The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1918-01-24
our being on the water snnnlu work

as owing to the above condition most
of the water is contaminated and
sewer systems are practically I'M
known. It doesn't make much diff
ference to the French as they drink
hardly and water but use light wines
instead and they find it hard to under
stand American soldiers worrying
about drinking water.
The terrible results of the war can
be seen practically all over the coun-
try. Aside from the boys and old
men, the only French male population
you see are the soldiers home on their
ten days in every four months leave.
1t has been long, hard pull for them
and they indeed welcome tse Ameri-
can army with all its faults. But ]
personally hold this new American
army in high respect. Men who as
late as September were attending
their usual business in civil life-then
left their all-many of them good
homes and large businesses-andto took
up the hard life of soldier, different
from any other life in mans exist
ence, are getting away with it in fine
shape. Here again American thrift
is shown in that they are so quickly
able to adapt themselves to the new
life. OF course we all feel that COM
ing as we do from the best country in
the world and having so many loyal
and sympathetic supporters at home
we should do our best and make the
best Of everything.
Considering the hard winter and the
hard work we are having very little
sickness among the men. This is Of
course accounted for by the thorough
and careful courses of serum innoc-
ulations the men go thru before leav-
ing us: also the excellent food we get
and the abundance of good warm
clothing. Uncle Sam is surely good
provider, and while on that topic l
must not forget the excellent sweat
ers, wristlets and scarfs that the Red
Cross send over. While they are not
a part of the regular uniform, very
few soldier blouses there are that do
not have underneath the warm Red
Cross sweater Another thing that
makes the army more pleasant for the
men (you seldom hear them called
".boys" over here for each is doing a
full grown mans part) is the Y. NJ.
c.. A. huts that are to be found in
practically every town occupied by
American soldiers. We opened one
at our fort the night before Xmas and
were assured by one of the Y secre-
tary - large, able, good-hearted
Irish American-that if the American
generals would keep them informed
when the troops would be going, they
(the Y. M. C. Az, would try to be
there just little ahead and erect a
hut for the soldiers comfort and also
that yhen we reached Berlin that we
would find them there The Y. also
has taken over the place of the Army
commissary and sell mostly every
thing that soldier wants at American
prices, even cigarettes and tobacco
when they have them. We have Jared
real we'll during Xmas as quite liberal
PACKAGES were handed each man dur
ing Xmas week. It was quite treat
as there had been a shortage for a
a short time before that.
Up where we are we see very few
of the American barracks that we
were used to but men and officers are
billeted in the French towns around
at the various houses. Each house
is labeled in plain figures, so many
officers, men or horses. Some of us
draw some very fine rooms and spend
very comfortable nights. The main
shortage as far as we are concerned
are light and fuel and it is surprising
how we'll we can manage on very lit
tie. l notice by your paper that for
mer Co. D of Minot were expected
over. l should like to run across them
here as l think just enough of North
Dakota to feel that they will be just
q little better than most of the other
companies and ! know that before
things are over, over here, that they
will be heard from and give good
account of themselves.
Must close now, as my candle allow
ance for tonight is about used up.
Am looking forward to the day when
this war may be over and l can call
at your office personally and thank
you for sending your paper over here.
Very cordially,
CAPT. S. j. HILLS, M. R. c.,
Surgeon Goth Engineers, A. E. F.,
Via Paris.