Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1917-12-13

air is almost identical, however,
with the british air God Save the
King. Think this must be the
one you have reference to.
You asked me about whether
reeeivcd>dlle candy that ma sent
me. You bet, / sure did. 1t was
very sticky, but she sure did
evaporate upon contact with the
lair. This week received the
box OF cookies that she sent me.
Sure were good, but were very
muchly broken up. However, they
are u thing Of the past.
Since you want TO know about
1.-The pay OF privates, will try TO
put you hep to it. Originally at
FL paso, Tex, privates received
1915. For foreign service, the
salary was doubled and 20 per
cent ON original S15, which makes
$500, totaling $4,000 per. When
one is made first class private,
he then receives $4,000 per. SO,
as per calculations, received
$1,000. Maybe you might wish TO
know how | dispose of my francs.
To begin with, ma gets $1,000;
I give $500 per for the purchase
of Liberty Bond. With this de-
iducted, received some Sc francs.
From this, l give 6 francs to the
company mess fund for a few en-
tras. Haircuts and other things
are also paid for TO the company.
We are not issued towels, shay
ing. equipment and other things,
so we have plenty Of places to put
our dough. Here, we spend a
franc practically 20 cents) as we
would nickel i'm the state. We
cannot get much more, either.
Yes, Frank Burke and are the
only first class privates out of
four bunch in l. Co. Glenn Ball
and Chas. Mckeeyer are corporals.
believe that VIM. Bouldcn is a
III ~ SAO60 J14NoUC.
What do you mean by safety
fountain pen and ink tablets9 I
have fountain pen. 1t cost me all
of a franc and half. 1t does
quite we'll, as it is self filler and
pen points can be easily changed.
Writing paper is plenteous, but
high. If this kind of paper is o.
K, no need of sending any. You
might send me a couple of good
No. 2 pencils.
The weather here still con-
ttinues to be very disagreeable, as
it was drilling rain when l came
here just after supper.
This morning our battalion
went out to our trenches at our
drill grounds. We demonstrated
to four major generals, generals
and other officers, an attack on
some supposedly enemy trenches
We used bombs, mortars, rifles,
gfepades and other war imple-
ments. E
No doubt you have heard about
American troops being on the line.
Iothis I can add nothing. AS far
as | know all Of our fellows are
in good health, excepting Glenn
Ball, who is in the hospital with
rheumatism. Guess he is better
though.
| don't know what to say that
would interest you. Almost daily
aeroplanes arc flying over camp
Some are. French, British and
some Americans. A couple Of
days ago saw about forty in one
bunch. Sure worth seeing. To
ldate, have seen five aeroplane
battles. but didn't see any brought
down, but ] saw some fall some
700 yards without control He
was able, however, to gain con-
ltrol.
There is isn't any need to tall
Eabout the. war, as you can IN
doubtedly read more than VIZ
could think to tell you.
| AS am getting sleepy, thinl
will get q cup Of cocoa and &c
to bed. I had a really piece O
pie tonight. Got it here at the s
A. hut Raisin pie and cocoa fol
II frame, while the pie lasted.
-&Will close for now with hes
wishes TO you all. Your brother,
BRENNAN.