diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 02:20:12 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 02:20:12 -0700 |
| commit | d0aeab0db2a5eb0bd0966984a3eb5972976fcfd1 (patch) | |
| tree | a3f2e21934ca24934fabd976d5463113b02c02c0 | |
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 375908 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-h/26138-h.htm | 3167 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-h/images/deco.jpg | bin | 0 -> 10245 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-h/images/flag.jpg | bin | 0 -> 127786 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-h/images/frontis.jpg | bin | 0 -> 190582 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/f0001a-image1.jpg | bin | 0 -> 718597 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/f0001b-image1.jpg | bin | 0 -> 11296 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/f0001b.png | bin | 0 -> 18244 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/f0002-image1.jpg | bin | 0 -> 755798 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/f0002.png | bin | 0 -> 18717 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/f0003.png | bin | 0 -> 12775 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/f0005.png | bin | 0 -> 11573 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0001.png | bin | 0 -> 48712 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0002.png | bin | 0 -> 55566 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0003.png | bin | 0 -> 55375 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0004.png | bin | 0 -> 57107 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0005.png | bin | 0 -> 56445 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0006.png | bin | 0 -> 54129 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0007.png | bin | 0 -> 55044 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0008.png | bin | 0 -> 55854 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0009.png | bin | 0 -> 55985 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0010.png | bin | 0 -> 53050 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0011.png | bin | 0 -> 55645 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0012.png | bin | 0 -> 55336 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0013.png | bin | 0 -> 55945 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0014.png | bin | 0 -> 57372 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0015.png | bin | 0 -> 56450 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0016.png | bin | 0 -> 56359 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0017.png | bin | 0 -> 56010 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0018.png | bin | 0 -> 52746 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0019.png | bin | 0 -> 57375 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0020.png | bin | 0 -> 56708 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0021.png | bin | 0 -> 57814 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0022.png | bin | 0 -> 59757 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0023.png | bin | 0 -> 56221 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0024.png | bin | 0 -> 55535 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0025.png | bin | 0 -> 56835 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0026.png | bin | 0 -> 59000 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0027.png | bin | 0 -> 56699 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0028.png | bin | 0 -> 58613 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0029.png | bin | 0 -> 51312 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0030.png | bin | 0 -> 56693 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0031.png | bin | 0 -> 56155 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0032.png | bin | 0 -> 55883 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0033.png | bin | 0 -> 55965 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0034.png | bin | 0 -> 54873 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0035.png | bin | 0 -> 55473 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0036.png | bin | 0 -> 58400 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0037.png | bin | 0 -> 54154 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0038.png | bin | 0 -> 55223 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0039.png | bin | 0 -> 57309 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0040.png | bin | 0 -> 56750 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0041.png | bin | 0 -> 55532 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0042.png | bin | 0 -> 51691 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0043.png | bin | 0 -> 53820 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0044.png | bin | 0 -> 55709 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0045.png | bin | 0 -> 56159 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0046.png | bin | 0 -> 57885 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0047.png | bin | 0 -> 56437 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0048.png | bin | 0 -> 56690 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0049.png | bin | 0 -> 54853 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0050.png | bin | 0 -> 55266 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0051.png | bin | 0 -> 55769 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0052.png | bin | 0 -> 55115 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0053.png | bin | 0 -> 55253 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0054.png | bin | 0 -> 54188 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0055.png | bin | 0 -> 55894 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0056.png | bin | 0 -> 54533 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0057.png | bin | 0 -> 55164 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0058.png | bin | 0 -> 56750 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0059.png | bin | 0 -> 55207 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0060.png | bin | 0 -> 55706 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0061.png | bin | 0 -> 56786 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0062.png | bin | 0 -> 56124 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0063.png | bin | 0 -> 51929 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0064.png | bin | 0 -> 58319 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0065.png | bin | 0 -> 59071 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0066.png | bin | 0 -> 56378 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0067.png | bin | 0 -> 55503 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0068.png | bin | 0 -> 59667 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0069.png | bin | 0 -> 61095 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0070.png | bin | 0 -> 57243 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0071.png | bin | 0 -> 52308 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0072.png | bin | 0 -> 54157 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0073.png | bin | 0 -> 58973 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0074.png | bin | 0 -> 59267 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0075.png | bin | 0 -> 56045 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0076.png | bin | 0 -> 58463 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0077.png | bin | 0 -> 60058 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138-page-images/p0078.png | bin | 0 -> 19364 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138.txt | 2954 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26138.zip | bin | 0 -> 62206 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
95 files changed, 6137 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/26138-h.zip b/26138-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..36f50cc --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-h.zip diff --git a/26138-h/26138-h.htm b/26138-h/26138-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..cc9db7e --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-h/26138-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3167 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of In the Flash Ranging Service, by Private Edward Alva Trueblood. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .5em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .5em; + text-indent: 1em; + } + h1 { + text-align: center; font-family: garamond, serif; /* all headings centered */ + } + h5,h6 { + text-align: center; font-family: garamond, serif; /* all headings centered */ + } + h2 { + text-align: center; font-family: garamond, serif; /* all headings centered */ + } + h3 { + text-align: center; font-family: garamond, serif; /* all headings centered */ + } + h4 { + text-align: center; font-family: garamond, serif; /* all headings centered */ + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + } + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + a {text-decoration: none} /* no lines under links */ + div.centered {text-align: center;} /* work around for IE centering with CSS problem part 1 */ + div.centered table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;} /* work around for IE centering with CSS problem part 2 */ + ul {list-style-type: none} /* no bullets on lists */ + ul.nest {margin-top: .15em; margin-bottom: .15em; text-indent: -1.5em;} /* spacing for nested list */ + li {margin-top: .15em; margin-bottom: .15em;} /* spacing for list */ + + .cen {text-align: center; text-indent: 0em;} /* centering paragraphs */ + .sc {font-variant: small-caps;} /* small caps */ + .noin {text-indent: 0em;} /* no indenting */ + .hang {text-indent: -2em;} /* hanging indents */ + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .note {margin-left: 2em; margin-right: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em;} /* footnote */ + .block {margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%;} /* block indent */ + .right {text-align: right; padding-right: 2em;} /* right aligning paragraphs */ + .totoc {position: absolute; right: 2%; font-size: 75%; text-align: right;} /* Table of contents anchor */ + .totoi {position: absolute; right: 2%; font-size: 75%; text-align: right;} /* to Table of Illustrations link */ + .img {text-align: center; padding: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} /* centering images */ + .sidenote {width: 20%; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding-left: 1em; font-size: smaller; float: right; clear: right;} + .tdr {text-align: right; padding-right: .5em;} /* right align cell */ + .tdc {text-align: center;} /* center align cell */ + .tdl {text-align: left;} /* left align cell */ + .tdlsc {text-align: left; font-variant: small-caps;} /* aligning cell content and small caps */ + .tdrsc {text-align: right; font-variant: small-caps;} /* aligning cell content and small caps */ + .tdcsc {text-align: center; font-variant: small-caps;} /* aligning cell content and small caps */ + .tr {margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; margin-top: 5%; margin-bottom: 5%; padding: 1em; background-color: #f6f2f2; color: black; border: dotted black 1px;} /* transcriber's notes */ + .tr2 {margin-left: 30%; margin-right: 30%; margin-top: 5%; margin-bottom: 5%; padding: 1em; border: double black 1px;} /* box */ + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; right: 2%; + font-size: 75%; + color: silver; + background-color: inherit; + text-align: right; + text-indent: 0em; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal;} /* page numbers */ + + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's In the Flash Ranging Service, by Edward Alva Trueblood + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: In the Flash Ranging Service + Observations of an American Soldier During His Service + With the A.E.F. in France + +Author: Edward Alva Trueblood + +Release Date: July 27, 2008 [EBook #26138] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IN THE FLASH RANGING SERVICE *** + + + + +Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive/American +Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + +<div class="tr"> +<p class="cen" style="font-weight: bold;">Transcriber's Note:</p> +<br /> +<p class="noin" style="text-align: left;">Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. +For a complete list, please see the <span style="white-space: nowrap;"><a href="#TN">end of this document</a>.</span></p> +<p class="noin">Click on the images to see a larger version.</p> +</div> + +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + +<div class="img"><a name="frontis" id="frontis"></a> +<a href="images/frontis.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/frontis.jpg" width="45%" alt="Private Edward Alva Trueblood" /></a><br /> +<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">PRIVATE EDWARD ALVA TRUEBLOOD</p> +</div> + +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + +<h3><i>Observations of an American Soldier During<br /> +His Service With the A. E. F. in France</i></h3> + +<br /> + +<h1>In the<br /> +Flash Ranging<br /> +Service</h1> + +<br /> + +<h4><i>by</i></h4> + +<h3><i>Private Edward Alva Trueblood</i></h3> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<div class="img"> +<img border="0" src="images/deco.jpg" width="8%" alt="front page deco" /><br /> +</div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + + +<h5>Press of<br /> +THE NEWS PUBLISHING COMPANY<br /> +Sacramento, California<br /> +1919</h5> + +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<div class="img"> +<a href="images/flag.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/flag.jpg" width="45%" alt="American Flag" /></a><br /> +</div> + +<p class="noin" style="margin-left: 30%; margin-right: 20%;">"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to<br /> +the Republic for which it stands—<br /> +one nation, indivisible, with liberty<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5%;">and justice for all."</span></p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<div class="tr2"><p class="noin">This book is a record of the personal +observations of a private soldier in the Flash +Ranging Service of the American Expeditionary +Forces in France. It not only relates his +experiences while in France, but also tells of +going over and returning. In brief, it is a +soldier's story from the time he left America to +help crush the autocracy of Germany, until he +returned again after fighting was over.</p></div> + + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="toc" id="toc"></a><hr /> +<br /> + +<h3>Contents</h3> +<br /> + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="60%" summary="Table of Contents"> + <tr> + <td class="tdl" colspan="2">Chapter</td> + <td class="tdr">Page</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr" width="10%">I.</td> + <td class="tdl" width="80%"><a href="#Chapter_I">Going Over</a></td> + <td class="tdr" width="10%">1</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">II.</td> + <td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">Our First Glimpse of France</a></td> + <td class="tdr">10</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">III.</td> + <td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">From Brest to Langres</a></td> + <td class="tdr">18</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">IV.</td> + <td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">Nearing the Front</a></td> + <td class="tdr">29</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">V.</td> + <td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">Preparation for Battle</a></td> + <td class="tdr">37</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">VI.</td> + <td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">The Great St. Mihiel Drive</a></td> + <td class="tdr">42</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">VII.</td> + <td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">Gassed</a></td> + <td class="tdr">54</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">VIII.</td> + <td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">Hospital Experiences</a></td> + <td class="tdr">63</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">IX.</td> + <td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">Home Again</a></td> + <td class="tdr">72</td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="Chapter_I" id="Chapter_I"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span><br /> + +<h1>In the Flash Ranging Service</h1> + +<h3><i>By Private Edward Alva Trueblood</i></h3> + +<br /> +<br /> + +<h3>Chapter I.<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h3>Going Over.</h3> +<br /> + +<p>When the sun arose on the 22nd of June, 1918, three great transports +were lying out in the stream of New York harbor. They were filled with +American soldiers for duties overseas. They were well camouflaged and +well convoyed. The previous afternoon they had pulled away from a +Jersey City pier, where they had taken on their human cargoes, and +they were undoubtedly under sealed orders. They had slipped away +quietly from the piers without attracting undue attention, and while +they moved to the location where they anchored for the night, not a +soldier's uniform could have been detected from shore even after the +most scrutinizing search with the best binoculars obtainable. The +departure was made without a word of warning and not a fond good-bye. +It was accomplished with a methodical silence that called for +admiration. It is the way Uncle Sam does things during war times.</p> + +<p>Just before 9 o'clock on that beautiful June morning, simultaneously +but without communicating with each other, each of those transports +began to weigh anchor, and except for the click, click, click of the +machinery all was silent. Precisely at 9:05, without the blast of a +whistle, the sound of a gong, or the hoisting of a signal flag on the +mast, but like so many automatic machines, these vessels turned their +prows to the sea and began their long voyage.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span>Among those who sailed on one of the vessels of this transport fleet +were the members of the Twenty-ninth Engineers, A. E. F., of which I +was a member, being attached to Company C. Our departure was an +occasion never to be forgotten.</p> + +<p>As we glided out of the great harbor and saw first the Statue of +Liberty, then all trace of our native land disappear from sight, and +we realized that we were on our way to fight the most savage, inhuman +and despicable foe that has ever drawn a lance, a feeling of solemn +thoughtfulness came over most of the boys. Many of them were so +affected, as they knew a certain percentage of us must inevitably fall +in battle, that they went below to spend a few hours by themselves in +serious thought. I am not ashamed to say that I was one of those who +sought solace for my feelings in thoughtful solitude.</p> + +<p>The vessel upon which we sailed was an Italian transport, by name, the +"King of Italy." It was accompanied by a French and a former German +liner and was convoyed by a destroyer and a cruiser. On the second day +out we picked up four more transports, making seven in all in our +fleet.</p> + +<p>There were 1,500 American soldiers on our transport and approximately +the same on four of the other transports. Two of them, however, +carried more than 3,500 men, making a total of about 15,000 men on +that one fleet bound for duty overseas. Of the 1,500 men on the King +of Italy, 500 were white and 1,000 colored troops. No trouble was +caused by this mixture of races because of good management. The white +and colored boys were kept on different parts of the boat and all +guard duty was in the hands of the white troops.</p> + +<p>For the first few hours after sailing, thoughts of home lingered in +the minds of most of the boys, but these were hastily banished when we +had our first life <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span>drill. This took place at 2 o'clock on our first +day out. The drill was a thorough one, and it soon became apparent to +most of the boys that even if we should be torpedoed by a submarine +while going across, our troops would have no difficulty in getting +away from the boat before it took its final plunge toward the bottom +of the sea. In the life drill, every man had his place. He was +assigned to a certain boat and could take no other. The lower decks +were emptied first, and then those above, one at a time. I was bunked +on the fifth deck, hence, as the liner had six decks, would have been +among the last to leave the ship, in case of disaster.</p> + +<p>The object of the life drill, of course, was to make it possible to +empty the boat of troops quickly and in military order in the event +that the boat became a submarine victim. Every man was instructed at +the sound of the alarm to go to his bunk and stand there until given +further orders. In the meantime, he was to put on his life belt. The +boys marched out to the life boats only when they received orders from +their superiors to do so. After a few drills, we mastered the +manoeuver and it would have been possible for us to have emptied that +boat of 1,500 soldiers in twelve minutes, if such action had been +necessary.</p> + +<p>We had life drills two or three times a day all the way across. The +signal for the drill was four siren blasts, and when we heard those +blasts, there was a lively time on deck for a few minutes, until the +ship, in theory, had been abandoned.</p> + +<p>American people, who believe in giving their soldiers the right kind +of treatment, and particularly wholesome food, would have been +righteously indignant, if they could have known how poorly we were fed +while on that transport. Those at home were buying Liberty Bonds and +paying heavy war taxes so that the boys in the fighting forces would +be well fed and clothed, and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span>yet, it is hard to imagine how men could +have been treated worse, so far as food is concerned than were the men +of this boat. I am going to be just as frank as I know how in +describing food conditions with the hope that by calling public +attention to this petty graft, such practices will be stopped, so far +as American fighting men are concerned. To any who have weak stomachs, +I suggest that they skip over the next two or three pages, as the +details may nauseate them.</p> + +<p>The kitchens and mess rooms of the transport were on the top deck. +Meal tickets were issued to the men, and when they went to mess, the +tickets were punched. This is the way the Government kept track of the +number of meals served, as these tickets were collected when we left +the boat. The white men were fed first, and the colored troopers +afterwards. This was done so as to keep free of any possibility of +racial trouble, and apparently it worked well.</p> + +<p>After the second day out, our "chow," which is the soldier's name for +food of all kinds, was vile. It consisted largely of spoiled beef and +such foods as spoiled rabbits. When I say spoiled, I mean just what +the word implies. These rabbits were positively in a state of decay. +They had been in cold storage for a long time, evidently a very long +time. They had been carried in the ice boxes without being drawn, and +when exposed to the air the odor of decay was so strong that they were +positively nauseating. I saw strong men turn exceedingly sick just +from the stench, and I do not believe it is an exaggeration to say +that there was more upset stomachs on that trip from the decaying +rabbits that were given us to eat than from the action of the sea.</p> + +<p>The beef that we were given consisted of only the poorest and toughest +parts. The good cuts went to the mess for the army officers and for +the officers and crew of the ship. The potatoes that we were fed were +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span>the poorest that I have ever seen. They were served about half cooked, +and were small, wet, soggy and unpalatable. It was seldom that a +potato fit to eat was given to the men. We received rice several +times, but it was only about half cooked. During one meal we were +given bologne sausage, and after some of the boys had eaten their +allotment, the discovery was made that the sausage was full of +maggots. The soup was like water with neither flavor nor body. The +bread served was Italian-French bread made with sour dough, and not at +all palatable to an American, who has been accustomed to sweet and +wholesome bread. The coffee was of the poorest quality—probably +mostly chickory—and we were given neither milk nor sugar for it. The +result was that most of the boys did not touch their coffee at all. +The only seasoning given our food was an insufficiency of salt. +Everything served was tasteless, unpalatable and unwholesome.</p> + +<p>That there was better food on the boat, we knew, for we could see it +going to the officers' tables. They were served chicken two or three +times a week—the men never. Officers were given fresh fruit at every +meal—the men not at all. Officers were given palatable, sweet bread; +the men only when they would pay for it out of their own pockets and +then at a big price.</p> + +<p>It is my opinion that the owners of the boat on which I sailed made an +enormous profit off those meals served to the soldiers. Certainly the +Government would not have given the soldiers such unfit food. The +Government is to blame to this extent, however, in not seeing that the +ship owners lived up to their contract to feed the men properly. There +was a man on board who was supposed to see that the men were given +wholesome and nourishing food, but he failed absolutely to perform his +duty. Whether he was in the company's pay or simply negligent, I +cannot say, for I do not know. But <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span>it is a fact that he did not +perform his duty and 1,500 men were fed spoiled and unnourishing food +as a result. Men who indulge in "graft" of this kind are no better +than traitors, and should be treated as such by the Government.</p> + +<p>As a part of the uneatable diet we were given, numerous complaints +were made. We were not long in being told that we could purchase +something in the way of wholesome food for ourselves, if we had the +money. This was done on the sly. We could purchase a palatable steak +for $1.50 or $2, or we could get chops for about the same price. A +chicken would cost about $4. All the boys who had money were forced to +buy food this way or go hungry. Many of the boys ate only enough to +keep them alive. Often two would go in together and buy a steak or a +chicken, each putting up half of the money. Even then, we could not +get the food we wanted, as only a limited quantity could be "sneaked" +out.</p> + +<p>We could buy sweet bread in the canteen on the boat for 25 cents a +loaf, and a small loaf at that. That was the only way we could get it. +Sweet rolls, the kind that sell four for a nickle at home, cost two +for a nickle. Oranges, apples, bananas and other kinds of fruit cost +25 cents each. Unable to eat the food in the mess room, most of the +boys had to pay the exorbitant prices asked at the canteen or go +hungry.</p> + +<p>We had no sugar at all. The Government must have provided a sugar +ration for us, so my conclusion is that it was stolen by someone in +connection with the boat management and used in some form of graft. +Because it was necessary for them to buy so much of their food, all +the boys who had money with which they expected to buy things when +they landed on the other side, were without a penny when the boat +docked.</p> + +<p>Every afternoon between 2 and 3 o'clock, the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span>Y. M. C. A. workers who +were on the transport came on deck and held song services. Many +familiar hymns were sung. These meetings were very popular at first, +but gradually the fascination for them wore off, and toward the latter +part of the voyage they were but lightly attended.</p> + +<p>The "Y" workers did promote one form of entertainment, however, that +the boys thoroughly enjoyed. This was boxing. Every afternoon several +bouts would be held. Nearly every company had a fighter and he was +matched with the best man of some other company. Lively bouts of about +three or four rounds were fought. The colored soldiers took to this +sport keenly and they furnished some good contests among themselves. +White men, however, were not permitted to box the colored soldiers, as +such a bout might have led to a racial difference. Members of the +ship's crew also wanted to partake in the sport and they furnished +several bouts. The sailors, however, were somewhat awkward at first, +but they were game and they afforded us many a good laugh. Those who +had charge of the boxing never let a bout go to a knockout. When one +man was apparently getting the worst of it or was clearly outboxed, +the bout would be stopped.</p> + +<p>Very strict rules were issued on the boat with regard to lights at +night. Every porthole was closed, and every precaution taken so that +not a gleam of light could be seen. The men were warned that anyone +who attempted to make a light would be shot on the spot. The fleet +moved along in the darkness at full speed ahead. That it did not meet +with accident was due to excellent management on the part of the +Government.</p> + +<p>All the boats in our fleet were camouflaged. The King of Italy had +great irregular streaks of black and white painted across it. One of +the boats in our fleet had a really remarkable picture of a sinking +ship <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span>painted on its side. Another had two ships painted on its side +and was camouflaged to look like two vessels instead of one. While the +camouflaged ships appeared strange at first, we soon were used to the +unusual appearance, and thought nothing of them. A camouflaged vessel +is visible to the naked eye, almost as plain as one that has not been +daubed with paint, but it is through the mirrors of a periscope that +the camouflage is effective. In reflecting the picture on the horizon, +the mirrors lose some of the rays of light, so officers explained to +me, hence the eyes of the periscope are unable to detect the +camouflage.</p> + +<p>Our voyage passed pleasantly with smooth seas until the eleventh day, +when the water was a little choppy, and then for the first time some +of the boys were a little sea sick.</p> + +<p>It was my fortune to see our first and only brush with a submarine. It +happened about 4 o'clock in the morning on the twelfth day out. The +sea was choppy and the night very dark and cold. I was on guard duty +on the sixth deck of our vessel, and I noticed unusual activity on the +part of the destroyers that were convoying our fleet. Our transport +stopped dead still. In a moment four shots were fired from the +destroyer. I could see the fire from the gun plainly. It was an +exciting moment and the first real guns of war that I had ever heard. +Depth bombs were also dropped, then all was still again. All this +happened without disturbing the men asleep on our boat, and in the +morning they were told that the transport had been attacked by +submarines. It was the belief that the destroyer had sunk one of the +U-boats.</p> + +<p>We were given orders on the twelfth day to sleep in our clothes with +our life belts on during the rest of the trip. This was issued so that +there would be no delay in getting off the boat if we were hit by a +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span>torpedo. That night, being unused to sleeping with clothes on, was a +restless one for most of us. The following night, however, +notwithstanding the fact that we were fully dressed, we slept well.</p> + +<p>We were also joined on that day by a flotilla of destroyers. The sight +of these boats was hailed with joy, for we knew we were nearing land. +We had not been informed, however, in what country nor at what port we +would land, but we had hoped that it would be France, and we soon +learned that our destination was France.</p> + +<p>The torpedo boat flotilla that accompanied us during the last two days +was made up mostly of American and British destroyers, though there +were two French boats among them. They made a lively scene, and surely +gave us great protection. If a speck would appear on the horizon, two +boats would be off to investigate it, and would return later to join +the fleet. We were also accompanied on the last day of the voyage by +two airplanes as a further protection against submarines.</p> + +<p>We sighted land on the thirteenth day, and it was a welcome view. +Everybody was happy and eager to disembark. It was quite a contrast +from the feeling that existed just after we left New York harbor. We +were a merry crowd as we entered the harbor of Brest and we were glad +to see a large city again. We disembarked at 3 o'clock in the +afternoon. Before leaving the boat, we were given "leaving rations," +which consisted of a loaf of sour bread, a can of bully beef and a +small piece of cheese. This was given to us because we had a long +march ahead and our kitchens would not be in place for several hours. +We were taken off the transport on barges built especially for that +purpose. We were then marched to the Napoleon Barracks, built by the +Emperor Napoleon, eight miles from Brest, and were glad to put our +feet on land again, even though <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span>the march was a long one after a +thirteen day sea voyage. We had only a passing glimpse of Brest, but +did not mind that as we knew we would have opportunity to visit the +city later.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a><hr /> +<br /> + +<h3>CHAPTER II.<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h3>Our First Glimpse of France</h3> +<br /> + +<p>At Brest, the American soldiers got their first idea of the magnitude +of the work that the American Government was doing in the prosecution +of the war. Prior to our arrival there we had heard a great deal about +the construction work in French ports that the Americans had +undertaken, but our ideas of just what this work was, were more or +less vague. At Brest we saw just what it was. We saw miles of concrete +piers that had been built in record-breaking time with American skill, +American speed and American thoroughness. This work was a revelation +to all France, and the magnitude of the task, together with the +remarkably short time in which it was completed, stamp it as one of +the wonders of the war and as a lasting tribute to American ingenuity +and efficiency. These piers and warehouses of American construction +played a great part in ending the war, for they enabled the American +Government not only to land millions of troops in France, but to +provide adequate food, ammunition, guns and other necessary supplies +for these men. Nothing like it had ever been done before in the +history of the world.</p> + +<p>Soon after we left the boat at Brest, the men were lined up on the +pier and given a sensible and appreciated address by the Commanding +Officer. He told us that now more than ever before, since we were upon +foreign soil, orders were to be obeyed to the letter. We were told to +be careful in all that we did because by our actions the French people +would judge the American nation. He advised us to do everything +commanded <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span>of us by our officers with snap and thoroughness, so as to +show the French people that we were not raw recruits; that we were +real soldiers; that we could do as well at any task, if not better, +than the soldiers of Europe. The boys, to a man, lived up to those +instructions, and it was not long before the world knew that the +American soldier was the equal of any on earth.</p> + +<p>After this interesting advice was received we swung into squad right +and our first march on French territory began. We first marched more +than a mile through the railroad yards in Brest. These were all of +American construction. We saw miles of warehouses, filled with various +kinds of material of war and great quantities of food, not only for +the American soldiers, but for the civilians of France as well. These +warehouses were of wooden construction, and so different in design and +material from other buildings in Brest that we recognized at once that +they were built by Yankees. For this reason, we greeted them as +friends; it was like looking upon a familiar scene.</p> + +<p>Most everything else, however, that met our eyes had a decidedly +foreign look. The railroad trains in the yards were French, and +entirely different from those of this country. The freight cars have a +diminutive look. They are only about half the size of American cars +and they rest upon single trucks. The locomotives are much smaller +than ours and have brass boilers. We did not see anything of the +familiar dark red American box car and the giant American locomotives +until we got into the interior of France.</p> + +<p>We passed many peasant women and children while we were marching +through the railroad yards. Some of them were offering cakes and nuts +for sale, others were begging white bread from us. It was here that we +first heard those two French words that became so familiar to us +before we left France, "Donnez moi." It was <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span>"donnez moi" this and +"donnez moi" that, especially from the children who begged cigarettes, +pennies, and anything else that the American boys might have to give +away.</p> + +<p>Brest is built on hills, some of which rise abruptly and give a +picturesque look to the old city. As we marched through the residence +part of the city, the women from the windows gave us a hearty welcome, +waving flags and calling "Vive les Amerique." Our march took us over a +winding roadway through the district where the poorer classes lived +and we did not get a view of the more attractive parts of the city on +our arrival. The street we marched along was paved with broken rock +and was in excellent condition; it was crossed several times by +overhead railroad tracks built on massive arches of masonry.</p> + +<p>Our first impressions are rather difficult to describe because +everything had such different appearance from familiar things in +America. One noticeable feature was the character of the construction. +The buildings are of stone or some other such inflammable material, +with roofs of slate or tile. There are no frame buildings, except +those that have been constructed by Americans since April, 1917.</p> + +<p>The dress and the habits of the people differ materially from those of +America. Most of the lower classes wear sabots, or wooden shoes. Some +wear sabots with leather tops. But few, if any, all leather shoes are +in use among the lower classes. While all shades and colors of clothes +were worn by children, we noticed that the women were nearly all +dressed in black. This, we believed to be because they had lost +relatives in the war, and we later found that our conclusion was the +correct one. Among the poorer classes the men wear large loosely +fitting trousers and tight jackets. They wear a peculiar hat, with a +tightly fitting crown, a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span>broad round brim, and two streamers of black +ribbon about eighteen inches long hanging down in back. The middle +classes dress more like Americans, though not with as well made +clothes as one is accustomed to see in this country.</p> + +<p>After marching about five miles, we were given a rest in an open field +in the outskirts of Brest. Here we were again addressed by an officer +and cautioned to be careful about coming in contact with the French +people, and particularly with the women and children of the lower +classes. We were informed that the lower classes of women and the +peasant children are nearly all syphylitic, especially in seaport +towns. This sent a shudder through us, for we had already been +fondling some of the French children, before we realized the necessity +for caution. The warning was heeded and thereafter the boys kept the +peasants at a distance.</p> + +<p>As we resumed our march, we began to get into a cultivated district. +The rolling land along the roadway was cut up into small farms ranging +in size from a half acre to about two and a half acres. The boundary +lines of these farms were hedges; there were no fences, such as we +have in America. The land was planted to truck gardens, berries, fruit +trees, etc., and at the time that we saw them, they were in good +condition and apparently quite productive.</p> + +<p>It was about 6 o'clock in the evening and after a long and hard march +that we arrived at the Napoleon Barracks, where we were to have a few +days' rest before going into the interior. These barracks are quite +extensive. They are built of stone and are surrounded by a stone wall. +The wall is about three feet thick and twenty feet high, and it would +be a difficult matter for anyone to scale it. To keep soldiers from +trying to get out, broken glass is cemented into it for the entire +length on top. The purpose of this was to make it so <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span>dangerous that +no soldier would attempt to climb it. There are two arched gateways +leading to the interior. These archways are fitted with heavy gates, +which were originally designed as defense gates in case of attack. The +main buildings within the enclosure are of two stories and are built +of stone. We were not long in being assigned to the bunks that we were +to occupy during our stay. These were two decked affairs with a +mattress of slats about two inches apart to sleep on. They were about +as uncomfortable as anyone can imagine and most of the boys preferred +to sleep on the floor. These barracks had been occupied by many +American boys who had gone before us. We saw thousands of American +names written on the walls, and occasionally we would run across one +that we knew. And, like the other, we too wrote our names, for the +boys who followed to read and comment upon.