South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-09-18
DON t KNOW UNION
H D j RS IN A RIM !
Soldier Says if People at Home
DO Same War Will
Soon End.

=. orr, company ]. 5rd engineers,
A. L. T.. has been received by Mrs.
Eva Fair Nef1ans OF this city.
August =. 1915.
Mrs Eva Fair Nellans, south Bend.
Ind.
Dear Friend Eva - Received
your letter q few days ago and was
very glad 10 hear from YOU and 70
hear that you were all well / am
in the best OF health and still near
the front although I can hardly tell
il except for the Hun observation
balloons that are up mosr every
day As far as lighting Is concerned
il is very quiet and 7 guess Fritz
is thinking about how near he came
20 capturing Paris twice, only TO be
wakened up.
ole IS started fo Berlin now and
IL IS nay opinion from now or he
viii continue in that direction. We
are having some very bad weathe.
here at present and IT is very dis
agreeable as lar as my work is
concerned am on an auto truck
and IN the last week we have been
stuck IN the mud about FIVE times.
and I'll tell you il is quite a job 10
shovel one OF them out Have seen
quite g number OF my old friends
from southern Illinois and Ken
lucky that have been over here
over a year now, and believe me
they sure have some stories TO tell
All % them have been In the thick
of IL since they landed and I guess
like any Othe- American are anxious
TO get home Ban not before this
thing is over
Our boys on this front took a
few prisoners a few days ago. and
brought them into headquarters. To-
Gated in this town They We're all
10 years Of age and under, and from
their appearances seemed 10 be sick
of war. or to say the least, glad they
We're in 'Yanks' hands our men
after questioning them gave them a
good supper. and I'll say they sure
mOpped up with it. a boche' plane
few over our lines few days ago
and dropped several balloons con
taininE propaganda stuff printed in
French. Of course couldn't read
IL. but q French soldier told me
that 1t stated that England was the
cause Of this war and that France
was only allowing herself TO be
made one OF England's tools They
resort TO all sorts Of ways TO try
and SOW discord among the allies,
but have no success If anything. il
helps strengthen the French peo-
pies determination 70 win, because
they know that the Huns are moth
ing but liars and not 70 be trusted
any farther than they can be seen.
The crops look fine in this coun-
try. and If It only dries off there
viii be q great yield. I have never
seen any shortage Of the necessities
Of life over here, and since America
has entered this war the people
have taken heart wonderfully and
are always glad TO talk TO or help
any American soldier they may
meet ] asked a French soldier who
has been in this war from the start
about how long il will last, and he
said about 1928 il would end.
Whether he meant il or not. I don't
know, but do not think it viii last
nearly that long. Maybe if 7 had
been in as long as he had I might
thing the same, but no matter how
long it does last. you can bet your
last nickel that America is going to
be victorious II the end.
us fellows over here are sure
glad 10 hear how all at home are
doing their, bit. and we all know
that when the kaiser hears Of il he
viii not be quite so sure that Amer
lea and her contemplate little
army. as he calls it, is not TO be
reckoned with.
We are all working hard and al
though most Of Us We're union men
before we came in. we are not
working union hours any longer.
and if the people at home will do
the same II won't be long before
we are all back IN the L. s. A.
Well Eva, it is getting late. so
7 VIII close. Best regards TO all my
friends and don't forget 10 write
soon. Your old friend.
PVT. ". P. ORR
Company L. 23rd engineers. A Z.
F.. France. via New York"