Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 188, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 August 1918 — Oscar Leech Tells of Camp Life in France. [ARTICLE]

Oscar Leech Tells of Camp Life in France.

Oscar Leech, formerly of this city, who has been in France for nearly a year nqw with the American fcrces, writes his sister, Mrs. Carl Hamacher of near Lowell, at interesting letter which the latter forwards The Democrat for publication: Somewhere in France, July 10, 1918. My dear Sister and All: This rainy p. m. I must drop you a flew lines or you will think 1 have forgotten you, hut have nob been in a position to write you sooner. I am not at the front now, for which I am. glad, and thankful for being able to return without a scratch and in excellent health, and with a lew days’ rest I will be as good ae n»w again. They are granting us 18 hour passes now, so think I will take a little trip to a city which is near our camp. The weather is nice and warm here and we are sleeping in our tents; have them pitched in a nice shady orchard, and we are enjoying our rest very much. There is quite a large stream near here where we can go swimming, but the water is so cold a person can’t stay in very long at a time. There is a very high hill here, or it might be called a baby mountain; has trees growing along its sides which makes it very beautiful. Ever since we have been here I have had 1 a longing to see what was on the other side of the hill, so this morning my bunkie and I took a walk up there, and we had about all we bargained for, as it seemed we would never get to the tap. Then there was nothing but broad stretches of grain and a few trees scattered about. I haven’t received any mail for some time, • butt I know why so 1 am not worried, but looking forward to the time when I get them all in a bunch.

I don’t believe I ever told you about our mascot, did I? Well, to begin with, When we left the States we brought a Collie dog with us, “Jackolene,” by name. It certainly was a pretty dog and we took him all over France with us till about a month ago it got run over by a wagon and wounded so it had to be killed. Well we had to have a mascot, so in our travels we kept our eyes open and we found one—a mule —a very small one about four feet high with ears twice as long as the ordinary variety. We call him "Stupid,” but not a very good name for him, however, for the boys can’t go near him without he kicks or bites at you, and when it comes to riding him its as good as a circus, for he kicks, bucks and bites all at the sarnie time. One thing T miss over here, Sis, is the good fresh vegetables that I know you are having now, We have plenty to eat but it is the same thing every day—beef, beef every meal. We have had a few new potatoes. For dinner today 1 had roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy and rice. What did you have? I was at the front the Fourth of July, so there were plenty of fireworks. But there was one thing that entered my mind many times that day, and that was the Fourth four years ago. It doesn’t seem possible mother has been gone so Jong, does it? Well, Sis, I have about run down so guess I will bring this to a finish. Hope this finds everybody in the best of health. Your brother, with love, OPL. OSCAR R. LEECH. Ist Trench Mortar Battery, A. E l . F l ., via New York. Ist Division.