The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-02-12
Comedy

dropped it. The people welcomed US
I Before July IS, the English and
| French were not sure of us but when
we were relieved July 25, they said
we were the best fighting men in the
world. From ,Juilley we moved to
Toul There is where we had the
+! best billets we have been in SO far.
We were given no rest but after
| five days were ordered back up to
the line. This time to quiet sector,
! just to the left Of our old post, Sches-
pray. All during July and until about
| the 10Th OF August we remained in
these trenches and during this time
not man wos wounded.
From this quiet sector we were sent
back to a town, called MaXey. We
stayed only a few days when we we're
ordered to the front, this time to
go over again.
The first OF September, found us
lying in woods just back Of the
trenches where we had endured such
hardships near Schespray. On Sep
TENDER %, the 18th Inf. once more
went over the top. This time on Mont
sec during the St. Mihiel drive. +
have described it in my letter where
4 said l was back in n wood near
the big guns.
When we were relieved five days
later we moved back to d woods and
lived in tents. From then until bout
Nov. II we lived in the open some
times in tents and sometimes in The
open unded the sky. J@
From the woods Of Montsec we
were ordered to front east Of Verr
dun. For three days we camped in
the hills .ilst north OF a town, called
Very; and another called Cheppy.
October 4th we, started On what is
known the Argorne Woods Advance.
Here the lighting was fierce, the
Germans put up a strong resistance.
and only steady fighting and determ-
ination drove them from the woods.
Sometimes the odds were . to |
against us, but the 1st division has
never given an inch Of ground and
never Will.byT 81 :rgAuI8 i.94<.g es..
| October l we. moved back to what
we expected would beia long rest
which we i,were badly in need of.
However on October 81 we were once
Omer ordered up. November we
started over again and on Nov. 6
captured the city Of Monzon just to
the right of Sedan. November II
when the armistice was signed found
us moving back to the rear.
From MonzOn back We hiked thru
Verdun and Mont. From there into
the small principally of Luxembourg.
The list division paraded thru the
streets of xemburg, we being the
first American soldiers they had ever
seen. During the four years--the Ger
mans had occupied this land they had
led the people to believe there were
only a few American troops in
France. They couldn't believe we
were all Americans. Two OF us, one
of my runners and myself, spent near
ly the whole day in the city. We
were the first Americans there be-.
sides the higher officers. A big
crowd of children and older people
followed us where ever we went. &:
Now we are in a little town in Lux,
emburg whose name | do not know.
About 100 yards from where am IS
the river and Just across the river is
Germany. In a few days most likely
we will be roaming through the hills
and towns of the Huns What expert.
ences before us there must be. The
hardest task beforeus is that we must
show courtesy and kindness to q
people who for four long years have
caused such sorrow and ruin upon a.
gentle people like the French. Can
we forget those boys of ours. our.
friends which they have slain? That
is the task before u.s.
In the above have let you follow
me into nearly every town and on
every road where we have been. It
base been impossible to tell you OF
the wonders have seen. That j
must leave until reach home.
Your son.
ARTHUR.
! Cpl. Arthur Hartley, :"
A. f.. r. Germany.
A. p @. 729, s.