The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1918-12-25

II
cream of the territory taken by Ger
many as there is coal and ircn ore
mines that are being worked and from
the size of the steel mill we passed.
should judge that the iron one
mines are rich.
When a fellow is on hike like we
have been for four days he gets
chance to see things as they really
are and even though we have sore
feet and all tired cut we are seeing
things that people in the States will
pay big prices Il, see and it is some
thing we will never forget.
Maybe you think it don't cost any
thing to live over here, but oh, boy,
/ don't think millionaire would last.
long One of the boys sent me to
town to buy some hamburger for him
and gave me 20 francs, about $500
u, S. money. / got five pounds and
came back broke, a loaf of barley
bread the same size as large rye loaf
costs 75c, cne< candle costs 40c, eggs
are worth SLIGO per doz and scarce
and everything else in the line of food
stuffs are the same. went in a store
to buy some jelly and lady gave
me a ticket and motioned for me to
give it to another lady. There paid
for it and a girl farther down the
line weighed out the jelly and l got
out.
l don't think, we are to stay here
long and perhaps the next letter you
receive will be from Germany proper.
l didn't miss seeing front line work
by very much; we were on the road
day the firing stopped so you see how
close / came to it
Forest Beemer is with this division
but not in the same company I'm in
and have only seen him once since
Nov. 5.
I had the good luck to meet Chas.
King on the road; it was when we
were passing through (deleted); he
lis an ambulance driver and was wait
ing there for orders. / was sure glad
to see him and / guess he was glad
to see both Forest and myself. He
walked quite "a ways with US and we
had talk about what we had done
since being over here.
/ started this letter as soon as I
came in from drill, but had to stop
and go to Chow. We had beans
and beef, bread and coffee and / sure
was hungry as they had canned roast
beef for breakfast and / can't eat
that anymore so had bread and coffee.
We are drilling five hours day:
from A. M. to p M. and / use the
rest of the day for cleaning my rifle
and clothes.
There is absolutely nothing in town
to see and fellow has to have lots
of money if he is going to buy any
thing, so do no running around.
Well dear folks l guess it is about
time for me to quit before make you
tired trying to figure out what i am
writing about.
AS far as knowing any thing about
know a thing about it but sure hope
it will be soon.
Hoping this letter finds you all
well and happy will close.
With love, your son,
Corp. Geo. Trimble,
Co. C 39fh Infantry
American Ex.s Forces
"a Francs.
Gibraltar, Spain
December a, 1918
Dear Father and mother-Just re-
ceived your most welcome letter.
George had some life when he wrote
that letter. l sure wish he, would
rhave shipped in the navy, he would
stand chance Of getting home sooner
/ am going to make chief this
month, dad. That will make my pay
about $72 month, but will not stay
in the navy. / am full to the brim
with the navy. / have some job now.
have to cater the mess for 200 men,
buy all the food and make out, the
bill of fare. 1t sure keeps me busy,
but like it as it beats baking in the
navy. / like to baks on the outside
but it is altogether different from the
navy.
wrote a letter about month ago
to George, but have not heard from
him in return.
This place that ] am,at now is a.
supply base, also repair station for.
all the ships thet pull in here. There
are about 10 torpedo boats, 10 big
yachts and a big repair ship here
the Buffalo, here at the present time.
This is also a receiving station for
men. They are sent here and then
sent from here to where the ships are
that need them A bic supply ship
arrived about a week ago and every
body is pretty busy Just now, d
was q good thing too, e we were al
most out Of prDvisiona OF course,
we can buy from the people up town,
but only in limited onounts. Be-
sides, the British government charger
shout twice - much foy thing - e
II worth and they are - blamed allow
about doing a1Ything We buy III
our ~ Inn 49,, oloo MOST q err
Do>otoon oud oui6no