</p> + +<p>Our meal for the first night at the barracks consisted of the rations +we had been given upon leaving the ship—bully beef, sour bread and +cheese. Our cooks got their fires started and gave us some coffee, +which stimulated us after our long and tiresome march.</p> + +<p>After eating, we were permitted to write to our folks at home, and all +of us spent the evening in correspondence. We were not permitted to +write while on board ship, so most of us had several letters to send. +I wrote until 11 o'clock that night. I was surprised to find that it +was not yet dark. The long and appreciated twilight is due to the fact +that Brest is a great distance farther north than Sacramento, and this +was in the middle of summer, when the evenings are longest.</p> + +<p>Not all of the buildings within the walls at the barracks are of +ancient construction. Several were recently built, such as a hospital, +a bath house for the accommodation of our men, the Y. M. C. A. hut, +etc. At this particular place the "Y" hut was appreciated by us +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span>because it afforded us amusement, we could buy fruit, cakes, tobacco +and other articles there, and we could attend to our correspondence +there. We were assembled there on one occasion to hear two addresses +on the ways and habits of the French people, which were to benefit us. +We also exchanged our American money at the hut for French money. For +a dollar we received five francs and seventy centimes, and it was +amusing to see the boys studying over the French money system, as it +was difficult to understand at first. Some of the boys, not knowing +the value of the French franc, paid enormous prices for fruits, +candies, etc., to French women and girls, who peddled these articles.</p> + +<p>While at the Napoleon Barracks we saw the first American wounded. They +were soldiers who had participated in the defense against the German +drive which began in March, 1918. It was from them that we first +learned the real horrors of war. Some had only one arm; others had +lost a leg; still others were suffering from shell shock. Those who +were suffering from shell shock were the most pitiful, as the least +unusual noise startled them.</p> + +<p>I had the good fortune to be placed on a motor truck detail during +three days of our brief stay at Brest. This gave me an opportunity of +seeing most of the city. It has about 120,000 inhabitants, is one of +the chief ports of France and has a harbor that is protected by nature +as well as by strong fortifications. Lying as it does, among the +hills, there is much natural beauty in the city and its surroundings. +The streets are about as wide as those of the average American city, +although there are a number of very narrow streets that cut into the +main thoroughfares at angles and these reminded me somewhat of the +narrow streets of Boston. The city is kept clean and there are +numerous parks and public squares. The latter are frequented mostly by +women and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span>children, though it is not uncommon to see French soldiers, +home from the front on leave, lounging in them. The warm blooded +French people have ideas that differ widely from those of Americans in +many respects, and it is nothing unusual to see a French couple making +love in broad daylight with persons passing by on all sides, in one of +these public parks. Occasionally one would see an American soldier +sitting with a French Mademoiselle. French troops were often drilling +in these squares—not troops that had participated in the war, but +companies of younger men who were being trained for war. It was +interesting to watch them and to contrast their manoeuvers with ours.</p> + +<p>There are no skyscrapers in Brest, that is to say, there are no tall +office buildings there, although the city is an important business +point. The only tall structures are the churches and an old castle, +dating from the thirteenth century. The business buildings are all of +two or three stories. The stores are not as up to date as the retail +establishments in America, and the methods of doing business are +entirely different from ours. Goods are not on display in the open as +they are in American stores, but are kept in show cases. If you are +interested in a certain piece of goods, the clerk takes it out of the +show case and exhibits it to you. If you do not buy it, the article is +placed right back in the show case. The clerks are mostly girls. They +are plainly dressed but always neat. Most of them wear black. They are +by no means as well dressed as American girls who work in stores. The +French store employes are very poorly paid, the average wage for a +clerk being two and a half francs, or about 50 cents in American money +a day.</p> + +<p>During the war, Brest was very much of a cosmopolitan city. On the +streets most any day could be seen the uniforms of the soldiers and +sailors of all the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span>Allied nations—French, British, Italian, +Portuguese, American and others. The uniforms of the different nations +are of different hues and they gave a tinge of color to the crowds on +the streets. They ranged from spotless white to faded blues. The +uniforms of the Italian soldiers, in my opinion, were the most +attractive. They were a pretty gray, well made and attractive in +design. The uniform of the American soldier, while not the prettiest, +is the most serviceable. For war use it is no doubt the best. The +British wear uniforms very much like ours, although a little different +in shade and design. They are serviceable and neat but not attractive. +The coat has a small lapel and large brass buttons that are always +well shined. The home guards of the French army wore flashy coats and +trousers. The trousers were either blue with a broad red stripe or red +with a blue stripe.</p> + +<p>I regret that our brief stay in Brest did not give me a better +opportunity to see the mediaeval churches and castles in the vicinity. +But war is serious business with no time for sightseeing and on the +third night after our arrival, we received our orders to march at 4 +o'clock the following morning. It was a restless night for we knew +that every day from now on would take us nearer to the front and to +the fight. At 3:30 o'clock on the morning of our departure we were all +up and dressed and were packing our belongings. We came to company +front promptly at 4 o'clock, just as the dawn was breaking; in a very +few minutes we were marching out of the historic Napoleon Barracks +never to see them again. The morning was cool and crisp; it was +conducive to lively marching and we stepped along at a fast clip, +passing three companies of infantry on the way to Brest. The march was +an eight mile "hike" and we made it without a stop until we reached +the railroad yards at Brest. We were then assigned to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span>compartments in +French railroad coaches. Most of them were second and third class +coaches, although there were a few first class cars for the officers. +There were five compartments to a car and eight men were assigned to +each compartment; as we also had to make room for our luggage, we were +crowded and uncomfortable. However, we made the best of the unpleasant +conditions, and patiently awaited the starting of the train, which was +to take us through a country new and strange to us, and nearer to the +war zone.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a><hr /> +<br /> + +<h3>CHAPTER III.<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h3>From Brest to Langres</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Before our train pulled out of Brest we were ordered out of our +crowded compartments in the French railroad coaches for the purpose of +bringing in traveling rations. These consisted of canned bully beef, +canned jam, canned beans and bread. The bread that was given to us +here was made into enormous loaves—the largest that any of us had +ever seen. The loaves were sixteen or eighteen inches wide, from two +and a half to three feet long and eight or nine inches high. They were +American-made and were white and wholesome. The outside crust was hard +but palatable and the inside was soft and flaky like home-made bread. +We afterwards learned that these loaves had been baked weeks in +advance and that they were kept fresh and palatable by the use of a +chemical. Each compartment of eight men was given three of these large +loaves which, together with a number of cans of beans, bully beef and +jam, were to keep us supplied with food until we reached Langres, in +eastern France, which was our destination. We had previously +learned—on our trip overseas—to conserve food, and none of this +supply was wasted. We stored it away in our cramped quarters and saw +that it got proper care.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span>As we sat in the train waiting for it to start, we looked out upon the +bay of Brest and saw numerous tugs busy along the waterfront. They +were all engaged in war work of some kind. We also saw more American +troops being landed at the wharf, just as we were landed a few days +previous, and we knew their thoughts and feelings. In the air there +were several airplanes and dirigible balloons giving needed protection +to the ships that were entering the harbor.</p> + +<p>While we were still in the yards of Brest, we also saw for the first +time in France, numerous Chinese coolies, who were doing with their +labor their part toward winning the war. They worked on the railroad +tracks in large gangs. To the Eastern boys who were not acquainted +with this class of Chinese laborers, they were quite a curiosity, but +to the Western boys, the sight was nothing unusual. The coolies, +however, were not dressed in the customary Chinese clothes, as in +California, but were in a garb more like that which American laborers +wear. They had on overalls, loose blouses or jumpers, heavy leather +shoes and straw hats.</p> + +<p>We pulled out of Brest about 10 o'clock in the morning. The train was +made up of about twenty-five or thirty of those small and +uncomfortable French coaches, and it moved very slowly. To one used to +the fast first-class American trains, this French train seemed +exceedingly slow, unaccommodating and tiresome. We first climbed +gradually up the hills, overlooking the bay, and were furnished with a +wonderful view. We could see far out to sea, and were in part +compensated for the lack of comforts to which an American is +accustomed when traveling, by the beauty of the scenery, and the many +strange and interesting sights that were constantly meeting our eyes.</p> + +<p>Soon after we left the ocean we came to a fertile farming section, in +which crops of various kinds, such as grains, fruits, garden truck, +etc., were grown. We <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span>had known that the farms in European countries +are small, especially those of France, as compared with farms in +America, but it was necessary for us to see the actual size of these +small farms to realize how diminutive they are. As in the vicinity of +Brest, mentioned in a previous chapter, the cultivated areas ranged in +size from a half acre to two and a half acres. Rarely we would see a +place as large as five acres, but that was the exception. No fences +separated these farms, but the boundaries were marked by hedges and +occasionally a low stone wall. In these small fields cultivation is +not practiced as in this country, but the land is tilled in narrow +strips. The numerous different textures of the soil, accounted for the +large number of strips. Each strip was planted to a crop to which it +was best suited.</p> + +<p>The highways through this farming section are kept in excellent +condition. They are built of rock and give the impression from the +train window that a motor trip through France would be a delight. Rows +of trees are planted along all the highways, the poplar tree +predominating, but other trees being used frequently as well. The +by-roads are of dirt but appear to be kept in good condition. They +also have trees planted along them; this seems to be a characteristic +of France, and readers will recall that in all war pictures where +these roads have been shown, the rows of trees are always there. This +is an excellent feature and one that California with its rapidly +increasing mileage of concrete roads, might well follow.</p> + +<p>Very few automobiles were seen on these highways, except those engaged +in war transportation. Of course at the time that I made my +observations, the country was engaged in war, and in peace times no +doubt more automobiles belonging to civilians are in use. It is a +fact, however, there are comparatively few automobiles among the civil +population of France. Only the very <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span>rich own them. The masses of the +people do not possess them, as in America. The civil population either +walk along these highways or travel in horse-drawn carts and wagons. +The carts are different from any that we see in America. Frequently +they are heavily constructed with wheels of from six to eight feet in +diameter. They are fitted with brakes, which are used on the grades. +They have a long body, that is, long for a cart, and this is laden +with the varied products of the small farms which are in this way +taken to market. Most frequently these carts are drawn by one horse, +though it is not unusual to see two or three horses hitched to one +when the load is heavy. When more than one horse is used, the animals +are not hitched abreast, but tandem. The wheel horse is hitched +between two long heavy shafts and his duty seems to be largely that of +steering the unwieldy conveyance, while the front horse or horses do +most of the pulling. The harness is heavy and the rear horse is +protected from sores that might be caused by rubbing, by a heavy and +well padded saddle and a heavy girth. It was a common sight to see a +woman driving one of these carts and guiding the wheel horse and +handling the brakes, while boys were either driving or leading the +leaders. These strange and cumbersome rigs, so different from any that +we had ever seen before, interested and amused us.</p> + +<p>The crops in the section through which we passed on our first day out +of Brest appeared to be good. They gave me, a Californian with +considerable farming experience, the impression that agriculture has +been very carefully studied by the French. Occasionally we would see +small tracts lying fallow, apparently to give the land a needed rest, +while other tracts were being cultivated. On some of the small farms +it was haying season. We were surprised as we noted the methods of the +French farmer in this particular branch of husbandry. The hay was cut +mostly by women and children with scythes. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span>An American mower probably +had never been seen there. It seemed like a tremendous waste of human +energy to see these women and children doing such hard manual labor in +the field, when a modern mower would cut the entire field in a very +short time. It seems to me there should be a field for the sale of +American mowers and other modern American farm machinery in the rural +districts of France. While the farms are so small that the individual +farmer could not, perhaps, afford to buy a mower, still, several +farmers could go in together and buy one, or the community as a whole +could buy one, for the common use of all who needed it. Here is +something that the French and American Governments might get together +on, for surely the French want to conserve the energy of their women +and children who now do this hard work, and the Americans want a wider +market for their modern farm equipment. It must be said, however, that +the women of the French peasantry who were doing this hard work, +appeared strong and healthful, and were enured to this difficult +labor, no doubt, through many generations of this hard farm life.</p> + +<p>We noticed as we got away from the coast, that there was a change in +the style of dress of the peasants. We no longer saw the round hats +with the ribbon streamers hanging down behind, so familiar in the +rural districts around Brest. The dress of the peasants, farther in +the interior, was more like that of the laboring classes of America. +The men and women both wore serviceable clothes of dark material, but +few of them wore anything on their heads. Sabots were worn instead of +leather shoes. The women wore a sort of an Arctic sock over the +stockings; the men frequently wore no socks at all. Occasionally the +sabots would be several sizes too large for the wearer, but were made +to fit by stuffing straw in them. This must have been rather +uncomfortable, but the French peasantry seemed not to mind it at all.</p> + +<p>While the horse is the principal draft animal in France, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span>oxen are +also used by some farmers. Most Western boys have seen teams of oxen, +as they are still in use in some of the mountain districts of +California, or at least they were still in use up to a few years ago; +but to the Eastern boys an ox team was a new and interesting sight, +and there was much comment upon it.</p> + +<p>The first large city at which we stopped after leaving Brest was +Nantes. This is a popular and ancient city, famous for the edict of +Nantes, and more famous still, perhaps, because of the revocation of +that edict by Louis XIV, which led to disastrous religious wars. +Nantes is also famous as the birthplace of Jules Verne, whose "Twenty +Thousand Leagues Under the Sea," became an actuality during the world +war. It is a city of about 150,000 and is an important industrial +center, having extensive shipyards, factories, wharves, etc. It is on +the right bank of the Loire River, about thirty-five miles from its +mouth and is one of the chief ports of entry of France.</p> + +<p>Nantes has a very interesting history and it contains many ancient and +famous edifices. It was not our privilege, however, to see any more of +the city than the views afforded from the train, for we stopped here +but a short time. It was there that we got our first taste of French +coffee, which is very different from that made and served in America. +It was furnished to us by the French Government. At first it was +distasteful to us, but after drinking it a few times we became used to +it and later on we really liked it.</p> + +<p>We were now in the rich valley of the Loire, one of the most +productive and one of the most famous in France. It is not nearly so +large as the Sacramento Valley, in California, nor as fertile, yet its +fame extends around the world. It is drained by the Loire River, which +is the longest river in France, being more than 600 miles in length, +and being navigable for ships as far <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span>as Nantes and for river boats +for more than five hundred miles of its length.</p> + +<p>In the valley of the Loire we began to see the beautiful vineyards of +France. In this district the farms as a rule were a little larger than +those we saw on our way from Brest to Nantes, and consequently the +hedges were less numerous. It was an exceedingly picturesque scene +that met our eyes as we rolled along in the slow train. One noticeable +fact was that each little vineyard was of a different shade of green +from that of its nearest neighbors, due perhaps, to a different +variety of plant, or to a variation of soil. There seemed to be no two +of just the same shade. It was also in the Valley of the Loire that we +saw considerable fruit production. Orchards were more numerous here +than on the coast. They were planted to most of the deciduous trees +with which we of California are familiar, although prunes seemed to +predominate.</p> + +<p>While we were traveling through this valley we were greeted with some +familiar sights and sounds. These were the American box car and +locomotive and the sound of the whistle of a U. S. A. train. We +greeted the American rolling stock as companions, and were truely glad +to see them. We could easily distinguish between the sound of the +whistle of an American locomotive and that of a French engine, the +American whistle being deep and the French shrill. It may seem strange +to think that I comment upon such a small matter as a locomotive +whistle, but when one is in a foreign land, amid foreign scenes and +sounds, a familiar sound is good to hear, even though it is as +unmusical as a deep blast of an American-made locomotive.</p> + +<p>Our next stop at a place of importance was at Tours—historic Tours. +This is a city of more than 100,000 inhabitants and is one of the most +interesting cities in France.</p> + +<p>I spent several weeks here in a hospital after being <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span>gassed on the +Metz front and I will speak in more detail of this city in a later +chapter.</p> + +<p>At Tours we were given more freedom than at any previous stop, and +here our officers bought chocolates, tobacco and fruit and distributed +them among the men. These dainties were the first we had since leaving +Brest and were surely appreciated.</p> + +<p>After leaving Tours we continued to wind through the Valley of the +Loire along the Loire River, and I must say that the vineyards and +orchards between Tours and Orleans, our next stop, were the prettiest +that I saw in all of France. In this particular part of the valley the +trees and vines are exceedingly prolific, as compared with trees and +vines in other parts of France. They are not, however, as prolific as +those of California. The trees do not attain as large a growth as +those of this State and the vines are less vigorous. The fruit is +neither as large nor does it have the quality of ours. The 1918 fruit +crop was a large one, as measured by French standards, but yield per +acre, I am sure, would be small as compared with the yield per acre of +a first class Sacramento river orchard. The difference of the quality +and the yield as compared with our fruits, is undoubtedly due to the +fact that for centuries the lands of the Loire have been cultivated, +while our lands are new and contain all their natural richness. The +vineyards are planted differently from ours. The vines are four feet +apart one way and eight feet apart another, while ours are usually +planted eight or ten feet apart each way. Having been reared on a +California vineyard, I was naturally very much interested in the +vineyards of France, and I examined those that I had the opportunity +of visiting very carefully. I inspected some of the grapes that were +pronounced first class by French vineyardists, and found them to be +very inferior to California grapes. The berries were smaller and they +contained less juice.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span>The farther we traveled into the interior of France, the more +interested the people became in us. In other words, the nearer we came +to the scene of action, the greater was the enthusiasm of the French +people over our arrival. While we excited but small interest in the +small towns on the coast, as we got closer to the front, there were +delegations of women and children at the station waving to us at every +small or large town through which we passed. Cries of "Vive +L'Amerique" were more frequent, and we had hopes that the persistent +"donnez moi" would be heard less frequently, but it was not. We never +ceased hearing it as long as there were French children around.</p> + +<p>We arrived at Orleans late in the evening of the third day of our +trip, and here we received a very hearty welcome from the American Red +Cross, as we did at Tours. The station at Orleans was more like an +American station than any that we had yet seen in France. It was large +and equipped with several tracks, as are most American stations. +Orleans is full of interest, but we were not permitted to stop there +long. We continued on our journey all night and the next day were out +of the Valley of the Loire and into a hilly section. While the scenery +was attractive, there were fewer cultivated areas and the soil was +less productive. We now began to see more of the American war +activities in France. We saw tented cities that had been built for +troops in record time; we saw camps where American soldiers were being +drilled; and we saw great quantities of American implements of war +such as airplanes, ammunition, light and heavy artillery, etc. In this +region we also passed three hospital trains coming from the front with +American soldiers who had been wounded, and we knew we were getting +very near the fighting. We also noticed a decided difference in the +French inhabitants. We detected a deeper interest in the war among +these people who were so near the battle line than in those farther +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span>away, and we noted that not a young man was to be seen among the +civilians in eastern France—they were all at the front fighting to +save their homes from the ruthless Hun.</p> + +<p>At 4 o'clock in the afternoon of the fourth day after we had left +Brest, we arrived at Langres, which was our destination, so far as +train travel was concerned. It was a great relief to leave those +crowded compartments in that uncomfortable train. The distance from +Brest to Langres by the route we traveled probably does not exceed six +hundred miles, yet it took us four days and three nights to make the +distance. A first class American train would cover the same distance +in about sixteen hours. At times our train moved so slowly that a man +could get out and keep up with it by running along the side. There +were no conveniences on the train, such as American travelers are +accustomed to. For instance, there were no toilets, and the train +would stop every three or four hours at some small station where +latrines were provided for our use. No one knows how miserable we were +on this trip, and the only thing that kept the boys from complaining +was the fact that the country was new to us and strange sights and +scenes made us forget our discomfort. Still, we did not have things as +bad as some of the American boys, who were compelled to travel across +France in box cars.</p> + +<p>We were all glad to stretch our legs at Langres, and after we were +given a little refreshing exercise, we were loaded on motor trucks and +taken to our barracks, located in a stone building formerly used as a +convent.</p> + +<p>The city of Langres is beautifully situated. It is on a hill that +rises from a plateau. It is a city of great antiquity, dating from the +time of the Romans. There can be no doubt but that its original +location was selected because of its strategic position, as it is on +the summit of a ridge and commands the situation in every direction. +In mediaeval times it was a stronghold for <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span>the feudal lords and in +modern times it is still of importance as a fortress. The city is +surrounded by a defense wall, built hundreds of years ago, and around +the outside of the wall was a moat, wide and deep. In feudal days this +moat was part of the defense works and it was kept filled with water. +It was dry when we visited and has been so for many years, as a moat +would be but as slight obstructure in modern warfare. But it made the +city well nigh impregnable in the mediaeval days before gunpowder was +invented and when most fighting was of the hand to hand kind. We +entered the city through an arched gate and crossed the moat on a +bridge which could be drawn up in case of attack. At present the gate +is always kept lowered, but it could be drawn up if necessary. It was +easy to picture in the mind's eye as we looked at these relics of +former days, the feudal barons of the age of chivalry, sallying forth +from this ancient stronghold on their steeds to make war or to plunder +and prepared to retreat behind this moat and wall where they would be +safe in the event that they were opposed by superior forces. I could +not but think, as I stood upon this historic ground, that we ourselves +were making history and that the fight that we were then preparing to +make, while less romantic than the skirmishes of the feudal barons, +was vastly more important to the welfare of the world.</p> + +<p>Situated as it is upon an eminence, a view that is beyond description +is to be obtained from Langres. From the ramparts one may see the +upper valley of the Marne with its checkerboard of farms of various +hues; the Vosges; and on a clear day the white peak of Mont Blanc, one +hundred and sixty miles distant.</p> + +<p>In strong contrast with the way in which ancient warriors entered +Langres, we were loaded onto motor trucks and taken up the steep and +winding way that led to the gates of the city by means of the most +modern way of transportation. Our eyes were fastened on <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span>the oddities +of this strangely interesting city as we wound through the streets, +some of which were narrow, others wide, past well kept parks and +buildings older than most of the modern governments, and we were +filled with a sort of reverence for this historic spot as we took our +places in the barracks made ready for us.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a><hr /> +<br /> + +<h3>CHAPTER IV<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h3>Nearing the Front</h3> +<br /> + +<p>After we were installed in the barracks at Langres and had our +personal belongings straightened out, we were given the day to +ourselves. This was the first freedom that we had had since our +arrival in France. The boys, of course, all went to the business +section of the city, where many of them were given their first glimpse +of French customs and French methods of merchandising. As I had been +fortunate in getting into the business section of Brest while we were +there, this was not new to me, but to most of the boys it was a novel +experience. They spent their time and much of their money in the +French stores, buying small articles of various kinds. One oddity of +the freedom that we were given here was the fact that the American +soldiers, although forbidden to buy alcoholic liquors in America, were +permitted to buy them without restrictions in France, and it is only +telling the plain truth to say that many of them sampled the French +beers, wines and cognac.</p> + +<p>I had an experience in a French barber shop that may be of interest, +as it shows the difference between French and American barbers. The +French barber does his work very rapidly, in fact so rapidly when he +is shaving that the patron wonders whether or not he is going to get +out of the chair uninjured. I ordered a haircut, a shave, a shampoo +and a face massage. I had <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span>much difficulty at first in making my wants +understood, particularly as to the manner in which I wanted my hair +cut. This finally made clear, I sat in the chair and the barber went +to work on me with his sharp shears. His hands moved like lightning +and it seemed like no more than two minutes that he had the job done. +It was the fastest hair cutting I ever witnessed and a good job, too. +He then proceeded to shave me, and for speed he exceeded his already +phenomenal record as a hair cutter. He put a thin lather on my face +and then with a thin razor—the thinnest I ever saw—he slashed off a +four days' growth with six strokes—one down the right cheek, one down +the left cheek, one across the entire upper lip, one—a fancy curved +stroke—across the chin, then up one side of the neck and a final +stroke up the other. In less time than it takes to tell, the job was +done, and it was a clean smooth shave too. But while he was slashing +that razor around I was uneasy. It was my first and last experience +with a French barber; thereafter, it was safety first. The massage was +excellent, but what impressed me about the shampoo was the small +amount of water used. Water must be costly in Langres from the way +that barber conserved it, but with no more than a handful of water, he +did his work well. The face waters used by French barbers are all +highly perfumed, in fact, too much so for the rough Westerner. When a +man leaves a barber shop he carries a sickening sweet aroma with him +and his friends know where he has been when he is as much as a hundred +yards away. It may be of interest to note that the shave, hair cut, +shampoo and massage cost me two and a half francs, or a little less +than 50 cents American money. The price of the same service in the +average American shop at the present time (August, 1919) would be +about $1.65.</p> + +<p>The following day the men in our detachment were <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span>assigned to various +kinds of work at Langres. I was given a motor truck to drive. It was +in very poor condition and my first duty was to get it in working +order. I spent three days overhauling it and had it in fair +serviceable shape. But after putting all this work on it, I had the +pleasure of running it only about three days, for I received orders, +along with 208 others, to pack and get ready for a special course in a +military school. I had only half an hour's time to get ready, but at +the appointed time I was prepared to go, and with the boys chosen for +the schooling, was loaded onto a motor truck and taken to Fort St. +Menge, one of the numerous protecting forts around Langres. This was +an old fort, apparently built many years ago. It was situated on the +summit of a mountain and was surrounded by a moat, which, however, was +dry. It was substantially built and exceedingly interesting. The +barracks were built underground and of stone. They were sealed and +were water-tight. Soil from ten to fifteen feet in depth covered these +stone compartments and they were proof from the bombs of other days, +but would have but feebly resisted the modern high explosives. There +were also several tunnels leading from various parts of the interior +to the outer walls, so that men could be taken to any part of the fort +that might be attacked without being exposed to the enemy's fire. +About a thousand men could be billeted there.</p> + +<p>Water for this fort was supplied from two deep wells and raised by a +peculiar lift pump, different from any that I ever saw before. It was +a sort of combination of a lift and pressure pump and was of European +design and manufacture. The wells were deep and the water good, for +France.</p> + +<p>On the day after our arrival there we commenced our work. We were +given a stiff drilling for three weeks, with scarcely a minute's rest. +We often worked until <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span>two or three o'clock in the morning. Our daily +routine was as follows: Arise at 5 o'clock; breakfast at 6; +calisthenics and manual of arms drill from 6:30 to 7:30; instruction +from 8 to 12; lunch from 12 to 1; instruction from 1 to 5; evening +instruction from 7 to 10, and often until 1, 2 or 3 o'clock the next +morning. It was here that we received advanced learning in +intelligence lines for our work in the war.</p> + +<p>We studied with French and American instruments such as were then +being used by the Allied armies on the western front. I cannot +describe these instruments in detail or tell much about our +instruction because I have given my oath never to reveal any of the +details of this work. I am permitted, however, to name some of these +instruments, such as the subterranean microphone, sizorscope, +horoscope, perpendicular and horizontal range finder, elongated +three-power French binocular, instruments for determining the height +of airplanes, etc. We had to acquire a practical knowledge in the use +of all these instruments, as they were to be our future implements of +warfare, and in matters of this kind, accuracy is of vast importance. +We also had to learn the signals of the French, British, Italian and +American aviators; the international Morse code; to send and receive +messages perfectly under all conditions; to have a practical knowledge +of the use of telephone and telegraph instruments; their attention and +repair; and how to keep the lines of communication in working order at +all times and under any and all conditions.</p> + +<p>From this brief summary, it can be readily understood that the +Government crowded plenty of work upon us during those three weeks. At +the completion of the courses examinations were given, and only 86 of +us out of a class of 208 succeeded in reaching the required +percentage. Of the others most remained to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span>take the course for +another three weeks, while a few were released from the work as not +qualified for that particular kind of service.</p> + +<p>All the time that we were studying we were drilled just as though we +were actually at war. We were compelled to dig in, to find the range +on certain objects and to direct imaginary artillery fire upon them. +We had to find the range of airplanes that passed over us, just as +though they were enemy planes. This drilling was as near like actual +warfare as it was possible to make it and because of this, we grasped +the meaning of our work and the details very quickly.</p> + +<p>We were also drilled thoroughly in the art of camouflage. To be +successful in camouflage, one must learn to imitate nature and that is +what we had to study, and one's tracks must always be covered. A +successful bit of camouflage not only deceives the eyes of the enemy +aerial observers, but it also deceives the lens of the enemy camera. +To make this perfectly clear, it should be said that the lens of +cameras used in warfare are exceedingly delicate and frequently when +the plate of an aerial photograph is developed, it reveals a spot that +means some extraordinary work on the part of the enemy, which the eyes +of the aviator did not detect. It can be readily understood, +therefore, that unless the camera is also deceived, the camouflage has +not been well done, for enemy planes, having located the spot by means +of their photograph, could plan to bomb it, but if the plate did not +show anything, then the camouflage is successful.</p> + +<p>While we were at Fort St. Menge we received our gas masks and we were +compelled to go through many gas mask drills. This was done so we +would become efficient in putting them on when we got to the front +line. With a little practice we got so we could adjust them in a +remarkably short time. We were also given our steel <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span>helmets while +here, and we realized fully that we were getting nearer and nearer to +the scene of action, and that our sham warfare would soon give way to +actual fighting. We were also drilled in rifle shooting and by the +time we were ready to leave, we were in every way fit to participate +in the great struggle in which we were soon to take part.</p> + +<p>As soon as our schooling was completed, we were told to get ready to +leave for Langres, so we packed up and we were compelled to "hike" +back to that city. At Langres we spent two days in getting ready for +the front. We were ordered to leave fully equipped with the best of +those things that we had to have. This meant that new articles were +issued to many of us. For instance, if a man had a pair of shoes that +was partly worn, he was given a new pair, and some of our old clothes +were turned in for new garments. These were two busy days and our time +was entirely occupied in getting ready. We were limited as to the +things we could take with us. We were given our barrack bags and told +to put in these bags all the things that we had to leave and that +those of us who returned would receive their bags when they got back. +My bag contained a number of toilet articles, clothes and other +articles that I took with me from the United States. I never saw that +bag again, as I was gassed and wounded and never went back to Langres, +but I suppose that it has long since become the property of some one +else.</p> + +<p>When we were ready to leave Langres we marched with full equipment to +a station three miles from the barracks we were leaving, where we were +billeted in wooden billets. Here we spent the night. We had to get up +at 4 o'clock in the morning to take an early train. It was a bitter +cold morning, but we did not notice this much, as we were on our way +to the scene <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span>of action and our thoughts were on the future. A cup of +coffee, a couple of doughnuts and a bun was the only breakfast that we +had, but it was all we wished. We carried traveling rations, of which +we made good use later on. We boarded the train at 4:30 o'clock and +rode on a fast passenger train until 11 o'clock, when we arrived at +Toul. We traveled in second and third class passenger coaches. At Toul +we were well received by the Red Cross, which furnished us with some +food, and this, together with our traveling rations, provided us with +a hearty meal.