The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1919-04-25

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kinds were assigned, the different
kind ofabarrages, both offensive and
defensive as well as other problems
which had been worked out as the
course progressed, We're fred on re-
ceipt Of signals from the forward OBJ
serYation posts. The final problem
was an asaimulated attack on the en-
tire brigade front, in which all organ
izationsof the brigade took part. This
was pronounced by the instructors to
be q complete success and we were
thereby declared ready for the enemy.
9he remainder of our stay in this
training camp was spent in making
practice marches, the entire personnel
and equipment being taken on these.
Several days and nights were spent in
this manner, which in later expert
ence, was found to be very valuable
training.
AZ last we received orders to pre-
pare. for u move, which we knew very
well was to be forward. The personal
equipment of the men was cut down
10. those articles which were actually
needed in active service. All battery
equipment and material was put in
prime condition and made ready for
The move. which was started August
q, 1913
ct. Mihiel Salient Offensive
The battery entrained and left Guer
at 40 August q having practically
a full equipment and almost UP to war
strength We had one hundred and
eishty-three men, enc hundred and
fourteen horses and, besides the four
guns and caissons had almost COM
plete battery combat train.
The men knew now that their peri
cd of training was at an end. And al
though there had been some very
strenuous work during this period, the
real work of The war was just begin
ing.
This was. the first experience of
travelling with equipment. However
the men quickly adapted themselves
to the new condition, and the trip of
two days ana nights was made with
out even the loss of horse,
The battery arrived at Foul about
] T. Nj, August %, the entire equip
mont unloaded and put in marching
order by four z. M. 1T was during
this night that the battery got it's first
taste of some of the real experiences
of the Great World War, which we
WefcF now becoming party to. To
those who have not had the real ex-
pe!ienee it may well be said that the
hardships of the war were not alto
getller tfose encountered on the actu-
al battlefield. But it is the getting
to the place that accounts for the
large part Of it.
+ We We're now in the zone Of ad-
vance and practically all of the tray
cling ON the roads was done under
the cover Of darkness, in order that
the watchful eye of the Hun might be
cvaded as much as possible. This
first nights march of Is kilometers, !
we made more and longer |
and under worse conditions, was one |
to be remembered by every member
Of the organization. All the men and |
horses were tired and worn out from
The long rip, and the greater part
Of the march was made in a driving
rain But the men seemed to realize
that this was just part of the great
game, and faced it in the spirit of
veterans. The next nights march
brought us TO what was to be our
shelon at the,front This was in a for,
est near Memil-La-Tour and about l.
from the front line.
The next day was spent in making
lamp. The men were quartered in
and the horses only
shelter was that of trees. We were
low where we had to keep everything
hidden from the keen eye of the Boche
yiator
II was on the next morning after
IN arrival here, that We saw our first
irplane fight, one plane being Grip
led and forced to land not very far {
rom our camp. We now realized that /
e were close to the real thing of /