The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1918-02-14
Major Wright Says
He's Attending School

A letter from Maj. Dana Wright,
l64th U. S. Inf, received at James
town by r. G. Mcfarland, indicates
that the former First North Dakota
regiment may not be in the front
trenches, as has been Indicated by
casualty lists received during the
past five days, in which the names
Of five North Dakotans figured.
Writing from an unnamed place
in France, Major Wright, who is an
old time national guard officer and
member of the North Dakota legisla-
ture, says he and other officers Of the
regiment are in school, taking prac-
tical instruction, and that he hopes
a visit to the front line trenches will
be part of the schooling.
Major Wright says the North Da-
kota soldiers are stationed hundreds
of miles from the point where he and
other officers are in school.
The jamestown man pays his
compliments to French railroad serv-
ice and insists he would trade it for
IN. P. service" any time. His let
ter:
Dear Mac: There is little that
can write you though there is much
I would like to. We are seeing
many interesting things both here
and during the time we were in Eng
land. Spent two days in London,
which, was fine, of course. Saw lot
Of the city as I had a major of the
British army showing me around.
London is a dark dreary place;
makes me think of South Clark
street, in Chicago. Went through
Paris few night ago and stayed
over night there at a hotel. but did
not see much of the city. l did not
get favorable impression. Weather
has been horrible since we have been
over. Cold and dark most of the
time. Snow and rain nearly every
day. Very little bright weather.
Hope it brightens up sometime for
this dark weather gives me the
"Willies."
The ground is not frozen so I do
not believe the cold weather came
very early or will last very long.
Our regiment is stationed humid
dreds of miles from here where am
at school and where will be for
several weeks. Alex and Harry H.
and Jack Nolet are here too. When
we go back OF hers of our officers will
come to take a course in the school.
It is all very practical instruction
and we enjoy it as much as is posi-
BILE with the weather conditions.
Hope they will take us up to see the
front line as part of the course.
Boches Don't Relish Fight
I do not believe the Boches are
looking forward to the spring with
any great amount Of pleasure. While
they can probably lick US on account
of long training we are going to get
into shape after awhile and eventu-
ally will wear them out. We lost
lot of baggage and probably never
will recover it. Railroads are a joke
compared with N. ?. service. | land
ed here with good supply of hand
kerchiefs and that is about all the
baggage I have. Am sleeping on the
floor of a farm shack with snow that
never melts out Of the corners. My
bedding roll has been a week on the
road but nothing in sight yet.
The country would be very pretty
in the summer l am sure. There are
hills covered with dark evergreen,
picturesque villages Of stucco and
stone with messy tiled roofs. Stone
arched bridges over streams and
good stone roads everywhere There
IS quite a lot of cleared land right
around here with wheat stubble that
looks natural. All Europe lives on
war bread. It is dark and hard like
rye bread but l really like it better
than white bread. I am thankful that
do not use tobacco so I don't have
% worry about supply of it. Those
Who use it are continually studying
ways and means of getting tobacco
and matches. l should be ashamed
% confess it but I miss the Yankee
sweets at times and wish I could get
hold of a piece of mince pie or a
hunk Of cake.
Mail service is very slow, I haven't
had a scratch since l left Yankee
and. Some day it will catch up with
IS I hope. Yours,