Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-04-22

ISL Lieut.. lava &. T1dyCS w. ~, IT."
Engineers (RaiIway) U. S. Ex-
peditionary Forces, in France, via
New York. Superintendent of Con-
struction.
Mrs. f. f. CARL of Augusta has re-
Gently received an interesting letter
from her cousin, First Lieutenant
David T.. Hayes. with Company G,
14th Engineers (Railway), L. S. Ex-
peditionary Forces in France, and
who is superintendent of con-
struction. He writes as follows:
France, March 10, 1918.
My dear Cousin:
Your letter of Jan. 10th reached me
some time ago and | was glad to hear
from you.
AS for writing a letter that might
interest your sisters in the ID. A. r.,
am afraid they will be dissappoint-
cd, for our letter writing is natural
" restricted. and there is little that
can be said that YOU have not al
ready heard. In fact You people at
home know more of the war than we
do, as we see very little. apart from
the work we are actually engaged
in, and see few papers (Which arc
censored quite necessarily therefore
there is no news l can write.
Possibly our climate might interest
YOU. as there has much been written
Of the peculiaries Of Sunny France"
as regards weather conditions, and I
| 81
description of the past winter which
will compare very favorably with
Your "old fashioned" one YOU have
just experienced.
We nave had but one snow storm.
around Christmas time, which only
staid on the ground for a week or So
and have had no cold weather, thus
far. While | have no thermometer to
be exact in my figures / think | can
safely say it has not been colder
than 20 degrees or % degrees above.
but the froSts are heavy and | have
often seen wires no larger than a
knitting needle become as large as my
finger and break with the weight.
1t usually thaws in the daytime
which makes the mud very much in
evidence and disagreeable.
You understand that the dampness
makes the cold much more penetrat-
Ing, and consequently seems colder
than it really is.
loday the sun is shining brightly
and the dandclions are in bloom. the
pussy willows are budding and the
BIRDS are singing merrily, which
makes one think of spring. although
I'm told we often have snow as late
as April
L have just noticed your letter
hcad and it "skecrs" me. Was going
10 enclose poem" that | wrote one
evening. not long ago. when wonder
ing what would eventually happen to
ihose who are responsible for this
war, but since I've noticed that
heading" hardly think l have the
nerve, but if you'll promise not to be
700 marsh with your criticism, and re-
member that I'm not poet or even
nave aspirations along that line, III
chance it, and if you think it will
pass muster" at your lodge YOU NAV
read it,
nave young man from Augusta
III my detachment, Phillip Hill. and
ne IS Q. t., possibly some of vour
sisters know him or his people.
A young lad from your town named
william Niles wrote me not long ago
ana was quite pleased to get his
ietter and hope he will write again.
really sorry l can't tell YOU more
u the war, but unfortunately all 7
can say 1t is still ON.
raF no attention to what Won NAV
eau as to the moral conduct of orr
men 1t is splendid and if you read of
ails'filng to the contrary it is German
~ opaSanda pure and simple.
We are well cared for and proud n
De doing our bit. ~
Very sincerely yours.
COUSIN DAVID.
oHo"lng are parts of a letter 70.
eh'iF received by I. H. Randall ~
nususta. from his son, Sergeant
70 'uail, with the 3o3d Motor Trucl,