Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1918-04-17
f. |. BAILEY WRITES !.
INTERESTINGLY OF
WORK IN FRANCE
SAYS WOMEN WORKERS NEED
ED BY AMERICAN Y. M. C. A.
MUST HAVE GOOD MORALS
IL Rue d. Aguesseau, Paris.
(Located at U. S. Army p. o.
ZIG, A. E. F.)-"Somewhere
in France

~.~s~0 ~ Os ~ <1IIny ".
ZIG, A. E. F.)-"Somewhere
in France"
~ March 6, 1918.
Dear Editors Of the Banner:
1t doesn't seem possible that three
months have passed since / left home
Tor France. Weeks go like days
when one is busy from early unt,]
late. Very little time can be found
Tor self, especially for writing. The
soldiers have it over US for time. They
nave their evenings off. It's a good
feelng to come in at thirty or
ten o'clock at night all tired out after
a hard days work. Having done a
fellows best to make it easier for
our soldiers, helps to bring a pleasant
rest at night and makes US capable of
doing still more on the morrow.
Our party of seventy secretaries
lett New York December % and was
on the water more than two weeks
before We landed in England. The
English were very hospitable. They
t.ok great delight in showing us the;r
plsturesquet old city OF London With
~ many old places of interest. rs-
pecially to the Americans. Wish /
had time to describe the fine architec-
ture Of Westminster Abbey and st
Paul's Cathedral. Students of litera-
ture and history could spend weeks
there in study. Among the interest
ing things in the ToH er of London
were the museum of war relics and
Sir Walter Raleigh's cell. the Jewel
House, where we saw the Kings and
Queens Crowns and more than a mill
lion dollars worth Of Jewels, and the
Bloody Tower where so MANY execu-
Lions took place. Buckingham Palace
greeted US only from the distance. At
the Kings Stables we were allowed
70 see many fine horses, and to pet
the kings favorite mount, and take q
ook at the royal carriage that BRINGS
the crowned heads forth on special
)ccas ons.
The Chapel in Westminster Able,
mere the crowning ceremony always
lakes place is very beautiful. The
I'd chair that the English suffra-
yettes tried to blow up still sets near,
here.
The House of Commons and the
House of Lords were very interesting.
Saw where Lloyd George and MANY
'ther notables sit
There. We're several places pointed
'ut to US where German bombs had
truck buildings. Guess they would
ust as soon stop their inland raids on
ne innocent women and children
ince the Allies have given them more
han they bargained for.
Our party landed in France Janu-
Iry ~ and arrived in Paris the same
vening. 1t IS very beautiful city.
t lacks the hustle and skyscrapers Of
View York, but has many beautiful
uildings. The architecture is grand. |
he parks were as green as ours in
APRIL. The Louvre was closed. We |
nay be able to visit il vet. There |
yere many battered German aero |
lanes on exhibition near Napaleon's |
'omb. Saw French machine whose |
lot had accounted for over forty
'oche planes.
You have read descriptions Of the
ountry with its quaint little cement /
ouses with red tile or slate roofs.
he people live in small villages.
heir wood comes principally from
ne trimmings of the hedge fences.
Now | am several hundred miles
rom Paris at a port where many of
ur boys are landing. They gave me
grand reception on two of the large
oats that had just come into the
arbor. The best time | have had in
rance. l was really lonesome to she
hem and wish was going on with
lem to. camp.
i saw Ben Longan. 1t certainly
semed good, too. Most of the other
oys had slipped away and gone in
md. He said they were all we'll and
nd had a good trip. Sorry I didn't
se Tom Barnes. Orville Klock, Spent
n Smith and the other Belding boys.
The officers and men are going to
y hard and get me transferred to
leir division. | know the boys bet
r than any other Y. M. c. A. secre-
Try in France and it is only right
lat | should be stationed with them.
The boys have developed into fine
'ld;ers. They will soon be ready to
Ike their places with the fighting
'rce who have conducted themselves
} admirably. The bows are anxious
meet the Boche. They are strong
I'd determined. while Germany and
lr Allies are war-weary. II,
1t has been said often that the v-ay
end the war quickly is to prepare