The Brooklyn Daily Eagle from Brooklyn, New York • Page 58

THE BROOKLYN DAILY EAGLE. NEW YORK. SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1918. BROOKLYN BOYS IN THE AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN CAMPS Although it was a bitter fight and we DAVIS BROTHERS IN WAR WORK lost a lot of men, 17 in my company alone, I came through clean. "We were without eats or sleep for War Letters to The Eagle.

From Brooklynites at Front damage the Germans have wrought In the towns which we have passed through, everyone, I am sure, would be of the same opinion as to the need for punishing the Hun. I guess the people in the States still break their necks looking up at airplanes flying aloft. "Well, soma of them wnnlH rra.ok three days, and the other two days we had a few cans of corned beef and hard tack, but very little sleep as we were constantly advancing. I am told the ground we gained was about 15 miles. in half here looking at them, for Just From latest reports the company that brought him down with a Lewis gun relieved us is still advancing, wnn We got as Jar as the reserve line and couiun get any further that nigni, V.

S. AVIATORS RENDERING BIG HUM CUT. McNULTY. Ca.pt. Peter H.

McNulty of 262 Gar-noln" recently promoted from first lieutenant in the Aviation Corps, the Germans running like hell." GERMAN ARTILLERYMEN AS NURSES OSTEHGREN. Jerry was shelling the road wo were to take. We made temporary bunks William F. Ostcrgren of 654 Tenth writes from France: a member of Ambulance Company in the reserve lino for the night, me next morning I couldn't talk. I had been gassed during the night and lost my speech temporarily.

I have been in the hospital for a couple of days It is unfortunate for the "big shows" the Allies are putting on No. 17. 6th Sanitary Train, writes: "Wednesday I left the trenches, all you hear when waitinz the Uia to make an advance. "There seems to be no worry about injury or death. A11 face it with a smile which scares the Boche off.

They think we are crazy; and we are just crazy to get at them. This spirit of impatience is contagious. The French have caught it and they are doing things now which seemed impossible to them before." RADIO MEN 20 FEET UNDERGROUND KOWAN. Corp. James F.

Rowan, 63d Signal Corps, Detachment, who lives at 688 Throop writes: "Seven other fellows and I are now installed in a very comfortable dugout about 20 feet underground. We have charge of the radio station and also carrier pigeons very interesting work. We are right in the rear of the front line. The Germans shell the hill in back of us nearly every day. It's fine to hear them sailing over and then explode.

We are well used to them now. But the night we came in oh, my! Pitch dark, except for the flares each side kept sending up, and then shelling all around. Hiked most of the night to get here. Now I never felt better in my life. I'd much frither be at the front than back at a so-called rest camp.

"Every third day we have to go for pigeons right past the German lines. "Some of the boys are shot at by snipers nearly every time at a certain snot I haven't had that pleasure nere now, mat poor weather has hin. dared the Air Service terribly of late It's1 called bad weather lor aviation, having been relieved, and Thursday I arrived in this little village to enjoy and am now In a convalescent camp, feeling, much better." good weather for aviators. In the St. a much needed rest.

I have already received my baptism of fire and have HOME WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY, Mimel drive and the beginning of thii one here, the much advertised Amcr SAYS PKRSHING MOOK been duly Initiated out In No Man's Land. Pvt. Sidney P. Mook of 59 86th "My second experience, the one I have just gone through, was one that I will never be able to forget The VVAKWfcN S. DAVIS F.

term Hun is too good for the Germans. They should be called understudies of Nero. I will give a few reasons why: "After a Hun has emptied his gun on you and missed, and then finds to ine umer morning, by actual count, there were 53 in the air over us at one time. Talk about circus stunts loop the loop, spiral dips, noso drives why we get sick and tired looking at HIT TIMES BY SHRAPNEL AND GASSED SOBECKI. Pvt.

