The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1918-09-26

A&CAtAhHtN L RS1
not seem near that long, one day is
just like another. | have had shells
burst pretty close but have met with
no accidents, yet one of our fellows
had a piece of a shell hit his mess
kit while we were at mess last night
and there sure was a scatter.
| have a service bar but hope |
won't get another. Gen. Pershing
said He'll, Heaven or Home by Christ
mas, and | hope he is right. though
I am feeling fine and can't say l
would like to be in the Z. S. until
it is all over. Brother. Al.
August Il, 19lS.-Dear Folks: a
little time for writing so will drop
you a few lines. 1t sure has been a
wonderful day. Just a few airplanes
overhead and the constant pounding
of our big guns last night. We had
another air raid-the Huns dropped
quite a few bombs but guess this is
a lucky battalion as no one was in
jured. Our first cir raid sure was
tANtIllSr Dul We are ONtl ludI HOW.
i have been mixed up in this big
American drive against the Huns and
can say we sure gave them a hot
chase, ven the best Hun divisions
were thrown against us but were cut
to pieces and drove them back. They
sure know what an American soldier
can do. Our cannon were employed
against, them at all times and they
sure do raise havoc against them. 1t
is the fastest and iercest gun used
in this war, and sure does tear up
buildings and the country around.
We have blown up towns, bridges
and woods.
This sure is some looking country.
we are in now. We are on old Boche
camp grounds. | and my pal used an
old bunk house built by them. They
are great on wicker work, that is
about all it is. We have no dugouts
though l have slept in them a plenty.
We have no protection here but in
spite of all we feel we'll and content
ed. You know young Matson from
Bookings? He got pretty badly shot
up not long ago. This afternoon l
have been out sightseeing and sure
did see some sights. The Huns sure
left a lot of stuff behind-heaps and
heaps of all kinds of ammunition,
some shells. could not lift one cor
ner of them. When they explode they
raise heaven and earth. Would like
to send you some souvenirs but have
none suitable yet, but wait till | get
to @ then l will sure send you
some.
Well will close as I have other let
tiers to write and we don't dare burn
a light. l guess l don't get one-half
Of your letters as l only get one about
every two months. Brother, AL.
Mr.. and Mrs. H. c. Hanson have a
letter from their son, Otto, that is full
of the trip to France. We gladly pub
lish it for the benefit of our readers:
Somewhere in France, Aug. 30th,
1918.-Dear Folks at Home: At last
we have stopped long enough to give
me time to write you. OF course
cannot tell you any exact place we
have been or where we are. but can
say l am very well, and so are all
the boys from home. The ones of us
who have been together are still here
so it makes it fine.
The trip across the water l did not
like yery we'll. as il was too much
of a water trip for me. 1t was very
tiresome. We had very little rough
weather except one or two days. l
did not get seasick once, although it
was lear to it n or two days.
England is sure some country for
scenery, the land is rather rolling
and the farms small, and most of the
houses are made of brick and a num-
each family having a small piece of
land to farm. and they sure farm it
carefully. The crops all looked very
good-wheat vas much better than in
the states. The grain is cut with a
small binder, four or FIVE foot cut. and
they use only two horses.
Over most houses grows vines and
the yards are surrounded by trees.
The fields are divided by wood. stone
or shrubbery. 1t all looks like what
some of the writer's showed in their
writings that we studied In school and
college. ! cannot do justice to it all