Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1919-02-07

to his sister, Miss Annie Ferbrache,
of this city. Corporal Ferbrache
formerly resided in Pullman, and at
tended the local high school. He was
in the thick of the fighting during
the closing days of the war and has
many interesting experiences to re-
| late Extracts from two other let
tiers. one written just before the
signing of the armistice and the
other soon after, will be published
next week;
Stenay, France,
December 8, 1918.
Dear Sis and Aunt Annie;
If failing to write is a crime
should be hung, but then am almost
out of the habit.
The censorship is lifted on our let
ters so will feel more like writing
now
We left New York July IA. Came
across on H. NJ. S. Caronia, fine big
boat. Saw no subs, but missed eig-.t
by two hours. Had a good trip
was / 3 days on the water. We load
ed on the 18th of July and there
were Is ships in the convoy. Land
ed in Liverpool at the 18th hour. or
100 p. m, and was the 18th regi-
ment to load. Some 1873. viii give
you some 18th later.
Liverpool is surely beautiful city.
In fact, all of England is clean and
pretty, just like western Oregon. only
no mountains. Was in England
eight days and loaded again at South
!, Hampton to cross the channel. Land
ed in Cherebough. We then took
passage "A La France or 40 HON.
mes or s Cheveaux (40 men or s
horses). Some boXcars they have in
England and France-little toy
trains. Rode across France for three
days and landed at Camp DuCalda-
hon, near Basancon, on the SWISS
| bOlhCl' COulu see MOUNT Bldnc from
camp.
BasancOn is some town. Was in
the outskirts of Paris. Saw Eiffle
Tower. Had two aeroplane raids on
Basancon while | was there visiting
my Love. Was in Valdahon until
October pa. We then departed for
the front. Hit the line October 26
and was in it until the 18th. Sis
Sherman only told haIf of it. War
IS great. We would fire all day and
hike all night to take up new posi-
ton. We were shock trooks and.
believe me, we were shocked. We
were opposed by the pick of the Ger
man and Austrian armies and under
heavy shell fire all the time, as we
were the point on a wedge-shaped
! line. Fire from in front and both
flanks.
: Was Sassed for three days and it
Is hell. Sneezing gas, vomiting gas,
: and mustard gas. and all size Of
shells from three-inch to Pinch
were heaved at us, but mostly 90
inch ones. Had a number of close
calls, but the closest was a rifle ball
= through my overcoat from a German
| plane, and the side torn out of over
, coat by a fragment of shell. The
l shells whistle as they come at YOU
and there is only one thing to do
Hop and hug the ground. The sus-
pense is awful until they explode, as
you can hear them coming for about
] two seconds and can't tell whether
they will get you or not.
, We were the first artillery to reach
: the Meuse river and our last position
2 was only 400 yards behind the in
fantry, the nearest heavy artillery
was ever known to be to infantry
We advanced into our last position
S under heavy Smelling and machine
gun fire and had to cross through q
town, one end of which was still held
a by the Germans. For this we re-
ceiYed a citation from both the
american and French governments
we also received one from the
: French for being the only heavy ar
e 'lilery to keep up with the infantry
: VIII tell you lots more when I see
4 you.
we may not leave France for six
months and again we may leave soon.
expect to see you in six months
though
Here are some IFS: The armis-
tice was called at 1900 o'clock the
ilth month, the 18th day. We fired
II shots in our last problem at
io:o9. The 18th fired the last shots
on our sector and fired on the l1tb
regiment of artillery. an Austrian
crack outfit
/ nave several good souvenirs, if |