John Sobeckl, Med. 328th who lives at 1118 Manhattan writes: "I have had some experiences Jn going over the top. We went over one afternoon at about 1 o'clock and, take it from me, we made those Huns run. "The one thing that mad me sad was this: Just after I had bandaged two of our men up, the Huns threw another shell over our way and the twomen I had aided were killed outright! "I have been hit five times by shrapnel and have been gassed, but they can't knock me out. "Another time we went over the top a Hun private got scared and yelled, 'Comrade' in good English.

Comrade, was our reply." It 3. MCLHERN PRAISES WORK OF DOCTORS AND NURSES. Pvt. Richard J. Mulhern, Co.

106th writes: "I was shot In the left abdomen with a machine gun bullet which went all the way through and out the back. Another souvenir lost! Tough luck! I got it going over the top at one of the hardest points in the line. When I add that the outfit took Its objective and held it against Jerry's counter attack you know the boys did all that was expected of them. "I was shot at sunrise, as the saying is, and before the iiv wan over Drive, Bropklyn Manor, Woodhaven, L. a member of the S07th Ambulance 802d Sanitary Train, writes: I dressed the wounds of some Germans yesterday morning about 4 o'clock, and one can't help feeling sorry for them.

One German had his right hand off and another will have to have a leg amputated atove tne knee. One of them turned to his comrades and said, 'Thunk God the war is over for mo, at and another said, 'To hell with the Kaiser and so you see they are tired of it, too. "Every day brings a new Allied advance and brings the war so much nearer the end. We just captured another five thousand prisoners. Since showed us that he was only pulling off a raid on our right.

"Everything went along nicely for the next few days and we picked oft a few of their snipers. Early in the morning Co. was sent out as a fighting patrol to find out if Jerry had retired. We didn't hear from them until the next night, when about three-quarters of them returned and stated that Jerry had machine guns and snipers holding his line and our patrol lost seven men. "The next morning our boys went over the top and I was on duty on the outpost, and it was the prettiest sight I ever say.

They pushed Jerry PVT. RALEIGH A. DAVIS. 1458 Bedford Is now in France with Co. 106th Inf.

Ho has been with this regiment the old 23d for three years, having served on the Mexican border. He left Spartanburg for France last May. He has a brother, Corp. Warren S. Davis, who is now doing guard duty on the Aqueduct with the new 13th State Guard.

In a letter to his mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. George W. Davis, Raleigh writes: "I am with the First Batt. a sniper, so when we went to the front line I was put with eight others front About 2:30 in the morning yet It's a great life, I can say, though so far I rather enjoy it." J.

J. BLANK RECOVERING IN BRITISH HOSPITAL. June 15 we have taken nearly four Pvt. John J. Blank, 148 Yaphank Woodhaven, L.

member of the 106th writes: "Am now in England, or 'Blighty', hundred thousand prisoners on all fronts. The War Department figures an average of four wounded to every back over three ridges, about two miles. Then wo were sent for to do prisoner, which means about two million enemy casualties since June 16 some sniping. Wo had a hot fight as we call it and guess I am throughV with the war. On September 29, I wrote you both from the Ninth General Hospital at Rouen, P'rance, ind that night was put on another train this year.

Jerry put up a barrage fire and every "I don't think it "will be long before body thought he was coming over the and we are now In a rest camp for about six weeks before going in again." 3 ft "-V-HI top on our sector, but the SOS signal and arrived at Le Havre early next I will uctually be with you again. Gen. Pershing came through here today morning. At Havre we boarded a and said, 'Keep at it, boys. You'll be homo by Washington's Of course this was a very encouraging re was miles behind the firing line, operated on, Extreme Unction administered, and sleeping well.

The next couple of days I suffered quite a little, but now I am oronDed un in heH and mark and from such a source, but it lean Air Service has shown marked cannot and must not be considered final. The French themselves are be signs of materialization. In fact, these last couple of davs that Tiav coming optimistic, which is a very good sign, because up to a month or don't even know there is a war going on. The doctors, nurses and orderlies certainly do wonderful work and they deserve all the credit and snnnnrt that hospital ship and after a ten-hour ride we reached Southampton, England. At Southampton we were put on another train and reached Birmingham five hours later.

