Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 220, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 September 1918 — DR. WASHBURN RECEIVES CALL [ARTICLE]

DR. WASHBURN RECEIVES CALL

TO REPORT AT CAMP DODGE BY FRIDAY, OCTOBER FOURTH. \ Dr. I. M. Washburn received the following telegram from the government this morning: YOU ARE APPOINTED CAPT MEDICAL CORPS WIRE ACCEPTANCE GIVING FULL NAME AND RANK AND PROCEED TEN DAYS FROM DATE DESMOINES lOWA REPORTING COMMANDING GENERAL CAMP DODGE FOR DUTY TRAVEL DIRECTED NECESSARY MILITARY SERVICE WIRE SURGEON GENL WASHINGTON ACTION. HARRIS ACTING THE ADJT GEN. —BUT A ÜBEBTT BOND TODAT—FRED HAMILTON WRITES ♦OF HIS WOUNDS

The following letter was received by Mr. and Mrs. L. H. Hamilton from their son. At the request of a large number of friends the letter is published, even with Fred requesting that we do not do so: England, Sept. 6, 1918. My dearest father and mother:— First now I am sitting in one of the nicest private hospitals in England. This hospital is for face injuries only. There are only a few here and only two Canadians. ' I sent you all a cable last night. I sincerely hope it reaches you in due time. Now there is no need of you all worrying. You should rejoice that I sas not killed. It was like this: I was in my armored car. We were going along a main road ahead of our infantry and everything. Well I was hit in the morning about 11 o’clock with a piece of a shell but stuck to the car and the boys. We kept on advancing until about 2:30 When the driver stalls his engine. I jumps- out to crank it, when “old Fritz” let drive with his machine gun. One bullet caught me in the cheek (right) and hit my jaw bone and came out just within a hair’s width of my juggler. The other bullet grazed the Adam’s apple. So here lam as big as life. I have been hit five times now, but the last two were the worst, lee, I am in a wonderful hospital. Everything is just lovely. Special bod. I can only barely open my mouth, have to keep it shut for a while now, so I have to eat soft food. I still believe myself to be lucky. Gee, 'but it was a great feeling and it really brought tears when I got off the train here in London. The street was lined with women who cheered us as we went by and threw flowers at us. Dad, just, well, darn it, I was; so glad to know they appreciated my ( work and the rest of the boys. It takes i away the dark cloud from our suf-' sering and, well, I will spend two more years in France if I get over this O. K.

I have kept lots from you all. Did not go to hospital when I was hit before so they would not report me wounded, but this time they got me good. My address is: Hospital for Facial Injuries, 78 Brook St., London, West One. I have dropped a card to “Doc” Johnson. I expect him down real soon to see me. Do not know how this being wounded is going to affect my commission in the American army. I expect to hear from it real soon. I figure from two to six months here in the hospital. Of course, a fellow can never tell. Dad, I can chc.se around London, go to shows, etc. Of course, we have certain hours to do this. I do not care about going around much at the present. My face is twice normal and all black and blue, with a bandage yards long wrapped around it. Fine sight. ■ Remember my letters are not for publication. Well, I will close for today. Do. not worry. With love, Your son, FRED. The following cable was received from Dr. Johnson Tuesday night: ChHsendon Camp. Louis Hamilton, Rensselaer, Ind. Machine gun bullet through jaw, slight disfigurement, done fine. Johnson.

—BVY A LIBERTX**BO ND TODAY—TEMPERATURE. The weather man predicts unsettled weather. The temperature for the twenty-four hours ending at 6:00 a. m. today was, maximum 78 and minimum 48. y •r' —BVY A ÜBBBTY BOND TODAY—