Norwich bulletin., 1917-12-17
BOY IN FRANCE THINKS
 WAR NEARLY OVER Gerald p. Crean, Who Was Stationed Here With New Britain Company, Writes to Norwich Friend.

Frank J. Mcintyre. of 152 Broad street, received the following letter from Private Gerald P. Crean, for merly member of Go. I of New Britain, Conn.,, state militia. and who was stationed for several months in Norwich. The letter will be of inter Crean made during his stay in Nor wich:
 Somewhere in France.
 "Nov. 21st, IT.
 Dear F'ranka-I've been trying to- night to make it a Norwich night in my letters. and thus far I've succeeded in writing quite a few letters along with this one to Norwich friends. Doubtless I might be dead and buried for all you people would know, and ter neslecting to do so while in the states But it is my belief that it is better to write from France, which is so far away from home. than to write lot from one city in the state to another, and in France to cease to do so.
 "I heard from Jack OBrien that your brother Jack had been drafted and is at Aver. If it is trlie, don't let your mother worry about him. be- Cause I can assure you that the draft army won't have to come over here. This war is almost at an end, because, strong, they. are growing weaker and weaker every day, and in the opinion of the French and English, the war is going to be over in the spring, at least it looks that way over here. We are ia a position wfere we expect to % are working hard every day training so as to be in fit trim to beat the Ger mans. We're going to "can the kali ser and we are going to can him and English, we ought to be able to knock the H out of the Huns. If you cculd see the size we are all grow ing to be. big and husky with almost pity the Germans. Our generals tell us that one American is equal to, at least, three Germans, but we're going to show them that one American is equal to six or seven. and probably more, and if they'll only put us in the trenches we'll prove it to the very numbers
 This is a great country, with it's women policemen, trolley conductors and street cleaners, and it's men all soldiers. You will seldom see a man in civilian clothes over here, for they all have been. or now are, in the trenches. Believe me. this war has made, or brought forth, as many and as great heroes as the world has seen, and we hear tales of the greatest dar- iEg and bravery.
 It is great fun to see some of our fellows trying to speak with the r frencnfnen. | was lucky epOush 70 be able to speak quite little French before I came over. but most of the fellows are able to speak only a few words and finish up in the sign lan- suage. The style over here is wood en shoes and a big. long moustache, and a pair of trousers with stripes of all the different colors of the rainbow. We go to a quaint little church, which was built in 1888, and it is a queer, antique structure. made all of stone. There are stone walls, stone floors and old, colored glass windows. In every town the church is tho highest point, Or on the highest hill. and every Sun day morning. the old cure plods up the hill and says mass for a most devout congregation. We, are all feeling fine and Callahan. O'Brien,r Hopkins and E'oc. Lynch send their best regards. Give my love to your dear, sweet mother and to your sisters and ask them to write. Remember me also to your father and brothers and to all the fellows of the Knights of Colum : bus and write soon. 'r
 Ever yours.
 GERALD P. CREAM,
 Co | 102nd U. & Inf A E. r