Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-10-25

Boyer, who died recently in this city
reveal some highly interesting touches
Of the human side Of soldier life. They
were written to his mother, Mrs.
Frank Grigg. and, in addition to the
beautiful expressions of filial devo-
ton which they contain, there are
numerous descriptive passages nota-
BILE for their keenness of observation.
The following extracts give an idea,
first hand, Of the Impressions of boy
Of twenty-four years as he makes his
way into the fighting
March %, 1917. !.
Coming up from Bordeaux the train
was filled with soldiers. We. luckily,
all had seats, but the aisle was filled
with people standing. In the COM
partment, with six others of US, was
got talking. He was a dandy fellow
in, the arti1lery-only. twenty years
old and was just going back to the
front after his permission. He could
speak a. little English, as previous to
the war he had been studying law: ne
family, etc. After he discovered we
were volunteers-didn't have to come
over-in fact, got no pay for lt-he IN
Stantly, and in a manner setting an
argument. said We were crazy aa5 ,,,o.t
Of the French soldiers do, that we are
all a little loose.
Gun Sounds "Great." !.
Gust about a week after our arrival
four of us came out here to fill va
ha trim
was great, especially when we got to
where we could hear the guns. The
last few hours of the trip we were all
rnshinE from one side of the train to
the other, knocking over colonies and
stepping on generals in our. eagerness
to see an aeroplane or captive bal
loon there. The generals and the
colonels took it very well, though, for
although they said a lot of French
didn't discern anyNcuss words.
"Our barracks is "a great portable
building. left here by the English sec
ton who formerly handled this sector.
It leaks a little fright over my bed
and when it SHOWS you KNOW IL Will
out looking outside.
) Gets Car of His Own. !
81 was. just. started out as orderly:
riding with other fellows till learned
the roads but now I've graduated and
have car, of my own and have, in TACT,
taken my turn. at each Of the posts.
Ny first job was the twenty-four-hour
Triage always first to nouveaus. be-
cause the roads are good and you can
use ight9. Most of the men we carry
now are malades (sick) or assises
(men who can sit up}. but that first
night I got my first "coucher blesse."
Just after dinner had rolled with
some malades and boche prisoner. He
| oh NsrA nd
had broken his arm both above and
below the elbow while working in the
prison camp. It panied him badly, and
though he didn't cry out, tears rolled
steadily. I got back to the Triage
and tarn ssere in eses twenty on
stretcher at one end of the room, which
is lust a big shed with a stove, some
benches and desk.
Sight Never to Forget.
'.Well, I dropped right off and slept
Ike a log till wakened. near l o'clock
Inv the sergeant. When looked around
there they were, three big couches all
wounded by hand grsnades: III never
ing around the stove with one little.
lantern swinging overhead. One man
was rolling and coughing, anotheE lay
fiat. on his back just painting as though
he had run miles: The third was moan
ing and had evidently been hit in the
iunxA as he was breathing bloody
foam" -<..-.... ..-.. a.. ,--.-<--.- :.
Wanted to Serve With q. S. Men.
april Is. 1919.
'-rhe fellows all want to get back
home, now that war has been de-
clared, 50 as to get q commission in
our Army. A couple have left al
ready. It's hard to get away, though
because the ambulance wants the men
nose the states are full Of excite
ment.. I hope it won't be. necessary
! to send any of our troops over here,
as I-would hate to sec any or them
shot up tho way some OF the men we
.xYou ought ia, see the villagers and
soldiers cape when we play games
after dinner. These few good even
ings we've had We all turn out to
play duck on the rock run. sheep,
rum etc. sand all the French turn
out. too. One Of tho fellows was
sabots. or wooden shoes, like the
peasants wear and while running
turned his ankle. breaking a bone
He is going into Paris today and will
probably be laid up month or two"
Civilians HHang On"
MAY s, 1917.
Some Of the civilians are still here.
It's funny the way they hang on. hv-
homeA Ono woman has even started
. little shop and sells jam. eto, to
= Just saw my hrse bunch Of Red
f0o0 ao1 great belgian Ieaa1 1e0