French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1916-1919, 1918-09-26
LIEUT.. JNo B. BELK WRITES
OF ARMY LIFE IN FRANCE

7-28-18. Artillery Section, Army
Anti-Aircraft School, A. e. F., A.
p, No. 7O2.
Dear Old Dad
How I wish you and mama were
here this lovely Sunday afternoon to
stroll around the Chateau grounds
with me, or walk over to LIE Bourget
and see the largest aviation field in
the world. Then we could run into
Paris to church. And practically
all the while you would be listening
to the dull roar Of guns from the
front. However the distance to that
place is rapidly increasing, due to the
wonderful valor of the French and
Americans. Such a splendid drive.
Gen. Foch is great! And our SOL
diers are fighting like Wildcats
and winning admiration from every
allied soldier. The other day, north
Of Chateau Thierry pronounced as
terry Jerry u divisions swept
forward with the cry "Lusitania!"
and the BOches were fairly slaughter
ed. I tell you, right or wrong, we are
paying them back in their own coin,
and we are taking few prisoners!
Today's paper states that the Crown
Prince is withdrawing from the entire
salient, which has been such a men
ace to Paris. Tho not officially re-
ported, a wounded American told me
last night that we had occupied Sois-
sons (pronouced Swassah). The day
of the German offensives is over. It
may be six months, or it may be six
years but the seal of Germany's
doom is fixed And America will re-
ceive her large share of glory. Did
you know that in June 276,000 SOL
diers arrived in France? The French
soldiers can now get good long fur
loughs.
The food situation here is all that
could possibly be desired. The NOR
ale o fthe allied armies has never
been better. Enthusiasm is running
high. The French and Americans are
the best of comrades-and Americans
are welcomed everywhere.
I don't know yet where I'll be sent.
Am a little afraid it will be Verdun,
and things are too quiet there It pre-
sent However, at any place I'm sta
toned, I intend letting the Boche
know I'm present.
Am surprised at the French I've
learned in the past six weeks. 1 can
carry on a pretty decent CONVERSE
ton. For a while 1 took lessons
from a French school teacher from st
Denis.
Yesterday I received a letter from
home written June g., and l sure en-
joyed it. It had gone t Camp Mills.
1t told me of the boys pet crow, even.
I like that kind of news. 1t vas fine
for Eliz and Lucille to be at D. C. to-
gether.
Did you " e get my "safe arrival
card-sent from Hoboken? Should
have reached you about June oath.
You must all write me often. Mail
is an important item here and I i'm
agine quite a bit is lost
Have written George several let
ters but have received none from him.
Tell him to write me, and, without
fail, tell him to bring me two pair OF
Quartermaster shoes, size ga, and
plenty for himself, when he comes.
Don't any of you try to send me pack.
ages. To get anything from home we
have to send o an order, approved
by u Commanding officer, for YOU
to stick on the outside!
We are blessed with plenty of
Prince Albert tobacco and Fatima
cigarettes, also good American shoe
polish. But matches are 3O.c a box,
(6cts.) Clothing is much cheaper
and better than in America Leather
and rubber goods are out of sight.
1 have just been issued a new gas
mask. And it makes me look a fright.
You could never tell any resemblance
between my appearance ordinarily,
and when I have on boots, pistol,
mask and helmet, I look like a kind
of amphibean!
Northern France is cold. I haven't
been hot since I landed here, and my
heavy clothes, sweater, etc., stand me
IN good stead. 1t is much cooler here
than at Sowania, and 1 understand
the winters are fierce. Well, I have
plenty of wool clothing-wool socks,
leather boots, hip rubber boots, rain
coat, over coat, so let snow and ice
come!
Our Division Gu. s., which was on
the front thru last winter has adopted
Hell, Heaven, or Hoboken, by Christ