New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1918-09-07
LETTER FROM DRAcos DIMIrRY

The following letter was received a few
days ago by Dr.. and Mrs. J. P. France;
from Lieut. Dracos Dimitry of New Ibe.
ria, who recently went to France. A:
Lieut. Dracos Dimitry was born and almos
grew to manhood here we give the letter
in full, feeling sure that it will be read
tie community among whom the young
aviator has many friends who take this
opportunity to send him greetings "across
the wide, wide sea" and who hope that
| the "Boche hunt" he has in prospect will
be uccessful.-Lafayette Advertiser.
France, August 7, 1913
My dear friends:
While I was always amiss in the mat
ter of correspondence in the States it has
occurred to me that it would be practicu-
larly "trits" and opportune if I were to
send you greetings now that I have been
in France one week
It is particularly fortunate that I
should find myself in France in a mission
SO commensurate with the ardent feeling
that I have always possessed for France,
which feeling is largely due to my early
association with you, dear friends, where
at your knee I might say, I learned more
of the good of France than others might
have. Needless to say I came here with
my eyes already opened and in frame of
mind that simply permitted me to coincide
by actual close touch and view such
things as had already learned almost as
comprehensively from you as young boy
and which had retained very clearly in
my memory. En- fin, nothing I see, or
taste, or hear or even smell is a surprise,
because I knew precisely how I was to
find it. The port at which I landed was
probably the port from which the ances-
tors of the Moutons, Demands, Landr,s
and other Caians of Louisiana embarked |
for Arcadia in Canada The dialect is so i
similar that I even after ten years of dis
association with the real French speaking
people of Lafayette Parish am able 20
comport myself with perfect ease. As
am in better social posi-
lion than the English speaking American
and 1 have already made some good
friends
I am in command of company and
We are for the time being at Rest Camp,
GEAR the Port We expect to depart for a
base closer to the front at which time I
expect to take up the role for which I am
that is the work in the air; and
believe me, my friends, live or die shall
surely live long enough to stake and eye
or an eye-tooth for a tooth" No Boche
think can best me in my frame CT
mind and something is bound to crack if
yer I am fortunate enough to meet one
f the bloody barbarians in the air routes.
As you probably know I am not
or Bombing Pilot. am
Pursuit or Combat Pilot pilot de Chase
Combatte) and all have to do is to go
p and knock the Boches down or be
nocked down and that just suits me. Last
light there came from the city near which
re are quartered group of young French
aides, who gave us musical entertain
1ent. }
It would have done your loyal old l
rench hearts ten years good to see that |
eautiful girl stand up, announce "Le
1arsailles" and sing it with all her heart
nd talent. The four or five thousand men
IMPLY went wild with enthusiasm. I'm
lediately after that she sang the "Star
pangled Banner" and then He'll broke q
,ose sure enough! The man who will Y
OF fight to those two hymns is queer I
ird, ces't tout! Now after I arrive at
~ base may be able to name the place, d
nd in. the mean time letter from both i
you would be veritable boon to SOL
Ter fighting for France. IL,