The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-30
Leon C. Bradley of Age Herald Staff Gives Side
 lights and Glimpses
TELLS OF JOYS
 AND DISCOMFORTS
 IN FAR OFF LAND
News Front Home and Tobacco Seem to Be About Only Things
 That Matter With Men Who Are Winning the War

Leon C. Bradley, first lieutenant. D. $. H., city editor of The Age-Heraids now with the American expedfsionary forces in France, has wrftten very interesting letter to one of his asso- ciates on Tho Age-Heraid in whichs without giving any military infoxma- dcats Of the life of the boys in Francs which show the conditions under syhIch they are now living.
 The letter wns written somewhere in France on Thanksgiving Day and reached Birmingham only yesterday. Lieutenant Bradley writes as foIlowss
 TT IS A LONG, LONG WAY,
 This is a mighty long distance from Birmingham, but 1t is Thanksgiving Day here just the same. Loads of roast tur- key with chestnuts & half holiday, and
 everything like thats Of course. the Frenchman don't know what it is all about, but they know it must De some grand occasion. Whether 1t is George Washington's birthday, or the anniver- sary of the discovery of America. they can't quite decide. But, at any rate. they are entering into tine spirit of the occasion In honor of the occasion, the French orderly has just come in to poke up the fire and he left a bucket Of al- legged coal that will almost burn If prop eriy aided by kerosene oil and constant and diliGent care.
 Quite number of the officers here had leave for this afternoon and night to visit large city nearby, but, since had nc leave for this last week-end, had to stick around' camp today. But it is not half bad at that
 WONDERFUL DINNER
 We had a really wonderful dinner regular American food prepared Dy eX- ceptionally capable French COOKS 1t is neither raiaiug or snowlng ti knacA 0n WOOD sehes, saS ti4sl, and we stlls e1ve. ellouxk tnii Barltasaa to xeep t& Les soin5 for two or three days myle So' cigars. not even French ones; no clsar- cites and no smoking tobacco are to be had here, or in the nearby towns. some Is expected, however, s.se and besides we all have shipments of the American weed en route from rhe United States which We hope will soon arrive.
 There is not much for me to tell you
 about the war You probably know Inole about it than, 1 do, At least, the things 1 know which you do not would probably not pass the censor. So 1 will not bcre you with any weighty discus- s.on along that line.
 T am sure it will be relief to you for me te say that I shall not attempt to predicI when the war will be over. l don't know and I don't suppose you do, either. That is one phase of the subject we don't discuss much over here. There is too much else to do to bother about that at this time
 VOYAGE UNEVENTFUL
 T don'L think I have written you since the letter l mailed while on ooasu tns ship coming over. That was before we reached the war zone. There were no highly thrilling events while We were in | the area usually considered as menaced hy submarines. We were well protected and did not see one of the Hilr under water craft One offit rg tke ersi neers' corps and anothe ecics sfsps Ur rather sat up) for three Aaes ara .sns | by their lifeboats, but tl .e rF M tDei 1 things little easier an ag 1 ders, We carried our life 1eits at aii hours 1 of the day and night, and VIC did not undress while in the really dangerous area. We had already perfected the life l boat drills so there would be no confusion l in case of disaster. We were advised to I sleep with clothes on and overcoats at I hand so we would not suffer from cx- tContinucd on Page Thrce)