Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1918-07-24
France, June IA.

Long way from home today, "O'er
where the holes in the cheese are
large" Those gardens sound good to
me. We get very little fresh vege-
tables although it is very plentiful.
See it "O'er the hedge" But then we
have plenty of godo substantial food.
The beef we get is great, fresh beef,
not the canned stuff, is what / refer
to. Would like to answer your cues
ton as to Americas fighting strength.
In the beginning Of the war France
was forced to send her rockies right
into the front. The American plan is
like going to school-frst the primary
then the grammar and so on. We are
not thrown into the hottest sectors
but work up o them gradually. Give
us time. When Pershing is ready to
let US loose the end will be close at
hand. So far you haven't read of
Fritz getting the best of us in the lit
tie encounters we have had a hand in.
The wounded and sick chaps from the
front tell us of the situation. Buddy
wants to go home and the only way
is via Berlin. Watch him get his feet
under the home table once he gets
a free hand. Our duty is mainly be-
hind the real danger zone; only in
emergency will we be called out. We
envy the doughboys when they pass by
on their way to the trenches, but ex-
pect we must each do our bit where
and as we find it to do. Some with
the plow, some with the pen, some
with a gun, some with the hundred or
more trades and professions neces-
sary to maintain the enormous army
machine that modern warfare calls
forth.
AS to being optimistic, enthusiasts
tic, no kicks on the trials and hard
ships there is absolutely no reason
for us to do otherwise. At first things
seemed hard, but now everything is
taken and done as a matter of course;
just like your dishwashing three times
a day-it's there to be done, you do ii
and then promptly forget all about it.
It's the want of home and all that
gets under Buddy's hide and if he
has any praying to do it's not on his
account but for the loved ones back
home-that all is well with them.
Personally he breaks the ten COM
mandments ten times a day regularly
The boches have a lot of fun at our
expense. They know every move we
make and where our guns and men
are located. We know as much or
more about them. When we arrived
they sent up toy balloons with signs
welcome - Division" When the Am
orleans take yer a sector from the
British, French, Australians or Al
gerians their band plays the Star
Spangled Banner. Down here it's not
uncommon for the men of both sides
to go out into No Mans Land, wash
clothes, and smoke. A mutual under
standing, 81 won't shoot if you won't
then again they will do a bit Of shoot
ing to keep their guns in shape. No
n gets hurt. We are under French
command and there is a reason for all
things, strange as it may seem. Both
sides understand that when the prop
er time comes all hell will be turned
loose-a bit of the grim humor of war.
Every morning the boche planes come
over u lines for reconnaissance and
photos. They have magnifying lens
in their cameras; then u anti-air
guns get busy and fill the heavens with
shrapnel. Up goes Fritz into the air
clear out of sight. It's a great game
and provides entertainment for all of
US. Yesterday I counted 81 planes in
a bunch, shrapnel bursting all around.