The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-08-29

A. E. F., France, July 27, 1918,
George and Eva,
Dear Friends: Received your let
ter of June 26th and was sure glad
to hear from you and that the old
town still stands.
If you should happen to write Earl
tell him he has permission to write
me twice a year.
7 heard a bunch of soldiers were
-a.1~ sent there for motor instruction
On the Normal grounds.
If you thought I would get sea
sick, there IS where you got fooled,
for was not sick bit The old pond
vas as smooth as a lake all the way
over and our transport one of the
largest IN the service.
There was a bunch of negro troops
aboard our ship and early one morn
ng one of the guns turned loose on
some floating object, they hit it all
right, but it was nothing but some
timber or wreckage.
One negro said, Il heard dat gun
go BOOM" and 1 began to shake at
de knees. pretty soon it goes boom
again, three times and l Strengthened
up just in time to see de biggest sub
marine ! eber saw in my life, bounce
right out of dat water and go back
down again like a rock
l could not begin to remember the
stunts those coOns pulled of, but the
freing of the guns sure did effect
them.
We were crowded for room and the
negroes were requested to move their
packs and stuff out of a certain space.
One old boy picked his up and said,
pack" you can't stay here and you
can't stay there but l guess you will
stay there and he threw 1t overheard
There were several regiments of
colored troops where was one night,
Who happened to be moving out.
vas watching one big coon throw bar
ack bags onto a truck, pretty soon
ne sent one clear over the top, hitting
a negro Lieutenant on the periscope.
He did everything he could to square
himself with the Lieutenant, and
iinaly wound up by saying, l sure
hope you don't take action on dis"
Coming through Kansas we stopped
for water in Lacrosse and say, 1
did want to call up, and had time,
cut IT was against orders
Mike Mauer was here for a while
when we first lit, but he has gone to
the front with his battery. Leiker
IS driving a truck on the front some
where. Mike told me of several other
Hays boys but don't know what they
are doing now.
Have you heard from Ben Williams
lately? He must be quite a sailor by
this time
will take you up on the fried
chicken proposition when get home
Have been going to an artillery
school ever since we have been here,
but I understand that several of this
Company including myself are TO go
to a French motor school
I don't have the least idea when
we go to the front, but when We do
leave 1t to this outfit.
Was in Paris the other day looking
her over. Saw all kinds Of historic
places and buildings that you read
about, so l viii not bore you trying
to describe them. Of course I did
not see the whole town IN one day for
several reasons, one because it Is
quite a large burg, another, because
it takes some talking to get one OF
these taxi drivers TO take a fellow
within three miles of where he wants
to go, and because no one can see
much of any city If he gets lost IN
subway, like someone / know of did.
There are all kinds of drinks here
but that doesn't interest you, so viii
not mention it again.
There are all kinds OF small towns
in France, but one seems the same as
the other, reminds me of Munjor,
except that every house and building
is surrounded with a stone wall.
You must keep me posted on all
important doings around Hays
If anyone wants to know where ]
am tell them / am over IN France on
an excursion trip.
Soldering over here is not bad so
far. Our quarters are better than
we expected to find on this side. OF
course It viii be different on the front.