Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1918-07-03
May 81.

May 81.
Am enclosing a postal of my friend
Shorty Sorrenson and myself; he
comes out Of the northern woods up
near Long Lake and is great extern
pOraneous story teller, all made up in
his mind as he goes along and of IN
limited length. Sometimes one story
takes several rainy evenings to
complete, or an hour or so on a hike.
Also find a menu from U. S. base hos
pital for Memorial day.
Per command of the General for
"honor and reward" our band was or
dered to go to a town so miles south
of here to play for the hospital for
malities and we thought we were go
ing to large seaport city but landed
at a small place. Left here in three
big Packard trucks Wednesday after
noon and arrived there about 700.
Believe me we were a surprised bunch
at the treatment we received. We
thought we were going to an ordinary
camp-eat SOW belly and sleep on the
foor-so you can imagine our joy
when we landed in this former school
/ building which has been reftted and
enlarged. When completed it will ac-
comodate about 100000
Now this is Red CrOss-one of the
results of Your Work, Time and Mon
ey. We were taken down stairs to
hot and cold shower baths. We were
some dirty bunch as few of us had
had bath for a week or two and af-
ter so odd miles of dusty roads you
will know we needed water" badly.
Then we had a supper Of cold veal
| loaf, mashed potatoes, lettuce, bread
and butter and cocoa. Played a con-
cert and then to our barracks. There
each man had white iron bed, real
springs, two clean white sheets, two
! heavy blankets and pillow. Honestly
was ashamed to get into mine it
/ looked so nice and clean, but ooh,
! boy, what a grand and glorious feel
ing" If only could have had one Of
those nice American girl nurses to
tuck me in and kiss me goodnight I'd
thought I was in Paradise. No such
luck-tO get that privilege one must
lose a leg or arm or so.
The main hospital building is three
story rock building and is built in
wings, has open courts with plants
and flowers and covers about block
of groud. In addition many barracks !;
each barrack room accommodates about
$50 cots. They have a ''Y" building
with all it's Accommodations.
The lady at the canteen had the
nerve to tell us our canteens were
dirty, so she cleaned them up and
filed them with lemonade.
The boys at the hospital were all
in good spirits-good eats all the time
! and plenty to smoke
This hospital is located in a town
about the size of Potosi and a few
miles from the ocean. Has a direct
railroad line to the front and the best
Of everything in equipment. Most Of
the doctors are men from eastern col
! leges. The nurses are all American
girls and fine clean bunch they are.
There are about 700 boys there now
in all stages of health, mostly appar-
emily healthy chaps, probably recov-
ering from some minor wound; others
with feet, legs, arms off, many "gass-
ed' and a few with "shell shock" and
trench feet"
Trench feet comes from standing
! days at a time in muddy trenches
where the rats and coolies are thick.
The water is infected with germs
which in time work into the skin and
rots the flesh 1t is hard to combat
and many chaps lose their feet.
Trench fever comes from cootie
bites. There seems to be no way of
eliminating these comrades; they get
into ones clothes and bedding and one
can't boil everything every day, so
the boys pick what they can and keep
the rest. AS soon as I get my full
quota I'll send you one.
Cartridge wounds kill or heal quick
! ~. Shrapnel, shells, ETC., take longer.
J Tear gas is not so serious except for
the time being one is blinded and
Fritz has the upper hand Asphyxi-
ating gas generally lays man up for
month or so with sore lungs Our
masks are very good protection. They
are nuisance to wear but must put
up with that.
| These gases catch fellows who are
careless about caring for their masks
or who are caught asleep in dugOuts.
We have a system Of gas alarms that
that is very good.
Mustard gas affects perspiring parts
of the body-itches but must not be
scratched. Good soap and water null
| lilies it's affects if used in time, if not,
\ UuTu is inc result WHICH, lakes d lOuS
time to heal.
Fritz gets repaid in full for all the
gas he shoots.
Gas is sent out in cloud form and
in gas shells. The former requires
slight breeze to carry it and gives
plenty Of time to prepare for it. 1t
often travels a mile or so. Shell gas
is local in it's effects.
The greatest kick the boys have is
when the gas gets into their chow and
blankets. The mustard gas has little
or no odor and many a chap wakes up
burning all over from gassed blankets
more tough luck. II the cOotie
don't get you the gas will.
Next day we marched the Catholic
boys down town to mass, then about
10 a. m. we formed for the parade to
the cemetery Arriving at the ceme-
terry found they have but ten or
twelve graves out Of the hundreds
who have passed through the hospital.
| 80;