Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-03-16

somewhere in France, has written the
following interesting letter TO his
sister. Mrs. John E. Deehan, No. III
State street, Augusta. The John re-
ferred to in the letter is his brother
John r. Hopkins. who is in the same
regiment.
Somewhere in France,
Feb. Is, 1918.
Dear Mary:
Well. at last we have landed where
all the things you read about are hap
pening, and we are now getting some
first hand information ca of what this
war really means. What l have seen
of it is wonderful. whole cities COM
pletely destroyed. just one mass Of
ruins. The territory we are now oc-
Cupying was held by the Germans
during 1914-15 and their work of de-
struction was certainly complete when
they were obliged to evacuate and
however in the name OF heaven the
French W are able to drive them out of
here is mystery to me, as they had
all the natural advantages Hills all
around that the French and English
were obliged to storm in order to drive
them back In their retreat hardly a
tree did they leave standing. Whole
orchards were cut down. and in case
they did not have time to fell the tree
il was mu.ilated so bad that it would
never bea" again. In one of the big
ruined buildings here is painted in big
letters "Go;t 'Strafe England. which l
understand means God Stricken Eng
land"
Last night was a very busy one. in
fact all day yesterday. The air
raids which took place last night were
very pretty to watch. They We're over
us as well as all around us, and some
heavy fighting was done on both sides.
] understood John was right up
among the singers in the first line but
returned last night | will probably
see him tomorrow. | have not seen
him for a week now. but have heard
from him every day, so know he is 0.
X.
They say all the boys are taking to
this like ducks to water. and when you
come to think that they are prac-
tically all living underground. in dug
outs, some Of them big enough to hold
$500 men, YOU can imagine what a
change of living it is to the most Of
us. And ,ou would be surprised how
ccmfortable we can make it. In this
cellar where | am, are part of the
kitchen help and myself. We have
stove and hunks, with straw in our
ticks. plenty of blankets and it is sur
prising even to me how we make it so
homelke and coy.
At first the big guns bothered us
but now We are used to them and do
not mind them. Tonight they are
very quiet.
l presume we. will remain on this
front a certain length of time and then
be sent to rest camp, where ] will
have plenty of time to write you all
and tell You some of our experiences
l hope you got my letter asking you
t. send those boots and that they are
on the way. l have witnessed some
air battles that were interesting. yes
terday they were particularly active
and l happened to be up the line
where | got good view of it all.
Well. | will be glad when the mail
gets along to us as I am anxious to
hear from YOU all. and know that there
is some in this country for me. but
like everything else it takes time to
reach us here. / will close for now
and have pity on the censor. Hoping
you are all well at home. and with
love to all,
Your loving brother,
Harry.
Sgt. II. r. Hopkins.
Supply Co. 103d Inf, A. Eff.