Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 63, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 November 1918 — LETTERS FROM OUR SOLDIERS [ARTICLE]

LETTERS FROM OUR SOLDIERS

Omar Osborne Writes The Editor From France. ) . - The Democrat < ditor received the following interesting letter Saturday from Omar Osborne, son of former County Survey r W. F. Osborne, of this city: France, October 5, 1918. Friend Babcock: —Just noticed in The Democrat a letter from Deb, saying that he is now in France. It seems that his idea of the country agress quite a bit with mine, although I believe that I have seen quite a bit more of France than he, as I have traveled quite a bit since landing in this country.* ' _ I was very much surprised at the good roads of France. Practically every place has good roads, and between all the larger cities are wide straight roads cutting across the country on the shortest liine between the two cities. 1 have walked miles and miles on that kind of a road with never a turn. The development of France is much behind that of our own country in many other however. For example, there are very few fences, and those that do exist are either hedge or stone. .The buildings are all low, stone or plaster, except in the larger cities. Practically every small community has it’s Chateau, in which, in peace times, lived the wealthy man or large land-owner of the village. These Chateau’s vary in size, some of them being small and’ some of them largfe mansions. I have seen some that were vei? beautiful, with large, spacious grounds surrounding them. Ot course many of these are badly wrecked with shells and bombs, but some of them are in fine shape yet. I have been doing much moving of late and have scarcely been in one place a week at a time. Ot course, moving is part of a soldier’s life but we would be just as well satisfied to stay in one place for a short time, as moving delays GUr work and makes it hard to get caught up again. I am at present in the regimental personnel office, and have a great deal of work most <h the time. Of course it is not hard work, but it keeps one busy most of the time Our regiment is now up in the lines doing all kinds of engineering work, and are keeping up the reputation made by them while with the British forces. Personally, I have not been up with them a great deal, but have had a little experience under shell fire and have also heard machine gun bullets sing by me. This, however, becomes quite common, and doesn’t worry one much. As one of our 'captains said, “it takes ‘Jerry’ half an hour to get your range, and by that time you are somewhere else.” Our worst difficulty at the present time is procuring American tobacco. There is an issue of Bull Durham, but many of the men do not like it. Personally I am satisfied with it. Another thing we are bothered with is the little “cootie.” He gets in your clothes and makes life miserable for you. It is im- ' possible to keep away from them,

and once they get in your clothes the only way to completely clean them out is by burning the clothes —and as we are not equipped with an over supply of clothing that is impossible. 1 quite frequently see Elvin Bussell and John Moore, but up to the present time have saw no one else from Rensselaer. Lieutenant Lloyd W. Warfel of Monticello is one of our officers, however. Well, my candle is burning low, so I think I will quit for the present time. Will 1 write again when I have the time and have something of interest to write about. Yours, OMAR O. OSBORNE. •The letter referred to was written soon after Delevan went across, since then he has traveled about a great deal.—Editor. James Beckman Says It Will Soon Be Over. Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Beckman received another letter Friday from their son, James, over in France, and we copy the more interesting portions: Not a place has been left standing; graveyards are all shot up, too. I have seen where the Germans broke Into the vaults and slept there. One place one had broken a. hole in the casket, evidently searching for valuables — and he slept in the same place. Some of his clothing was left there. Another place they had to leave in a hurry was a factory where they put up horse meat from horses killed and wounded in battle. There must have been a hundr9d barrels of it left behind. I saw the entire plant, Just like a slaughter house. They put up the meat as farmers put up pork or beef. I’m glad to think the job will soon be done and that I’ll be back early next year. I know this thing will be over by then. We’re al) going back in the first boat wo can. I’m feeling fine and beginning to think about my return. I hope I am not too previuos about it, but it will be great to get back to civilization again, and to work. I haven’t heard from you for a little while because your mail will have to be forwarded, and conditions now may hold it up for some little time. There will be no let up for us unless winter and the weather absolutely force it. I hope you are all in the best of health. Let me hear from you as regularly as possible. I hone our letters get through all right. With love and best wishes to all. JIM.

