Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-01-21
I'M. P. Of. THE THlRTIETH
Martin MCCarter Writes Of His Ad.
ventures In France
SAW MUCH OF The HARD FIGHTING

SAW MUCH OF THE HARD FIGHTING
/! Among the First Americans to Go Into
Belsium-Saw Many Men Killed
! BY Shells and otherwise-Had a
Very Busy Time Of II Rounding Up
German Prisoners-FeeIs Like a
Veteran Who Has Done His Share.
Following is "Daddy's Day" letter
from Martin McCarter, military po-
liceman in the Thirtieth Division, dur
ing its campaign in France, to his
father. ]. L. McCarter, Of Clover, R.
f. D. No. /. The letter is dated
Somewhere in France, Sunday, Mo-
vember 24":
/ I have been promising you for some
time to tell you few happenings dur
ing the months have been over here.
Now an opportunity has presented it
self Today has been set apart as
sDaddy's Day" and every soldier IL
urged to write his father.
We sailed the 10th of May and land
ed the 27th. Therefore we were float
ing around seventeen days. When we
were out about two days from Liver
pool, the subs gave us little chase.
OF course, that got our wind up just
q bit; but we landed at Liverpool all
10. K.
From there We went to Southhamp-
ton, England, stayed there a day or
two, then came across the English
channel to La Hayre. France, got there
the first day Of June. Stayed there
about week. Then-we made wild
dash into Belgium,
BY the way, we were the first Amer,
lean boys to land in Belgium. Then,
fifty of us, with Lieutenant Aberna-
thy, went to Boulogne, France, to NJ.
P. school We were over there In
school thirty days. Then we came to-
Caestrae, France, for further instruc-
tions In the work that we were to do
IN this great war,
We went right, up to the frrnt for
the instructions, and there / got my
first taste of shell fire, which, was con-
tant during our stay Also there 1
got my first glanceSof mo mans land"
All the while we could see the shells
fly about. And almost daily wc could
sec the battles In the air. 1t was at
this time that saw my first Fritz"
plane come down.
We then, after being at M. P.
school, joined the company In Bel
gium. 1t was then got my first mail
from the states. I never shall forget
that day.
We were in Belgium two months,
and the greater part of the time while
we were there we were under shell
fire from one Of "Jerryss" long range
guns.
While there we. helped the British
capture KENNEL Hill q great strong
hold for the Germans, That was our.
frat victory, Then we moved to
northern France.
Now we were in the war proper.
There we began our drive on the ssth
of September. There's where we
broke the Hindenburg line. From
there they (the GermansJ ran like
rabbits
AS you know, this was the, turning
point Of the war. went up TO the
lines twice there. Well, might say,
three times for mo. The first time /
was at prisoner Of war cage. Wei
had charge OF the captured "Jerrys."
We handled 1900 that day. or course
! got q few souvenirs too. The next
drive was In charge of advanced
otragglers' post. Then rounded up
1 800 German prisoners and sent them
to the prison cage.
l got this bunch Q,600) from day
break till 11.3o that night. Now to
give you an idea Of what had. to
stand up under that day, was under
shell fire for the entire day and
night. It surely was a great days
work for me, That was during the
Bellecoprt drive. We got several vii
iages and released several hundred CT
villains.
Next week went up. again, had
fourteen men In my charge. We
worked traffic in and through the
newly captured villages, All this
time we were under shell fire. You
can bet 1t wasn't very pleasant work.
We had several very close callings
and at times I did not have very
much idea of getting out alive.
Just looked off at any time. All
around me I could see men going
down and trucks and horses being
blown to atoms. But fellow has to
get used to all such over here and
lust wait for his time to come next.
Anyway, I believe ! have done my
bit, and can never regret the many
sacrifices ! have made and the long
list Of hardships I have gene through
with since being over here,
Believe me. Daddy" the old Thir-
tieth" has some rep" over here. If
YOU are from the Thirtieth, you ore all
O, X, with these French people.
I must go for this time. I'm work.
Ing In an office now. Have a dandy
place. 1 have just given you brief
outline. Will tell you all when
come home.
With a heart full of love, yeur only
son. Martin,
CARRIED ToMMY'a BURDEN.