Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-03-13
.BEIDEL AWAITS
CALL TO FRONT
Now in Billets and Anxious
to Get Up Into the
Fighting

r In a letter received yesterday by.
Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Beidel Front
street, their son Douglas, who is an
ambulance driver in France, relates
some of the happy incidents in army
life "over there" The letter was
written on February 10, while he was
on a rest. :
The letter follows: "I am still
in billets. Although / am now hav-
ing a fine time and living the life
of Riley 1 am also becoming quite
tired of our inactivity and again an
Xious to get up Front. A little rest
is good thing. but too much is
enough.
Il have given up thoughts of try
ing to be transferred to aviation or
any other department. If l would
be able to receive a transfer, nine
chances out of ten, 1 would be in
training for the best part of the re-
mainder of the war. / want to be
in some work, where I can be active
and do some good, and as our de-
partment offers very much action,
l. am going to stick it out The
Shelleys' have decided to do like
wise, so we will no doubt go through
the war together.
|; "Our section was originally COM
pose of 45 men, but has been cut
down to but 3d.. The men chosen to
leave were picked by lot and Roor-
back. was one of them. 1 hated to
see some of the boys leave us, after
going through several months of this
war together. 1 can't understand
why the section was cut down. for
we had plenty of work for all of us.
New sections are being made of the
ones cut from the various sections.
II have just been watching our
French mama make some 'gateauX'
or cakes for us. The rolling pin
must have been used for fire-wood,
| for she is using a bottle to roll the
dough, l also take notice that she
poured some of the contents of the
bottle into the dough. Practically
everything over here has a dash of
wine or liquor added to it. but any,
body who has ever eaten French
pastry knows that it is real stuff.
There hasn't been anything of
note happen around here lately, with
the exception of few aerial battles.
Last night a Boche came floating in
with cloud about twilight. 1 saw
that he done spiral drop for some
distance, and then he was chased by
two A. machines. L watched
them for a long time. but as far as
l know nothing happened to any of
| them.
Flying Some Sport
II wish you could see an aerial
battle, possibly you could then un-
derstand why 1 would like to be an
aviator. 1 really think there is more
sport to that game, than any other
war game. You know how it goes
to be on the sidelines and watch a
game of football-watch your team
play and yet you are constrained
from taking part. Many, many
times I have stood on the side line
and watched the skill of the aviators
in combat-rooted like the deuce for
the Allied airmen, but do you know
you sort of pity the Boche, when
they crumble and fall. It's a clean
sport. but the Hun isn't in it with
our aviators.
'I am well, very we'll indeed, act
ually becoming fat. Happy as can
be-indeed the six months 1 have
spent on this side have been the hap
piest of my life. I feel that all my
faults and failures have become OBJ
scure in the present day facts-I
have at least satisfied myself that 1
am at last a success. With all the
love in the world,
Your loving son,
DOUGLAS"