I have been a stretcher-case because when you are gassed you are not allowed to walk on account of the exertion on your lungs. I sure did do some traveling since I was gassed. It was mustard gas and that sure is terrible stuff. We were on the Cambrai-St. Quentin front "There are only a few Americana hindered flying altogether have kept the higher command much at sea as two ago we could not convince any of and keep low, for every Inch of ground is under observation, and Fritz would Just love to waste a shell or two on it.

"At night the gun is mounted, guard is maintained, rations are drawn and instructions received from headquarters, for one is completely isolated during the day and must sink or swim on his own initiative in cuse of trouble. It is sort of a nurve racker at first, especially the first day or two, not to forget the nights. 1 began to think that I wasn't so terribly brave. "Even after you have tripped and fallen into an inconceivable number to where our front line troops are. sorvatlon.

About 300 yards away was a woods and we (our crew of six) decided to camp there. It was a bad idea. We were carrying our outfit over when he suddenly opened on us, and caught us away from shelter. We ran and flopped, as the shells came over. We had almost made the woods, when one of the men called out he was hit in the leg.

Between shells we picked him up and rushed him into the woods, where we all crouched in a trench and waited until Heinle let up. Then we investigated our wounded. He had been carrying a gunny sack with his great coat and rubber sheet in it, and the piece of "The other services are realizing tnem that the war would be over in less than two years. Now we are all of the same mind, the war will be 'WULiAft 0STEi26RH more every aay tne value and impor. over by Christmas or New Year s.

tance of unison with our service. The trouble has, is and will be for some time to come that in the infantry Always before moving thev send a his sorrow that you are on top of him billeting party ahead in last machines, can bo given to them. "I see Bulgaria has quit It won't be long before Turkey and Austria and finally Germany quit You would realize this more and more if you saw how easy It is to take prisoners." GIVING HUNS BEATING OP THEIR LIVES BONANDER. Henry Bonander of 694 Washington now in Base Hospital No. 61, ana artillery all the way from the he throws up his hand and shouts and, of course, expects to enlisted man up to the highest com wander there exists almost a com oe laKen prisoner.

The otner day a of shell holes, that weren't there the night before, clambered through the barbed wire and passed the first line plete ignorance of the possessions and possibilities of the operations of the few hundred German prisoners- were shell had gone through this and so trenches, you can't start whistling, as I spent its force. It only bruised his Air service. marcMng back to enclosure and every one of them wore a Red Cross bras the bulk of the German shells are di "We are still with the Third Corps writes: nip. Another piece had gone through the sleeve of his tunic at the wrist with whom we worked up in Chateau "I have been wounded. Received a sard.

In reality, they belonged to German artillery. In towns captured from them everything of value Thierry and are getting along great snrapnei wound In my left thigh. I am getting along fine. My wound is was destroyed by their vandalism. now.

Before new divisions are shoved In the line to relieve old ones, we have detachments from the several neaiing rapiaiy as 1 have no fracture. and will come around in a few weeks. regiments of the divisions down to rected on the back areas, mostly half a mile behind the lines, and one has about two miles to go. I was down on three occasions and learned to duck well and often on the way. "You may laugh at the Idea of one trying to duck a shell, or bullet, but let me convince you it is a game in which one must acquire a high degree of efficiency in order to march In the Fifth ave, triumphant parade." "in some places their retreat was so hasty that they did not have time to take their own belongings with them.

In some of the dugouts I was am many miles from the front camp here for a couple of days school noxy in a base hospital, and receiving lng and practico in showing their without touching him. But his coat and sheet were a mass of holes. "We decided the woods was no ple for us, so hi'loro f'ay'ight we took up quarters in a 50-yard sap near our position. We camouflaged it so well that when we got 10 yards away we couldn't find it ourselves, although it wasn't even shrapnel proof. But Fritz strafed the woods regularly and only decided to try the slope once.

