Baxter Springs news., 1919-02-07

deter tho IWtuey-elHntn oiVibion.
Strong saw his comrades 90 over
the top against q machine gun fire
that was withering. Sometimes the
Americans and Germans, alike, 'dropp-
ed almost like flies.
Yet, that awful sacrifice Of blood
had It's pleasing features-for was not
autocracy being defeated, even though
at such q sacrifice.
There was probably no greater dan
ger to the Americans than from
shrapnel fire. Sometimes one shell
snuffing out many lives and scatter
ing buildings and dugouts as If made
Of so much chaf.
Strong was transferred to the 112th
regiment on the morning Of August 2
to help out that detachment, which
was sorely stricken. The Americans
had just reached Fismes and the Ger
mans We're making a determined
stand to hold the north side Of the
Vesle river.
After working twenty-four hours
stringing communication lines, Strong
quit work to get something to eat. He
was standing in line awaiting his
"chow" when a shell burst a few
yards away and he and three other
men were hit by shrapnel. In a mo-
ment he was laying in q pool Of blood,
an artery having been cut in his back.
Through good luck, an ambulance was
passing at the time and Strong was
rushed six kilometers to a dressing
station where he received first aid;
then was again placed in an ambu-
lance and taken to Vetelle Base S6,
where he was operated on ten hours
after being wounded. Loss of blood
greatly weakened him, but he passed
through the operation successfully
and two large pieces Of shrapnel were
removed from his back.
Then came a long period of conva-
lescence in various hospitals. Owing
to the danger of gangrene, Strong's
wounds were not allowed to close for
weeks, and therefore he was unable
to move from bed. From Vetelle he
was transferred to Base Hospital No.
13 at Limoges, a city Of 125,O0O popu-
lation.
After receiving the proper attention,
Strong finally was able to leave his
bed. Then, being permitted to come
and 90 almost as he chose for q time.
he took the opportunity to look about
to some extent. It was at this time
that he began to get some inkling Of
the French language and to acquaint
himself with the customs of the
French peasantry, which was so sore
ly stricken during the war.
Glenn, as he is known to his friends,
visited the barracks where Napoleon
was stationed for some time, and also
saw q cathedral 1,400 years old. One
of his most pleasant experiences was
trip to q castle where Richard, the
| Lion Hearted, was made captive. The
great Haviland China factory, so we'll
known in America, was also inspect
ed.
Near the castle, where Richard the
Lion-Hearted, was entombed, is a
bridge built years before the birth Of
Christ, and which is still in very good
condition.
From Limoges, Strong was trans
ferred to the Embrako hospital, Base
ia, at Beaux Desert, about ten kilo-
meters from Bordeaux. He was per-
mitted to visit the city and there
found many interesting sights.
Strong's wounds were such that he
would not have been permitted to re-
turn to the front, and for short time
before sailing for home he did light
work in the quartermaster depart
ment. He sailed from Bordeaux De-
cember 19 and landed at Newport
News December 30.
One of Strong's wounds is about
six inches long and the other two and
one-half inches. A small piece Of the
right shoulder blade was Clipped
away, but he has almos free use Of
his arm. The larger hole was torn
by a piece of shrapnel little more than
an inch long and ,twO-thirds of an
inch wide.
Strong, upon his return, wore the
regulation overseas cap, gold wound
stripe on the right arm, a gold ser
vice stripe on the left, red letter "A"
of the first army, the red discharge
stripe and the Keystone, denotmg his
division.
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