The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-09
HAPPY IN THE MUD
Topeka Boys See Humorous
Side of Life in France.
George Hoyes Writes of Ex-
perfence With TOpekans.
DREAM OF CASTLE ON RHINE
Inlaid Pretzels on the Floor Is
Idea of Hun Luxury.
Y. M, C. A. Service to Soldiers
Right Up Under Fire.

In letter to the Topeka State Jour-
nal, George H. Hoyes. Y. NJ. c. A.
secretary in France, writes OF meet
ing a number of Topeka boys who are
with the division to which he is as
signed for work.
IT have seen many Topeka boys
over here" he writes. among them:
Joe DeFrees. Marshall Mayes, DR.. T.
H. Morrison, Reed Morrison. Joe De
Brill, Homer Davis. Stafford Thatcher.
Robert Holcombe, DR.. Arthur Buff.
Captain Mclean. Captain Richard
Porter. DIR. Smith. Kirk Meachen. Ell
burn Beal, Professor Harrison. Pro-
fessor Woods, Rev. Mr.. Waldron. Will
Huffman, Don Welty. Howard Supple.
Ed Nash, Captain Elmer Stahl, Lieut..
Hess and Meade Ward. I have also
met General c. I. Martin and Colonel
Clad Hamilton. All are well and in
fighting trim
Humorous Side of 1t.
ME-. Hoyes recounts the trials of the
boys as they struggle thru mud and
rain, and gives a brief view of the
humorous side the men find to the sit
uatiOn.
my job" he writes, ''is that of
ministering to a regiment of men. And
believe me, they are, men-have been
over the top and put the fear OF God
into Fritz. as history will later relate.
have now been on three fronts with
these boys from Kansas and Mis-
souri, and have opened my canteen in
camouflaged barracks and dugouts
around which bombs and flying pigs
whistled.
1.-THE mud in France at this time OF
the year is awful. 1t rains almost every
day, and the heavy traffic on the
roads makes the mud ankle deep.
Thru this slush we march on all day
and all-night hikes, and at the end
of the journey sleep in barracks or in
the woods. Quite often in the dark
ness of the night columns of silent
soldiers pass each other going IN op-
posite directions toward different Sec
| tors. These lines pass each other for
clank of arms. No words are spoken
| just grim movement of determined
men going in the front lines.
Lie Down in Mud.
"Yet the American soldier IL a
| humorist and a philosopher and has
worlds Of fun in the rain and mud OF
| France. Toward the front all move.
| ments are made at night, and not ever
the light of a cigarette allowed. We
| hike fifty minutes and rest ten. Wher
we hear the command. Fall out tt
| the right some of the men are sc
| tired that they lie right down in the
mud for the ten minutes of rest
have seen the boys SO tired they would
| spread their blanket in the mud BY
the road and sleep n g. binding rain
| Tonight I am in a dugout near tn,
| front lines. Thirteen steps lead dowr
to my quarters. The dugout is abou
by feet. Along the south side 1:
| my bunk, on the east a shelf, and or
the north side a table, and in the Ger
ner stove that is a great success a
a smoker. Overhead are tons of ston,
and sacks OF sand to keep Fritz from
putting the fixtures on the inhabitants
River Rhine Castle.
'It is a great life, yet there is 81
much of jollity about it! The boy
call salmon submarine chicken
| corned beef is bully beef etc. One O
the boys said. as the lines were movin,
back to rest camp. as We passed &
| cemetery, Why go farther-here is
rest camp!' Here Is one of the song,
the boys sing:
I'm going to have one helova time;
i Inlaid pretzeis on the floor,
| German butler at the door,
For a cook princess Hohenzollern,
Eat my Christmas dinner In the town o
Berlin,
Hang my pants on the Hindenburg line,
In my castle on the river,
River ON the castle,
Castle on the river Rhine"
The boys are great fellows-noth
ing like them in the world. Every
one thinks he could finish up the wa
II they would only turn him loose
Fritz is on the run, and we are con
SANITY moving up our lines. On
thing is sure-America will have NJ
reason to be ashamed of her boys
They have been men. gentlemen an,
soldiers. And when it is done it vii
be well done. France will be free, an
American can say, when the boy
leave these shores, Lafayette, w
have paid the d BIT"