Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1918-03-28

March 4. 1918.
Dear Mother:
Eight months ago TODAY. cas-
you remember what took place on
that day? | have made myself get
used to the army game since then.
The only thing to learn in the
army first, is to look out for the
big word II and let everyone do
the same. Do you know what the
army game is? That is one of the
games you must learn first in or
der to keep from hating yourself
They call it Take what Comes
With a Grim 1t is hard to do al
times. but it is the best policy. We
have been i'm the army $50 days,
and out of that $50 we have had
three days that we could call our
own. We are going to get seven
days before long SO ] won't say a
word about the hard knocks that
we have put i'm during the 247
days, but will tell you what T am
going to do to have good time
during tho seven days. / am going
to do to have a good time during
the seven days. am going TO go
to Monte Carlo. for Two or three
days: then To Nicn. for The re-
maindcr of The time. We could go
to Paris but have s4en that once.
SO | am going to see something
else. ! tried to get a pass to Ire
land, but they wouldn't give it to
me. We can go any place that
we wish in France. NicA is not far
from the Italian border. They say
it is a beautiful place and that
you would hardly know there is a
war going ON. ! surely hope they
have good bread there. This stuff
here they call bread, it makes you
thin. Ii makes you lean. It's the
darndest stuff l ever saw. I don't
like it but as said, Take il with
a grim You can't do that with the
bread though. You havd to take il
with coffee or you don't get il
down. | am getting to he some
husky though, just the same ]
went into Verdum the other day
and that is something the whole
German army couldn't do. The
Train ran within few miles OF
The city so we had to walk. 1t was
raining so il was not IA pleasant
trip. Axel is working nights. He
didn't get to go with ms but John
land went all over the place
There is not q, building that has
not been hit and most of them are
a total wreck. Some of them must
have been beautiful places. They
have large mirrors and grand
stair castings. OF course they car
never be repaired. They have an
underground city there now with
steam heat and electric lights.
From what had heard and haG
read of the place, | thought thai
it was on a hill, but is is not. II
is in a valley and hills on al
sides. On clear day il we stooC
where we did we could have seer
hill 30l and 344, but it was rain
ing of course. We are going agar
to go thru the Grown Princes tun-
incl. There are still dead Germans
in it,. 1t is covered with about
feet Of water and the fellows who
have Been there say you can SCI
the Huns laying there. They alst
say IL is not very pleasant Odor
There is no chance to take then
out because they must cross al
opening that exposes them tt
the Huns trenches and they would
pick them off. When they do eros!
the opening they go one at q time
and they let no grass grow under
their feet. There are shell hole.
larOund Verdun that would do FOL
small ponds. Social entertainment
is very scarce. You can talk abou
cutting out graft in the world bu
don't believe it will ever be done
| They even have ii there, scllin,
souveniers fifty feet under tn
|ground. We went into the soldier
| store under there and John spie,
some oranges. He bought 40 cent
1 worth. They handed him two Lit
lie oranges. Well mother l don
know as this will pass the censor
1 could tell you of things but
know they would not pass SO will
Iclose for time. Lots of love Il
l all. Your Son,