Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-01-07
IN DARKNESS and light
Conditions In France Before and
After Signing Of ArmlStice

After Signing Of Armlstice
DELIRI0US JOY over GREAT VICTORY
Major John w. Mcconnell Tells of In.
tsrestins and inspiring Experiences
In Personal cstter-Bearing Of the
American Wounded In the Hospitals
-Frenehmen Look Upon Americans
as saviorszNevsmbsr II Was'a Day
When Everybody Came In for Hug.
sing.
The letter below is from Major J.
Wilson Mcconnell, a former citizen Of
York county, now in the medical SER
vice Of the American expeditionary
forces in France, to Mr.. w. D. Grist Of
Yorkville. 1t was written as person.
al communication: but Mr.. Grist, be-
lieving that 1t is deserving Of publicity,
along with the most interesting contri-
buttons that York county boys have
made to the contemporary history Of
the war. has taken the liberty Of print
ing it in full. It will be read with
pleasure by the public generally, and
will be Of especial interest to DR.. Nc
Connell's numerous friends and ac-
quaintances in York county. 1t is dated
Base Hospital No. 80, A. P. o. 751,
Royat, France, December 8, 1918.
Dear Mr.. Grist:- -
A bunch Of Enquirers reached me
this week and gave me all the news /
had been waiting for; but much Of 1t
was sad, Of course, as the influenza ep-
idemic had carried off so many Of my
friends in York county. You had as
hard a time there as we did over here.
and it was bad enough here. Fortu-
nately, 1t subsidized rapidly and we are
free Of 1t now and have been for sew
eral weeks.
AS you see from my address, I am no
longer with the same outfit but am
Low in south central France in the
beautiful Avergne mountains, Province
Of Poy-de Dome.
My experience in France so far has
been fortunate and interesting, and
since the censorship Is removed may
mention some of 1t to you.
landed at Brest after a thirteen
day voyage over smooth seas, being in
the largest convoy On record, for TO-
900 landed the day we did. No sight
could have been more magnificent than
this immense convoy steaming into the
harbor on a fine day with the coast Of
Brittany showing its best, airplanes
and dirgibles overhead and many de-
stroyers, painted like Joseph's coat.
flirting all around Us.
We had three submarine attacks on
the way over; but beat them of, for
we were well conveyed and ships were
all armed. The fights were 80. exciting
that one hardly sfslt any fear, for when
the sub came up. one comparatively
near, several ships opened fire and you
could see the shells hitting the water
and sometimes ricocheting long ways
further on. When the destroyer drop
ped three depth bombs 1t put q quietus
on the attack, and made some nice
geysers in the water too.
From Brest I came straight across
France to the Vosges mountains, as
our hospital was located on the Meuse
river. A very small river it is, hardly
larger than Fishing creek, but they get
q good bit Of power from 1t as 1t Is
swift. We arrived when the push was
on in the St. Mihiel sector and the Ar
gonne drive was beginning-an inter-
esting time.
Train after train Of wounded came
back to us from the field and we were
busy day and night for awhile. I be-
lieve evacuation hospitals see more OF
the real horrors Of war than any other
place, but you marvel at once how
quiet everything is. Men come in shat
tered to pieces and never a murmur
hardly from any Of them. Most OF
them have been so thoroughly tired
out by the action and the excitement
that they sleep under all circumstan-
ces.
I have seen men sleep in the operat-
ing room. waiting their turn to be put
on the table-lying on a stretcher
sound sleep when may be his arm
was to be- amputated when his turn
came to go on the table.
Courage and bravery are the rule, 1t
was exceptional to see a man show any
signs Of the white feather. I operated
on German prisoners as well as on our
own wounded and they received the
same treatment, but always our own
men were waited on first.
Though we were a good many miles
from the actual fighting, we could hear
the guns and see the flashes at night as
the heavy artillery bombarded the
lines Of communication around Metz,
and an occasional Hun plane would
come over us and make US darken our
huts and keep quiet for awhile.
The darkness up front is one OF the
greatest hardships, for all trucks have
to move without lights and 1t adds
both to the danger and confusion.
Wish could tell you some Of the in
teresting stories I picked up from the
men as they came in from the field
wit, humor and pathos all intern,in-
gled.
To have been in France when the ar
mistice was signed was to have wit
messed one Of the great events OF the
worlds history, and to describe 1t
would be futile. To exaggerate the
scenes would be impossible. was
hugged and kissed more than ever be-
fore in my life, and presume 1t was
the experience Of every American SOL
dier, for I am sure got my full share.
While like all men. I am not ayerSe to