Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1918-08-29
TRANSPORTS Conveyed
PARTLY BY AIR SQUADS
Earl Hayes in Letter TO Parents North
Of Mexico Tells Why Submarines
Cannot Harm Yanks.
RECOVERING FROM OPERATION
He Is Elated Over the Fact That He Is
Able 10 Be In France and Likes
the Army Very Much.


MIR. and Mrs. Robert Hayes, who
live north Of this city, are pleased by
the arrival Of two letters from over
seas bringing them news Of their son,
Earl Hays, who is with the seth Di-
vision of the American expeditionary
forces. Their younger son, Roger, is
now waiting anxiously for his call into
the national army.
The letters follow:
July 81, 1918.
Dear Folks at Home:
| am at last in France. Had
long and tiresome journey on the way
over. Thought we would never get
here. began to feel it soon after
leaving the harbor, and it lasted for al
most half the trip over here. | saw in
teresting things on the way over, some
whales, six of them, stand up in the
water and gaze at US as our ship
went past; also hundreds of different
kinds Of fish. / cannot say much on
the life of sailor, as l fairly detest
the sight Of the sea.
Our trip was a quiet one, not much
excitement. OF course we thought we
saw a submarine every now and then.
However, we got here safe and sound.
You never need to be afraid Of hearing
about transport being sunk by
submarine. They have absolutely no
chance at all. Our ships are guarded
by a fleet of destroyers, aeroplanes
followed us many miles out Of harbor,
and big dirigible airships came to
meet us.
1t was very beautiful on the sea;
SO very quiet. Sailors said it was the
ouietest voyage they had made. We
were sure a quiet bunch when at last
we saw land and quiet little French
city lying peacefully here in the hills.
Everyone here is in uniform. France
is sad, sad country, with every in
dication that they are engaged in an
/, awful war.
Women DO Most of the Work.
The cities here are all old-fashioned
and crowded, streets not half as wide
! ! as our own. They are just hundred
: years behind the times or behind with
the improvements Of our own country.
The women here do all kinds of work;
clean streets, drive garbage wagons;
in fact, they do most all the work that
! is done.
! People are very optimistic con-
] cerning the war. Have been talking
to those who have been discharged
] from she front, and they predict 4
! hard struggle until Christmas; but no
/, fighting after that. We are simply
: playing havoc with the Germans now;
= no more trench fighting, mostly in the
j wooded districts of Chateau-Thierry
i And they have them on the run. 1t will
be some time before get anyway
near the front, as we are in rest camf
= = now, awaiting our orders for further
training.
i am satisfied and elated over get
!, ting to come over here, and il any
- thing happens to me you will be no
titled. So don't worry about.me
am not homesick in the least, and vii
=, not be If you will only write to me Of
ho ten.
!. Give my dearest regards to every
=, body. Give my address to Fathe
= 0'Sullivan. Love to Uncle Tom an
!. Aunt Vic, Aunt Mat and Uncle Bill.
Lovingly, your son,
EARL HAYS.
~ Mobile Field Lab, Ill San. Tr. set
4 Div, A. f. F.
Friend of Hays Writes.
U. S. S. Siboney, Aug. 20.
Mrs. Robt. A. Hays,
Mexico, Mo.
~ Dear Mrs. Hays:
During recent trip to Franc
=, while engaged in scout and convo
sa M duty, | was surprised to meet you
~ ~ son, Earl, whom knew at school
10 Columbia, Mo. He wanted me I
Il T. write you, informing you of b
re health and whereabouts. He said !
m was not allowed to communicate wit
= you, as he has been operated on Il
appendicitis. But he now looks fin
y, W and, although still somewhat weak,
~ ~ is able to navigate without inconvel
m ience. He does not show the effects
@ 20 illness at all and has been dismiss
10 from the sick list for some time pas
Nv He said he would leave shortly for I
IL - interior, and hoped soon to get col
guy mission as second lieutenant.
w Inclosed find the card he gave n
aus with his address and yours. As
,r. cross the Atlantic every month or {
80 :. | will probably be in a position TO
l.a ~ of service to you in communicate
'U'' with him. II 50, let me know.
Yours truly,
W. W. REID,
ev- U. S. S. Siboneyp Care Postmast,