The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1918-11-21

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were watching a hotly contested foot
ball game in Portland.
we were not here long until the
9lst Division was given leave 70 20
over the top. The;boys could scarcely
be restrained They went with will
and leap. yelling as they went over the
top, Power rivera mile vide and a
foot deep. Let 'er buck. The BOYS
cleaned the bOehes out and completely
gained their objective. But some Of
the boys never came back Others
were brought back wounded. But our
losses were not ss great as al first re
ported. The boys were brave as they
were brought into the field hospital
there were no complaints - all bore
their pain and discomfort in the spirit
of fOFtltude. German wounded were
also brought in and at first seemed
very much afraid. They had been told
they would be treated very cruelty if
captured. The hospital attendants ac-
corded them as good treatment rs they
did their own men. The German
wounded expressed great surprise at
the kind treatment they received.
Il went through the hospital as soon
as | could 10 see if any of the wounded
were personal scquaintsnees. but did
not find any. We are kept very busy
day and night. Cannot even remove
our clothing and are subject to calls
instantly. "
Before the armistice was signed
Ivan W. Dakin, member Of field hos
pital corps, in an interesting letter to
his. mother. Mrs. c. L. Dskin, writes !:
so far our drive has been very sue
cessful. We are now on the ground
that the Germans held for long time
and we are still going forward. 1t
sure is exciting enough here for any
one. don't think ever will get used
to the big shells. When you can hear
them whistle through the air and then
burst near you, it is time to move a
little closer to the ground. | had one
trip up to the front on motorcycle
and they were shellng the road all
the time. We went for about three
miles with the big ones bursting all
around us. When you get mixed up
with them that way you want TO get
in dugout quick. But there were no
dugouts there, so we gave her the soup
and broke all records getting out of
that neighborhood.
Hearing that some of the old 18th
Company boys now in an artillery bat
terry were over here, looked them up.
! met Orville Thompson, of Parkdale,
and ran across Rud lmholz. who was
on hill watching the artillery work.
He is now driving car for major.
He showed me a letter he had from
Mrs. Harry T. Dewitt 1t had quite
bit Of news and all the village scandal,
so it was sure welcome. A letter like
that is certainly fine reading to fel.
low over here.
IL had good chance to see a part
of France while working with supply
train, so made the best of it. | saw
a good many places of interest that
can't name. About the only big place
that | wanted to see but missed was
Paris. II is rather hardssto get there
for some reason.
II have been through two air raids.
| have visited German dugout that
we used as dressing station. had
concrete walls two feet thick and tiled
floors. handicapped tables and plush
chairs. 1t Twas fixed as nicely as one
could wish for. had an idea that the
ground the Germans had been holding
would be different. However, except
for some Of the stuff they left and a
good many Of their dead it is not much
different from the other OF course
all OF the village are shot to pieces,
some OF them just.heaps of stones. In
the woods the trees are broken off and
twisted by shell fire. They have left
enough barbed wire in the woods on
this front to put fence around the
world. "
II have been to the land Of my
birth, and during the trip saw the
last resting place of many Of our past
but not forgotten men of literary
fame, writes Arthur c. Lofts, who is
now aboard a submarine chaser, to l..
b. Gibson, his former professor. Mr..
Lofts is native of London, having
come to America with his parents, Mr..
and Mrs. A. c. Lofts, when a very
small boy.
"ln letters from home," Mr.. Lofts
"they have told me of the
training carried on in the
Hood River high school | am GER
tainly glad to hear my old school is do
ing all she can to help the country in
her crisis. You should see the little
fellows in uniform here They seem
to start to train the boys before they
get out of the kindergarten. Little
fellows from IL to Ia years are to be
seen about the streets every day.
They are in the regular uniforms of
the army and navy. The country is
sure building up great reserve. One
never sees an ablebodied man around
unless he be shipbuilder
1--WE often wonder how long the
fight is going to keep up and how long
it will be before we get to return
home. But as usual thing the boys
are desirous of staying with it until
the glorious end. There are no paci-
fists among US. They are all looking
for the fight
You can hardly imagine how long
for the good old times. Gee, but
wouldn | like to be out for football
practice this afternoon Just think,
too, Of those gay moments with the
Young ladies' Your reproving glances
in class and those everlasting posting
notices would be counted as personal
favors now.
I'VE Just came in from a trip yes
terday. We have few days for re.
pairs and rest and then go out to sea
again after those German subs. This
hunt gets rather tiresome,
but the rough weather and occasional
excitement keep US on our toes.
81 am afraid am not the least bit
English. My only hope is for victor
ous peace and then trip back to old
Oregon"
THAT old song, Gee, but isn't it
great to meet friend from your old
home town, is certainly true" writes
Jesse Hutson, Upper Valley boy who
s in France member Of the 18th
Regiment Of Engineers. to his brother,
Jno Hutson