</p> + +<p>We left Toul at 1 o'clock and marched toward the front. We were soon +within the sound of the heavy guns. We continued on the road for +several hours, and then, as we were getting into the zone where shells +fell occasionally, we were told to thin out our ranks so that if a +shell fell among us our casualties would be light. From then on, we +marched about eight or ten feet apart in single file on each side of +the road. We were ordered to wear our steel helmets as a protection +against shrapnel. Some did not see the need of doing this, but most of +us were glad to take the precaution. We crossed several narrow gauge +tracks on our march, and saw trains carrying supplies of all kinds to +the battle front. They were pulled by gasoline engines. We also saw +our first barbed wire entanglements. These were built back of the +lines as a protection to the French in case the Germans should break +through on that front. They were about twenty-five feet in width and +extended north and south as far as the eye could see. Later on we saw +barbed wire entanglements as much as 250 feet in width, put up as a +barrier to the Boche, should they break through.</p> + +<p>Airplanes were now very numerous. They were darting back and forth at +various heights. We were anxious to see an airplane battle, but none +took place on that <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span>front on that day. We could see observation +balloons in the distance. Those in the very far distance we knew to be +enemy observers.</p> + +<p>We marched until 7 o'clock, when we reached a woods, where we were +permitted to stop. We were given our evening meal, which consisted of +bully beef and hard tack. The woods was our sheltering place for the +night. Some of the boys said they slept well that night, but I will be +absolutely truthful and say that I did not. The knowledge that we were +under shell fire and the unforeseen events that the immediate future +held in store for me so weighed upon my mind that I could scarcely +close my eyes. I really do not understand how any of the boys slept. +We could hear the screech of the shells as they whizzed by, but, +fortunately, none of them hit near us. Only a few days before several +hundred American boys were gassed in this same woods, and our gas +guard kept a close watch for gas shells.</p> + +<p>The next day we proceeded on toward the Verdun front. We marched all +day long, with only occasional stops. We were not in the open, +however, going from one woods to another; when we marched in the open, +only small bodies of men would move at a time. At 11 p.m. we stopped +marching and made our camp for the night. Most of the boys were so +weary from their long "hike" that they wrapped up in their overcoats, +lay down on the ground and went right to sleep. We remained three days +here waiting for orders. We were near the front, could hear the guns +all the time and the occasional rattle of a machine gun. When our +orders did finally come, we were told to march back over part of the +same route we had come and we finally stopped close to Novient. It was +here that we saw our first action and it was here that we finished our +education in the work that we were to do under the supervision of the +French, who held this front before it was taken over by the +Americans.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>CHAPTER V.<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h3>Preparation for Battle</h3> +<br /> + +<p>We were billeted at Novient for three days in wrecks of buildings that +had been ruined by Hun shells. At first we did not do much work +because it was not definitely known whether or not we were to remain +there.</p> + +<p>Although we were in the war zone and under shell fire at all times, we +were amazed when we learned that there were still a few French +peasants in the vicinity. These were mostly old men and old women, and +a few, but very few, children. These peasants would not leave their +old homes, though requested to do so by the French Government. They +preferred to remain there and be killed by a Hun Shell, if that was to +be their fate, than to leave the spot that they so dearly loved. The +young men of these towns were all fighting at the front and the young +women had gone to the larger cities, farther from the front, where +they found employment at good wages.</p> + +<p>Most of these old peasants kept a cow or two and a few chickens and +they sold milk and eggs to the American soldiers, thus realizing a +small profit for their great hazard. We paid seven francs or about +$1.35 for a dozen eggs and four francs or about 70 cents for a gallon +of milk. We were indeed glad to get these luxuries, even at these +prices and considered ourselves fortunate. In Novient two beer shops +were also conducted and sold the soldiers light wines and beers, the +prices being one franc or nearly 20 cents for a small bottle of beer, +five francs for a bottle of red wine and from seven to ten francs for +a bottle of white wine.</p> + +<p>After three days at Novient, we moved forward toward the trenches, +where we were to complete our training for work in the Flash Service. +At this time we were divided into small detachments, there being +fourteen men in the detachment to which I was assigned. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span>We were taken +to a woods about a mile and a half from Novient, and there had our +first introduction to the French S. R. O. T., or service similar to +our Flash Service.</p> + +<p>In this woods we were billeted underground, where we were protected +from shell fire. Each detachment was billeted with an equal number of +French, and it was from the fourteen French in our detachment that we +were to complete our education for the special work for which we were +preparing. In other words, we were to learn the practical application +from the French of the knowledge that we had learned in the school at +Fort St. Menge.</p> + +<p>Our first experience in actual war work was in an observation tower in +this woods. This tower was 65 feet in height. It was cylindrical in +form and built of steel about half an inch in thickness. The interior +was about five feet in diameter. In the tank (so-called) was a lookout +post for observation work. It had small slits on all sides that could +be readily opened and shut, through which we were to take our +observations. We entered the tower through a trap door in the bottom, +and the men working at the post locked the door while they were at +their duty. The tower was erected in a thick growth of tall trees, and +was well camouflaged. It was securely hidden from Hun eyes, yet gave +us a full view of the Hun trenches in that vicinity. It was from this +tower that I first saw the enemy, and got my first glimpse of the Hun +lines and got my first full view of a modern battlefield.</p> + +<p>The French outer trench was only one-quarter of a mile from this +tower. The German trenches were just a little way beyond those of the +French, the distance varying from fifty yards to a quarter of a mile, +according to the terrain. With our strong glasses, we could get an +excellent view of everything that Fritz did in this part of the line.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span>In this tower the French taught us their secrets of observation in +modern warfare. They showed us how to locate German batteries, machine +gun nests, railroads, troop movements, supply trains, aerial activity, +observation balloons, etc. We paid particular attention to watching +how often Hun airplanes arose, where they crossed our lines, whether +or not they were fired on by our anti-aircraft guns, the number of Hun +planes in the air, the purpose of their flights, etc. It was +particularly important to get the point where the German aviators +crossed the Allied lines. Their planes followed a system in this so as +to try to avoid our anti-aircraft guns. They would cross at a certain +point for one or two days, then, believing that if they attempted to +cross there again they would meet with a warm reception, they would +change the location, thus keeping the Allies guessing all the time. +The French remained with us about ten days, during which time we +acquired sufficient knowledge to take up the work ourselves, and the +American troops then took over this section of the line.</p> + +<p>Our conveniences while here were not good, but they were as good as we +expected. We accepted our lot without protest. All our provisions had +to be carried in at night on our backs, as it would have been +dangerous for a supply train to attempt to bring anything in during +the day. There was no water at all in our immediate vicinity. That +which we used for cooking and drinking purposes had to be carried from +a spring about three-quarters of a mile distant. While going to this +spring on one occasion, we located a blackberry patch, which gave us a +little diversion. We conserved our flour for several days, and then +picked enough blackberries for pie. On two occasions we had blackberry +pie and it is no exaggeration to say that it was absolutely the best +morsel of food that any of us had ever tasted. It was a luxury, I +venture to say, that but few soldiers in the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span>extreme front line +trenches were privileged to enjoy.</p> + +<p>A few days after the French left this front to us, we became aware +that we were preparing for some big military manoeuver. What it was, +of course, we were not told; we knew, however, that it was to be on a +gigantic scale. It subsequently developed that we were preparing for +the great St. Mihiel drive, that wonderful independent plunge into +German lines by American troops, which straightened out the St. Mihiel +salient and showed definitely to the Germans that ultimately they were +to be defeated.</p> + +<p>A brief description of this preparation may be of interest. Our first +intimation of this manoeuver was the bringing up of great quantities +of ammunition. This was placed in the woods and well camouflaged. +Next, heavy artillery came up in greater quantities than we had any +idea that the American army had in France. Then light artillery was +brought up in numbers proportional to the heavy guns. Then thousands +of fresh troops were marched up and placed under the cover of the +woods. These men marched up at night, so as not to be seen by Hun +airplanes. It should be stated here that during this preparation +Allied air machines had complete mastery of the aerial situation and +as soon as a Hun plane appeared on the horizon, it was pursued until +it either was brought down, or it escaped back to its lines.</p> + +<p>While the infantry was stationed in these woods, no time was lost. The +men were given their final instructions in fighting Bosch. They were +drilled hard every day and they became particularly efficient in the +use of the bayonet, a weapon that in the hands of a Yank the Germans +fear worse than anything else that I know of. Rifle practice, of +course, could not be indulged in while in these woods, because the +noise might attract German attention, but bayonet drills never +ceased. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span>Thorough drilling was also given in the use of machine guns. +Men were instructed how to repair guns, were told what to do in case +certain parts of the gun were injured, were shown how to take guns +apart and put them together again, and before the end of the drilling, +these men became as efficient in machine gun work as Fritz himself.</p> + +<p>The last step of the preparation was the bringing up of the tanks. +These came up at night in great numbers. There were tanks of all +kinds, from the huge British machines to the "petite" or little French +tank. These were also camouflaged and concealed in the woods. After +the tanks were brought up, their gunners were given a final thorough +drilling in the use of their guns, their machines, etc. We had never +before seen such a vast equipment of war material.</p> + +<p>It is difficult to express my feelings during the final days of this +preparation. I knew that something of a gigantic nature had been +planned and that the time was close at hand. I also knew that whatever +it was it would surely succeed, for nothing could resist the combined +force of all that preparation when the final word was given. I cannot +but admit that enormous quantity of ammunition, the vast number of +light and heavy guns, the thousands of men ready for the fray, caused +me to feel a certain indescribable sadness, for I knew, that although +success was sure to follow our drive, some of these brave boys were to +pay the price with their lives. On September 11th, the boys were +drilled for the last time. We were then required to strip our bodies +of all our clothes and to smear ourselves with a salve. This was a +preparation that was designed to protect the body from burns in case +we encountered the deadly mustard gas.</p> + +<p>After dark and all during the night there was a steady stream of men +going to their positions in the trenches. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span>They knew that the time for +the manoeuver to start was near, but whether it was to be 24 or 48 +hours, they did not know. But we of the Flash Service did; we knew +that at one minute past midnight on the morning of September 12th, the +zero hour, the Germans were to be given their great surprise party, +and we counted the minutes as they were ticked off the watch until +that time arrived.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a><hr /> +<br /> + +<h3>CHAPTER VI<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h3>The Great St. Mihiel Drive</h3> +<br /> + +<p>It was exactly at 12:01 o'clock on the morning of September 12th, when +the great St. Mihiel drive began, and when all the preparation of +which I told in the preceding chapter was brought into play in the +first great independent movement of American troops, which was to give +the Germans a warning of what they were to expect from the army from +across the seas, of which they had so sneeringly spoken. The drive +opened with a demoralizing barrage, the greatest of the kind that, up +to that time, had ever been laid down by artillery. It greatly +exceeded in the number of guns brought into action and in amount of +ammunition used, any barrage that either the Germans or the Allies +had, prior to that time, attempted. It was like letting hell loose +upon the Germans in the salient at all points within the range of our +guns. Language is inadequate to describe this barrage and none except +those who were actual participants in the drive will be able to +visualize in the mind the terror that General Pershing's guns belched +forth on that momentous occasion. Those who have imaginative minds may +be able to form some faint conception of what this great battle was +like, if they can picture thousands of guns—heavy, medium and +light—belching forth their fire with ceaseless regularity for <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span>six +long hours. It was pitch dark when the first guns opened with their +roar, but it was not long before the heavens were lighted with a +brilliant pyrotechnic display, something like elaborate Fourth of July +fireworks, but multiplied by millions in intensity. The heavy +artillery spit forth long flames as they were discharged. The long +flash, the rapidity with which it is dashed from the gun muzzle, and +its sudden disappearance, reminded me of a serpent's tongue. And +serpents' tongues they were, indeed, to German hopes, for as sure as +these are facts, the St. Mihiel drive sealed the doom of the despised +Huns. As far as the eye could see, these flashes were being repeated +at stated intervals, and in front of them were the smaller and more +rapid flashes of the medium artillery; and adding their flame, smoke +and noise to the din far out in front was the famous light artillery, +which did such effective work throughout the war.</p> + +<p>It was not long after the barrage began before the Germans began to +throw star shells. These were for the purpose of lighting up No Man's +Land. They are thrown to a height of several hundred feet, and as they +slowly descend, they burn a brilliant white light. These added to the +brilliancy of the fireworks. The object of the Germans in throwing +these star shells was to keep No Man's Land lighted so as to be ready +to repel our attack. They knew, of course, that our barrage was to be +followed up with a charge, but they did not know at what hour it was +to be launched. The star shells were thrown so that they could not be +taken unawares in the dark.</p> + +<p>Far behind the line in Fritz' territory we could see our shells +bursting. The telltale flash meant that the Huns were getting a dose +of severe medicine, though we could at that moment only guess at the +destruction <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span>that was being wrought. Later we were to see the havoc +worked by our accurate artillerymen.</p> + +<p>The object of this demoralizing barrage was to break up the morale of +the Germans and in general to pave the way for our infantry charge +that was to follow. It shattered the German trenches, plowed through +their barbed wire entanglements and kept those who survived in a state +of great nervous tension, because they knew a great charge was to +follow. Our guns were also trained on such objects as headquarters, +railroads, heavy artillery emplacements, cross roads, ammunition +dumps, aviation hangars, etc., from information that had previously +been obtained by the Flash and Sound Ranging sections. The heavy +artillery did great damage far in the rear. The medium artillery, not +having the range of the heavy guns, did not reach so far back with its +fire, but demoralized things generally wherever its shells hit. It +also had for its purpose the breaking up of any attack that might be +planned as a counter offensive. The light artillery is of smaller +caliber and fires more rapidly. This did wonderful execution and was a +great help in winning the war.</p> + +<p>It was exactly 6 o'clock when the demoralizing barrage stopped, and it +was followed by a protecting barrage. There is quite a difference +between a demoralizing barrage and a protecting barrage. A +demoralizing barrage is just what its name signifies, a demoralizing +rain of shells upon the enemy. A protecting barrage is for the purpose +of protecting the infantry as it charges into the enemy's lines and it +is raised slowly as the infantry advances so as to keep over the heads +of the marching soldiers. As soon as the protecting barrage was fired +in this drive, the first waves of infantry went over the top.</p> + +<p>Most people have a misconception of what going over the top is. The +prevailing idea is that a great <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span>mass of troops rush over the top and +into the German trenches. What really occurs is this: The men climb +out of the trenches at an ordinary pace in a thin line from six to ten +feet apart. This is followed in a few seconds by another thin line +about the same distance apart, and then another, and so on until there +are thousands of men advancing over No Man's Land, but they are +scattered over a large area. The object in scattering them is to +reduce losses in case an enemy shell falls among them. I have seen a +shell fall among men advancing this way without hitting any of them, +and I have also seen several fall from a single shell. Another reason +for these thin waves is the fact that when advancing in this formation +the men offer a poorer target to the machine guns of the enemy, while +in mass formation, a machine gun could mow down in a short time a +whole company.</p> + +<p>Just ahead of the waves of infantry in this drive, wiggled the tanks. +These cumbersome, awkward, ugly but efficient machines were of great +help to the foot soldiers. They not only made a path through the +barbed wire entanglements that the artillery had not destroyed, but +they hunted out and destroyed German machine gun nests, which were so +dangerous to the infantry. The tanks had a very difficult task and +they performed it well. Too much credit cannot be given to the tank +crews. They were brave, skillful and good fighters. It is true they +were in a measure protected behind the steel walls of the machine, +but, on the other hand, they were exposed to heavy fire, it was hot +and disagreeable within and in case of being struck by a shell or +running onto a mine, the horrors were worse than those to which other +fighters were exposed. The greatest danger was that of being trapped +within and burned to death in case a shell hits the gasoline tank; a +number were destroyed in that manner. So I give full credit <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span>to the +tank men for their heroic services—they braced the greatest dangers +without knowing such a word as "fear."</p> + +<p>As our boys went over the top they were given the protection of an +aerial squadron. Only those who were advancing toward the Hun lines on +that day, with full realization of their duties and their dangers, +know what a feeling of protection these hovering planes gave us. They +flew low, frequently just over the heads of the men, and poured their +deadly machine gun fire into such of the Hun trenches as the artillery +had not destroyed—and, no matter how thoroughly the artillery does +its work, there is always plenty left for the other branches of the +army to do. These daring airmen also dropped fishtail bombs on the +Huns. These men were the bravest of the brave. They had the courage, +grit and combative qualities of the lion. They are constantly in great +danger. They are fired upon from below by enemy anti-aircraft guns, +and frequently from above by enemy planes. They are also exposed, when +they fly low, to rifle fire and machine guns and machines are +frequently brought down by such fire. During a drive of this kind they +also face the danger of running into their own barrage and are +restricted as to the area in which they may manoeuver. We cannot give +these fearless men of the flying corps too much praise for their work. +While men in all branches of the American army were brave and all did +their duty, I think the airmen, like the tank men, deserve a special +meed of praise for their daring, and when I say this, I intend in no +way to detract from the bravery of the men in any other branch of the +service.</p> + +<p>The Flash Service, to which I belonged, was not a fighting unit. While +we were heavily armed, so that we could defend ourselves and fight if +necessary, we were not, in the strict sense of the word, combatants. +It was more important for us to keep the lines of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span>communication in +working order, to give the artillery the range on certain objects, to +locate machine gun nests and direct fire upon them so they could be +destroyed, than to fight, for there were sufficient numbers in other +branches of the army for that purpose. But we did not overlook an +opportunity to help our cause, and it is with a great deal of pleasure +that I tell of a machine gun nest of thirteen men captured by three of +the men of our detachment, though of a different post from mine. It +was during the early morning of the first day of the drive. It should +be stated that the American infantry advanced so rapidly that it +frequently went right by carefully concealed machine gun nests. This +was just what the Germans wanted them to do, because they opened fire +from the rear and rained bullets on our men from two sides. The three +men that captured the nest of which I am telling were just in back of +the second wave of infantry that went over the top, following it up +for the purpose of establishing our line of communication from front +to rear. They came upon this nest as the Huns were preparing to fire +at our advancing men. When they first located the nest the Americans +had their revolvers carefully wrapped in greased coils and in their +holsters, not expecting to use them—the greased coils being to keep +the weapons from rusting from the dampness of the trenches. These +resourceful American boys lost no time, however, in getting their +weapons ready for use, and by a quick and intrepid manoeuver, they +approached the Huns, covered them with their revolvers, and compelled +them to surrender without so much as firing a shot. The Huns were +taken to the rear, and their gun, a Vicker, became a trophy of war.</p> + +<p>It was about 9 o'clock in the morning while we were advancing that I +came upon a petite French tank, which had run upon a Hun mine and had +been completely <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span>destroyed. The machine was reduced to a pile of junk, +and it was hardly believable that a mine would work such destruction. +The heavy iron was torn in shreds, and while we knew it was a tank and +we knew what had happened to it, it was now nothing but scrap iron.</p> + +<p>Just about that time the infantry was capturing thousands of Hun +prisoners—men who had occupied the front German trenches and who were +overcome by our boys. As I was advancing, I saw 3,700 German prisoners +marching to the rear, and as it was still early in the day, you may +know with what thoroughness our boys were doing their work. Among +these prisoners was a German officer who knew the location of the +mines that had been planted to destroy tanks, bridges, roads, etc. The +Americans were not long in learning this and they compelled him to +point out these locations. Under his guidance, 52 mines were +destroyed. These might have done great damage to American tanks and +soldiers if they had not been set off. As it was, they opened a +pathway through which our tanks passed without danger.</p> + +<p>As we went forward into the territory that had been held by the Huns, +we could see the results of our own work, that is to say, we could see +objects upon which we had given the range to the artillery, completely +destroyed. It was gratifying to note that our work and the work of the +artillery had been so accurate. Objects, such as headquarters, +railroad tracks, cross roads, that we had located through our strong +glasses before the drive, and upon which we had given the distance to +the gunners, had been shattered by direct hits, speaking wonders for +the marksmanship of the American gunners. At some places we saw scores +of men and animals that had been killed by shell fire; at others we +saw trenches that had been as completely wiped out as though they +never existed; we also saw ammunition <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span>dumps that had been hit and set +afire and which burned steadily for several days. These were +exceedingly dangerous places, and we kept a good distance from them +until they burned completely out, as the exploding shells threw flying +metal for a distance of a hundred yards or more. We also came across +railroad trains that had been hit as they were proceeding, and so +badly crippled that they had to be abandoned by the enemy, later to be +captured by us.</p> + +<p>We advanced about ten kilometers the first day, and then our men were +directed to dig in. Here we met with our first real resistance. The +enemy counter attacked during the night, but his charges were finally +broken up by our accurate fire.</p> + +<p>Our advance that day had been rapid and had penetrated deeply into the +enemy line. This had been possible because of the rapidity with which +our supplies had been brought up. The roads for the most part were not +badly cut up, and those that were damaged were quickly repaired by our +engineers. Bridges had been hastily built, obstructions removed from +highways, and shell holes filled in so that traffic could go on almost +uninterruptedly. This made it possible for all necessary munitions to +move forward.</p> + +<p>One thing that was annoying to our advance was the German "pill boxes" +in which machine gunners were placed. These pill boxes were of +concrete. They were round and flat, a few square, and took their name +because of their resemblance to a pill box. They had slits about six +inches wide and eighteen inches long in the concrete through which the +Huns fired their machine guns at our troops. Our most effective weapon +against these pill boxes was our one pounders. They fired a small +shell directly at the box and continued to fire until they got the +range of the slit. The shells would then penetrate the slit and hit +the other side of the box, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span>exploding when they did so, and killing or +wounding the occupants. Once the range was obtained, our gunners kept +pouring in these shells until there was no longer any fear that the +Fritz soldiers in that box would harm any more Americans. Our boys put +many of these pill boxes out of commission with big loss to the enemy. +They made duty in a pill box certain death for the Huns when any +Americans were around.</p> + +<p>We spent a rather restless night after our first day's advance. Though +we had marched many miles and were mentally and physically fatigued, +it was not easy to sleep. We were in constant danger of counter attack +and of being shelled by the enemy, and the sensation was not pleasant.</p> + +<p>Early in the morning of September 13th, the second day of the drive, +we advanced again in the gray of the early dawn. It was between 8 and +9 o'clock on this morning that I saw a great aerial fight in which +probably thirty-five and perhaps forty machines participated. We had +advanced so far the first day that the Germans sent their aircraft out +in numbers on the second day to look at the territory that had been +lost. Our men were ready for them. It was the most thrilling sight I +ever witnessed, and I cannot imagine anything more sensational. At +first these machines were very high in the air, perhaps ten thousand +feet, for they were mere specks in the sky to the natural vision. It +was wonderful to see them manoeuvering for positions of advantage. +They twisted, turned, looped and dove. At times two or three would be +very close together and then again they would separate. Little white +puffs of smoke told the tale that the machine guns were in action. +They reminded me of bees swarming, as they buzzed and circled around +each other in the air. As they fought they descended, coming nearer to +earth <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span>and thus plainer to our vision. Suddenly one dropped out of the +ranks, a struck machine. We knew it was permanently out of commission +the minute it started to fall, for it dropped like a dead bird. It was +a Hun machine and it dropped close to where I was located, so close in +fact that within a few minutes I was inspecting it and taking small +souvenirs to send home from its collapsed wings. Then another dropped, +but it fell far from where we were located and its descent was so +swift that we could not see its insignia and were unable to tell +whether or not it was a Hun machine. Then one came down wounded, but +still able to fly. It was an American machine, for it sought refuge in +back of our lines. And so the fight continued for a few minutes—it +did not last long—until a total of eight machines dropped and several +others flew away wounded. Just what percentage of Hun and Allied +planes fell, I was never able to ascertain, but the best evidence that +the majority of them were Hun machines was the fact that the remaining +enemy planes soon departed from the aerial battle field, leaving the +Allied planes in complete control. The Allied fleet of planes in this +fight was composed mostly of Americans, though our airmen were aided +by a couple of British and a couple of French machines.</p> + +<p>We continued our advance throughout the second day, though we did not +proceed as rapidly as on the first day. This was because the roads +were in poorer condition and supplies could not be so rapidly moved +forward and for the further reason that the country was more wooded +and offered Fritz a better opportunity for defense. Our boys were +counter-attacked on several occasions, but each time they sent the +Huns flying to the rear with heavy losses. In hand to hand fighting, +such as often resulted when counter attacks were lodged, the Germans +were no match for the Americans, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span>who seemed to excel in close work +which required bravery, skill and dash. In fact, it was in this kind +of work that our boys showed Fritz what we mean in America by "punch."</p> + +<p>On the third day we advanced as far as Thiacourt, which was our +objective. On this day we also met with stubborn resistance. It was +here that we encountered many pill boxes and it required considerable +difficult and accurate work to put them out of business.</p> + +<p>It was on the night of September 15th that we saw our hardest +fighting, and were given a taste of how hard Germans could fight when +pressed. It was on this night that our losses were the heaviest of the +drive.</p> + +<p>My post was dug in on a ridge that was occupied by a detachment of +incomparable fighters—the Marines. The ridge was only about 500 yards +in length. The roads being in bad condition, we were unable to get the +protection of any artillery. All that we had to keep Fritz at bay on +this ridge was about forty machine guns, which were no match for the +heavy shells that the Huns were pouring on us, having our range to a +nicety. We were in what is known as "graves," or shallow trenches, not +having had time to dig deep trenches or to strengthen our positions as +we were constantly under fire. But these Marines laid down a machine +gun barrage, the first that I had ever seen. They kept up the fire all +night and thus held Fritz away. It was a tense period. Hun shells were +dropping all around us and frequently right among us, but the machine +guns never ceased their excellent defensive work. When day broke, and +the Hun ceased firing, only seventeen of these machine guns and their +crews were in condition to fight. Twenty-three of them had been +destroyed by the German artillery. It was a sad sight that met our +eyes the morning when we saw the losses that we had suffered during +the night.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span>It was on the night of the fourth day of the drive that fresh men were +brought up, and those of us who had been out in front during the drive +were relieved. It was, indeed, a great relief. It permitted us to +relax our bodies and minds after four days of steady strain, with no +more food than was sufficient to sustain us and without rest during +the entire time. We were grateful to be away for a short time from the +devastating fire that the Huns were pouring into our front line +trenches in an endeavor to check a further penetration into their +lines, but we were still under shell fire.</p> + +<p>We were taken a short distance to the rear, where we were billeted in +German dugouts. The day before these had been occupied by German +officers. They were elaborately fitted up with all things necessary +for luxury and comfort, such as beds, bathtubs, electric lights, etc.</p> + +<p>It was here, seemingly as a reward for my small services in the great +fight, that I met my friend and companion, McKinley Johnston, of +Sacramento. Nothing could have pleased me more for McKinley Johnston +is like a brother to me, having been my companion since boyhood. It +was with him that I had talked of enlisting long before I volunteered, +and it was he who enlisted with me. Though we became soldiers together +and entered the same company, the fortunes of war separated us in +France, and united us at a moment that was most gratifying to us both. +We sat down together and related our experiences. He was driving a +truck, and from him I learned of remarkable escapes that he had had +from death during the four days of the drive. On one occasion a Hun +shell, sufficient in size to have blown him to atoms, lodged in his +truck among supplies and failed to explode. I saw the shell myself, +also saw the hole in the top of the truck through which it passed and +can vouch for the truthfulness of the story. On <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span>another occasion a +shrapnel shell exploded on the road just to the right of his truck. +When it burst, it sent small pieces of metal flying in all directions. +About twenty-five or thirty of these passed through his truck, but not +one struck him. I saw the holes they made. The motor of the truck was +not as fortunate as the driver. A number of the pieces passed through +the hood and lodged in the engine. It was damaged considerably, but it +still ran and McKinley was able to complete his trip. I marveled at +these stories because they concerned a young man of whom I am very +fond, but escapes of this kind were numerous in these days and almost +every soldier who passed through the drive can truthfully tell of +similar escapes. We were facing death all the time and the remarkable +thing is that so many of us did pass through the drive and come out +alive.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a><hr /> +<br /> + +<h3>CHAPTER VII<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h3>Gassed</h3> +<br /> + +<p>One of the happiest days that I experienced during the period that I +was at war was on Friday, September 20, 1918. On this day, after +having made several visits to our new posts in the front line, I came +back to our billet, where, to my delight and surprise, I found eight +letters from home awaiting me. No one knows the joy that a letter from +home gives to a soldier on the firing line. It is like taking him out +of hell and placing him back on earth again. For several days we had +been in the very thickest of the fight, facing death at every minute, +seeing our companions fall around us, doing everything we possibly +could to help our side win, and willing to go back and do it all over +again without complaint—and then to get these welcome letters from +dear ones 9,000 miles away right in the midst of it all. Is it any +wonder that on such occasions we frequently gave way to our emotions?</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span>The letters that I received were enjoyed not only by me, but by my +companion, McKinley Johnston, as well, as he knew all of my people and +was as familiar as I was with the things that they wrote about. It is +a peculiar circumstance, but it is a fact, nevertheless, that all of +the boys, even those who did not know my folks and who came from other +States than California, were interested in these letters. They were +news from home and that is what all the boys were craving. They wanted +to read anything that came from America. So, after reading the +letters, I passed them all around and every boy in the camp read them. +After getting the letters back, I read them over several times. +Several of them contained photographs of familiar scenes and faces, +and it seemed good to look upon them again, for no one knew but that +it might be the last time we would see them. I thought it would be a +nice thing to sit right down and write, after reading these letters, +but when I attempted it, I was so overcome with emotion caused by +thoughts of those who were near and dear to me, that I was unable to +give expression to my thoughts.</p> + +<p>The position of the American troops at this time was not favorable. +The enemy held the commanding ground, and was concealed in woods, +while our troops were out in the open. The Boche could see what we +were doing while we were unable to detect his moves. This +disadvantage, you might well know, would not long be tolerated by +Americans. We wanted the commanding ground and we wanted to put Fritz +in the open. So on Monday, September 23rd, we gave Fritz a three-hour +barrage and it was a hot one. By the time the barrage started, all our +light artillery had been brought up and put in place, and we were able +to rain shells from the famous 75's upon the enemy in torrents. This +barrage was for the purpose of breaking up the morale <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span>of the Germans. +We were counter-barraged by the Huns, and for a time they made it hot +for us. But our superiority began to show after about an hour's +firing. The men in the Flash Division worked hard to give our gunners +the correct location of the German batteries. We worked hard and fast +and the accuracy of our effort was shown by the silencing of the +German guns. One by one they ceased firing, as the American artillery, +with the data we supplied them, dropped shells on the Hun batteries.</p> + +<p>It was just about 5:45 in the morning when our artillery ceased firing +and our boys advanced again. This time our objectives were only about +two kilometers in back of the German front trenches. We met with +stubborn resistance at first, but with the usual American +determination and pluck, we soon forced the Boche back.</p> + +<p>It was here that I first saw the German minnewafers and trench mortars +at work. The shells thrown from the minnewafers are as much feared as +any German weapon of war. They are thrown from a large gun with a +smooth bore and short barrel. The projectile is shaped like a rolling +pin, though it is much larger. In each end, or handle of the shell, is +a cap, which explodes as the handle strikes the ground. As the +projectile somersaults as it travels, one handle or the other is sure +to hit the earth, so there are no "duds" that I saw among these +shells. They explode with a terrific racket and tear up the earth for +a great distance around the spot where they land. They are not thrown +very high in the air, and are intended for use in close fighting, that +is to say, two or three hundred yards. As the shells whirl through the +air, you can plainly hear them whistling, and if you look sharply you +can occasionally see them coming. These minnewafers and mortars are of +various ranges—from three <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span>and four inches up to twelve and fourteen +inches. Aside from these trench guns, the Germans in this fight also +resisted heavily with machine gun nests and one pounders.