Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 84, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 January 1919 — LETTERS FROM OUR SOLDIERS [ARTICLE]

LETTERS FROM OUR SOLDIERS

The Miles Boys Write Home From Overseas. Mr. and Mrs. Miles of west of Fair Oaks have recently received letters from dhekr two sons, Lieut. Edgar G. Miles and Private Carml Miles, who are with the A. E. F. The latter was reported missing In action since October, In one of the casualty lists last unomth, but it seems that he was in the hospital at the time. Their letters follow: Luxemburg, Nov. 27, 1918 i Dear Parents. —I wrote to you yesterday, but will write again today as I just found out that we are permitted to tell where we are, and thought might be interested to know that we are in the state of Luxembourg now. Our regiment , paraded through the city of Luxembourg several days ago, and they say it was the only Fegiment in tl>e Division that went through there, so of course, we are rather proud of it. We are only a few kilometers from the German border now; are all eager to know whether we are to go on into Germany or back to France. We certainly have been doing some hiking the past three or four weeks. I got back to the company fromi the hospital about the 25th of October, and we went into the lines a few days later. Hiked all the way to Sedan, if youi know where it Is; from Sedan back to Verdun and firom Verdun to Luxembourg, and where we go to from here nobody knows. The people here, iflthough part German, are very kind to us, and seem pleased to have us here. They threw go many flowers at us in Luxembourg City that we were literally walking on flowers; and they crowded the streets so that we could hardly pass through. I and some of the other fellows have had several chicken dinners since conning here to this town, and also had a big feed of fresh sausage and many other things, which we couldn’t have while in the lines; arid of course we had plenty of sauerkraut. I’m afraid youi won’t get to send me a Christmas box, as I was in the hospital when they issued those stamps for Christmas boxes, so of course didn’t get any. But that doesn’t make any difference, as I thnk I’ll be home before many weeks, then I’ll make up for lost time. Answer soon. Your son, PVT. CARMI MILES.

November 26, 1918. Dear Mother.—Have moved forward again and am now located near Belgium—Luxemberg, border at Langury, northeast of Verdun. I saw in the paper yesterday where Carmi’s regiment marched through Luxemiberg with General Pershing, so he is about two or three days ahead of us. Mv battalion was some busy tte last week of the drive. We swan the Meuse northwest of Verdun the morning of the sth and ’established a bridgehead against strong opposition, then advanced day and r night until the morning of the 11th, for a distance of 25 kilometers, capturing four towns, many times our strength of prisoners, oodles of war material, butt lost two battalion commanders and all the officers but myfeelf. Have a dandy place to stay at present. ’Am sleeping between real sheets with a real bath-room next to mind. I had almost forgotten how these things felt, and And they are certainy nice to have around. r~ An American train pulled in here straight from Brest yesterday, so we have direct rail communication with the port of embarkation. Love to all, Ist LIEUT. EDGAR G. MILES 11th Inf. Adjutant' Ist Brigade, * A. E. F. France

John Fenzil Writes Interesting Letter From Franco.

John Fenzil of Walker township, who is with tho A. E. F. in Franco.

writes an interesting “Dad’s letter” to his father, Frank Fenzil, which The Democrat is permitted to publish: 9 Audelot, France, Nov. 24, 1918. Dear Father: As this is Father’s Day and we have the privilege to write most anything about ourselves, I will give you somewhat of an idea of what I have seen since I left the States. To begin with I will say that I am well and getting along fine. Well, I landed in Liverpool, England, July 16. I spent the Fourth of July at Halifax, where they had the big explosion. Left there in the evening at 4:30, sailed on an English freighter, the Demosthensus. There were fourteen ships in our convoy. We had two battle cruisers accompanying us all the way, and on the last four days journey we were met by twelve destroyers. I also say that we had a close call from a submarine, but we got j it before it got a shot at us. It j happened just after supper and I had just come up on deck when I heard the distress signal, and then the fun started. It was a dark and stormy evening, the water was rough and the clouds were hanging low. It was a great sight to see the submarine chasers steam up and make in the direction of where the submarine was sighted. It is wonderful to see how they all worked; in less than no time they were all gathered together and then the bombardment began. They dropped about fifteen depth bombs and it was not long till they started back. They had done their work for they put if out of business, for they saw where oil had come to the surface. We got two of the Germany’ submarines on our trip. This one we had the battle with did get a shot at the ship that went just behind us a shout distance, but it did not hit square. It sprang a leak, but they put the pumps to working and it made its way into t'he harbor at Liverpool and there it sank. We had over 3,200 soldiers and sailors on our boat besides the crew. So you can imagine what it would have meant had we gone down. We unloaded in Liverpool and marched to an English camp about six miles out. We stayed there over night. We then took a train to Winchester, where we stayed several da,ys to rest. From there we took a train to South Hampton. 'Here we took a boat and sailed across the English Channel during the night. It sure was a fast ride anu th water is very trough, We landed at LaHavre at 4 o’clock in the morning. We marched out through the docks where they unloaded a good many of our supplies, to a rest camp where we stayed for several days. From there we boarded box cars and 'rode for three dfiys and nights across the country of France. We landed in a wooded couintry close to Bordeaux, about seven miles from the bay of Biscay.

