Mexico weekly ledger., 1919-03-20
Capt. Field Artillery, U. S. A

Writing from MlnuerllttSeH, deL-
many Raymond ]. HUTCHINSON, Of this
city, tells his wife and relatives of his
varied experiences in England and
France and of mis- part in the fighting
He tells what he has been doing ever
since he arrived in Liverpool, England
Mr.. HUTCHINSON was a former employe
of the Ledger.
1--WE arrived in Liverpool June 18th
about 4 p. m. From Liverpool we
went to ,Romsey, England and walked
to South Hampton through the rain,
arriving at noon. GoS on the st. Char
les boat at 6: pm June Gath and sailed
about 8 pm arriving at La Harve,
France early that morning. Upon
landing we walked about four kilaos to
a rest camp and or the next day
walked back to LaHarve T~hirty-slX
men were loaded in a box a and ar
rived at Leffol La Grande June % at
one ann We walked to Allionville and
arrived about Z a. M. 1t was an awful
hike and we got pretty tired.
On August 10Th we arrived at Beau
mont and were in the front line tren-
ches for II days. Then on September
10th we left the town of Mandras and
arrived at Elurey. 1t certainly was
raining some. We walked in mud to
our knees to a dug out in the trenches
and then had to set all night on guard.
September 18th we went owe the top
at 5 am. Slept that night under a big
bridge between Thiaacourt and Bouil-
.lionville. On September 18th I got
lost and slept out in the open near
Thiaucoure. l found my outfit on Sep
TENDER 14th.
On October 10Th left Epionville ar
irving at ROMANCE. We set out in the
rain and she'll fire for 2 hours. We left
Bots DeGenses on October 28th and on
November first went over the top,
starting on the continuous drive that
we were going to make and WI were
still in the drive when they ceased
firing.
The worst day we had in the war On
this front was November 4th when we
got out of reach of our trtillery and
the Germans put over a big barrage of
artillery and machine gun fire which
lasted two or three hours. l wouldn't
have given a cent for any of the boys
lives. They sure did put the gas to us.
But with all that we thanked them and
captured the town called Beaufort and
some prisoners. Our losses were very
heavy, however. On November we left
Lucy about $3.50 p. m. and shelled very
heavy neal Cesse and walked to che
Meuse River, crossed on a raft at $50
in the morning November 18th. Cap
tured a town named Pouilly and took
about so prisoners in that town. 1t
certainly was an awful heavy fog and
cold that morning. On November 18th
at II o'clock the batteries fired eleven
rounds and then ceased for the Armis-
tice had been signed. There certainly
were many happy men on both sides.
When the Yanks STRAIT to advance On
the Dutch they forget everything they
knew and the only thing that is on
their mind is to get the Dutch and they
run and kill and knock H out of
them.
The Ozark Mountains havn't any
thing on this country for there are
lots of hills, mountains timbers and
everything else
During the drive we liberated a lot of
French women and children and cid
men who were glad to see US. They
an out grabbed the soldiers yelling
America, America. All that we talked
O said that the Germans would make
hem come out CT their houses and dug
,uts when we began a barrage so they
would either get killed or wounded.
The town that we went into have moth
ne left but a few torn down buildings
md human skeletons lying on The
I was under she'll fire from August
I'D until Nov. 18th which makes about
,S days and believe me it kept US busy
those shrapnel. bullets and
,as shells.
Well | guess the Germans have decf-
led that President Wilson and Ger
raj Pershing meant what they said
When they told them that we were go
ng to be in Germany before Chris--
mas. Well we are here and we are 60
ng over to see the Kaiser. If he has
left, then we are going TO see
What kind of vault e was staying IN
While the van was going on. | don't
now how long we will be over here tut
have done my duty. I mean the whole
9th Division. We were not here very |
ong before we were in the service.
We haven't had any time to view FRI |