Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1916-09-01
WITH THE SOLDIER BOYS
Jim Russell Writes Interestirg Letter
To His Father.
San Benito, Texas, Aug. 18th

]
Dear Father
Certainly was glad to hear from
home and wish you would send the pa
pers as reading material and northern
newsis some scarce here. will do as
you say, keep diary so you can read
it when get back. We arrived week
ago Saturday, it was raining to beat
the band and kept it up all day. | can
tell you franly that the soil here doesn't
appeal very strongly to me, just a little
rain will put you up to your shoe tops
in mud and it is a gumho that sticks.
One can safely say he carries 1Oibs. OF
it on his feet. Dhen when the sun
comes out it's only a short while and
the ground is all cracked on top.
| Saturday we went out for sham
battle against the Virginia brigade
who were coming up from Brownsville
in bsg motor trucks. We left here at z
a. m. and went out and intr enched our
selves and waited until about 2:30 be-
fore they showed up. 1t was quite a
sight to see a trail of motor trucks a
mile long loaded with men and ahead
of it machine gun company mounted
on motorcycles. About 4:30 we started
back in heavy rain and sure got a
soaking. We all were so hungry we
couldn't wait for the rain to stop and
were so wet anyway that we ate din
ner rightsout in the rain We had the
Virginians as guests for diuner. At Z
O'Clock Co. G. went on guard, that's a
"a hour shift, man walks post 2hours
and rests hours. was pretty tired
Sunday night when we got relieved. BY
Sunday afternoon the ground was so
dry it was all cracked and they had a
ball game.
The first week we were here was
spent in digging bitches all over the
place. We are but 8 teet above sea
level and the country for miles around
is as level as a floor. The brush that
grows in this country, 10 me, seems
like a man couldn't crawl thru it. Lots
of cactus here and there. The cities
are very pretty, they have palm trees,
orange trees, century plants and other
oriental plants that do not know the
names of. Speaking of bugs, guess we
have every kind in Bear Greek, so the
slang expression goes. Can't hardly
turn around outside the camp without
running across big snake. The horn
ed toad is plentiful. Some of the boys
have them tied on shoestrings in the
tents for pets. They sure can catch
the flies. If pick up nerve some day
| may try to stuff one for you or send
skin. The flies are awful, we keep
brushing with one hand and eat with
the other. Every precaution is taken
against them, fly paper and traps are
plentiful but they are question yet.
We will soon have a screened-ln kltch-
en- and dining hall which we hope will
be better. We pnt floors in our tents
yesterday and it is lot better than
sleeping on the damp ground. Nearly
everyone has had his turn at being sick
but so far have escaped all sickness
and shall try to keep myself in good
health. We have shower baths at the
end of each street.
The days are very short here, it be-
ing pitch dark at 7:30. Things are
quiet as to the Mexican situation in
the papers down here and it is certalr
we won't be here any longer than elec-
tion if things don't get any worse IL
Mexico. hope to throw one Republl'
can vote this year, its my first chance
Maid to newspapers is all censored St
YOU won't get only the sunny side OF
things but I'm sure | can interest
few with my exerience in the u. 5
army here. Lots of people have ar
idea that the u. 8. isn't up-to-date but
it would surprise some if they were II
this country At Brownsville, 20 miles
from here, they have powerful search
/ light used for signalling | have watch
ed them several nights and the rays OF
light they sent up into the sky is just
as bright as if only mile away. They
signailed US of storm approaching
1 the other night, we were all rolled out
at II o. clock and dressed but the storm
went TO the east of US. 1t did look tough
These towns are made up of nearly
all Mexicans and could you believe il
but only about out of Is can speak 8
little English They are worse thar
our northern Indians. They live inl little
old huts with mostly thatched roofs.
will send you picture of them.
Everyone is broke in the regiment ]
guess, all borrowing stamps, etc. We
only have got paid S5. since in the ser
vice but get our July pay the 18th Of
this month. Love to all from