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A BRIEF HISTORY OF APPLETON'S "OLD COMPANY G"

(Co. A, 150th Machine Gun Battalion)

by LIEUTENANT ALLAN B. ELLIS

Page 19

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which the Germans say is even prettier than Coblenz. I'd like to see the latter though, or the Rhine at least.

        The people still continue to do everything to make us comfortable, though none have done quite as much as that chap at Peffingen. The official "Summary of Intelligence" seems to think this attitude is an assumed one and underneath there is a feeling of resentment which crops out when the people become excited or angry. They mention the case of a "Fraeulein Grunert." late of Metz, the daughter of a Prussian officer. She left Metz on account of being bombed too much. She said the bombing planes had done a geat deal of damage at Metz-Sablonsm so your wish that the terror the Huns brought to Belgium be carried back to them was partly taken care of.

        The weather lately has been pretty much in our favor. Most of the time there's a fog, but we have had no snow or freezing weather. However, I expect winter will be down on us most any day now. Hope it waits till we get to our destination.

        The deep ravines we encountered in Luxemburg we see no more, but we are in what I suppose they call mountains, and have climbed some hills. Roads on the whole are good, though somewhat cut up in places. No care for four years and 600,000 Germans passing over 'em don't improve roads. (I said "they call mountains." To me nothing is a mountain without snow on top.)

        I have, of course, not named all the towns occupied by units of the battalion. I know nearly all of these and they will speckle up the map to satisfy anyone.

        1st Sergt. Lutz just counted up. We have 66 men and three officers in the battalion who saw service in the company on the border and sixty-five men and three officers who were on the roll when we left Camp Douglas for Camp Mills. The rest not killed are scattered all over France and some are back home.

        And today has been a triumphal procession. Every town was lined with people and a mass of streamers, tows of evergreens trimmed with colored papers and ribbons, even triumphal arches, had been erected in some of the more enterprising villages. In one town a woman gave me a bit of worsted with the colors of Belgium. I wore it all day and enclose it herewith.

        The men get coffee and bread as soon as they hit their billets (American Red Cross relief for the Belgians), but the Huns took the white flour we sent and gave them black bread.

        The sound of the joyful cries of Vive L'Amerique and Vive les Americans still ring in my ears and how the bells pealed forth. I am repaid for my poor sacrifices.

        I've got writers cramp. Have spent all day on this taking the dope from my note book. There may be a few slight errors and I didn't put down the route of march in some cases. I remember it when I see the map, how­ever, and can straighten it up when I get home.

        I suggest that you get a large scale map of France, and look the towns and routes up. Perhaps it won't interest you to do so. Anyway it's written and I'll forward it with a daisy I picked on November 6th near Haisoncelle. Am sending some other things in another envelope.

Lovingly,

        ALLAN.

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