The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1918-09-13
CORPORAL JACK SMITH WRITES
ANOTHER INTERESTING LETTER
Aug. 18th.
Dearest Mother:

Aug. 18th.
Dearest Mother:
We are now way back of the lines,
catching breath, camped in a beauti-
full place bordered with tall elm
trees. Waiting to go, but I do not
know where. We're all feeling fine
having an ice-cold brook in which
to bathe-the first chance we've had
in some time. We've washed our
clothes, shaved and had a good meal.
For the time we are having good food
and believe that is true of the whole
American army. Up to this time,
however, we have had it lean in our
company. Today we've had bacon.
good bread, Karo syrup, dried april
cots and prunes for breakfast.
A few weeks ago we marched all
night in the rain-and the nights in
France are black as Etebus-dowp
roads crowded with moving artillery
and supplies, with no idea what one
might get into next-a horse. a big
gun or a loaded truck. But when We
got to our destination there was a
big cup of coe.ce awaiting us and we
forgot our clothes were wet. No cof-
foe IN. suear I'M ta this time.
Aug. 15.AIts only in snatches ]
can write. Yesterday we left oar
beautiful grassytcamp, and in the hot
est broiling s1n marched 10 miles.
Lord. it wqs the toughest! Over un-
ending hills-sun baked ard binding
dust. What is it Kipling says:--
tramp, tramp, tramp, with never an
end in warl." often think Of it
on our unending marches. The long,
white road ahead thru the clouds OF
dust the trucks kick up. But there's
ALWAYS this compensation: The Bocae
is tramping tool But thank God,
back to Hun-land! Oh, he's beaten,
mother dear, badly beaten, but he is
fighting now for time-hoping to just
1fy himself in the ewes OF the world.
But never But we should not BE-
too optimistic. He has got to be
trampled.. / wish I had time, to tell
you all the things the boys from home
are doing over here now. 1t is won
derful-the spirit and the fire. There
is smething about them the, dough
boys" specially (American Infantry
that seems to crunrble the German
defense. It's not yet man to man
fighting. It's man to machine. And
when his m~ chine. fails to stoD the
superior man that's after him he
runs
You ask ne if I'VE had furlough-
why, bless eou mother, never! Fur
loughs are Tor S. O. S. men (serTice
of su1 ,ll.eS-snen in the rear) Sup
pose e ght.7g men got furloughsS-
there wa idn, haze been any Char
tiai-r Or Belean Woods to
IhriE the world The French cal it
now ...o.s de = brigade de Macines.' .
You 90 rhe r aas got TO !:e dnish-
ed ard we've got 10 stay on -ne Job.
I l;s en't 5ee / in zig town longer
than one Ia since I've been in
F arae. I haven't beea where there
az civilians in months. And [ am
gid ef y ten It helps one 9 feel
as if one wela real'y helping. I've
exolained 1ny' / cannot send j signed
re e1uest for needed things. usust do
without aYary-ii& Il rs na1. fse:lsiali. at
least I hire katie and ore towel
all that is expected to carry. We
have to take VIII rs row eTeryshing
we own, so that the trucks ean carry
ammunitien. I take oEly a change OF
underwear, wooden sox, Mary's sleep
ing nag, toilet articles and Iron ra-
tons" (for emergency with other
necessaries that makes husky pack.
This helps win the war. .Luyuries
don't make man fight any better;
SO any xcess is a drawback. Save
things for me till I come marching
home.
DR.. Haden is no doubt right aho't
the need Of doctors in the camps in
America; but Lord! how they need
'em here, -
There are things should like to
tell you showing their lamentabla
need There are many lives lost that
a doctors hand could save Just the
other day I saw q dead American
soldier in wheat field with a piece