The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1917-09-28
News From A Soldier Boy In France.
Edison Ogden Writes Prof. Holt
August 29th, 1917.
Somewhere in France

somewhere IN france.
Dear Sir: Well, this is a very cool
day for this time of the year. | re-
ceived your most welcome letter few
days ago and was glad as well as sur
| prised to hear from you. | didn't ex-
pect to get letter from you and it
surely pleased me great deal. AS
you know I am not allowed to write
very much, you will excuse the unin-
teresting letter. l happen to know
about what we are allowed to write
because l have been helping our first
| lieutenant censor some of the mail.
We left - about the middle Of June
and had very exciting time coming
over the pond. No lights were allowed
after shutdown and a good many men
were caught smoking cigaretts after
dark and were put on extra duty. 1t
took us long time to cross the big
pond because we didn't go by direct
route. We had to zig-zag about over
| the ocean for a number of days and it
| became very tiresome to all of us. |
was standing on the starboard or right
side of the ship one day and looking
over the rail. A fellow from our COM
pany came over from the port side and
stopped near me. He looked out on
the water and said: cit looks the same
over here as it did on the other side. "
And if you could have seen the express
sion on his face you could appreciate
look out at the water day after day, as
one of the boys said: cts all water
here and all sand in Texas"
here, lots of fruit grown all around this
plums and pears here and in some
places grapes. We received aroyal
welcome when we landed in France.
On the boat there were some exciting
times, especially two different nights
when we were passing through the
danger zone. The U-boats nearly got
us one night, the torpedo only missed us
by about thirty-fve yards. That was
too close for comfort and of course the
precautions were doubled, also the
guards and lookouts. | was on guard
along the port rail on the second deck
amidships the second night of excite
ment. 1t was a little exciting to be
looking out on the dark water and to
have an officer suddenly step up behind
you, and you not knowing he was near,
and hear him say, "Have you seen
anything yet?' in sharp tone Of voice.
1t makes a fellow jump a little until
you get used to it.
didn't get seasick at all on the way
over-pretty lucky would say, when
think back and remember how sick
some of the boys were.
Of course we were drilled pretty
hard, but that hasn't killed anyone yet.
l hope this finds you and your family
as we'll as it does me, which would be in
fine shape On the train here was an
other experience | will never forget.
We didn't ride in Pullmans, you know.
The cars were small, looked like a mar
row guage train, although I guess it is
regulation over here. The engine looks
small, naturally, after leaving the LAX
awanna as we did, There was some
very pretty scenery on the way through
France, and Of course it was all inter-
esting to US. We passed through acres
and acres of grapes or vineyards. They
stretched away as far as the eye could
see. I don't care much for the French
as people or race, but they are very
polite. / suppose if / understood their
language it would be more interesting
to see them.
am running short of paper so will
have to begin to close this wonderful
story or tale. L am sitting on the edge
of the bunk, using book or magazine
called the Infantry Journal for a desk,
so please excuse poor writing. If you
will be SO kind as to let my parents
read this letter or copy of it, will
appreciate it very much. Tell mother
not to worry, because / don't, and
there is no use anyway. Please tell
them to write often as it seems good
here from the old u. S. A., believe me.
| Tell Fred Smith | receive The Tobacco
Reporter and read them all through.
Any time that you feel like writing,
Mr.. Holt, / will be very glad to hear
from you, because your letters convey
lots of news. This is the longest letter
that / have written in France and it
may not pass the censor. Tell the
folks that | am feeling fine and hope
they are the same.
Yours with best regards.
Edison L. Ogden.
Go a. 18Th Tpf u u