Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1919-04-16
PRISONERS RELEASED BY GERMANY A
HORRIBLE SIGHT

by Lieutenant Kenneth d. Harris, Spincourt
France, November 24.I
quite so strict will write you few things we
have been doing since coming to France. We
landed in Brest, March 18th. From there we
went to place near DeJOhn, for training.
While there sent away to a signal school
for one month, April. May 18th started
for the front. We stayed in the trenches for
two months in sector near the Swiss border.
There is where saw the most action. From
there we went to Chateau Thierry front,
which is east of Paris. July 25th left the
and went to school to be trained as an officer.
outfit HEADQUARTERS Company, l2Sth Infantry.
Have not seen anything of the old company
since. l was at school. which at Longres.
went TO Paris for two days and from Paris to
the Fifth Division, which at the front.
on the ArgOnne. north of Verdun. When
reached this outfit they were waiting for orders
TO go over the top. Was put in charge of the
signal work. Staid with the Sixth Infantry
for several days and taken sick from
laying in the wet and cold shell holes at night,
and the severe strain and exposure. Went to
the hospital for few days and returned to the
Sixth Infantry. and was assigned to L Com
pany, which Is a line company. (That is a
company which goes after them with rife and
bayonet.)
After the armistice was signed we drew
back from the front few days for rest. Last
Monday and Tuesday hiked 20 miles per
day and reached the place which is about rs
miles from the Rhine river and rs miles from
Nerdun. l passed through Verdun my way
back from the hospital. In a few days
will go into Germany. Yesterday a train
passed through here from France going TO
Germany, the first one since 1914. This part
of the country has been held by Germany since
1914. The people here have been slaves all
that time. The stories they tell of how the
Germans treated them terrible, especially
the girls. Every day a large number of French
and English prisoners released by Germany
pass through here their way to France.
They a terrible sight Their faces look
like stone. They are now happy but you can
that they have lost the art of smiling.
times when | see these people and these pris-
oners my heart comes right up in my throat.
We are guarding property turned over by
the Germans. There are large number of
cannon here. Some of the guns large
enough for a man to crawl into without much
trouble. The shells set end tall
man. Think of 1t. They the game
were facing only few days back. They killed
many Of cur comrades by our Sides Some of
them were blown into many pieces that
there was nothing to be found. Pieces of your
comrades splashed all over your clothing and
faeeli Well 1t is all now and Germany
is licked to a frazel. The kaiser abdicated
and the Crown Prince killed by his own
people. We must honor and speak of those
boys that gave their lives for liberty with
reverence.
/ am going to send you "a paper which is
printed by and for the soldiers in France.
called The Stars and Stripes" Read il all
over. 1t tells what we are doing. viii try to
send you each week. Love to all. hope TO be
home soon.