Mexico weekly ledger., 1919-01-23

ia AAdAAS LLACEt4S III HICAlGO WIZ WI
be interested in his communication:
Dear Dad
Base Hospital, Nevers, France
Nov. "a, 191S.-Sometime ago / hal Z
letter from you wanting me to tell yor
what kind of work l had to do. We'll
as you know, l am in the Signal Corps
and do almost anything that comes
along, from carrying wounded, ration:
and supplies, to eating and sleeping
Now the censor is off, I will start AT
the time you were talking to me at Fl
Sill on the long distance. (May Sth.l
We left the next day for seaboard
on ship for fourteen days and landed
in Liverpool, England, June End. Al
Romsey, England two days, at South,
ampton three hours of June 5th
where we crossed to LIE Havre
France. We were there one day, then
entrained for the front. We passed
through Paris on the way to AIsace,
were in the trenches June 18th, left
Alsace on September End for the st.
&ihiel sector for the drive of Septsm-
Der 1918, then to the Argonne Forest
where we went over at $50 a. m.
September 26th. We went out of there
October 3rd and into the trenches
seven miles east of Verdun.
| was gassed on the End of Novem-
her. Then l went to the hospital On
the 9TH, where l am now. That covers
the biggest part of my rambling on
this side of the pond. We relieved the
French soldiers in Alsace and the
place was ours at midnight on July
Bird. On the 4th the fun started.
1t was a sector where the biggest
battles of 1914 and 1915 were fought,
but it was of no use to fight in there
any more. The French used it for
a resting place for worn-out troops,
and l guess the "Jerries" did the same
as the trenches had not moved since
1915. But we started to clean Up all
the "Jerries" that were in sight and
made it hot for them. l had three
telephone switchboards to look after
besides a big lot of lines; but as I had
lots of help it was not so bad.
l was out on scouting duty several
times while in that sector. On the
9th of July l was wounded by a
Shippers" bullet. 1t did not amount
to much, only went in two inches and
just behind the left knee. At
st. Mihiel | did not do anything. At
the Argonne Forest we started out
from headquarters on the 25th, put N
line and maintained it until $50 a.
m. On the 26th, went over the top
with the first wave, and I was with
them until the next morning when l
back to guide a ration party and
new relief got back on the line about
1920 p. m. l was with them till noon
the next day, when with four of my
men who had been relieved, l turned
captured gun around and we fired
It for four or five hours. When we
turned it owe to a regular crew, We
hen went up to the lines to put IN a
amp station. Got that done when
he D "Heinies" made a counter
lttack. We started out to help hold
hem, when we ran into about $50 men
rying to stop them and get out to
iome of the boys who were surround
d; but there were no officers to lead
II tell them what to do, SO l called for
hte INTO follow me, and we started
Icross the field after a triple line CT
'Heinies." We soon busted up their
title party and get the others together
md fell back on a line and dug in for
he night.
| wa there on the line for three
until the division was relieved.
)ne of the boys and l used a tank
bout eight hours until we ran out Of
-lb., shells for the gun. / was cited
n army order with twenty others
# my company. So you a see we
re not only signal men but can work
anywhere.
At Verdun l did a lot of construc-
ion and some new work just finished
When on the night of Nov. IL Jerry
ook a notion we needed a good dose
# mustard gas" He started at
LILO p. m. the LIST, and kept it up
i'll $50 a. M, the End, sending them
It US at the rate of twenty a minute.
That was just on a line of Is mile.
Nj my lines were out at 1890, and |
lad to start out.
| got my men and we started out.
t was full noon and was not hard to
ZEE; but bad to smell and work. II
on a pole; and a she'll hit just a.
iove me splashing M with liquid gas.
t being very cold, was all that saved
ne from being done for right there.
called the operator an dtold him to
ave the hot water ready, went in and
ook a bath, put on new clothes and
tarted out again. l had not gone a
undred yards when a shell exploded
ehind me land in front of another
nan, knocking me down and spIashing
as on both of us. We took a bath, !
haged clothes again, and started out
nee mor Got along all right until
bout 8 a. NJ, when l was taken sick.
he doctor wanted to send me to The
ospital; but there were only five of
S left out of eighteen men, so some-i
ody had to stay. l was relieved on
ne 9Th and sent to the hospital. |
OF out rather lucky with a few burns,
'hfch are about well. Will tell yeui
lore when 1 see you, which will lie
BON.
Will close now, by wishing you a
Jerry Xmas and Happy New Year.
Your son,
SERGT. r. E. STRANGE,
Co. c., ITO F. S. Bn. 35th Division,
E. F.