Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 54, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 October 1918 — LETTERS FROM OUR SOLDIERS [ARTICLE]

LETTERS FROM OUR SOLDIERS

Terance Thompson Also Thinks War Will Be Over Soon. James Thompson and . daughter, Mrs. Charles Dowers, received two letters last week from the former’s son, Terance, who is a Corporal in Battery F, 329 Field Artillery,' recently landed in France. Both letters are somewhat similar and one was written August 28 and the other September 2. We copy the more interesting portions of each: Dear Folks: —I received your letter of August 2; it had only been a month on the road. Well, 11 suppose you know I’m in France by tnis time, as I sent you a card just before sailing. We had a fine trip coming over; could see the coast of Ireland. We landed in England where we took a train and rode all day through England. Next day took a boat to France, rode there two days and a night and here we are in camp. We will be here until the end of the was. They (have so many men in France they d,on’t know what to do with them, and this war will be over before Christmas. I get to talk to lots of fellows right from the front and they say the same thing. It is nothing to see German prisoners. They have got them every place and are getting more every day, We have no kick coming about anything over here; everything is just as good as it is possible to make it. This is some 'country; it is so far behind the U. S. that it never Will catch up. We are a long way yet from the battle front but see lots of German prisoners; they are ’ mostly kids and old ipen. We will never see the firing line. Most

the U. S. soldiers say we will eat Chrismas dinfter at home, as the Germans are losing ground every day. We get a New York paper here every evening. ,It is pprinted in Paris. It is not like reading papers at home. I -only hope we will get to go to the front, but know there is little chance. Am having lots of fun every day. We get the best of eats„ and a good bed to sleep in, and if I could talk French I would be O. K. It’s funny to the boys at first to get the French money. When you get a few dollars of their money in paper it is like carrying a newspaper around with you. They have not given us any passes yet, but if they do I am going to Paris and will buy you some kind of a souvenir of France and send it to you. Now there is nothing for you to worry about, for I am O. K. and will probably be here until the end of the war. We will be hack in the states before spring. The army is a good place for experience and you know ■ that is tvhat I always was looking for, but I don’t like to stay in one place too long. I don’t think we will get to leave this camp at all. Your son and brother, CORP. TERANCE THOMPSON, Bat. F., 329 F. A., Am. E. F. Henry T. Cain Writes Letter From “Over There.” Mrs. Estellfb- Mathew of Carpenter township received the following letter from her brother, Henry T. Cain, a few days ago, and sends same to The Democrat for publication: On Active Service with the American Expeditionary Forces. September 4, 1918. Dear Kids—l received your most welcome letter yesterday and believe me it was just like a deed for 160 acres of good land in Jasper county. Was sure glad to learn you were all welL So, as the day’s work is finished and supper over, consisting of roast beef, gravy, potatoes, tomatoes, rice, apricots, hot soda’ biscuit?, butter, molasses and coffee, and as my appetite has, I dare say, increased sincd I began living the life of a soldier, you can easily imagine about how long five or six hot biscuits would last set before me. But, anyway, I managed to get back to our quarters by walking real slow and the boys have made me a big cushion of blankets to Sit and lean against, so will try and scribble a few lines tonight to