The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1918-10-16

Fritz dropped few shells on our
position this forenoon but no one was
hurt.
I'd like to go up Flat river in q
canoe just to get a change from hear.
ing the guns go day and night. There
isn't time Of the day or night but
what you can hear the guns roar and
shells scream over head, some going
over and few coming back. They
got a prisoner here the other day who
knew New York like book and he
could talk good English. Some OF
the boys were talking to them. The
prisoners all seem glad to get this
side Of the lines. They say they are
sick Of war and want to quit only they
fear the officers and don't dare 10
throw up the sponge unless they get
away from them.
| am sitting in an old infantry
trench where | have got a little cave
dug big enough to crawl into. 1t is
shrapnel and splinter proof, also it is
dry. got a letter from mother
last night and just wrote to her
You wolks want to write whether
you hear from me or not because
haven't always got paper to write on
and can't walk down town after sup
per and buy bcx of stationery.
What is Richard doing to keep out
of mischief this summer?
can't think of anything more to
write SO I'll quit and try again some
time.
Your nephew,
list !. Prvt. Elton Gerred,
Battery B., 18th Y. S., f. A., A,
p. 0. 734. A. +. F.
Willis Nichols, son of Mr.. and Mrs
Smith Nichols, north Of town, writes
the following interesting letter.
Think how thrilling it must be to be
on submarine target and then after
battle, to have to turn around and
come limping back home. His let
ter follows:
Camp Mills, Aug. 10, 1918.
Dear Mother and Dad:
Will drop you line this morning,
feel like taking ten mile hike. Gee
but it was cold last night, only had
one blanket and overcoat over me. !
needed about three to keep warm.
Well, Mother, i left Camp Merritt
last Monday morning for New York.
We had eight miles to the ferry boat
then to the bay where the next day
we started for France with about five
other large boats, ours being the larg-
est one of all, we had ten six pound
guns on deck. We were out three
nights and two days when one night
we sighted a German sub but it was
too far off to shoot at. They said they
saw two more in about one half hour
from then we opened fire on them,
our boat being the closest to them.
We fired ten shots in all. l was not
on deck until the second shot. / was
there. The sub shot at us three
times but they missed us. The 4th
shot of our gun got that enc, sub,
mean, the rest of the shots we fired
at the others, too, they got out of the
way but they took our propeller off
with their shot. We then had to turn
back to land but did not until it was
dark. We landed in New York bay
yesterday at noon then we boarded a
train for here. We are. about 81
miles from New York l think. We
are going to wait until our boat gets
fixed up before we go again.
Wei, Mother. I have seen lots in
the last week, the best things are
the Brooklyn bridge and the Statue
of Liberty at the entrance of New
York harbor but being we were start
ed would liked 10 have gone across
with the rest bue we will go over soon
now. wrote Ruth letter on the
boat last Saturday and one of the sail
ors mailed 1T for me. l got the let
ter you and Ruth sent me.
Keep well, you and dad, don't wor-
ny about me for / will be all right.
think Myrne has gone across the pond.
Well, will quit for this time, with
love from your loving son,
p. S.-All we do now is lay around
camp. i am going to get my picture
taken tonight. will send you all
Of them. You be sure to give Ruth
one. With love.
Dear Mother:
Will drop you and dad a line be-
fore leave this side for France. We
leave tonight. am glad being az
Icannot get home any way. We 20
on the same ship that we started out
on. like that ship and the sailors
on it. Gee, they were fine. got
acquainted with three from Detroit
Mother, / wish / had been sailor
they have more Of chance of getting
home cnce in while and so clean
looking, too. They keep just az
white. This is one nice day, here
Oh, tell dad l can see 33 aircrafts in
the air now. some sight. Mother
would you be mad if / told you had
been up in one? Well / was yester.
day morning. ! think they are as
safe as the ocean was. / got in
with the fellow and they made me
sign my insurance until we came
back. He took us about 100 miles
some ride. was afraid at first but
got used to it in a little while. The
air is fine up, so light, when came
back the captain asked US how we
liked it. He has been up too. They
have about $50 here now, some sight
when so line up at once. Have beer
in New York, Long Island, Coney Is
land all fine places, lots of girls who
give you candy and lots to eat. But
/ have so much to do all the time
Well, don't want to run around any