The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-09-26
SOLDIER MORALS.
AFFECTED BACK
LINES IF AT ALL
FARGOAN WRITES
Thinks a Man Is Going to
Be Better for What
He Learns

Army life will not change a mans
moral standards for the worse. ac-
cording to Corp. George M. Robert
son, son of DR.. ID. T. Robertson
pastor of the First Presbyterian
church, Fargo, who, in a letter to
his parents adds that any undesir-
able effects soldier suffers will be
from what he does at the rear, not
at the 'front.'.
"a fellow sure learns to appreci-
ate home while he's here also
writes Corporal Robertson. 81 won't
want anything but to settle down
and raise cows and chickens when ]
get home"
Corporal Robertson's letter, in
part, follows:
This is "a. beautiful Sunday az.
ternoon ind I am spending it just
loafing for ! am at least far enough
from the front line to miss hearing
the shells.
"The last front we were on was
a very quiet one. We could even
hear German band over on
.Heinies' side. We used to exchange
a few shells at times and got one
good Smelling, but otherwise every
thing was fine. There was an old
plum orchard near our linesSand we
filled, up on them during our odd
times. They were about half ripe.
"'The only thing to disturbe our
quiet and peace was an army OF
fleas and Coolies sure got flea
bit for while. / guess I've gotten
rid OF them now.
I'VE have done a lot OF hiking
lately. It's great dope. I don't mind
the, night hikes but it sure is hot
in the day time and we have no
campaign hats. Just little overseas
caps and tin hats No shades on
gram Got out of bed at $3.50 a. m.
and spent the time until 1890 on
the rifle range. Then we packed up
and hiked from p. m. until 6 lit
was some hot too in Sunny France.)
We ate chow at 6 and rested I'M
til D. m. and then liked in here
arriving at 1880 p. m.
Just after we left the front this
last time / had my first real bath
since leaving the States. 1t was a.
genuine hot shower and sure felt
good. The last sector we were, on
all we did was keep our heads
down and our eyes open. We did get
a few shells, but if they don't hit
you they won't hurt, so we're still
o. X. I had a, close call that night.
I had just been out as q guide and
got back as the show commenced.
Up to the shower bath, ] had been
swimming in the Ohes, Marine and
Moselle rivers. Our bunch has
hiked all over France and with
heavy equipment.
II heard the other day that my
churn, Freddie Wagner, was dead.
He was in a machine outfit. and was
killed in the last attack ] was in.
Learn To Enjoy Life.
zone certainly learns a lot about
enjoying life while he can here. It's
a good lesson to learn. / read an
article a while. back written by a.
soldier who said that the thought OF
death was constantly in ones mind
at the front. / think he is wrong.
We see enough of Z that without
thinking OF it, Even when the shells
are singing Home Sweet Home
over you, and the bullets peppering
the parapet or cutting the wheat
around you the thought of death is
a long ways off.
II have heard it said too that war
would make mans moral stand
ards change. A good many times ]
have heard people say that when q
man got used to shooting Huns over
here he would think a lot less Of
killing a man.. Yet I've seen a man,
an old time soldier, who had been
through. the whole game refuse TO
Kill "a badly wounded German be-
cause he said it would haunt him.
No, think a man is going tor be