Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1919-01-15
/ u T]U)RNED SOLDIER
TELLS EXPERIENCE
Lieut.. John w. Sands, of Alvarado,
Was Gassed and Saw Much
Hard Fighting.
WAS RECOMMENDED FOR PROMO
TON WHEN WAR STOPPED.

~ Lieut.. John w. Sands, of Alyarado.
one among the first Marshall county
soldiers to return from service over
seas, was in the city yesterday and in
a few minutes interview he told the
4Sheaf some Of his experiences in the
great war. Mr.. Sands has had long
and varied service in the army He
enlisted June, 1915 in the Minnesota
National Guard and spent ten months
in Texas guarding the Mexican boun-
Diary. In the spring of 1917, he joined
the Officers Training Camp at Fort
Smelling, was commissioned First
Lieutenant Of Infantry and in August
of that year was ordered to go to
France. After going across he spent
seven weeks with the British troops.
Then the LIST Division of American
troops to which he belonged took over
the, Luneville sector and went into win
ter quarters at Gondrecourt In Jan
uary, 1918, he was with the American
troops who took over the sector north
west Of Toul, remaining there until
April 26. While on this sector he was
gassed and was laid up couple weeks.
Then he was transferred to the sector
opposite Mont Didier and took part in
the fighting May % and May 20, when
Cantigny was captured from the Ger
mans, the first city taken by the Amer
leans. The Germans tried to retake it.
but failed There was severe fighting
around the place for five days. On
! July Z, the march started, and was
made during nights, for the sector Of
Soisson.i On July II the great counter
attack began and continued for II days.
Cutry, Berzy-le-Sec, Massey au Bots, be-
ing among the places taken. Then he
Went to . cn"to" near Pie Mousson,
remaining there until aug. "a, when he
went back for six days rest After
that they were marched back for the
st. Michel drive. Mr.. Sands says the
Germans intended to abandon this
salient IN a few days and had made
plans to remove their guns and sup
plies, and leave only gas machinery at
convenient points to Overwhelm the
advancing Americans. But the Ameri-
cans spoiled the plan by attacking be-
fore the Germans had time to put it
into execution. A large number of
German prisoners and immense Quanti-
ties of war materials fell into the hands
of the Americans, with very little fight
ing, as the result Of this surprise at
tack. After the St. Michel drive. Mr..
Sands went to the aviation branch as
an observer in aeroplane, but could not
stand the work on account of the alti-
tude. Then he was assigned to the
Chemical warfare service as assistant
division gas officer He went back to
the front Oct. II and remained there
until the armistice was signed, Nov. II.
Lieut.. Sands left the front Nov. 26.
He spent Thanksgiving at Paris, King
George Of England being there at the
time. From Paris he went to Brest to
await a ship for home. While he was
there, on Dec. 13, President Wilson
landed, and, there was a great demon
stration in his honor. He left France
Dec. Is, on the same ship which
brought the President to France, the
George Washington. On Dec %, he
landed in New, York and was sent to
Camp Dix to receive his discharge.
Lieut., Sands had been recommended
for promotion to Captain when the
armistice was signed, cutting short his
eVentful military career. He will
henceforth devote his energies to the
HIS ssdf -nnann and haS already rn.j