</p> + +<p>In going over the top this time, we did not have the protection that +we did when the St. Mihiel drive started. In other words, we did not +have any tanks or any aerial protection, but had to advance with only +such help as the artillery could give us.</p> + +<p>The Germans were well protected and it took clever work to outwit +them. Their machine gun nests were always cleverly concealed. Many of +them were concealed in trees, and it was a common sight to see our +infantrymen advance unseen by the machine gunners, and then with their +rifles, shoot them out of the trees. I had seen machine gun nests in +trees before, but never so many as this time. Not only were they +numerous, but they were so well provided with ammunition that they +could fire thousands of rounds of shells, if necessary. I have seen +long belts of cartridges hanging to limbs of trees, all ready for use +on the part of the gunners. I have also seen many of these belts +attached together so as to provide an almost endless chain of +cartridges for the gun. Under one tree where there had been a nest, I +saw empty cartridge shells eight inches deep, which was some shooting +for a short fight such as this was. That machine gun had certainly +done all that could be expected of it.</p> + +<p>We gained our objectives at 4 o'clock of the afternoon of the day the +drive started. We were then in the best possible position, so far as +ground is concerned, as it was possible for us to occupy. We had taken +the commanding ground from Fritz, and we began digging in so as to be +ready for a counter attack. All during that night we dug our trenches, +making them deep and as safe as possible. Between 3 and 5 o'clock the +next <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span>morning, the expected attack came. We experienced a heavy +shelling from the German artillery. Of course, our light artillery +that had been hastily brought up was not slow in returning the fire. +Our barrage was very accurate and eventually the Huns were silenced.</p> + +<p>It was at this time that I was called upon to witness the greatest +horror of war—that of seeing some of my dearest friends fall from the +enemy's fire before my very eyes. I was working in a post with three +other men. We had been constantly together since the drive began and +our hardships that we had undergone resulted in a bond of friendship +that held us together like brothers. All three of these men were +killed during this barrage. Two of them were instantly killed and the +third lived but a short time after being hit, dying about 6 o'clock in +the morning.</p> + +<p>When you consider that we were working in a post that was not more +than twelve feet in diameter, you may well imagine my feelings as I +saw these boys fall. I fully expected that my turn would come at any +minute, but I kept at work so as to keep my mind off the gruesome +surroundings.</p> + +<p>The next twenty-four hours were about the worst that I experienced +throughout the war. My post was right out in front, and I was the only +man left in it. Our communication lines had been badly cut up by +German shells, and I was unable to make a report of the disaster that +our post had suffered to headquarters. I could not leave the post, +because I could not leave the instruments. They were too valuable to +be left there with no one guarding them, and it would not do to leave +any chance of their falling into the hands of the enemy. So I remained +at the post all day. About 7 o'clock in the evening, men from +headquarters fixed the communicating lines and I made my report of the +loss of three men. Help was immediately dispatched to me, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span>but, +because we were heavily shelled again that night by the Huns, it was +impossible for aid to reach me. It was not until 4 o'clock the next +morning that a detachment reached the post and I was relieved.</p> + +<p>A detachment was also sent from headquarters for the purpose of +removing the bodies of my three dead companions. They were taken back +of the lines to a beautiful spot in the woods, and there they were +buried. Because of the fondness of the men of our detachment for these +and for the further reason that fighting had slackened up some, we +were able to give these men a little better burial than is accorded +most soldiers who fall on the field of battle. In most cases a grave +is dug, the body wrapped in a blanket and deposited without a casket +and without ceremony. But for these boys, some of the men in our +detachment made boxes to serve as coffins out of material that we had +captured from an engineering dump. One big grave was dug and the +bodies were laid in it side by side. One of the boys said a prayer and +the graves of these brave lads, way out there in the woods in France, +were covered over. This is one of the incidents of the war that will +never leave my mind, as two of the boys were among my dearest friends.</p> + +<p>I realize that my escape from death while at that post was by a narrow +margin. It seemed to be the beginning of a number of miraculous +escapes, such as many soldiers experience. Mine came in such rapid +succession that I began to have a feeling that Fritz would get me yet. +About 11 o'clock at night on the 30th of September I was aroused from +my bed in a dugout to repair the communication lines, it being part of +the duty of our detachment to keep the lines in working order when not +observing. It wasn't very pleasant, of course, to get out of bed in +the middle of the night, but this was the luckiest call that I had +ever had. I <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span>had not been out more than five minutes when Fritz scored +a direct hit with a big shell upon that billet, destroying everything +it in. If I had not been called out, I would have been killed. +Fortunately for our post, all the other members were on duty at the +time, so we all escaped. But while I escaped with my life, the shell +destroyed all of my personal belongings. This resulted in my +discomfiture for many days, as I will relate. I had previously +captured a pair of German officer's boots, which I would put on when +called out at night, rather than my regulation army shoes and leggins. +On this night I slipped on these boots, and my army shoes were torn to +shreds. Therefore, I was compelled to wear the German boots, and they +were the most uncomfortable things that I had ever had on my feet. +Though they were my size, I could not get used to them, and they +burned and blistered my heels so that I could hardly walk. As we were +way out in front, it was not easy to get new shoes from headquarters. +My foot troubles became so serious that my officer granted me a day +off duty for the purpose of trying to find a pair of shoes that would +fit me. I spent the entire time in a fruitless search. I found several +pairs of shoes that belonged to boys who had been killed, but they +would not fit me, so finally I had to give it up. I wore those Boche +boots sixteen days, and I had to keep going all the time with sore and +blistered feet. I suffered more from those German boots than from +anything else in the war.</p> + +<p>On October 4th I had another interesting experience and narrow escape, +which was as close as any that I ever want to experience. I was one of +a detail that was sent after water. We had to go from our dugouts a +distance of about two kilometers. On our way there we were walking in +a gully. Fritz had probably used that gully for the same purpose +himself when he held <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span>that ground, and he probably knew that we would +be using it too. At any rate, he had the range to a nicety. On our way +he first dropped a number of gas shells around us. We hastily put on +our masks and escaped injury. But the gas shells were followed by a +few high explosives. A flying fragment severed the air tube of my gas +mask. This meant immediate death, unless there was quick action. I had +the presence of mind to take hold of the tube, so as to prevent any +gas from entering my lungs, and then I ran to high ground. The reason +I sought high ground is because the chlorine gas is heavy and settles +in low places and is not likely to be as thick if high ground can be +reached. I was accompanied by one of the buddies, who saw my plight +and ran to assist me. By a stroke of luck that seems almost +unbelievable, we ran across a salvage dump on the ridge to which we +ran, and there we found a good gas mask, which I hurriedly slipped on, +and used until a new one was issued to me. As if to add insult to +injury, while I was having trouble with the mask, I was struck on the +shoulder by a piece of shrapnel. The fragment, however, had about +spent its force, and while I was knocked down by the force of the blow +and suffered from a bruised shoulder for several days, the skin was +not broken and my injury did not reach the dignity of a wound.</p> + +<p>We proceeded on and got our water, and on our way back we were shelled +again when we were in approximately the same place. This time one of +the men received a small scratch from a piece of flying shell. It just +broke the skin between the knee and the thigh, but was so small that +it did not cause any inconvenience. Shortly after this, another bit of +shrapnel hit my helmet and knocked it off my head. I gave the boys +cause for a hearty laugh as I scrambled on all fours after my "tin +derby," and no doubt I cut an amusing <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span>figure. Fritz seemed to be +picking on me all day, but I was glad that I got off so lightly after +being exposed to so much danger.</p> + +<p>There is no room for sentiment in the army. Birthdays usually don't +mean much. It just happened, however, that I had a day off of post on +October 6th, and, that being my birthday, the occasion was made doubly +pleasant. But the thing that made the day a perfect one for me was the +fact that when I reached headquarters I found fourteen letters from +home. I have already told how happy I felt when I received eight +letters—well, fourteen made me feel just twice that happy. They were +from relatives and friends and no gift could have made my birthday +more pleasant.</p> + +<p>October 16th was another red letter day for me. On that date I had a +detail to pack in supplies, and I had the great fortune to find a new +pair of shoes, just my size. What a relief to get rid of those +uncomfortable ill-fitting, detestable German boots. If there was one +thing that made me hate Germans worse than anything else, it was those +horrid German boots. The boys said they were a hoodoo and that if I +continued to wear them Fritz would get me sure. However that may be, I +did not cease to have close calls. The very next day I got a small +sniff of chlorination gas. It happened while I was fixing +communication lines. I did not get enough to hurt me, but it made me +deathly sick. I was unable to do much for a couple of days, and was +taken to headquarters, where I was assigned to the duty of fixing +communication lines, which were constantly in danger of being broken. +On October 24th two of us were sent to repair a break, which we +located at 5 o'clock in the morning. Dawn was just breaking and the +place where we found the break was in the woods. The Germans had +during the night thrown a lot of chlorine gas shells into this woods, +so we donned our masks. The break <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span>in the line was a difficult one to +repair. We soon found that we could not do it with our gas masks +on—one or the other must take his mask off. We could not return +without making the repair. To a soldier there is no such word as fail. +It is either do or die. The buddy who was with me was a married man +with a baby at home. I, being unmarried, could certainly not ask him +to take off his mask, while I kept mine on. So I stripped mine off, +made the repair, and while doing so was gassed severely. With the aid +of the buddy, I was able to reach our billet. There I was put on a +stretcher and taken to a field dressing station. As the old saying +goes, it never rains but it pours; gassing was not the only trouble I +was destined to experience on that day. As I was being carried to +headquarters a shell exploded nearby and I was struck in the leg by a +piece of shrapnel. It was a small but painful wound just below the +left knee. I tried to accept it with a smile, and I was really glad +that I was struck instead of one of the other men, as I was already +out of the fight, while if one of them had been wounded, it would have +been two out of commission instead of one.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a><hr /> +<br /> + +<h3>CHAPTER VIII.<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h3>Hospital Experiences.</h3> +<br /> + +<p>After being gassed and wounded, I was taken immediately to a dressing +station, where the wound in my leg was carefully, but hurriedly +dressed and my throat was swabbed with a preparation used in all +hospitals to relieve the severe burning in the throat caused by gas. +Of all the unpleasant experiences that I had at war, this throat +swabbing was the worst. It seemed to me like the surgeon who performed +this act had found in my throat a bottomless pit, and as the swab went +up and down my burning esophagus, I suffered great agony. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span>Although I +knew this treatment was necessary, if I was to recover speedily from +the gas burns, I could scarcely endure it.</p> + +<p>As soon as the wound in my leg was dressed and my throat doctored, I +was examined as to my physical condition by a Major, who labeled me +with a tag upon which was written, "tuberculosis." This, of course, +was very annoying and caused me considerable worry. It was certainly +not a pleasant word for one to receive when lying in the condition +that I then was. But I afterwards learned, much to the relief of my +mind, that this tag had been put on me by the Major as a warning to +the next surgeon into whose hands I should fall, against tuberculosis. +In other words, in my condition, it was necessary to take precautions +against the white plague.</p> + +<p>I experienced great pains in my throat and lungs from the gas and +seemed to be choking. My strength was entirely gone, and I was about +as miserable as one could be. I could not utter a sound and any +attempt to speak only increased my pain. I relate these facts about +the agony that I suffered simply to show what a terrible weapon of war +this deadly phosgene gas is, and to emphasize the villainy of the Hun +government in using it after having agreed with other nations years +before not to do so.</p> + +<p>I was placed on a cot and made as comfortable as possible under the +circumstances and was awaiting a motor truck to take me to a base +hospital. On all sides of me were other wounded and gassed boys. Some +of them were exceedingly jolly and talkative, notwithstanding their +pitiable condition. I remember one boy in particular, who was about my +own age. He was going over on a raid and was shot through the temple. +The bullet entered on one side an inch or two above the eye, and went +straight through, passing out the other side at about the same +distance above the eye. It passed through apparently, without striking +the brain, and the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span>boy was fully conscious while the wound was +dressed and seemed to be quite jolly. I watched the surgeon shave both +sides of his head around the wound to prevent infection, and then +carefully dress his head, without administering any anesthetic. I +marveled at the boy's condition, with such a nasty wound, but what +surprised me still more was several months later when I was on board +ship on my way home, there was this same boy with his wound entirely +healed. Two little white scars, one on each temple, were the only +marks that told of his awful experience.</p> + +<p>From the dressing station I was taken to a field hospital, about +fifteen kilometers to the rear, and there placed in a ward in a tent. +The purpose of the field hospital is to treat soldiers who are too +severely wounded to be taken to base hospitals. My wound was again +examined, cleaned and dressed and again the terrible swab went its +depth. About 4 o'clock that afternoon I was loaded into another +stretcher on an ambulance and taken to Base Hospital 51 at Toul. The +distance from the field hospital to Toul was about twenty-five +kilometers and we did not reach there until about 9 o'clock that +night. The trip was a rough one, and I suffered greatly. I positively +believe my recovery would have been much faster, had I not been +transferred so hastily to this hospital. I was placed in a ward in a +large hospital built of stone. In this hospital the wounded men were +classified in accordance with the nature of their wounds. I was not +long in this hospital when a nurse took charge of me, and again, I +received that awful swab. Each time it seemed worse than before and +how I dreaded the time when it was to be given again! But much to my +surprise and pleasure, my treatment was changed at this hospital. My +chest and throat were massaged by the nurse with an oil that brought +me immediate relief. This nurse continued this treatment several times +a day and night and I began to feel a little <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span>better. All this time, +however, I was unable to utter a word, and I began to wonder whether +or not my speech was permanently injured. In my predicament, however, +I soon learned the sign language. It is remarkable how well a man can +make himself understood merely by the use of his hands. I had no +trouble at all in making my wants known. I was in the base hospital at +Toul for fourteen days and all of that time I coughed up great chunks +of solid matter and mouthfuls of blood, as the result of the burning +that I had received. After the seventh day, the nurse stopped the use +of the swab, much to my delight, but continued the more appreciated +massage.</p> + +<p>On the morning of my fifteenth day at this hospital, I was able to +make my wants known by a faint whisper, and on that day I was +transferred to another hospital. I was placed in a motor car and taken +to the railroad station, about half a mile distant and there loaded on +to a French hospital train, our destination being Tours. Before the +train pulled out of the station, American Red Cross workers, always in +evidence in every city in France, came and made us as comfortable as +possible. They gave us coffee and doughnuts, hot chocolate and +cigarettes, and their kindness was greatly appreciated by all the +wounded on that train.</p> + +<p>All the members of the crew of the train were French, and there was +also several French surgeons aboard. They all showed much interest in +the American troops. They asked us many questions about America and +the American people. The fighting qualities of our boys were highly +praised by them. The members of the crew in particular were interested +about working conditions in America, and were anxious to know whether +or not they would have any difficulty in getting work if they came to +this country. They showed plainly that they had been so favorably +impressed by Americans in <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span>France that they had a longing to become a +part of this great nation.</p> + +<p>It took us a day and a night to reach Tours. The journey was a +tiresome one and we were glad when the train finally stopped at Tours. +Again we were put on motor ambulances and taken to Base Hospital 7, in +the suburbs of the city. We were immediately given a physical +examination, and all our personal effects, including our clothes, were +taken from us, except a few toilet articles. We were then given a bath +robe, a towel and soap and taken to a warm shower. It was with great +delight that we got under that shower and enjoyed a thorough bath. The +showers were of American make and were built large enough so that +twenty-five or thirty men could take a bath at a time. After the +shower we were given a solution to rub on our bodies for the purpose +of killing the cooties. The time had come, I am glad to say, when we +and the cooties, must forever part. But the cootie in the front line +trenches was not altogether an enemy. That may sound strange, but the +fact is, when we were fighting the cooties and chasing them out of our +dug-outs, our minds were not on our more serious troubles and we were +unmindful of the dangers that surrounded us. So there were times when +the cooties were really friends and they kept our minds and hands +occupied.</p> + +<p>After the bath, we were taken back to the ward and were not allowed to +have any clothes for three days. This was probably so there would be +no chance of a stray cootie getting into our new outfit. When three +days had elapsed, however, we were given slips, which we filled out in +accordance with our needs. When I got back into a uniform, life at the +hospital was more pleasant. With the aid of crutches I was able to +move around a little and to enjoy the company of other boys. The time +was spent in playing cards, light conversation, and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span>other amusements. +We kept our minds off our rough experiences at the front.</p> + +<p>I had an unusually pleasant experience soon after I was at Tours. A +Red Cross nurse came to our ward to take orders for our small wants, +such as candy, cigarettes, tobacco, writing paper and such articles. +She spoke a few words to me and then passed on. It was the first time +I had spoken to an American girl since leaving the United States. A +few minutes later one of the boys told me she was from the West and +then one said he thought she was from California. I could not wait +until she came to bring our supplies, but immediately started out to +look her up, so anxious was I to see and talk with a Californian. I +found her and told her I was from California and that I had heard that +she was from that State, too. To my great pleasure and surprise, I +learned that she was from Sacramento, my home town, and that she was +acquainted with my folks and knew of me. Her name is Miss Mae Forbes, +and after her patriotic work in France, she is home again in +Sacramento. One must experience the delight of meeting a charming +young woman from his own town, in far-off France, and under the +circumstances that I did, to appreciate my feelings at this time. It +is an experience that I will always remember as one of the most happy +of my life. It was only a few days later that I made my way, without +the aid of crutches this time, to the American Red Cross station where +I again met Miss Forbes and had a long and pleasant chat with her +about California. Miss Forbes introduced me to the other members of +the station, and from that time until I left Tours, it was like my +home. I spent many a pleasant hour there and its memories will always +be dear to me.</p> + +<p>I was in the hospital at Tours on November 11th, when the armistice +was signed. There was a great commotion in my ward when we first +learned the news. Most of the boys were glad that the war was over and +that the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span>lives of so many boys still at the front had been spared. +Others said they hoped the end had not come so suddenly, as they were +anxious to recover and get back into the front line to take another +crack at the despicable Huns.</p> + +<p>At this time I was gaining strength rapidly and was able to get around +fairly well. I was given a pass out of the hospital, and with two +other boys who were fairly strong, we went into the business district +of Tours to witness the celebration. It was like a great city gone +mad. The streets were crowded with civilians, and everybody was waving +flags. Most people had a French flag in one hand, and the flag of one +of the Allied nations in the other. The American flag predominated +above all other Allied flags; in fact, the people of Tours seemed to +be very partial to America. "Vive l'Amerique" they shouted, "La guerre +est fini." They are very emotional and demonstrative. They lined the +sidewalks of the business streets, waving their flags and shouting in +their native tongue, while an American Marine Band playing patriotic +music, marched up one street and down another. It was a general +holiday and no business was done that day, and but very little for +several days thereafter. All American soldiers in the city were +lionized. When a group of enthusiastic Frenchmen would get hold of a +buddy, they would insist on taking him to a cafe and buying the most +expensive of wines. If we could have conserved all the liquor the +French were willing to buy for us that day, dry America would not +worry us.</p> + +<p>I was seated on a bench in one of the parks watching the demonstration +and contrasting it with the probable demonstrations in American cities +on that day, when two flags, one French and the other American, +dropped over my shoulders. I straightened up and the next thing I knew +I was strongly clasped in the arms of a beautiful young French girl, +elegantly dressed and bewitchingly charming. She kissed me fervently +on each cheek. The sensation was pleasant, but it was rather +embarrassing <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span>inasmuch as it was in full view of hundreds of people +who were celebrating. If the shades of evening had been falling, the +spot more secluded and the number reduced to two, it would have been +more to my American tastes. However, I arose, conscious that I was +blushing, and offered the beauty my hand. She could scarcely speak a +word of English and I scarcely a word of French, but we managed to +make each other understand that it was a pleasurable greeting. She was +soon on her way joyfully waving her flags, and I—well, I charged +myself up with a lost opportunity for not being more proficient in the +polite use of the French language.</p> + +<p>We remained in the city until 9:30 that evening, and the people were +still celebrating. And they kept it up for several days and several +nights, so great was their joy in knowing that the war was over and +that the enemy had been crushed.</p> + +<p>My stay in Tours gave me some opportunity of seeing this ancient city. +Tours lies in the heart of the Loire Valley, which is the garden of +France. It is 145 miles southwest of Paris by rail and is on the left +bank of the Loire River. It is an exceedingly old city and has an +interesting history. There are numerous castles and chateaux in the +vicinity, which in peace times are visited annually by thousands of +tourists. It contains a number of ancient buildings of interest. In +normal times it is no doubt one of the most interesting cities in +France.</p> + +<p>The hospital in which I was treated was a very large one, in fact, it +was a great institution of many buildings. It contained forty-five +wards of fifty cots each. It covered a large area and had every +comfort for the men, such as a motion picture house, library, reading +room, etc.</p> + +<p>After I had been there about five weeks and had regained much of my +physical strength, the authorities in charge began to classify the +boys, either for further duty, or for shipment home. All were anxious +to be put <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span>in class D, which meant the United States—God's country. +Nobody wanted class A, which meant further duty with the army of +occupation, and another year at least in Europe. It seemed very much +like a lottery, as the boys who were able to do so, walked up and +received their classification. I was exceedingly happy when I was +given class D, which meant that nothing would stop me from seeing +"home and mother."</p> + +<p>After being classified, we were notified to make ourselves ready for a +trip to the coast. Although we were not told that we were going home, +we knew that the good old U. S. A. was our ultimate destination. So I +received a pass and made my last visit to the business district of +Tours for the purpose of purchasing some souvenirs of France for the +women folks at home. The men I had already remembered with rings, made +during my convalescing days at the hospital out of French two-franc +pieces. I might add that ring making was a favorite occupation of the +patients and we spent many pleasant moments working them out sitting +on our cots, while a group of interested buddies would sit around and +watch and comment.</p> + +<p>I found it no easy matter to make my purchases. In the first place, +the French merchants, knowing that many of the American boys had money +to spend, asked about four prices for everything, and, secondly, the +French methods of doing business are quite different from our own. But +by spending practically the entire day, by attempting Hebraic methods +in purchasing, and by pretending that I had only a few francs to +spend, I managed to spend about $25 in buying the few things that I +wanted to bring home.</p> + +<p>I was then ready to leave, whenever Uncle Sam was willing to take me.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>CHAPTER IX.<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h3>Home Again</h3> +<br /> + +<p>On the morning of December 11th a number of the boys at the hospital +at Tours received orders to prepare for a trip to the coast. This was +the most welcome news that we could have heard and we hastily got our +personal belongings together. It was about 10 o'clock when we were +placed in ambulances and taken from the hospital. We were driven to +the railroad station about a mile distant, and there assigned to +quarters in an American hospital train.</p> + +<p>This was the first American train I had been on since I arrived in +France, and it certainly was a great relief to me to know that we were +not to be crowded into one of those uncomfortable, stuffy and tiresome +French trains. The American hospital train furnished an excellent +example of American efficiency, and when contrasted with the French +trains. I could not but think how much more progressive our people are +than Europeans. We had everything that we needed, and plenty of it. We +enjoyed good beds, good food, and sufficient room to move around +without encroaching upon the rights and the good natures of others. We +pulled out of Tours with no regrets on what was our most enjoyable +train trip while in France. It was enjoyable for two reasons—first, +we were traveling in comfort and as an American is used to traveling, +and secondly, we were traveling toward home.</p> + +<p>The trip down the Loire Valley followed practically the same route +that we took on our way from Brest to Tours. The scenes, of course, +were very much the same, except that the country now wore its winter +coat, while it was mid-summer on my previous trip.</p> + +<p>We arrived in Brest on December 13th, and to our surprise, we learned +that President Wilson had just previously landed there, and the city +had gone wild with <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span>enthusiasm over him. A tremendous crowd gathered +at the station to greet him. Bands were playing and the occasion was a +gala one. Our train stopped about a quarter of a mile away from the +station, where the President greeted a mass of French people and +American soldiers. I regret very much that I was unable to get a view +of the President while he was at Brest; that was not my fortune. We +did, however, see his train pull out on its journey to Paris.</p> + +<p>Soon after we arrived at Brest we were told that we would be taken +back on the "George Washington," the liner upon which President Wilson +crossed the Atlantic, and great was our joy. However, we were soon +doomed to disappointment, for orders were changed, and we were taken +to the Carry On Hospital, just out of Brest. The ride to the hospital +was a disagreeable one, as it had been raining and the streets were +muddy and wet. The ambulance rocked more like a boat than a motor car. +We were assigned quarters and given food. We met a number of boys in +the various wards who were awaiting their time of departure. We asked +them about how long it was after arriving at Brest before soldiers +were embarked for home, and they said the time varied all the way from +three to thirty days. That was not very encouraging and we were hoping +that in our case it would be three days. The very next morning, +however, a number of our boys received orders to get ready to depart. +I was not included among them, to my sorrow, and had no idea how long +I might be kept at Brest. It was only a day or two later when we were +made happy by the news that our time to depart had come. It was joyful +news and made our hearts beat with the joy that only a returning +soldier knows.</p> + +<p>We were loaded on the hospital ship "La France," which is a beautiful, +four-funnel French liner, 796 feet in length. It was the third largest +liner in use in transporting troops at that time. We took our places +on the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span>boat about noon, but the big ship laid in the harbor all +afternoon, and it was not until about sundown that she started to pull +out and we bade "good-bye" to "la belle France." One might think that +there was a lot of cheering when the boat pulled out on the eventful +afternoon of December 17, 1918, but there was not. Some of the boys, +it is true, cheered heartily. Most of us, however, were too full of +emotion to become wildly demonstrative. Our thoughts were on home, the +folks that are dear to us, and our beloved native land, and our +emotions were too strained for expression in cheers.</p> + +<p>The vessel was manned by French, who treated us splendidly for the +first two days out. After that, however, they began to skimp on our +food and to give us things of poor quality. For instance, we were +given coffee without sugar or milk, cereals of poor quality without +even salt in them, and no fruit, though it was understood that fruit +was to be a part of our diet. The boys complained bitterly at this +treatment, and finally our officers, knowing that we were not being +properly fed, made an examination of the ship. They found several +hundred boxes of apples that were supposed to be for us, stowed away +in the hold. It had been the intention of the French in charge of this +boat to steal that fruit, evidently to sell it, at the expense of the +wounded American soldiers on this hospital ship, who had fought and +saved their country from the Hunnish hordes. We had been cheated and +overcharged for everything we purchased in France, and we knew it, but +it surely did hurt when we were thus treated by men whose homes we had +saved at the cost of our blood. I will say this: We did not hold this +kind of treatment against the French people as a whole, but to +individuals who are so unprincipled and so greedy that they are +willing to sacrifice the fair name of their people for a paltry gain. +I might add here that it was the smallness of some of the individual +"Y" workers that brought the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span>Y. M. C. A. into such disrepute among +the American soldiers in France. This simply shows how important it is +for an individual to sustain the reputation of his country, or his +association, as the case may be, by honorable conduct.</p> + +<p>After our officers uncached the horde of stolen apples in the ship's +hold, we were well fed and on the last two days of the journey had no +complaint to make on this score.</p> + +<p>On December 24th at 10 a.m. some far sighted individual shouted "Land" +and what a welcome word it was. Columbus, watching from the deck of +the Santa Maria, was not more happy when he first set eyes upon the +faint outline of the new world than we were as the dim blue shoreline +began to rise upon the horizon. There was a mad rush to the deck and +everybody who could get out was soon watching over the rail. It was +not long before the Statue of Liberty came into full view and there +was joy in our hearts for we knew that at last we were home.</p> + +<p>In a very few minutes our ship stopped and a pilot was taken aboard to +guide the great vessel safely into the harbor. Next we were greeted by +a yacht that steamed out beside us carrying a great sign, "Welcome +Home." It was the 24th of December, and this boat carried a large +Christmas tree, typical of the season.</p> + +<p>As we entered the harbor, we were given a wonderful welcome. It seemed +as though every whistle in the great city of New York had been brought +into action to make noise on our account. Certainly every boat in the +harbor from the smallest tug to the trans-Atlantic liners was blowing +a blast; and the noise, though of an entirely different character, was +as deafening as that of a battle. Every window of all the great +buildings that make up that wonderful skyline of New York was filled +with patriotic citizens waving a welcome to us. It was a great sight +and one that the boys will never forget. It <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span>seemed so good to see our +own people again—our pretty girls, our fond fathers, our dear +mothers, our elderly folks, and even our street gamins. It gave us a +feeling that we would like to take them all in our arms, for they were +ours and we were theirs. I knew, of course, that there would be none +of my folks to meet me, as my home is in California, but it did me +good to see the other boys meet and greet their mothers, fathers, +sisters and sweethearts.</p> + +<p>We started disembarking at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. I was on the +top deck and did not get off until 9 o'clock, being among the last to +leave the ship. We were taken on a ferry to Jersey City, where we were +entertained and given food. Later in the evening we were taken to Camp +Merritt, New Jersey, by train. It did seem good to ride on a real +American train, on American soil, and among our countrymen. We arrived +at Camp Merritt at 11 o'clock at night and I was taken to the +hospital. I was assigned to a ward and after getting comfortably fixed +was given a real American meal, and you may be sure that it was +thoroughly enjoyable. We had to stay in the barracks the next day to +undergo a physical examination and for the further purpose of taking +precautions against the persistent cooties—some of the boys having +encountered them on the boat.</p> + +<p>The spirit of Christmas was everywhere manifest, and certainly I could +have had no Christmas present better than to arrive in America on +Christmas eve. The Red Cross brought us boxes of good things to eat +and Christmas presents, and the people entertained us wonderfully. +They took us on automobile rides in their private cars, to dinners, to +theaters, etc. Their hospitality was of the real American sort and it +was deeply appreciated by the boys.</p> + +<p>At the very first opportunity after reaching camp, I sent a telegram +to my parents in Sacramento, telling them that I had arrived safely. I +received an answer <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span>saying that all at home were well, that same day, +and it was a welcome message. It was the first word I had heard from +home since I had been gassed and wounded in October. I had been +transferred from place to place so frequently that my mail never quite +caught up with me. It kept following me around, and I did not get all +my letters until some weeks after I arrived home.</p> + +<p>I was in Camp Merritt for a month and five days, and during that time +I had an excellent opportunity of seeing New York. I made several +trips to the metropolis and enjoyed seeing the points of interest of +that great city.</p> + +<p>While at the camp I met Harry Nauman, a Sacramento boy, and greatly +enjoyed the pleasure of his company. From my folks I heard that James +Brenton, my room mate at college, was also there. I looked him up and +was fortunate in finding him. We spent three or four pleasant days +together before we departed for California.</p> + +<p>On the first day of February, I left the camp and was sent to the +Letterman Hospital in San Francisco. The trip across the continent was +uneventful, except for the last one hundred miles of the journey. At +Sacramento I again saw my folks after a year in the service and my +father and mother accompanied me to San Francisco, making the ride +most enjoyable as Dad related all the local happenings during the long +time that I was away. I spent several days in the Letterman Hospital +and was then honorably discharged from the service.</p> + +<p>I have endeavored to relate in a general way many of my experiences. I +have not told all. Some of the more gruesome occurrences I have left +untold, not believing that any good would come of their repetition.</p> + +<p>I can honestly say that I am glad that I went to war and that I fought +for my country. The experience was of untold value to me, as it gave +me a broader and more serious view of life. Notwithstanding all the +horrors of war, if called upon again, I would willingly go. I am ready +to serve my country any time it calls. We have a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span>wonderful country +and a wonderful people. I realize that now more than I did before we +went to war. My rather limited observations lead me to believe that we +are far ahead of any European country. If Americans live for America, +if they put country above self, if they obey the laws and become +acquainted with all the wonders of their own land, this nation will +make even greater progress in the future than it has in the past. The +war brought out a wonderful spirit; let our spirit in times of peace +be just as patriotic.