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DAILY RACING FORM MAN OVER THERE Experiences of Frank J. Ortcll in the Closing Days of the Great Wax and Afterward. F. J. Ortell is a young man who from time to time has served Daily Racing Form acceptably as a track correspondent. He is one of the host Uncle Sam sent overseas and in France has done his full duty as a true American man and soldier. He has a big list of acquaintances among the turf lovers of this country, to whom the following extracts from a recent letter to Mrs. Ortell, dated November 28. should prove of interest: "Also am thankful that the Allied forces have crushed the Huns and that our regiment has been selected from thousands of other organizations to invade the conquered territory. We started our journey from Thillot with the vanguard of our invading forces, four oclock in the morning, seven days following the signing of the armistice, crossing into Lorraine on the 20th inst. We hiked daily, reaching Feutch. where we rested for two days, then proceeding here. Our sojourn here has lasted for one week, yet I could not write, for the simple reason there was no stationery to be had. Knew you would be greatly worried over not hearing from me during such a long period, so I begged every man I saw for a few sheets of paper until I succeeded in getting some. "Going to surprise you by the following. Our regiment took part in the St. Mlhiel drive September 12. After the success of the push, the outfit labored on roads, bridges, etc. During the drive out battalion First was attached to the Twenty-eighth Division, while the third battalion did pioneer work for the Forty-second Division. During the closing days of the conflict we were used in the second line defense, being attached to the Three hundred and first Engineers., This was a wonderful and courageous regiment, having received five citations and numerous honorable mentions from corps headquarters. Since arriving in the war ne the regiment has been a unit of the Fourth Army corps. Fifty-first has also been numbered among the units of the First, Second and Third armies of the United States. The Third Army is made up of divisions and regiments that have given good service. "Expect to leave here Filsdorf, Luxemburg December 1, for Coblenz, Germany, with the Rhine River our ultimate destination.. Date. pf our-de-Tjmrftire firr0in ftaUiidwt4HtiirtmW0wit to the rank and file. Do not believe, "however, we will leave until the signing of peace. Cannot come too soon for me, though."
