The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1918-02-22
FROM "OvER THERE"

interest, even if the writer's are re-
stricted in the subjects they can men,
ton, and hence the following extracts
are taken from letters just received,
although a month in transit, from one
of the soldier boys from this place.
Lawrence Dallam, a member of Co. B,
161st Infantry, 41st Division, to which
quite number of Okanogan boys are
attached, writes as follows:
"ln France at last! 1t is no dream,
either. We had dandy trip across the
water so far as the weather was con-
cerned, the rest will De left unwritten.
| was lucky enough to escape seasick-
ness, although the water never did get
rough l certainly had plenty of idle
time on board and it became monot-
onous before we sighted land. My first
impression of France was favorable,
although, of course, we had little
chance of looking around much, We
landed in a beautiful harbor, or rather
on the shore of one. We moved to our
billets right away. There is plenty of
snow and we had two cold days. We
are kept busy, so one has not loads of
spare time. Hope to get some mail
soon. Tobacco and cigarettes are as
scarce as feathers on fish. Also
money is scarce, but we will soon be
paid ca. That will buck up the syndi-
cate for while. OF course our letters
are censored so l can give you no in
formation as to where, what or why,
but l am developing a dandy memory
for some things which hope will help
me later on Uord pity the censor who
read> this, or rather tries to- | am
we'll and expect to remain so, so l can
safely advise you not to worry. You
can take this at full strength.
81 am itching to see more of the
country. 1t is filled with interesting
sights and places. Quaint old towns as
old as the country itself. | have seen
but one ruined castle, and caught but
a glimpse of that. The houses are all
stone, with tile, slate or stone roofs.
Every town has church and they are
as interesting as can be. Most of them
Roman Catholic, and as old as the
town. One might say the towns grew
up around them. They are stone and
cold, but you are impressed by sense
of sanctity when you enter The one
l was in had large dome in the GEN.
ter, an immense altar and two small
ones on each side. In front of the main
entrance, on the inside, is a huge ba-
sin of hewn rock for holy water, to
the right baptismal font and back of
that a wooden confessional. The
churCh was beauty all right. The
graveyard is at the side of each church
and is well filled with stones and large
crosses. There are decorations of
flowers and bead work that are very
queer but of delicate workmanship. /
am coming back here and tour the
country when become a human being
once more. That won't be many years
trust"
Frank M. Dallam, Jr., writes from
France under date of January Is, and
the following brief extracts are taken
from his letter:
.t"It is hard to realize that we are
actually in France Think of it? Here
We are on the continent of Europe,
the land of story, song and romance,
where our race has developed from
barbarism to civilization, and where it
is again plunged into barbarism by
the war. The distance from home in
miles and time is appalling, but we
are all hs"Dy to be here in position
to do our part in this great conflict.
Americans at home need not be
ashamed of what has already been ac-
complished and they may be assured
that their boys will give a good ac-
count of themselves when the time
comes.
There is a wonderful charm about
the country apart from it's historical
and romantic appeal. The country is
beautiful and so strange In comparison
to our own. Every foot of tillable land
is cultivated here and trees are grown
on the untillable. That means that ev-
cry foot of land Is employed to a pur-
pose. The climate is similar to the Pa
cific northwest. When the war is over
| hope to see all that l can of France
and England and the other countries
| if possible. 1t is big privilege to come
here at all under and conditions, and
I often think how each and all of you
would love to see what it has been my
good fortune to look upon"
In letter to another member of the
family he says:
1T is actually thrilling to think of
being on the continent of Europe and
| in the land of Joan of Arc, of the Lou
ises, of the Revolution and of Napol-
con. | am sure you must envy me this
great privilege. Knights in armor have
| ridden forth to battle and adventure
on these roads. Feudal barons have
held sway over these hills and valleys
A girl inspired by visions has led
these people to victory as in an orien-
tai fairy tale and then died a martyrs
death as her reward. These people, or
their forbears, have drenched this
land in blood and wrought the most
monsterous crimes in the name of lib
erty and revolution. The greatest
leader If all times has performed
mighty and glorious deeds in the name
of France, wrought for himself an en-
pire out of anarchy and the spent pas
sions of a chaotic republic. Idealism
high resolve, lowest degradation, de-
voted chivalry and cheapest sordid-
ness have swept over this strange peo-
pie and now France is setting an ex.
ample of heroism and sacrifice for all
the world and for all time Civilization
can never pay its debt to France and
Belgium"
The following are extracts from 6
Durward v. Smith, son of Mr.. and Mrs