He gave us an unformfortable time then. We had to lie and listen to tho shells comtsig nearer and In I found nice iron beds, arm chairs, ine Dest of attention good surgeon panels, Bengal flares, as they are book shelves, filled with German lit supposed to do when the airplane of and Red Cross nurses who give us their undivided attention and I am erature, pictures on the walls, stoves, their division calls for them in the line. eatables, electric lights, etc. They very comfortable. Uncle Sam sure takes care of his boys to a T.

It is "Previous to this idea of schooling It was practically impossible to get a some relief to be away from the front after six months of trench life, with panel shown at all such was the con dition up uround Chateau-Thierry its monotony and hardships. The civilized world feels good to me although I am laid up. had all the comforts of home in them. "I was able to get hold of a German cap for a souvenir." HOMAN WRITES IN DUGOUT WITH SHELLS OVERHEAD. Sgt.

P. B. Human of 41 Halsey st, in France with the Medical Corps, writes: "The dugout I am in is a German the result being that we had to fly down to within BO or 100 meters of the ground to identify the uniforms of sou nave read about our drives L- I BLANK I tne troops themselves during which low flying we were continually under V. S. TKOOPS SANG GOING INTO BATTLE HUGHES.

Frank Hughes, 973 St. Mark's a member of Battery 15th F. writes: "I am now in a little town that Is called a resting camp. It is the first rest the boys of the 15th have had since we came over here, so you can see wo have been kept quite busy. We have had some lively times.

After coming out of this last scrap I am glad I can hold up my head and Bay that I am an American. We sure did give those Huns hell, and chased them until the French thought we needed a rest, so they relieved us and machine gun-fire from the Boche line, In this way we had four men injured, nearer. At last he dropped one 10 feet from us and from then they got farther away as he went up the slope. But he pestered us with gas unmercifully. One he threw over gas shells for two hours without a break.

Of course, our masks protected us, but they're uncomfortable to wear for any length of time. Moved Up to the Front. "Then we moved up front for the big show. Fritz was holding a ridge, with a woods at the top crowded with machine guns across a marshy one and is like being under some dirty two pilots and two observers, and an and victories in the New York papers, and the advances of the boys from the States and the Allied armies. We are giving the Huns, all their militarism, the beating of their lives, and lt looks like the beginning of the end now." McGRATH COMMENDED BY RAINBOW GENERAL.

other observer killed. pier. It is wet, but it is some protec w. "Our Chasse machines have been SIDNEY MCiOkT sir tion. hue 1 am writing, guns are pounding outside.

I have had several mighty narrow escapes, but I am still ell doing wonderful work in these last two offensives. They are getting about four Boches to every man they on the map. Wo have been on the the purpose of which is to choose billets for the men. Each company Pvt. William K.

McGrath, 149 Rock- at this hospital and though we are treated well, it seems that the English never seem to feed as well as the lose. LT. HANS RTEDEL. shot IN ARM, IS RECOVERING. went on chasing them.

As far as I know they are after them yet. "The first day of the advance was away a member of the Sanitary sends a man and I was the representative of our company. The inaiors of Americans. We have some great fun Detachment, 166th who was commended by Gen. Menoher of the Rain the field hospitals and ambulance com stretch likewise wooded and gunned, so it wasn't a cheerful Job.

Moving up, we saw endless stretchers being loaded into a Blighty wagon in readiness and that didn't tend to cheer us up any. We reached our positions with the English Tommies. They like Lt. Hans Riedel, 849 President panies are in charge of the expedi a member of Co. 308th writes: us now because we have showed them that we can fight.

bow Division for his work at Chateau Thierry, writes: "I was Bhot about noon on Septem tion two majors' and eight men in all. It proved to be a joy ride rather than an important detail, as we lost our "A very amusing incident occurred front since September 9. Vv were in the Toul drive when they took Mt. See. That drive was a walkaway, but this drive has been something terrible.

I rode in the ambulance to this place when shells were pouring on both sides of the road. We had to lie fiat when we got out and crawl to a side hill, wheire we dug holes in the ground lo keep the shrapnel from hitting us. "One poor chap, only three feet from me, had his skull crushed from a piece. I crawled over and put a bandage on him. "I have been here for five days and 'Wo had our big drive hero and to me up at Ypres.

