Putnam patriot., 1917-11-16

iieved 1t. II is not only one or two Sometimes 1 take walk over one Of the old battle grounds, covered with trenches and dugouts, an | strung with baroed wire, which at one time was No Mans Land. Many small crosses are to be seen where the brave men have fallen and been buried there. Thousands of pieces of shells lay on the ground AS well as many that did not ,eXpl ode. After walking around the field you have a feeling that you want to go into some of the trenches and dugouts. l will take you on a trip with me.
 Standing on the battlefield we can see many ridges of white chalk which WAS dug up to form the trenches which have no general direction. Walking towards these we have 10 walk around many shell holes and lines of bsroed wire, being careful not to hit any shells or hand erenades that have not exploded. Gpon ar irving at this ridge of chalk we find a ditch three feet wide and six feet deep. Instead of jumping down into this ditch from where we are standing we will walk along the top of it for d few feet and come 10 a flight of stairs where we will go down. Being down here which way do you wish to go? It does not make much difference for we will find the same thing in either direction. After going but a short distance we find a short pass6gew leading off from the side ,of the main destroyed we will go on and see what it is like. This we find to be living room and a bed room. It is about ten feet long and eight feet wide with hunks around the sides. In the fur ther side of the room we find another passage way leading to another room which is the same as the one we just left. We wilt proceed and see what else we can find. Passing many such rooms we come to one, which, instead of leading of on level with the trench goes deeper into the earth. After going down fifteen or twenty feet we come to a landing from which tunnels are dug in different directions. Here we find the same living rooms as above leading off from ,the main passage. Alter looking around we go still deeper and find the same thing on the third level.
 Instead of going back the way we came we will walk along the lower passage 50 or 75 feet underground and come up maybe a half mile or more from where we went down. Although we have seen but small part of this trench lets go over and take look at an idea of what s trench is but this one gives you an idea of what a man has to put up with besides probably waiting for his death bullet. Instead of being like the other trench we find three or four feet of water or else mud. There is no protection ae ainst rain or cold From what we have seen you can judge for yourself what man has to go through. If anyone tells you that they are coming on a pleasure trip say nothing but wish him the best of luck"
 Upon his return 10 Fort Mckinley, Me-. Alferie Tetreault writes:
 "I hope this will reach you in time for this week s paper. Ii it doesn't you will have to excuse me for 1 have been very busy.
 l reached here Sunday night after spending a few days with my folks in Putnam
 From what l was told by the people at home feel as though most of the boys are finding that army life is not so bad for every boy who has been. home has shown a gain in weight and better color, due to the fresh air and exercise we have in the army.
 I was sorry 1 could not see all of my friends while home but my stay was short and l could not call on all of them or | would not have had time to see my own folks. 1 assure all that it would have given me pleasure to have seen them and told them of life at the fort.
 I was greeted with hand shake here and hello there and made to feel hat Putnam people are glad to wei GU ne her soldiers. Saturday night I was given surprise and had a de- Il hlfnl time.
 t YVES so cold here Tuesday l was issued an 0. D. suit and now 1 feel more like a soldier and am much warmer with that than with khaki. I am feeling line and enjoying army life as much as ever. I hope you will keep on sending the PATRIOT. I wish to say that people who are not buying this paper don't realize what they are missing, especially those interested in the soldier boys, for It is an enjoyment to read every week the letters printed from boys in this country or "0vef there
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