New-York tribune., 1917-10-21
Ban Johnson Enlistment Be
gins to Look Very Much
Like Business
By w. !. Macbeth

The many friends of Captain 7. l.
Huston, owner, with Colonel Jacob Rup-
pert, of the New York Yankees, will be
pleased to learn that he is comfortably
and pleasantly situated somewhere in
France" with the United States expedi-
tionary forces. The captain, who is an
engineer of international reputation
sent the following letter TO the local
baseball Office, with the request that il
be distributed generally among mis- host
Of friends.
The letter. in part, follows:
an ACTIVE SERVICE WITH THE
AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY
FORCE,
Somewhere in France. Sept. 16, 1917.
"My Dear Friends:
II am writing a general letter, and
would be glad if you will send copies
of it to Colonel Rupert and our
friends Of the press and any other
of my intimate friends you think
would be interested. This is more to
economic paper and the time of the
censor, who is absolutely overworked.
I'VE had a splendid trip over here,
but can say nothing about il, except
that it was chuck full of exciting
events and thrilling throughout. We
are located within easy touch of the
firing line, and from indications are
getting ready to start some big piece
of work. Very little actual news can
get by the censor. We have TO write
tersely and seldom, to economic his
time.
This is very pretty country, but
| could pick many localities in the
United States which would compare
very favorably with it. | have seen
nothing which lessons my apprecia-
tion of our own country, especially
as they here have about 1000 years
start on US.
THE French peasant is not nearly
so intelligent as our farmer The
peasant women do not measure up
to the picture of loveliness painted
of them in the story books-but how
the poor Things do slave!
Mail service is not we'll regulated
as yet, but you can readily cable.
The cable companies, | think, have
very cheap rates for weekend letters.
"Our men are blleted in stables
and are as comfortably situated as
circumstances will permit. The mems
grub is bully. The officers are very
comfortably located so far as quar-
ters are concerned. During the last
week we have been cleaning up the
town, against the loud protest of the
populace. We expect TO start mill
tary drill again this coming week.
"Of the war news you doubtless
know more than we do. We occa-
sionally see Paris edition of New
York paper, and hope 20 get it regu-
larly hereafter, but the news it con-
tains is very meagre. IL does not
give the baseball scores.
This regiment is "a magnificent
one. Its officers are excellent engi-
neers and high-class gentlemen in
all that the word implies. The sol
diers are splendid specimens of Wig
orous manhood. and, representing as
they do the best engineering and
artisan classes of our country, COM
pose a very capable body Of men. |
flatter-or perhaps 'con-myself that
my company is the best in the regi-
ment.
II am certainly glad that I had
sense enough left to join this army,
which will fight on foreign soil 10
avoid having to fight the Hun at our
own iresides. 1t certainly feels good
to be in the thick of the fray.
would be sore and unhappy if | was
now coffee cooler at home.
"You fellows can write me all the
news, which will be devoured with
avidlty. although | am not able 10 re.