Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-10

That the German forces know they are
defeated now, but will not admit 1t. is
the summing UP of the European war
situation Thomas G. Wood. former Wash
ington boy, and nephew of Mr.. and Mrs.
Court F. Wood. gives In a letter just re-
ceived here by his cousin. Foster Wood.
who has been designated for the Avia-
ton Corps.
15Sth Overseas Battalion. Canadian Ex-
peditionary Forces in France. Is a son
of United States immigration Inspector
Wood, stationed at Cornwall. Ontario,
Can. He enlisted in the Canadian forces
in October 1916
Mother writes me and says you have
joined up he writes to his cousin here.
and adds, Il am stealing a few min
utes while the shells are whistling to con-
graduate you. You are going to play the
biggest game you ever played in your
life. and l am glad to hear that you are
going to back up the good cause.
No Mere Periodic Scrap.
Just at present 1 am sitting in my
dugout on the bloodiest battlefield of
long while before could see the justifica-
ton of this war, l thought 1t was Just
an ordinary periodic European scrap. but
believe me. Foster. it is not
III you ever get over here and get In
close contact with the damned peace de-
stroyers you will understand just as well
as | do that they must be downed If
our country can't do 1t, the whole world
must do 1t.
"Since have come to France and seen
the horrible destruction and desolation of
what were once peaceful homes and viii
lagos l am more and more satisfied
with myself that / Joined up when l did
What we want here are men and more
men, guns and armies. We want force
enough to send the damned Hun flying
across the country to his own land And
the sooner they come, the sooner will
peace again reign. France and Eng
first American contingent-the hope that
1t brings, and the encouragement
Let the next American contingent
be seven times as big as the first. and
The Germans are defeated now. but
they will not admit it. They hold on
s Wearin ne s,u o In od the , hope Of
United states they will soon give up
the game.
Barbarity of the Germans.
"As I said before. this is being writ
ten on one of the bloodiest battle
the war France lost thousands here
Later the British took il over and they
lost many men.
When a fellow takes walk out
over the fields, furrowed with trenches
and covered with a maze of wire en-
tanglements, occasionally one sees a
few bones. Nearby are a few clips
of ammunition. and 1t tells the sad
story. The ground is pitted with
shell holes. and most of them contain
sights that cannot be mentioned here.
But they all point to the one thing
the cruel barbarity and savage cruelty
of the tribes now pitted against the
civilization of the world.
II suppose. you think I am speaking
rather strong. Well. Foster. when you
get over here and see these things
you viii speak just as strongly. I
have been through heavy artillery fire
and I know the sensation. l have
listened to the enemy machine gun
rattle. and IN the night have seen his
star shells and have listened to the
screech of his other shells, and they
all spell the one thing TO me--the Hun
must be beat It is the duty of the
world to do It.
Il hope you are IN the best Of health
and enjoying your new duties. I hope
TO see you soon in France. helping in
the good cause"