Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1918-02-18
Lieut.. Dick 'Cerhardt Writes Letter
About Army Affairs "Over There

The following very interesting let
ter was recently received by Circuit
Court Clerk and Mrs L. Dew. Ger
i.ardt from their son, Lieutenant L.,
Dew. Gerhardt, jr., who Is now in
France. An unusual feature about
the letter is that it tells something Of
camp life in France, as well as some
OF the activities of the boys from
America
France,
January 9th. 1915.
Dear Mother and Father:
Quite a bunch of mail came this
week. Sweaters. wristlets, wooden
socks, knitted things. Xmas cards,
many letters and, oh joy, cigarettes
from "Bim". in Arizona, and Name
Barr, in Kentucky. You tell me you
sent cigarettes dozen times and
are still sending them; but / have
only received one package from you.
Talk about good things that poem
called Tags doesn't half express
the joy from good American cigaret-
fes. Poets may rave about the rings
from cigars and wreaths from the
pipe. but nothing equals the pleasure
that comes from the 'makin's'. If
the girls want to be true angels of
mercy, send cigarettes to the boys in
France.
Mail delivery is growing somewhat
better, but is still bad enough. We
do not blame Uncle Sam-either his
mail service men or his soldiers
but II he would establish purely
military mail bureau We would fare
better. There are boxes and boxes
and boxes in various warehouses, but
there are too few clerks to handle
them
As you knowtI have been special
zing Ia machine gun companies or
classes, and the first series ended
Wednesday stopping to tell
my good fortune. At the last meet
ing the orders were read. Ny bunk
ie.'' with three Others goes to an
other school, and it hurts to lose him.
The best six men were retained as
permanent instructors. and I am one
am not boosting, and know you
win forgive my being proud of the
fact that ! stood at the head of a
class Of so officers. worked hard so
that could remain here, and have
succeeded. OF course / have to keep
on making good. II / do / shall re-
main here the rest of the war be
Iieve ] can do a little better hereaft-
er but whether do better or not
they'll have to say HE done his
d---est."
have heard that Ben Fiery went
to Italy, but think there is some
mistake about 1t. There are no train
ing camps there that he could attend
neither are there any ports where
American soldiers are sent No mat
ter where he may be sent. some OF
bis training. either preliminary OF
final. will be in France. If can find
where he is will go to see him
for they say may have short fur
Tough after continuous work for sew
eral months.
While my work is with the same
character Of classes as heretofore Il
will be new in some respects. I viii
be one OF those in charge OF know
distance machine gun practice fol
about two thirds Of the next course
and the rest in charge Of observation
for Indirect and barrzae firing. Thii
f. not pleasant work. because if therS
happens to be mistake ID the fgur
Ing Of the dope the shots are Liable
10 fall on ones head, but there isn
9nuch dangerthe work Is checket
very close sBupkie" works ii m
Alluctions for firing In stanks,' anti
sircraft and projections
The weather here has about turned
"a spring, but that doesnH mean iii
Kind " spring you have At home. !