We were holding ber 29, as I was practically surround cd. they got me from behind. The bul bearings and the trin lasted twentv- the front line with some British we sure did meet with success. Shortly after 1 o'clock In the morning the artillery spoke I should say roared. This was kept up for about three or four hours and then it cooled down and the steady barrage of the four hours, finally arriving at our destination, where we found our companies already nicely billeted.

Capt, Ross was there to greet us with a broad smile, and his Southern ex let entered my right upper arm from the rear, about half way between the elbow and upper joint. It passed through the bone, breaking it, but not injuring the upper Joint. The main artery and nervous system were cannon kept them dodging on the pression 'Where you all unhurt. Am otnerwise well and 1m we were in the drive from the troops and I was rationed with a young English rifleman. About 11:30 a.m.

he went out and said, "Yank, you can 'eat the beans while I am gone, I may return about 1 So I ate the beans and heated some coffee and when he came back he remarked that he would have his beans. I told him that I ale them. He says, 'Whot I told you to 'eat them, not eat them." He meant for me to heat them and because he dropped the 'h' he went without his Marne to the Aisne and I was one of proving daily. Will probably never see front again. The doctor says there tne first few across the Vesle.

We had 10 waae across, as all bridges were de. will be no permanent stillness of shoul der joint. I am more pessimistic." HUN STILL RUNNING, WRITES CORP. COOPER. and dug in.

Jerry was pinging away at us with machine guns, but wc kept low and they went over our bends. One man only was hit in the arm. Later Frits felt out around our position with shell, but drew a blank. "About midnight, it fell to me to deliver a message to a point 100 yards from Heinle's line. In the dark I swerved too much to my left and my first intimation of it was when a flare went up in my face.

I'm not prepared to say how far away it was at the lime it appeared to singe my eyebrows. "At 6:19:59 4-5 a.m. all was quiet; at 5:20 hell broke loose simultaneously all up and down our line, as our barrage started. At the appointed time, we chipped in, and machine guns poped all along the line. I never heard anything remotely resembling it.

I'm no hand at describing a battle, but anyway we chased Fritzie to helangone. Drove him out of the woods, over the ridge and kept him going. I lost my rifle and bayonet in tho excitement, but they're the easiest stroyed. I have been on the Flanders, Lorraine, Aisne and Champagne fronts, and am now on another one wnicn i cannot mention at this time. beans.

He was good-natured though and laughed it off. I Corp. E. W. Cooper, 267 Eckford 1 saw oen.

Garibaldi and his di other side. "The order came to advance. It was raining and had been raining for several days. The ground was spongy underfoot, even the motor trucks making headway with the greatest difficulty. This same rain and dark night helped us wonderfully.

You see, the blackness had blinded the German watchers from the sky and they knew less of what we had prepared for them than if the night was clear and fair. "I had been over the top five times, but I cannot describe the feeling the order to advance gave me. I could feel my heart jump right up in my throat. My blood ran cold, for on the 1 "I have not had a decent night's vision, which is considered Italy's best. a member of Co.

106th Inf. writes: if sleep since I came out of the line. in ract tney ana the Blue Devils (the "We sure did knock the devil out of Every night I wake up and either uesi. iignuug npen or France), relieved us on one of the fronts, merelv to hniH the Hun, and I believe ho is still run hear or see an old man with white hair aid glaring eyes. That last man the line after the 77th Division drove the most glorious for the Americans.

The night before the attack it was ning. Our regiment went over the top twice last Friday and Sunday the enemy back. stuck seems to haunt me but I raining to beat the band and every Can you imagine the harjnineso tho am trying to forget all about it. 4V ue were in the trenches for over thing was quiet. About 2:30 I went on guard, and it was still raining.

morning, and we sure did give it to him. We gained our objective both times. Sunday morning when we wentover the Huhs who didn't run were either chained to machine gun two weeks and the last two days we Americans have brought to thousands of French people by driving the Germans out of their homes and allowing them to return once more to their wont over the top six limes and About 3:15 It stopped raining and the sky began to clear and by 4 a.m. it was a bright morning. Everything gained about 2.000 yards.

