The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-06-15
SHRINERS' FLAG UNFURLED BY BOYS
 OVER IN FRANCE

Roland Winn, a machine gunner sn the Fighting Fourth Alabama, at tached 10 the Rainbow division in France, and who was a popular young local printer. writes to his father. w. H. Vim, under date of May Il, and gives some interesting sidelights on life at ''the front" a few extracts from which follow:
 Sorry have delayed answering your inuch appreciated letter. but I have been so busy (this is no joke) that I have not had an opportunity to do so before So l will take advantage of this occa- sion to relate a few incidents which have occurred lately.
 Several Sundays ago I was sitting in the ''Y'' shack, writing a letter, when the regimental chaplain entered and an- nounced that he would shortly hold a very interesting ceremony on the out side, and urged all to be present. Naturally we all went outside; more piaying-beeause that is one thing that always draws the boys-the old band.
 The meeting proved to be only partly ANlt5 5A00so, III slCH OA lAlt ldCJ l1dt NithP~ lain Smith had been appointed by the colonel 10 accept, on that day. the beau- tiful stand of colors presented to the Fighting Fourth by the Shriners ot Birmingham, Montgomery and Mobile.
 ''To say that they were beautiful is but mildly expressing it. They were simply grand. Never in my life have l seen anything more beautiful or which ap- peaied to me more than when they we've ,.I~ l lI l.. 1s,, e1 struck up The Star-Spangled Banner. Twas inded an impressive sight-'Otd Glory and the Alabama state flag floae- ing side by side, here in far-away France, the hand playing and every one standing at attention and the salute.
 Here and there groups of the in- ha bitants or the town were looking on with their usual display of wonder they all like to hear the band play. Many of them have already learned the tune to Over There and Good by, Broadway, Hello France
 Chaplain Smith gave us very tn- teresting talk; said he hoped some day to see those two flags carried side by s Ge down the famous street. 'Unter den Lin1en,' in Berlin.
 ''So little Paul won't eat biscuit for fear Rubber will have to do without oh? Tell that dear little fellow to eat aIl the biscuit he wants and that WIZ still be in the mess line for my chuck.
 T am very much obliged to MT. Stew art for his efforts to get the cigarettes to John Cornett and myself. and asn sorry that they were of no avail.~ I SC John occasionally-he is picking up right along. And speaking of picking u2, yon just should see me. My face has filled out until it is as round as a plate, and my muscles have hardened uhti they are like bands of steel-honest, I'm not joking. France has certainly agreed with all of IS so far.
 There is one thing I have not es- csped, however, and that is the litt,e gray fellows-'totos,' as the French call | them. Any man who makes two or more l hit ehes in the trenches and comes back | without 'totos-well, there's something l wrong with him. Any time of the day f you can see some of the boys with thelr 1 top shirts off and their undershirss | rolled up-killing "cooties.'
 As I have said before, it is a great i life if you don't weaken. And l assure | ycu that I will never weaken. l am glad | that l was among the first Americans l 10 come to France-the first army corps. | 1 m proud Of the fact that I'm only a | 
 After the 20th of this month we the l 167th) are privileged to wear service l striLes. which signifies that we have six foreign service to our credit l They are gold stripes and are worn on l the left arm below the elbow"