The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-01-12
German Shell Tears Big
Hole Near BrattlebOro
Man in France
STREWN
WITH DEAD BODIES
Service in American French Ambulance
Equal to College Course-Writes Let
ter to James G.. Adams, Who Leaves
New York Tomorrow

Appleton T. Miles, son of Mrs. c. A.
Niles OF Brattleboro, recently wrote let
ter from France, where he Is serving with
the American Field Ambulance. to James
u. Adams of this town, son OF Mr.. and
Mis-. James NJ. Adams, urging Mr. Adams
to come to France Mr. Adams, who was
travelling salesman for the American To-
bacco Co, with headquarters in Boston,
will sail tomorrow from New York for
bordeaux Mr.. Aliles's letter was as fol-
lows:
Dear Jack:-Your good letter came sail
ing ~ about a week ago. and I'm answeI-
ing at first opportunity. We are very busy
now IN one ot the hottest sectors I'm
fortunately | cannot tell you where I am
or what We are doing. on account Of q
strict censorship, and | want you to get
this letter. / think it would be the best
thing ID the world for you to come over
mere, IN tact Tor any man, no matter what
his function in America 1t is worth
three years of college life and is absolutely
Incompatible as an experience. They can
tell you more definitely in Boston what it
means to come over here and helm the
French.
That last statement figures a lot more
strongly than you think Most men think
that they are going to see something Of
the war and general excitement How
ever, you soon see a different side and
come to admire, love and sympathize with
these wonderful people. Now my main
idea Is to help them and become an infin-
lteslmal part in their winning back their
beautiful homes. Their spirit is indoni-
table, and they all think the end of the
war Is near As for myself, I'll stay a
good while yet, Dec volente Ny time is
up the last OF March, but I'll probably
enlist for at least another three months.
The cold is not very bad. When you
come over here you are ready for anv-
thing. Our food is equal to any good Fifth
avenue restaurant We have Rothschild's =
old cook and he is worthy of his former
position. You find all sorts of professors
in the rank and file of the French army.
The danger is not particularly great You
subject yourself to annihilation anywhere
at any time on this earth, but I had lust
as soon drive over a shelled road as ride
in the \. Y, \. II. & Fl. There is
stimulus OF excitement that sends you
anywhere
A $50 landed about 200 yards from me
the other day, while in a nearby town.
and took out whole block The concus-
sion knocks YOU fiat, as if you had been
hit with a club. We walked to the place
where it landed and there on the side
walk were the bodies Of women and chill
dren-the toll of war. The Germans had
dropped that little message from distance
of nearly 20 miles
You will undoubtedly get more good out
of it than you will by sticking to your
tobacco job. and after that you will be a
bigger and broader man.
l. The general context of this letter viii
show you that | am pretty much in favor
OF Your coming over. Hope you can get
IN my section, No. s. We are at the most
desirable place now OF any, Well, good
luck to you, Jack, and Merry Christmas
and Happy New Yearl Mine will be in
the trenches
Sincerely yours,
) APPLETON TRAIN MILES.