Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-21
FIRST MAILS FROM HOME
BRING JOY TO SOLDIERS
Several Thousand Men in American
Camp In Franco Get Letters
or Packages.
ALL FORWARDED FROM PARIS
Soldiers Take Notable Pains to Adapt
Themselves to Customs and Habits
OF Their Hosts-Natives Marvel at
Independence Of U. s. Officers.
tBv A,so.,,,oa pr.

SEl
AMERICAN TRAINING CAMP IN
:. FRANCE. July 2O.-Several thousand
soldiers were made happy to-day
when ID many letters or packages ar
rived and were distributed among the
various camps IT was for many. If
not for most of the men. tho first mail
they had received since leaving the
United Sites. and 1t was more well
como than anything else could have
been.
Tie original addresses on the letters
= indicated often how long the families
OF men had been out of touch with
them. Every third or fourth miSsivc
was addressed In care OF the former
assignments OF regiments; for instance,
tho Mexican border and Western
forts. Others had found their way
over to somewhere in France not
outstanding the addresses. others
had been addressed 10 the recipients
In Washington in care Of the War
Department. while the others had been
forwarded from the sailing points of
tn. many reg iments.
All letters and packages are for
warded from Paris by the chaplain
and must be sorted and distributed
under his direction Likewise, he has
charge of all the outgoing mail. which
iE turned over to him after having
been censored by company officers
Though he has been working ON the
complicated problem only short time
the chaplain already has evolved
thorough going system which insures
the soldiers receiving their mail with
In few hours after its arrival The
outgoing mail for the United States
leaves by way of Paris once daily.
TOWN ALMOST LIKE
AMERICAN COMMUNITY
The cncampment of American troops
here has almost metemorphosed this
thoroughly and distinctivcly French
town into an American community.
Notwithstanding the fact that the SOL
diers Lave taken notable pains to
adapt themselves to the customs and
habits OF their hosts
An American corporal has opened a
barber shop in the abandoned quarters
OF a one-time French barber who now
Is at tho front. Almost Immediately
the American cornered virtually all
the trade in town. He had SO many
customers, both French and American
that he announced that business here
was far better than in his previous
army shops in Manila. Hawaii. Alaska
AS the kits have been unpacked
monographs have made their appear
ance. and the daily military concerts
arc supplemented by informal phono-
graph recitals. The French soldiers
who are camping adjacent to the
Americans are outspoEen admirers of
the American equipment and its prac-
= ,ticability. They particularly praise
Tho cotton belt worn by the Americans.
which they say has not an equal as a
feasible means for carrying the multi
, tudinous gear. such as cartridges,
pistol. knife and other things
They express wonder at the huge
number Of soldiers among the American
troops who carry pistols. They admire
also the new harness and the trap
pings OF horses and mules. AMI envy
q every American soldier their comfort
able cots and sleeping equipment.
Likewise. they marvel at the indie
pendence OF the American officers. who
shift almost entirely for themselves
without the aid OF The customary or
derlies and servants