The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1919-01-10

helped to take the rations to the
men. Our division was on the 1t.
Mihiel front for about week and
they did some good fighting. From
there we went back few weeks and
came up to the Meuse, Argonne front,
and we're there one week and then
went back for few days and went
up again. We were there at the end,
November IL. We were on several
other fronts but these two are where
our boys, the Americans, did the
fighting. / had several narrow es-
capes but not from machine gun or
rifle but from the big shells as they
came close to me several times, but
/ never got a scratch. Had big
shell to burst not more than ten feet
away from me. I got splashed full
of mud but luckily I did not get hit
with the flying fragments. 4 have
been sleeping inside since the 18th
but before that had to sleep in a
small tent, what we call dog tent,
for nearly two months. r had
buddy, who is from the State Of
Washington. We are now in a town
which the Dutch held for years and
have left since the armistice was
signed There are not many civilians
in the towns around here as we are
not far from Germany. Now we are
on the way to Luxembourg. l SUPPOSE
we will soon be there. We move by
day now as before we moved at night
so we would not be seen by airplanes
Do not see very many flying around
now, as before, could see them by the
hundreds, sometimes we would see
as many a. $50 df our planes in the
air over u at once, and quite often
a few German ones. You said in one
Of your letters sometime ago about
seeing an airplane flying around but
I have seen some real exhibitions the
past few months. You can imagine
how we all felt when we heard that
they were going to stop fighting. 1t
does seem strange we can have fires
and lights at night, everything Is
quiet to what we were used to hear
ing with the guns roaring. 1t is raining
and bad around here the past few days
but I have rubber boots that come
up to my hips 50 do not get wet
feet anyway am we'll and hope
you are all the same and hCpe to be
back home again before long. This
is about all for this time % X will
close with love and best wishes + am,
as ever, your loving son, BILL"
\ The following letter was received
| by Mr.. George W. Albaugh, this city,
from Private William H. Anders, Co.
D, 311th M. G. B., France:
Camp Romagne, Meuse Sector,
Verdun Front, Dec. Is, 1918.
Dear Mr.. AIbaugh:-Your letter
of November 18 was received by me
yesterday and | sure was glad to hear
from you. / received the papers you
had sent to me and was rather sur
prised to see the letters in the PAPER.
We have such poor accommodations
for writing and there are 20 many
things on your mind that it is hard to
write a letter fit to publish, but 7
always enjoy reading the county news.
Russell and NorInan get the Westmin-
ster papers and I get the Pilot, 50
we get nearly all the county news.
We surely were glad when we receiv-
ed word not to fire anymore and to
dig in, but we thought it was too
good to be true. We stayed right on
the spot where we were at IL a. m.
for two weeks and slept in our pulp
tents and it was rather chilly Sleep
ing on the ground. We were in the
thickest of the fight right up to the
last minute and it seemed right at IL
everybody took one final shot at the
other fellow, then everything was
quiet From all accounts there sure
ly was some celebrating i'm the States.
I'VE are all very anxious to get
home now since we have done our
part and it all over and the party that
is instrumental in getting US home
soon is going to get a lot of votes
next fall. This staying over here and
cleaning UP this. country does not ap-
peal to us and l sure will be glad
when / can get back with you all. 1
still have a little cold and l can't
get rid of it some how and as my
shoes are worn out / have been stay
ing in until I can get new ones. You
can never get rid Of cold over here
in all this slop with no soles on your
shbes We hear % many different
reports about our coming home, but
don't believe any Of them, but If we
are home some time during February
we will be lucky.
We are now part or the second
Army instead of the First and the
Second in the Army Of Occupation.
I saw in paper Tuesday that the
18th was to occupy part Of the terri.
tory of Luxemburg and today 1
heard we may be on our way home
about the Second week of January,
but orders change too often in the
Army to. believe anything before 1t
happens. We are having quite few
inspections and are trying to get fully
equipped We lost nearly all our
equipment in the last drive. ] had
nothing left but the clothes had OF
my back 4 have read letter in the
Baltimore paper about the change AT
Drovers & Mechanics and was lit
tie surprised. Must close for this
time. Give my best regards to
Messrs Baker, Watts & Co., and all
my friends Wishing you and yours
a very Merry Xmas and Happy New
Year and to see you soon in 1919.
Sincerely yours, WILLIAM" "
Continued on page 81
-----a-=-. -=-.~s-.Sa1'--------------------N