Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 78, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 December 1918 — LETTERS FROM OUR SOLDIERS [ARTICLE]

LETTERS FROM OUR SOLDIERS

Stanlius Brusnahan Writes Interesting “Dadi’s Letter.” S. A. Brusnahan of Parr received an Interesting letter a few days ago from his son Stanlius who is with the A. E. F. in France, which The Democrat is permitted to publish: Montlancon, France, Nov. 24. Verdun-Meuse Front. Dear Dad—This is the day that all A. E. F. boys are supposed to write their dads a Christmas letter. I wrote mine two' days ago so it would get an early start. I wrote It hurriedly and didn’t say much, so am going to write another one, which I hope reaches you before Christmas. As you perhaps know, censor rules have been changed considerably so that now I can tell you manly things which I formerly could not mention. We were twelve days crossing the Atlantic. There were fifteen transports in our convoy. Our ship, the "Cedric,” was a large English boat and carried nearly 5,000 troops. During the last three days, of our trip we were escorted by about a dozen U-boat chasers. They led the way and searched for "subs,” but we saw none. We could see the Isle of Man and the coast of Ireland on the morning of the 7th. We landed at Liverpool just as the sun was setting on the 7th of June. It certainly was a beautiful harbor. The next morning we went ashore and left by train for Southampton. , We stayed at Southampton three days, and on the night of the 11th crossed the English channel to Havre, France. The channel is

usually much rougher than the ocean, but was very calm the night we crossed it. Havre is a very pretty place, but like all other cities in France, not at all modern. I saw a couple beautiful castles there. Our next stop was Mehun, near Bourges, where I stayed for nearly four months. The largest ammunition depot in France is located there. There were millions of rounds of it of all calibers. The smallest was the rifle cartridge and the.largest was the 14-inch. The projectile for the latter weighed 1,400 pounds and the powder charge for it weighed 664. Part of the time I helped with the loading and unloading of this and part of the time I had an easy job. The work at times was pretty heavy, but good for me ,if I could stand it. Many times I was thankful for my size and strength. The work, though, for the most part was far from unpleasant.

As I told you in a previous letter I studied ammunition there that I sent to the front to 11610 at a dump there. We'll,« I got the desired result when they sent tge here. ~ Th/ lieutenant who was to have charge of the dump came here a few/days ahead of us. He had and pioneers fixing up the road, etc., for the dump. Fifty were killed doing this work. Awhen we got here the "SammiesV had advanced some, but it was still warm enough to suit me. Our six-inch (155 mm.) guns were shooting over our heads and the dutchman was shooting over a few every day at 4:30. I always had business at my dug-out about that titrfe. Onp night about 11 o’clock th.e boche started firing at the dump. He shot about forty shells in and around it. The fact that most of them were “duds” is all that saved the dump. One hit a shell pile, knocking the ends off of two - shells (duds) but they did not explode. Another shell went into a dug-out and under the bed where two Of our boys were steeping. Needless to say they were pretty badly scared. I have a couple shrapnel balls that I picked up about three feet from whpre I slept the night before. None of our 150 got even a scratch. but- two men wAre killed by one shell between my dug-out and the kitchen/ Another fellow got shot by a machine gun during an air raid one night. I dreaded clear nights for the bodies came regularly. / . We got here on a Saturday evening and pitched our pup tents in the trenches. We thought we would get a few days to straighten up before any work came in. The next morning at 10 o’clock French trucks started coming in with sixinch (155’s) shells. We worked till dark in the rain and slept

that night with our wet clothes on. That was my last day of manual labor for the next day I was ■put in charge of camouflaging the dump. It was my business to make a powder house look like a beer garden. I did this with brush and some regular camouflauge material.” Most of the latter had been used by the Germans. After completing this job I was put in Charge of the 4-inch (105 mm.) French powder and the flinch and 9.2 inch English powder. It has been like a vacation for me all the time. We are at present shipping this dump to Montigny. near Stenay. and we 13 here expect to follow it to that place. A pioneer company from Minnesota is doing the work of loading. All men and all the ammunition of the first army is being concentrated there. They sav it is a fine place, too. The rumor is that we go home from there but I think that will be some' time yet. Personally, ] would like to go to the border with the third armv, but of course I’d prefer the,Th S. As soon as I get to Montigny I am going to put in for a sevendav -pass' I have not taken my leave vet. but they say I can get lit from there. • I This morning I got up at 9 1 o’clock and ate breakfast in my dug-out. Doherty had brought my wheat cakes and coffee over and set them on the stove to keep hot. Can you imagine that in the army? I spent the rest of the

day taking a bath and doing my washing. a «. Again wishing you and all a very merry Christmas, I am, your son,: STAN. Cori). S. S. Brusnahan, care Chief O. O„ A. P. O. 774, A. H.. F., I France. Dr. C. E. Johnson Is Now in France. Chateauroux, France, December 2, 1918. Dear Lou and Rose: — Your letter just got here. Was mighty glad for it and the snap as well. Well, I presume you are all over the influenza scare. It must have been a lot worse in the States. Our outfit had a few cases but none serious. I £eard the American soldiers had it tough on the • boats coming over, but being with the British I didn’t see much of it. Was with them unti Ithe armistice was signed, and then transferred to the U. S. army. I had a good time with them, rather warm occasionally, but plenty of excitement. Was in England several times for short stays. Just happened to be there when L. H. Hamilton cabled about. Fred, or I shouldn’t have seen him at all. He got away very lucky. I suppose Blanche was sorry not to I get over. Thought I saw her once, i but was fooled. Understand Dr. ■ Gwin came over recently. He should ■ have come in when the water was fine. I would hate to stay over here now that things are quiet. There isn’t a bit of fun to be had. Restrictions of all sorts and every Frenchman trying to get all your francs. I think I will be on my way home by January or February at the latest. Am awfully anxious to get back to work. I presume many others are in the same boat. I have never seen any of the Indiana crowd that I knew. 'One patient in my ward a couple of weeks ago came up and asked if I didn’t live in Rensselaer, but I didn’t know him. He had bee na hand on the Thompson farm in 1914. • His name was Keefe (Frank) —had been hit in the head with a piece of shrapnel, but was about 0. K. again. Have wanted to run into some of the crowd, and may get a chance yet but it is doubtful. Miss Brunt, Carrie’s nurse, is stationed about 100 miles from here. These hospitals are scattered all over the country. The fellows who anTgoing on into Germany seem to be having an easy time. I read their reports every night.. .. . • Don’t suppose I will be here long enough to get a reply, but will let you know when I get back to a real country. Sincerely, C. E. JOHNSON. Base Hospital No. 9, A. E. F., A. P. O. 738.