The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-11-03
Guy Hill and Dan Butler Local
War Heroes.
HILL WRITES STATE JOURNAL
Says Soldiers Long for Good
Old American Smoke.
Railroads in France Not What
They Are in Kansas.

Butler, former amateur baseball star,
have been in the trenches, according
to a letter received today by the State
Journal.
Both men have been in the trenches
in active service, and have fired on the
Germans. The experience was new
and interesting but now they are get
ting used to it, he states
The two Topeka men belong to the
first company to see active service.
and were among the first American
soldiers to train in the trenches.
Hill and Butler are both attached
to the railway engineers who were
sent to the front soon after America
entered the war. OF their whole eX-
perience only two complaints were
registered.
One complaint was in regard to the
French railways, which, they declare,
are hundred years behind Ameri-
can machines. American efficiency
at the right hand of the soldiers"
however has enabled them to take
charge of the French roads and run
them with as much ease as the old
American kind.
The Railroad Situation.
The railroad situation. according to
the latter, has been summed up in an
article enclosed in the letter to the
State Journal taken from an army
edition of the Chicago Tribune. Fol
lowing is an extract from the article:
The French railways have been
found in excellent condition. The
natural resources, from which they
have drawn in the construction of
roadbeds has enabled them to bring
quickly their right-of-ways up to first
class condition for heaving traffic
The rails and ties are of the best and
the motive power is in good condition.
IL
are decidedly different from those of
American railways and the handling
of the engines is somewhat different,
it has been found that the American
boys can quickly overcome these diff
cultieS and it was only a matter of a
few days riding with their French
comrades until they were able to as
sumo the operation alone.
The men are quartered in good bar
racks, which are provided with port
able heating stoves and are quite COM
Portable even tho they were very has
tily constructed. Upon arrival at head
quarters it was found necessary to
quate facilities for washing and
drinking water but these things have
now been provided and remedied.
French Tobacco 'sPunk."
The second conaplaint was against
French tobacco which Hill declares is
not the least bit palatable and is very
hard to roll. Hill and his comrades in
the trenches have heard that the Unit
ed States is soon to send some good
old Bull Durham and Prince Albert"
to them. The boys are all. eagerly
awaiting the arrival of the first tin
of American tobacco, he says
The French language, too, received
a gentle slap from Hill in his letter.
By talking with both hands and with
the use of a translation book, the SOL
diers can make themselves under
Stood he states.
Following is the letter received by
the State Journal, which was marked
tersisnature of the censor, dated Oc-
tober Is, 1917:
Dear Editor
81 received copy of the good old
home paper, the State Journal, the
other day sent me by my mother and
do not believe that the paymaster
would have been more welcomed. I
even read the ads and enjoyed them.
There is another boy from Topeka
in my company. Dan Butler is his
name, and he will be remembered
there in the amateur baseball world.
We have very little time for the ma
tional pastime here, as we are now
working at our various occupations.
THE railway equipment here is
hundred years behind the times but
the great American efficiency is al
ways at our right hand and the boys
soon became accustomed to the en-
gines and handle them now as we did
our own at home.
I'VE are patiently awaiting the ar
rival of our American engines which
we hear are now on the way.
French Are Nice.
THE French are very nice to us
and are congenial and do everything
to make us at home. The language is
very hard to 'compre' but by using
both hands and a translation book we
can manage to get by.
I'VE have the honor of being the
first regiment in active service and
have had several interesting expert
ences but we are getting used to it.
Il noticed that the Americans
were getting ready to send us some
tobacco. we sure would appreciate
some good old B. D. or P. A The
French tobacco is not the least bit
palatable and is very hard to roll.
Il wish 1 could tell you of our trip
and where we are located but that is
strictly against orders and you know
We're in the army now and 1 want
this to go.
q wish that you would give my re-
CARDS to Harvey Parsons and any
other of my friends Cf 1 have any
and I would like to see a copy of the
good old paper that has the list of
the draft in it.
Trusting the old town is keeping
her standard up in this great cause. I
remain, Yours Sincerely,
GUY II. HILL.
Co. F, 18th Engineers"
Try. A. F. F. via New York