Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 February 1919 — DEMOTTE BOY WRITES OF WAR [ARTICLE]

DEMOTTE BOY WRITES OF WAR

CORP. A. H. ROSING WRITES TO GFOirGF. MAIR,, QF HIS, .EXPERIENCES. . r CHAPTER 11. The night of March 25, we went into position and the following afternoon had our first shelling. All of us thought it a joke for we had good dugouts and gunpits. Our division was green and we had to fire a good many barrages. A barrage is an artillery fire to protect the infantry. Our shells drop in front of our infantry and so thick that it is impossible for the enemy to come through the falling and exploding shells. We were bombarded from two to five times each day while in that sector. The morning of April 21st, our infantry made an attack and the Germans gave us gas, which put me and thirty other boys in the hospital. Will skiip now to the time I came to my out fit again. Forgot to say that I was made corporal April 6th. Was miade gunner and was and still am gunner. On May Bth I came i>ack to the outfit and we were withdrawn from the lines to rest uip. We were called seasoned troops amd were formed in to a fighting division. Out division is called the Second division (regular. It consists of the sth and 6th regiments of Marines, the 9th and 23rd regiments of infantry, the 2nd Engineers, and the 2nd brigade of artillery, the 12th F. A. and the 15th F. A. of 75 mm., and the 17 th F. A. of the 155 mm. or 6 inch guns of the 2nd brigade. These are the fighting units.

CHAPTER 111. On the eve of May 30th, an order came to pack up and pull out with all speed. Had a little train ride and made night hikes and forced inarches. The Germans had broken through around Chateau Thierry and we were ordered to stop them. Our Marines and doughboys went by trucks and started the battle June Ist without the artillery. The battle that we put up in that place is the one that always will have a place in history and our division is claimed to be the one that .turned the point of the war. On June 2nd we came into position and on the morning of the 3rd we opened fire on the Boche. Our infantry had the support they needed and Germany was getting their medicine. A few words about our commander, Gen. Oscar Bundy. The French, who were getting pushed back fast, said that it wasn’t any use to go into position. The answer of Gen. Bundy was, “Like hell we can’t stop the Germans; give us a chance.” We at that time were under French Command. They let us go forward, and I with the rest. We traveled day and night and were worn out, but never gave up hope. Three of Germany’s best divisions were used to stop one lonely U. S. division, but couldn’t do it. We took Belleau Woods, our Marines did, and Vaux, which the 9th and 23rd took July 15. Our infantry was relieved July 6th but the artillery helped the French tilkJuly 12, when we were relieved by the 26th division. Of course, we lost, and lost heavily. CHAPTER iv. The Battle of Soi»ion». By stopping, the Boche at the above named place the commander in chief,' - Gen. Fodh, was going to start a counter drive. The Germans had a fertile piece of land around Soissons and were pretty close to Paris. Gen. Foch wanted two U. S. divisions to break the lines south of Soissons, and asked Gen. Pershing for the Ist ahd 2nd divisions of regulars. . July 14 we started a drive on the Mame and we stood so and so to go back to our old battle ground. Some other divisions were sent instead of us, and we continued on oUr hike. We got there July 17, and pulled in

position that night. The Germans knew something was going to happen but expected it to occur July 19, but instead we started the 18th. The barrage started at 4:30 that morning and our doughboys sure made them hike it. The first day we advanced 7 kilometres and took an enormous amount of guns, men and material. Our losses were heavy hut we went on. We went across the shell holes on a dead run, and “Action front/’ the command was, and the fun commenced again. What a battle! We took 65 complete batteries pf German artillery, an amount of 260 guns. Cur Marines and daughboys lasted three days, and were pulled out. We, the artillery, was relieved, also,' but went back in the next night to support tha French. AH the machines of hell were used, tanks galore. You may have read about the town of, Vierzy. We came t?.ro,ugh that town undei a heavy bombardment and were supposed to take a position above there. The Germans opened a counter attack and. the French lost ground, for we weren’t in the barrage. Before we received the news that the French had fallen back we moved forward ahead of the tanks, infantry and all. The Germans had direct fire on us arid right till today I do riot know how it is that I am writing here, for we sure were some mark. Some of the spectator Frehch officers -who saw this were the

most surprised guys, seeing us come out whole from among all the bursting shells. We sure were flirting with the in. y that .place. No use asking what roar casualties were. We were relieved July 27th and came to a quiet front on Aug. 10th, after having a litlte breathing spell. (To be continued.)