The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1919-01-16

the medical corps, with the rank of
lieutenant, from Bamberg county in
1917.
"A. E. F., Nov. "a, 191S-Dear
Father:-Your letter of Oct. 14th
was received a few days ago and was
mighty glad to hear that you all were
we'll and had so far escaped the in
fuenza epidemic. l hope ere this it
is we'll on the decline. We were very
fortunate over here in that it only
lasted a short time.
"In one of your last letters you
asked me to write a long letter de-
scribing in detail my experience over
here. 1 will have to wait a while be-
fore / can tell you very much as the
censor rules so far have not been
modified, and the things that would
interest you most are prohibited. l
hope that it will not be very long
until 1 can tell you rather than
write.
"In regard to my trip over, most of
it was very pleasant, We had good
weather, practically no sickness, and
up to the second day from landing
had encountered no Subs But
finally the long expected and eagerly
watched for Subs were sighted, the
alarm was Immediately signaled to
all the boats in the convoy and every
thing was put in readiness to meet
the attack, the abandon ship forma
ton was ordered and each man on
board took his assigned position on
deck. This formation had been thor
oughly drilled and it was executed
without the slightest disturbance or
excitement. Now as to the results Of
this attack, our convoy escaped with
out the slightest damage, but Fritz
lost pretty heavily.
81 landed at a Northern port in
France, and just shortly afterward l
was ordered up to the front for a
few days course of instruction, at the
completion of this 1 returned to my
Battalion and found that it was un-
der orders to go to the trenches. In
a few days we went in and took
over a sector, this was in the old
historical Ypres sector. The boys
we're very enthusiastic and determin-
ed to do just a little more than their
bit Soon after occupying the
trenches we received orders to attack.
This was exactly what everyone was
wishing for, merely holding the line
was rapidly growing monotonous,
such inactivity was the hardest thing
in the war for u boys to get used to.
This attack vas a great success and
considerable comment was given it
in the papers. From the Ypres Sec
tor we went to Arras, from there to
the Somme. This was just prior to
the big attack that was launched
between Cambria and St. Quentin,
here we took part in one of the big
gest battles of the grand offensive
which added considerable to the al
ready famous history of the Somme.
Gas to the details of my experience
I'll have to wait and tell you when I
return, they are most interesting but
too much to write, and as varied as
they are numerous. I haven't said
anything of the gloomy side of the
game nor it's hardships but they are
not at all unbearable, for up there
your efforts materialize and appre-
citation for your services are so mani
fest that personal h%ardships and
danger are partly overlooked, but I
know the hardships I experienced
were slight compared to those of
some others. I never had to suffer
being wounded, but l got plenty to
satisfy me along this line in a small
dose of gas which at the time I re-
garded as very trivial but later the
after effects convinced me that it
was due considerable respect.
"Will close for this time hoping
you an dali are we'll. Lots of love.