Mexico weekly ledger., 1918-02-21
Dear Mother and Father

NO11D AAteA III
Dear Mother and Father
SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE, Jan
uary 4, 1918. - Quite a few days
since | have written to you, but tray
cling and a rushing business predom-
mated. l trust that meanwhile you
have not worried. l believe the last
time | wrote you | was still on ship,
you no doubt have received that let
ter before this.
After many days travel on water,
we arrived safely. Christmas found
me OIL the train eating bareback and
potted meat for dinner and with moth
ing in my sox but my wet feet.
Nevertheless | know every one at
home was thinking of me and l as
sure you my thoughts were there ev-
cry minute. We at last arrived at
our final destination and good GUAR
ters and once more began eating meals
cooked by our own cook which was as
welcome as land when we first sight
ed it.
Then we proceeded to unpack and
get the hospital set up.
Our location is a most ideal one, a
beautiful little French town. The hos
pital is a large, beautiful hotel, TAX
en- ver by the Government. The
censor prevents its location being
given. Twill say that it is quite 4 dis
lance from the firing line, in fact, l
have not heard a gun since | have been
here, so don't worry, dear folk.
The situation and conditions over
here are far from being as our papers
depict them. That is, some of them.
| expected to see almost every inch
Of France torn up. 1t is true hat it
certainly vas SCARED. The people
have undergone so many hardships
that they are contented with almost
anything, in the way Of comfort or re-
lief. Poverty prevails everywhere &.
Gaity is a thing long past. Almost
every man, young and old, is in uni
form, and the other sex are attired in
black.
talked with a number of French
soldiers from the front and their sto-
ries would surely make the most ex-
perienced in war listen with the mos
craven interest. They had been in thu
trenches since the beginning of the
war.
! 1t is certain you find no Stacker:
. over here.
After our unit arrived, twenty-fiv,
of US were sent to detached service t.
Base Hospital No. Is, located som,
distance further inland for train
ing.
$ This hospital is a very large one
: and well established as it has beer
t here some months. l have been Civ
e en- a ward and like it quite well. TIL,
hospital is overtaxed with the numbe.
k of patients and | am kept very busy
1 | start in at 1880 in the morning witt
one hour for lunch and an hour off ev
cry afternoon and a half day ever,
fourth'day. So it is not as bad as on,
2 might think.
l. We are having plenty of col,
t weather and lots of snow, but l am DR..
and enjoying the best of health.
When one lands here they mus
g start out being very cautious, that is
h necessary, Of course, being in a ney
land. With so many stories attached
one knows not what to expect. Gu
y antics at first were quite comical,
II know, to these people as theirs wer
+ to US. French customs are so niue
different from ours. They seem fit
Il years behind US in everything.
S But yet France has many things1
m be admired. The people are most cour
a teous and will do anything for tn
Americans. The French architectur
. is a thing to be admired. Thei
- churches and other buildings ar
magnificent. / am not equal to dc
ST scribing them, so will have to draw o
n. your imagination.
We have not been paid for som
time, so l am almost broke, but we al
S. looking for that fortune any time an
as soon as that ship arrives l will bu
at you a French present and send it
v you.
Of / am writing this letter at the arm
" Y. NJ. C. A. This organization is sur,
ly doing wonders ovcr here. In fac
it is a paradise to We boys. The
make everything as home-like as pos
~ sible for US.
" 1t is time l am beating it back, bl
| other descriptions will be forth-con
4" ing in a few days.
or Don't worry, dear parents. Love
MS all. Your son, CLARENCE
III CAMPBELL, Base Hospital No. 3
Nv A. E. F., Par B. C. NJ, PARIS.