Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 133, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 June 1918 — LETTER FROM ELVIN BUSSELL. [ARTICLE]

LETTER FROM ELVIN BUSSELL.

Somewhere in France, May 19, 1918. Dear Folks:—France at last. France has all it rights to be called “Sunny France.” All I have seen of it is beautiful but you notice the lack of men. We had to come about three miles to our camp and I enjoyed it very much. So much stuff is contraband that I have to be careful what I write. We wefe on the 'boat twelve days, but laid in the boat two days before we started, so in all it took us about nine days sailing. The boat I was on was (censored) it is one of those that the U. S. took over when war was declared. We saw no submarines and had only one slight scare, but it didn’t amount to anything. We saw a whale and several schools of dophins. Our quarters were not the best but I guess we will see worse. We were stacked up five high and at night the air was so foul that it was all we could do to navigate, but—well it could be worse.

All the port holes and doors were closed at night so all the lights could be shut in. I stood guard every third night but didn’t mind it at all. I had a good post. It was on the outside deck. The sea was exceedingly smooth except one day. Then I though it was rather rough but the sailors didn’t think it was anything. Very few got sea sick. Our first surprise was when we went to wash, our soap wouldn’t work in the salt water; but the crew gave us some salt water soap. We only got two meals a day, at first I got hungry but got used to it before the end of the trip. As usual the Y. M. C. A. is right on the job “over here” and on the boat too. I don’t know what the soldiers would do if it was not for the Y. M. C. A. The last three days of the trip we wore life preservers and we did not take off our clothes. Land was sure a welcome sight. We are 5% hours ahead of the time you have. When it is 10:30 here it is 5:00 o’clock there. There was a little paper printed on the boat every day. I enclose part of them. The “Letters to Mabel” are good. Your son, ELVIN. P.S.—I will try to write at least once a week but don’t expect them too much. We will move from here in about two days.