The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1918-07-23
BURKE Is WITHIN
SHELL DISTANCE
Somewhere in France,
Tuua 10 1919

Was going 10 write you laSt nlBnt
and Just as | was ready was rudely
disturbed by mournful whistlings that
we're not made by birds. We expe-
rienced our first shell fire Sunday and
since then we have been hitting the
tall timber more or less. We are not
in much danger, though, and can hear
their coming in time to get under
cover and out of the way.
Sunday night we spent In the woods
and soaked up some rain, which ]
didn't care for, but felt no bad effects.
Was amusing to me, as | have had
several years training at that before
| joined the army, but some of the
boys had never slept out before and
it went rather hard with them. They
left their shoes and tin hats outside
their beds and they we're rained full.
[ took all my stuff. including my rifle,
to bed with me. Got some wet, but
not bad.
Sunday while they were Smelling
the town below me l sat on a hillside
and watched them hit. Can't tell you
the effects, but saw many exciting
things happen. One young fellow
came putting up to where | was sit
ting and believe me he was scared.
| asked him had he been running and
he said Hell, no! but / passed some
fellows that were"
/ saw an old lady trying to herd
her cows to a safer place and just
as she would get them well started a
she'll would burst in front OF them
and they would run the other way;
another she'll would fall and they
would turn. She and the COWS were
kept milling in circles. | gave her
credit for having a lot of nerve. But
the French women are all as cool
they take it as a part of the house
work and gardening. They all have
a hole to crawl into, like a rabbit, and
after it is owe they come out again.
1 sure thank the German savages
for putting whistles on their shells.
| am in the very best of condition and
| would give most anything to have
n good round with those dirty -.
That blank doesn't mean angels.
Am working hard these days. Don't
get to stay in bed much lately. Plenty
to eat, but don't get fat nowdays-too
much real exercise.
The climate, except for the rain, is
a lot like Nevada now-hot days and
cold at night. l sleep under all my
blankets.
There is the largest assortment of
wild flowers here one could imagine.
in all colors, shapes and sizes. You
would be right in your glory. And /
would sure like to have you here; we
would have some sport hunting, as
this timber is full of rabbits, SOUR
rels, quail, wild hogs and the French
say deer. All kinds of birds. Every
morning we hear dozens of different
voices and ii is impossible to choose
which is sweetest. Also there are
wild cherries and several kinds OF
berries. The wild strawberries are
ripe now.
Yours of May 16 arrived and glad
to see you haven't lost interest in
fishing. You seem to be having luck.
Wish l were there to go along. But
| can't come back yet and don't want
to until this job is finished. and J
hope it won't take us very long.
Am still the village smith. | have
been made a f1rst-class private, which
pays three dollars more a month. So
you will get a dollar and a half more
added onto your thirty per. My pres
ent job keeps me in out of the rain
more and believe me that helps some.
after being wet so much.
Well, | am going to bed and try to
sleep a little before Fritzie starts to
whistle. viii finish this tomorrow.
You can write all you like. as your
letters are not censored.
June goth.
Well, we had quite a peaceful night.
Considerable artillery fire in this Sec
tor all night and day, but none of il
came this way. Still raining hard. as
usual. No letters today, but hear we
are TO have some mail in tomorrow.
JAS. A. BURKE,
2Sth Engineers.