Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-06-23


baseball. l am with the British I'm
perial army, and general request has
been made to see the great American
pastime. l do not wish to trouble you
unnecessarily, but it would be a most
excellent thing for the boys, if a few
balls could be secured. | anticipate
umpiring the first game with consider
able delight. 1t will be a game where
the umpire's decisions will not be dis.
puted at all. That you see is the
power of discipline. If player so fal
forgets himself, it will be 10 days c. b.
Still ball game without the zest of
umpire Raging is not baseball, and l
have no desire to see cricket form un-
folded on the diamond.
l am looking forward to the time
when American troops will arrive IN
France. Will you advise me # Au-
susta is sending a unit over. Also are
there any boys from Augusta and VI
cinity over here. If SO will YOU supply
me with their address and | will look
them up.
| have been up the front line all day
looking for a Canadian, but my efforts
were fruitless. l spent considerable
time too in some abandoned trenches
looking for some of the boys who went
west in the last stunt, but found oiils
Boche and more Boche
l found the grave of Capt. Green. ne
was the first reporter l had on the
Cobalt Nugget. Only WOODEN cross
marked, as it marks thousands ms
grave. If possible | propose 10 put
wreath and larger cross on X. ne
was killed while sitting in ms ousou'.
Always impetus and tireless. he proved
a 1oval and devoted soldier. l felt nara
hit on seeing his last resting place.
There are others too, my CANADA
friends. many, man, indeed, all Sailan.
fellows. whose graves are unmarked
and nerhaps unbound and never Will ne.
II is sad to look upon the little grave
lords frineing the edge of every bat
tlef;e,d. with their many dead heroes.
It is touching to see the attempts VI
follow soldiers to make these graves
nresentable and distingulshaple. IL
not for the living we mourn. Last
Sunday we buried a man IN my COM
many. He was Catholic ana paui
(nriest) read the funeral serVlce' LUIS
was sad enough. bat as the eartn "aa
thrown into the grave. the Last 1oS'
n,,e sounded. a most pathetic story OF
another find lad gone over the dlViue'
Tears were in every eye and peheFe
would have been guilty OF 1eminine
weakness had not dismissed the com
pany at the moment.
So YOU see it is not in the oattie Una
s,dness and sorrow are felt but rathef
az the grave-side when the NINA Is
recentiye Of the significance ana lui'
import of the occasion.
This letter I hope will reach YOU ana
r axnect the censor. if he is news
naner man, will fraternize ana oVeFiooA
the slips, contrary to order.
You may depend. however l am
Pertaining a lively interest III e
something of Island Park ns oepten ,
her NV brigadier general 'nii1hS
r,.y he able to get 6-weeks ieaVe ny
that time. and he says 1t is more man
,;Le,v everybody will be sent nome al
+ogether by then. Will you convey my
resnects to Mrs. Jersey ana inioi II,
- am in excellent health ana
spirits? ..s
with kindest wishes.
sincerely yours,
G. E. RICE.
Can't. G. E. Rice,
s5 Coy. Canadians, + E. +.
5th Army. France.
Captain Rice is brother OF LAM,
f, p;ce the well-known insurance
on, ~ this city and has many
sr;snds here who remember him. Iney
LII 81, ;oin in the hope that his fur-
Will, WIN Nv September of which he
lou win be an accomplished fact
Pa that the limited return Of all the
80. 81 their homes by that time