The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1918-07-23


Frank P. Haynes, tells of them. Be.
sides this, he tells great deal of the
life at the front, but lays Off" war
NEWS, for he says the newspapers are
fnA OF II and 80 is he. although he
Is ready to fight to the finish.
:. His letter follows:
ID Co., 18th Infantry,
"A. e. f., France,
June 10, 1918.
1T has been so long since last
wrote home that almost forget
where left on. It is needless to say
/ haven't had the opportunity to
write until now for no doubt you can
imagine that we are very busy now
adays
"At present my worst trouble is
coolies. II is almost an impossibility
to keep them OF when you're exposed
continually and understand that
this Is their busy season. Everyone
gets them and wouldn't be surprised
to see general scratching Never.
theless, am making big drive on
them and In spite OF their digging in
ana entrenching expect to extermi-
hate the last one In day or SO.
The other day one of the men in
my. platoon ran into Clinton Coe. a
Mt Vernon boy. He is in the ambu-
lance company that is with my dIvis-
lon and expect to run across him
any time soon. Perhaps shell frag.
ment may hasten our meeting. He
wrote q note to me and believe me It
waB happy surprise to know that
someone from home was so close to
me. also saw the names of several
Knox county boys who are In my di.
vision. They are Cecil Hail. with the
engineers, Dalton Long, Floyd Mahla,
Roy Marty. Donald MARBLE and
Charles Price. In the infantry. and
Thursman Rice, In the artillery. !
only know Cecil Hall, but there Is II
chance that sometime ! may come
across one of these men. Walter En-
xeihardt is here. too. or course,
there are lots Of other boys ] know
here by now, for ! understand that
the troops are coming very rapidly
Even my old outfit IL here.
II don't intend to write any more
war news, for the papers are full OF
II and I'm pretty well fed up myself
Did you see what the Americans did
on their anniversary? often won
der II Raymond Moore IL with the
mafines we read about doing such ex
cellent work lately.
Guess what had for breakfast
Pancakes! Gee. but they were good
Second time I've had them since
left home. Who knows but what wei
have strawberry shortcake soon?
doubt the whipped cream part, bu
one OF the men did say that he saw
some strawberry plants, or vines
near here and that there ought to b.
some before long. Perhaps the weel
after we leave. We have had onion
and lettuce out of our garden an,
the other day I came In and saw tn
G. o. commanding ofiicer) peelin
what he thought was an onion, bu
sfter analysing the smell and shape
decided II was garlic. The garder
which IL very nice. was left by tn
natives who beat has,y retrea
when they heard the Boches wer
coming.
Don't let me forget to tell 20
about the rhubarb and the promise G
rhubarb pie soon. II II would onl
keep mp. The real trouble is that e.
cry now and then We have to com
face 10 face with some corn Willy an
bareback. Still. not long ago III
corped beef tasted like turkey to N
ana The hardtack Hike cake. That
the way when you're hungry. Mel
time I'll Join the navy and be sure
bunk and three squares. Don't "
the impression that we don't q
enough to eat. for we get more tina
enough. but the Americans are b
eAters anyway and In military life
h essential that you get a ration ca
blown up now and then 30 as to ket
N practice on your reserve rations.
"uARRyo