The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-02-07
SOLDIERS LETTERS

The following letter from Herbert
Neider to his folks will prove inter
esting to his many Blackfoot friends:
Gonnersdorf, Germany, Dec. IS, 1918
Dear folks:
1t makes me feel ambitious to
write letters. This is the first OPP
portunity I've had in a log time,
The last one wrote was the request
for the Christmas parcel, hope you
can send it thru o. X.
I'm in. Germany now, even Sleep
ing in their houses; have been for the
past three weeks. I'm in the din
Ing room at present sitting at the
old Dutchman's desk.
We have them to cook for us
every now and then, of course we
pay them. The old saying is "To the
Conquers Belongs the Spoils." They
are treating us good now, so we're
going to do the same in return. The
people I'm staying with now had
son killed in 1916 on the Verdun
front. He won an iron cross for
bravery in action.
I've been fighting on all of the
Western front, excepting the Eng
lish and I've been practically all over
France too. can't say I like it any
to well.
The first front we were on was the
Lorraine in the Baccarat and Lune-
vile sector. 1t was snap but of
course we were a little scared at
first.
The second front was at Shippers
on the Champagne front. We were
supposed to have been in the second
biggest bombardment of the war.
They had artilley hub to hub. The
fire works started at IL o'clock one
night, ! mean to say my hair sure
stood on end. This battle was sup
posed to be turning point of the war.
The third front was at Chateau |
Thierry on the Marine front. Here
is where the English kept retreating,
and the Germans we're about to take |
Paris. They put we Sammies in and |
we counter attacked, and drove them
back. We lost about three-fourths
Of our company killed and wounded.
Here's where Maine France got his
The fourth front was the Alsace
at Toul and St. Michel In 1914 the
French lost 10000 in fifteen min
utes. They had the hills mined. We
slipped up on them in the dark and
took it without much trouble. We
took lots of prisoners here.
The fifth front was at Verdun.
There always was hard fighting here.
We slet in mud holes for about three
weeks, until we attacked When
we did attack we had so much artil-
cry that 1t meant sure death for the
Germans to crawl out of their holes.
So we took thousands of prisoners.
shot $500 rounds from my machine
gun alone in two hours. What Ger
mans did get away We chased about
'orty miles until we hit the Meuse
liver and reaching the out skirts of
sedan
We. were close to the Mouse river
when the armistice was signed.
We've been hiking ever since and I
mean to say it's tiresome.
l passed thru Belgium and Luxem-
'urg. In Belgium the people were
laying bands in about every town.
hey also would wave flags and yell
Viva La Americ.'
In Luxembourg / got a pass to 20
o the city Of Luxembourg. The first
ASS I've had since I've been in the
rmy. I had lovely time. There's
ute number speak English, so
hat helped me considerable.
We are in the third army; 1.-THE
rmy of occupation" and as soon as
70 get relieved I think we'll set SAIL
belong to the Forty-second Rain
ow division. We're to wear rain
ow on our left arm to distinguish
s from other divisions.
Well, I think this is enough for
his time, and wishing you Merry
mas and Happy New Year I am,
Your son,
HERBERT L. NEIDER.
o. A 151st. M. G. Bn. A. e. F..