Norwich bulletin., 1918-08-08
SOLDIERS AND SAIL nORS What Eastern Connecticut Boys Are Doing In Various Branches of the Service.
In Trenches in Quiet Sector.


 That he is in the front trenches in a quiet sector is the news that Capt John S. Blackmar, resimental surgeon, 372d infantry, sends from France to his family in this city in his most re- cent letters just received Extracts follow:
 June 15-I am so sorry I haven't my camera to take picture of this place with it's artistic Grecian style dugouts It is without question the most de- sirable place on the whole line Pic turesquely beautiful, strategicalIy very strong, built long esough ago (four years to be comfortable. You have nc idea, of tho amount of work put into this place, and still going on. Rustic places in the Adirondacks are not to be compared to it. One reason, of course. was 70 occupy the time and minds of the men stationed here, and they are artists. too. There are hand made hinges and door latches. coat hangers and hooks chairs and tables, a frame for the menu, and different things like that. The duckboards. a beard walk of slats, are everywhere, and are essential because of the clay soil which is very slippery when wet. Hence the hob nails in our field shoes
 
 tails yesterday, at least three feet high and plucked big bouquet with ferns for our table. Wild roses, poppies and strawberries are plentiful while quarter of a mile away is the bare, shell torn ground.
 They were saying at the table to- night that the French figure if they can hold the line till October that the war will he decided this year. If by that time the line holds we shall have enough men, material. plans, etc. to do the trick, and decide it this year. Isn't that good news
 Sunday, June 16-Moying day again for me. As l told you in one of my previous letters there is an old ruined abbey on the road half a mile or more from headquarters, where a French first aid station was located, and it was also the headquarters for an American field ambulance that was used by this division. The colonel showed me a division order for this regiment to establish a post secoufs at this church; so here 1 am in a barricaded room in the abbey, and my three men and two French are down in the cellar in other rooms Have explored some Of the rooms and eel lars, and it surely was a big place.
 
 and room after room
 My. but it is lonesome down. here at night. This old church has more rats. and memories or suggestions, | than IS exactly agreeable, and my room is so big that the lantern (my ! only lighO throws plenty of shadows. 1 Had supper here at the church with i my men rather than walk the mile ] up and back to headquarters. They I take turns in going up after the mess l and washing dishes, rustling wood, water etc. They discovered bees nest in an old chimney this afternoon and proceeded to look for honey, but someone had been there before them. There was newly formed comb, but very little honey We have beautiful rose bushes ani carnations, and lettuce 1 and radishes in the garden. Peas and ] beans are started. The soldiers plant them and. whoever happens to be in the place when things ripen gets the benefit of the garden.
 Sunday, June 23-Sunday! and such a Sunday! Cold, dreary and lonely II have on my overcoat and cannot | the last of June. No mail for two weeks, and it seems as if we were entirely cut off from home. No mai Icreates suspense and disqu;etine doubts, but I try to make the best of it.
 Less than two months after arriVa, in France we were in the trenches They needed men, and we had goot record, so up we came, and in spite of the brief training our boys art making good. It is a quiet sector ant just at this moment there is no sounC except the wind in the trees and tht 1 aF NSAI the Boche sends over a few shells VI return the compliment, just to reminH him not to be too fresh and vice versa , Have explored little and canno , find the organ of the church. It mus have been removed or walled in. On cannot explore too much, as there l , danger of a stone dropping down a , any unusual jar, although I presum . it has been pretty we'll jared by now , Have sent home two pictures o , this church as it was before the wal ; but of course tt is now in ruins. l must have been a beautiful place i , peace times The country reminds m of the foothills of the Berkshires. Tn . forest. except near the front, is prac : ticaHy untouched. On the line 0 2 course there is neither grass nor foli age, only the bare stumps and trunk of trees
 June 26-Still no mail, though tn mail corporal thinks some will b f along in a day or two, as, pa pers cam today The colonel and a Frenc lieutenant called on me this afternoo r while riding past. He told me it wa not necessary for me to stay here a : day, but it is not the days that < mind; it is the evening and nights. 7 r was ordered here. and here I stay ii ordered away. You know l am abou a mile from headquarters, and as 2 don't care to walk two miles for ever meal I eat breakfast with my boy go up in the forenoon to make p 5 report, stay for dinner, walk back an have supper with the boys. We ge along very well. They always sa grace before meals, and I like it. l Last night at bedtime the gun I began to pound and we went out . take look. Big noise. sigma rockets e etc. for 15 minutes, then our big gun : began to talk. In 15 minutes nor e everything was quiet. It seems a feI l.. Germans showed themselves. so thire