Arizona republican., 1918-03-13

a non- com. meeting on board this and informal talks from Capt. | B and Lieutenant s on esprit de corps" and American behavior aboard, it being the purpose of the 23rd and B company particularly to maintain the honor and dignity of America on French soil.
 It comes back to me now what a difference there was and how we noticed it, between the French and the German people. The French, so polite and nice and the Germans so damned punctilious and military as to hit you in the eye in executing an about face, and then dropping trunk on your toe in an effort to appear efficient. I hope I meet that Gepeckmeister in conflict, and even if I don't I'll even up that toe score on some of his compatriots Some of the boys have tender softnesS about murdering Germans, but I've tried to impress upon them the anal ogy of swatting the fly instead of eh- tering into an argument on pacificism with them. The bayonet drill got the goats of some, but when they realize that it's a German life or their own, they probably will put plenty of pep into the thrusts. We are still content edly sailing along. and l suppose we will continue to sail alor~ until we see some land. Do you remember how nice those white cliffs of Albiln looked to us? l would like to see them now, but il ne peut etre pas I expect to take good many dips into Francais from now on, for I've got to have some one to practice on, and you remember what hit I made in the Parisian cafes when ordered, particularly when l stuttered. I'll try to get along with out the shutters this time. It is de- ilghful to write you a little each day. and as the days go by get more time, but as I don't want to wear the censor out, I'll stop for today.
 Ground hog day. I don't see a soli- tary ground hog and the sun it not within sight or hearing and the weather is spotted with rain storms so l can see a fair and early spring on the - coast. An occasional boat looms up on our far horizon and each time one does, off goes our cruiser like our little black hound to investigate, and after she gets through shifting the atmosphere in the near vicinity of our | unexpected visitor she comes jumping back at about the same speed that our | little four foot makes, getting away l - d little lonesome feeling when she leaves but much calm when she returns. Out side of the little rains, the weather is grand and about 96 per cent of our men are just as well as possible.
 1 am still well and have the same vulgar appetite, but if it don't bother anyone else any more than it does me
 then no one is hurt. I'm glad I culti- vated this habit of petite writing when 1 was in law school for it is very handy when note paper is scarce and boat drills are frequent.
 It was such a beautiful night that l enjoyed an hour on the deck about 7 o'clock this morning with wonderful weather and fine sailing, making good time and everything peaceful. After turning in again, l slept so well that l didn't get up until after 6, my usual
 ttme for personal reville is 5:30, as that time I get plenty of time to shave and wash in peace before the gang gets up. At this time the sea is smooth and the wind is whipping a good deal of the Atlantic across the decks. We had a lovely breakfast of apples, etc.
 and it is hard work to find anyone to answer sick call at 9 o'clock this morn
 ing. With things strengthened out
 there isn't much work to do except to
 wait for one meal after the next.
 have been lucky so far in not having
 missed any, and its necessary of course
 to eat, for the poor boys in the hos
 pital. l have a little sewing to do and
 a little renovating for my good suit ot
 clothes which l have on and expect to
 arrive in with it on. I decided
 to wear the best I had so that I would
 never be shy my good clothes. They
 have acquired a few dark spots, other wise they are in good order And
 when l greet the French populace,
 will look as swell as the law allows
 get my every morning shave but
 sure miss my every morning bath With hoe and a jack plane, I will bt able to see land before I get over there
 I would like to be down in the stoke hole firing for then I would have { four hour Turkish bath and then fol low that up with soft water bath
 which would be fine doings. We ar,
 all enjoying life even though we ar,
 bathless, and no one here has suffered
 so far. l wore my lovely, lovely so,
 until they were no longer fit for use
 and now I have them in my raincoa
 pocket so that l may wash them a
 the first opportunity. All the issuet
 sox I have would part with if neces | SdrN. DuL VIII udllS uHlO luOS6 d
 long as there is a shred left. l neve
 before knew that sox could make
 man happy. I guess that's enough fo
 the censor today.
 Well it is one bon matin, and jus about time we landed. It has been perfectly good voyage, and we are a ; anxious to greet the - townspeo , pie. It was very stormy yesterday an , last night. but since early morning has been a most wonderful day Tn , air at daybreak was as refreshing a 7 any that I ever breathed and you ca t guess that it reminded me of Arizon; This great ocean all the way over Ina 3 looked more like the desert than any r thing else: you remember how tn s valley near Rice looked from that las l steep hill on the Phoenix side of th l sawmill? That is what the ocean re ] minds me of
 : February 9--It has just been ii, , days since l had the last opportunit s to write you on board and since ths r time much has happened in the wa n of getting settled. as we have move t around considerably since then and al now settled down in camp. have ju . read of the loss of the 200 from u . transport off the Irish coast and hol