Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-10-31

Mrs. wyatt has received very
interesting letter from her husband
Lieutenant Edward Wyatt, in which
he tells Of German dugouts, in cap
tured trenches, and of some of the
things which were found in them
Other things of interest are also re-
lated, that win hold the attention OF
the reader.
The letter follows:
Somewhere in France,
Sept Is. 1918
My dear Wife
By the time this reaches you we
will be in rest camp somewhere
behind the lines so don't worry about
me. have been cover the top" and
in the thickest Of the fighting but
came out without a scratch so have
"hunch" that | am TO come back
to you strong and well.
For while we lived in tents which
prefer TO barracks as have had
my first experience with Coolies"
How they did go after me. Officers
Of the company slept in a captured
Boche building one night and the
German coolies surely did land on
US. Now most Of us are in build
ings abandoned by the Boche The
rest are in shelters made of sheets
Of iron which the Boche left in his
hurry. The four officers Of our
company and our orderlies are in this
building and we surely have "A com
Portable place. We have fixed up
three tables and use them to eat
from and TO write on. They are
small with one side against the wall
The German soldiers on this front
certainly lived well, especially the
officers From all reports the people
at home are not nearly so well cared
for We have found officers dugouts
in the trenches lined with fine
matched lumber but made of cement.
In one we found a davenport in
corridor with leather cushions and
even foot rest In the main room
there was table with a white table
CLOTH set for meal with china and
vase with flowers in the center.
Most Of the Boche bread | have seen
is very black and doesn't taste as if
it were fit to eat
In the last few days we captured
bunch of Boche band instruments.
so last night the boys organized a
band and started a parade. Some of
them dressed up in captored Bochc
coats. helmets etc, and marched
ahead under guard in lock step. The
band marched behind playing, It's
a Long Way 10 Berlin" and like
tunes. The rest Of the boys fell in
behind and some French camped
nearby joined in the celebration.
Later the French played French
tunes on the same instruments and
sang French songs. Believe me, they
can sing.
| am using the writing pad you
made for me. The sewing kit you
made for me has been used many,
many times Those two things /
always keep with me in my KNAPP
sack in which carry reserve
rations
Speaking Of reserve rations ! had
an occasion TO live on them for sixty
hours not long ago. also went
without sleep those sixty hours. That
part is all over now. We have our
rolling kitchen with Us and do very
little but eat and sleep.
Not long ago ! saw an American
plane bring down in hames a Boche
observation balloon Then two
Boche planes chased him and made
him come down near where we were
He was shot in the shoulder but
brought the plane down without
breaking it and he will be alright in
1 few days.
We surely have the Germans or
the run now and believe me we car
keep it up. know from what
have seen myself that they are afraic
Of the Americans.
1t is getting dark so will say good
night and hope for a letter when tn,
mail comes in tonight.
With love, Ed
Lieut.. Edward H. Wyatt, l02n,
Machine Gun Battalion. France.
A. p o. 700, American Expedition
AIRY Forces.