Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1918-12-19
Letter From Bruce Benton.
(Y. M. C A Work with A. E. FL

IL Rue d'Aguesseau.
, Paris, France.
Nov. %, 1913
Dear Mr.. London
Several parties have been so kind as
to write to me, and ask that ] send
another communication for publication
in the POST Dispatch. will do this hop
ing thereby to let the home folks know
where am and what am doing.
This is Thanksgiving Day and is hol-
day in our camp. The greater part of
the camp is IN Paris. The people of
Paris very kindly opened their homes
today, and extended invitations to all our
American forces in and near the city to
take Thanksgiving dinner with them.
They desired to make our boys feel as
much like they were at home as it was
possible to make them feel.
This is gala day in Paris. King
George of England was received in royal
fashion this afternoon as he entered the
city. could hear the cannon as they
gave the royal salute.
Our camp is only Is kilometers south
from Paris. Ours is known as the Orly
Aviation Acceptance Field. We are near
the town of Orly, and about one or two
miles from Choisy-le-Roi. The latter is
larger than Rockingham. We are also
about one mile from the river Seine, on
the famous road built by the great Ma
poleon and extending from Paris into
Italy. This information can now give,
as the censorship on letters home has
been partly raised.
1t begins to look like our camp will
soon be abandoned. 1t may be, all will
be gone from here in month. In that
event, will be transferred to some other
point. l should be very glad if could
get .eleased, and be permitted to return
home But fear cannot. They claim
that they need us now more than ever.
If it is possible, hope to sail for home
by March 1st However, that remains to
be seen. (Since the foregoing was writ
ten, Mrs. Benton has received cable
from Mr.. Benton stating that he would
sail from France Dec. 2lst.-- --Editor)
| We have had very quiet day in camp.
Those of US who stayed at home had a
real thanksgiving dinner, consisting OF
SOUP turkey, dressing. mince pie, coffee,
nuts, etc. ate more heartily, and more
of it, than any dinner since l landed in
France. 1t made me homesick.
We are all looking forward to the com.
ing Of President Wilson. Paris is already
making preparations. And believe me
there is going to be royal reception &C
corded our chief executive when he ar
rives in the cityiof Paris. These people
, think he is the greatest man in the world
anyway, and they are going to have q
gala time when he reaches Paris. The
French like our boys anyway. They
show our boys very many courtesies, and
in turn onr men like the French. There
fore, we expect Paris to do great honol
to Mr.. Wilson. v,. s..
Iwish the folks back home could have
: been in Paris the day the armistice witt
, Germany was signed. 1t was the creates
day have ever experienced. That il
itself repays me for my trip to France
. 1t was not prearranged or forced cele
: bration. 1t was the Spontaneous out
: bursts of joy who had been fighting fol
their homes for over four years. | hac
gone into the city for supplies, and abou
ten o'clock l observed flags begin t. ap
5 pear from windows, doors and from
:. everywhere. The big guns of the cit
5 fired the salute, church bells began t
, ring, shop girls and workmen left the
places, crowds literally poured into tn
streets, everybody was shouting Il
| guerre est finis'----the war is over
} French soldiers would shake hands wit
v us and hug us and say I'VE are comrade;
!. we love the Americans" By two o'clocl
in the afternoon, the folks were Graz
with joy. The women were parading tn
streets, pinning French and America
|. colors on our boys; and they abandone
all forms and ceremonies, and would kis
i, our boys. BY night the ever present an
ever resourceful Americans were i
' the lead in everything. They carried tn
; flags, would climb buildings and hat
e down "old glory" or takea French flas
4 and away they would 60, singing, shou
n ing, laughing, Misunderstanding every
thing. 1t was most marvellous, electr
cal. Everybody caught the spirit. Their
wasno roudyisrn, little drunkenness, bu
all were in good humor. l shall sa,
nothing of my experiences; it is best LEI
unsaid, or be told to my closest friend
in strict confidence and privacy. SUI
fee it to say,I was in the celebration
is impossible to write, or to descrit
that days celebration. If should liy
a thousand years, would never forget
It was the best natured, best spirite