The Jasper news., 1919-01-23
Letter from Chaplain Ernest sullens.
In France, Oct. 4, 1918.

In France, Oct. !, 1918.
have just been through great bat
tie in which many of the men of my
regiment were killed or wounded. We
were engaged in the battle for five days,
and then we're relieved by other troops.
The big battle started on the morn
ing of September 20. We started for
the battle front on the evening of the
25th, and reached our front.line trench
es little after midnight. We were to
60 forward at $780, and lay down and
tried to rest till then. but ut o'clock
our artillery started the barrage. The
woods back Of our trenches and dug
outs seemed to be full OF artillery OF all
calibers. We could see the flashes
from hundreds OF cannon and were
deafened by the thunder OF the guns
raining high explosive shells on the
enemy. There was no more rest for us;
what was taking place was too wonder
full and too exciting. Soon the Ger
mans were hurting shell at us-shells
that whistled through the DIR and burst
with terrific force all around us. Some
OF our boys were wounded. took two
OF them into dugout where the doc
tors OF my battalion were working, and
no sooner Ind we got inside the shelter
than big shell struck the heavy log
roof and exploded and covered us with
debris.
Promptly at $50 we started out across
No Mans Land. 1t was big battle.
Our regiment pushed forward through
q patch OF forest and across an open
strip and over the crest OF wooded
hill and down into n little valley with
out cncountering any Germans. Then
we came to formidable hill. Our ar
tillery had torn it TO pieces, but not II
the Germans had left it. We met our
first resistance here, but it was feeble.
Our trouble began just after we had
passed this hill. We found ourselves
in open rolling country plainly visible
to the German artillery in the distant
wooded hills. German shells fell
among us, wounding many and killing
some. helped carry the wounded
back to the rear, where they could'be
given first aid. shall never forget my
first sight of an American soldier lying
dead on the battlefield. found one
lad lying in shell hole, with severe
wound in his leg near the thigh. He
was losing great deal of blood and
must have been in great pain. But
when / approached him he looked up
with smile and, said, "Well, Chap
lain, I've got mine" l told him I
would get some litter bearers and get
him out OF there, and he said, "Now,
Chaplain, you needn't be in any hurry
about it. Go and get the boys who are
hurt worse than am" got the litter
bearers and came back to him and said,
"Did you think was long time COM
ing back?" He answered, mo, knew
you would come MS soon as you could. :"
He wanted us to let him climb out Of
the shell hole himself, and he did
scramble up with some assistance on
our part. He never groaned or COM
planned, and WAS the grittiest chap
ever saw. That's the kind of boys we
have over here.
From this place we pressed on
through thielSet where German ma
chine gun nests were located, and
heard the rapid whist, whist, whist Of
the machine gun bullets as they flew
past our heads. More men were wound
ed here, but we took care of them the
best we could and continued our adj
vance. The Germans retired before us
but did az sage possible tous as
they reti,, est through fierce
German artn,sry marriage, we took two
small villages and went on high, lew