“Jonsey” Warner is Seeing Much Service In France. D. J. Warner writes home under date of September 29 as follows: France, September 29, 1918, Dear Mother and Sis. —-One month ago today I was attached to ths outfit (121st Field Art.), one of the famous shock troops of the 23nd division. They have taken part in nearly every big drive the Americans have been in and I suppose you have all read of them. 1 have seen the front and have been close to it nearly all the time and haven’t had my clothes off since joining them. i am all right up to date, but it has been awful hard to keep up on the all-night marches we make. Four nights straight is the most we have made since I joined theni, but I stand so far. I tell you 50 years tells on a fellow when he has to go along with boys and men half my age. Well, I won’t quit until I have to and I expect when I do go out I’ll be about done. so. I’ll stay just as long as I can for I Want to be in it at the windi’p. I am sitting in a dugout writing this and it has been raining all night. The “table” I am using is a corned beef can, and it is fun, too. I don't? know what to write about as I can’t tell you anything about the things that we see and do. I haven’t written to you since I left Camp Hunt, 27th of August, for I just can’t get up nerve enough to do it. I haven’t had any mail from you or any one else since I have been in France, and have not been paid either, but I get along some way. About all we need is tobacco and they issue that, but I have a rttlo money all the time. But I am not kicking as it is “all in the games,” I guess. We have what we can eat and sometimes a haymow or a dugout to sleep in, bit when we have to sleep ip "pup” tents it sure is cold, especially if it has been raining, and it sure has been doing that. Folks, I know you worry about not hearing from me often, but you can’t imagine how hard it is to write when you can't say the thipgs you are most interested in. I hope what I have said now will pass the censor. I sure can’t why it won’t. I have had two letters Come back to me, but both on account of the address, and then I lost both of them before I had time to change it. We have tried to locate ou'- mail but so far have had no success. I am awfully worried because I can’t hear from you, but what can I do only wait, I guess? Now I have written all I can and must begin to inquire about you. Are you well and has “Bill’’ enlisted yet? How is Mrs. Powers and everybody? Mother, this is a funny country. The houses are old and what is left of some of them is sure a sight. We passed through towns, and big ones, too,

that are entirely ruined and never will be built again, for they will ail 'be modem next time. Sis, I can’t talk French a little bit, but I bet you could if you were here as long as I have been. Tell “Gum" and “Bill’’ if a fellow had the time he could have good trout fishing here for they say they are plentiful. Well, I’ll have to quit now for this is all the paper I have and I don t know where I’ll get an envelope. Perhaps I won’t get this mailed today on that account, and then maybe it won’t pass. If I don’t 1 don’t know, when I win write another. Now don’t think I blame you for not writing for I know you have and also know I am not the only one that hasn’t, got mail since coming over. We have been changed around so much that it is almost impossible for the mail people to locate us, so you can’t blame them, either. Really there is no one to blame, but it is hard to know there is word from you some place and I can’t get it. I’ll take a chance of telling you I was on the firing line the 27th and sure saw one of the big barrages. It lasted from about two in the morning Until 12, (noon), and over two thousand cannon .firing all the time. Well, goodbye. Hoping you are all well. I’ll give you my address and quit, j. ell everybody “hello,” and I’ll write again soon. PVT. D. J. WARNER, A. P. O. 734, Bat. D, 121st F. A., Am. E. F., France. \ Willie Potts Writes Home From Overseas. Willie Potts of Fair Oaks has written another letter back to home folks' which The Democrat is permitted to publish:

France* October 14, 1918. ’ Dear Folks.- —Will try and write’ you a few lines. This leaves me well. Cheerfully, conscientiously ana honestly trying to do what is asked of me, which is about all a fellow can do over here. And in regard to that place, do as you please, which will be perfectly alright for I don’t think that I’ll ever want to see a farm after this is over, and I don’t think it will be over for a while yet because ,we want to give them all that’s coming, with gospel measure, and we sure are. That mask you received which caused so much confusion was a German’s, and you should have another before now as I sent two to make sure that you would get one. Did you pull the paper out of the respirator or that button? If you didn’t it isn’t any wonder you had such a time wearing it. It is supposed to be good for only about four hours, then you jnust change the “dufunny” while you hold your breath, that, is in gas. While ours afre good for 48 hours, are much more comfortable and are not made on the same principle at all. Ours have a tube to put in your mouth and a clip to go bn over your nose, and the mask itself is all rubber, while tneir’s are all leather now, because of the scarcity of rubber in Germany. In this letter you will find a boche shoulder-strap off a German blouse which I found in one of them dugouts which they had vacated, due to the mad rush and efficiency of our army, grown up over night, and which now is making the desert bloom, apparently. While there is a place in your memory and your life that I fill, at the close of these perfect days, which apparently you will never forget, as the loved. ones depart j for the far away shores to meet] their foes on the battlefields of France; but it is well to calm thy-.

self, and now that their never I firing unseparatable spirits will probably take us through all the uneven journeys of life and bring us back safe to our happy homes. I also wish to thank you for buying those Liberty bonds. I think the Red Cross and Salvation Army deserve much credit* and praise for the efficiency they have already shown. Did you ever get that money order I sent you for $87.71? Good night, WILL.