The Third things in tne world to salvage at a irms and orchards, with the fnelinp. Hattalion of our regiment was hit the hardest and we lost half of our men. posts or threatened by their officers. They lived until Sunday night, when was quiet except for the singing of VvJPEQCy ft HOMAN If of absolute safety and security? Their various birds. mum.

common exDresslon is 'Amci. but talk about fighters! General O'Ryan sure did speak good of us. the trench mortars wiped them out, The Infantry couldn't get to them. "Then all of a sudden the stillness id uaine oon souiat. was broken by the roaring of guns, big and small, from all directions.

The EVERYTHING ROSY: EXPECT "After we had gained our objective a German airplane came over our trench and started his machine gun ground fairly shook and the first thing ME SOON SGT. DO AN. I knew tne signal was given us to ad on us. That boy didn't live five mm Sgt. Louis Doan, Co.

E. 165th Inf vance. I sent a good old Yankee utes. One of the Australians with us writes. shell on its way ana tne battle was some Britishers who were In the engagement remarked that they would rather meet three divisions of Prussians than to buck up against our battalion.

We' took only five prisoners and one of our lads shot one bringing him in because he was making too much noise. Two of the Germans kept a restaurant near Third ave. and 14th New York City, and were kidding us about Coney Island. was wounded twice on the begun. While advancing, I saw hun Marne.

The first wound didn't satisfy dreds of German prisoners being brought In by our boys and lots of VAN VELSOR PROMOTED going to a hosuital in TO FIRST LIEUTENANT lance I watched my chance and when me nrsc uia man naa his back turned I beat it as, fast as I could back up to me lines. A few days later we started nnr H. HICKERSON GOES TO OFFICERS' SCHOOL Germans lying dead around us. On we went with our shirt sleeves rolled up, ready for business at a moment's notice. We were singing.

"At one time I thought the Boche was some fighter, but not after we met him. Prussian guards and the Kaiser's best fell at our feet. The Americans have proven in this present conflict that they are the fighting men of the world. The Scotchmen call our division the "butcher division." because we clean the Germans time line tnat, so i soon replaced them. We found the woods full of Fritzies who had entered another reincarnation with the help of machine gun bullets, so we must have done some good.

Also there were lots who had been dead a long time, but which neither sido could heretofore get at to bury. "We rested in a ruined village out of which Fritz had tieen chased, and our crew found a fine cellar with a nice thick roof, straw on the floor, tables, chairs and all complete. Evidently one of Fritz's headquarters. There must have been untold numbers of rats, and at night they'd come out and promenade all over us. But we were so warm and comfortable, we didn't mind.

"We were hauled out at 3 a.m. after a two days stay and marched on up to the position we now hold. Fritz's resistance has stiffened somewhat, so we're not going ahead quite so fast. The scrap is still going on, hut just now we are back a bit for a rest about two miles We're not out of shell range by 'any means. Six of us have dug in the ground and roofed the hole with a tarpaulin.

Yesterday we were sitting outside cooking dinner when Fritz tried for one of our nearhy balloons with shrnpnel and a sizable chunk tore a hole in our roof. Fortunately, no one was inside at the time. And every clear night and they all seem to be clear he comes over and drops bombs all counter-attack, and I was In charge of the left end of my platoon, in the first wave. We were coini? nlnnn- nn the place has been shelled every day and night. A shell burst close by here one night and the concussion blew every candle out in the dugout.

"Tonight it is a little quiet because the dirty Huns have been driven back. We were at a kitchen trying to get something to eat and 20 minutes later the same kitchen was shelled and a number killed and many wounded." HOLD DIFFERENT OPINION OF V. S. TROOPS NOW FABRIZIO. Pvt.

