The Lexington progress. (Lexington, Tenn.) 1884-current, 1919-01-10

Lexington, Tennessee.
Dear Sirs:
As the censorship OF mails has
been modified, so that we may
write more freely Of what has hap
pcned over here. ! shall attempt to
tell you little about some Of the
things ! have seen since leaving the
United States.
The Thirtieth Division, or old
Hickory" as II Is called, dailed from
New York. at II a. m, May 18th.
Sailing in q northeasternly direc-
ton. passing the north Of Ireland
and landed at Liverpool, England,
500 a. m. May 23rd. Going by
rail. across England to Folkstone. 1t
sailed for Calais. France, disembark-
Ing during the morning of May Oath.
From there 1t moved by train to
Analogue and liked for two days to
some training camps, near Non.
desque, where we were given one
month intensive treinine, including
a lot Of practice on the rifle range,
under supervision Of British instruc.
tors.
From this camp we started on q
three days hike into Belgium, cross
Ing the border at II a. m. July 4th
and. arriving at our destination,
Tunnelers Camp, at 4:30 p. m, the
same day. We stayed in this camp
under German shell fire until July
oath. when we moved a few miles
nearer the front line, to Benwell
camp. From here we moved into
the front line trencher. at Quillebeke
Lake, on the night Of August 1st.
We were relieved by the British,
August 4th. p. m. and went to
Green Line that night. We relieved
the British in the afternoon Of Aug
ust 9th. to the right Of Quillebeck
Lake. We were relieved by the
British on the night Of the 9th. We
hiked to Tennessee Camp. Proven,
Belgium. From here we went to
Phlipot Camp. directly Iii rear Of
Mont KENNEL. My Battalion. the
3rd Of il7th Infantry. was in re-
serve here. during the capture Of
Mont Kimmel. BY the 9th and SOth
Divisions. early In September.
This section Of Quaemire was
one Of the Worst on the Western
Front. Ypers. beautiful city Of
$1,000 people. was simply a tum-
bled down pile Of stone and brick.
Not house. or even a tree remain
ed whole In the entire salient So
much poison GAS had been used
here that practically all the timber
had been killed, except that on
Kennel and Missines Ridge.
The 9th and 3Oth Divisions left
this sector on Sept. 9th. and went
~ the Arras front, for the purpose
Of breaking the Hindenburg line.
The two divisions took up a posi-
ton In the front and support lines
between St. Queanton and Cam
bra and repulsed desperate attacks
by the Germans on Sept. 9th and
9th.
On Sunday morning Sept. 10Th
the two divisions went over at Sis
and broke through. reaching their
objective at 1877 q. m. The ar
tillery work Of the British and Aus
italians was simply wonderful.
Everything from q three inch to a
re inch gun. including. the long
range naval guns were working
overtime In the barraee that pre-
ceded the infantry attack they
dropped q shell every four yards
and secured innumerable hits
against the German gun emplace-
ments. trenches. and dueouts. As
my battalion went through the for.
ward batteries the British and Aus
trailian eunners had thrown off
their coats and helmets. unmindful
OF German shrapnel bursting over
head and were working with fever
ish haste. They said it was the
first time they ever saw men going
into battle, laughing. singing and
calling to each other as if they did