The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1919-01-11
Fom sergt. Walter Barman.
Somewhere IN France.

That Spanish 'nauenza must be some
sickness. / hear Of so many cases
where our soldiers IN the camps over
the States died from II, Well. so far
are all lucky in not getting it,
but still Il isn't too late TO get It,
sure hope It doesn't get over here
Has brother John ana Jack H come
home YETI
hear the government is sending all
the troops home. that IS. from the
camps IA the States Well. I wonder
Il It IS SO. We are all doing very little
work. waiting for orders. ! bet YOU
AL went wild when the Germans sign
ed the armist8ce-and automatically
ala Away with the kaiser and the
GROWN prince. heard they killed
the crown prince. they ramned a bay
onet IN him and then shot him. HIS
own guards are the ones that killed
him. And the kaiser had gone 10 Hol-
Isnd from what our paper reads. Well
= the Germans hadn't asked for an
armistics and still went on fghting
they surely could not have held Up
much longer. They were driven back
every day. am hero on The front
Have been almost three months and
7 know. You ought 70 see ali the am
munition and large guns they leave
every time the boys go over the top
Z am In small town named 'Banthe-
VIE" which Is the ruins. and this
place vas taken six different times
by the French and British and sttu
the Germans had taken It back every
Tina But when the first army was
put in the batt1ehelds they took IL and
many miles beyond. Our doughboys
souIdnt catch them. The Germans
we're retreating faster than our planes
could follow We are on the Verdun
front General Pershing wanted the
hardest front to fight on So the Yer
5un front was what was given TO him /
va could see in all these towns what
kood beds and small stoves tbs Ger
aaus left behind. and they also had
barrels 81 beer they had TO leave be-
had IN their retreat Our bows didn't
get a chance TO drink any OF it but we
ret some dandy beds and small stoves (
We got our pIacs fixed Cd fine until (
we move again. as we move quite Of I
ten and OF course We couldn't carry 1
our beds and stoves. The civilians arr /
BEING brou ght to their homes. but !
these homes are all IN ruins. one q
or boys was speaking to a French I
mayor who was the mayor OF a little (
town BY the name OF Villars. lie had 4
q small book, taking house numbers (
that we're IN fairly good shape. and he +
also showed Us his Office after the (
Germans had entered it. The place /
was all shot to pieces and his barn I
vas also IN ruins. was of today 1
and 7 took my horse and went out 4
riding to q town by the name OF Dun I
a fairly good sized place but it was
well shot W. 7 could see all the Ger I
nan large cannon and caterpillar guns (
and all kinds % war materials Every /
gun and wagon spoke that IS taken !
away from Germanay Is wen camou- /
tagged. The kaiser was sure great on /
camoufasing his lighting materials.
The third army IS kept busy bringing /
n this war material and also running /
them back to Germany. 7 guess by /
now Germany has turned over all her 1
submarines and the peace terms are
supposed 20 bs signed December s !
1918 So Il IS hard telling when We
Ill head for horne I hope it isn't l
long. for I've got something to say /
that viii surprise you Gil. have new
~ mentioned IL in any o. nv letters +
fo- wasn't allowed 70. I've seen ser !
vice on two different fronts, the first !
one sc st. Mihiel We were laying I
rail- could see the German shells !
bursting on the Hill ahead OF Us Our I
artillery was behind Us. Our ARTILLERY /
kept on shooting and advancing all the 1
time. This Hill is what the French /
held twenty minutes and lost 10000 I
men. but when our army took hold /
they took it 20 easy. Just like taking
a piece OF candy from kid or course /
7 didn't get q chance to see any dead /
Germans at this time. but when we
started FOR the other front saw hun I
dreds OF dead Huns in fact. I had to /
pick some OF them Up and lay them to /
one sids IN order TO build a grade TO /
lay our tracks on. Before We started /
This drive our officer said "If our boys I
20 over the top tonight We will couple /
ZIP cur narrow guage onto the German (
narrow guage." Well. OF course our /
boys went over the TOP. so then " 2
connected our line onto the German /
line. and from then on IS what We I
learned about the battlefield. I've been /
oa the old original No Mans Land I
The one hill is whore the French were.
The next hill IL where the Germans /
we're. Between the two hills is where /
No Mans Land lays. The hill where /
ths Germans we're IS called the Van !
quax" Hill or Hi No 304 and on this
Hill one whole end was mined BIZ the
Germans. THIS hill is sure blown up.
Thsy killed $500 French The Ger
mans had more wire entanglements
between these two hills than any place
rye ever seen yet on the front But
when our first army starred the drive /
they went through It and never did I
stop. a battlefield IS an awful sight !
TO see have been very lucky IN not /.
getting killed. FOR shells were drop
ping nearly all the time. I could write I
for twelve solid months and yet not /
tell you the things l have seen and /
went through
Has Bill MeiseI been any where near 1
the frout2 I hardly think 50: I have
only seen him once since being over
here. suppose It viii be a Joke when
YOU read this newspaper, but thought /
7 would Ill one and send It 70 you.
got your picture ard thought Ii fine
Wishing you = Merry Christmas and
Happy New Year
I remain YOUR brother.
SERGT. WALTER BARNAN. J
% Battalion. CO. .. 22d Eng
A. E. f., France. via New York
This letter was sent to his sister.