The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1918-11-01
LETTERS FROM BOURBON COUNTY
SOLDIERS AND SAILORS
A H ~ ~ ~ "a ~ ~ H II "a u "a "a "a pa "a n -

ton where he will be thrown into
very little danger unless he is pro-
NOTED, as l expect he will be very
soon.
When left the outfit it was back
of the lines, about ten miles, resting
before going into the front again.
They have no doubt before this time
been engaged with the enemy again,
and l wait with Impotence to hear
what they have done, knowing that
they can fight and are anxious to do
so. We have not had great many
hardships to undergo, and, of course,
it is no dollhouse life. There is dirty
work to be done, and our boys are
doing their share, as we expect them
to do. But they have lots of good
clothes, plenty of substantial food,
all the equipment and ammunition
that they want, and the support of a
unified nation behind them. So you
may see that there is very little to
want for, in war. Of course, they
every one want to get back home,
but not before this little show over
there is finished.
'The French people show us every
courtesy, and try to make is as
agreeable as possible for us. At the
same time they very cheerfully re-
lieve us of any surplus money we
may have on our persons, using for
bait their wines, all of which are of
questionable quality, since the Amer
lean has done his best to drink up
all the old vintage. In fact, you may
go into town to-day and get very
good wine for perhaps four fancs
and the next day (Americans being
presently the price will unaccounta-
bly, have risen to ten or twelve
francs, and perhaps the test will
show 900 water. We look at this as
industry and fair bargaining. 1t
simply means little less wine and a
much better American soldier.
THE Red Cross, Y. M. G. A, X.
of G. and the Salvation Army do all
they can to make the men cOmfOrta-
BILE and to furnish them with the
place and material for writing home.
Also, they are on the job with to-
bacco, candy and little delicacies that
go far toward making a man salts
| fed.
What / have said has not been
said to belittle the danger that ouI
soldiers undergo, nor the bravery
that they have shown at every oppor-
tunity, but to impress upon you the
splendid use that has been made OF
the funds that the Government and
the charitable institutions allied
with our Government in this great
cause have spent in this huge enter
prise.
Our troops have had great num-
Der of casualties, perhaps because OF
their great impetuoSity and the alb
solute absence of fear, but they are
giving themselves to great Ideal
and none of them are afraid to die
The wounded men have the greatest
desire imaginable to get back into
the scrap and get even with the Hun
that had the nerve to take a poi
shot at him. But most frequently il
is a machine gun or a shell that gets
our men, for we are not fighting the
Germans. but we are fighting TIT
machines of the Germans, which
takes only the more bravery because
the joy of personal combat is no
there.
81 have been ordered to Camp Lo
gan, Texas, as an instructor, and, II
all probability, will not be able II
see you, but it is great pleasure tt
! write to the father of one of oul
4 ffghting men on the other side, es
4 pecially when that fighting man is
| real, manly, outstanding, likeable
fine soldier as I know Sergt-Maj. Ear
Curtis to be.
yours truly,
PHILIP J. WILLIAMS,
First Lieutenant 143d Infantry.