New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1918-08-24
SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE

!, Dudley Lemaire and addressed to h
mother Mrs. ]. A. Lemaire of this Cit,
Mr.. Lemaire was one of the first Of GU
Iberia boys that crossed the seas. H;
6 Communication reads as follows:
Is Juliet, 1918.
Ny dearest Mother-It has been thre
or more days now since I last wrote YOU
and hope that if you waited for a lette
if did not cause sou any anxiety. W.
have again moved, about eight miles O.
so closer to the Army, as they advance
and force the Germans back, we too
nave to advance SO as to be in commun-
| cations at all tim.s with the differen,
! Divisions under our Corps. We are now
| located in very small town. There
Ire no civilians n it-everybody having
| eft it when the German drive took place
several weeks ago, So whep We first
came in it looked somewhat like de-
serted town. Evidences of war every
where LOOKED. Went into several houses
and saw furniture turned over or broken
Up, clothing lying all around. beds brok-
emit, etc. French and American troops
had occupied this place some few days
previous and as is always the case with
soldiers, had made themselves very much
at home. But that is looked upon as
necessity by the French. What seems
to hurt them is the fact that the Ger
mans were here at one time and what
was then pretty homes, in some cases
are mere ruins. Their artillery and |
planes having completely demolished
them.
I am o. X. and still Maraist and cerles
Last night we were at loss to find
suitable place to sleep, but I soon dis
covered an attic and in less time than it
axes to tell it, we had transformed that
lark, dingy little room into q "home."
Dur office is down. stairs in one of the
ooms. The lady who lived here At onei
ime left lot of her belongings behind,
including some very pretty statues ami
locks. She evidently expected to re-
urn, because she tagged every article ,
er name and address being plainly /,
'ritten on every single thing she left ]
ere. That impressed me more than
yer that she did not wish to come back !;
nd find anything missing or broken, SO !;
e boys who are in this house are TAX ;,
e every precaution SO as not to break :
aything. These poor French women
I've suffered so that one cannot help but y
el for them. In many instances they !
ere forced to abandon their homes, :.
aving everything behind. On coming
lck, they almost invariably found cyl ),
ything broken mp OK missing. This =,
in cases where the "Boches" have &C. .
pied them. The Americans never !,
eak anything If It can Be helped On .
= contrary, We seem to always want il
lelp these people out. The nearer We .
t to the invaded sections. the more
ident il the ruthlessness Of the Ger :.
anA What makes It still harder On
ese Door women 10 the fact that in al :.
ost every case their husbands have !.
her been killed or Is At the front. The :,
ople Of America will never realize Whist :.
rman barbarity means-and the soonsr :,
Z "Boches" are crushed the safer win =
! u. S. be from like invasion. Tbat !.
why it should be the policy Of every !,
IN, woman and child in America 10
md firmly behind the Government and :.
ID loyal support in every way possible :,
wrote to Mona several days ago.
pc she has received the letter BY now.
~ are You mamma, dear? Quite web -
sincerely trust. Extend my regards to ~
pa and Avery and also to Dave, Remy -
d ocey. Remember me to Nj. Pays :.
d show him this letter. win write 7,
him sometime very soon. ;.
40 yet, no letter from home. would :.
the happiest boy in France If could q
t news from you, mamma, but Of
arss all I can do 10 to wait. And
It have been doing for two months, -
!" an
think Of you and the folks evefyI
mute Of the day and pray that every Z.
y 10 well and happy. With love and :,
SEE to you and Mons, am, :,
Always, your devoted son, =,
DUD.
wv. s. s.. :,
NOTICE. "a
loy