Vincent Fabrizio of 305 Union a member of Co. 105th M. G. writes: "You are right when you say we are taking part. After spending two months on the Flanders front, we have left that' sector for good.

The boys all showed up in fine style on the Belgian side and are ready for greater deeds, if necessary. The old Hindenburg line is not Invulnerable after all. The civilians in the German frontier towns are evacuating, as we bring the war to Germany's door. She will be ready eventually to con-, cede to President Wilson's peace terms. "When you look at the German prisoners it irritates you to think that and had the Hun on the run when all of a sudden along came a big one, and the next thing I knew was when I woke up twenty-six hours later in evacuation hospital.

"For two davs I was here and th. Boche airplanes bombed us constantly. I then was shipped to a base and have beeu there since. Qtt ATH fjf I found out later that the shell hit tree and I was hit bv a shell sDllntnr other side were dead Boches caught on our barbed-wire entanglements, de and the tree. I was pretty lucky, though, for I am only blinded slightly on my left eye and totally deaf on my left ear.

Outside of this I am all right and I don't see how the sure-eon hurt serted big cannon, machine guns with aeaa men at ine trigger, all caught by our unexcelled American artillery. the nerve to mark me unfit tor further combat duty. we went anead and saw nothing around. Night before last he dropped men like them are making the whole world suffer. They are an anemic, stupid looking bunch, believe me.

Let me say that they have a different opinion of the Americans now than they had a short time ago." ine doughboys are doing wonders nd even though the Kaiser nnva it half a dozen (he generally lets them go in batches) on one side of us. and then sailed over and dropped some on takes years to make a soldier, he overlooked the fact that Uncle Sam turns out world-beating fighters on the other. As one of the men re but dead Boches and others who were only too willing to be captured. We pushed ahead for about 16 kilometers, while overhead the humming of our own Liberty motors told us they were right up to the minute, ready to make our advance easy and to gather reports on the fast retreating Germans. up so when we go over the top.

We will be eating our Christmas dinner in New York." DROVE HUNS OUT OF WOODS, OVER RIDGE CAFFALL. G. A. Cattail of 1143 East 16th with the Canadian Machine Gun Corps in France, writes: "I've had enough excitement to last me the balance of my life. I got my nrst experience of shell fire the first time we went into action.

We were moving up at night and had to cross a ridge. Fritz sighted us, and opened with shell and shrapnel. We speeded up and got through with the loss of one man. A piece of shell hit him in the back and went right through him. He died a few minutes later.

He was one of our old Toronto bunch and I knew him well. Once in our trench, we were safe, as wo had a couple of Fritz's old dugouts 40 foot underground. A dayor two later, two of us were sunning ourselves in the trench when Fritz suddenly decided to strafe It. He caught us too far away from the dugout, so we hugged the parapet like the paper on the wall, as shell after shell came screaming over at us. After each bang we would make a try for the dugout, but would hear the scream of the next coming and get back.

It must have been hiirhlv humorous to but this nort notice, we licked his picked en at the Marne and again at marked, 'If he slpits tho difference, there'll be an awful mess of guts to clean up in the Last night he was a his dirty work all night. By day you can tell a Fritz plane by the Mihlel. Now to show them we can fight we are again doing it In the Ar-gonne sector. REGINALD K. "Kvery town we went into, French VAN civilians wore freed.

These people had been held prisoner for four voars sound of tho motor and likewise his location; at night they all sound like "With the Belgian Army driving. "HAROLDU Fritzle's and all seem to bo directly and I guess they were pretty glad to the British, French and Americans doing the same, and Gen. Allcnhy's gang cleaning up down in Palestine, I can sav but one thing ad that is. HUN HAS LOST AMBITION, WRITES LT. WILLIAMS.

Norman V. Williams of 1019 Lor-lmer st, a member of Hdq. 307th has been made a second lieutenant and has been assigned to tho First Division. "I am now a full-fledged shavetail," tho lieutenant writes. "That is what the troopers call commissioned officers in the Army.

