The Sentinel=record., 1918-10-24

'~~~~~~-~~--~-~>~~~-~~.~ lice reeulations and run the town in
 solar as it affected the troops. The lpe0ple are very primitive here. still wearing wooden shoes, and garb them I selves in characteristic rural French l costumes euch as you often see in pictures. The soldiers were scattered -lall ever own in billets. By bilets l 7! mean mostly stables with straw on the floor. l was located at a place almost a castle, which until the war, was Il owned by a wealthy German wine dealer. He raised worlds of grapes
 and made excellent wine as soon dis lowered. After war was declared 1t was learned that he was Colonel in the German army and had made his 'lescape three days previous 10 the out
 break of war. He was active as a spy in France as search of his effects
 disclosed he had everything pertain } ing to espionage.
 The lack of men here is very notice
 able as iu all French towns. Those you see are either extremely old, or lare wounded soldiers. and the women lin the rural districts are nearly all been directly touched by this war
 Foods are hard to obtain. even tohac-
 co Is obtained by the natives with
 tickets something like obtaining sugar
 in the IT. S, only much more diff
 ncult
 We were at salignac a delighttu two weeks, with the exception of the
 fact that we had no tobacco. Te men were more or less disgruntled and dis
 satisfied over this l sent to Cognac Saintes. and other places but could nor
 buy any tobacco at all. Finally our supply company issued tobacco in very {, small quantities. but sufficient to sat- isfy We are HOW getting all that we want. and l certainly hope it lasts. We
 left Salignac in another downpour 0i rain and loaded in box cars for here. !, Every body wet and tired On the tram overnight l again was cold, sleepy and [ tired and unable to rest My eXper- z fence to now teaches me that this is } indeed a very inconvenient war. With plenty of work, and likewise plenty to eat, we all hated to leave Saignac. } The beds for the officers were the best have seen since leaving home. These ! French people always have good beds. Also I do not want to forget tneir
 drinks. COgnac is the center of the
 Cognac brandies, and the wine dis T trict of France All the natives drink wine like we do water, and it is seldom , one is seen under the influence of it, /, although it is sufficiently powerful 10 ' knock an American soldier flat of his
 back Wine is produced everywhere fl here.
 - Cognac is town of about 30,Q0o il people Am American officer was a f eurosity there, and on my foragng JIG e inhabitants would gaze at me Ike Q was a curosity but were as nice aa [, they could be to me. l went througf IS the Hennessey factory, q famod. 70 brandy in the t. $. The manager tool 'r me through from where the grapes 'l enter to the finished product, and a. la farewell gift presented me with 'u quart of the best brandy produced ,e any where Much better than StaI ' We are now located near a large SC " bort on the coaast. The men quarter . ed in warehouses and the officers |
 tents Our future Is unknown but ,b looks like the regiment will be use I1i around the docks for short time onl. ia I have been detailed to attend schot ey near the front lines, and understan e. that my work will be almost alto in gether in the front line trenches. WI i'd leave here tomorrow sometime prol
 ably goine through Paris. Please writ l." me as often as you can as otherwis d-lI will probably not hear anythit d- from dear old Hot Springs. Until no VII have not received a letter from an, les one. and only once in awhile a Par l1s edition of an American paper sif as down here, Consequently news of tl 'V outside world is very scarce. l cou oe write you a book if not restricted VI the censor but for the present W " lcease. Remember me to all of n ' friends. Win write you again soon u'
 less restricted by being on the fro tue lines.
 by Affectlonately,
 asi HARTLEY