Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-03-23
Our BOYS
- Write from 80
lover THERE

| Lieutenant S. H. Kagan, r. A. NJ. c.,
now in England, formerly a practicing
physician in Augusta. writes a most
| inspiring letter to an Augusta friend,
and even the meekest American cam
not fail to receive impetus for new
vigor and determination from DR.. ka-
gan's words. He will receive his cap
taincy the first of July. He writes as
| follows:
War Hospital,
hartford, Kent. England.
Feb. 10, 1918.
My dear B
| From letters and press accounts you
are already experiencing most Of the
sufferings, privatiOns and sacrifices OF
wartime, and we Americans here are
proud of you all for the fine spirit you
are showing, and especially so because
there is really little want in the
| States. England and France look
to you for their salvation, and the
American earnestness and seriousness
| in getting results lin so short a. time)
has struck the necessary chord in
English dilly -dallying and weakness of
policy, and has brought forth the new
ration order. Severe measures have
now been forced upon us in England
| food tickets, to ration the people, no
supplies save through these-and these
rations are only just barely sufficient
with the giving up Of every luxury
Sugar is rationed to ne-half pound
per head per week-and now we have
rations in n:eat-20 ounces q week, in
Guiding bone. Butter or margarine. 6
ounces per week, two meatless days,
no sugar supplied at hotels or res
taurants. 1t really is no pleasure to
go into London or to go visiting, be-
cause you know they cannot spare
even one meal for you-unless you
bring your own rations. The air raids
have done very little damage. save to
/ destroy a few buildings-but they are
! hellish as far as women and children
are concerned. The raiders usually
pass sthiS way in going to London, as
theS-follow the Thames, so we usually
| have some excitement. 1t is the
crowded places in London that suffer
the most. the walls falling on the
people 1t is unsafe to be in the open
/ because of the falling shrapnel from
the anti aircraft guns. In the last
raid it just hailed shrapnel on our
buildings. and one big piece went clear
through the roof of one of our wards.
Fortunately the ward had been vacated
only the week before. | try to go to
bed as tn IRE is so little to see. and 50
dangerous tc see if there is anything
worth watching. If l am to be killed
! / am, and that is all there is to it. l
am not afraid of dying. and bed is as
comfortable a place to die in as any
know Of
Strange what resignation people
have taken on in this war This after
noon there was terrific explosion
hereabouts; it was munition plant
as confirmed later. Thank the Lord,
the Germa as are getting taste of air.
raids themselves.
Germany's treatment of American
soldiers md prisoners already shows
her hatred against you boys. Make
up your mind. b, and make it your
motto: Never pass by an opportunity
of killing a German. There are no
good Huns-no decent ones-eXcept
dead ones. II you ever come to close
quarters. show them no mercy. that is
the only treatment they respect. II
you treat them as human beings, they
will call you damned fools. and
English swine. To be sure, in my
work, / am looking after them: but no
sentiment is lost on them. l am try
ing to make the most Of my work in
gaining experience, and l have a won
derful opportunity here. That is why
am still here. Have all sorts Of
cases, surgical and all sorts Of work,
which l can follow out to the result.
Let me give you, b. some advice.
Do not load your kit with frills and
unnecessary things. You will need
very little to carry on with. Bring
your wooden underwear, especially if
you wear union suits, as you cannot
get them here or in France; warm
clothing good boots and grease for
them; shaving and sewing material
for mending; a good handy knife for
all affairs, simplest Of toilet articles,
and last, but not least in. my opinion,
a good hot water bottle. This latter
is a blessing in sickness and when
cold. This is all you need. You will
pick up enough as it is.
The war cannot last very much
longer for all countries are getting
tired Of it, but for US, we cannot have
anything less than a German defeat
Our homes. our happiness, our coun-
try, and our lives. depend on it, So
keep ever in mind, even in your mo-
ments of depression and hlueness, that
one big fact: All those whom you
| love and respect must be protected
from the culture and civilization
barbarism of the Huns. Keep your
mind clear to fight against insidious
German propaganda. false rumors
and stories of all sorts. Don't ever
believe any tales that England or
France are using you to fight their
battles. This is one type of German
tntrigue-to try to ALLEVIATE the Allies.
If you remain united you will win, but
| II you become divided you must fall.
See what has become Of Russia-rotten
with German money and propaganda.
l have read Of an article in one OF
your papers, written by some doctor.
who told OF German atrocities. He did
not tell all he knew or heard of. I have
mad great deal to do with German
prisoners here. They will at times