Newark post., 1919-02-12


barn was an old building anyway
and every time one of the guns
would bark, the jar would knock
down two or three bricks among
US. and we were in almost as much
danger of falling bricks as If we
had been in the line. Remember
we were in the dark. We followed
up the advance for five days, and
then were relieved and sent back
to the city of Thielt for few days
rest. After several days stay there
we again were ordered to the lines,
this time my regiment making the
attack and the others in reserve.
It was Sunday evening, November
10th when we arrived at the place
of battle, having passed through
the town of Syngem where the
French and Belgiums had on an
artillery engagement and the din
was terrific, you could hardly hear
the fellow next to you speak.
After we got through the town we
had a long stretch of unprotected
road to go over, and Fritz saw us
and opened up with both machine
guns and artillery. The machine
gun bullets were thicker than mos
quitoes on the Delaware marshes
in summer time, but it happened
that not. many of us were hit,
though l thing every man was up
on the bit Of expectation. After
a time we came to what they call
the Scheldt river, but it is not any
wider than White Clay Greek at
the Paper Mill bridge. We expected
to have lots Of trouble in crossing
the bride spanning it, but FORUM
ately we got over without any ac-
cidents. We were told to move
down the river bank a little way
and dig ourselves in. | didn't have
anything to dig with but my mess
kit cover, but you can dig with
anything when some one is shoot
ing at you, and | assure you Jerry
was shooting some too. | thought
he must have been saving up his
bullets for that special occasion
for they seemed to be coming
across in a steady stream.
Gets News of Armistice Signing
Our artillery was to lay over a
barrage at $50 a. m. when our
Lieutenant came down and told
US that an armistice mad been sign
ed and we were not to go over that
morning as the war was over and
that we were to Just lie quietly in
our dugouts, and hostilities would
cease on both sides at II o'clock
Well you can imagine what an eff
feet this news had upon the boys.
They at once got out on the banks,
threw their hats up in the air, and
the turnips at each other until
Jerry got his eyes on them and got
his old cannons busy bombarding
us until dinner time. Every min
ute was expecting a shell to come
in my dugout with me, and made
up my mind if one came in,
would go out if it would let me.
About noon all firing ceased and
it did not seem like the same world
after that ,and l, like many others
could hardly realize the truth of
it, and after dark it seemed
strange to see lights shining
about and to be able to strike a
match outside without getting
knocked down for it. Shortly after
that we started on our long hike
out of Belgium and clear back to
Dunkirk, France. Just now, when
my outfit is getting ready to go
home soon for me or not. This is
with boils, and | am afraid | will
never be able to overcake my Com
pany, and ] am ready to go home
right now.
We may be sent to Berlin yet, as
they are having all kinds of trou-
BILE there, and | hear that Ameri-
can troops are to occupy the city,
so | don't know whether it will be
home soon for m cor not. This is
the fifth hospital I've been in and
the third British one, owing to the
fact that many Of the American
hospitals are closing up. This one
will soon be closed, I hear, and
the patients sent to England. but
they can send me to U. S. A. and
it will suit me much better.
l have now given you a very
short sketch of the worst side of
my visit to France. Of course,
there is a brighter side to it. Kind
ness and consideration shown TO
all of u.s.. a bit of social contact
@ n nrfy L