</p> + +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + +<div class="tr"> +<p class="cen"><a name="TN" id="TN"></a>Typographical errors corrected in text:</p> +<br /> +Page 2: dispicable replaced with despicable<br /> +Page 16: manoevuers replaced with manoeuvers<br /> +Page 16: Madamoiselle replaced with Mademoiselle<br /> +Page 58: greusome replaced with gruesome<br /> +</div> + +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of In the Flash Ranging Service, by +Edward Alva Trueblood + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IN THE FLASH RANGING SERVICE *** + +***** This file should be named 26138-h.htm or 26138-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/6/1/3/26138/ + +Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive/American +Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/26138-h/images/deco.jpg b/26138-h/images/deco.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c4cf37b --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-h/images/deco.jpg diff --git a/26138-h/images/flag.jpg b/26138-h/images/flag.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6781e8a --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-h/images/flag.jpg diff --git a/26138-h/images/frontis.jpg b/26138-h/images/frontis.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9ae259b --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-h/images/frontis.jpg diff --git a/26138-page-images/f0001a-image1.jpg b/26138-page-images/f0001a-image1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..36bafb4 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/f0001a-image1.jpg diff --git a/26138-page-images/f0001b-image1.jpg b/26138-page-images/f0001b-image1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..40ebb01 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/f0001b-image1.jpg diff --git a/26138-page-images/f0001b.png b/26138-page-images/f0001b.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..372533c --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/f0001b.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/f0002-image1.jpg b/26138-page-images/f0002-image1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8db6b93 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/f0002-image1.jpg diff --git a/26138-page-images/f0002.png b/26138-page-images/f0002.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6545511 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/f0002.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/f0003.png b/26138-page-images/f0003.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f8853f5 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/f0003.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/f0005.png b/26138-page-images/f0005.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c7ab003 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/f0005.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0001.png b/26138-page-images/p0001.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..def6853 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0001.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0002.png b/26138-page-images/p0002.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f80d0b6 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0002.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0003.png b/26138-page-images/p0003.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1365832 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0003.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0004.png b/26138-page-images/p0004.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4c509c5 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0004.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0005.png b/26138-page-images/p0005.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a4dd0f6 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0005.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0006.png b/26138-page-images/p0006.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d4d0f27 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0006.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0007.png b/26138-page-images/p0007.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4d02adb --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0007.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0008.png b/26138-page-images/p0008.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2b12066 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0008.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0009.png b/26138-page-images/p0009.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..753530f --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0009.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0010.png b/26138-page-images/p0010.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7f7a17a --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0010.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0011.png b/26138-page-images/p0011.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b09e0b2 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0011.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0012.png b/26138-page-images/p0012.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..baaf73f --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0012.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0013.png b/26138-page-images/p0013.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7f5f9ed --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0013.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0014.png b/26138-page-images/p0014.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..dcbc7ba --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0014.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0015.png b/26138-page-images/p0015.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d57eff7 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0015.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0016.png b/26138-page-images/p0016.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b40fff5 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0016.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0017.png b/26138-page-images/p0017.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8f9831f --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0017.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0018.png b/26138-page-images/p0018.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7f02a40 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0018.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0019.png b/26138-page-images/p0019.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c418dde --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0019.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0020.png b/26138-page-images/p0020.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4de87ac --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0020.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0021.png b/26138-page-images/p0021.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bfbc0c9 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0021.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0022.png b/26138-page-images/p0022.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e74a0d6 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0022.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0023.png b/26138-page-images/p0023.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..63de15a --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0023.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0024.png b/26138-page-images/p0024.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..db69c64 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0024.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0025.png b/26138-page-images/p0025.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d26be08 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0025.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0026.png b/26138-page-images/p0026.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bb7e787 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0026.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0027.png b/26138-page-images/p0027.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7ead9f0 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0027.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0028.png b/26138-page-images/p0028.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..70dadb9 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0028.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0029.png b/26138-page-images/p0029.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9dd3f16 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0029.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0030.png b/26138-page-images/p0030.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..20005eb --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0030.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0031.png b/26138-page-images/p0031.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c34c95a --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0031.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0032.png b/26138-page-images/p0032.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5ed4b64 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0032.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0033.png b/26138-page-images/p0033.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c1f64ce --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0033.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0034.png b/26138-page-images/p0034.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9b13a95 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0034.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0035.png b/26138-page-images/p0035.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..09c021d --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0035.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0036.png b/26138-page-images/p0036.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6a68382 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0036.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0037.png b/26138-page-images/p0037.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3fb5ed6 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0037.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0038.png b/26138-page-images/p0038.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4be3da0 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0038.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0039.png b/26138-page-images/p0039.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6b1107f --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0039.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0040.png b/26138-page-images/p0040.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..16ffbd5 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0040.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0041.png b/26138-page-images/p0041.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..43ef982 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0041.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0042.png b/26138-page-images/p0042.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c1dc6d7 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0042.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0043.png b/26138-page-images/p0043.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..819b59c --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0043.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0044.png b/26138-page-images/p0044.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f30d570 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0044.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0045.png b/26138-page-images/p0045.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1c718b1 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0045.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0046.png b/26138-page-images/p0046.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..fd0741e --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0046.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0047.png b/26138-page-images/p0047.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6f97cd1 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0047.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0048.png b/26138-page-images/p0048.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c61f86b --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0048.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0049.png b/26138-page-images/p0049.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1865b63 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0049.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0050.png b/26138-page-images/p0050.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c5e4b4b --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0050.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0051.png b/26138-page-images/p0051.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6c9bc5c --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0051.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0052.png b/26138-page-images/p0052.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..23f1d52 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0052.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0053.png b/26138-page-images/p0053.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..74bf4ff --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0053.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0054.png b/26138-page-images/p0054.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..58d9dfc --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0054.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0055.png b/26138-page-images/p0055.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..dd0162b --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0055.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0056.png b/26138-page-images/p0056.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f1ab50c --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0056.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0057.png b/26138-page-images/p0057.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f835b6d --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0057.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0058.png b/26138-page-images/p0058.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6511c30 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0058.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0059.png b/26138-page-images/p0059.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d566d67 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0059.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0060.png b/26138-page-images/p0060.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..136fbc2 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0060.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0061.png b/26138-page-images/p0061.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..77aa0ec --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0061.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0062.png b/26138-page-images/p0062.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..290857b --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0062.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0063.png b/26138-page-images/p0063.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4ed633c --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0063.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0064.png b/26138-page-images/p0064.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..db60fd6 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0064.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0065.png b/26138-page-images/p0065.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6ad7113 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0065.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0066.png b/26138-page-images/p0066.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..120f222 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0066.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0067.png b/26138-page-images/p0067.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f92e0c2 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0067.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0068.png b/26138-page-images/p0068.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..77ae221 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0068.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0069.png b/26138-page-images/p0069.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a25ab10 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0069.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0070.png b/26138-page-images/p0070.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9be4ff8 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0070.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0071.png b/26138-page-images/p0071.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9ced790 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0071.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0072.png b/26138-page-images/p0072.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..00d77b6 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0072.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0073.png b/26138-page-images/p0073.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d120ccf --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0073.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0074.png b/26138-page-images/p0074.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..80a8718 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0074.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0075.png b/26138-page-images/p0075.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9743260 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0075.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0076.png b/26138-page-images/p0076.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f57b694 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0076.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0077.png b/26138-page-images/p0077.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a769388 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0077.png diff --git a/26138-page-images/p0078.png b/26138-page-images/p0078.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..384064d --- /dev/null +++ b/26138-page-images/p0078.png diff --git a/26138.txt b/26138.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..126c221 --- /dev/null +++ b/26138.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2954 @@ +Project Gutenberg's In the Flash Ranging Service, by Edward Alva Trueblood + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: In the Flash Ranging Service + Observations of an American Soldier During His Service + With the A.E.F. in France + +Author: Edward Alva Trueblood + +Release Date: July 27, 2008 [EBook #26138] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IN THE FLASH RANGING SERVICE *** + + + + +Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive/American +Libraries.) + + + + + + + * * * * * + + +-----------------------------------------------------------+ + | Transcriber's Note: | + | | + | Inconsistent hyphenation in the original document has | + | been preserved. | + | | + | Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. For | + | a complete list, please see the end of this document. | + | | + +-----------------------------------------------------------+ + + * * * * * + + + + +[Illustration: PRIVATE EDWARD ALVA TRUEBLOOD] + + + + +_Observations of an American Soldier During +His Service With the A. E. F. in France_ + +In the +Flash Ranging +Service + +_by_ + +_Private Edward Alva Trueblood_ + + +[Illustration] + + +Press of +THE NEWS PUBLISHING COMPANY +Sacramento, California +1919 + + + + +[Illustration] + +"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to +the Republic for which it stands-- +one nation, indivisible, with liberty +and justice for all." + + + + + This book is a record of the personal + observations of a private soldier in the Flash + Ranging Service of the American Expeditionary + Forces in France. It not only relates his + experiences while in France, but also tells of + going over and returning. In brief, it is a + soldier's story from the time he left America to + help crush the autocracy of Germany, until he + returned again after fighting was over. + + + + +Contents + + +Chapter Page + + I. Going Over 1 + + II. Our First Glimpse of France 10 + + III. From Brest to Langres 18 + + IV. Nearing the Front 29 + + V. Preparation for Battle 37 + + VI. The Great St. Mihiel Drive 42 + + VII. Gassed 54 + +VIII. Hospital Experiences 63 + + IX. Home Again 72 + + + + +In the Flash Ranging Service + +_By Private Edward Alva Trueblood_ + + + + +Chapter I. + +Going Over. + + +When the sun arose on the 22nd of June, 1918, three great transports +were lying out in the stream of New York harbor. They were filled with +American soldiers for duties overseas. They were well camouflaged and +well convoyed. The previous afternoon they had pulled away from a +Jersey City pier, where they had taken on their human cargoes, and +they were undoubtedly under sealed orders. They had slipped away +quietly from the piers without attracting undue attention, and while +they moved to the location where they anchored for the night, not a +soldier's uniform could have been detected from shore even after the +most scrutinizing search with the best binoculars obtainable. The +departure was made without a word of warning and not a fond good-bye. +It was accomplished with a methodical silence that called for +admiration. It is the way Uncle Sam does things during war times. + +Just before 9 o'clock on that beautiful June morning, simultaneously +but without communicating with each other, each of those transports +began to weigh anchor, and except for the click, click, click of the +machinery all was silent. Precisely at 9:05, without the blast of a +whistle, the sound of a gong, or the hoisting of a signal flag on the +mast, but like so many automatic machines, these vessels turned their +prows to the sea and began their long voyage. + +Among those who sailed on one of the vessels of this transport fleet +were the members of the Twenty-ninth Engineers, A. E. F., of which I +was a member, being attached to Company C. Our departure was an +occasion never to be forgotten. + +As we glided out of the great harbor and saw first the Statue of +Liberty, then all trace of our native land disappear from sight, and +we realized that we were on our way to fight the most savage, inhuman +and despicable foe that has ever drawn a lance, a feeling of solemn +thoughtfulness came over most of the boys. Many of them were so +affected, as they knew a certain percentage of us must inevitably fall +in battle, that they went below to spend a few hours by themselves in +serious thought. I am not ashamed to say that I was one of those who +sought solace for my feelings in thoughtful solitude. + +The vessel upon which we sailed was an Italian transport, by name, the +"King of Italy." It was accompanied by a French and a former German +liner and was convoyed by a destroyer and a cruiser. On the second day +out we picked up four more transports, making seven in all in our +fleet. + +There were 1,500 American soldiers on our transport and approximately +the same on four of the other transports. Two of them, however, +carried more than 3,500 men, making a total of about 15,000 men on +that one fleet bound for duty overseas. Of the 1,500 men on the King +of Italy, 500 were white and 1,000 colored troops. No trouble was +caused by this mixture of races because of good management. The white +and colored boys were kept on different parts of the boat and all +guard duty was in the hands of the white troops. + +For the first few hours after sailing, thoughts of home lingered in +the minds of most of the boys, but these were hastily banished when we +had our first life drill. This took place at 2 o'clock on our first +day out. The drill was a thorough one, and it soon became apparent to +most of the boys that even if we should be torpedoed by a submarine +while going across, our troops would have no difficulty in getting +away from the boat before it took its final plunge toward the bottom +of the sea. In the life drill, every man had his place. He was +assigned to a certain boat and could take no other. The lower decks +were emptied first, and then those above, one at a time. I was bunked +on the fifth deck, hence, as the liner had six decks, would have been +among the last to leave the ship, in case of disaster. + +The object of the life drill, of course, was to make it possible to +empty the boat of troops quickly and in military order in the event +that the boat became a submarine victim. Every man was instructed at +the sound of the alarm to go to his bunk and stand there until given +further orders. In the meantime, he was to put on his life belt. The +boys marched out to the life boats only when they received orders from +their superiors to do so. After a few drills, we mastered the +manoeuver and it would have been possible for us to have emptied that +boat of 1,500 soldiers in twelve minutes, if such action had been +necessary. + +We had life drills two or three times a day all the way across. The +signal for the drill was four siren blasts, and when we heard those +blasts, there was a lively time on deck for a few minutes, until the +ship, in theory, had been abandoned. + +American people, who believe in giving their soldiers the right kind +of treatment, and particularly wholesome food, would have been +righteously indignant, if they could have known how poorly we were fed +while on that transport. Those at home were buying Liberty Bonds and +paying heavy war taxes so that the boys in the fighting forces would +be well fed and clothed, and yet, it is hard to imagine how men could +have been treated worse, so far as food is concerned than were the men +of this boat. I am going to be just as frank as I know how in +describing food conditions with the hope that by calling public +attention to this petty graft, such practices will be stopped, so far +as American fighting men are concerned. To any who have weak stomachs, +I suggest that they skip over the next two or three pages, as the +details may nauseate them. + +The kitchens and mess rooms of the transport were on the top deck. +Meal tickets were issued to the men, and when they went to mess, the +tickets were punched. This is the way the Government kept track of the +number of meals served, as these tickets were collected when we left +the boat. The white men were fed first, and the colored troopers +afterwards. This was done so as to keep free of any possibility of +racial trouble, and apparently it worked well. + +After the second day out, our "chow," which is the soldier's name for +food of all kinds, was vile. It consisted largely of spoiled beef and +such foods as spoiled rabbits. When I say spoiled, I mean just what +the word implies. These rabbits were positively in a state of decay. +They had been in cold storage for a long time, evidently a very long +time. They had been carried in the ice boxes without being drawn, and +when exposed to the air the odor of decay was so strong that they were +positively nauseating. I saw strong men turn exceedingly sick just +from the stench, and I do not believe it is an exaggeration to say +that there was more upset stomachs on that trip from the decaying +rabbits that were given us to eat than from the action of the sea. + +The beef that we were given consisted of only the poorest and toughest +parts. The good cuts went to the mess for the army officers and for +the officers and crew of the ship. The potatoes that we were fed were +the poorest that I have ever seen. They were served about half cooked, +and were small, wet, soggy and unpalatable. It was seldom that a +potato fit to eat was given to the men. We received rice several +times, but it was only about half cooked. During one meal we were +given bologne sausage, and after some of the boys had eaten their +allotment, the discovery was made that the sausage was full of +maggots. The soup was like water with neither flavor nor body. The +bread served was Italian-French bread made with sour dough, and not at +all palatable to an American, who has been accustomed to sweet and +wholesome bread. The coffee was of the poorest quality--probably +mostly chickory--and we were given neither milk nor sugar for it. The +result was that most of the boys did not touch their coffee at all. +The only seasoning given our food was an insufficiency of salt. +Everything served was tasteless, unpalatable and unwholesome. + +That there was better food on the boat, we knew, for we could see it +going to the officers' tables. They were served chicken two or three +times a week--the men never. Officers were given fresh fruit at every +meal--the men not at all. Officers were given palatable, sweet bread; +the men only when they would pay for it out of their own pockets and +then at a big price. + +It is my opinion that the owners of the boat on which I sailed made an +enormous profit off those meals served to the soldiers. Certainly the +Government would not have given the soldiers such unfit food. The +Government is to blame to this extent, however, in not seeing that the +ship owners lived up to their contract to feed the men properly. There +was a man on board who was supposed to see that the men were given +wholesome and nourishing food, but he failed absolutely to perform his +duty. Whether he was in the company's pay or simply negligent, I +cannot say, for I do not know. But it is a fact that he did not +perform his duty and 1,500 men were fed spoiled and unnourishing food +as a result. Men who indulge in "graft" of this kind are no better +than traitors, and should be treated as such by the Government. + +As a part of the uneatable diet we were given, numerous complaints +were made. We were not long in being told that we could purchase +something in the way of wholesome food for ourselves, if we had the +money. This was done on the sly. We could purchase a palatable steak +for $1.50 or $2, or we could get chops for about the same price. A +chicken would cost about $4. All the boys who had money were forced to +buy food this way or go hungry. Many of the boys ate only enough to +keep them alive. Often two would go in together and buy a steak or a +chicken, each putting up half of the money. Even then, we could not +get the food we wanted, as only a limited quantity could be "sneaked" +out. + +We could buy sweet bread in the canteen on the boat for 25 cents a +loaf, and a small loaf at that. That was the only way we could get it. +Sweet rolls, the kind that sell four for a nickle at home, cost two +for a nickle. Oranges, apples, bananas and other kinds of fruit cost +25 cents each. Unable to eat the food in the mess room, most of the +boys had to pay the exorbitant prices asked at the canteen or go +hungry. + +We had no sugar at all. The Government must have provided a sugar +ration for us, so my conclusion is that it was stolen by someone in +connection with the boat management and used in some form of graft. +Because it was necessary for them to buy so much of their food, all +the boys who had money with which they expected to buy things when +they landed on the other side, were without a penny when the boat +docked. + +Every afternoon between 2 and 3 o'clock, the Y. M. C. A. workers who +were on the transport came on deck and held song services. Many +familiar hymns were sung. These meetings were very popular at first, +but gradually the fascination for them wore off, and toward the latter +part of the voyage they were but lightly attended. + +The "Y" workers did promote one form of entertainment, however, that +the boys thoroughly enjoyed. This was boxing. Every afternoon several +bouts would be held. Nearly every company had a fighter and he was +matched with the best man of some other company. Lively bouts of about +three or four rounds were fought. The colored soldiers took to this +sport keenly and they furnished some good contests among themselves. +White men, however, were not permitted to box the colored soldiers, as +such a bout might have led to a racial difference. Members of the +ship's crew also wanted to partake in the sport and they furnished +several bouts. The sailors, however, were somewhat awkward at first, +but they were game and they afforded us many a good laugh. Those who +had charge of the boxing never let a bout go to a knockout. When one +man was apparently getting the worst of it or was clearly outboxed, +the bout would be stopped. + +Very strict rules were issued on the boat with regard to lights at +night. Every porthole was closed, and every precaution taken so that +not a gleam of light could be seen. The men were warned that anyone +who attempted to make a light would be shot on the spot. The fleet +moved along in the darkness at full speed ahead. That it did not meet +with accident was due to excellent management on the part of the +Government. + +All the boats in our fleet were camouflaged. The King of Italy had +great irregular streaks of black and white painted across it. One of +the boats in our fleet had a really remarkable picture of a sinking +ship painted on its side. Another had two ships painted on its side +and was camouflaged to look like two vessels instead of one. While the +camouflaged ships appeared strange at first, we soon were used to the +unusual appearance, and thought nothing of them. A camouflaged vessel +is visible to the naked eye, almost as plain as one that has not been +daubed with paint, but it is through the mirrors of a periscope that +the camouflage is effective. In reflecting the picture on the horizon, +the mirrors lose some of the rays of light, so officers explained to +me, hence the eyes of the periscope are unable to detect the +camouflage. + +Our voyage passed pleasantly with smooth seas until the eleventh day, +when the water was a little choppy, and then for the first time some +of the boys were a little sea sick. + +It was my fortune to see our first and only brush with a submarine. It +happened about 4 o'clock in the morning on the twelfth day out. The +sea was choppy and the night very dark and cold. I was on guard duty +on the sixth deck of our vessel, and I noticed unusual activity on the +part of the destroyers that were convoying our fleet. Our transport +stopped dead still. In a moment four shots were fired from the +destroyer. I could see the fire from the gun plainly. It was an +exciting moment and the first real guns of war that I had ever heard. +Depth bombs were also dropped, then all was still again. All this +happened without disturbing the men asleep on our boat, and in the +morning they were told that the transport had been attacked by +submarines. It was the belief that the destroyer had sunk one of the +U-boats. + +We were given orders on the twelfth day to sleep in our clothes with +our life belts on during the rest of the trip. This was issued so that +there would be no delay in getting off the boat if we were hit by a +torpedo. That night, being unused to sleeping with clothes on, was a +restless one for most of us. The following night, however, +notwithstanding the fact that we were fully dressed, we slept well. + +We were also joined on that day by a flotilla of destroyers. The sight +of these boats was hailed with joy, for we knew we were nearing land. +We had not been informed, however, in what country nor at what port we +would land, but we had hoped that it would be France, and we soon +learned that our destination was France. + +The torpedo boat flotilla that accompanied us during the last two days +was made up mostly of American and British destroyers, though there +were two French boats among them. They made a lively scene, and surely +gave us great protection. If a speck would appear on the horizon, two +boats would be off to investigate it, and would return later to join +the fleet. We were also accompanied on the last day of the voyage by +two airplanes as a further protection against submarines. + +We sighted land on the thirteenth day, and it was a welcome view. +Everybody was happy and eager to disembark. It was quite a contrast +from the feeling that existed just after we left New York harbor. We +were a merry crowd as we entered the harbor of Brest and we were glad +to see a large city again. We disembarked at 3 o'clock in the +afternoon. Before leaving the boat, we were given "leaving rations," +which consisted of a loaf of sour bread, a can of bully beef and a +small piece of cheese. This was given to us because we had a long +march ahead and our kitchens would not be in place for several hours. +We were taken off the transport on barges built especially for that +purpose. We were then marched to the Napoleon Barracks, built by the +Emperor Napoleon, eight miles from Brest, and were glad to put our +feet on land again, even though the march was a long one after a +thirteen day sea voyage. We had only a passing glimpse of Brest, but +did not mind that as we knew we would have opportunity to visit the +city later. