The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1918-01-18
INTERESTING LETTERS FROM
OUR LOCAL BOYS IN KHAKI
Dick Simons Gives An Account of
Himself-Ralph Thornton Still
At Camp Lewis

week of printing two letters from
former Leavenworth boys, Dick
Simons and Ralph Thornton.
Dicks letter was received by j. A.
Garretson, who was persuaded to let
the same appear in print. We feel
sure it will be read with interest by
all his friends.
Fort Lawton, Wash, Jan. 9, III
Dear Friend Jacob Augustus
Well here I am, but not yachting,
nor am / in the guard house. I bor-
rowed this paper from Bill Wunder
as I guess that he swiped it while
he was in.
We haven't moved yet as you per-
ceive and don't know just when we
will be ordered to proceed to clean
up the old devil that makes his resi-
dence at Potsdam, Goimeny. I'm
really getting to dislike the old boy
and if l ever get my hands on him
I'll pull his hair.
Jack is progressing rapidly in the
modern methods of warfare and the
fellows in our squad room all call
him Rip Van Wrinkle. He lives up
to his name alright as the minute
that he is released from duty he
hits that old bunk of his like ton
of brick and is Immediately dead to
the world. Sleep, say, he doesn't re-
alize what it is. Averages about
sixteen hours a day. The only time
he really wakes up is when mess is
called. Then he is all action and
sure makes great inroads on the
spuds, beef and prunes. The only
things we are tired of is butter and
sugar. Have got so tired of them
that we don't eat them very often
They had butter for breakfast the
other morning and it nearly caused
a riot. Had to call the guard and
ouell the disturbance. But at that
we get very good chow and cant
complain in the least if it is as good
as this all the way thru the war.
A Jew was drafted here to serve
in the army, and as he wanted to
pet out of it, he had all his teeth
removed. The next morning ne
went down to get examined and had
NOT more than stepped into the doc
when the examining officer turned
to him and said; "You can go home
Morris, you're too flat footed to be
of any use"
There was a Jew regiment enlis-
ted here tho and were fully trained.
Finally they got orders to embark
with two other regiments. The
morning came for embarkation and
the two other regiments arrived at
the dock and went on board, but not
a sign of the Jew regiment. Sail
ing time came and went but no sign.
Finally a detachment was sent out
to look for them. At last they met
the captain and asked him where his
troops were. "Mein Gott" he SAID
"Come quick, there are three irish
toughs outside the armory and wont
let my regiment out"
Well Jake, shall we go camping
next summer. But we won't go up
the Chewawa next time, will we.
certainly wish that we could go,
hut I think that I will be doing my
camping in France if everything
goes all o. X. Hope there are
few of those French Maidens left
bv the time l get there. There
were a bunch of the Fifteenth Coast
Artillery left for France some time
ago. and they were tickled bunch
For goodness sake, Jake drop me
a line once in awhile. We can go
down town nearly every night and
see a few shows but it isn't like be-
ing where you know everyone.
They have a dandy club down
town called the Soldiers and Sailors
Club. Everything that your little
heart desires can be found there.
Turkish baths, swimming tanks,
pool tables, gym and a big dance
hall where the society ladies bring
their daughters to dance with the
soldier boys. Twice a week they
have dances and you should see the
mama's bringing their daughters u
enioy the hospitality of the boys
They also have a class in French
every Monday and tuesday, Guess
I will go down next time and get a
few lessons in the frog language
There came near being a riot the
other night. They put a sailor and
two girls out of Dreamland and he
came down to the club and then we
all fell in, about three hundred sol
diers and sailors. But when we got
there they had sent detachment Of
Marines down and had the hall un'
der martial law 1t was the same
time that they raided the printing
shop over here, which you have
probably read about in the papers
Continued on page five)