Milford chronicle., 1917-07-27
LETTER FROM SOLDIER in FRANCE

LII lin IhUM OULDlLh lN IhhNOL
The following letter written by a SOL
dier ia France viii be Of interest TO ev-
cry one The letter was written by Mr..
Halliweu to b. Frank Davis brother
Halliweu to b Frank Davis, Of Cape
Gerardeau. Missouri. brother Of
the Misses Davis and Robert p. Davis
of Milford, and well known here, where
he formerly lived The writer sailed for
France - June End and arrived at a
French seaport on June 18th.
The letter follows;
Paris Headquarters Of the American
Ambulance Field Service 20 the ARM
les Of France.
June Is, 1917
Dear Uncle: We are in Paris at last
after am al-night ride from the seaport
town where we arrived on June 18th.
We came through the submarine danger
zone with great caution, and with the
exception that we passed around the
wreck Of a submarined transport on
which 400 African troops had been lost
the day before the trip did not furnish
very much excitement. We were in the
seaport town for about six hours and
found t TO be q beautiful old town of
considerable size. The most impressive
sight that has been brought TO my at
teHton was the fact that IN both the
seaport town and in Paris, four out of
every five or six of the women one sees
are dressed 20 black, and there is an en-
tire absence of men on the streets be-
tween the ages OF is and So It is said
by Mr Andrews, the inspector general Of
the army, that the losses between these
ages alone have been little over one
million men. Every man that IS not in
the employ OF necessary governmental
work between the ages of is and So has
been called out.
You people in the states do not have
the leas. idea Of the present condition of
France and even l. who have been here
only few days, have been So impressed
that cannot help but tell you briefly
abou. ;aem and sincerely hope that they
viii be of interest and benefit i'm giving
you the true condition in order that you
may know What is expected of our couu-
try.
The youue men OF France have been
nearly al, slled, and at the preseu, time
,he army is greatly disorganized and are
barely able 90 hold the positions they
now occupy ] had quite q long talk
with several French officers and the Of
dcer- of tLis service and they did not
have the least hes fancy in saying that
unless America had come into the war.
France, 10 her exhausted condition.
would have had to fall back on the very
last measures. The people Of France are
f.,.r
once great armies and materials and
workmen and supplies Of every nature
in order that they mag carry on the
war 20 a successful close. They want
our action and they want it quickly, and |
they are certainly expressive in their |
desires
The food situation is very grave For 1
instance there is no wheat bread in
France What little you are able to
obtain is made from bran and other GER
eals In a cafe you are only allowed to
order "a limited amount Of food and two
lays q week you are unable to purchase
neat and sugar or sugar products. Here
it headquarters we receive very good
'ood ju comparison TO conditions. but
waste in any manner is criminal Of
ease and naturally is much discouraged
Our headquarters is q beautiful old
.hate5u surrounded by a garden. the
beauty oC which 7 never before have
aeu. I, is owned by q French countess
Who has given Ii for service for the dur
tlou of the war. It is iu beautiful
ection Of the city. about five blocks
rom the E.Hel Tower and directly on
he banks Of -he Seine. II is said 20 be
Worth about 5000 600 600 franks
VIII De qUarteeed here several weeks
nd then sent 20 the 'front.' We put ia
bout twelve hours work q day and six
ours on Sunday thus we have very lit
le time 60 ourselves 3fy spare time
hat 7 have had had thus far j have
sed ] think. TO good advantage, and
ave seen as much OF Paris as possible
Paris Is even more beautiful than I had
expected, and I can easily see why it is
uch a favor.te resort for tourists
1 received by forwarded mail Eliza
eth's letter yesterday and was very
leased to receive it and hope she will /
e pleased to read this one which is
leant for all the Davises in Cape Cir
rdeau have been using her Christ
ias gift TO a very good advantage and
,il no doubt use .t stiu more when we
re- sent to the front. I-also received a
,tter from Paul Please give my re-
ards TO an and believe me to be. as
yer, your nephew.
Davis Halliweu