Newport daily independent., 1918-11-06

got up and said he wanted to send a message home by Hon. MT. Padgett. He said, "The men of this station are going to put that flag Ca big flag hanging up in the mess hall) where it belongs, and keep it there" Then is when the cheering started.
 There was military band here a few nights ago and we sure had one more band concert We haven't a very good band here, but it is getting better all the time.
 The boys still keep talking about being home Christmas and more about the Christmas dinner. 1 think that would be too good to be true.
 I went to Bordeaux a few Sundays ago. It is pretty place. The houses are all made of rock and concrete and covered with tile. It is clean-look- ing place and they have some ncie looking stores of all kinds. They have street cars, but they are small and most of them are run by women. They have some pretty parks with lots of pretty flowers.
 I saw many war widows. Half the young women are dressed in mourn ing. Some of them are fne.looking and well dressed. French girls are not bit bashful. I got into bunch of four and they tried to talk to me. couldn't understand much they were saying. Gee! 1 would have given ten dollars to be able to under stand them. I had lots of fun though. The boys who talk French are the lucky ones now.
 Yes, There are many people who would like to know about our work, but there is no use for me to tell you for it wouldn't go through.
 You see, it's this way. l was an apprentice seaman-that is third class seaman. Then I was raised to second class, and left the lakes that way. because they wouldn't give me l first class when I had never had any experience on the sea. When 1 left Buffalo they gave me third-class car penter mates rate, or third-class | petty officer. Then it goes to second class carpenters mate, then 1lrst- class. Next is chief carpenters mate then warrant carpenter, then ensign Then we get our commission and first gold bar. Guess that is as high as I'll get.
 We were pulling plane out of the water the other day, and French physician came along in boat and took out his camera, and pointed Ii towards the plane, and the officer ln charge called him into the bank and took his camera and looked at it. Tn; Frenchman said he never took pic ture of the plane, but he acted as Il he thought the officer was going te shoot him.
 I have just got back from Soulac There wasn't much doing there today -only four or five in bathing, ane not many people in town at all. di5n't care much about going, but i was my time for liberty and I thought I would take it while I could. This evening coming back from Soulat there were some French people II the same apartment with us. They had lunch and gave us bunch oi I grapes and some war bread. 1 asked one of the girls what the bread was made of and she said "maize." She could talk some English, but she did l not seam to understand what meant. The bread smells good and tastes goods, but I don't think it has any corn in it.
 Three American girls gave us a little entertainment a few nights ago at the Y. M c. A. All the boys act I'd as if it were great sight to see an American girl. It seems to put some thrill into 3. man to see even a flat car marked U. s. A.
 1 One of the boys hera asked me to whom I write so much. He says write four or five letters to every one else's one.
 From Omar.
 P. S.-I heard the big guns the other day.