Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-05-15
HUNDRED AND EIGHTH
HOLD DEATH VALLEY
Soldier Chronicles Adventures the Front of Field
ArtiIIery Regiment, Formerly the old Second
National Guard of PENNSYLVANIA
BY ERIC SANNILLE
BattcrN T. 1OSth L. 4.

of st. GILES was chosen. 1t was an OK
ccIont place for observation. the towns
of Fismes and Fismcttes. just across the
N"sle river. being in clear sight as we'll !
as the whole line of hills held by the
Germans. At this time the infantry
had taken Fismes. but were being CON
stantly counter attacked and forced to
cvacuate temporarily and then turn to
attacking Fismetto. Both the towns
were too hot for either side to stay in
long, for they were constantly under
shclIfire.
1t was while preparing this o. =.
that + Battery received its first shock
\ party Of men had been sent up to
bulld dugout little way off from
the observation post. where the ob
servers could retire in case things be
came too hot. While the men were
| digging. shell, evidently meant for the
st. Giles road. but failing short. landed
directly in their midst. Private Harry
Linaka was killed instantly. and the
others. although but n few feet away.
miraculOusly escaped with only a few
minor scratches. Private Walter Jen-
sen fairly flew back to the battery,
with his clothes almost torn completely
off him, for aid. but when the medical
men arrived they saw nothing could be
done.
because of the advanced position now
occupied, all meals had to be cooked at
places far to the rear and mess brought
up three times daily in the thermos
cans provided for this service! This
proved to be. a difficult job. The roads
were under constant observation, for
enemy occupied the higher land across
the Nesle, and no sooner would the
wagon appear than it was a target for
the shells. In spite Of the danger the
meals arrived regularly. and each day
mess time would see the men eagerly
watching for the two black horses driven
by Private James Barsi and James
BrOghetta to turn the corner of the road
into the valley.
These two men had volunteered to
drive the wagon. Both westerncrs and
assigned to Battery F after it had
reached the front, they continued their
work during all the time the regiment
was at the front. Nor was their work
finished by just bringing it up. The
cannoneerS had to be served, and
ofttimes when all were scurrying to
their dugouts as the shells started to
fall, these two would stand by their
wagon and wait for the men as they ran
out and then duck quickly back.
1t was while at this front the men
received the best meals they were
served while in France. There was al
ways plenty, with fresh greens, as eel :
cry, to make it more enjoyable. Ere
quently since different ones have been
back at the front; we got better eats
there"
just back of the valley on the hill
side facing the enemy, hidden carefully
in a small clump of trees was a single
seventy five gun. 1t was in direct oh
servation of the enemy and the gunners
could easily harass the roads USED
across the Vesle. Its fire must have
greatly bothered the Germans, for tim,
I and time again they shelled the place
/ Those in the valley would watch as tn,
/ shells burst, seemingly directly on tor
of the gun itself, fully expecting to b,
t called up and find the whole gun crew
dead or wounded. Then as the shellinl
] ceased, Little Willie" would speal
: again with his staccato bark and {
cheer would go up and down the val,
S ley. For more than a week the guI
$ held its position, but finally was moved
4 as the danger was greater than the ac
: tual results produced warranted.
' Laying wire and keeping up commu
E nications was extremely dangerous.
remember on the second night / wai
called out to help lay a wire back /,
b battalion hsadqvarters Ia q cave neal
pFAvisny y vss s<f<sfary % lsy Z