New Britain herald., 1917-12-15
HUMASON ANXIOUS
 TO TAKE TO AIR
Back From France, Tries to En-
 list As Aviator
WAR WILL END-S SOME DAY
Vine Street Boy Reports Morale of French Is Excellent and Confidence Is Not Wanting-Was in Offensive That Won Fort MalmaisOn.

Howard c. Humason, son of MT. and Mrs H. B. Humason, of Vine street, who has been in active service as camion driver with the French army on the western front since early in June, arrived at his home in this city last night, and this morning went to the United States Army recruiting office in Hartford to apply for enlist ment in the United Army Aviation Corps. Although he was in active service abroad, on June 5, Mr. Huma- son, nevertheless forwarded his regis 1ratlon certificate to this city and is registered for the draft. Delay in leaving England prevented MT Hun1a- son from arriving in this country in time to file his application for enlist ment before the time limit and this morning he was advised that until permission was granted from Wash ington he cC uld not be enlisted in the Aviation Corps. r-
 MT. Humason's return has proved a most agreeable surprise to his pa- rents and friends and, although in previous letters he had written that he hoped. to be able to eat his Christmas dinner with his mother and father, his relatives and friends did not real ly think that he would be able to get here. Today MT. Humason remarked that inasmuch as his number had not been called in the first draft and he would not have to leave with the last 5 per cent, he was satisfied.
 "All I care about is to have a little time at home-to spend Christmas there-then Pm ready to go again."
 Looks Eos Long War.
 Concerning his many varied and ex- citing experiences overseas, the Vine street boy speaks reservedly yet with no small degree of interest Asked the usual question of when do you think the war will end" MT. Humason smiles vaguely, shrugs his shoulders in the expressive way so common among the French and says: "who knows?" He did say however, that indications point to a prolonged war. In this connection he remarked that three years ago when the French vol unteers marched away they laughingly told their wives and friends that they would be back in two or three weeks. Now they have been away three years and have taken the opposite view. MT. Humason says that when a French civilian or soldier is asked this al1-important question he replies: Maybe two years, possibly three years maybe i've years, who knows?" Although the French do not appear to be unduly optimistic concerning the outcome of the war they confidently believe that the Allies will win, MT. Humason says. In this connection he explained that most of the French have become confirmed fatalists con- cerning the war. They believe that 1t is absolutely certain that the Allies will win-sOme day.
 It will be remembered that MT. Humason, employed at the office of Landers, F'rary & Clark at the time, enlisted in the American Field Ambu- lance Service last spring. He sailed from New York on May 26 and land ed at Bordeaux, France, 10 days later 1 The trip across was an uneventful one, not even a submarine scare oc- curing to frightenf the passengers. MT. Humason went across with Will liam Lamb, son of Joseph F. Lamb of | Park Place, and on the day of their | arrival in France they went immedi- ately to Paris where they visited the | headquarters of the American Am- | bulance Service. Two days later they l went to the permanent camp of the l < Continued on Eleventh Page)