Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-01-28
BY n. w. ROSS,
IA Californian with the American
Forces in France

My Dear
You will note by the above that ms
address is changed ! am now 4
candidate for commission II was
very un xpected particularly on my
part As near as can figure out. IL
was decided to organize 4 training
camp over here on the lines Of those
in the States and give the fellows
who enlisted early or who We're In
the original army a chance All tine
regiments over here We're invited 10
send a certain quota and ! was one
of five from my regiment We train
three months. according to program.
under more or less actual war Condi-
lions. and if We pass at the end of
that time. get shoulder straps only
got here Yesterday | am private
entirely surrounded by military tai
ent. 4 sort Of an island There is
only one other private in the school
There are men mere who We're in
the training camps in the States and
cult 10 get over here quick. men who
chased Pancho Villa in Mexico. men
who have been i'm the trenches and
explored No Mans Land, and ser
eeants. top sergeants and sergeant
majors who have been in the regular
army for years But there is no one
ever thirtytWo. | am closer TO tho
front than | was before by a good
many miles-SO close that it is be-
ginning 10 look blamed business like
was talking TO one Of the fellows
who was in the trenches this morn
ing They don't 20 into details. but
say that it isn't SO uncomfortable
They are firm i'm the belief that when
the Americans START they viii keep
going IN the quiet sector they We're
in. they say, the principle aim OF
both sides seemed to be 10 keep the
peace \ French sentry told one OF
them If you see Il German, don't
shoot; youll only starr trouble
Hell, said the American. that's
what We're here for The men live
fairly comfortably in the dugoutS he
said, In one that he was in there
were three or four rooms, an electric
light plant and even a piano.
This camp is located at what think
was an old French armory We are
CHARTERED in a sturdy stone building
three stories high No electric lights
bum ventilation. It is very cold
Snow on the ground and in the morn.
ing ice. which doesn't always melt
during the day But ii is inyigOrat-
ing, Which causes me TO remark
that the American army must be the
best clothed in the field This was
impressed upon me particularly when
| packed up. In the line Of clothes
here is what | was supposed to put
INTO little bag, suit case and on
my back. Two suits olive drab. ON
overall suit, including denim hat. two
N''hPuSh udN0t iIibtt pals ltEGllIEN.
ten pairs of socks, three blankets. half
Slllter and half poncho three pairs of
shoes, four wooden shirbs one pair OF
Knit gloves, one pair leather gloves.
1ve towels, one sweater This. doesn't
include ordnance incidentals and
toilet articles, | turned in before !
lett my company. a pair of hip rub.
Der boots and suit of fisherman,
oilskins for rain and mud Some of
the fellows holer about the issue OF
clothes, but | never had as many in
civil life.
The same applies to the eats. Al
though army fare lacks the delicacv
and choice Of a civilian feed. it is
plenteous and substantial The
American solder will fare better this
Winter than the average French per
son, military or otherwise There
are no less" days in the American
army. We actually eat meat on Mon
days and TUESDAYS and have all the
Dread we can go all the time. while
the French are always confronted
with meatesS. pOtatoless. chocolate.
less. candyleSs days The usual army
breakfast consists of bacon, potatoes.
gravy, bread and coffee. The feature
OF the other meals frequently is stew
which is good whom you're hung
---peans etc, and there is usually Il
dessert And take coal and wood for
lnstance. There always is a fire in
American barracks and huts At my
Isl AllllNn LnA u.nrn n..L...- ~. L.