Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 265, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 November 1918 — GUILTY GERMANS BEING EXECUTED [ARTICLE]

GUILTY GERMANS BEING EXECUTED

VERN DAVISSON TELLS HOW GERMAN RAVISHERS ARE Pl|T TO DEATH. Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Davisson have received another leter from ./their eon, Verb Davisson, an ambulance driver with the French anmy, which will be of general interest and which we publish herewith: October 18, 1918. On a few days rest just behind the line/,. Dear Father and Mother:— I have your letters of August 12, 19, 26, and /September 1,8, 16 and 23. Have written you two or three times during this. Wd*have been so busy all this summer could hardly find time to sleep and eat. This sure has been a fighting summer and a victorious one. The general opinion is that the war will soon end, but if \ye fight to a finish it will take some time yet. The Boche are evacuating Belgium because they know it is coming sooner or later. Good news every day along different parts of the front. Great numbers of prisoners axe taken here, many allowing themselves voluntarily to become prisoners. We are on territory now that has been in the hands of the Boche since the beginning of the war, civilians and all. Many towns and farms taken back, the civilians still remain through the whole operation. One town we are now camped in has 1,500 civilians in it. They live in, caves and cellars to 3ave them from the bullets and shells.

Some, of the prisoners captured by the troops have been recognized and identified by the civilians who remained in German hands during as the ones who committed the rash acts on the girls and [tilled many civilians, etc. I looked some of -them over and watched the civilians coming down the line of German prisoners looking for the one who did them wrong v When one would be identified and pointed out a big cheer would go up from the crowd, but for the German that meant the firing squad. Some of them looked pitiful and others took it cool. Tomorrow afternoon I will' go down bo the execution place and watch the firing squad shoot. Sometimes I fee} sorry for them, but when you thank about the dirty acts they committed I can watch them fall when the guns fire with pleasure. This is the first time I have had a chance to watch the firing squad work behmdth© lines. These Germans probably thought they were getting away with something when they did these stunts, but occasional they get caught. Tomorrow will be a big day for me, bands playing, rifles firing and Germans falling with bullets in their thinking piece. This probably sounds queer to you, but it actually takes place over here. I would like t© volunteer for one qf tfee flying squad but they would not allow me to. There ynill be no trouble about getting volunteers. I noticed -onto German officer when identified by a girl as the one .who did her wrong, tried to smile, but could not quite do it. Tears rushed down his cbeteks. He knew his hours were numbered. It is a pitiful sight after all. Not like seeing them shot and blown to pieces at the front, but they deserve it sq let it goDid you get ,the six OT seven pictures I sent you sometime ago? They were numbered in rek ink. Two of them would not pass the censor so I took them out. Am sending you five more in this letter. Will send you a better one of me later when I can get some made. I get all the clippings and enjoy -the news. Thanks for j, he congratulations on my “Croix de Guerre.” lam proud of it. My chum, Mr. Goodwin, was wounded a few days ago. An Austrian “77” exploded about five feiet from him and a fragment went through his leg, just above the ankle; took him to the hospital, and the last I beard he would lose his leg; sad news, but it comes, sometimes. Continually under stall fire and bombing by aviators. When the Germans leave they set big mines to explode at set times, controlled by an aparatus to touch it off.*- They are put under buildings, cross roads, etc. Three went off night before last and shook us up a little. The experts generally discover them and cut the wires before the time arrives to explode, but sometimes they miss one. You asked me if I wanted any ©applies from home. Well, Hi© eq much trouble and when a lieutenant sigma rt, it comes back then it must be sent jq ti»e major, and if h* tbroka “No* be says “No," and. so. ton. Therefore, do not bother with ft I can buy ati I need ever here but money does net go very far here. Everything 1# as high as a cot'* back. We buy all our smokes, half tour eats, gloves, tobacco, insurance, candles, etc., so if you want to send anything send a little money whenever you feel Eke it. I borrowed some money to go on “permianion” with and hope to get along 0. K. Well, will close sq? tide time, hoping thia finds yon in good health, I am feeling fine. Ygur loving son, \ V. C. DAVISSON.