The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-26
Highland Park Boy Calls the
Coolies "Surplus Meat"
Arthur McCarter Writes Inter.
esting Letter Home.
HE'S INFANTRY BAND CORPORAL
Comrades Generous With Their
Supply of Bread.
Trouble in Getting Rations
Caused Boys Annoyance.

Mr.. and Mrs. Will McCarter of
Highland Park had a very interesting
letter last week from their son, Corp.
Arthur McCarter, musician with the
18th Infantry band, one of Topeka s
musical contributions to the war. The
letter is as follows:
Dearest Folks: l expect you are wor-
rytng and wondering where your boy is
this very night, but If you could only
AXE squint at him just as he is now
while the biggest drive that the war
has known is going on, you wouldn't
worry any more as we are laying back
here in the woods guarding all of the
regiments baggage, while the rest of
the poor fellows are laying down their
lives one after another for the great
cause Our boys are just about the
best boys that hit that line and they
left us singing and laughing as loud
as they could, some never to return
again while here we are sitting back
seemingly doing nothing. 1t was all
planned that the band was to go right
along with them and act as runners.
but at the last minute nearly they sent
down word that the band was not to
go along 1t was a great disappoint-
ment to me because this is one battle
that 1 wanted to take part in the
worst kind. But I guess that our
work will follow. that is when the boys
leone hack for their rest. We are going
ito give them all the music that we
shave in us. 1t would be great if such
a thing could hapen that the band
could play While they were going over
the top hut such a thing is impos-
sible. If it could happen the boys
would not stop until they were waving
Old Glory over Berlin.
Night before last the guns Just
shook this old earth away back here
ard it sounded like hades had broken
loose. even this far back. 1t must
hen
in the trenches but this evening all
You can hear is a low rumbling of the
guns so by that we know that they
are walking thru the Dutch.
Trouble Getting Rations.,
We have had a little trouble draw
ing our rations here lately but 1 think
that We will get lined out all right
could eat all right but have had to
manage for a part, of it. Today we
struck it pretty rich. Some of the
boys from another band came over
and they saw that we were rather low
on rations and as luck would have it
they had lot of extra bread and some
flour that we could have if we would
come over after it. So four other fell
lows and myself went over and got
nineteen loaves of bread and about
twenty POUNDS of flour. That is what
we needed most of all.
Yesterday one of the fellows came
down here to our tents and asked who
would volunteer to go with him after
some eats and told him that 1 would
so we started out and walked about 4
half mile and then stopped. He said
there il is over the fence. 1t was a
hive of bees. 1 was quite a long time
trying to kid myself into the notion of
going over there and picking up that
box of trouble but finally did go over
and pick it up. but was mighty care
full how handled it. 1 only got stung
once. One poor fellow came drifting
in this afternoon and said all that
he had for the last two or three days
was raw bacon SO we shouldn't COM
plain any. This evening we drew 100
pounds each of flour. rice, bread, ba-
con, tomatoes, potatoes. coffee su-
gar and onions SO 1 guess We will live
for a couple of days anyhow.
Coolies Surplus Meat.
A bunch of the fellows were very
much surprised to find out that they
were carrying some surplus meat
around with them. 7 looked all thru
my clothes but was unable to locate
the enemy. I sure feel as tho 1 had
them. 1t seems to me / can feel them
crawling all over me so l guess + will
have to take another look tomorrow.
There arc sure lot of these crawlcrs
here and ] don't know where / got
them unless the woods are full of them.
Gard of Thanks.
We wish to thank our many friends
and neiGhbors for their kindness and
hnD Mt ~