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +Our First Glimpse of France + + +At Brest, the American soldiers got their first idea of the magnitude +of the work that the American Government was doing in the prosecution +of the war. Prior to our arrival there we had heard a great deal about +the construction work in French ports that the Americans had +undertaken, but our ideas of just what this work was, were more or +less vague. At Brest we saw just what it was. We saw miles of concrete +piers that had been built in record-breaking time with American skill, +American speed and American thoroughness. This work was a revelation +to all France, and the magnitude of the task, together with the +remarkably short time in which it was completed, stamp it as one of +the wonders of the war and as a lasting tribute to American ingenuity +and efficiency. These piers and warehouses of American construction +played a great part in ending the war, for they enabled the American +Government not only to land millions of troops in France, but to +provide adequate food, ammunition, guns and other necessary supplies +for these men. Nothing like it had ever been done before in the +history of the world. + +Soon after we left the boat at Brest, the men were lined up on the +pier and given a sensible and appreciated address by the Commanding +Officer. He told us that now more than ever before, since we were upon +foreign soil, orders were to be obeyed to the letter. We were told to +be careful in all that we did because by our actions the French people +would judge the American nation. He advised us to do everything +commanded of us by our officers with snap and thoroughness, so as to +show the French people that we were not raw recruits; that we were +real soldiers; that we could do as well at any task, if not better, +than the soldiers of Europe. The boys, to a man, lived up to those +instructions, and it was not long before the world knew that the +American soldier was the equal of any on earth. + +After this interesting advice was received we swung into squad right +and our first march on French territory began. We first marched more +than a mile through the railroad yards in Brest. These were all of +American construction. We saw miles of warehouses, filled with various +kinds of material of war and great quantities of food, not only for +the American soldiers, but for the civilians of France as well. These +warehouses were of wooden construction, and so different in design and +material from other buildings in Brest that we recognized at once that +they were built by Yankees. For this reason, we greeted them as +friends; it was like looking upon a familiar scene. + +Most everything else, however, that met our eyes had a decidedly +foreign look. The railroad trains in the yards were French, and +entirely different from those of this country. The freight cars have a +diminutive look. They are only about half the size of American cars +and they rest upon single trucks. The locomotives are much smaller +than ours and have brass boilers. We did not see anything of the +familiar dark red American box car and the giant American locomotives +until we got into the interior of France. + +We passed many peasant women and children while we were marching +through the railroad yards. Some of them were offering cakes and nuts +for sale, others were begging white bread from us. It was here that we +first heard those two French words that became so familiar to us +before we left France, "Donnez moi." It was "donnez moi" this and +"donnez moi" that, especially from the children who begged cigarettes, +pennies, and anything else that the American boys might have to give +away. + +Brest is built on hills, some of which rise abruptly and give a +picturesque look to the old city. As we marched through the residence +part of the city, the women from the windows gave us a hearty welcome, +waving flags and calling "Vive les Amerique." Our march took us over a +winding roadway through the district where the poorer classes lived +and we did not get a view of the more attractive parts of the city on +our arrival. The street we marched along was paved with broken rock +and was in excellent condition; it was crossed several times by +overhead railroad tracks built on massive arches of masonry. + +Our first impressions are rather difficult to describe because +everything had such different appearance from familiar things in +America. One noticeable feature was the character of the construction. +The buildings are of stone or some other such inflammable material, +with roofs of slate or tile. There are no frame buildings, except +those that have been constructed by Americans since April, 1917. + +The dress and the habits of the people differ materially from those of +America. Most of the lower classes wear sabots, or wooden shoes. Some +wear sabots with leather tops. But few, if any, all leather shoes are +in use among the lower classes. While all shades and colors of clothes +were worn by children, we noticed that the women were nearly all +dressed in black. This, we believed to be because they had lost +relatives in the war, and we later found that our conclusion was the +correct one. Among the poorer classes the men wear large loosely +fitting trousers and tight jackets. They wear a peculiar hat, with a +tightly fitting crown, a broad round brim, and two streamers of black +ribbon about eighteen inches long hanging down in back. The middle +classes dress more like Americans, though not with as well made +clothes as one is accustomed to see in this country. + +After marching about five miles, we were given a rest in an open field +in the outskirts of Brest. Here we were again addressed by an officer +and cautioned to be careful about coming in contact with the French +people, and particularly with the women and children of the lower +classes. We were informed that the lower classes of women and the +peasant children are nearly all syphylitic, especially in seaport +towns. This sent a shudder through us, for we had already been +fondling some of the French children, before we realized the necessity +for caution. The warning was heeded and thereafter the boys kept the +peasants at a distance. + +As we resumed our march, we began to get into a cultivated district. +The rolling land along the roadway was cut up into small farms ranging +in size from a half acre to about two and a half acres. The boundary +lines of these farms were hedges; there were no fences, such as we +have in America. The land was planted to truck gardens, berries, fruit +trees, etc., and at the time that we saw them, they were in good +condition and apparently quite productive. + +It was about 6 o'clock in the evening and after a long and hard march +that we arrived at the Napoleon Barracks, where we were to have a few +days' rest before going into the interior. These barracks are quite +extensive. They are built of stone and are surrounded by a stone wall. +The wall is about three feet thick and twenty feet high, and it would +be a difficult matter for anyone to scale it. To keep soldiers from +trying to get out, broken glass is cemented into it for the entire +length on top. The purpose of this was to make it so dangerous that +no soldier would attempt to climb it. There are two arched gateways +leading to the interior. These archways are fitted with heavy gates, +which were originally designed as defense gates in case of attack. The +main buildings within the enclosure are of two stories and are built +of stone. We were not long in being assigned to the bunks that we were +to occupy during our stay. These were two decked affairs with a +mattress of slats about two inches apart to sleep on. They were about +as uncomfortable as anyone can imagine and most of the boys preferred +to sleep on the floor. These barracks had been occupied by many +American boys who had gone before us. We saw thousands of American +names written on the walls, and occasionally we would run across one +that we knew. And, like the other, we too wrote our names, for the +boys who followed to read and comment upon. + +Our meal for the first night at the barracks consisted of the rations +we had been given upon leaving the ship--bully beef, sour bread and +cheese. Our cooks got their fires started and gave us some coffee, +which stimulated us after our long and tiresome march. + +After eating, we were permitted to write to our folks at home, and all +of us spent the evening in correspondence. We were not permitted to +write while on board ship, so most of us had several letters to send. +I wrote until 11 o'clock that night. I was surprised to find that it +was not yet dark. The long and appreciated twilight is due to the fact +that Brest is a great distance farther north than Sacramento, and this +was in the middle of summer, when the evenings are longest. + +Not all of the buildings within the walls at the barracks are of +ancient construction. Several were recently built, such as a hospital, +a bath house for the accommodation of our men, the Y. M. C. A. hut, +etc. At this particular place the "Y" hut was appreciated by us +because it afforded us amusement, we could buy fruit, cakes, tobacco +and other articles there, and we could attend to our correspondence +there. We were assembled there on one occasion to hear two addresses +on the ways and habits of the French people, which were to benefit us. +We also exchanged our American money at the hut for French money. For +a dollar we received five francs and seventy centimes, and it was +amusing to see the boys studying over the French money system, as it +was difficult to understand at first. Some of the boys, not knowing +the value of the French franc, paid enormous prices for fruits, +candies, etc., to French women and girls, who peddled these articles. + +While at the Napoleon Barracks we saw the first American wounded. They +were soldiers who had participated in the defense against the German +drive which began in March, 1918. It was from them that we first +learned the real horrors of war. Some had only one arm; others had +lost a leg; still others were suffering from shell shock. Those who +were suffering from shell shock were the most pitiful, as the least +unusual noise startled them. + +I had the good fortune to be placed on a motor truck detail during +three days of our brief stay at Brest. This gave me an opportunity of +seeing most of the city. It has about 120,000 inhabitants, is one of +the chief ports of France and has a harbor that is protected by nature +as well as by strong fortifications. Lying as it does, among the +hills, there is much natural beauty in the city and its surroundings. +The streets are about as wide as those of the average American city, +although there are a number of very narrow streets that cut into the +main thoroughfares at angles and these reminded me somewhat of the +narrow streets of Boston. The city is kept clean and there are +numerous parks and public squares. The latter are frequented mostly by +women and children, though it is not uncommon to see French soldiers, +home from the front on leave, lounging in them. The warm blooded +French people have ideas that differ widely from those of Americans in +many respects, and it is nothing unusual to see a French couple making +love in broad daylight with persons passing by on all sides, in one of +these public parks. Occasionally one would see an American soldier +sitting with a French Mademoiselle. French troops were often drilling +in these squares--not troops that had participated in the war, but +companies of younger men who were being trained for war. It was +interesting to watch them and to contrast their manoeuvers with ours. + +There are no skyscrapers in Brest, that is to say, there are no tall +office buildings there, although the city is an important business +point. The only tall structures are the churches and an old castle, +dating from the thirteenth century. The business buildings are all of +two or three stories. The stores are not as up to date as the retail +establishments in America, and the methods of doing business are +entirely different from ours. Goods are not on display in the open as +they are in American stores, but are kept in show cases. If you are +interested in a certain piece of goods, the clerk takes it out of the +show case and exhibits it to you. If you do not buy it, the article is +placed right back in the show case. The clerks are mostly girls. They +are plainly dressed but always neat. Most of them wear black. They are +by no means as well dressed as American girls who work in stores. The +French store employes are very poorly paid, the average wage for a +clerk being two and a half francs, or about 50 cents in American money +a day. + +During the war, Brest was very much of a cosmopolitan city. On the +streets most any day could be seen the uniforms of the soldiers and +sailors of all the Allied nations--French, British, Italian, +Portuguese, American and others. The uniforms of the different nations +are of different hues and they gave a tinge of color to the crowds on +the streets. They ranged from spotless white to faded blues. The +uniforms of the Italian soldiers, in my opinion, were the most +attractive. They were a pretty gray, well made and attractive in +design. The uniform of the American soldier, while not the prettiest, +is the most serviceable. For war use it is no doubt the best. The +British wear uniforms very much like ours, although a little different +in shade and design. They are serviceable and neat but not attractive. +The coat has a small lapel and large brass buttons that are always +well shined. The home guards of the French army wore flashy coats and +trousers. The trousers were either blue with a broad red stripe or red +with a blue stripe. + +I regret that our brief stay in Brest did not give me a better +opportunity to see the mediaeval churches and castles in the vicinity. +But war is serious business with no time for sightseeing and on the +third night after our arrival, we received our orders to march at 4 +o'clock the following morning. It was a restless night for we knew +that every day from now on would take us nearer to the front and to +the fight. At 3:30 o'clock on the morning of our departure we were all +up and dressed and were packing our belongings. We came to company +front promptly at 4 o'clock, just as the dawn was breaking; in a very +few minutes we were marching out of the historic Napoleon Barracks +never to see them again. The morning was cool and crisp; it was +conducive to lively marching and we stepped along at a fast clip, +passing three companies of infantry on the way to Brest. The march was +an eight mile "hike" and we made it without a stop until we reached +the railroad yards at Brest. We were then assigned to compartments in +French railroad coaches. Most of them were second and third class +coaches, although there were a few first class cars for the officers. +There were five compartments to a car and eight men were assigned to +each compartment; as we also had to make room for our luggage, we were +crowded and uncomfortable. However, we made the best of the unpleasant +conditions, and patiently awaited the starting of the train, which was +to take us through a country new and strange to us, and nearer to the +war zone. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +From Brest to Langres + + +Before our train pulled out of Brest we were ordered out of our +crowded compartments in the French railroad coaches for the purpose of +bringing in traveling rations. These consisted of canned bully beef, +canned jam, canned beans and bread. The bread that was given to us +here was made into enormous loaves--the largest that any of us had +ever seen. The loaves were sixteen or eighteen inches wide, from two +and a half to three feet long and eight or nine inches high. They were +American-made and were white and wholesome. The outside crust was hard +but palatable and the inside was soft and flaky like home-made bread. +We afterwards learned that these loaves had been baked weeks in +advance and that they were kept fresh and palatable by the use of a +chemical. Each compartment of eight men was given three of these large +loaves which, together with a number of cans of beans, bully beef and +jam, were to keep us supplied with food until we reached Langres, in +eastern France, which was our destination. We had previously +learned--on our trip overseas--to conserve food, and none of this +supply was wasted. We stored it away in our cramped quarters and saw +that it got proper care. + +As we sat in the train waiting for it to start, we looked out upon the +bay of Brest and saw numerous tugs busy along the waterfront. They +were all engaged in war work of some kind. We also saw more American +troops being landed at the wharf, just as we were landed a few days +previous, and we knew their thoughts and feelings. In the air there +were several airplanes and dirigible balloons giving needed protection +to the ships that were entering the harbor. + +While we were still in the yards of Brest, we also saw for the first +time in France, numerous Chinese coolies, who were doing with their +labor their part toward winning the war. They worked on the railroad +tracks in large gangs. To the Eastern boys who were not acquainted +with this class of Chinese laborers, they were quite a curiosity, but +to the Western boys, the sight was nothing unusual. The coolies, +however, were not dressed in the customary Chinese clothes, as in +California, but were in a garb more like that which American laborers +wear. They had on overalls, loose blouses or jumpers, heavy leather +shoes and straw hats. + +We pulled out of Brest about 10 o'clock in the morning. The train was +made up of about twenty-five or thirty of those small and +uncomfortable French coaches, and it moved very slowly. To one used to +the fast first-class American trains, this French train seemed +exceedingly slow, unaccommodating and tiresome. We first climbed +gradually up the hills, overlooking the bay, and were furnished with a +wonderful view. We could see far out to sea, and were in part +compensated for the lack of comforts to which an American is +accustomed when traveling, by the beauty of the scenery, and the many +strange and interesting sights that were constantly meeting our eyes. + +Soon after we left the ocean we came to a fertile farming section, in +which crops of various kinds, such as grains, fruits, garden truck, +etc., were grown. We had known that the farms in European countries +are small, especially those of France, as compared with farms in +America, but it was necessary for us to see the actual size of these +small farms to realize how diminutive they are. As in the vicinity of +Brest, mentioned in a previous chapter, the cultivated areas ranged in +size from a half acre to two and a half acres. Rarely we would see a +place as large as five acres, but that was the exception. No fences +separated these farms, but the boundaries were marked by hedges and +occasionally a low stone wall. In these small fields cultivation is +not practiced as in this country, but the land is tilled in narrow +strips. The numerous different textures of the soil, accounted for the +large number of strips. Each strip was planted to a crop to which it +was best suited. + +The highways through this farming section are kept in excellent +condition. They are built of rock and give the impression from the +train window that a motor trip through France would be a delight. Rows +of trees are planted along all the highways, the poplar tree +predominating, but other trees being used frequently as well. The +by-roads are of dirt but appear to be kept in good condition. They +also have trees planted along them; this seems to be a characteristic +of France, and readers will recall that in all war pictures where +these roads have been shown, the rows of trees are always there. This +is an excellent feature and one that California with its rapidly +increasing mileage of concrete roads, might well follow. + +Very few automobiles were seen on these highways, except those engaged +in war transportation. Of course at the time that I made my +observations, the country was engaged in war, and in peace times no +doubt more automobiles belonging to civilians are in use. It is a +fact, however, there are comparatively few automobiles among the civil +population of France. Only the very rich own them. The masses of the +people do not possess them, as in America. The civil population either +walk along these highways or travel in horse-drawn carts and wagons. +The carts are different from any that we see in America. Frequently +they are heavily constructed with wheels of from six to eight feet in +diameter. They are fitted with brakes, which are used on the grades. +They have a long body, that is, long for a cart, and this is laden +with the varied products of the small farms which are in this way +taken to market. Most frequently these carts are drawn by one horse, +though it is not unusual to see two or three horses hitched to one +when the load is heavy. When more than one horse is used, the animals +are not hitched abreast, but tandem. The wheel horse is hitched +between two long heavy shafts and his duty seems to be largely that of +steering the unwieldy conveyance, while the front horse or horses do +most of the pulling. The harness is heavy and the rear horse is +protected from sores that might be caused by rubbing, by a heavy and +well padded saddle and a heavy girth. It was a common sight to see a +woman driving one of these carts and guiding the wheel horse and +handling the brakes, while boys were either driving or leading the +leaders. These strange and cumbersome rigs, so different from any that +we had ever seen before, interested and amused us. + +The crops in the section through which we passed on our first day out +of Brest appeared to be good. They gave me, a Californian with +considerable farming experience, the impression that agriculture has +been very carefully studied by the French. Occasionally we would see +small tracts lying fallow, apparently to give the land a needed rest, +while other tracts were being cultivated. On some of the small farms +it was haying season. We were surprised as we noted the methods of the +French farmer in this particular branch of husbandry. The hay was cut +mostly by women and children with scythes. An American mower probably +had never been seen there. It seemed like a tremendous waste of human +energy to see these women and children doing such hard manual labor in +the field, when a modern mower would cut the entire field in a very +short time. It seems to me there should be a field for the sale of +American mowers and other modern American farm machinery in the rural +districts of France. While the farms are so small that the individual +farmer could not, perhaps, afford to buy a mower, still, several +farmers could go in together and buy one, or the community as a whole +could buy one, for the common use of all who needed it. Here is +something that the French and American Governments might get together +on, for surely the French want to conserve the energy of their women +and children who now do this hard work, and the Americans want a wider +market for their modern farm equipment. It must be said, however, that +the women of the French peasantry who were doing this hard work, +appeared strong and healthful, and were enured to this difficult +labor, no doubt, through many generations of this hard farm life. + +We noticed as we got away from the coast, that there was a change in +the style of dress of the peasants. We no longer saw the round hats +with the ribbon streamers hanging down behind, so familiar in the +rural districts around Brest. The dress of the peasants, farther in +the interior, was more like that of the laboring classes of America. +The men and women both wore serviceable clothes of dark material, but +few of them wore anything on their heads. Sabots were worn instead of +leather shoes. The women wore a sort of an Arctic sock over the +stockings; the men frequently wore no socks at all. Occasionally the +sabots would be several sizes too large for the wearer, but were made +to fit by stuffing straw in them. This must have been rather +uncomfortable, but the French peasantry seemed not to mind it at all. + +While the horse is the principal draft animal in France, oxen are +also used by some farmers. Most Western boys have seen teams of oxen, +as they are still in use in some of the mountain districts of +California, or at least they were still in use up to a few years ago; +but to the Eastern boys an ox team was a new and interesting sight, +and there was much comment upon it. + +The first large city at which we stopped after leaving Brest was +Nantes. This is a popular and ancient city, famous for the edict of +Nantes, and more famous still, perhaps, because of the revocation of +that edict by Louis XIV, which led to disastrous religious wars. +Nantes is also famous as the birthplace of Jules Verne, whose "Twenty +Thousand Leagues Under the Sea," became an actuality during the world +war. It is a city of about 150,000 and is an important industrial +center, having extensive shipyards, factories, wharves, etc. It is on +the right bank of the Loire River, about thirty-five miles from its +mouth and is one of the chief ports of entry of France. + +Nantes has a very interesting history and it contains many ancient and +famous edifices. It was not our privilege, however, to see any more of +the city than the views afforded from the train, for we stopped here +but a short time. It was there that we got our first taste of French +coffee, which is very different from that made and served in America. +It was furnished to us by the French Government. At first it was +distasteful to us, but after drinking it a few times we became used to +it and later on we really liked it. + +We were now in the rich valley of the Loire, one of the most +productive and one of the most famous in France. It is not nearly so +large as the Sacramento Valley, in California, nor as fertile, yet its +fame extends around the world. It is drained by the Loire River, which +is the longest river in France, being more than 600 miles in length, +and being navigable for ships as far as Nantes and for river boats +for more than five hundred miles of its length. + +In the valley of the Loire we began to see the beautiful vineyards of +France. In this district the farms as a rule were a little larger than +those we saw on our way from Brest to Nantes, and consequently the +hedges were less numerous. It was an exceedingly picturesque scene +that met our eyes as we rolled along in the slow train. One noticeable +fact was that each little vineyard was of a different shade of green +from that of its nearest neighbors, due perhaps, to a different +variety of plant, or to a variation of soil. There seemed to be no two +of just the same shade. It was also in the Valley of the Loire that we +saw considerable fruit production. Orchards were more numerous here +than on the coast. They were planted to most of the deciduous trees +with which we of California are familiar, although prunes seemed to +predominate. + +While we were traveling through this valley we were greeted with some +familiar sights and sounds. These were the American box car and +locomotive and the sound of the whistle of a U. S. A. train. We +greeted the American rolling stock as companions, and were truely glad +to see them. We could easily distinguish between the sound of the +whistle of an American locomotive and that of a French engine, the +American whistle being deep and the French shrill. It may seem strange +to think that I comment upon such a small matter as a locomotive +whistle, but when one is in a foreign land, amid foreign scenes and +sounds, a familiar sound is good to hear, even though it is as +unmusical as a deep blast of an American-made locomotive. + +Our next stop at a place of importance was at Tours--historic Tours. +This is a city of more than 100,000 inhabitants and is one of the most +interesting cities in France. + +I spent several weeks here in a hospital after being gassed on the +Metz front and I will speak in more detail of this city in a later +chapter. + +At Tours we were given more freedom than at any previous stop, and +here our officers bought chocolates, tobacco and fruit and distributed +them among the men. These dainties were the first we had since leaving +Brest and were surely appreciated. + +After leaving Tours we continued to wind through the Valley of the +Loire along the Loire River, and I must say that the vineyards and +orchards between Tours and Orleans, our next stop, were the prettiest +that I saw in all of France. In this particular part of the valley the +trees and vines are exceedingly prolific, as compared with trees and +vines in other parts of France. They are not, however, as prolific as +those of California. The trees do not attain as large a growth as +those of this State and the vines are less vigorous. The fruit is +neither as large nor does it have the quality of ours. The 1918 fruit +crop was a large one, as measured by French standards, but yield per +acre, I am sure, would be small as compared with the yield per acre of +a first class Sacramento river orchard. The difference of the quality +and the yield as compared with our fruits, is undoubtedly due to the +fact that for centuries the lands of the Loire have been cultivated, +while our lands are new and contain all their natural richness. The +vineyards are planted differently from ours. The vines are four feet +apart one way and eight feet apart another, while ours are usually +planted eight or ten feet apart each way. Having been reared on a +California vineyard, I was naturally very much interested in the +vineyards of France, and I examined those that I had the opportunity +of visiting very carefully. I inspected some of the grapes that were +pronounced first class by French vineyardists, and found them to be +very inferior to California grapes. The berries were smaller and they +contained less juice. + +The farther we traveled into the interior of France, the more +interested the people became in us. In other words, the nearer we came +to the scene of action, the greater was the enthusiasm of the French +people over our arrival. While we excited but small interest in the +small towns on the coast, as we got closer to the front, there were +delegations of women and children at the station waving to us at every +small or large town through which we passed. Cries of "Vive +L'Amerique" were more frequent, and we had hopes that the persistent +"donnez moi" would be heard less frequently, but it was not. We never +ceased hearing it as long as there were French children around. + +We arrived at Orleans late in the evening of the third day of our +trip, and here we received a very hearty welcome from the American Red +Cross, as we did at Tours. The station at Orleans was more like an +American station than any that we had yet seen in France. It was large +and equipped with several tracks, as are most American stations. +Orleans is full of interest, but we were not permitted to stop there +long. We continued on our journey all night and the next day were out +of the Valley of the Loire and into a hilly section. While the scenery +was attractive, there were fewer cultivated areas and the soil was +less productive. We now began to see more of the American war +activities in France. We saw tented cities that had been built for +troops in record time; we saw camps where American soldiers were being +drilled; and we saw great quantities of American implements of war +such as airplanes, ammunition, light and heavy artillery, etc. In this +region we also passed three hospital trains coming from the front with +American soldiers who had been wounded, and we knew we were getting +very near the fighting. We also noticed a decided difference in the +French inhabitants. We detected a deeper interest in the war among +these people who were so near the battle line than in those farther +away, and we noted that not a young man was to be seen among the +civilians in eastern France--they were all at the front fighting to +save their homes from the ruthless Hun. + +At 4 o'clock in the afternoon of the fourth day after we had left +Brest, we arrived at Langres, which was our destination, so far as +train travel was concerned. It was a great relief to leave those +crowded compartments in that uncomfortable train. The distance from +Brest to Langres by the route we traveled probably does not exceed six +hundred miles, yet it took us four days and three nights to make the +distance. A first class American train would cover the same distance +in about sixteen hours. At times our train moved so slowly that a man +could get out and keep up with it by running along the side. There +were no conveniences on the train, such as American travelers are +accustomed to. For instance, there were no toilets, and the train +would stop every three or four hours at some small station where +latrines were provided for our use. No one knows how miserable we were +on this trip, and the only thing that kept the boys from complaining +was the fact that the country was new to us and strange sights and +scenes made us forget our discomfort. Still, we did not have things as +bad as some of the American boys, who were compelled to travel across +France in box cars. + +We were all glad to stretch our legs at Langres, and after we were +given a little refreshing exercise, we were loaded on motor trucks and +taken to our barracks, located in a stone building formerly used as a +convent. + +The city of Langres is beautifully situated. It is on a hill that +rises from a plateau. It is a city of great antiquity, dating from the +time of the Romans. There can be no doubt but that its original +location was selected because of its strategic position, as it is on +the summit of a ridge and commands the situation in every direction. +In mediaeval times it was a stronghold for the feudal lords and in +modern times it is still of importance as a fortress. The city is +surrounded by a defense wall, built hundreds of years ago, and around +the outside of the wall was a moat, wide and deep. In feudal days this +moat was part of the defense works and it was kept filled with water. +It was dry when we visited and has been so for many years, as a moat +would be but as slight obstructure in modern warfare. But it made the +city well nigh impregnable in the mediaeval days before gunpowder was +invented and when most fighting was of the hand to hand kind. We +entered the city through an arched gate and crossed the moat on a +bridge which could be drawn up in case of attack. At present the gate +is always kept lowered, but it could be drawn up if necessary. It was +easy to picture in the mind's eye as we looked at these relics of +former days, the feudal barons of the age of chivalry, sallying forth +from this ancient stronghold on their steeds to make war or to plunder +and prepared to retreat behind this moat and wall where they would be +safe in the event that they were opposed by superior forces. I could +not but think, as I stood upon this historic ground, that we ourselves +were making history and that the fight that we were then preparing to +make, while less romantic than the skirmishes of the feudal barons, +was vastly more important to the welfare of the world. + +Situated as it is upon an eminence, a view that is beyond description +is to be obtained from Langres. From the ramparts one may see the +upper valley of the Marne with its checkerboard of farms of various +hues; the Vosges; and on a clear day the white peak of Mont Blanc, one +hundred and sixty miles distant. + +In strong contrast with the way in which ancient warriors entered +Langres, we were loaded onto motor trucks and taken up the steep and +winding way that led to the gates of the city by means of the most +modern way of transportation. Our eyes were fastened on the oddities +of this strangely interesting city as we wound through the streets, +some of which were narrow, others wide, past well kept parks and +buildings older than most of the modern governments, and we were +filled with a sort of reverence for this historic spot as we took our +places in the barracks made ready for us. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +Nearing the Front + + +After we were installed in the barracks at Langres and had our +personal belongings straightened out, we were given the day to +ourselves. This was the first freedom that we had had since our +arrival in France. The boys, of course, all went to the business +section of the city, where many of them were given their first glimpse +of French customs and French methods of merchandising. As I had been +fortunate in getting into the business section of Brest while we were +there, this was not new to me, but to most of the boys it was a novel +experience. They spent their time and much of their money in the +French stores, buying small articles of various kinds. One oddity of +the freedom that we were given here was the fact that the American +soldiers, although forbidden to buy alcoholic liquors in America, were +permitted to buy them without restrictions in France, and it is only +telling the plain truth to say that many of them sampled the French +beers, wines and cognac. + +I had an experience in a French barber shop that may be of interest, +as it shows the difference between French and American barbers. The +French barber does his work very rapidly, in fact so rapidly when he +is shaving that the patron wonders whether or not he is going to get +out of the chair uninjured. I ordered a haircut, a shave, a shampoo +and a face massage. I had much difficulty at first in making my wants +understood, particularly as to the manner in which I wanted my hair +cut. This finally made clear, I sat in the chair and the barber went +to work on me with his sharp shears. His hands moved like lightning +and it seemed like no more than two minutes that he had the job done. +It was the fastest hair cutting I ever witnessed and a good job, too. +He then proceeded to shave me, and for speed he exceeded his already +phenomenal record as a hair cutter. He put a thin lather on my face +and then with a thin razor--the thinnest I ever saw--he slashed off a +four days' growth with six strokes--one down the right cheek, one down +the left cheek, one across the entire upper lip, one--a fancy curved +stroke--across the chin, then up one side of the neck and a final +stroke up the other. In less time than it takes to tell, the job was +done, and it was a clean smooth shave too. But while he was slashing +that razor around I was uneasy. It was my first and last experience +with a French barber; thereafter, it was safety first. The massage was +excellent, but what impressed me about the shampoo was the small +amount of water used. Water must be costly in Langres from the way +that barber conserved it, but with no more than a handful of water, he +did his work well. The face waters used by French barbers are all +highly perfumed, in fact, too much so for the rough Westerner. When a +man leaves a barber shop he carries a sickening sweet aroma with him +and his friends know where he has been when he is as much as a hundred +yards away. It may be of interest to note that the shave, hair cut, +shampoo and massage cost me two and a half francs, or a little less +than 50 cents American money. The price of the same service in the +average American shop at the present time (August, 1919) would be +about $1.65. + +The following day the men in our detachment were assigned to various +kinds of work at Langres. I was given a motor truck to drive. It was +in very poor condition and my first duty was to get it in working +order. I spent three days overhauling it and had it in fair +serviceable shape. But after putting all this work on it, I had the +pleasure of running it only about three days, for I received orders, +along with 208 others, to pack and get ready for a special course in a +military school. I had only half an hour's time to get ready, but at +the appointed time I was prepared to go, and with the boys chosen for +the schooling, was loaded onto a motor truck and taken to Fort St. +Menge, one of the numerous protecting forts around Langres. This was +an old fort, apparently built many years ago. It was situated on the +summit of a mountain and was surrounded by a moat, which, however, was +dry. It was substantially built and exceedingly interesting. The +barracks were built underground and of stone. They were sealed and +were water-tight. Soil from ten to fifteen feet in depth covered these +stone compartments and they were proof from the bombs of other days, +but would have but feebly resisted the modern high explosives. There +were also several tunnels leading from various parts of the interior +to the outer walls, so that men could be taken to any part of the fort +that might be attacked without being exposed to the enemy's fire. +About a thousand men could be billeted there. + +Water for this fort was supplied from two deep wells and raised by a +peculiar lift pump, different from any that I ever saw before. It was +a sort of combination of a lift and pressure pump and was of European +design and manufacture. The wells were deep and the water good, for +France. + +On the day after our arrival there we commenced our work. We were +given a stiff drilling for three weeks, with scarcely a minute's rest. +We often worked until two or three o'clock in the morning. Our daily +routine was as follows: Arise at 5 o'clock; breakfast at 6; +calisthenics and manual of arms drill from 6:30 to 7:30; instruction +from 8 to 12; lunch from 12 to 1; instruction from 1 to 5; evening +instruction from 7 to 10, and often until 1, 2 or 3 o'clock the next +morning. It was here that we received advanced learning in +intelligence lines for our work in the war. + +We studied with French and American instruments such as were then +being used by the Allied armies on the western front. I cannot +describe these instruments in detail or tell much about our +instruction because I have given my oath never to reveal any of the +details of this work. I am permitted, however, to name some of these +instruments, such as the subterranean microphone, sizorscope, +horoscope, perpendicular and horizontal range finder, elongated +three-power French binocular, instruments for determining the height +of airplanes, etc. We had to acquire a practical knowledge in the use +of all these instruments, as they were to be our future implements of +warfare, and in matters of this kind, accuracy is of vast importance. +We also had to learn the signals of the French, British, Italian and +American aviators; the international Morse code; to send and receive +messages perfectly under all conditions; to have a practical knowledge +of the use of telephone and telegraph instruments; their attention and +repair; and how to keep the lines of communication in working order at +all times and under any and all conditions. + +From this brief summary, it can be readily understood that the +Government crowded plenty of work upon us during those three weeks. At +the completion of the courses examinations were given, and only 86 of +us out of a class of 208 succeeded in reaching the required +percentage. Of the others most remained to take the course for +another three weeks, while a few were released from the work as not +qualified for that particular kind of service. + +All the time that we were studying we were drilled just as though we +were actually at war. We were compelled to dig in, to find the range +on certain objects and to direct imaginary artillery fire upon them. +We had to find the range of airplanes that passed over us, just as +though they were enemy planes. This drilling was as near like actual +warfare as it was possible to make it and because of this, we grasped +the meaning of our work and the details very quickly. + +We were also drilled thoroughly in the art of camouflage. To be +successful in camouflage, one must learn to imitate nature and that is +what we had to study, and one's tracks must always be covered. A +successful bit of camouflage not only deceives the eyes of the enemy +aerial observers, but it also deceives the lens of the enemy camera. +To make this perfectly clear, it should be said that the lens of +cameras used in warfare are exceedingly delicate and frequently when +the plate of an aerial photograph is developed, it reveals a spot that +means some extraordinary work on the part of the enemy, which the eyes +of the aviator did not detect. It can be readily understood, +therefore, that unless the camera is also deceived, the camouflage has +not been well done, for enemy planes, having located the spot by means +of their photograph, could plan to bomb it, but if the plate did not +show anything, then the camouflage is successful. + +While we were at Fort St. Menge we received our gas masks and we were +compelled to go through many gas mask drills. This was done so we +would become efficient in putting them on when we got to the front +line. With a little practice we got so we could adjust them in a +remarkably short time. We were also given our steel helmets while +here, and we realized fully that we were getting nearer and nearer to +the scene of action, and that our sham warfare would soon give way to +actual fighting. We were also drilled in rifle shooting and by the +time we were ready to leave, we were in every way fit to participate +in the great struggle in which we were soon to take part. + +As soon as our schooling was completed, we were told to get ready to +leave for Langres, so we packed up and we were compelled to "hike" +back to that city. At Langres we spent two days in getting ready for +the front. We were ordered to leave fully equipped with the best of +those things that we had to have. This meant that new articles were +issued to many of us. For instance, if a man had a pair of shoes that +was partly worn, he was given a new pair, and some of our old clothes +were turned in for new garments. These were two busy days and our time +was entirely occupied in getting ready. We were limited as to the +things we could take with us. We were given our barrack bags and told +to put in these bags all the things that we had to leave and that +those of us who returned would receive their bags when they got back. +My bag contained a number of toilet articles, clothes and other +articles that I took with me from the United States. I never saw that +bag again, as I was gassed and wounded and never went back to Langres, +but I suppose that it has long since become the property of some one +else. + +When we were ready to leave Langres we marched with full equipment to +a station three miles from the barracks we were leaving, where we were +billeted in wooden billets. Here we spent the night. We had to get up +at 4 o'clock in the morning to take an early train. It was a bitter +cold morning, but we did not notice this much, as we were on our way +to the scene of action and our thoughts were on the future. A cup of +coffee, a couple of doughnuts and a bun was the only breakfast that we +had, but it was all we wished. We carried traveling rations, of which +we made good use later on. We boarded the train at 4:30 o'clock and +rode on a fast passenger train until 11 o'clock, when we arrived at +Toul. We traveled in second and third class passenger coaches. At Toul +we were well received by the Red Cross, which furnished us with some +food, and this, together with our traveling rations, provided us with +a hearty meal. + +We left Toul at 1 o'clock and marched toward the front. We were soon +within the sound of the heavy guns. We continued on the road for +several hours, and then, as we were getting into the zone where shells +fell occasionally, we were told to thin out our ranks so that if a +shell fell among us our casualties would be light. From then on, we +marched about eight or ten feet apart in single file on each side of +the road. We were ordered to wear our steel helmets as a protection +against shrapnel. Some did not see the need of doing this, but most of +us were glad to take the precaution. We crossed several narrow gauge +tracks on our march, and saw trains carrying supplies of all kinds to +the battle front. They were pulled by gasoline engines. We also saw +our first barbed wire entanglements. These were built back of the +lines as a protection to the French in case the Germans should break +through on that front. They were about twenty-five feet in width and +extended north and south as far as the eye could see. Later on we saw +barbed wire entanglements as much as 250 feet in width, put up as a +barrier to the Boche, should they break through. + +Airplanes were now very numerous. They were darting back and forth at +various heights. We were anxious to see an airplane battle, but none +took place on that front on that day. We could see observation +balloons in the distance. Those in the very far distance we knew to be +enemy observers. + +We marched until 7 o'clock, when we reached a woods, where we were +permitted to stop. We were given our evening meal, which consisted of +bully beef and hard tack. The woods was our sheltering place for the +night. Some of the boys said they slept well that night, but I will be +absolutely truthful and say that I did not. The knowledge that we were +under shell fire and the unforeseen events that the immediate future +held in store for me so weighed upon my mind that I could scarcely +close my eyes. I really do not understand how any of the boys slept. +We could hear the screech of the shells as they whizzed by, but, +fortunately, none of them hit near us. Only a few days before several +hundred American boys were gassed in this same woods, and our gas +guard kept a close watch for gas shells. + +The next day we proceeded on toward the Verdun front. We marched all +day long, with only occasional stops. We were not in the open, +however, going from one woods to another; when we marched in the open, +only small bodies of men would move at a time. At 11 p.m. we stopped +marching and made our camp for the night. Most of the boys were so +weary from their long "hike" that they wrapped up in their overcoats, +lay down on the ground and went right to sleep. We remained three days +here waiting for orders. We were near the front, could hear the guns +all the time and the occasional rattle of a machine gun. When our +orders did finally come, we were told to march back over part of the +same route we had come and we finally stopped close to Novient. It was +here that we saw our first action and it was here that we finished our +education in the work that we were to do under the supervision of the +French, who held this front before it was taken over by the +Americans. