The Devils Lake world and inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1915-1920, 1917-11-15
EVERETT DuELl
WRITES FROM FRANCE

D. G. Duell of this city rece
a letter from his son, Everets,
who is now with the u. S. Aviation
to be having a good time as the
following letter shows:
Somewhere in France,
October 18th, 1917.
"Dear Father -
II must say you are very irregular
in your correspondence, and I am un-
able to see the reason why.
1t was sure tough luck that I missed
you there at Fort Totten, H.but such is
the life of a soldier; Would have CIV
en- most anything to have seen you
there, if anything could have been
done. -f.. ~ 80 t.
"You probably know what q person
has. to go thru when they are on the
move all the time, especially in the
matter of transportation and provis+
ions. When we left the seaport town
in France for the place we are now in,
they had nothing but box cars for us
to ride in and we We're from 6 p. M,
to 8 a. M, getting here. The box cars
are only about one-half the size of
ours and hold t~hirty-two men ana
equipment, SO we had no room to
spare. There was very, little sleep
that night, not only from lack of
space but because of the roughness of
the road. L slept, sitting on the edge
Of a bench with my head stuck in the
corner of the box Cur. ~5r- s4.t. Il
ut was really an. interesting exper-
fence and all the fellows were in the,
best of spirits and enjoyed it. We had
one can Of cornbeef and some brown
bread for eats After reaching herei
we were first moved into some old;
French barracks, but had no more.
than laid our stuff down when an in
spection of the ticks was made and
found to- be very ;thickly ipopulatedi
with a variety of minute objects AS.
they seemed to hold the prior rights
in this case, we respected their claims
and moved our stuff out doors and for
four nights I slept with mother earth
as a bed. I really enjoyed it. About
this time We got u communication of
rations and at present I am living at
a private home, eating breakfast in
bed and enjoying the sights of gay
---a at night. 49, !
"The progress we are making is
wonderful and the machines the
French have are truly something to
remember. I was rather surprised at
conditions here in France, as the peo-
pie are really not suffering from lack
Of n~ourishment, etc., as we were led
to believe at home Of course, things
are very bad as far as that goes, but
the people are standing the strain adj
mirably. Wait untlswe U. S. boys get
started and then watch Fritz drop the
reins.
II am now drawing $3.50 per
month, which makes the measly $500
you drew look sick, don't it? I Won
if that means we are better soldiers ?
l guess not.
"My application for a commission as
first lieutenant has been sent in and ]
will probably hear from it by Christ,
mas. My chances are about fifty
fifty of getting it.
81 believe l have seen a soldier OF
every nation now at war, right here
in this place.. It is rightfully namec
The City of many %colors.' You ought
to see the different uniforms thu
, French themselves have without tax
ing in the other soldiers. I believe
our uniforms are the best of all.
: Germany now has her 1918 class OF
the firing line and they are mostl!
boys between the ages of 16 and 20
and it is pitiful to see some of thes'
young fellows, the condition they, ar
: in. Germany is slowly but surely be
: ing forced back and from reports tina
n come back from the front, they thinl
e the war will be over by next April.
You people in the states can't real
si7e what it means to. be in a copntr;
e where this war is actually taking
is place. You had your share, Of course
o during the civil war, but papa, thing
n that are going en- now at the from
are beyond any ones imagination
a S%omethings are almost beyond belief
rel ,"Well, I must close. Write once i
a while and let me know the new:
= We are having the time of our live
and enjoying every minute. Wi
never regret coming, that's SUR
Don't know whether I told you or mo-
lA 49,. -@-, A. .@-.~~-S ->-