The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1919-03-20
FROM
HAND CO.. BOYS
CONTINUED from nrst page)

take a rest. That night 1pr twelVe
hours we dragged ourselves thro the
mud back to our positions on h front
lines. Fortunately 1t was not neces-
sary for us to do any advancing. SO for
| five days we lay in almost the same
| position. waiting on relief. On the
| evening OF Oct. 18th, II came so we
started back, thinking OF course that
the war would be over before we could
be called upon again
we were hardy back Of the lines be-
fore we learned that we would a X the
box cars again for the Flanders front
in Belgium where VIZ would soon par
~ticipate in another drive. We land
ed in Belgium lei Boulers on Oct.
20. and fortunately remained there and
recuperated I'M a measure until the
10th when we again went on the front.
After our experiences on the Ar
gonne the offensive in Belgium seem
ed mere play. warfare. The Germans
began their retreat about that's time
SO It kept us marching almost night
and day to keep withins range OF ar
tillery. We always speak of II as the
big Turnip Drive" for the country
was simply covered with turnips and
sugar beet fields SO we had plenty of
~turnips to eat. Most of the Belgium
people had remained in this section
and worked their farms for. the Ger
mans as prisoners of war. The people
there seemed almost to worship the
American soldiers and could not do
enough for us. On the 10th of No
vember we marched into Oudenarde, a
city of about 10000 population. 1t
had beer pretty badly wrecked by the
Germans before they left and many
of the inhabitants had moved out.
When we first moved In we found
plenty to eat and all kinds of souve-
Mrs in the wrecked homes and places
of business which had been vacated
when the Germans shelled the town.
However as soon as the armistice was
signed they began focking back and
before we left about ten days later II
was a. busy little city.
From O~udenarde we started to
march to Brussels but we were only
three days on our way when orders
came to turn bacck, SO from thatlday
. to this we have been slowly working
our way homeward How long before
we will see you all again 1t is hard to
say but we have every reason to think
: II will not be long. Gen. Pershing re-
r views our division tomorrow n 1t is
: usually not long after that event be-
n fore troops board the boat.
We have been here since the evening
}, OF Dec. 31st. This is a good sized
little city and since here have been
enjoying ourselves just al we'll as 1t
g could be expected OF a soldier who Is
e anxious to get back to good old U. s.
g A.
e We have some kind of entertainment
% at the tHcdJTc escty C'Vhhh6 ~ '"o
chaplain and Y. man give is plenty of
recreation and sports. Our mess has
Il been very good since here SO we have
) little to complain Of. Personally
s. have never felt better. l mean from a
{ physical standpoint. I an heavier than
ever before In my life. This is prob.
I ably due to the frequent rabbit feeds
we had in Belgium and the chicken
! goose and turkey feeds we have had
here. They are quite expensive but
we don't stop for expenses so long al
HUnele Sam pays the bill.
Up till the time the armistice wa
signed ] was acting as a regimenta
drummer but since then have been II
the supply room I am ranked as
mechanic but am really 4 sort OF as
sistant, supply sergeant. My work |
mainly on the books SC naturally
enjoy it much more than the drilling
We have surely been kept busy OF lat
drawing uniforms and equipment an,
hitting the boys out SO as to be fit I
go back to the land we love SO well.
think Of my many Lake Presto
friends almost every day and ! al
anxiously awaiting the time when
can once more be among you. M
business and social relations have al
ways beer the most pleasant and
Vhope that IT viii not be long till the
Nmay once more be resumed
with best wishes to all, I am
Delano r. Starr.