Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-11-06

~ AAlNOl CoNllk GAlIdCl6
from recent letters of Harold AS
trich of the Motor Supply service
to his mother and sister in this
city:
Bob Foil was here yesterday and
stayed with us over night. 1t was
the first time we met on this side.
He looks just the same as ever.
Gee, those poor soldiers must
have it tough now. Just hold up
your hand and be taken along in
an auto. 1 wish l were one of those
soldiers.
Il believe we will soon see the
end of the war, for the Allies are
driving from all parts and doing
great work. Fritz is pretty near
'finisse' as they say here. While we
anxiously await the arrival of papers
here, we haven't come to the point
of preferring anything to eating.
That is the most important part OF
the day.
John Rausch from the Ammuni-
ton Train is camping with us as
he must draw rations for his organ
tzation every day, so he just goes
along with the truck from here.
I'VE are just the same old bunch
here, always 'ribbing' each other
and raising Cain to keep up the
spirits. We are all in the best of
health ant are eager to finish up
this job. Don't o worry IN mite
about us for we will soon come
marching home as safe and sound
as when we left. Must close and
make use of the best Uncle Sam
gave us, namely the six pieces of
finest aluminium ware; one knife,
n fork, n spoon, one cup, one
mess kit (two p%ieces)."
Il heard from both of you yester-
day, so was pretty we'll pleased.
Then besides, l had n nice warm
bath in a town near here where all
Il boys r allowed to so. 1t has
become quite cold here now, SO a
warm bath is a luxury even thou it
is only three little streams about
as big as a piece of Irvine. Felt
fine afterwards and have plenty of
blankets, so vas not the least bit
cold.
Dan Gurnett is in here writing
home too, so his mother should
hear from him at the same time.
The clippings you send are al
ways put on the office desk and the
boys all read them. They are
mighty interesting.
II am sorry we are not in Har-
risburg to enjoy the privileges and
III NdlAllilSAiN VI NAlS 4lOoNSoo u
Sounds mighty fine to me.
"One of our boys brought back
a wounded comrade on his back,
stopped at the Y. M. c. A. and re-
turned eating a piece of chocolate,
running as hard as he could to get
up to the front again. That is
real spirit, and he comes from Car
Isle.
81 have not seen Capt. Stackpole
as yet, but have heard reports of
him several times. They say he is
very daring and wonderfully cour-
ageous in action, and his men would
do anything for him."
/ You know it is a treat for the
| whole company when any one re-
ceives snapshots, scraps from the
papers or a letter which makes some
nice reference to the boys.
To-day is my birthday and it sure
was a typical rainy day which
seems to be clearing now, but 1t
will probably rain towards evening.
| have a whole bunch of cigars,
smoking tobacco and a few cigar
cites on hand, which is unusual n
mighty comforting"
We'll, we are camped in barracks
now, evidently for a rest period;
but for how long We do not know
as our trucks are still at work but
not exactly at the front as we had
been.
Eat present 1 am writing in a
Y. NJ. c. A. hut which is also a
foyer de soldat' but there are !
our boys in it. They are playing
a piano ana singing; just having a
rare good time. We all feel quite
confident that the war will be over
and we will all be home before long.
Every day we hear some good news
about the war and it will eventually
lead to the end of it.
II had a letter from Frank Peters
which was written from this side.
My letter to him had crossed the
water both ways, but arrived safely.
Frank is in a nice service over mere
and is well. We are both watching
and hoping to meet soon"
"I am having O hard time trying
to concentrate my mind on writing
while the crowd is singing and play
ing. On my birthday an American
girl and three soldiers entertained
our train for a little while in the
evening. The girl and one fellow
sang and danced, another played n
piano and the other played a violin.
Tley must nave De0H llSI0 'uoI Aoi
my birthday as it was the only one
of the kind we have had over here.
Then later we made fudge in our
tent "a piece of anvas stretched
over a couple of b0ughs) on a
crudely constructed stove, which we
had to heat our tent. We ate fudge
while 'Jerry's' airplanes were hying
overhead. 1t was one of the incl
dents Of army life which 1 will never
forget. At any rate, l had quite a
happy birthday even tho we were
Somewhere in France near the
front.
Yesterday we passed thru a
former battle ground which was the
most weird looking No mans
land that l have ever seen. AL
the trees and fields, villages and
telegraph poles were completely de-
stroyed. Great, huge 'dug-outs'
were standing just as they had been
evacuated by the Huns, also many
huts built out Of green timber, and
little rustic bridges and fences.