Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-07-28

John Philbin. the writer of the
Letter printed below, was making pre-
parations to enter the university in
1914. when the war broke out. H at
once abandoned his plans and en-.
tered the army of the country OF
which he was a subject-England
While In q. hospital recovering from
a wound Philbin wrote to the univer-
sity registrar. A reply to his letter
came back to the sender bearing the
annexation: Missing in action" sign
ed by the lieutenant OF his company.
But Mr.. Philbin turned up in another
hospital and is still quite full of fight
to Judge from what he writes:
"The Registrar University OF Ne
vada, Reno, Nevada, U. S. A.
"Dear Registrar:-You will please
. forgive me for being so late with my
answer to your delightful letter Of
February last. was so glad to get
the first one also.-the one which did
SO much travelling before l received
IL. IL is so nice to think that you
eth remember about me. Sometimes
my Nevada days and my former
hopes and plans seem so very, very
far away. I think 1t Is rather won
derful that you believd I'd turn up
again. l shall take it as good omen
that / shall turn up in Reno some
fine day. and start work again. Many
thanks for the bulletin, though 1t
made me very restless and given me
over to a good deal of reflection
too much of which isn't good for a
fghting man. How I'll have to work
when this business is over! The
thought fills me with mad desire to
clean up the enemy Immediately.
Still the main thing is to preserve
the intention and the ideal and not
be discouraged by delay-even
though you iii up the space by
marching forth in pomp of war and
giving battle for the land OF your
birth and for civilization.
IL am very happy in being able to
look forward to the u. OF N. when
the army has finished with me. 1t is
very unlikely that l shall return to
!, the fighting line again. This knowl
edge does not. altogether please me
: though in a way should be thank
: full. but so very many fine fellows
that once knew are now no more
that would like to fight again
; Here and there, at all places ant
+ lines I have met fellows / knew II
! days that were so different. Many
of them were like myself and earl!
sought freer life and more adyen
ture in far countries. Home the!
y came for the greatest of all adyen
2 lures and we were all rather prout
OF each other. for we seemed to rep
/, resent every land and every colony
:p'the wearers Of CaDada's maple leaf
: the rising run OF Australia, the burn
" South Africans with the Afrinbok II
+, their, caps: and every day the toll Il
taken and only little wooden eros
marks the end Of pany journeying
and the purpose OF many home
coming. Still the battle RACES an
& grevious will be the losses ere it.
= ended But the cause is right, an
for Freedom" Is the battle.cry, s
how can men die better!
II must tell you about my chun
Harris, f'ne chap who Joined u
with me In Vancouver. about te
days after [; left Reno. He tied m
up the second time l was knocke
out, and afterwards went through
hundred fights without a scratch
Il, got his commission and rapid prom,
Sc tomas you do these Days If 20
only survive, Last Easter Monda
he vas second in command OF my oil
old regiment and was shot clea
q through the head when the Canad
;: ans stormcd the great ridge at Vim
~ He was the last Of four brother
1.-TWO Of whom oicd in Gallipoli, an
esfhis mother Is hcaftbroken. feel h
e loss very much. A boy cousin WI
fkIikilled at Christmas and his faith,
Joined the same regiment. The Bor
serers, 10 make sure the boy didu
idle IN vain. Now my old dad writ'
ITO say that no is killed too. and he
d $50 angry that he says he is goir
Stout himself,--brt Of course can't
inc IL quito old nov.
81 Everybody hess is delighted
the entry OF America and myse
feel apiie a personal pride. which
lcan rishtlt do. of course VIII
5frsternI1ing there viii be IL Amer
E5can troops come oterI There is
tgopd deal now, between Colonia
: land home eoaDtry arguments, and
GOOD 6esI Of rivalry too; but aft
an the homo regiments are the bael
1boRe Of the army, fos they has
swondetsui tradition and now, than
5JGod, countless numbers.
~ "By now you should have had com
g Of the papers, I have been aroun
70 ven shout e. DO you think 20
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