The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1918-08-23


Private Milton d. Dorsey is q SON
6f MIR. and Mrs. Basil Dorsey, Berrett,i
and was drafted from Imperial, Cali
fornia ana transferred to Maryland.
He was sent to Camp Meade October
lit, 1917, was later transferred toN
Camp Gordon, Atlanta, Ga, where me
received his training, and left for
overseas service April 25, and landed
in France May $. lie IL twenty-five
years old and is NOW In active service.
Somewhere IT. France"
July g7, 1873
ADears Mother: have been re-
ceiving your letters on good time. It
takes them about three weeks ttoI
come here
Il was away from the Company for
awhile attending Chauchat GunnerS
school, and did not get your letters
so soon. "A Chauchat Gunners
mark smanshfp contest was held by
enc Df the French instructors f1 our
Division and a major awarded prizes.
I won first prize I'm my company, and
second prize in the division I RE
|cefved gold mounted cigarette hold
er and two quarts of champagne
The champagne I gave tO some Of
the boys, and the cigarette holder
will bring home as a. souvenir.
Everything and aIl reports wv Eet
here are very encouraging, and gives
us hopes of soon getting home. We
have had our first experience I'm the
front line, but arr fn reserve now.
We are in reserve one third OF the
time, then support and then front
line All Of TIM boys are in better
spirits now than ever before.
Some American Y NJ G. A. ladies
were here last night and they said
that the nearer the front they get the
better spirit they find.
The Germans do mot like to- To-
opposite the Americans, and think
they have good reasons.
a German soldier deserted his
command last week and gave up aS
a prisoner, because he knew he was
opposite Americans He said he did
not mind fighting the French Or
British, but was afraid OF Americans.
He had returned from a furl0ugh
home and had some black bread his
mother had given him to eat In ease
of delay in getting to our side. He
said that peace would soon follow am
Allied victory.
Il think it is not necessary for peo-
pie at home to believe all the reports
OF the treatment OF the Allied prison
ers by the Huns for we have many
of their prisoners too, and il they are
hard ON our prisoners, they would To-
afraid Of retaliation.
I'VE have found conditions better
here at all times than We expected,
and have the best OF everything. We
have all that we can eat, and that is
good bit, for we have good appetites.
The news We have been getting OFF
late gives us hopes OF getting home
sooner than we expected some time
ago We have ali seen great deal
or Europe We always heard 1T was
such a pretty place, but don't think
lit can be compared with American
scenery, and T dc not wonder at 20
many people leaving here to make
their homes i'm America
WE do not have I'd work 10 hard
here as in camp at home We expect |
ed to find it harder, but did nGt.
I'VE are now in barracks some dis
lance from the front. One of our |
battalions is in the trenches, but we
have good trenches and dugouts
there. The Huns built them too
"The health of the men has been
better here than i'm camp &C home.
There has been very little sickness
here and we are all happy and glad
to do our part i'm crushing the ones
who caused III tO b. here
~. want you all to feel as I do, for
think we will be together before
.hfs time next year, and many think
yet this year.
With love to all,
MILTON D- DORSEY