Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-11-07
CLARENCE c. BAILEY
SAYS REAL WORK
IS FOUND IN ARMY
CROPS IN FRANCE GOOD. EX-
PECTS TO AID INCOMING SAM
MIESv IN LEARNING DRILL
Somewhere in France"
October 5th. 1917.



1T is about your turn to get a letter
from sme. Our company has just
come from guard duty and we are a
pretty tired bunch, but | will write
to you and that will rest me, i guess.
| suppose the boys were glad to
leave Grayling, but let me tell you
when they get to Texas they will
want to- get over here and they will
look back to the times they had in the
states and will kick themselves for
wanting to get away so quick. / can
tell them they are not stepping into
any play\ work over here. We have
done our hard work and now / guess
some Of us will have to learn them
the drill and believe me we can do it.
The fruit crop was good over here
and we can buy apples, peaches and
all kinds of fruit. When we go into
store and want to buy anything we
take out our pocketbook and say
(use Frank and point to the thing
we want. The French people are get
ting so thsy can understand a little
English so we can trade little bet
ter with them now.
There is great difference in the
weather here now. The leaves have
fast, and the nights are cold. l think
the weather is about the same as in
Canada. | don't see how the boys can
get furlough now, but when they
get over here they won't get one, you
bet.
get the Banner and News and
guess all my mail now, and ! get my
share thanks to my friends. | am
keeping a diary that will make good
history and we viii exchange when
get home.
We had inspection the other day
and we have TO look our best for that
you know.
We pulled off a contest between the
machine gun companies, and the idea
is to get the gun set up as quiet as
we can. Company II. can get the
gun up pretty fast and | hardly be-
lieve we can be beaten. You ought
To see one in action. There are three
or four men at one of the guns when
it is being fired, and two other men
besides the chief-of-piece, who is the
corporal of the half section; and you
bet the old gun speaks, too. / am
gunner of the first gun, so you see
am right on the job. We have got
our training down pretty good and are
waiting for the next step. This is
the greatest opportunity that a young
fellow will ever have and am sure
l. viii never be sorry that 1 went
through it.
We can hear the artillery at drill
and the heavy guns at work. We
learn something new every day
something that is not printed, in
books.
How did the high school come out
in football this year. Keep my foot
ball letters for / want to have some
thing to show that / once played on
the team.
The hills look beautiful now and
the people are fast gathering their
crops, which were good. France is
surely beautiful country and / wish
you could see it as it now is. Come on
over and 90 through the drill with me
as we used to. | think / can learn
you something now.
| had a letter from Floyd Pierson
at Waco Texas. He says its awful
warm there. Say, he can't tell me
about Texas-I've been there. Ha!
to you. He is well.
Well, / guess / will stop now so
with best of love to you,
| remain,
Your brother,
Clarence.
Up. ST. had two letters returned to
me the other day because / did not
have my full name and company on,
so you see they are pretty strict with
us about our mail.