The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-01-21
WITH WAYNE COUNTY SOLDIERS AND SAILORS
up, wrecks OF boats. ETC., on the banks,
and everything had the aspect OF hav.

up, wrecks OF boats. etc., on the banks,
and everything had the aspect OF haV.
ing gone through big fight. The
meadows az we left sVerdun were
mass OF barbed wire, trenches and
shell holes and can say without doubt
that there wasn't FIVE square feet OF
ground that there wasn't a she'll hole.
How the French existed four years
in the trenches l saw Is more than
can imagine, as couple Of nights
on the ground in this kind OF weather
Is all that want. There were some
shell holes about twenty feet In d.
ameter, big trees shattered and blown
down and everything was torn up III
some form or other.
We were bound for Dun-sur and as
we got further north from Verdun, the
country or everything about it looked
as IL it had been left in a hurry; am
munition lying along the roads. parts
OF wagons, ammunition carriers, and
all sorts of material left lying loose.
There were all kinds OF traces of n
running fight, hastily constructed dug
! outs. trenches and machine gun en-
placements, big holes where the shells
had hit c0nspicuously everywhere were
the cemeteries Of all countries at war.
German signs we're becoming common.
showing the direction to different
towns, etc. 1t was real interesting,
this entering of reconquered territory.
Old Uncle Samuel surely did give us
real sightseeing trip and only a week
after hostilities had ceased
The towns we are going through now
were not so badly shot up as the ones
nearer Verdun. but they have suffered
badly one place l noticed was big
sign saying Nights trinckwassr" and
believe me here is one that Is not 60
Ing to drink any water unless it has
been boiled and then chlorined, and
when that has all been done. you have
lost your appetite for a drink
| was talking to one Of the cooks
who got here the day the Germans
were driven out and he said they left
IN such hurry that they left 1000
loaves OF bread. several hundred bush
els OF potatoes, and a half a room full
OF cabbage. part of which had already
been cut up In preparation to make
kfaut. This place is full of German
signs, and German cartoons and we
are as bad as bunch Of explorers,
poklng our way everywhere and every
|
| But to get back to my story. we
opened up shop and then started
around looking for bed, those Ger
mans must have gotten all the beds
from tbs neighhorhood, because there
we're "beaucoup" beds and l went to
sleep dreaming Of the coolies that
may be in the bed with me. but knock
Ing on wood. we are still enemies and
don't want any. We found big
room with a little German make piano
and our bunch Immediately took root,
we got one fellow who would rather
play than eat.
| slept last night for the first time
In this room, we'll l went to sleep
about 10 bells and woke up with a
start about IL, someone thought had
touched my face. I lay real still and
felt something on my stomach, then
heard the soft soft patter Of many feet
on the floor and knew,-the rats were
holding regimental review and the
old Kaiser was up on my bunk for the
grand review. Well he went down on
my feet and guess not liking the
odor down there. started towards my
face again with evident intention of
pulling his downy tail again across my
face. He got as far as my waist when
gave him mighty heave trying to
throw him on the next mans bunk,
but | heard him hit the floor and
beat a hasty retreat, just like the old
kaiser. l got my raincoat and pulled
1t over my face and went to sleep
agafn--a half an hour later I turned
over to give the corn on my other hip
chance to do his duty, when crack,
down went my German bed and me
rolling under the next bed. It was
so funny | had to wake everybody
up and after making my bed again on
the floor and properly protecting my
face from the rats, ETC., / managed to
get to sleep again after scratching for
is minutes imagining had the coot.
les. To top the climax about three
o'clock the blamed old roof started
leaking and ] had to move again, D.
the Germans anyway. Well got my.
self new bed and was going to try it
again tonight and am hoping for a
few hours unmolested sleep at least.
Well hoping to get a letter soon.
will close with Merry Christmas and
Happy New Year, and lots Of love.
JOE.
Regt. Sgt. Major Joseph B. Par
deck, Hdqrs bet. 315th Ammuni-
ton Train, American e. F.
~e-e eroNI~e nEnAlc