The Lexington progress. (Lexington, Tenn.) 1884-current, 1919-01-31

H. D. Barry.
Lexington. Tenn.
Friend Henry:
| have just made one OF the most
Interesting trips Of my life.
Lack Of news has kept me from
writing to you many times, ard
now | feel like have something
really worth telling.
New Years Eve was spent In a
"dugout" In No mans land"
reached Ypres shortly after dark in
a party Of six, and set out immedi.
ately to find a place to spend the
night and was fortunate enough to
find a dug-out with a make-shift
stove in it. with which we made our
selves fairly comfortable the rest of
the night and set out as soon as it
was light enough. to explore the
desolate fields Of Flanders:
First, though, | must tell you of
the once beautiful city of Ypres.
Entering the city from the east it is
surrounded by great wall Of brick,
which. were it not for being backed
up by earth would resemble a pep
per box more than a solid wall.
Just inside the wall is a large Gem.
etery that is literally churned up by
lshell fire. Where once stood one
of the finest Cathedrals in all Eu-
tyope, is nothing but part of the
tower and a mass of powdered
brick. They have been under shell
fire so long they are simply ground
to tiny pieces, and believe it would
be almost impossible to find a whole
brick in the entire place. There is
not q house, not even a tree left
standing for miles and miles around
lYpres. We first went to Messines
Ridge after leaping Ypres. where
the English and Germans both
mined SO long and actually fought
under ground, but the English pull
ed the trick ahead Of them and
where there was once a hill there
Is now q gully. The English alone
had thousands Of tons of explosives
under it and suppose the explo-
sion detonated the German mines
anyway there were thousands Of
Germans sent to H when in
went up
1t would be impossible to portray
the shostliness Of the scenes of re-
cent fighting. The most vivid
imagination cannot possibly picture
the atrocities enacted upon poor,
little peaceful Belgium. Their
country is simply ruined for years
to come. especially around Tyres
as that is where the most violent
and prolonged fighting was done.
| walked about 80 kilometers
New Years day with a bag about
4 feet long on my shoulder, that !
kept crowding souvenirs of all de-
scription in, and | want to tell you
that after climbing in and out Of
shell holes, trenches, dugouts and
over barbed wire all day with
that load on my shoulders, | was
about ready to quit when night
came.
| can say was in the first party |
Of Americans to 60 over any of the
battle ground in Flanders after the |
fighting stopped.
That was worth more than ii will |
ever be again, for they are salvag-
ing very fast and it won't take long
for them them to have all the big
guns carried of.
| may be home again in the
Spring. then | can tell you lots that
have seen. but am a poor hand
to write.
left Norfolk the 9th of Novem-
Der and have been to Sydney, Nova
Scotia twice. Belfast Ireland; Fal.
mouth and Davenport. England;
Hayre and Calais. France. then
here. Win 60 back to England
again before leaving for the States.
would be glad to have at least a
card from you waiting for me when
Get back to Gods country.
With best wishes, am,