La Junta tribune., 1917-10-04
SOLDIER BOY IN CUBA
Cuba Is = Beautiful Island, With q
Fine Climate, but Rather Warm
-Plcuty Of Close Friends


letter few days ago from her son
J. r. Renick. who is q member ol
the Seventh Regiment, United Slater
Marine Corps. and now located 81
Guatemala Bay, Cuba. Young Rea.
lick left La Junta about SIX years
ago, and since that time has beer
in the service Of Uncle Sam-four
years with the coast patrol and two
years with the marines. He passed
through La Junta q few weeks age
on a marine special" bound fol
Philadelphia. and sent his mother a
telegram to meet him at the train
but the telegram was not delivered
until the day after the train had
passed through La Junta. and Mrs
Woodruff failed TO see her son. The
letter from Cuba is as follows:
I'VE left Philadelphia by trans
port on our arrival there. bound 70:
regions unknown to myself. How.
ever, we have now been in Cuba for
three weeks. Guatemala Bay u 4
wild, unsettled part OF Cuba. and Il
is sure some tropical country. Ev
erything is fine. notwithstanding, ex.
cept that we suffer from tho intense
heat. The evenings are just grand
being invigorating and quite COO.
The whole regiment was invited to
participate and enjoy themselyes
at carnival given by brother ma.
rines at another post. Flags Of all
nations placed In stage effect. sur.
rounded With glaring colors. along
with moving pictures. boxing con
tests. chicken and cheese sandwich.
es. cigars. cigarettes. etc, provided
us with a fine line OF amusements
We are furnished free with gloves
balls and bats and one OF the finest
diamonds I have ever seen. Every.
thing In this line OF the service Is
absolutely up TO date. Our clothing
is Of the very best material. and
the msrine regulation shoes arc
worth 81 or 81 pair. We always
have good food. Besides com
pany mess fund. each man donates
IN amount up to 81 per month that
provides them with some OF the ex-
ira fancy dishes and luxuries. can
truly say that our food Is equal to
any average first-class hotel.
In the states we usually have one
continual round OF good times. but
over here We work like blazes-that
Is. the heat from the sun makes us
imagine so. anyway. The nearest
city is several miles away through
the mountains. Guatemala Is a city
OF about 10000 population. and II
we are granted liberty we will surely
make up for lost time. All can
think OF at present In that We are
camped in a new ~avai station. sur
rounded on all sides by the sun
with small foothills in the fore
ground. and huge mountains. exact
ly like the Rockies in appearance. In
tho background.
We have also = great variety OF
friends-fricnds that are friends.
They come ms friends and depart ~
such. and ss such We feel closely
related. Our friends consist OF
Cuban mosquitoes. all kinds OF funny
bugs. scorpions. harmless little
snake-faced. squint-cycd. beetle
browed. hair-brsined. short-lexsed
lizards. Some times they creep.
Jump and run double time. but they
kill files and insects, and as sucl,
thcy are our best friends.
In the bay we have the sea fowl.
the most noted Of which Is the shark
The big devils can sure jump. Then
comes the sword fish. lie Is pos
sessed Of very queer ideas. When
we arc In swimming IL the time they
get at us. The little devils leave
their cuts on the arms. fcct. and
legs. or any place else that 10 con-
vsnisnt. call them the !. W. vs.
Of the hay. They sneak around ssd
make a strike. and ! sure have 20
uss for them. Some variety! WHAT
ssa fish. small. harmless reptiles.
aad many otAsrs that I have ~.
viously dsscribsl. but worse than
I'll. the sliny old bussards. TAsss
huss. black. havk.like bussards. ars
surs some birds.
TAis b . beautiful island. bow.
ever. With vsry Sich coll. Sugar eaae.
factories ssd tobacco are the ehisl
lndustrses. WITH very rich pisata.
tSons. A. I an sxecting 70 ~ q
liberty some OF thsss days. ! A. 90
las % Improve The opportunity aal
~ Jest - nuch Of this place =
poaeobly ca. Would like 10 WRIT
Havana. - thsy ~ Il b . groal
tDR0 A. naA kmnst lhaw 49,