Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1918-05-16
Found Milton Man
Over in France
News and Gossip Written in
Letter of John Robertson
From Overseas
On Active Service with the Ameri.
can EXpeditionarY Force.


My Dearest Mother NO mail has
reached me from home for the past
week, but it ought to begin to come
pretty soon again. We are again
Somewhere in F4ance,'' SO this &C.
counts fol. our lack of mail A week
ago two dandy boxes came to me.
One was from Ann and contained an
excellent shaving outfit, soap, gum
and other useful things. The other
box was from Miss Chalfant and Grace
fulton, at the College. 1t was full
of sweets and besides that a dandy
helmet and pair of socks. l sure
was pleased to get these things and
am hoping that the other boxes that
l know you have sent will reach me
soon. 1t is cold and rainy here to.
day, but the whole OF the past week
has been very beautiful and warm.
Here in France the grass has been
green for sometime and the trees are
all blossoming out and the spring crop
of grain is above the top of the
ground and looking fine. At times
it makes me home sick, for l think
that nature is making the same
changes over there. Art and Stewart
will be closing their track work now.
I was thinking of this today when we
were out on maneuver and gang
of US got to throwing the shot, though
in our case we used rock, and broad
Jumping. We have not been loafing
much the past week and we sure look
forward to mess time. l am feeling
fine, in fact never felt batter in my
life and am getting pretty we'll tough.
ened into this job. This life is healthy
enough if fellow looks after him
self You probably know that each
day in the army there is what is
known as sick call. That is, any
one who is sick has the opp ortunity
of seeing the doctor. I am glad to
say that have not yet had to an.
swer sick call.
l had the pleasure of meeting Bot
Work and Neil Reid the day before
yesterday and have seen them since,
as they are located but short dis.
tance from our company. We had q
dandy talk together. They are both
fine and we'll. Yo1 must tell this te
Mrs. Work and drop a line to Mis-.
Reid, though the boys will naturally
tell tten of our meeting when they
write home. None of US knew where
the Trench Mortar Battery is, but
we are quite sure that it has not yet
been into action. l am glad to get the
addresses that you sent and will keep
them in mind. 1t would be fine if
could meet the Jones boys, though il
would be rare chance if did.
l would give anything for chance
to visit Bonnie Scotland and your
birth place mother. The picture OF
yourself and the baby, that you sent
me is fine. was looking at it last
night before 1 went to sleep. 1t just
fits into my testament. l was glad to
that you saw my lieutenant's letter
in the Grand Forks Herald. Another
of the fellows here got clipping
; of the same. I have not yet gotten
DR.. McQueen's letter.
1t was fine of Mr. Clark to remem.
ber me. He stood on the wharf there
in the city which you mentioned,
among all those hundreds of soldiers
handing out pamphlets and doing
personal work. l shook hands with
him, told him that was Christian
and wished him all success in his
work. 1t was just before we cross
ed the channel and a time when
circumstances placed the fellows in
an impresionable frame IF mind, 30
that you could see at glance that
his simple go'pel message struck
home. Since that time l have heard
several of the fellows speak we'll of
him.
guess that l never told you
about that trip across the channel.
1t was one that I will not soon
forget. We stayed on the wharfs all
day long after getting off the train.
There was much of interest to see,
as England's harbors are busy places.
The big boats ploaghed in and out.
or rested easily at anchor. Several
boats were in drydocks for repairs.
having evidently come INTO contact
with submarines. One of the most
interesting things that | saw was the
huge flock of large sea gulls which
were continually flying about the
wharf. They are beautiful birds. The
lower part of their bodies is white,
while the upper is of slate color.
We soon learned that they always