The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1918-08-09

AtiN A'iioWihb ttttri tIoAl 6ukc Nc
CURE who is in France to his broth
err. Mr.. ]. y. Mcclure. OF Ashland. will
be read with interest:
In Field, France.
June rs, 1918.
Dear brother JIM
This letter Is leaving me ''alltogeth-
err and none the worse for the greatest
experience of my life. I wrote you
something about the battle OF Cambria
in which I took part. That battle was
merely skirmish compared TO this one
and which Is still going on. / am now
in the rest camp after seven months at
the front am wearing two service
stripes and am proud OF them. You
win notice by my address that have
been promoted 20 sergeant
wish that could tell you just a
few things about the war as I have
seen Il. but the censor does not allow
IT, The only picture that can be
drawn OF II is hell. You people at
home do not realize and can not real
IKE the half We see and experience
over here. know when we come
home. II we do that many persons will
say impossible, you could not have
gone through all that and live to tell
it, Even these villages. post cards
Of which I am enclosing. miles and
miles behind the lines have been shat
tered by bombs dropped from airplanes
am resting 40 miles behind the lines
but I hear the roaring OF guns in the
big battle that Is raging as / write. I
ave been with the British On ths
Western front. and believe me. II was
some warm place. ! have seen lots Of
sammies in the past week and mighty
glad was 10 see them need not tell
you that upon the Sammies depends
everything ] am anxious to see them
get busy in the air. for the sooner we
conquer In the air the sooner the war
viii be over. The air raids are horrf-
bis awful They destroy and kill the
old and young alike for miles and miles
around behind the lines and life is a
game OF chance even that far back
But our slogan Is. Garry on We be-
gin 20 feel now that the war will prob
ably end this year. But then our work
will never be over. The people will
have another immense task confront
Ing them--that OF putting their houses
and homes in order again And al
though IL be true that the winning Of
the war must ever he our great pre-
occupation. we can not allow the fu-
ture to take care OF itself We must be
better prepared for peace than we were
for war
shall be leaving the rest camp soon
and by the time this letter reaches you
l expect I'll be In the midst OF the
fray again Here's hoping that my
next turn viii be a little milder than
in April and May.
did not get 70 go to London as I
wrote you that expected TO do as all
passes were called in when Fritzie
started his drive I was in q town a
few days ago that + built in the bed
I OF the river Seine / enjoyed the
quaintness CT the little town which is
mostly built up OF factories These
| factories were located on the corners
OF streets and were run by water
wheels. This was all very interesting
to me and Il goes without saying that
IL seemed good to see running stream
OF water as clear as crystal after SEE
| ing nothing but mud-puddles for 50
long.
Our camp was taken and occupied
on March - I lost everything had
except the clothes was wearing. but
thanked my lucky stars to get off
with that I was without blankets fos
- days We are sleeping under -four
blankets now Cunel 50 just chin when
you think OF sleeping under nee in
March. The bed i am using u1w 4
made OF straw on the ground in = bell
tent Our rest camp Is located in real
pretty country.
Keep the letters from home coming
fast. they are life savers 70 the Boys
| over here Most Of Us have had
enough Of The horrors Of war and are
ready to come home. but VIC won't b
hack till it's over. over here With
much love to the family and kindes'
regards to inquiring friends
Your brother.
LUKE
Sergeant Luke Mcclure.
Company r 18th Engineers
American Exped- Force. France.