Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 173, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 August 1918 — LETTER FROM W. D. CROOKS ON ACTIVE SERVICE [ARTICLE]

LETTER FROM W. D. CROOKS ON ACTIVE SERVICE

American Expeditionary Forces, July 7, 1918. Dear Mother and All: The days sure do slip by fast nowadays, and there has been quite a bit going on here. On the Fourth we had a holiday all day. In the morning they had union services in honor of the Yanks. We formed a church party of two hundred —it was a very impressive service; Coming back some of the fellows could not keep still in the ranks and the officers in charge kept us waiting until half past two trying to find out who created the disturbance. We had a cold dinner. In the afternoon, Base 17, took our number in baseball, 5 to 4, and the English sailors beat us 4 to 3 at soccer. Oh yes, we had pie for dinner—we rate it against Thanksgiving or Christmas, (first time in two months.) Our paymasters are sick With influenza so we did not get paid on the sth and on the 6th was the big carnival. I went, borrowed a couple of shillings and had a large time. The games were held in a large fort and of course we had to get passports. The fort was a wonderful sight in itself and the native games are very interesting. Needless to say that Jack < were beaten in foot race and tug-o-war and in fart about all they won was the ball game with the Canadians. We drifted back to the sase about 12 o’clock and say I met a good looking young lady, (Here ly. Mr. Crooks is a member of a the censor had used his Jcnife freesubmarine crew and their letters are censored very clfsely.) We had not had services here this evening. It is raining off and on every five minutes. Some fellows are playing “I’m So Lonesome,” on the Y piano. I guess we are all lonesome, at least we feel like we are a long ways from you. Hope the mail gets straightened out soon. . WILLIAM DORRIS CROOKS, U. S. Naval Base 18, Care Postmaster, N. Y. -