Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-10-10

around here who have just come back
from conveying transports to England
say that we are to leave for some
where on their ships between the 18th
and 18th of October. Perhaps it is all
rumor. Would just as soon move away
from here. Perhaps we would not
have so much dust. Honestly, this is
the worst place for dust have ever
seen. We eat it all the time. When
we go to drill We hike through it so
thick as to nearly choke us. Coming
back we go through the same perform
ance so all we do is eat dirt. I don't
know just how it will feel to have the
stuff all out Of my eyes.
You see we are close to the ocean
and get good breeze all the time.
Have been looking for rain but today
is the first one and we sure do feel
fine not to have the dust and are also
enjoying the rest. Are supposed to
take ten mile hike this afternoon.
We see lots of aeroplanes here, in fact
they are rapidly making this the big
gest aviation school in the world. A
number of French aviators are here as
instructors and the stunts they pull
off are surely fine. One of our army
aviators went up $4,000 feet last week.
We see them looping the loop and such
other stunts all the time. One, the
other day. would come straight down,
turning round and round until short
way from the ground, then would go
up and do it over again. I would like
to be in that branch; but think have
a big enough job ahead of me as it is.
We are surely doing some drilling.
Have a bunch of new lieutenants and
they realize that we fellows must be
put in shape just as soon as possible
and they surely do put us through.
They are especially strong on the ba-
yonet, and most of our drill period is
given over to learning the fine points
of using the bayonet alone. We sure
ly have a grizzley job ahead of us,
from what they tell us, but if we are
in ethe best shape. we may come out
on top. Will hope so, at least. Even
if we do go across" this fall, it will
be long time before we can go into
the trenches as We have long, hard
training period ahead of us.
I wish you could see, or better yet.
try to live like We do-in a sack. I
have been issued a 'barrack SACK, a
sack as big as any gunny sack, where
in we must keep our personal belong
ings. There is no shape to the thing
so we just jam our stuff into it; then
when we want anything We have the
job in the world. Just find
it. We usually unload the whole thing
before we get through. You can i'm
agine what shape our belongings are
in.
We have lot of fun over our sacks.
They are all we have to keep our junk
in, so We don't have anything more
than is necessary. e.. .#l
No, am not acquainted with Capt.
Powell of Co. L. I saw Mrs. Powell
the Sunday we left Des Moines. had
seen her before, but didn't know for
certain if she was formerly Miss Mink
Ter, or not. She came up to see D.
Howick and shortly before We went
to our train. She said she intended
to come east, but I haven't seen her
yet Perhaps she will be here soon.
have been having quite a time get
ting this letter together. There is
pinochle game on in full
swing and they are surely a noisy
bunch of Indians. Have written let
ter each night for the last four nights
and every time the same sort Of game
was on. The other men must have their
Jun.
! expect there will be another set
soon. I have a cousin who will prob
ably go in the next bunch called.
Won't be long before all the younger
men will be gone. They certainly
ire taking lot of them away.
| understand the First Infantry has
gone to Deming, or will 60 soon. Hope
We can get together again across the
pond" somewhere Captain Gross {
nan is of the opinion that they will
ollow us over and possibly work to- {
,ether.
When we first came here we heard {
he Alabama regiment (167th)was CON- {
ng over to visit us, but they haven't
,een over yet. The people around s
lere seem to think that We from the
vest are from the real wild and woody
vest and it is really amusing at times :
o hear them talk.
Some of the fellows are planning