The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1918-12-18
LETTER FROM CAPT. GIBSON
18th Pioneer Regiment Broken Up
After Arrival.


Bows in France since the armisticc
was signed contain varying forms OF
information from the glad news that
some expect to be returned 10 the,r
homes soon, TO information that
others expect work for their branches
will go on for months, while other rel
ltives are waiting anXi0Hsly for some
news from overseas.
In two letters written since the
lrmistice was signed by Captain
Ernest W. Gibson OF the 57th pioneer
regiment he apparently knew nothing
of the deaths of any of the regiment
since that of Regmental Sergeant
Major Elmer Gray. The regiment has
been broken up and the men transfer
red 10 other regiments. In letter OF
Nov. II Captain Gibson wrote that he
Vas going TO try TO secure leave 70 90
o Brest in an endeayOr 10 locate some
If the men who have been listed
here in hospitals Among the men
mentioned as still being with Captain
iibson We're Col Thomas, Lieut.. Col.
Iyland, Captain Barber and Regiment
Sergeant Major Bernard Klaus. Cap
ain Gibson also spoke Of having seen
lieut.. Harold G. Boyd, who has just
eturned from a hospital, where he
lad been very ill.,
At the time Of writing Captain G.b-
son was 100 miles southwest OF Paris
IN a place of 10000 inhabitants, where
here was no theatre, no place Of
amusement and no warm place IS
which to go, and very little that the
men could do in the evenings lie said
he mornings were cold and that there
had been few good, clear days. He
poke OF the opportunity Afforded TO
appreciate how the French people
ave been LIVING and sacrificing dur
ng the war. Fuel is scarce, people
DING about the streets picking up
ticks which have been blown of the
rees Wood is $50 a cord and coal,
which is very scarce, brings high
lrices Houses are cold every
here Charges at the restaurants
there the officers are forced 70 eat
| re eXhorbitant. one meal often cost
Ag Sl25 Breakfast is served at the
llel consisting OF coffee, bread and
| ,utter The French are very moder-
| tie. taking two hours TO serve a meal,
nd if the men were obliged to eat in
! eslaurants all Of the time il would
| AXE six hours Of the day to obtain their
| reals, but Captain Gibson thinks the
rench people will wake up If the
| americans stay there long enough.
| Vine is the main part OF the French
| aeal, It being served TO men, women
| md children There is a wine shop
| every turn too many for the good
4 the soldiers, who on the whole are
/ pretty good lot
| Captain Gibson expressed the opin-
| IN that il would not be long before
! Il the officers and men who are not
be in the army Of occupation would
re sent back None of the adjutants
rave been sent into Germany, which
le thought would rot be a very
leasant place to be in although it
you'd present an opportunity for a
treat experience Some of the Of
lcors OF the regiment have been as
signed to places in the third army OF
occupation, as, has been announced
Trough the press
Mr. and Mrs Charles p Spencer
nave received three letters within a
'ew days from their son, Porter n
;pencer in one of which he mentions
he fact Of the breaking up OF the
18th Pioneer regiment in letter OF
Nov z ne says the headquarters com
)any. OF which he was "A member i.
low attached 10 the 329th regiment
ie Is in C0mpank X OF that regiment
bui before leaving the 57th he wai
made battalion sergeant major II,
wrote: Three weeks ago saw
Lieut. Col Cooley, who is the onl,
/, Brlttoboro fellow | have seen" On
Nov. 10, two days after the signing
Df the armls,ice, he wrote that III,
lld" had been taken on in man,
owns. The last letter received wa
lated Nov 81
Private Paul A. Chase OF the head
quarters company liSth regiment
3Uh division, who has been in Bel
, GUM. sent cahlegram yesterda,
!, morning to Mrs Harrie b Chase, hi
sisterin.law which read Congratu
laiionG. Well The message of con
graduation was sent because of tn
/, recent birth OF son to Mr.. and Mrs
chase The cablegram was sent iron
, Paris. bat whether Private Chase /
Y n Paris is not known.
Private Chase's parents. Attorne
Y and Mrs. Charles S. Chase, have BEEF
y somewhat worried about him, as IT
D Gently they received a letter in whicl
2 he said he was TO 80 into action tn
o next morning after 1.-THE letter wa
D written. That was before the armi,
e tioo was signed, Nov. H. They hav
e just received a letter from him writer
p in Belgium Nov TO- in which n
s wrote that another drive had jus
!. been started when news came Of III
d signing Of the armistice
8 He further wrote: This divisio
4 has been cited, and it is rumored tina
/. we are to be the American troop
:. chosen TO march into Brussels at tn
T eel bratIon of the return OF King A
4 bert Private Chase wrote hat h
.. had been chosen thtat day as bile
ing non-commissioncd officer for IN
a rcglmontal headquarters. swhlc
q would take him ahead of the uoop
A into different towns
- Lieut. Laurence Sherman. writin
. under date OF Nov "a from France {
4 his parents Mr.. and Mrs George /
~ sherman, said that he had arrive
4, from Italy and was awaiting order
! to be sent home He said IL the or,
, ors came he should not wal, to see
his Baggage was coming on the sam
ship he would start " he ha
D -.uLALu-. L..L ~ .uL. - -..l-- -