Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1918-07-11
Bonded Abstracter

saw US crossing that famous channel
and after another short boat ride we
landed on French soil and were march
ed to rest camp where we did every
thing but rest for three days. A rest
camp is joke and surely must have
been named that by the man who in
vented camafiauge- anyway never
had the privilege of resting in a rest
camp.
After riding a day in one of the
smallest box cars / ever saw-forty
of us to a carve detrained once
more and marched to our billets not
far behind the, lines but perfectly
safe according to the rules of safety
employed over here and after being
comfortably? installed in a stone
barn, we were told we would remain
there preparatory to taking over our
first trench. Could hear the big guns
very distinctly and experienced a
miniture earthquake every time they
sent one over in the direction of Ber-
it sounds like huge drum corps up
the line and at night looks like a
western Kansas prairie fire. Air raids
are common here but very unpopular
and never find any keen enjoyment
in crawling out of the hay during the
night in response to gas alarm.
France is beautiful little country
at this time of the year, especially,
but a pitiful contrast in its war "
condition, to the many descriptions
I have read. One must use a certain
amount of imagination to appreciate
this country as it must have been
before the war One hears lots of
French at every turn but I have not
learned to "compree" much of the
lingo and the money system is slowly
driving me to despair.
1t would seem very unsoldierly for
me to admit that I am homesick in
the least, so naturally, will deny it,
but naturally you can only guess to
what extent I would enjoy visit to
the little town of Wa-Keeney. Always
glad to leave and happier to return,
Which necessities that tell you of
some of the things which tend to
make one long for home environments.
To begin with I had my first cup of
coffee today, since I left the states.
Everyone drinks tea over her and the
English tea habit is one of the pecul-
iarities that is hardest to endure.
One needs only to set down to eat to
fully realize that this is steady old
war indeed.
They absolutely refuse to fall for
base ball over here and 1 found one
person who knew a single game that
1 was acquainted with. That game,
very fortunately was cribbage and
that person a nurse in this ward. She
is the only woman 1 ever saw who
could play a standard game of crib
bage and really stand to be beaten.
Its impossible to get American
cigarettes over here and these English
flags" are rotten. Am thinking SER
iously of using some of Prof. Niesley's
brand of will power and cutting it
out altogether.
The climate here is very damp and
the sea breezes goes clear through
you when the sun isn't out. We hear
very little war news here so it is hard
to judge anything pertaining to the
war in a fair way Have had some
interesting conversations with Tom
\ mics who have served since the war
began. They are of the opinion that
| it can't last long. I am of the opinion
that when our bunch gets started
we're going through and all hell can't
stop us-because we are not war
weary, we are young and strong and
all Americans.
| You have my consent to show this
to anyone who might be interested as
it would be quite task for me to
write to each of my friends as
would like to do. Would appreciate
hearing from you, Ralph, although
we don't expect much mail and
haven't received any todate.
Best regards to everyone,
1 N D. Ufford
Address: Corp. Neil D. Ufford, No
1449759, Bird Bat, 137 Inf A. E. F
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