Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-08-24
With Islanders
In the Service

Heaven. hell or HOboken by
Christmas is the slogan of the boys
overseas, according to d letter from
Sergeant James 7. Murphy. son of
G. p Murphy of Beardstown. and
nephew of J. J. Murphy OF this city.
He writes in part:
Received your letter of June -
yesterday and was sure glad TO
hear from you as it was the first
mail | received in four weeks. If
the mail keeps coming through like
it has been. il will be about nv
birthday before I next hear from
the states. but as the French say.
'C'est Iguerre.' and we should
worry. we will be back home some
of these fine days and make up for
lost time.
Il noted what Won said about not
believing anything | hear. | guess
that's good motto, alright, but
then We only look on the bright
side of things over here and our
slogan at present is Heaven. hell
or HobOken by Christmas Here's
hoping We make the latter on time.
y am glad to hear that the FOOD
situation is so fine over there. Am
, AtAI L+ltAt ID t-AC AGl5G, I4tAOuSl
France is certainly doing part in it
also, and / know the army has no
kick coming on that score. We
have white bread, something We
couldn't get in the States even be-
fore | left and the rest of the foo |.
is o. X.
II intend to help along the next
Liberty loan myself. Have one or
more Of each issue to date and ex-
peCt, TO put $500 into the next one
in the States and $1O0 over here. !
can do that easily. l have also
made an allotment Of SIJ per
month for the purchase OF war
savings stamps and have a $50
bond here and still ! can keep
away ahead of the game
Talk about work II YOU could
have seon me for the past few
weeks, you'd think | had become
an expert with pick and shovel.
When | hit the States and anyone
wants to know what | can 40 I'm
merely going TO say. anything. |
WAS an army engineer
Had \ short visit in Paris about
4 month ago or 50. Got a pas
and made a hving visit to that
town. sure liked it and only
wished could have spent more
time there. Took in a great manv
sights Cathedral OF Notre Dame.
Palace Of Louvre. Eife3 Tower.
Les InvaIides-' Nspoleon's tomb,
Champs de Elysee and many 9th
ers, but can't take time 20 mention
all of them. Don't know If will
be able TO see that town again be
fore We make our triumphaI march
down the Champs de Elvsee and
through the Arch OF Triumph
sometime in the future
Only hope you can pass the
physical examination and use your
commission in the engineers. We
could have a family company all
our own after the war is ever. with
a lieutenant, sergeant. corporal and
a couple OF pFivates.'
Private Raymond Toenniges. son
of Mir and Mrs. &. r Toenniges. 2O7
Fourth avenue. writes an interest
ing letter telling OF his experiences
and trips after arriving overseas
with the one Hundred Twenty-third
field artillery.
His letter in part J appended
We were on the ocean many
lays. then spent three days in Eng
land and took ferry across the
English channel II took Us about
eight hours TO cross il, then after
resting for day or two We moved
10 our present location.
We passed through the outskirts
of Paris and could zee high tow
er in the city. While in England we
went Sightseeing and visited the
Winchester cathedral and old par
Lament buildings We saw King
Arthur $ round table and a life size
statue OF Queen Victoria reclining
IN a chair Il was OF bronze and
TeE fine piece - work Also saw
the kings car. which is a hole in