Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 124, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 June 1918 — AT THE FRONT SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE [ARTICLE]

AT THE FRONT SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE

May 3, 1918. Mr. Lewis Hamilton, Rensselaer, Indiana. Dear Sir:-—I will take the pleasure of writing a few lines to you, which I promised before I felt “Dear Old Rensselaer.” At the front “Over Here” is where 1 am. It has been very quiet for the last few days at this sector, but we don’t know how soon it will be lively again. Mr. Boche is throwing a shell over every few minutes, although they are not falling dose. About two or three hundred meters from our position. We can hear them almost from the time they leave the enemy’s guns, at first it is a very faint mournful sound and by the time they reach their destination which is not many seconds the sound grows louder and then a large explosion is heard or seen, if we are close enough we take cover if not we fall flat on the ground. This gives you a faint idea what we artillerymen have to go against. The Germans shelled us for about eight hours and I thought my time had come, but as the Lord was on our side the Germans did not get a direct hit and no one was hurt They destroyed a few shells and some powder. It was estimated at 500 charges of powder and 18 high explosive shells. I claim we escaped very cheap. We destroyed several six-piece German batteries and a truck motor battery. I guess that is playing rough and I don’t know all we have destroyed as I don’t hear all the reports. We are about two kilometres from “no man’s land” and at night it is lighted with star shells and machine guns and rifles :eep the music going all night long, t is ineresting to observe “no man’s land” from our sleeping quarters, which is a cement dug-out re-inforc-ed with heavy steel .wire. But if discovered by the enemy it can be destroyed by heavy bombardment, >ut I hope it <is not discovered. We don’t move about much in the day- - light, but keep under concealment so that the enemy’s planes can’t observe us and find our position. We have had some beautiful weather but at this writing it is very damp jmd plenty of mud at present, but we are used to it as we had but little cold weather this winter. I guess the largest part of seasons here are rainy, at least it has been that way ever since I landed in France. The people farm on a very small scale. The- machinery is drawn by lorses or oxen. They raise nothing >ut small grain. They live in vilages and go back and forth to their farms. I would like to write more but the censor is very strict. We have plenty to eat, but very simple, such as White bread, coffee, bacon, beef, beans, rice, potatoes and sugar. We had for breakfast, 2 slices of white bread, three pieces of bacon, 2 spoonfuls of syrup, one cup of coffee and one spoonful of sugar. The other two meals are similar. Our clothing is in good condition. We got a new issue of rapp leggins and all have rubber boots and wool socks to wear. Our shoes are good and we have nothing to grumble about, only we are not back in U. S. Guess we Americans are not a bit stuck on France, but will stay until it’s over “Over Here.” It was hard for me to leave Co. M, but from what I hear it is bunted. I have only heard from one member of the company and that was Harold Stiles, when he wrote they were still in Mississippi. I suppose Ford E. McColly is back m Rensselaer by this time, apd can tell you more than I can write. This leaves me well and in good health. I send 'best wishes to aS. You can show this letter if you wish. PVT. EDWARD PEREGRINE, Bat. 1, 150th F. A., A. E. F. via N. Y.