Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1918-08-15
Letter From Sergeant Snyder.
At home, France,

having some rain the past lSH NaSS,
the first for two months, and it is sure
a relief to have the dust settled. Also
the heat has abated, and fellow can
get out and exercise little without
getting all "het up" We had a big
bunch of men land here the other day,
Motor Mechanics, and as they marched
past our place with flags flying and the
band playing it sure made my heart
swell with pride to think that we are
doing so much toward ending the war.
The new men have only just gotten to
France, and this was their first camp on
this side. We old timers took delight
in pointing out to them the points OF
interest. Quite a few of the men that
were at Kelly Field in my old company
there came over in this bunch, and |
felt like falling on their necks, for 1t
sure was good to see some familiar
faces. can assure you that We had
quite a time talking over the times we
used to have down there in that dusty
climate.
A new schedule Of hours for the
camp went into effect the hrst of the
week. We get up at SIS now, have
breakfast at 5.45, and go to work at
$50. Then We quit for dinner at ll.4s
and 60 back at o'clock and hold forth
until 6. That makes pretty long work
ing day, and by the time night comes
the fellows are all pretty well ready to
hit the hay. Taps does not go until II
o'clock now, which is an hour later, but
there are mighty few who wait to hear
taps blow. have to stay up, though,
to see that some forgetful nighthawk
doesn't leave his candle burn all night.
get all the sleep want, however, for
after breakfast as soon as the men 60
up on the hill to work, a pile back to
bed and get two hours more sleep.
Perhaps that is taking advantage OF
them, but then they can go to bed as
early as they want to. Captain Ed
wards issued company order that
there will be no noise in the barracks
after 10 o'clock, so that when anyone is
ready to sleep he is not disturbed by his
neighbors making lot of racket.
Again the woodpile is the weapon, and
when that form of exercise is mentioned
there is always a ready acquaScence to
an order.
Tomorrow is the big French celebra-
ton, and we are going to have some
time here. 1t has been declared
holiday, and the men all complain that
it falls on Sunday, for they don't have
to work then anyway. Big prepara-
tions are being made here, and the
American and French soldiers are 60
ing to hold a joint meeting. There is
to be big parade in town and the two
post bands are going to have prominent
part in the doings. There is to be
field meet too, and the French are laying
for us, for we carried off all the honors
on the Fourth, and they are going to try
and even things up. They will have
their hands full, for there are some
real American athletes here, and when
they bargain to beat them they have
some work ahead of them. We are
sending several of our men up to
o., where there is to be another
big athletic meet, and Captain Edwards
is going in charge of the delegation
from this post Here's hoping we
clean up on them, too.
lust now we are watching with great
interest the French drive. They seem
to be doing some mighty good work,
and are recovering lots of lost ground.
The Italians are also handing salty
dose to Austria, and it begins to look
like Austria must be getting pretty
close to the end Of her string. The
concensus of opinion is that Austria is
the weak link in the chain Many be-
lieve that the way to victory is through
her early defeat, and it seems that il is
not so far off. They need not put the
show off any longer on my account, for
think we are willing to have the enemy
bite the dust at any minute-and the
sooner the better.
In your last letter you told me how
many of the home fellows were going
into the army Well, we need them,
and about the only thing real Ameri-
can can do now is to get into the service
in some capacity, for after everything
is over and We are all back home the
fellow who did not go will have some
mighty unpleasant and embarrassing
moments trying TO explain why he did
not go, and he will have to have a
mighty good excuse to get away with 1t.
There are so many Americans over here
now that it seems almost incredible
that so much has been accomplished in
so short time Everywhere you turn
YOU see the olive drab, and plenty Of il,
and you wonder where they have all
come from. 1t is sure up to every young
fellow in the States to turn to and do
his bit-no, not bit, but his best, for
the sooner we realize that, the quicker
the whole thing will be over. The time
to get into it is right now, and the
sooner We make up our minds to do our
best the better of We will be. So keep
the boys coming, and when they get
over here you may be sure they will
render good account.
| believe told you that some OF US
had been living outside in tent for
some time. Well, the other day we
got a new member, sergeant who is !
head carpenter He sure has the pep,