I landed here with the mumps. I was to the hospital, and also got the influenza then. I was in the hospital about five weeks, and did not do much for several weeks then. We had a range here and by that time they were ready to go there to fire the guns. We went to the range for several weeks and when 'we were perfect at that we were sent to the front. We landed within about fifty miles of Metz. Here we -were held in reserve and expecting to go up any time. But as luck would have it the armistice was signed just as we were getting ready to pull up, so we stayed here. But now we, are all (ready to move again and intend to go tomorrow. I suppose you have read about the occupation troops going to Germany. Well, the 90th Division, was cnosen as one to go. I am in the 90th Division, so I will be one of them to see Germany as far as I know. How long we twill have to stay there I do not know. I am a truck driver now. We expect to get new trucks before we go into Germany. I have seen lots of ipretty scenery hero in France, but I have saw nothing that would, compare to some of the different parts of the U. S., so if I was ever to settle down in any country I would sure choose the States. But while I am here I aip glhd to get a chance to see the Rhine. But do not know just where I Will end up yet, as the army life is very changeable. I have had the pleasure of seeing General Pershing. 'The Expeditionary Forces heaaViairters . are at Chaumont, only about 15 miles from where .1 am now staying. I have been there quite often. It is quite a nice little city. Must also tell you about Frank counting to see me while I was in the hospital at Camp Hunt. I was sure surprisd to see him. He is looking fine, and is a mechanic in an orunance department. He was there the last I heard of him, but he is doing a little of everything now. He was driving an’ officer then on a motorcycle. I think it will be some time before he gets back to the States, at least he thinks it will

be about a >par. I ami going to try and visit him before I leave here. Well, Father, how are you getting along? I suppose you are all prepared for the winter now. Did you' have a good crOip this'year? I hope you raise, enough to run through all right. I have not heard from any of you for some weeks. I suppose my mail has been lost somewhere on the road. I have not heard from Jerry s.nce he was out to see you on Labor day. I do not think they have taken him to. the draft, the way things have ended up. I suppose you were all snu-prised to see things end up so suddenly. I would have liked to have been there the last of it as they say they fought the hardest then of ajiy time of the war. I was close enough to hear the big guns when everything was quiet. But I might be lucky as it is for no one knows just what is in. store for him.

I have plenty of clothes for the winter, in fact, I have all I can carry, so I am all right. I have noticed where you have had quite a time with the Influenza, also whgre some of my friends hawe died at different camps. I suppose will be lots of the neighborhood boys back by the time you g*t this. I am sending you same picture cards of the towns close around here, and you can get somewhat of an idea of what things are like here. I wooild have had lots of them but they would not let us send home before now. Well, father, I can’t write much more without going into too many details, so will leave something to talk about when I get back, which I hope will be before long. Here’s wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I also wish to congratulate you on your coming birthday. Wishing you all the luck and many happy returns of the day, I remain., your laving son, WAG. JOHN FENZEL. 315 Trench Mortar Battery, 90th Division, A. P. O. 770.. American Expeditionary Forces, France. * p, s. —You can put the 90th Division on my address when you write. JOHN. Sunday Evening.—We just got orders to be ready to move by 5 o'clock in the morning, so I will have to get my pack ready, as we get up at 3 o’clock. Will write when I get settled down again. JOHN.

Dun Sur Muise, Nov. 28, 1918. I did not get a chance to send this letter Sunday so I took it with me. I am now billetted in a French garrison of Mousay, close to the Meuse river, about ten miles north of Dun, ’where the heavy fighting took place during the last few* days of the war. The town nearest me wrs taken by th© Aimiericans on fighting ended. There are many interesting sights here and the way everything is shelled is terrible. They left everything laying and fled. There are great pilqs of ammunition along the roadsides. They have fields sowed to wheat and they have a good crop of beets all topped and laying in piles in the fields, and they are going to waste. They have left supplies and all behind. Last night we had a supper of a great variety. We had German sauerkraut. French bread and /American bully beef. We d.a not get turkey for dinner today but we had plenty of what We had. We had mashed potatoes, boiled cabbage, onions and bacon and bread. It s raining now and mud is plentiful. I have hip boots and they sure come in handy. Outside of a cold lam feeling fine. Will write the next stop, as I expect to continue the march toward * the Rhine in a few days. So here’s hoping to hear from you soon. I remain, your son, JOHN.

Every farmer who owns his farm ought to have printed stationery with his name and the name of hlf postofflee properly The prin* ed heading might also give the names of whatever crops he special lzes In or his specialties In stock Neatly printed stationery gives you personality and a standing with any person or firm to whom you write rad Insures the proper reading of your name and address.