This old war cani. it last much longer tho way things are going now. The Hun is starting to realize the strength and fighting qualities of the American troops and he has lost his ambition for fighting. "The only thing which keeps the be free again. Nothing was too good for us.

The people showered us with overhead." UPTON UNIT ADVANCED all the courtesy that befits the French people." 15 MILES SMITH. Pvt. Thomas Smith of 1008 Putnam 'Everything rosy; expect me CLEAN ALL VILLAGES FROM RHINE TO r.ERLIN McGOWAN. HAROLD HICKERSON, son of G.1 HAVE BECOME AN EXPERT AT Mr. and Mrs.

Allen H. Hickor-son, 5 20 Second was svint a member or uo. is, 3U5th M. Q. writes: DUCKING SHELLS O'REARDON.

I have just put in five of the worst Pvt. D. G. O'Rcardon of Co. 106th M.

G. writes: "I am now back on a rest period days of my life. Wo were back about. German army tugotnrr to my mtti', REGINALD KENNETH VAN VELSOR, who with his grandmother, Mrs. Jennie A.

Van Velsor of 707 Madison st and whoso grandfather was a Civil War veteran, has boon promoted to first lieutenant of infantry. He enlisted in the regular army on March 11, 1915, and was stationed nt Madison Barracks, N. with Co. 3d II until May, 1916, when he went to the border. He entered the third officers training camp at Camp Sinn-ley, Leon Springs, Texas, in January, 1918, and on Juno 1, 1918, was commissioned a second lieutenant of Infantry.

Ho Is now stationed at Headquarters, 8th Training Ra'ttnlinn, 167th Depot Brigade, Camp McClcl-lan, Ala. A brother, Edward, is In Franca. ten miles from the lino, rusting, when lB Mint it U'ill tmntuh.l phase ot it awn i sii-ikb us until Inter, we wore rushed up again, us we wore having to witness the Allies' invasion arter twelve days on the line, six of Kinaily, he dropped one on the pnra-whlch I spent out In a machine gun I pet six feet from us (we Investigated outpost In No Man's Land. It was an i later), showering us with earth and to advance. i.au (), tneir fHtncrlund.

They fear their "Like pigs the Germans are squealing for peace," writes Pvt. Edward G. McGowan, a Greenpoint boy with the 105th "but until the Yankees get in and clean up every village, town and hamlet from the Rhine to Berlin no mercy should be shown them. "At the present time (September 22) we are out for a rest, but what rest do you get in the Army? One is always on the job ready to get into the middle of the scrap. The Hun has already felt the mighty wallop possessed by the boys over here.

"If everyone could only see the om sneu noic, one side of which was chunks of snrapnei. we decided It from Local Hoard No. 4 8 on June 'H to Camp Upton. He was assigned to tho l'orsonncl Olfice there, and placed charge of tho Information Department day staff. As result of excellent work he won tho confidence of his otriccrs, and was sent to oltlcors training school at Camp Hancock, recently.

Hickerson is well known in Brooklyn musical circles as a pianist He was connected with The Eagle for. three years. His cousin, lioy illcker-' iin, recently guvc his life as one of the Inspectors in a munitions plant explosion in New Jersey, scooped out and roofed over with until 5:30 a.m. and went straight into the line. We were there uliout nn hour when nil hands went over tho top and we had a battle I shall never forget.

We fought like hell. It wuh nut long before our attack was too strong for thorn, and the Huns retreated. Wo kept right after them and advanced about eight miles, over many bodies. wives and children may bo treated like tho Belgians. "The time will come soon when wo will go through tho Hun's linos in one lug drive which will wind up in Berlin.

"The fighting spirit of tho men over here is wonderful and all trials and troubles are smiled at. 'Let's is was no longer any place for us, shell or no shell, since a direct hit in the trench would have meant curtains for us, so we broke and made for the dugout regardless, both arriving safely. "Our next position was on a ridge facing Heinle and under his direct ob- sheet iron, where I sat or slept during the day. along with four other shuffling mortals, each of us trying to achieve tho impossible and find room to stretch our legs. In a position like this one must sit tight during the day.