Norwich bulletin., 1919-01-13

it sort of easy. We entrained here and
went east once more. Detrained near
Chatillon sur Seine, Cote dor. We
stayed here for two weeks and got
special training in open warfare. 50
you see it wasn't much of rest we
got that time. On the 29th of August
we started to move to ST. Mihiel. we
loaded at a place about ten kilometers
away There was a little contest in
the regiment for the fastest time in
loading There are six batteries in
regiment and we Cd are the last; that
is in order in which We always move.
battery set the record that time, with
40 minutes until e battery came along
and beat that with % IL minutes but
that did not live long when we came
along and smashed that with IS min
utes. We have to load over 100 hors-
eS four guns four caissons, two pare
wagons, two escort wagons, one kltch-
en-, one water barrel, one ration cart,
one four gun and two battery wagons.
All these are loaded and have TO be
pulled on the fat cars by the men. We
detrained near Barbecue from which
place we proceeded to hike cautionus-
ly by night On the It'll of SepteIn-
Der we went into position north OF st.
Mihiel near the town of Muoilly. Our
| and E battery were so near the front
| line here that they nicknamed us the
| six-inch trench mortars. At this point
we did outpost guard with infantry
| At 1870 on the morning of the l2th
| barrage was put over, 1t was walk
away for the doughboys. It was
! success all around. Plenty of SOU
venirs for every body and even cots
| The doughboys in one village found a
veritable brewery, Pilsner beer it was l
| think. There were no prohibitionists
among them; they drank it dry.
We went into two more positions
| here. At the las place l was on duty
at the Q. P. observation posD. Us
ually this is with the infantry but
| here it was on top of the wooded hills
back of the infantry but ahead OF our
guns At night the German blast-fur-
naces near Metz could be seen from
this place.
On the 18th of October we began
moving for the Nerdun front. On the
14th we went into position northeast
of Verdun, relieving a French battery,
This was the hardest front We had yet
struck. The Germans threw over Gas
at every favorable occasion. This,
however did not dampen our spirits
and we were singing as well as we
could in our Sas masks. They shelled
Us quite freqently; we were lucky
| though not 10 nave any CdSudlLleS. III
addition to that they bombed at night
with aer0planes. One bomb landed ir
a can of water: there was neither car
nor water left.
At this front [ was sent to a radio
school to get some experience in wire
less, which we use when we adjust oul
fire by aeToplane observation. On the
9th [ was detailed to go on liaison duty
with the infantry. the 103d and 134th
| Was there till the end of the war anC
witnessed how the doughboys cele
brated, which I believe I have writ
ten you before.
| We left the position on the 18th TO
the rear. At present we are near Bar
: le-Duc while the Third Army is nea
? the Rhine We are not in the army 0
, occupation, therefore believe We ar
on our way home.
We are kept busy here, drilling from
three TO five hours every day excep
Sundays and holidays.
Quite few Of our men are on fur
: loughs in the leave areas. may ais
= have a chance soon.
With love to all.
y DEp nv