Evening star., 1917-10-01

lare going to bomb the village. which
is one kllometer from here, today. Our
chef had US get out our gas masks
land see If they were all Q. X. The
iGermans have invented new odor-
\ less gas and hence we must be on the
lookout for unexpected attacks The
French planes are flying all around US
today as IL they are really expecting
an encounter. They know everything.
At the aviation squadrilla near here
there are three Americans. We have
made friends with them and have
learned some very interesting things.
When 1 first thought of coming to
| France l wanted TO go into aviation.
but could not see my way clear. Now
things have changed somewhat and
am determined more than ever to get
into aviation. It's a thrilling occupa-
tion II you are careful-and lucky.
| Our food is great We have about
the best cook that has ever been with
any American section. In fact we like
him SO well (rather. his cooking) that
We have agreed to donate him francs
each from us all. This means about
what he already receives from the
| government. This means a lot to him.
| and hence he is determined to see
! that we get what we want and all we
| want. Yesterday we had pancakes
| think OF Irregular pancakes. Besides
! pancakes we get tcow) beer. potatoes,
| vegetables (aIl kinds), cheese, eggs,
| cocoa, wine, good bread. apricots, rice,
| prunes. etc. etc. Really wonderful.
| The American ambulance drivers
| have been navlng 4 streak OF bad luck
| recently. Two have been killed, one
lost a leg, and another was shot in
/ the breast within the past week. The
! last two cases were in section %, which
| is our nearest neighbor. We have been
quite fortunate owing to our expert
enced Chef and lieutenant, I'm sure.
| We have a camp canteen where we
| can buy ink, paper. shoe strings, ctr.
| 1t is run by the section, and ali goOuS
are sold at cost.
| I'VE have started a library Each fel-
/ low has donated at least one book-this
| entities him 10 draw book at time.
We have some friends in Paris who send
US magazines, most being dated 1911,
| 1912. 1914, etc.
| "The chef brought an American
graphophone with about 100 records, which
adds great deal to the camp We have
received much enjoyment from this ma
chine,
| "If We want to go sightseeing there
are many places nearby to visit-anti-
aircraft batteries aviation sQuadrillas.
| hospitals, boche prison camps, military
| headquarters, etc, We must not be In
| ouisitive-one fellow was arrested last
week for that offense> Boche and Bull
garian prisoners are brought through here
all the time
"At the Front,
August 81. 1917,
"My Dear T: Last night we heard that
we would move shortly and be connected
with division of the French army. AS
you know We are at a base hospital now
and the work is not very dangerous We
are all quite excited as life with French
division at the front has many attractions
We have sent several of our boys to the
extreme front sections to do some work
with the other sections They have re-
turned with very exciting stories, and
souvenirs, such as shrapnel. shells, Ger
man gaS-masks, etc I tried to get in on
the trip this morning. -Four OF our boys
left. But I learned that had volunteered
is going I'D within a few days can wait.
There was a boche plane brought
down seven kilometers from here and
I walked all the way over to see the
remains. It was my day on. SO l
enemy plane was falling ct was hit
5000 meters overhead) the wind car
ried 1t back and it landed In forest.
The pilot was shot IN the back OF the
slight wound in his nose. 1t looked
quite near. but, after reaching the
scene, I discovered that it was
about seven kilometers away got
some fne pictures which I hope will
turn out well. 1 also got part of
the canvas covering Of the aeropIane,
and a very interesting part 1t is, too.
as 1t contains part OF the black
maltese cross which is the German in
sigma I also got some pieces of the
frame 1t was an enormous machine.
1t was brought down by our q say
our because it is very close to us)
anti-aircraft battery.
speaking of rain. you don't know
what rain is-at least. I never did until
I came here. From July 80 to August
16 it rained at least three times day,
and often more than three times a day.
WAS called away and have Just re-
turned. Carried a load of five wounded