The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1918-12-19
Letters From and About Soldiers

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sgt. Duane ). Someryille. son Of
Mr.. and Mrs. Chas. ;. SOHerville, who
formerly resided here but at present
are Portland residents. has written his
parents Interestingly of his recent
giimpses into Japan
He first enlisted 10 the Ordnance
Department and was later sent TO
Camp Freemout, being assigned To the
l32ud Ordnance Depot Company He
left Camp Freemont September 10
Joiu the American EXpedItioHary Force
Ordnance Department depot IN Siberia.
From ION the Sea Of Japan he
writes.
Yesterday We reached Hakodate,
Yesso Island, Japan. We caught our
first glimpse OF land and japan Satur-
day noon. sunday morning | got up at
O'Clock, Just in time to see a most
wonderful sunrise In the west the
beautiful full moon was still up. We
had the wonderful effect Of moonlight
and sunrise on the ocean, with the
beautiful mountains to break the mo-
notony Of the unehanging sea. About
9 o'clock VT dropped anchor in Hako-
date harbor
"HakOdate has population of about
80, 900 inhabitants. The shipping, for
town of ITS size, is very large.
About 500 vessels enter that port dur
ing a season.
When We dropped anchor in Hako-
date harbOr the natives came out in
sampans. small japanese boats little
larger than our rowboats, and quite
crude in construction. They sold fruit
and cookies. Ne later went ashore.
We were the first american soldiers to
land at that ro.t. The people were
very hospitabie. some Of them taking
the boys to their homes and giving
them something to eat.
81 was most impressed by the count
less number of children. They appear
to be very bright and CHEEKY. They
seem to play as our children play.
noticed two groups Of children playing
American games. The children, as
well as the grownups. We're very much
interested in the soldiers On walking
down street | found myself the object
Of 10 or II children. They ran in
front Of me. laughing and chatterlng
like SO many monkeys.
After going about block, my lit.
tie flock increasing like a rolling snow
ball, began to feel the red of a
healthy blush creeping up from my
neck to my forehead finally got
away from them. was not the only
soldier who had that experience, So
was comtorted. | enjol ed their cheer.
fulness and good will, however. Sev.
eral Of the soldiers stopped and played
bali with the little boys
con the Island Of Yesso there are
about 20, 900 Anus, the original people
of what is now called Japan. There
are very few Of them left now. Their
experience was similar to that OF our
Indians They were driven north by
HE Japs IN carly DAYS and slaughtered
in great numbers,
can those left of the race are now
on Yesso Island They are savages,
but peaceful and gentle. They have
no education or industry, They live
wild and depend on game for their llv.
ing. They have no written language or
alphabet. They. .haye dialect of their
own Some speak poor japanese.
h ud like very much to explore this
wonderful island for a couple of months
and visit the settlements Of these pe0-
pe, who still live a primeyal life, but
are SO peaceful, gentle and hospltable.
"We left liak0date this morning and
have been sailing towards Otaru. on
the same island. Otaru is great coal
port. We will get coal there. From
there we will 20 TO Vladiyostok, a two
days run,
Edward Van Horn, on the night be-
fore the arm.stice was signed. received
his commission as captain He had
recently returned to his regiment. the
65th Artillery, after instruction at a
French artillery school.
Writing to his mother, Mrs Willis
Van Horn, now in Niagara Falls, Mo-
yember l3, Capt Van Horn said:
Il have recently had the pleasure of
starting a good many tons Of steel on
the way TO the boche am writing
this in a dugout, some 25 feet below
the earth's surface 1t was pretty good
to be here a few days ago, when the
5oche were shelling US. but not 50
pleasant now My telephone is here
and my blankets in corner. viii
have to be here a few days longer, |
guess.