Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-02-10
MUTE EVIDENCES OF AMERICAN HER0lSM
GREET THE TRAVELLER IN BELLEAU WOOD
BY VICTOR M'NAucHr.

two and half regiments OF American marines
is known to ALL and it is my purpose tell It
lover again. do wish. however. give impressions
gathered in a visit to the battlefield today.
i small party Of newspaper correspondents was con-
Quoted to the Chateau Therry region military by
two American captains who had appointed
guides.
We passed through Meaux,. the point nearest Paris
reached by the German hordes in 1914; we Bou
resches and vaux literally to pieces by shell
fire last summer, and inhabited by few villagers
who have crept back into habtaons apparently
fall down about their ears.
We saw great trees along the roadside, felled by the
French last in retreat IN to give
free field of fire for their machine guns artillery.
We saw miles of barbed entangements relics of
1914 that stand grim souvenirs of time of dread
and terror We passed along pted with holes,
of permanent road builders.
Beeau Wood was not the of great battle but
the has a peculiar for Americans be-
cause Of the exhibition of pluck
in wrestling from the difficult key position
which defended with the utmost tenacty
Leaving by the roadside we entered a field
alongside the wood. Before the rough
with underbrush broken lying everywhere
We mounted to the top of the difficulty crawl
ing over fallen logs lodging holes and pieces If
trench. and watching wary all the for "duds"-un
exploded shells and grenades.
BE very careful what you investigate" warned one
of the captains IAN old shell may look very innocent
but if handle it. you might not i've to see Paris
again."
Inc marines came the he south yyard
and for three weeks they struggled to drive the
mans who plentifuy supplied with machine guns
and who had plenty of behind trees 1t
desperately fight. American artillery cut
the woods to ribbons before marines went in but the
Germans had hidden pits little holes they had
dug into sheering banks. ready The Amert-
can casualties amounted of the number of
men engaged.
AS we walked over the hill found many mute evil
dences of what had taken place few months before
Here is hole where American boy died." said Cap
tain Miller Here is his cartridge belt canteen
some odd bits of personal belongings they
left behind"
One of our party exclamation over and
picked up bit OF water-soaked paper 1t of
pocket Testament. doubt the gift of a mother All
about lay empty tobacco tin bearing names of
brands familiar at home. Close at hand book of
cigarette papers.
a few steps further on a tin box the ground
1t mad contained shaving powder. and through
let's mad passed. broken American bayonet, stained
and rusted was close by and little further toothbrush
On every hand to be little fragments of things
of everyday use.
AS we walked further the hill In the
direction of the gradual German retreat found many
grim traces of the former of the enemy Bits
German clothing and blankets everywhere
OF black leather belts In shell hole lay boot
In another hole the foot deceased enemy pro-
trudng from the ground. another hole bare skull
Gas masks of every kind the ground when their
owners needed them no more common So were un
exploded German potato masher grenades called from
their shape One of the party picked up a number of
empty rifle cartridges dropped by German snper who
had been downed by of traces
of his demise visible. Farther we found a dis
mantled machine gun, and what field kitchen
One OF our captains picked up of a shell hole n
piece OF rough Jagged metal that was par
OF high explosive she'll "These things cause terrible
wounds he said "One Of the heartbreakng things
In battle was to see of boys hopelessly wounded
fumbing for his emergency kit asking me what he
should do next Before me the ground as he spoke
noticed an empty tin box that had contained ban
dages and first-aid appliances such every soldier
carries.
On our walk back to the waiting we passed lit
tie cemetery where 125 American boys buried over
eacn grave is small wooden which is attached
circular bit of sheet metal four inches In dame
ter bearing representation of the and stripes
color Under the flag the Identification tag The
crosses stand in straight pfully together
the center of the little plot three rifles stacked and
n hoy fhern