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +Preparation for Battle + + +We were billeted at Novient for three days in wrecks of buildings that +had been ruined by Hun shells. At first we did not do much work +because it was not definitely known whether or not we were to remain +there. + +Although we were in the war zone and under shell fire at all times, we +were amazed when we learned that there were still a few French +peasants in the vicinity. These were mostly old men and old women, and +a few, but very few, children. These peasants would not leave their +old homes, though requested to do so by the French Government. They +preferred to remain there and be killed by a Hun Shell, if that was to +be their fate, than to leave the spot that they so dearly loved. The +young men of these towns were all fighting at the front and the young +women had gone to the larger cities, farther from the front, where +they found employment at good wages. + +Most of these old peasants kept a cow or two and a few chickens and +they sold milk and eggs to the American soldiers, thus realizing a +small profit for their great hazard. We paid seven francs or about +$1.35 for a dozen eggs and four francs or about 70 cents for a gallon +of milk. We were indeed glad to get these luxuries, even at these +prices and considered ourselves fortunate. In Novient two beer shops +were also conducted and sold the soldiers light wines and beers, the +prices being one franc or nearly 20 cents for a small bottle of beer, +five francs for a bottle of red wine and from seven to ten francs for +a bottle of white wine. + +After three days at Novient, we moved forward toward the trenches, +where we were to complete our training for work in the Flash Service. +At this time we were divided into small detachments, there being +fourteen men in the detachment to which I was assigned. We were taken +to a woods about a mile and a half from Novient, and there had our +first introduction to the French S. R. O. T., or service similar to +our Flash Service. + +In this woods we were billeted underground, where we were protected +from shell fire. Each detachment was billeted with an equal number of +French, and it was from the fourteen French in our detachment that we +were to complete our education for the special work for which we were +preparing. In other words, we were to learn the practical application +from the French of the knowledge that we had learned in the school at +Fort St. Menge. + +Our first experience in actual war work was in an observation tower in +this woods. This tower was 65 feet in height. It was cylindrical in +form and built of steel about half an inch in thickness. The interior +was about five feet in diameter. In the tank (so-called) was a lookout +post for observation work. It had small slits on all sides that could +be readily opened and shut, through which we were to take our +observations. We entered the tower through a trap door in the bottom, +and the men working at the post locked the door while they were at +their duty. The tower was erected in a thick growth of tall trees, and +was well camouflaged. It was securely hidden from Hun eyes, yet gave +us a full view of the Hun trenches in that vicinity. It was from this +tower that I first saw the enemy, and got my first glimpse of the Hun +lines and got my first full view of a modern battlefield. + +The French outer trench was only one-quarter of a mile from this +tower. The German trenches were just a little way beyond those of the +French, the distance varying from fifty yards to a quarter of a mile, +according to the terrain. With our strong glasses, we could get an +excellent view of everything that Fritz did in this part of the line. + +In this tower the French taught us their secrets of observation in +modern warfare. They showed us how to locate German batteries, machine +gun nests, railroads, troop movements, supply trains, aerial activity, +observation balloons, etc. We paid particular attention to watching +how often Hun airplanes arose, where they crossed our lines, whether +or not they were fired on by our anti-aircraft guns, the number of Hun +planes in the air, the purpose of their flights, etc. It was +particularly important to get the point where the German aviators +crossed the Allied lines. Their planes followed a system in this so as +to try to avoid our anti-aircraft guns. They would cross at a certain +point for one or two days, then, believing that if they attempted to +cross there again they would meet with a warm reception, they would +change the location, thus keeping the Allies guessing all the time. +The French remained with us about ten days, during which time we +acquired sufficient knowledge to take up the work ourselves, and the +American troops then took over this section of the line. + +Our conveniences while here were not good, but they were as good as we +expected. We accepted our lot without protest. All our provisions had +to be carried in at night on our backs, as it would have been +dangerous for a supply train to attempt to bring anything in during +the day. There was no water at all in our immediate vicinity. That +which we used for cooking and drinking purposes had to be carried from +a spring about three-quarters of a mile distant. While going to this +spring on one occasion, we located a blackberry patch, which gave us a +little diversion. We conserved our flour for several days, and then +picked enough blackberries for pie. On two occasions we had blackberry +pie and it is no exaggeration to say that it was absolutely the best +morsel of food that any of us had ever tasted. It was a luxury, I +venture to say, that but few soldiers in the extreme front line +trenches were privileged to enjoy. + +A few days after the French left this front to us, we became aware +that we were preparing for some big military manoeuver. What it was, +of course, we were not told; we knew, however, that it was to be on a +gigantic scale. It subsequently developed that we were preparing for +the great St. Mihiel drive, that wonderful independent plunge into +German lines by American troops, which straightened out the St. Mihiel +salient and showed definitely to the Germans that ultimately they were +to be defeated. + +A brief description of this preparation may be of interest. Our first +intimation of this manoeuver was the bringing up of great quantities +of ammunition. This was placed in the woods and well camouflaged. +Next, heavy artillery came up in greater quantities than we had any +idea that the American army had in France. Then light artillery was +brought up in numbers proportional to the heavy guns. Then thousands +of fresh troops were marched up and placed under the cover of the +woods. These men marched up at night, so as not to be seen by Hun +airplanes. It should be stated here that during this preparation +Allied air machines had complete mastery of the aerial situation and +as soon as a Hun plane appeared on the horizon, it was pursued until +it either was brought down, or it escaped back to its lines. + +While the infantry was stationed in these woods, no time was lost. The +men were given their final instructions in fighting Bosch. They were +drilled hard every day and they became particularly efficient in the +use of the bayonet, a weapon that in the hands of a Yank the Germans +fear worse than anything else that I know of. Rifle practice, of +course, could not be indulged in while in these woods, because the +noise might attract German attention, but bayonet drills never +ceased. Thorough drilling was also given in the use of machine guns. +Men were instructed how to repair guns, were told what to do in case +certain parts of the gun were injured, were shown how to take guns +apart and put them together again, and before the end of the drilling, +these men became as efficient in machine gun work as Fritz himself. + +The last step of the preparation was the bringing up of the tanks. +These came up at night in great numbers. There were tanks of all +kinds, from the huge British machines to the "petite" or little French +tank. These were also camouflaged and concealed in the woods. After +the tanks were brought up, their gunners were given a final thorough +drilling in the use of their guns, their machines, etc. We had never +before seen such a vast equipment of war material. + +It is difficult to express my feelings during the final days of this +preparation. I knew that something of a gigantic nature had been +planned and that the time was close at hand. I also knew that whatever +it was it would surely succeed, for nothing could resist the combined +force of all that preparation when the final word was given. I cannot +but admit that enormous quantity of ammunition, the vast number of +light and heavy guns, the thousands of men ready for the fray, caused +me to feel a certain indescribable sadness, for I knew, that although +success was sure to follow our drive, some of these brave boys were to +pay the price with their lives. On September 11th, the boys were +drilled for the last time. We were then required to strip our bodies +of all our clothes and to smear ourselves with a salve. This was a +preparation that was designed to protect the body from burns in case +we encountered the deadly mustard gas. + +After dark and all during the night there was a steady stream of men +going to their positions in the trenches. They knew that the time for +the manoeuver to start was near, but whether it was to be 24 or 48 +hours, they did not know. But we of the Flash Service did; we knew +that at one minute past midnight on the morning of September 12th, the +zero hour, the Germans were to be given their great surprise party, +and we counted the minutes as they were ticked off the watch until +that time arrived. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +The Great St. Mihiel Drive + + +It was exactly at 12:01 o'clock on the morning of September 12th, when +the great St. Mihiel drive began, and when all the preparation of +which I told in the preceding chapter was brought into play in the +first great independent movement of American troops, which was to give +the Germans a warning of what they were to expect from the army from +across the seas, of which they had so sneeringly spoken. The drive +opened with a demoralizing barrage, the greatest of the kind that, up +to that time, had ever been laid down by artillery. It greatly +exceeded in the number of guns brought into action and in amount of +ammunition used, any barrage that either the Germans or the Allies +had, prior to that time, attempted. It was like letting hell loose +upon the Germans in the salient at all points within the range of our +guns. Language is inadequate to describe this barrage and none except +those who were actual participants in the drive will be able to +visualize in the mind the terror that General Pershing's guns belched +forth on that momentous occasion. Those who have imaginative minds may +be able to form some faint conception of what this great battle was +like, if they can picture thousands of guns--heavy, medium and +light--belching forth their fire with ceaseless regularity for six +long hours. It was pitch dark when the first guns opened with their +roar, but it was not long before the heavens were lighted with a +brilliant pyrotechnic display, something like elaborate Fourth of July +fireworks, but multiplied by millions in intensity. The heavy +artillery spit forth long flames as they were discharged. The long +flash, the rapidity with which it is dashed from the gun muzzle, and +its sudden disappearance, reminded me of a serpent's tongue. And +serpents' tongues they were, indeed, to German hopes, for as sure as +these are facts, the St. Mihiel drive sealed the doom of the despised +Huns. As far as the eye could see, these flashes were being repeated +at stated intervals, and in front of them were the smaller and more +rapid flashes of the medium artillery; and adding their flame, smoke +and noise to the din far out in front was the famous light artillery, +which did such effective work throughout the war. + +It was not long after the barrage began before the Germans began to +throw star shells. These were for the purpose of lighting up No Man's +Land. They are thrown to a height of several hundred feet, and as they +slowly descend, they burn a brilliant white light. These added to the +brilliancy of the fireworks. The object of the Germans in throwing +these star shells was to keep No Man's Land lighted so as to be ready +to repel our attack. They knew, of course, that our barrage was to be +followed up with a charge, but they did not know at what hour it was +to be launched. The star shells were thrown so that they could not be +taken unawares in the dark. + +Far behind the line in Fritz' territory we could see our shells +bursting. The telltale flash meant that the Huns were getting a dose +of severe medicine, though we could at that moment only guess at the +destruction that was being wrought. Later we were to see the havoc +worked by our accurate artillerymen. + +The object of this demoralizing barrage was to break up the morale of +the Germans and in general to pave the way for our infantry charge +that was to follow. It shattered the German trenches, plowed through +their barbed wire entanglements and kept those who survived in a state +of great nervous tension, because they knew a great charge was to +follow. Our guns were also trained on such objects as headquarters, +railroads, heavy artillery emplacements, cross roads, ammunition +dumps, aviation hangars, etc., from information that had previously +been obtained by the Flash and Sound Ranging sections. The heavy +artillery did great damage far in the rear. The medium artillery, not +having the range of the heavy guns, did not reach so far back with its +fire, but demoralized things generally wherever its shells hit. It +also had for its purpose the breaking up of any attack that might be +planned as a counter offensive. The light artillery is of smaller +caliber and fires more rapidly. This did wonderful execution and was a +great help in winning the war. + +It was exactly 6 o'clock when the demoralizing barrage stopped, and it +was followed by a protecting barrage. There is quite a difference +between a demoralizing barrage and a protecting barrage. A +demoralizing barrage is just what its name signifies, a demoralizing +rain of shells upon the enemy. A protecting barrage is for the purpose +of protecting the infantry as it charges into the enemy's lines and it +is raised slowly as the infantry advances so as to keep over the heads +of the marching soldiers. As soon as the protecting barrage was fired +in this drive, the first waves of infantry went over the top. + +Most people have a misconception of what going over the top is. The +prevailing idea is that a great mass of troops rush over the top and +into the German trenches. What really occurs is this: The men climb +out of the trenches at an ordinary pace in a thin line from six to ten +feet apart. This is followed in a few seconds by another thin line +about the same distance apart, and then another, and so on until there +are thousands of men advancing over No Man's Land, but they are +scattered over a large area. The object in scattering them is to +reduce losses in case an enemy shell falls among them. I have seen a +shell fall among men advancing this way without hitting any of them, +and I have also seen several fall from a single shell. Another reason +for these thin waves is the fact that when advancing in this formation +the men offer a poorer target to the machine guns of the enemy, while +in mass formation, a machine gun could mow down in a short time a +whole company. + +Just ahead of the waves of infantry in this drive, wiggled the tanks. +These cumbersome, awkward, ugly but efficient machines were of great +help to the foot soldiers. They not only made a path through the +barbed wire entanglements that the artillery had not destroyed, but +they hunted out and destroyed German machine gun nests, which were so +dangerous to the infantry. The tanks had a very difficult task and +they performed it well. Too much credit cannot be given to the tank +crews. They were brave, skillful and good fighters. It is true they +were in a measure protected behind the steel walls of the machine, +but, on the other hand, they were exposed to heavy fire, it was hot +and disagreeable within and in case of being struck by a shell or +running onto a mine, the horrors were worse than those to which other +fighters were exposed. The greatest danger was that of being trapped +within and burned to death in case a shell hits the gasoline tank; a +number were destroyed in that manner. So I give full credit to the +tank men for their heroic services--they braced the greatest dangers +without knowing such a word as "fear." + +As our boys went over the top they were given the protection of an +aerial squadron. Only those who were advancing toward the Hun lines on +that day, with full realization of their duties and their dangers, +know what a feeling of protection these hovering planes gave us. They +flew low, frequently just over the heads of the men, and poured their +deadly machine gun fire into such of the Hun trenches as the artillery +had not destroyed--and, no matter how thoroughly the artillery does +its work, there is always plenty left for the other branches of the +army to do. These daring airmen also dropped fishtail bombs on the +Huns. These men were the bravest of the brave. They had the courage, +grit and combative qualities of the lion. They are constantly in great +danger. They are fired upon from below by enemy anti-aircraft guns, +and frequently from above by enemy planes. They are also exposed, when +they fly low, to rifle fire and machine guns and machines are +frequently brought down by such fire. During a drive of this kind they +also face the danger of running into their own barrage and are +restricted as to the area in which they may manoeuver. We cannot give +these fearless men of the flying corps too much praise for their work. +While men in all branches of the American army were brave and all did +their duty, I think the airmen, like the tank men, deserve a special +meed of praise for their daring, and when I say this, I intend in no +way to detract from the bravery of the men in any other branch of the +service. + +The Flash Service, to which I belonged, was not a fighting unit. While +we were heavily armed, so that we could defend ourselves and fight if +necessary, we were not, in the strict sense of the word, combatants. +It was more important for us to keep the lines of communication in +working order, to give the artillery the range on certain objects, to +locate machine gun nests and direct fire upon them so they could be +destroyed, than to fight, for there were sufficient numbers in other +branches of the army for that purpose. But we did not overlook an +opportunity to help our cause, and it is with a great deal of pleasure +that I tell of a machine gun nest of thirteen men captured by three of +the men of our detachment, though of a different post from mine. It +was during the early morning of the first day of the drive. It should +be stated that the American infantry advanced so rapidly that it +frequently went right by carefully concealed machine gun nests. This +was just what the Germans wanted them to do, because they opened fire +from the rear and rained bullets on our men from two sides. The three +men that captured the nest of which I am telling were just in back of +the second wave of infantry that went over the top, following it up +for the purpose of establishing our line of communication from front +to rear. They came upon this nest as the Huns were preparing to fire +at our advancing men. When they first located the nest the Americans +had their revolvers carefully wrapped in greased coils and in their +holsters, not expecting to use them--the greased coils being to keep +the weapons from rusting from the dampness of the trenches. These +resourceful American boys lost no time, however, in getting their +weapons ready for use, and by a quick and intrepid manoeuver, they +approached the Huns, covered them with their revolvers, and compelled +them to surrender without so much as firing a shot. The Huns were +taken to the rear, and their gun, a Vicker, became a trophy of war. + +It was about 9 o'clock in the morning while we were advancing that I +came upon a petite French tank, which had run upon a Hun mine and had +been completely destroyed. The machine was reduced to a pile of junk, +and it was hardly believable that a mine would work such destruction. +The heavy iron was torn in shreds, and while we knew it was a tank and +we knew what had happened to it, it was now nothing but scrap iron. + +Just about that time the infantry was capturing thousands of Hun +prisoners--men who had occupied the front German trenches and who were +overcome by our boys. As I was advancing, I saw 3,700 German prisoners +marching to the rear, and as it was still early in the day, you may +know with what thoroughness our boys were doing their work. Among +these prisoners was a German officer who knew the location of the +mines that had been planted to destroy tanks, bridges, roads, etc. The +Americans were not long in learning this and they compelled him to +point out these locations. Under his guidance, 52 mines were +destroyed. These might have done great damage to American tanks and +soldiers if they had not been set off. As it was, they opened a +pathway through which our tanks passed without danger. + +As we went forward into the territory that had been held by the Huns, +we could see the results of our own work, that is to say, we could see +objects upon which we had given the range to the artillery, completely +destroyed. It was gratifying to note that our work and the work of the +artillery had been so accurate. Objects, such as headquarters, +railroad tracks, cross roads, that we had located through our strong +glasses before the drive, and upon which we had given the distance to +the gunners, had been shattered by direct hits, speaking wonders for +the marksmanship of the American gunners. At some places we saw scores +of men and animals that had been killed by shell fire; at others we +saw trenches that had been as completely wiped out as though they +never existed; we also saw ammunition dumps that had been hit and set +afire and which burned steadily for several days. These were +exceedingly dangerous places, and we kept a good distance from them +until they burned completely out, as the exploding shells threw flying +metal for a distance of a hundred yards or more. We also came across +railroad trains that had been hit as they were proceeding, and so +badly crippled that they had to be abandoned by the enemy, later to be +captured by us. + +We advanced about ten kilometers the first day, and then our men were +directed to dig in. Here we met with our first real resistance. The +enemy counter attacked during the night, but his charges were finally +broken up by our accurate fire. + +Our advance that day had been rapid and had penetrated deeply into the +enemy line. This had been possible because of the rapidity with which +our supplies had been brought up. The roads for the most part were not +badly cut up, and those that were damaged were quickly repaired by our +engineers. Bridges had been hastily built, obstructions removed from +highways, and shell holes filled in so that traffic could go on almost +uninterruptedly. This made it possible for all necessary munitions to +move forward. + +One thing that was annoying to our advance was the German "pill boxes" +in which machine gunners were placed. These pill boxes were of +concrete. They were round and flat, a few square, and took their name +because of their resemblance to a pill box. They had slits about six +inches wide and eighteen inches long in the concrete through which the +Huns fired their machine guns at our troops. Our most effective weapon +against these pill boxes was our one pounders. They fired a small +shell directly at the box and continued to fire until they got the +range of the slit. The shells would then penetrate the slit and hit +the other side of the box, exploding when they did so, and killing or +wounding the occupants. Once the range was obtained, our gunners kept +pouring in these shells until there was no longer any fear that the +Fritz soldiers in that box would harm any more Americans. Our boys put +many of these pill boxes out of commission with big loss to the enemy. +They made duty in a pill box certain death for the Huns when any +Americans were around. + +We spent a rather restless night after our first day's advance. Though +we had marched many miles and were mentally and physically fatigued, +it was not easy to sleep. We were in constant danger of counter attack +and of being shelled by the enemy, and the sensation was not pleasant. + +Early in the morning of September 13th, the second day of the drive, +we advanced again in the gray of the early dawn. It was between 8 and +9 o'clock on this morning that I saw a great aerial fight in which +probably thirty-five and perhaps forty machines participated. We had +advanced so far the first day that the Germans sent their aircraft out +in numbers on the second day to look at the territory that had been +lost. Our men were ready for them. It was the most thrilling sight I +ever witnessed, and I cannot imagine anything more sensational. At +first these machines were very high in the air, perhaps ten thousand +feet, for they were mere specks in the sky to the natural vision. It +was wonderful to see them manoeuvering for positions of advantage. +They twisted, turned, looped and dove. At times two or three would be +very close together and then again they would separate. Little white +puffs of smoke told the tale that the machine guns were in action. +They reminded me of bees swarming, as they buzzed and circled around +each other in the air. As they fought they descended, coming nearer to +earth and thus plainer to our vision. Suddenly one dropped out of the +ranks, a struck machine. We knew it was permanently out of commission +the minute it started to fall, for it dropped like a dead bird. It was +a Hun machine and it dropped close to where I was located, so close in +fact that within a few minutes I was inspecting it and taking small +souvenirs to send home from its collapsed wings. Then another dropped, +but it fell far from where we were located and its descent was so +swift that we could not see its insignia and were unable to tell +whether or not it was a Hun machine. Then one came down wounded, but +still able to fly. It was an American machine, for it sought refuge in +back of our lines. And so the fight continued for a few minutes--it +did not last long--until a total of eight machines dropped and several +others flew away wounded. Just what percentage of Hun and Allied +planes fell, I was never able to ascertain, but the best evidence that +the majority of them were Hun machines was the fact that the remaining +enemy planes soon departed from the aerial battle field, leaving the +Allied planes in complete control. The Allied fleet of planes in this +fight was composed mostly of Americans, though our airmen were aided +by a couple of British and a couple of French machines. + +We continued our advance throughout the second day, though we did not +proceed as rapidly as on the first day. This was because the roads +were in poorer condition and supplies could not be so rapidly moved +forward and for the further reason that the country was more wooded +and offered Fritz a better opportunity for defense. Our boys were +counter-attacked on several occasions, but each time they sent the +Huns flying to the rear with heavy losses. In hand to hand fighting, +such as often resulted when counter attacks were lodged, the Germans +were no match for the Americans, who seemed to excel in close work +which required bravery, skill and dash. In fact, it was in this kind +of work that our boys showed Fritz what we mean in America by "punch." + +On the third day we advanced as far as Thiacourt, which was our +objective. On this day we also met with stubborn resistance. It was +here that we encountered many pill boxes and it required considerable +difficult and accurate work to put them out of business. + +It was on the night of September 15th that we saw our hardest +fighting, and were given a taste of how hard Germans could fight when +pressed. It was on this night that our losses were the heaviest of the +drive. + +My post was dug in on a ridge that was occupied by a detachment of +incomparable fighters--the Marines. The ridge was only about 500 yards +in length. The roads being in bad condition, we were unable to get the +protection of any artillery. All that we had to keep Fritz at bay on +this ridge was about forty machine guns, which were no match for the +heavy shells that the Huns were pouring on us, having our range to a +nicety. We were in what is known as "graves," or shallow trenches, not +having had time to dig deep trenches or to strengthen our positions as +we were constantly under fire. But these Marines laid down a machine +gun barrage, the first that I had ever seen. They kept up the fire all +night and thus held Fritz away. It was a tense period. Hun shells were +dropping all around us and frequently right among us, but the machine +guns never ceased their excellent defensive work. When day broke, and +the Hun ceased firing, only seventeen of these machine guns and their +crews were in condition to fight. Twenty-three of them had been +destroyed by the German artillery. It was a sad sight that met our +eyes the morning when we saw the losses that we had suffered during +the night. + +It was on the night of the fourth day of the drive that fresh men were +brought up, and those of us who had been out in front during the drive +were relieved. It was, indeed, a great relief. It permitted us to +relax our bodies and minds after four days of steady strain, with no +more food than was sufficient to sustain us and without rest during +the entire time. We were grateful to be away for a short time from the +devastating fire that the Huns were pouring into our front line +trenches in an endeavor to check a further penetration into their +lines, but we were still under shell fire. + +We were taken a short distance to the rear, where we were billeted in +German dugouts. The day before these had been occupied by German +officers. They were elaborately fitted up with all things necessary +for luxury and comfort, such as beds, bathtubs, electric lights, etc. + +It was here, seemingly as a reward for my small services in the great +fight, that I met my friend and companion, McKinley Johnston, of +Sacramento. Nothing could have pleased me more for McKinley Johnston +is like a brother to me, having been my companion since boyhood. It +was with him that I had talked of enlisting long before I volunteered, +and it was he who enlisted with me. Though we became soldiers together +and entered the same company, the fortunes of war separated us in +France, and united us at a moment that was most gratifying to us both. +We sat down together and related our experiences. He was driving a +truck, and from him I learned of remarkable escapes that he had had +from death during the four days of the drive. On one occasion a Hun +shell, sufficient in size to have blown him to atoms, lodged in his +truck among supplies and failed to explode. I saw the shell myself, +also saw the hole in the top of the truck through which it passed and +can vouch for the truthfulness of the story. On another occasion a +shrapnel shell exploded on the road just to the right of his truck. +When it burst, it sent small pieces of metal flying in all directions. +About twenty-five or thirty of these passed through his truck, but not +one struck him. I saw the holes they made. The motor of the truck was +not as fortunate as the driver. A number of the pieces passed through +the hood and lodged in the engine. It was damaged considerably, but it +still ran and McKinley was able to complete his trip. I marveled at +these stories because they concerned a young man of whom I am very +fond, but escapes of this kind were numerous in these days and almost +every soldier who passed through the drive can truthfully tell of +similar escapes. We were facing death all the time and the remarkable +thing is that so many of us did pass through the drive and come out +alive. