The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1918-11-28
$52750
SOLDIERS LETTERS
Letter Received by MIR. and Mrs. I. T..
Hill From their Son. PVT. HerSie W
Hill. OF Co. |. 56th Infantry, 4. T.. +,

Hill, OF co. !. seth Infantry, 4. L. +
Somewhere in France, Oct 26, 1918
Dear Parcnts:--
AIS well here; have time to writ,
and will pen a few lines. Have plenty
Of paper now. Don't have to bum any
more. Got paid the other day, III,
first since | came in. Seems good Il
have little coin again. Got paid il
French money or mostly paper, al
French money is nearly all paper
Fifty centimes equal ten cents; q
confines equal five cents, one franc
equals 20 cents American; five fran,
notes one dollar, ten franc notes equa
two dollars, one hundred franc notes
equal twenty dollars. 1t doesn't seem
like motley after all.
The joke is it is hard to buy any
thing in food There is no confection-
cry; tobacco mostly, but no matches
Darndest place j ever saw. Can get
paper, envelopes, pens and pencils and
a few little things.
Have three hot meals a day when
around camp,
The other day, last Monday, went to
the next town. Had a battalion man
euver of about a thousand troops. A
sort of sham battle. Started to adj
vance about 8 o'clock in the morning.
X and | companies of our town as
the first line of offensive. While l.
and M companies the second or reserve
line. We drove the enemy back and
finally had to stop and dig in. Laid
on our stomachs and dug in, throwing
the dirt ahead of us for a cover. Then
our line, outlined trenches with stone.
A complete line of trenches about one
half mile wide. The same as tho we
were at the actual front. Made salient
trenches, established listening posts,
machine gun emplacements and all
complete. Had dinner at twelve from
our haversacks end kept the trenches
as tho we were at the front. Had
gas attack during the afternoon. |
was on detail at the time and couldn't
find my way back to the post. The
glasses clouded up so. The first time
| had had the mask on and didn't
know what to do. We had supper
brought to US in the trenches from the
kitchen. Good, too. Had to bring it
about two miles, carried by men all
the way. The same as will be at the
front. Were relieved and sent to the
support line about 7:30 and got a
chance to rest as most of the company
did. The pass word was pay day and
a wave of the right arm of course.
We knew the word and when l. and NJ
companies took our places | was sent
out in scouting party with a lieu
tenant. We marched around the right
flank and worked in on the outposts
and first line trenches of l. company.
By use of their pass word captured
men from first line and second line
and two machine guns. Some
joke. The fun of it was to hear the
between the lieutenant Of
our party and the captain of l. com
pany He couldn't dope out how we
got their pass word.
After that we came in, got to bed
about eleven o'clock. Got up the next
and went to the rifle range.
Get all Kinds Of training now in all the
different kinds of instruction. Sup
pose we will move up to the front this
fall. If we don't get up soon the war
will be over The Germans are going
all the time
Well people it seems ! ought to get
some mail from you soon Been here
.wo months Sunday. Time | heard
rom home Don't wait to hear from
ne. Write any time. Well ! don't |
.hink of any more so will close for
,onight It's about time for taps.
Lovingly HERVIE.