Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-05-29
LETTER FROM some
WHERE /: N FRANCE
Brother of Late Mrs. Clyde Neese
Writes Interestingly of
Life at Front.

The following letter from Clar-
ence Warner, private in the allied
armies somewhere in France will
be of interest to many in Webster
City and Hamilton county. This
seemingly light hearted soldier boy
is a brother of the late Mrs. Clyde
Neese of Shaunavon, Sask., Can,
whose remains were brought to her
old home here for burial recently.
His mother, Mrs. Cecilia Warner, has
many friends in the county, having
made extended visits here. A few
days after receiving the letter, this
mother, who has but the one son left,
received the following telegram from
the front:
Mrs. Cecilia Warner,
Shaunavon, Sask.
Sincerely regret to inform you that
272690 Pie. Clarence Warner infan-
try, officially reported admitted to
the General Hospital Boulogne, April
18th, 1917, with gun shot wound,
left thigh, slight, will send further
particulars when received.
officer in charge of Records"
The letter which the lad wrote his
mother was given us by Mrs. G. A.
Sonerholm of Kamrar, a sister-in-law
of the late Mrs. Neese, and is as fol-
lows:
March "a, 1917,
Deep Dugout.
Dear Mother:
Haven't been able to write for the
last few days but will do so now.
Just received a cracker jack of par
Gel from you, with cigars, cake, Gig
arettes, ETC., in it. I tell you it came
at good time. I am eating piece
of the cake now.
We left the rest camp about
week ago but as soon as we got in
here they put 26 of us with the Roy
al Engineers and now am in hole
so deep that all the shells in the
world couldn't reach me. | tell you
it's some relief to have a bomb proof
Job. Expect to be with the R. E. in
IA days and they give 16 days rest
when we get out SO l am jake. We
work eight hours and rest sixteen in
a deep cave. The R. Z. is an imper-
ial outfit and fed awful poor, so that's
where that cake comes in good.
don't think you knew Pie. limo
thy of the 209th. He came over to
France with us and worked his way
to sergeant's stripes. Day before yes
terday he got his head too high above
the parapet and that's all there was
to it. It sure was shock to us 209th
boys, as we all knew him SO we'll.
1 suppose you read about the Allies
advance on the Somme? And the
Turks surrender? l tell you it sounds
good to us. This is the beginning OF
the end for Fritz and it won't be long
before we are on our way home. II
we are sick of the war Fritz must be
lots sicker. When he sends over a
couple of shells we hear them coming
and beat it for dug-out. If we beat
it for couple he must be all in as
our artillery are just poking away at
him without pause day or night. He
certainly must be- short of ammuni-
ton. Ct am going to try some more.
of that cake.)
1t is now 9 a. m. Had breakfast
at s and dinner will be at 1880. We
go our shift at p. M, work till 10
p. m, then supper, rum and bed.
They give us shot Of rum at night.
Now believe me liquor has its place.
When we come in tired and get that
rum on our empty stomach, then sup
per, we sleep like dogs all night. The
rum is strong enough to knock a
horse down but they only give us
about two big tablespoonfuls; it sure
makes us cough.
. The first day we came in one OF
the boys was cleaning his rifle and
shot one of his fingers off. had to go
up as a witness for him to prove he
did not do it wilfully so he could get
to England. Its done lots but the
officers are getting used to it and It's
big crime. | guess the fellow will
get out all right, as it was an acct
dent.
The rats are thicker than hi
here and we had big tom cat in our
dugout till we found him dead one
morning and some rat fur in his
mouth and his throat all chewed up.
Try and imagine the size of the rats.
Had a great time today shooting at
Fritz aeroplane. 1t came over quite
low and we all beat it and got our
rifles and blazed away to beat the