all of a sudden, putt, putt crack
and. at the same time machine guns and
and kicked up the ground in front of us
We laid low. crawling on our bellies until
Fritz let up firing little which was about
10 o'clock 1t took us until o'clock to
take that hill. Some of the Germans stood
by their guns until shot down. but most
"Soon we heard German airplanes over
head. In about seven minutes an awful ar
tillery fire opened up, killing and wound
first feeling of terror, hate and real fear.
The next day we advanced about two and
Ta Mans In the n negag
terrific fire. Some of our boys were killed
and many wounded. Most of the faces had
lines of fear Three of us slept in a hole
only big enough for one. with no covering
of any kind. 1t rained all night but we
slept thru it all. Smelling and everything
We went over the top again next day,
thru the woods; That was, worse by far
path and open space had machine gun in
it; airplanes dropped shells. the artillery
gave us h. | do not know which was
worst, high explosives, shrapnel gas
shells, whiz bangs; machine gun fire. snip
ers or airplanes: 1t was an experience that
e ne3 f tMe ah aya %s We're
waiting for our Artillery to come up, so
| held our position. The evening of October
went to battalion headquarters, about $50
Yards. TO say goodbye to my dear chum
and ef VENT thru INV hana n and
My pack saved me from worse injuries Ut
was two days before they got me to a field
hospital. But how lucky l ahl to be alive
and well, and it will be the most happy day
of all when 1 come home"
Notes and Personals.
J. H. Herrwig, who has been quite sick at
Mrs. Anna Fisher Of 321 West Curtis
street will leave shortly for Ohio on bust
ness. On her return she will stop at
Maryville, Mo-, to visit friends.
! Mrs. Harries of 1412 Kansas avenue who
has been seriously sick. is improving.
All the members of the Horace kistler
| family are sick with influenza at their
| home in Kansas avenue.
| Oliver Snedieker. who is sick with in
| fluenza at his home, in Jackson street, is
/ improving rapidly.
W. A. Forbes is confined to his home
by illness.
Two children of Mr.. and Mrs. Meiryl
Heber of 921 Quincy street are sick win
| influenza.
| The Ladies' Aid of the Second Presby-
! terrain church held an all-day meeting TO-
| day at the church