The Bowbells tribune. [volume] (Bowbells, Ward Co., N.D.) 1899-1969, 1918-11-08
Bowbels Burke County North Dakota Friday s. 1881

And now that the camp is quar-
antined on account Of the prevail
ing epidemic of influenza in the
neighboring towns and the rainy
season is here, and general order
that soldiers will not be required
nor permitted to drill In the rain
the men are finding 1t rather diff
cult to amuse themselves during the
few spare hours that they have.
All the Y. M. C.. A. and K, &C. build
ings are closed and that takes away
| great source of amusement. Now
here Is where the ingenuity of the
Y. M. c. A. secretaries was put to
the test. True to the genuine Y.
M. c "A. spirit of usefulness they
proved more than equal to the tasks.
The day they were ordered to close
their "huts" they Immediately got
busy and that very evening every
Y. building in camp was giving
outdoor movies, boxing and wrestl-
ing matches, vaudeville shows, etc.
The Y. men gathered their arms
full Of stationery, books and mag
azines and distributed them around
graphs were put in barracks and
the pianos were placed outdoors un-
der canvas roofs.
I'm not turning into theologist
nor even considering any such ac-
| tion, but do not be declined and un-
derestimate the great value the Y.
M c. A. and believe me the men
surely appreciate 1t.
Last week there were so large
cases of athletic equipment receiv-
ed at the Butte building from the
War Department Camp Activities
and after being distributed it gave
each company in camp four sets of
boxing gloves, two footballs, base
balls and equipment of every de-
scription.
I'm enclosing few clippings from
the Bugle that may interest you
somewhat. Yesterday the Camp
Lewis football team trimmed up the
Multnomah team to the tune of z
to nix. It was surely "a scrappy
battle but the soldiers have fight
| ing spirit that can't be beat. They
are true warriors and it Is the same
spirit as is shown on the football
! field that has made the Yanks the
best troops in the world as the
Huns will testify to. Volumes
could be written about the spirit of
| the Yanks but I'm not going to at
tempt it. One incident here, tho,
may not be out of place. -
| Recently German major was
taken prisoner and when he reached
our lines he wanted to see the 3
| inch M. G. the Yanks were using.
| Fact is, 1t was the French 75 he re-
| ferred to but when manned by Am
erican troops it does become vir-
| tually a machine gun. 1t Is that
way with everything. They out
class all other troops even at their
Town weapons and tactics.
! Last evening the rain started
about $3.50 and 1t is now 11:15 and
1T Is still pouring down. One who
has never witnessed q Washington
rain cannot fully appreciate the
| meaning of pouring" In: this con-
hection l use the word advisedly
and it is literally correct. No ex-
| aggeration here.
| Latest information here regar'l-
ing the movement of the 18th divi-
sion would seem to indicate that
we~cannot expect to be moved be-
fore the first of the year.
Speaking of the first of the year
that reminds me that the holidays
are not SO far distant. Time sure
| ly flies. To prove that statement;
I have now over 13 months to M
credit in the service and no closer
to the scene of action than was
on September 18th, 1917, ani you
will remember how it was doped
out that would be in France with
in three months. Seems ridiculous
to think of it now. have seen on
the casualty lists names of officers
who went overseas with the 9lst div
ision and you can be certain tina:
no one watches those lists closer
than man in uniform.
I received a postal from Mellow
Butler who is in Tacoma but as the
camp is quarantined / haven had
an opportunity to look him up.
II have only one wish to express
and that is that you won't worry
about me. I'm feeling better than
I ever did in my life and working
lots. eating lots and as q result am
not suffering for anything. Our
sailing schedule has been changed
and there is no chance of getting
away before next year so why
worry? Eos.
S.5 555s. 8j5. a. ..9a q RI Il Lovingly.
F. q. p. y.
s.. 49, -.
|cIl[:c u[lucplp[R