Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1918-08-01

LOT training III thN navy AAc 40 -
' the list Of 1918 registrants but sc
/ cured his release from the draf
4 board before the recent law forbid
r ding the issuance OF releases wen
into effect. Merlin will make fin'
? sailor.
- - -
Merle c. Bradshaw, a HeringtoI
boy and now with a headquarter'
company of the 353rd Infantry
writes from Somewhere in France
II wish you could see the beautiful
city we are opposite tonight, or, at
least that ] could tell you of it and
describe in some way its beauty, and
they say ii is not considered beau
tiful city in this country. ] never
saw enything that equalled 1t In
America
We had a delightful trip without
bit of trouble from any source. ]
was not sick a minute of the way
and am feeling fine The sea agrees
with me, / guess as have picked up
several pounds since leaving Amer
lea.
All the men are hilarious and hap
ply tonight and are crazy TO go
ashore. Presume we will be off the
boat tomorrow We had one sad &C
cident which resulted in the death
of one and the wounding of anoth-
err. l was detailed to take the state
ments of the various witnesses and
to report the investigation. 1t would
appear that ! will continue to be an
link we'll soldier
! wish ! could tell you of our trip
and the many pleasures connected
with it. where we are, when we left
how many days at sea, the character
of our ship, the number of men on
board the size of the convoy, etc,
but cannot do this until the war is
over. Be assured we are given the
best of everything and all measures
are taken for our comfort and safety.
wouldn't take anything for the
time / have been in the army: We,
of course, have not the comforts and
privileges of civil life, but what we
have is shared by all of us, and we
really enjoy it. Nobody "squawks,
as the boys say.
r. - -
George Bistine, a Detroit boys
writes home from Somewhere in
France: are in a splendid To-
cation now-good water and lots OF
it. Open springs and syphoned water
may be seen even at farm houses
with a stream of water running out
of a large rock and into rock |
trough. Slipping rocks in each trough |
serve as a dashboard. and you can
see the women bring their soiled
clothing there to wash The soldiers |
take up the custom very readily |
and more soldiers are at the tanks
with laundry soap and brush than
women generally, think.
Sunday evening / saw my first
real flock of sheep on hillside with
shepherd, crook and dog. We all en-
joy seeing the people at their work
here-some with oxen, which are
common They use oxen even on the
mower and hay wagon and even have
some of them shod with iron shoes.
We saw several rakes, mowers and
a binder or two, but the scythe or
cradle has by ne means seen its last
days even in the hay field. The peo-
pie here are nicer and more social
able class than any we have met yet.
Some women gave flowers to the
boys.
There are plent of rabbits here
they are called Loppa in French. We
all have wrap puttees now and little
caps without a bill. We turned in
our regular hats but have our steel
mats. we MGTc III IVA Sdl SCiA'N6
down, except the officers, 40 in
car and it was better than their
board seat passenger cars. Some OF
rs rode on top and when we went
through some tunnels but that was
'un too. One of the boys and ! went
IN a little stroll last evening, going
about miles. We were in a large
Catholic church supposed to have
built in A. D. 1900. 1t was magnifi-
,ent inside. In going back we cut
across and l tried to jump across
,reek but it was too wide and ] fell
Jack in. Did not get very wet though. :
Ne have not had pay day yet but :
ire expecting it anytime now. took
nv shoes off yesterday to rest my
eel and seeing some of those wood {
N shoes put them on and tried to /
walk but there is no counter on them |