Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-02-04

Bruess to his brother, Rudolph, who
resides in Wausau, at 612 Chicago
Ave. Paul is now in the U. S. Inf.
band, A. E. F., in France:
Dec. Is, 1918.
Dear Brother,
Your letter was received today and
l sure was glad to hear from you and
that you are all well. l am feeling
fine, although 1 have had many ups
and downs while we were up in the
lines and I sure was lucky to come
out of it all without a scratch. There
are rumors going around that our
division will be one of the first to
go back to the States and there is
no one who will welcome the trip
more than /, although l was sick all
way over here, will tell you all about
that trip when I get back home. NV
first trip to the lines was up in Bel
gium, near Ypres, later at Mt. Kennel
and then at Dickibush. I was then
in Company F, 105 Infantry and
had the largest company in the
regiment, 260 men. From Belgium we
went to Doullens, where we rested up
for two weeks, after which we started
OAS AOA Jul OAS N11fC Ol IuG I1iuuGH-
burg lines, between Cambria and ST.
Quentin. We were assisted by the
thirtieth division of North and South
Carolina and Tennessee men and a
division of Australians, also a divi-
sion of English troops. Our divi-
sion was in the center, the Aus
trians on our right and the English
on our left. The 30th was in the rear
OF us for reserve and was to push
ahead after we reached our objective,
The artillery opened up a terrible
bombardment for three hours until
five ten in the morning, when they
stopped firing and at a signal from
one OF the guns we went over the top.
The Germans were shelling us pretty
heavy for they had expected an at
tack and was using a lot of gas and
smoke shells so that we could not see
anything, but we went ahead in spite
Oh everything. | wore my gas mask
eleven hours straight that day and
lodging from one shell hole to an
other. Shells and machine gun bullets
were flying thick about us and the
ground was thick with wounded and
dead and in the smoke our company
got separated from the others, having
pushed too far ahead from our OBJ
jective and before we knew what had
happened, we were cut off by the Ger
mans; but we hung tight to the ground
we had captured by laying low in
shell holes until re-enforcements
should come up. We sure had a hot
time of it for every time I'd stick
my noodle up to see if any Germans
were coming across the field, could
almost feel the machine gun bullets
whistle past my ears; twice / felt
bullets striking my helmet. There
were three of us lying in one shell
hole and the funny part of it was I
was lying in the shell hole alone.
when a big shell burst just ten feet
away and all of a sudden some one
jumped right on top of me; my heart
was up in my mouth for l thought
sure it was a Jerry" as we call them
over here, but | soon discovered that
he was one of our company and we
were soon joined by another Yank
from some other company We had
about sixty tanks in the attack and
after the battle there were only fifteen
left; some were blown up by mines
and others were hit by shells. Next
day we pushed ahead again having
received re-enforcements and in all
we gained five miles and captured
many prisoners. We were in the lines
hve days and then went to the rear
for a few days rest. 1t was during
this period that I was transferred
to the band. We were out just a few
days when our regiment went into
the line again, but l did not go with
them this time for the band staid
back about four miles from the front
lines in detail camp. In the next
battle we had to do stretcher bearer
work, which is very dangerous; also
had many narrow escapes from being
hit while picking up wounded and
carrying them to tne rear. We also
had to detonate bombs, which is very
dangerous work, in fact we did very
little playing on our instruments, the
only time we would do any playing
was when the troops went into the
line and when they came out for rest.
VIII have many more interesting
things to tell you when l get back, for
what | have written so far is nothing
compared to what I am going to tell
you, when I return. l received my
Christmas package already from
F'rieda, a wrist watch and a box of
candy and chocolate bars. Tell mother
and father that you heard from
me and give them my love and
regards, also all the rest with
which 1 will close, hoping these lines
will find you all well. l remain as
ever, your loving brother,
PAUL.
P S. l heard today that we might
sail on he 22nd of December. Hope
the news is true.
The following iS q latfor from