Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1918-12-18
LETTER FROM SER.
GEANT FOREST X, JONES.

Sergeant Forest X. Jones, a member
Dodge late last summer, and as soon
as the Division arrived in France was
pushed to the front and into active
service, has come through the con-
flict without scratch, and is in good
health, according to a letter received
by his parents last week.
On November 4th, one week before
the armistice was signed, Sergeant
Jones wrote a letter to one of his
friends in which he tells some of his
experiences while in the front lines,
and the manner in which the French
people do little favors for the soldiers.
We take the following paragraphs
from Mr.. Jones letter to his friend:
lie Foyer Du Soldat Ga place for a
soldier) in France, November 4th,
1918.
"A few days ago I addressed card
to you but I have neglected sending
it until wrote you. Well, 1 have
been up to the front line trenches
since l wrote to you last, so you see
have few thrilling experiences,
which I would like to tell you, but I
am afraid l will have to wait until I
get home. I have heard the roar of
the canon and the sputter of machine
guns, but none of them could locate
me. AS told mother in a letter, the
noise the big shells make when they
roar through the air sounds like the
cross between an elevated railroad
train in the distance and very high
wind whistling through underbrush,
and they gradually get nearer and
nearer and when the shells explode
reminds me of several mufflers on
Ford cars bursting, but they are lit
tie more destructive on the popula-
ton. Well, when your Uncle Monroe
would hear this said noise he would |
make an about face, put |
his feet behind him and make for a |
lug-out to escape being "assassinated."
Another very interesting thing to
watch is battle in the air. Several
lines a day Fritz will send over a
squad of aeroplanes, probably to stick
MS nose in other peoples business,
tut he comes only so far when we open
Up our anti-aircraft guns on him, or
maybe several allied planes will sneak
Up on them and they will have bat
lie royal. But he won't stay long,
when this occurs, and he flies peace
ully to his home.
1--WE are now located in very nice
french town about the size of Man.
hester. It is located in valley and
s surrounded by hills in horse shoe
hape. The scenery is grand and there
S a stream flowing from the hills past
ny back door. This stream affords 4
very agreeable place for washing our
lothes. 1t is pretty cold to battle in,
tut methinks will tackle it after the
hadows of darkness fall over the
lorizon
ooh. but there are some very pretty
title French girls here, but they speak ]
Trench and | haven't learned to talk {
very well yet I haven't anything
U w Will tHeIi. LIE peOpie Hele d. Z |
cry nice. They are more sociable !
nd agreeable than the people have |
zen in the towns that we were in be-
ore. They always meet us with a
mile. Saturday night another Ser {
cant and 1 bought some beefsteak at
he butcher shop, and were headed for
cafe to have it fried when a French
IAN who had his eye on u.s. and evil i
emily knew what we were up to, so he
uggested that we go with him. So
re did and his wife fried our steak
nd gave us some potatoes and we t
ad bread and coffee We surely had
good old home cooked meal. Well,
ley insisted we should come Sunday '
light and we did The lady of the '
ouse had big apple pie made for US. L
Te are going back tonight. We don't {
now what we will get then. l had Fl
yeater issued me by the Red Cross