Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 284, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 December 1918 — D. J. BABCOCK WRITES HIS PARENTS FROM FRANCE [ARTICLE]

D. J. BABCOCK WRITES HIS PARENTS FROM FRANCE

Mr. and Mrs. F. E. Babcock have , received the following letter from their son, Delevan, who is with the motor transport division in France: France, Nov. 7.

Dear Parents.—Was very glad to get your two of October 6, which arrived just one' month later. I’ll admit that I haven’t written home for a long time, but I have been very, very busy. The division is back from the front for % rest and several of the trucks are being overhauled and that makes it quite bad for those left outside the workshops. In The last two months my truck has covered almost 4,000 miles, so you can see I haven’t had much time to kill. It is in for a general overhauling now and, 9 new carburetor. The old mill got so bad that three miles to the gallon of gas was the best we could get out of it, so it was. decided to have it, remedied. We are well in the back area now and cannot here any of the big guns and seldom see. an aeroplane even. I understand the division will be brought back to its former strength and undergo probably 60-dayg training before we see the line again. Where that will be no fine knows, of course. The news at present—with Turkey, Bulgaria and Austria-Hungary out of the way, and Germany’s meet Jdarshal Foch at 12:30 o’clock today On the western front—seems to me to cast a doubt as to whether the division will ever see the front line again. The armistice terms granted to those countries acceptng them practically eliminates them from the war. white flag party on its way to No, I have never written to Ossie, hoping always to meet him or some one else I knew in the States, but so far have met no one from' around home whatever. In fact, we have 'been used chiefly as shock troops and thus are generally on the move most of the time, remaining in . one place but a short time. <

A couple of our trucks went to Paris the other day and while there the party saw some of the dandy trucks that are being 7 sent over for the American army, equipped with Liberty motors. The fellows said they certainly looked good to them. I don’t suppose we will ever get them though. _ Have been tusslelng with one of those short-timed but intensive bilious attacks I am subject to for the past three or four days, so if this letter sounds a little rambling, do not be alarmed. I will- come out of it some day again as usual, I guess, though at present I am riot feeling as good as possible. Oh, yes, the French civilians say the war is already “finis” or over, and they are celebrating' accordingly. I will have to close now, hoping that by or 'before this reaches you peace will be a fact indeed. Trusting this finds you all well and hoping to see you soon, will close, with love, v DEB.