The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1918-11-12

Now that there is some prospect of
peace, letters from the boys overseas
will prove doubly interesting. One
of this kind was received recently by
Mrs. Ruby Arnsparger, of Paris, from
her son, Lucien Arnsparger, who is
in the Ambulance Corps of the Amer
lean Expeditionary Force in France.
The letter follows:
Somewhere in France, Sept. 8.
f"Dear Mother:-I suppose you
think have forgotten you entirely,
but it has been impossible to write
the last week or so, due to the fact
that we were at the front. There
were things more important to take
UP the time of the officers than that
or cenSoring letters. Also every
available truck was in use. There
fore we had to put off our letter
writing to more convenient time.
''Since leaving the front several
days ago we have travelled over a
great deal of ground. We stopped at
several places for few hours only
to rest. None of these places are
worthy of mention except one. That
one shall never forget. 1t was in a
little village on a Sunday that we
had few hours rest and good din
ner with chicken and rabbit on the
menu. That is the reason 1 shall
never forget it. l mention this just
to let you know that we. are treated
fine along the lines of eats in France.
LAS / mentioned above we have
just returned from drive at the
front. Our division started the drive,
and can assure you that we made a
great record for ourselves. We gained
in all about twelve miles and a half
on twenty mile front. We took the
Huns completely by surprise, and
sure broke up a fine playhouse for
them. They were certainly set for
the winter. Their dugouts were all
in readiness for the cold weather.
Some of these dugouts were anywhere
from thirty to forty feet deep, made
of cement, and lined with wood.
They had a good supply of eats and
drinks around and plenty of furni-
ture. Some of them had dining rooms
with their stems still ready for use.
This stuff was all taken by us for
There were plenty Of
women's garments found around in
different dugouts, and in houses.
There is one house in the town we are
in at present where a fine wardrobe
of women's apparel was found. They
were all fine clothes, mostly silk.
The above goes to show you how they
were fixed in the greatest style for
the winter.
THE retreat was very fast, but we
met with quite resistance at some
places along the line. The Huns used
no infantry at all. They used only
artillery and machine guns. These
were fired right into our infantry,
and it was miracle that, We were
not all wounded. On a hill just be-
fore we entered a certain town I saw
a shell burst not over forty feet above
our mems heads. / thought they
would all be wiped out, but when we
got there we found not over sixty
wounde and dead, in all. 1t was in
this town I found Revell Whitridge,
and gave him first-aid- -the-injured,
and he went back to our station and
had his wounds dressed. His wounds
were slight and he will be out some
time soon They were shrapnel
wounds in his legs and one in the
right foot.
From to-day's paper it looks as if
we may have peace. But we are not
paying much attention to this, as
probably Germany is only looking for
a rest. What we want is a full sur
render, and we will get it. Also ]
believe it is plan of the Kaiser, as
he knows Wilson will refuse his
offer. to put night into his men. He
can tell them that he asked for peace,
but the Allies refused to accept But
peace is near at hand. That is the
way we look at it.
81 received letter a few days ago
from Will S., dated Sept 8. was very
sorry to, hear of Bishop Batterton's
death. also received a letter from
you dated Sept 4. These were the
only letters / have received in a
months time. 1 will write again, as
we are now located in town for
quite a while, i think We have the
Red Cross, the Y. M. C. A, the X. of
c., the Salvation Army, etc., with us,
so you see we are quite comfortably
located.
well, this is about all 1 can get
to write Of at this time, as there is
nothing of particular interest going
on. You will hear from me again
pretty soon, hope. With love to all,
! am,
"Your Loving Son,
"LUCIEN.
'Lucien M. Arnsparger,
"145th Ambulance Co.,
"112th Sanitary Train,