Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-05-22

by Captain c. E. Buffers. Division Quarter
master, Somewhere in France. April 81
Dear Munson; II is said that the French
and Bosch have had unwritten law that
at certain tim - all fighting should stop and
both sides would drink tea beer. their
ineinations and possibly nationalities dictated.
The arrival of the Censor has the eff
feet certain Of Vernon cOuntys soldiers,
and today the arrival of the March 9Th Cen
sor, has had the same effect me, and |
guess as far as I personally am concerned
this will have to dispense with my ac-
tiYities and for a little while at least, give
me time enough TO drop a line or two to the
people back home. II so happens that have
been here long enough to be getting letters
and papers from your side, and Martin
Guibrandson said the other day. I'VE read
them. advertisements and all"
Life for all is a steady grind Of work,
often way late into the night. The difficulty
of transporting and equipping ard feeding
an army at long range can never appreciated
by anyone unless upon the scene. Railroads
are contested. worn out almost, trains Of sup
plies and troops always late. not hours. but
often days Motor vehicles the great
modes of transportation. but the roads are
feeling the heavy strain of thousands Of great
direction trucks running over them continu-
ally. While the French have had wonderful
system of roads and are. with their old wO-
men and men, trying hard 20 keep them up to
grade. yet the new high powered machines
are slowly but surely breaking them down.
For over fortnight il has raiHed almost
continuously and TO get OF the road foot
truck to pull one cut Then under the system
Of placing a Division in about 20
miles long by IS miles wide, and with the
different units living in the little villages and
all supplies coming to one central place on
the railroad. means that an immense amount
Of work must be done TO supply the wants Of
everyone. But be II said to the credit Of the
French and English who have thus far stood
the brunt Of the battle there is absolutely no
whisper heard of giving up.' In fact the great
tear u that some comrfomise viii be made
by the allied forces stopping the war. but not
having won from the enemy absolute and
unconditional surrender The hope here is
that the allied forces may fight on until they
can actually march into Berlin and at least
put the Kaiser where his insanity cannot do
further harm. We may he called on to know
the suffering Of war trust not. but IL is no
/ ticeable on every side here. ! live in a lutte
village OF q few hundred inhabitants. prob
ably able TO furnish 100 Young men for the
war. but 81 of them have been killed. and al
ready a number are back mutilatcd beyond
further service. And YET a few days ago.
when the class of l7-ycar-Olds we're called to
the c0lors. the populace with smiles and
laughter them march away TO the train
ing camps and in this town, the one 1ickly
one, and euly one. in this town who could
not qualify was wearing a large flower de-
eoratioD while those accepted were wearing
only small ribbon decoration the people in
this larger flower decoration irving in some
degree at least to cover his chigrin at being
found disqualified. Every body was especial.
~ good 20 him.
u II soihE ON my third month here. The
responsible duty Of Subsistence Quartermas-
| ter for the Sind Division has been thrust on
my shoulders. l have a small corps Of faith.
| fui nen-eOmmissioRcd helpers who are at il
early and late keeping rations up 90 the FRY.
/ ing pans of thousands Of hungry men. an
/ ticipatinE the wants Of incoming troops and
I issuing rations TO others going a little nearer
I and vet nearer the big fight. One great bless
/ ing has come in this war. Red tape has
I been cut to almost nothing. l remember that
/ during the Spanish American wsr when In