South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-04-22
CANADIAN SOLDIER
WRITES FROM FRONT
Says All Goes Well Speaks
OF Appalling Sacrifice of
Best Blood.

All goes we'll so far. The su-
preme test is yet to come, the result
of which can only be victory for our
arms and the cause Of right and
honor for which we are lighting"
So Writes Sergt Waiter L. Jones of
the 26th Canadian battalion to Rev.
! G.. w. Titus, pastor OF the First
| Christian church of Mishawaka Mr..
: Titus received the letter from his old
friend last evening. 1t was dated
/ somewhere in France, March IL.
! In the course of a most interesting
story the writer tells of the baptism
\ of fire meeted out TO his battalion
and leads up 10 the present days OF
the war. He says it was soon evident
that the boys from Canada could
take their turn beside the best. Aft
er the novelty OF the game had worn
off the scenes developed into very
I stern realities, and the actors dis
played an entirely new spirit-a
spirit Of grim and deep determine
ton and yet withal displaying that
optimism and cheerfulness which
could not be realized except by those
who see il: among old Canada's
boys you will always find that smile
which has become so characteristic
of them and which helps. oh so
much, in tight corner.
The Canadians have been up
against some of the hardest PROPOSE
tons of the campaign and have ac-
cOmplished the tasks set for them in
a manner that bears most favorable
\ comparison with any, and l feel
that those at home have every rea-
son to believe that they are being
we'll represented. OF what il is cost
ing by way Of the appalling sacrifice
of our best blood 1 hesitate 10 think
much less write ana all we can say
is that they have done their DUTY
to king and country and that theirs
have not been lives cut off or vast
ed but lives fulfilled.
Health of Troops.
The health of the troops is most
surprising and also very gratifying
to think Of the small percentage of
sickness there is when conditions un-
der which they live and work are
| considered and reflects great credit
on our medical corps Why. fever,
that dread disease in an army, is an
unheard OF thing almost; / am in
formed that in The whole of the Brit
ish forces in France there We're up
until a few weeks ago but three
cases of enteric fever. Such a rec
ord is accounted for by systematic
innoculation.
The morale OF the boys is one Of
the most remarkable things of the
campaign. No matter what the hard
ships are. no matter what is called
for in the way Of endurance, both
physical and mental; no matter how
things are going, they are every
ready with that spirit of confidence
and optimism that can't be beaten,
that ever present jest and smile in
the face of unspeakable horrors
and, yes, almost certain death. is
characteristic of the British soldiers,
and the stuff he is made Of"
Speaking of the postal organiza-
ton the writer says it is one Of the
marvels Of the war. The London pa
pers are received in the trenches
the day following publication, while
the hundreds Of thousands of let
tiers and parcels arriving daily from
Canada. are delivered in the front
lines from II TO Il days. and there
is scant possibility of any going
astray.
The men who are doing chaplain
work are highly praised 10y the writ
er. He says they minister TO the boys
not as the sermon from the pulpit
but by actual deeds Of work among
the soldiers-1lway ready to help
not only with the word of cheer and
comfort nut by real human aid es-
pecially among the sick and wound
cd. Religion and tne faith s not
preached at the men. he says as in
civilian days but IL banded out in
concrete form Of deeds
SerEt. Jones has been i'm France
for the past IS months. and so far
has escaped serious wounds He is
native of st. John, New Bruins
wick.