The Washington times., 1918-01-02
WOMEN
RECEIVE THANKS
FROM TRENCHES

Tobacco and cigarets are more or
less of a luxury in the trenches OF
France, and when a new consign-
ment for the men in Pershing's COM
mand arrives it always Is an occa-
sion for great rejoicing. Just how
much the American soldiers appre-
ciate the gifts of tobacco. pipes and
cigarettes lis evidenced by letter
made public today by THE knitting
Ladies' of Mrs. G. d. Repairs Grass
from "the boys Of Company b. quar-
tered somewhere in the trenches
lover There"
While the boys evidently nave
tried 10 cloak their feelings, to a Ger
tain extent, under veil OF taceuous-
ness. they have not succeeded in ma
ing their intense gratitude for the
gifts. which they acknowledge they
"have no words-to express.
The letter Is as follows:
Text of Letter.
France, December IL. 1917.
From THE Boys of Company Il
To 1.-THE Knitting Ladies OF Mrs. Z.
B. Repairs Class.
On a certain red-letter day not long
ago the whole command was startled
by the unheralded approach of our
arch enemies-tobacco,, pipes, and
cigarettes.
They were rather outnumbered by
us. but we valiantly battled, and at
length all were prisoners. At points
along the road we could see the
smoldering bodies of those who hao
been conquered and burned by gal
liant troop Of American horse.
These brave veterans of the United
States Mexico endurance ride with
a PARKWAY Christmas look in their
eyes, swooped down upon the unsus-
pecting enemy, 12I strong.
Broke Through Barricade.
We broke through the barricade of
pipes, burned the timid bodies OF
cigarettes, and ruthlessly scattered
the then unrestisting tobacco-truly
another Hun" atrocity.
After being rallied by our unfiinch-
ing first sergeant, we found our cas-
ualty list as follows: First Sergeant
Henderson, a burned finger; Mess
Sergeant Sechel, a nicotine thumb;
Supply Sergeant Proteus. a bitten
tongue; Corporal Hum, a tobacco
heart. and the rest of the troop a
happy. glorious feeling.
However. as history repeats itself.
we have had this happen several
times. but never in quite this man
ner nor at a time SO badly needed.
and so greatly appreciated-"bully
as our British kamerads would say.
That we are deeply grateful to the
above ladies is small. indeed: we are
more. but have no words to express
our deep feelings. as we are just
buncch OF rough fellows. banded to-
gether from all points OF the COM
pass for a common purpose towit:
The protection of our great and glo-
rious nation, the stamping out Of
Prussianism, but, believe us. not the
ending OF all things military. as We
are all proud to be soldiers. particu-
larry in the United States Horse.
DoubIy Proud.
Then. too. we are doubly proud OF
our home people. as we have seen
enough OF Europeans to know that
the Tommy" is a bully fellow. the
'Frenchy" a dandy chap, but we feel
that the "Americaine" is incompara-
BILE. as we are looking forward to that
future day when we can show those
at home. even though in a tragic
manner. the way we appreciate
them. Then in the course of time we
would all be glad to see the ladies
and thank them in person for their
great kindness and kindnesses 10
the 'home-hungry" boys in France.
To quote an old maxim. "'Twere
- L.
late. we all wish you all a very
merry Christmas and a happy New
Year.
THE COMMITTEE ELECT.
Walter l.. Henderson.
John Sechel.
James II. Proteus.
Clifford J. HUM