Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 152, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 July 1918 — James W. Beckman Writes From France. [ARTICLE]

James W. Beckman Writes From France.

Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Bectanan have received the following letter from their eon Jamee, w'ho is now with the expeditionary forces in France: American Exp. Forces, June 7, 1918. Dear Folke: I have surely been doing a lot of continuous travelling the last few weeks, and we got up into the little .place here yesterday. I have* got to see quite a little of France from the train and some marches. We see quite a little now, and I suppose will see more in a tfhort while as we will not likely be here long. There seems to be a great deal of optimism here, and there is a great deal of confidence on the part of both French and English in the Americans. They are surely glad to see them, too. I have not been able to write meantime, and if you knew things as I do you would realize that it is almost impossible here to write except at times. Conveniences are not always at hand and lots of things prevent it, I not had much time ( , to get lonesome for there is always something to do, and the next few weeks will be very rushing. Time was not dull at any time, and we 'had three entertainments on the way over. France is a pretty country, ‘particularly northern France; but it has nothing on America, and it’s America for me every time. It gets quite cold here at night. I have not heard fro|m‘ you yet, but no mail has as yet caught up with us. I hope several of your letters are on the way and that you have received the letters I wrote you. You likely have received the notice of my safe arrival. Know that I always think of you and that I will write when I can. Let me know how you are and everything that will be of interest to me. You will be better able to know about how things are with me by reading the papers. With love and best wishes to you and Dell, Lovingly your son., JAMES W. BECKMAN, 102nd Engrs., A. E. F., A. P. O. 748.

I will write you a few lines thie P. M. and tell you about myself. I am on Long Island as you know, and believe me I am enjoying myself. And eat, weH Urfcle Sam can sure put up some eats. . I am getting fat I know, and I am sure you won’t know me when I came back, which won’t be long. I have a complete new wardrobe, even towels and socks. I don’t need one thing in the clothing line or anything else. All I want is mall. We get more pay some of these days. Then I will have to find a sock. u < The worst thing that bothers me is the darned sand and dust, but the sand is mostly gravel. There is gravel all over the island one foot under the ground. You, should be here and see the motor birds; they gave me a stiff neck at first, but not now any more. There is a large aviation camp within-a few blocks, Is the reason for them being so thick. There is~)one fellow over in another part of the camp that I knew in Hammond. I sure was glad and surprised to see him. There are about 90,000 of us here, so it isn’t lonesome.

I am going to New York this week some time. We don’t have tc do very much here only work. We are only a short distance from New York City. The trip here was sure a great trip for me. Buffalo is a real swell town, but not near as nice as it is cracked up to be. We saw all the "small” buildings in New York City, also the Statue. It isn’t near as nice as it looks in a picture. I saw my first real boat too. The sights are sure great around here. I go over to Hempstead New York, a short distance from here, once in a while. Soldiers and souvenirs are the only things one can see there. It is about like a carnival all the time. We drill and take hikes every day and make roads and everything there is to be done, but we wash our own dishes every day three times; they are so easy so I should worry. The New York papers don’t seem to think the war will last very long. I hope so, anyway. There are three Y. M. C. A.’s here in camp, so I can get all the tobacco I want, also anything else that I might need. It cost me sl.lO to get my hair cut and cleaned; cheap, isn’t it? They stick us here for everything unless we get it in the "can,” or Post Exchange, properly speaking. I am going to be a truck driver or mechanic, I don’t know which. I got good grades in school. A/m a journeyman. That is next to the best, or about so. It isn’t; at all hot here today so I think I anti in a real nice place to take a summer vacation. The whole thing is like one to me. Be sure and write soon. Love to alii GEORGE. Co. D, 90th Div., 315th Ammunition Train, Camp Mills, N. Y.