The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-26


ton. Mr.. Ben johnson, Mr.. Brad johnson
and Mr. kGrtz kellam-
she attended the National Service
/ school, which is conducted in connec-
ton with Loretta academy. She is
| the only girl from Kansas who has
| been admitted to the school The
training consists of three weeks in
tensive course in first aid. military
drill and wireless telegraphy.
K K X
Mr.. and Mrs. Richard Thomas en-
! tertained twelve guests at a line party
at the circus. followed by supper
at the Thomas home.
r X x
| Miss Isabel Oracle, who has lately
come to Topeka to make her home,
and is connected with the Santa te
| Watch company. has recently received
/ from her brother. Leslie Oracle, an
| officer in the British army, letter
containing some details OF ms NE
| on the battle line He entered M
/ training in London the nrst year Oh
| the war. and after receiving his COM
1 mission he entered service on the
western front. He belongs to the
second battalion of the king hoyai
Rifles. and is now with the Brilisa
force in France The family nome Il
/ in London . .
Il
/ fair idea of some of the circumstance
amid which many American men VIII
soon be passing, will be of special IN
| terest particularly to those wnc nave
relatives and friends in the army
left the Signalling School last
/ Monday and am now back again with
NV battalion. All the ofhcers anu
men left the school at the same time
/ and had to march miles 10 the STA
ton. Here we had to wait hours
/
| The time however in good notel nay
/ ing lunch. and so the time passed
| o1licl<Iy. The rain soon took US 10
| big town where 1 got out with anotn-
er fellow off the same division with
| cur servants). On going to the H.
n. n CR.ilway Transport Officer We
! found there was no train for our GU
vision till $3.50 next morning MY
| friend and 1 went to good holel q
booked for the night we nao
| grand time at the hotel-an A. oil,
ner & to bed early where we read
Mays in bed with electric light over
| your head-just like the Strand raj
| ace. Getting up so early next MORN
ing was rather a bore & we very near
I w missed the train because the waiter
| of the hotel called US so late. How
ever we managed to scramble n the
last carriage of the train about / min
| uate before it started This train
only went a few miles & again we
/ were turned out at a country station
| with the information that thera would
be no train that day and probably
lone tomorrow There was an Expe-
dictionary Force Canteen on the sta
ton however & We got an Al brekker
& so all our troubles were forgotten
for the time being. 1 had 10 idea
where my battalion was & only knew
where the Divisional Headquarters
were. 1 didn't intend staying in this
forlorn spot longer than I could help
( kept look out for motor 1orries.
i. fter a little while one did turn up &
do you know it was actually making
for our divisional Headquarters. So
up we jumped & had an excellent ride
right to the Div Hqrs. where 1 in
Quired the whereabouts of battalion.
< funnily enough the car was going
10 the very spot. 1 found the bat
talon on the road just to the right OF
the trenches which We occupied when
in the line. You know the Bosche
las retreated miles behind here now
& it is very queer walking about these
places where 3 weeks ago you would
hardly show your head above the
parapet- The men are occupying all
the dug outs while preparing this i'm
portant road which we occupied while
| IN trenches / have made a detailed
survey OF all No Mans land and the
German wire and trenches. Their
wire is awfully thick but would have
been blown to atoms if we had desired
TO attack.
There are any amount of dead
. about-most of them left from the
last Autumn's fighting & the horrible
/ decay OF the bodies is really revolt
ing.
I had a CHASTITY dug out on account
Of its being occupied by rats as well
as human beings. They (the rats)
would think nothing of walking down
your face and body, and one night
gave vigorous kick and 1 heard the
beast splosh against the wall! They
used to have touch last up & down
, the dug out steps and 1 once heard
one scratching itself and upon my
word it sounded just like a dog un-
dertaking the same thing,
A few days ago I developed ar
awful poisoned finger from mendine
wire cables had to have it SLICED
open by the doctor. In a weeks time
it got all right again and did not per.
wade my system luckily.
Well cheer O. loved ones.
Your ever loving son,
ii LES
II A letter written on Easter Sunday
gives further details of the young of
| ficer's daily life:
have just been to a Voluntary
Service at the Church Army Hut WITH
others of my brother officers and
appreciated the opportunity of wor
| shipping with others in absoIut.
quietness- 1t was very short and sim
4 pie but inspiring.
III I have been in a village some wal
| behind where the battalion has beer
| mending roads these last DAYS in,
structing a class of u signallers- TIL
| battalion has come down here toda,
| however for 2 or weeks rest an,
| training and the Div. will go into thu
boiling poti I am battalion signalling
| officers and am on HeadQuarter
| now and mess with the Colonel
| Adjutant. End in Command Med OF
l ficer, and the Intelligence Officer!
| have about Al NCO's and men in N,
charge and haye-to make the numbe
] Of the signallers UP to So in the bat