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +Gassed + + +One of the happiest days that I experienced during the period that I +was at war was on Friday, September 20, 1918. On this day, after +having made several visits to our new posts in the front line, I came +back to our billet, where, to my delight and surprise, I found eight +letters from home awaiting me. No one knows the joy that a letter from +home gives to a soldier on the firing line. It is like taking him out +of hell and placing him back on earth again. For several days we had +been in the very thickest of the fight, facing death at every minute, +seeing our companions fall around us, doing everything we possibly +could to help our side win, and willing to go back and do it all over +again without complaint--and then to get these welcome letters from +dear ones 9,000 miles away right in the midst of it all. Is it any +wonder that on such occasions we frequently gave way to our emotions? + +The letters that I received were enjoyed not only by me, but by my +companion, McKinley Johnston, as well, as he knew all of my people and +was as familiar as I was with the things that they wrote about. It is +a peculiar circumstance, but it is a fact, nevertheless, that all of +the boys, even those who did not know my folks and who came from other +States than California, were interested in these letters. They were +news from home and that is what all the boys were craving. They wanted +to read anything that came from America. So, after reading the +letters, I passed them all around and every boy in the camp read them. +After getting the letters back, I read them over several times. +Several of them contained photographs of familiar scenes and faces, +and it seemed good to look upon them again, for no one knew but that +it might be the last time we would see them. I thought it would be a +nice thing to sit right down and write, after reading these letters, +but when I attempted it, I was so overcome with emotion caused by +thoughts of those who were near and dear to me, that I was unable to +give expression to my thoughts. + +The position of the American troops at this time was not favorable. +The enemy held the commanding ground, and was concealed in woods, +while our troops were out in the open. The Boche could see what we +were doing while we were unable to detect his moves. This +disadvantage, you might well know, would not long be tolerated by +Americans. We wanted the commanding ground and we wanted to put Fritz +in the open. So on Monday, September 23rd, we gave Fritz a three-hour +barrage and it was a hot one. By the time the barrage started, all our +light artillery had been brought up and put in place, and we were able +to rain shells from the famous 75's upon the enemy in torrents. This +barrage was for the purpose of breaking up the morale of the Germans. +We were counter-barraged by the Huns, and for a time they made it hot +for us. But our superiority began to show after about an hour's +firing. The men in the Flash Division worked hard to give our gunners +the correct location of the German batteries. We worked hard and fast +and the accuracy of our effort was shown by the silencing of the +German guns. One by one they ceased firing, as the American artillery, +with the data we supplied them, dropped shells on the Hun batteries. + +It was just about 5:45 in the morning when our artillery ceased firing +and our boys advanced again. This time our objectives were only about +two kilometers in back of the German front trenches. We met with +stubborn resistance at first, but with the usual American +determination and pluck, we soon forced the Boche back. + +It was here that I first saw the German minnewafers and trench mortars +at work. The shells thrown from the minnewafers are as much feared as +any German weapon of war. They are thrown from a large gun with a +smooth bore and short barrel. The projectile is shaped like a rolling +pin, though it is much larger. In each end, or handle of the shell, is +a cap, which explodes as the handle strikes the ground. As the +projectile somersaults as it travels, one handle or the other is sure +to hit the earth, so there are no "duds" that I saw among these +shells. They explode with a terrific racket and tear up the earth for +a great distance around the spot where they land. They are not thrown +very high in the air, and are intended for use in close fighting, that +is to say, two or three hundred yards. As the shells whirl through the +air, you can plainly hear them whistling, and if you look sharply you +can occasionally see them coming. These minnewafers and mortars are of +various ranges--from three and four inches up to twelve and fourteen +inches. Aside from these trench guns, the Germans in this fight also +resisted heavily with machine gun nests and one pounders. + +In going over the top this time, we did not have the protection that +we did when the St. Mihiel drive started. In other words, we did not +have any tanks or any aerial protection, but had to advance with only +such help as the artillery could give us. + +The Germans were well protected and it took clever work to outwit +them. Their machine gun nests were always cleverly concealed. Many of +them were concealed in trees, and it was a common sight to see our +infantrymen advance unseen by the machine gunners, and then with their +rifles, shoot them out of the trees. I had seen machine gun nests in +trees before, but never so many as this time. Not only were they +numerous, but they were so well provided with ammunition that they +could fire thousands of rounds of shells, if necessary. I have seen +long belts of cartridges hanging to limbs of trees, all ready for use +on the part of the gunners. I have also seen many of these belts +attached together so as to provide an almost endless chain of +cartridges for the gun. Under one tree where there had been a nest, I +saw empty cartridge shells eight inches deep, which was some shooting +for a short fight such as this was. That machine gun had certainly +done all that could be expected of it. + +We gained our objectives at 4 o'clock of the afternoon of the day the +drive started. We were then in the best possible position, so far as +ground is concerned, as it was possible for us to occupy. We had taken +the commanding ground from Fritz, and we began digging in so as to be +ready for a counter attack. All during that night we dug our trenches, +making them deep and as safe as possible. Between 3 and 5 o'clock the +next morning, the expected attack came. We experienced a heavy +shelling from the German artillery. Of course, our light artillery +that had been hastily brought up was not slow in returning the fire. +Our barrage was very accurate and eventually the Huns were silenced. + +It was at this time that I was called upon to witness the greatest +horror of war--that of seeing some of my dearest friends fall from the +enemy's fire before my very eyes. I was working in a post with three +other men. We had been constantly together since the drive began and +our hardships that we had undergone resulted in a bond of friendship +that held us together like brothers. All three of these men were +killed during this barrage. Two of them were instantly killed and the +third lived but a short time after being hit, dying about 6 o'clock in +the morning. + +When you consider that we were working in a post that was not more +than twelve feet in diameter, you may well imagine my feelings as I +saw these boys fall. I fully expected that my turn would come at any +minute, but I kept at work so as to keep my mind off the gruesome +surroundings. + +The next twenty-four hours were about the worst that I experienced +throughout the war. My post was right out in front, and I was the only +man left in it. Our communication lines had been badly cut up by +German shells, and I was unable to make a report of the disaster that +our post had suffered to headquarters. I could not leave the post, +because I could not leave the instruments. They were too valuable to +be left there with no one guarding them, and it would not do to leave +any chance of their falling into the hands of the enemy. So I remained +at the post all day. About 7 o'clock in the evening, men from +headquarters fixed the communicating lines and I made my report of the +loss of three men. Help was immediately dispatched to me, but, +because we were heavily shelled again that night by the Huns, it was +impossible for aid to reach me. It was not until 4 o'clock the next +morning that a detachment reached the post and I was relieved. + +A detachment was also sent from headquarters for the purpose of +removing the bodies of my three dead companions. They were taken back +of the lines to a beautiful spot in the woods, and there they were +buried. Because of the fondness of the men of our detachment for these +and for the further reason that fighting had slackened up some, we +were able to give these men a little better burial than is accorded +most soldiers who fall on the field of battle. In most cases a grave +is dug, the body wrapped in a blanket and deposited without a casket +and without ceremony. But for these boys, some of the men in our +detachment made boxes to serve as coffins out of material that we had +captured from an engineering dump. One big grave was dug and the +bodies were laid in it side by side. One of the boys said a prayer and +the graves of these brave lads, way out there in the woods in France, +were covered over. This is one of the incidents of the war that will +never leave my mind, as two of the boys were among my dearest friends. + +I realize that my escape from death while at that post was by a narrow +margin. It seemed to be the beginning of a number of miraculous +escapes, such as many soldiers experience. Mine came in such rapid +succession that I began to have a feeling that Fritz would get me yet. +About 11 o'clock at night on the 30th of September I was aroused from +my bed in a dugout to repair the communication lines, it being part of +the duty of our detachment to keep the lines in working order when not +observing. It wasn't very pleasant, of course, to get out of bed in +the middle of the night, but this was the luckiest call that I had +ever had. I had not been out more than five minutes when Fritz scored +a direct hit with a big shell upon that billet, destroying everything +it in. If I had not been called out, I would have been killed. +Fortunately for our post, all the other members were on duty at the +time, so we all escaped. But while I escaped with my life, the shell +destroyed all of my personal belongings. This resulted in my +discomfiture for many days, as I will relate. I had previously +captured a pair of German officer's boots, which I would put on when +called out at night, rather than my regulation army shoes and leggins. +On this night I slipped on these boots, and my army shoes were torn to +shreds. Therefore, I was compelled to wear the German boots, and they +were the most uncomfortable things that I had ever had on my feet. +Though they were my size, I could not get used to them, and they +burned and blistered my heels so that I could hardly walk. As we were +way out in front, it was not easy to get new shoes from headquarters. +My foot troubles became so serious that my officer granted me a day +off duty for the purpose of trying to find a pair of shoes that would +fit me. I spent the entire time in a fruitless search. I found several +pairs of shoes that belonged to boys who had been killed, but they +would not fit me, so finally I had to give it up. I wore those Boche +boots sixteen days, and I had to keep going all the time with sore and +blistered feet. I suffered more from those German boots than from +anything else in the war. + +On October 4th I had another interesting experience and narrow escape, +which was as close as any that I ever want to experience. I was one of +a detail that was sent after water. We had to go from our dugouts a +distance of about two kilometers. On our way there we were walking in +a gully. Fritz had probably used that gully for the same purpose +himself when he held that ground, and he probably knew that we would +be using it too. At any rate, he had the range to a nicety. On our way +he first dropped a number of gas shells around us. We hastily put on +our masks and escaped injury. But the gas shells were followed by a +few high explosives. A flying fragment severed the air tube of my gas +mask. This meant immediate death, unless there was quick action. I had +the presence of mind to take hold of the tube, so as to prevent any +gas from entering my lungs, and then I ran to high ground. The reason +I sought high ground is because the chlorine gas is heavy and settles +in low places and is not likely to be as thick if high ground can be +reached. I was accompanied by one of the buddies, who saw my plight +and ran to assist me. By a stroke of luck that seems almost +unbelievable, we ran across a salvage dump on the ridge to which we +ran, and there we found a good gas mask, which I hurriedly slipped on, +and used until a new one was issued to me. As if to add insult to +injury, while I was having trouble with the mask, I was struck on the +shoulder by a piece of shrapnel. The fragment, however, had about +spent its force, and while I was knocked down by the force of the blow +and suffered from a bruised shoulder for several days, the skin was +not broken and my injury did not reach the dignity of a wound. + +We proceeded on and got our water, and on our way back we were shelled +again when we were in approximately the same place. This time one of +the men received a small scratch from a piece of flying shell. It just +broke the skin between the knee and the thigh, but was so small that +it did not cause any inconvenience. Shortly after this, another bit of +shrapnel hit my helmet and knocked it off my head. I gave the boys +cause for a hearty laugh as I scrambled on all fours after my "tin +derby," and no doubt I cut an amusing figure. Fritz seemed to be +picking on me all day, but I was glad that I got off so lightly after +being exposed to so much danger. + +There is no room for sentiment in the army. Birthdays usually don't +mean much. It just happened, however, that I had a day off of post on +October 6th, and, that being my birthday, the occasion was made doubly +pleasant. But the thing that made the day a perfect one for me was the +fact that when I reached headquarters I found fourteen letters from +home. I have already told how happy I felt when I received eight +letters--well, fourteen made me feel just twice that happy. They were +from relatives and friends and no gift could have made my birthday +more pleasant. + +October 16th was another red letter day for me. On that date I had a +detail to pack in supplies, and I had the great fortune to find a new +pair of shoes, just my size. What a relief to get rid of those +uncomfortable ill-fitting, detestable German boots. If there was one +thing that made me hate Germans worse than anything else, it was those +horrid German boots. The boys said they were a hoodoo and that if I +continued to wear them Fritz would get me sure. However that may be, I +did not cease to have close calls. The very next day I got a small +sniff of chlorination gas. It happened while I was fixing +communication lines. I did not get enough to hurt me, but it made me +deathly sick. I was unable to do much for a couple of days, and was +taken to headquarters, where I was assigned to the duty of fixing +communication lines, which were constantly in danger of being broken. +On October 24th two of us were sent to repair a break, which we +located at 5 o'clock in the morning. Dawn was just breaking and the +place where we found the break was in the woods. The Germans had +during the night thrown a lot of chlorine gas shells into this woods, +so we donned our masks. The break in the line was a difficult one to +repair. We soon found that we could not do it with our gas masks +on--one or the other must take his mask off. We could not return +without making the repair. To a soldier there is no such word as fail. +It is either do or die. The buddy who was with me was a married man +with a baby at home. I, being unmarried, could certainly not ask him +to take off his mask, while I kept mine on. So I stripped mine off, +made the repair, and while doing so was gassed severely. With the aid +of the buddy, I was able to reach our billet. There I was put on a +stretcher and taken to a field dressing station. As the old saying +goes, it never rains but it pours; gassing was not the only trouble I +was destined to experience on that day. As I was being carried to +headquarters a shell exploded nearby and I was struck in the leg by a +piece of shrapnel. It was a small but painful wound just below the +left knee. I tried to accept it with a smile, and I was really glad +that I was struck instead of one of the other men, as I was already +out of the fight, while if one of them had been wounded, it would have +been two out of commission instead of one. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +Hospital Experiences. + + +After being gassed and wounded, I was taken immediately to a dressing +station, where the wound in my leg was carefully, but hurriedly +dressed and my throat was swabbed with a preparation used in all +hospitals to relieve the severe burning in the throat caused by gas. +Of all the unpleasant experiences that I had at war, this throat +swabbing was the worst. It seemed to me like the surgeon who performed +this act had found in my throat a bottomless pit, and as the swab went +up and down my burning esophagus, I suffered great agony. Although I +knew this treatment was necessary, if I was to recover speedily from +the gas burns, I could scarcely endure it. + +As soon as the wound in my leg was dressed and my throat doctored, I +was examined as to my physical condition by a Major, who labeled me +with a tag upon which was written, "tuberculosis." This, of course, +was very annoying and caused me considerable worry. It was certainly +not a pleasant word for one to receive when lying in the condition +that I then was. But I afterwards learned, much to the relief of my +mind, that this tag had been put on me by the Major as a warning to +the next surgeon into whose hands I should fall, against tuberculosis. +In other words, in my condition, it was necessary to take precautions +against the white plague. + +I experienced great pains in my throat and lungs from the gas and +seemed to be choking. My strength was entirely gone, and I was about +as miserable as one could be. I could not utter a sound and any +attempt to speak only increased my pain. I relate these facts about +the agony that I suffered simply to show what a terrible weapon of war +this deadly phosgene gas is, and to emphasize the villainy of the Hun +government in using it after having agreed with other nations years +before not to do so. + +I was placed on a cot and made as comfortable as possible under the +circumstances and was awaiting a motor truck to take me to a base +hospital. On all sides of me were other wounded and gassed boys. Some +of them were exceedingly jolly and talkative, notwithstanding their +pitiable condition. I remember one boy in particular, who was about my +own age. He was going over on a raid and was shot through the temple. +The bullet entered on one side an inch or two above the eye, and went +straight through, passing out the other side at about the same +distance above the eye. It passed through apparently, without striking +the brain, and the boy was fully conscious while the wound was +dressed and seemed to be quite jolly. I watched the surgeon shave both +sides of his head around the wound to prevent infection, and then +carefully dress his head, without administering any anesthetic. I +marveled at the boy's condition, with such a nasty wound, but what +surprised me still more was several months later when I was on board +ship on my way home, there was this same boy with his wound entirely +healed. Two little white scars, one on each temple, were the only +marks that told of his awful experience. + +From the dressing station I was taken to a field hospital, about +fifteen kilometers to the rear, and there placed in a ward in a tent. +The purpose of the field hospital is to treat soldiers who are too +severely wounded to be taken to base hospitals. My wound was again +examined, cleaned and dressed and again the terrible swab went its +depth. About 4 o'clock that afternoon I was loaded into another +stretcher on an ambulance and taken to Base Hospital 51 at Toul. The +distance from the field hospital to Toul was about twenty-five +kilometers and we did not reach there until about 9 o'clock that +night. The trip was a rough one, and I suffered greatly. I positively +believe my recovery would have been much faster, had I not been +transferred so hastily to this hospital. I was placed in a ward in a +large hospital built of stone. In this hospital the wounded men were +classified in accordance with the nature of their wounds. I was not +long in this hospital when a nurse took charge of me, and again, I +received that awful swab. Each time it seemed worse than before and +how I dreaded the time when it was to be given again! But much to my +surprise and pleasure, my treatment was changed at this hospital. My +chest and throat were massaged by the nurse with an oil that brought +me immediate relief. This nurse continued this treatment several times +a day and night and I began to feel a little better. All this time, +however, I was unable to utter a word, and I began to wonder whether +or not my speech was permanently injured. In my predicament, however, +I soon learned the sign language. It is remarkable how well a man can +make himself understood merely by the use of his hands. I had no +trouble at all in making my wants known. I was in the base hospital at +Toul for fourteen days and all of that time I coughed up great chunks +of solid matter and mouthfuls of blood, as the result of the burning +that I had received. After the seventh day, the nurse stopped the use +of the swab, much to my delight, but continued the more appreciated +massage. + +On the morning of my fifteenth day at this hospital, I was able to +make my wants known by a faint whisper, and on that day I was +transferred to another hospital. I was placed in a motor car and taken +to the railroad station, about half a mile distant and there loaded on +to a French hospital train, our destination being Tours. Before the +train pulled out of the station, American Red Cross workers, always in +evidence in every city in France, came and made us as comfortable as +possible. They gave us coffee and doughnuts, hot chocolate and +cigarettes, and their kindness was greatly appreciated by all the +wounded on that train. + +All the members of the crew of the train were French, and there was +also several French surgeons aboard. They all showed much interest in +the American troops. They asked us many questions about America and +the American people. The fighting qualities of our boys were highly +praised by them. The members of the crew in particular were interested +about working conditions in America, and were anxious to know whether +or not they would have any difficulty in getting work if they came to +this country. They showed plainly that they had been so favorably +impressed by Americans in France that they had a longing to become a +part of this great nation. + +It took us a day and a night to reach Tours. The journey was a +tiresome one and we were glad when the train finally stopped at Tours. +Again we were put on motor ambulances and taken to Base Hospital 7, in +the suburbs of the city. We were immediately given a physical +examination, and all our personal effects, including our clothes, were +taken from us, except a few toilet articles. We were then given a bath +robe, a towel and soap and taken to a warm shower. It was with great +delight that we got under that shower and enjoyed a thorough bath. The +showers were of American make and were built large enough so that +twenty-five or thirty men could take a bath at a time. After the +shower we were given a solution to rub on our bodies for the purpose +of killing the cooties. The time had come, I am glad to say, when we +and the cooties, must forever part. But the cootie in the front line +trenches was not altogether an enemy. That may sound strange, but the +fact is, when we were fighting the cooties and chasing them out of our +dug-outs, our minds were not on our more serious troubles and we were +unmindful of the dangers that surrounded us. So there were times when +the cooties were really friends and they kept our minds and hands +occupied. + +After the bath, we were taken back to the ward and were not allowed to +have any clothes for three days. This was probably so there would be +no chance of a stray cootie getting into our new outfit. When three +days had elapsed, however, we were given slips, which we filled out in +accordance with our needs. When I got back into a uniform, life at the +hospital was more pleasant. With the aid of crutches I was able to +move around a little and to enjoy the company of other boys. The time +was spent in playing cards, light conversation, and other amusements. +We kept our minds off our rough experiences at the front. + +I had an unusually pleasant experience soon after I was at Tours. A +Red Cross nurse came to our ward to take orders for our small wants, +such as candy, cigarettes, tobacco, writing paper and such articles. +She spoke a few words to me and then passed on. It was the first time +I had spoken to an American girl since leaving the United States. A +few minutes later one of the boys told me she was from the West and +then one said he thought she was from California. I could not wait +until she came to bring our supplies, but immediately started out to +look her up, so anxious was I to see and talk with a Californian. I +found her and told her I was from California and that I had heard that +she was from that State, too. To my great pleasure and surprise, I +learned that she was from Sacramento, my home town, and that she was +acquainted with my folks and knew of me. Her name is Miss Mae Forbes, +and after her patriotic work in France, she is home again in +Sacramento. One must experience the delight of meeting a charming +young woman from his own town, in far-off France, and under the +circumstances that I did, to appreciate my feelings at this time. It +is an experience that I will always remember as one of the most happy +of my life. It was only a few days later that I made my way, without +the aid of crutches this time, to the American Red Cross station where +I again met Miss Forbes and had a long and pleasant chat with her +about California. Miss Forbes introduced me to the other members of +the station, and from that time until I left Tours, it was like my +home. I spent many a pleasant hour there and its memories will always +be dear to me. + +I was in the hospital at Tours on November 11th, when the armistice +was signed. There was a great commotion in my ward when we first +learned the news. Most of the boys were glad that the war was over and +that the lives of so many boys still at the front had been spared. +Others said they hoped the end had not come so suddenly, as they were +anxious to recover and get back into the front line to take another +crack at the despicable Huns. + +At this time I was gaining strength rapidly and was able to get around +fairly well. I was given a pass out of the hospital, and with two +other boys who were fairly strong, we went into the business district +of Tours to witness the celebration. It was like a great city gone +mad. The streets were crowded with civilians, and everybody was waving +flags. Most people had a French flag in one hand, and the flag of one +of the Allied nations in the other. The American flag predominated +above all other Allied flags; in fact, the people of Tours seemed to +be very partial to America. "Vive l'Amerique" they shouted, "La guerre +est fini." They are very emotional and demonstrative. They lined the +sidewalks of the business streets, waving their flags and shouting in +their native tongue, while an American Marine Band playing patriotic +music, marched up one street and down another. It was a general +holiday and no business was done that day, and but very little for +several days thereafter. All American soldiers in the city were +lionized. When a group of enthusiastic Frenchmen would get hold of a +buddy, they would insist on taking him to a cafe and buying the most +expensive of wines. If we could have conserved all the liquor the +French were willing to buy for us that day, dry America would not +worry us. + +I was seated on a bench in one of the parks watching the demonstration +and contrasting it with the probable demonstrations in American cities +on that day, when two flags, one French and the other American, +dropped over my shoulders. I straightened up and the next thing I knew +I was strongly clasped in the arms of a beautiful young French girl, +elegantly dressed and bewitchingly charming. She kissed me fervently +on each cheek. The sensation was pleasant, but it was rather +embarrassing inasmuch as it was in full view of hundreds of people +who were celebrating. If the shades of evening had been falling, the +spot more secluded and the number reduced to two, it would have been +more to my American tastes. However, I arose, conscious that I was +blushing, and offered the beauty my hand. She could scarcely speak a +word of English and I scarcely a word of French, but we managed to +make each other understand that it was a pleasurable greeting. She was +soon on her way joyfully waving her flags, and I--well, I charged +myself up with a lost opportunity for not being more proficient in the +polite use of the French language. + +We remained in the city until 9:30 that evening, and the people were +still celebrating. And they kept it up for several days and several +nights, so great was their joy in knowing that the war was over and +that the enemy had been crushed. + +My stay in Tours gave me some opportunity of seeing this ancient city. +Tours lies in the heart of the Loire Valley, which is the garden of +France. It is 145 miles southwest of Paris by rail and is on the left +bank of the Loire River. It is an exceedingly old city and has an +interesting history. There are numerous castles and chateaux in the +vicinity, which in peace times are visited annually by thousands of +tourists. It contains a number of ancient buildings of interest. In +normal times it is no doubt one of the most interesting cities in +France. + +The hospital in which I was treated was a very large one, in fact, it +was a great institution of many buildings. It contained forty-five +wards of fifty cots each. It covered a large area and had every +comfort for the men, such as a motion picture house, library, reading +room, etc. + +After I had been there about five weeks and had regained much of my +physical strength, the authorities in charge began to classify the +boys, either for further duty, or for shipment home. All were anxious +to be put in class D, which meant the United States--God's country. +Nobody wanted class A, which meant further duty with the army of +occupation, and another year at least in Europe. It seemed very much +like a lottery, as the boys who were able to do so, walked up and +received their classification. I was exceedingly happy when I was +given class D, which meant that nothing would stop me from seeing +"home and mother." + +After being classified, we were notified to make ourselves ready for a +trip to the coast. Although we were not told that we were going home, +we knew that the good old U. S. A. was our ultimate destination. So I +received a pass and made my last visit to the business district of +Tours for the purpose of purchasing some souvenirs of France for the +women folks at home. The men I had already remembered with rings, made +during my convalescing days at the hospital out of French two-franc +pieces. I might add that ring making was a favorite occupation of the +patients and we spent many pleasant moments working them out sitting +on our cots, while a group of interested buddies would sit around and +watch and comment. + +I found it no easy matter to make my purchases. In the first place, +the French merchants, knowing that many of the American boys had money +to spend, asked about four prices for everything, and, secondly, the +French methods of doing business are quite different from our own. But +by spending practically the entire day, by attempting Hebraic methods +in purchasing, and by pretending that I had only a few francs to +spend, I managed to spend about $25 in buying the few things that I +wanted to bring home. + +I was then ready to leave, whenever Uncle Sam was willing to take me. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +Home Again + + +On the morning of December 11th a number of the boys at the hospital +at Tours received orders to prepare for a trip to the coast. This was +the most welcome news that we could have heard and we hastily got our +personal belongings together. It was about 10 o'clock when we were +placed in ambulances and taken from the hospital. We were driven to +the railroad station about a mile distant, and there assigned to +quarters in an American hospital train. + +This was the first American train I had been on since I arrived in +France, and it certainly was a great relief to me to know that we were +not to be crowded into one of those uncomfortable, stuffy and tiresome +French trains. The American hospital train furnished an excellent +example of American efficiency, and when contrasted with the French +trains. I could not but think how much more progressive our people are +than Europeans. We had everything that we needed, and plenty of it. We +enjoyed good beds, good food, and sufficient room to move around +without encroaching upon the rights and the good natures of others. We +pulled out of Tours with no regrets on what was our most enjoyable +train trip while in France. It was enjoyable for two reasons--first, +we were traveling in comfort and as an American is used to traveling, +and secondly, we were traveling toward home. + +The trip down the Loire Valley followed practically the same route +that we took on our way from Brest to Tours. The scenes, of course, +were very much the same, except that the country now wore its winter +coat, while it was mid-summer on my previous trip. + +We arrived in Brest on December 13th, and to our surprise, we learned +that President Wilson had just previously landed there, and the city +had gone wild with enthusiasm over him. A tremendous crowd gathered +at the station to greet him. Bands were playing and the occasion was a +gala one. Our train stopped about a quarter of a mile away from the +station, where the President greeted a mass of French people and +American soldiers. I regret very much that I was unable to get a view +of the President while he was at Brest; that was not my fortune. We +did, however, see his train pull out on its journey to Paris. + +Soon after we arrived at Brest we were told that we would be taken +back on the "George Washington," the liner upon which President Wilson +crossed the Atlantic, and great was our joy. However, we were soon +doomed to disappointment, for orders were changed, and we were taken +to the Carry On Hospital, just out of Brest. The ride to the hospital +was a disagreeable one, as it had been raining and the streets were +muddy and wet. The ambulance rocked more like a boat than a motor car. +We were assigned quarters and given food. We met a number of boys in +the various wards who were awaiting their time of departure. We asked +them about how long it was after arriving at Brest before soldiers +were embarked for home, and they said the time varied all the way from +three to thirty days. That was not very encouraging and we were hoping +that in our case it would be three days. The very next morning, +however, a number of our boys received orders to get ready to depart. +I was not included among them, to my sorrow, and had no idea how long +I might be kept at Brest. It was only a day or two later when we were +made happy by the news that our time to depart had come. It was joyful +news and made our hearts beat with the joy that only a returning +soldier knows. + +We were loaded on the hospital ship "La France," which is a beautiful, +four-funnel French liner, 796 feet in length. It was the third largest +liner in use in transporting troops at that time. We took our places +on the boat about noon, but the big ship laid in the harbor all +afternoon, and it was not until about sundown that she started to pull +out and we bade "good-bye" to "la belle France." One might think that +there was a lot of cheering when the boat pulled out on the eventful +afternoon of December 17, 1918, but there was not. Some of the boys, +it is true, cheered heartily. Most of us, however, were too full of +emotion to become wildly demonstrative. Our thoughts were on home, the +folks that are dear to us, and our beloved native land, and our +emotions were too strained for expression in cheers. + +The vessel was manned by French, who treated us splendidly for the +first two days out. After that, however, they began to skimp on our +food and to give us things of poor quality. For instance, we were +given coffee without sugar or milk, cereals of poor quality without +even salt in them, and no fruit, though it was understood that fruit +was to be a part of our diet. The boys complained bitterly at this +treatment, and finally our officers, knowing that we were not being +properly fed, made an examination of the ship. They found several +hundred boxes of apples that were supposed to be for us, stowed away +in the hold. It had been the intention of the French in charge of this +boat to steal that fruit, evidently to sell it, at the expense of the +wounded American soldiers on this hospital ship, who had fought and +saved their country from the Hunnish hordes. We had been cheated and +overcharged for everything we purchased in France, and we knew it, but +it surely did hurt when we were thus treated by men whose homes we had +saved at the cost of our blood. I will say this: We did not hold this +kind of treatment against the French people as a whole, but to +individuals who are so unprincipled and so greedy that they are +willing to sacrifice the fair name of their people for a paltry gain. +I might add here that it was the smallness of some of the individual +"Y" workers that brought the Y. M. C. A. into such disrepute among +the American soldiers in France. This simply shows how important it is +for an individual to sustain the reputation of his country, or his +association, as the case may be, by honorable conduct. + +After our officers uncached the horde of stolen apples in the ship's +hold, we were well fed and on the last two days of the journey had no +complaint to make on this score. + +On December 24th at 10 a.m. some far sighted individual shouted "Land" +and what a welcome word it was. Columbus, watching from the deck of +the Santa Maria, was not more happy when he first set eyes upon the +faint outline of the new world than we were as the dim blue shoreline +began to rise upon the horizon. There was a mad rush to the deck and +everybody who could get out was soon watching over the rail. It was +not long before the Statue of Liberty came into full view and there +was joy in our hearts for we knew that at last we were home. + +In a very few minutes our ship stopped and a pilot was taken aboard to +guide the great vessel safely into the harbor. Next we were greeted by +a yacht that steamed out beside us carrying a great sign, "Welcome +Home." It was the 24th of December, and this boat carried a large +Christmas tree, typical of the season. + +As we entered the harbor, we were given a wonderful welcome. It seemed +as though every whistle in the great city of New York had been brought +into action to make noise on our account. Certainly every boat in the +harbor from the smallest tug to the trans-Atlantic liners was blowing +a blast; and the noise, though of an entirely different character, was +as deafening as that of a battle. Every window of all the great +buildings that make up that wonderful skyline of New York was filled +with patriotic citizens waving a welcome to us. It was a great sight +and one that the boys will never forget. It seemed so good to see our +own people again--our pretty girls, our fond fathers, our dear +mothers, our elderly folks, and even our street gamins. It gave us a +feeling that we would like to take them all in our arms, for they were +ours and we were theirs. I knew, of course, that there would be none +of my folks to meet me, as my home is in California, but it did me +good to see the other boys meet and greet their mothers, fathers, +sisters and sweethearts. + +We started disembarking at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. I was on the +top deck and did not get off until 9 o'clock, being among the last to +leave the ship. We were taken on a ferry to Jersey City, where we were +entertained and given food. Later in the evening we were taken to Camp +Merritt, New Jersey, by train. It did seem good to ride on a real +American train, on American soil, and among our countrymen. We arrived +at Camp Merritt at 11 o'clock at night and I was taken to the +hospital. I was assigned to a ward and after getting comfortably fixed +was given a real American meal, and you may be sure that it was +thoroughly enjoyable. We had to stay in the barracks the next day to +undergo a physical examination and for the further purpose of taking +precautions against the persistent cooties--some of the boys having +encountered them on the boat. + +The spirit of Christmas was everywhere manifest, and certainly I could +have had no Christmas present better than to arrive in America on +Christmas eve. The Red Cross brought us boxes of good things to eat +and Christmas presents, and the people entertained us wonderfully. +They took us on automobile rides in their private cars, to dinners, to +theaters, etc. Their hospitality was of the real American sort and it +was deeply appreciated by the boys. + +At the very first opportunity after reaching camp, I sent a telegram +to my parents in Sacramento, telling them that I had arrived safely. I +received an answer saying that all at home were well, that same day, +and it was a welcome message. It was the first word I had heard from +home since I had been gassed and wounded in October. I had been +transferred from place to place so frequently that my mail never quite +caught up with me. It kept following me around, and I did not get all +my letters until some weeks after I arrived home. + +I was in Camp Merritt for a month and five days, and during that time +I had an excellent opportunity of seeing New York. I made several +trips to the metropolis and enjoyed seeing the points of interest of +that great city. + +While at the camp I met Harry Nauman, a Sacramento boy, and greatly +enjoyed the pleasure of his company. From my folks I heard that James +Brenton, my room mate at college, was also there. I looked him up and +was fortunate in finding him. We spent three or four pleasant days +together before we departed for California. + +On the first day of February, I left the camp and was sent to the +Letterman Hospital in San Francisco. The trip across the continent was +uneventful, except for the last one hundred miles of the journey. At +Sacramento I again saw my folks after a year in the service and my +father and mother accompanied me to San Francisco, making the ride +most enjoyable as Dad related all the local happenings during the long +time that I was away. I spent several days in the Letterman Hospital +and was then honorably discharged from the service. + +I have endeavored to relate in a general way many of my experiences. I +have not told all. Some of the more gruesome occurrences I have left +untold, not believing that any good would come of their repetition. + +I can honestly say that I am glad that I went to war and that I fought +for my country. The experience was of untold value to me, as it gave +me a broader and more serious view of life. Notwithstanding all the +horrors of war, if called upon again, I would willingly go. I am ready +to serve my country any time it calls. We have a wonderful country +and a wonderful people. I realize that now more than I did before we +went to war. My rather limited observations lead me to believe that we +are far ahead of any European country. If Americans live for America, +if they put country above self, if they obey the laws and become +acquainted with all the wonders of their own land, this nation will +make even greater progress in the future than it has in the past. The +war brought out a wonderful spirit; let our spirit in times of peace +be just as patriotic. + + + * * * * * + + +-----------------------------------------------------------+ + | Typographical errors corrected in text: | + | | + | Page 2: dispicable replaced with despicable | + | Page 16: manoevuers replaced with manoeuvers | + | Page 16: Madamoiselle replaced with Mademoiselle | + | Page 58: greusome replaced with gruesome | + | | + +-----------------------------------------------------------+ + + * * * * * + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of In the Flash Ranging Service, by +Edward Alva Trueblood + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IN THE FLASH RANGING SERVICE *** + +***** This file should be named 26138.txt or 26138.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/6/1/3/26138/ + +Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive/American +Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/26138.zip b/26138.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..dad16ab --- /dev/null +++ b/26138.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5a19bcc --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #26138 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/26138) |
