The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1918-08-09
EMORY WILCOX WRITES
INTERESTING LETTER
France, July 5, 1918.
Mr.. D. L. Perry, Jr.,
Fitzgerald, Ga.
Dear Perry: :.

Fitzgerald, Ga.
Dear Perry: ..
It is now A. NJ. and am in a
dugo4lt at Regiment Headquarters
sitting over the telephone TO act in
stantly on news from the front / go
on this job every other day at 100
A. M. Am supposed then to sleep
that morning from 7 to IL, but so far
the other work crying to be handled
has not permitted it. My regiment is
holding part of the line. There is not
a house in this little village that has
not been knocked about by shell fire
There are dugouts scattered over the
place into which we scurry like rats
when the Boche starts shelling It's
no disgrace to run. We are ordered
to run. We carry gas masks all the
time. Have had to use them three
times. We wear steel helmets wher-
ever we go They are awful heavy
until the shells come over then we
wish they were three times as big.
Would write long, long letter, but
my country calls to duty. Bob and
George, Jr, are in the best of health.
The French officers here had their
band to play for us about two miles
back yesterday. They formally con-
graduated us and presented us with
the esteem and good will of their
people and army and they, about 10
strong, gave us, about as strong,
real spread for lunch and another for
dinner. Their soldiers had as much
holiday as Kaiser Bill would allow
any soldiers. | put in my usual IA
hours. But you should have seen
those two meals, every other officer
French and American. 1t was in the
Y. NJ. c. A. hut, all decorated with
flags and flowers, and plenty of cham
payne going round. Oh, boy! Amt it
a grand and glorious feeling? These
French are great people; quiet easy,
polite, genteel, courteous, determined
20 win. And they, and we, will win.
am about three miles back from the
front. The Y. NJ. c. A. is here
usually sells. The Salvation Army is
here-50-50. The Red Cross is here.
gives. You can't buy from them.
They give the troops going in or
coming out, day or night, coffee, hot
chocolate, candy, chewing gum, to-
bacco, cigarettes. They have a IL
brary. No charge or record of books
loaned. They have few beds for Of
ficers or soldiers without a home. If
you are back from the line with live
things on you, the Red Cross gives
you hot bath and swaps you clean
sox and underwear for your old ones.
They give housewives, soap, towels.
had thought before came here that
the Red Cross was most in evidence
In head lines on front pages and So
ciety columns. Wrong again l have
read that their drive was about $4O,-
100000 oversubscribed in the u. S
1 have worked like the devil for the
past fourteen months, for the United
States of America, for my family and
for my friends. About May 1st our
tables of organization were amended
to allow one more captain, one Reg
Sgt. Mai, and three Sgts., to consti-
tute the personnel office and to make
pay rolls, handle insurance, allot-
mentS, and make up daily morning
reports, daily reports of casualties
and changes, weekly strength returns
weekly replacement acquisitions, etc.
ETC., for the regiment. The captain is
staff officer, mounted, and lives al
Regimental Headquarters. The Col
onel asked me 3rd OF June if l wanted
that place. My pride said yes, m,
sense Of duty said no. AS regimenta
intelligence officer, which | had beer
since 4th OF September, | was mount
ed, on the Colonies staff, and ha,
people guessing as to whether | wa.
supposed to be Solomon, Sherlock
Holmes or master scout. | had nc
connection with the secret service
but was just supposed to be the regi
ment's eyes, its master scout. M,
work as r. l. 0. would have taken m,
into and across mo Mans Land" OF
patrol, raids, etc. 1t would be al
active life on the line, crowded will
enterprise, opportunity, chance for in
itiative, danger, hardships. | like,
the work and wanted my share of dan
ger and hardships. / am now out O
danger except from gas and shellfire
did not want my friends to thinl
1 was anxious to take a soft place
Well. pride won. said yes, after
lew moments thought was recon
nended 3rd June and examined physi
caliy. Same old fiat foot, "only tina
and nothing more" My appointment
reached me lst July, but | was $,
busy | did not accept until the 3rd