Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-05-22

ship load came and went back to the United
States twice before the necessary papers
could be fixed so that they could be issued,
and when the papers were ready the potatoes
had rOtted that they had 70 be dumped in
the ocean. Nothing like that now. just
telephOned TO the Regulating Station asking
for one hundred Thousand ra,i0ns and ten
thousand travel ratiOns, and the officer there
said without asking who going to eat
them. why ] did not send in an approved
reQuisitiOn. or even for a scrap Of paper,
simply said they will be loaded this after
noon tonight and be sent out on the first
train possible"
To Inc credit of the United States let it be
said that American soldiers are being fed and
fed we'll. II takes a CARLOAD of meat and
two carloads of bread day to Just feed this
division. In case of a tie up Of cars on the
railroad there is always abundance of
hard tack, bacon, not belly either, but
fine bacon put up in l2-pound tins, and roast
beef put up in tins, as well as eOrned beef TO
supply all wants. Onions, cabbage, carrots.
figs. dates. sugar, butter, cleo. lard and lard
substitute, -four, baking powder. Havoring ex-
tract, beans. rice, coffee. canned milk. tOma-
toes. and many other articles constitute the
ration. | think We ought to feel sorry for
you people back home who have your meatless,
wheatiess, eatiess days, as we know nothing
of all that here.
Ii has been my privilege lately to al
most all the Viroqua boys in this land. They
at present all WE'LL happy and like myself,
hoping for unconditional surrender, and
then all listening for the Whistle TO blow"
IMr. and Mrs. j. A. Norris of Madison, form
er residents of Vernon county, have recently
received the following letter from their SON
Vincent. who enlisted in the United States
Field Hospital ard has been in France since
march,
Dearest Mother and Everybody: Well 1
only wish that l could sit down and tell you
everything that have seen and done and am
doing, but it sure would take some paper and
II is mail is limited to four pages so
you see that we have to make it short. Our
trip across was great and very exciting. The
old Sub" tried some rough stuff but the boys
at the guns were too much for them. II was
a long old trip and were all mighty glad
when able to land. We landed
in a very large city and marched to some
very old barracks where stayed four days.
Then We had a long tiresome trip riding in
hobo Pullmans for four days. Tired! l sure
all in and when they did stop and when
the order came "all out" some hap
by bunch. We did not know where we were.
and did not very much. All We
wanted was a good nights sleep. So away
We went again. up big hill into a small
town (the towns in France are about a mile
aparD and everywhere looked could
there see American soldiers. We marched
about half mile and down in the valley
saw some new barracks and we went straight
for them. They sure did look good to US.
Then received the glad news that were
going to take charge of the new camp hospital
and. oh what n happy bunch of fellows. for
il had been a long, long time since had
regular home and everyone was so pleased.
And mother, if you could walk ia tonight
you would find me cuddled up to a nice coal
FIRE in the dispeRsary, which l am in charge
OF. Nice warm place, good bed and lots TO
eat | wish you could our hospital. You
would say that Il some hospital al
right. We have room for 500 patients and We
have at the present about so. but they are
not very sick, but know when we
may get a whole bunch. | wish too that you
could take peak at some Of oar wards.
Nice white beds, soft mattresses. and honest
to goodness. sheets and big wooden blankets.
Gee, II would make a fellow want to get sick
50 that he could sleep in them. Our hospital
Is very near the front and sometimes we can
hear TIE roar Of the big guns. but not close
enough TO be IN any danger. We very
things very cheap, such eggs. milk and
cheese There is also a large Y. NJ. c. A.
run by American people and il is just fine.
When you here v NJ. c. seems
like home where you can go and have a
gOod old time and forget all about the little
troubles. We sure tell some of those
boys back home a few stories when we get
cur service strips our sleeves; we get one
service strip on sleeve every six months.
showing that have beenZ----and il
won't be long before we get cur first one.
wish you could some of the old French
towns and the people. There are no male
.ex of the middle ages around at all. The
stores all run by women and even the
little ig~ms are worked by women. There
are few old men around, who OF course, are
toe old 10 70, but not very many. This cOun-
try has sac rihced whole lot for this war.
Tell dad l receive his letters, and for him
to keep il up" Tell sister TO send me some
heeley's Old Fashion candy. as We miss the
good old United States candy over here al
right Well mother. | sure could write all
night but four pages is the limit and I'll say
that have crowded all | can in these fcar.
We are also allowed TO write only two letters
week, and one of them will be to you. Give
my best regards 10 everybody and REMEMBER
TOO that there is no limit to the letters COM
ing over here.