The Colville examiner. [volume] (Colville, Wash.) 1907-1948, 1918-10-05
M|MEOCRAPH
SAVES Time.
SOLDIERS COMBINE ON LETTER
WRITING IN UNUSUAL
MANNER
Friends of Ted Richardson Receive
Letter of Series from
France

Mimeographed letters have solved
the letter writing problem for group
of soldiers in the intelligence section
of the first army corps, somewhere in
France. Ted Richardson, the Col
vile member of the "mimeograph
brigade, has sent the first of the SER
les of Autographed letters to Colville
friends. The salutation is "Dear
Wife, Sweetheart, Cousin, or Friend"
and check is placed above the salu-
tation which suits the particular let
ter.
This is the letter: Owing to
press of business and present con-
ditions over which we have no
control, it is almost impossible for
each of us to write to each of you as
often as we want to hear from all of
you; and experience has taught that
in order to hear from you, we must
write. We are therefore addressing
this letter to you all, and ask that
each one of you consider it personal
appeal to yourself alone. 1t is our
present intention to write to you at
least twice month. Our present
office hours being from a. m. to
about I'M p. M, we have consider
able time to while away and instead
of lounging around the Y. M. 1--WE un-
derstand they have some over here,
especially in the S. o. S.) we have
resolved to each forego enough of this
luxury to contribute our proportionate
share to the bi-weekly letter and then
every other Sunday one of us will
stay at home from church and mimeo-
graph it. Should our letters prove
uninteresting to you, simply fail to
answer and they will automatically
cease.
By way of introductions, we are at
present four in number, and consti-
tute the brain and Drawn of the ad-
vance section of the intelligence sec
.tion of the first army corps. In ad-
dition of the present personnel, we
have in close support our regimental
sergeant major, Harry A. Race, the
real commander of the "mimeograph
brigade, who will be more elaborate
ly eulogized upon rejoining his COM
mand.
E. c. Richardson (Ted), chief clerk,
is a native of the state of Washing
ton, transplanted to our national CAPT.
tai short while and from there to
France. About 26 years old, peace
full, law abiding and easy to get along
with if properly treated; otherwise a
dangerous character. He has a
sweetheart of whom he talks unceas-
ingly. We don't remember whether
her name is Irene, Mabel or Maude,
but she is constantly in his thoughts
and we have her for breakfast, dinner
and supper. He has been selected as
manager and treasurer of our staff
and will discuss each week our food
conservation-a very touching subject
over here.
Descriptions of the other members
of the "brigade" follow: George M.
Bailey, affectionately known through
out France as "Babe de Bureau, also
halls from the state of Washington,
our war department and bears ear
marks of Gary, Indiana. He is ap-
parently old enough to vote and takes
life about as seriously as French
doll. He is a crackerjack stenog-
rapher and talks French fluently.
He confides in no one but seems to
have various love affairs both at home
and abroad and apparently plays no
.favorites. He is now showing great
aptitude as collector of rare insects
and hence has. been assigned the broad
subject for discussion in our weekly
reports of our home life abroad"
We have been through great part of
invaded France, right at the heels of
the retreating Boche, and have seen
many interesting sights and places
and have been in our share of the ex
citement and danger. Our office has
been located in everything from
palatial chateau to small riddled
dwelling house. Some of the towns
have been literally pounded to dust
heaps while others, though the stone
buildings still stand, had not whole
building to their names but were a
collection Of pitiful shelters with
roofs and walls as full of holes as a
sieve.
The most pitifur sight of all to us
is that of the refugees plodding back
from the front driven from their
homes by threatened further ad-
vance Of the Hun. All of their