The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1919-01-03

date at 2:30 p. M. our convoy was at
tackled. The boat next to ours was
torpedoed; it was reported that the ex-
plosion killed some of the members Of
the engine room. The boat did not
sink, they managed to make it to the
Irish coast, which was only 20 miles.
1t was sure interesting to see those
sub chasers "about face" and beat it
hack after the submarine; they sure
can travel some. They succeeded in
sinking the sub and capturing the
crew Of IA men. g
Of course I did not see all of this,
as we were signaled to travel at high
est speed as soon as this ship was
.torpedoed. | did not get to see the
sub, just saw few shots fired at it.
They sure would plough up the water;
they also dropped depth bombs. I was
much frightened as we'll as many 9TH
ers. It was but a few minutes until
we were out of sight of the chasers,
then everything went alright until
about eleven o'clock that night, when
we had little scare. Our boat near
ly run into the end Of another. The
danger signal was given and every
body got up, thinking it was another
sub scare. Those scares out on the
ocean are real ones, too; they sure
make you think Of your home, "sweet
home," and everything else. From
that on everything was lovely.
We sailed into the horbor at La
Havre, on the night Of Sept. 8, and
embarked at noon on the 9th. 1t sure
did seem good to step foot on solid
ground again.
We stayed at the rest camp at La
Havre about thirty hours, then road
box cars for two days and nights;
entrained at st. Florient, then we had
to hike twenty miles and carry our
packs, which weighed no less than
seventy-five pounds. / sure was tired
and foot sore. I was with the COM
pany here for about three weeks;
took sick and was at the hospital three
weeks with the flu, but was only in
bed about six days.; spent the other
two weeks in the convalescent hospi-
tai, returning to my company feeling
fine and have been feeling good ever
since.
was glad to get the influenza out
of my system. really believe it did
me good, as I got fat since that. At
this time we were staying in an old
barn out in the country, but we soon
moved to a little town, stayed there
two days and our troubles started.
We went back to st. Florient, via
Packard motor trucks, boarded anoth-
er box car special and road about two
hundred miles to the northeast part
of France; we were at this time on
our way to the front. We entrained
at Souilly, about five miles from the
front, on the morning Of the 11th of
November, the roar of the battle be-
ing very distinct. We had heard the
armistice had been signed and the
battle roar would end at eleven a. M,
80 we anxiously awaited that hour
and l will swear that in this sector
(Verdun), firing ceased on time. Ha
Ha. This is how close l came to see
ing some actual war on the front.
can say that / am glad that | did not
have to experience any Of it, espec-
tally since have seen the effects Of
the battles.
In a few days after the armistice
was signed we were transferred tc
the 7th Army Corps Of the Thirc
Army, the third army being known as
the army of occupation, which nc
doubt you have noticed in youl
papers. They advance, thru the evac-
uated territory, then France, Belgium
and Germany. We use Packard motor
trucks for transportation. Yesterday
was in Dunsemuse, France; today
in Verton, Belgium, city, I woult