The Washington times., 1918-03-14
NO Strong DRINKS
IN FRENCH CAMPS,
SAYS FORESTER

How American saw-mills in the
pine and cork-oak forests OF south
western France are feverishly work
ing to turn ont timber for use at
the front Is related in letter just
received by Mr.. and Mrs. ]. Klein OF
.25o& Fourteenth street northwest
y1rom their son, Reuben Klein, private
In Company C, Tenth Engineer For
estry. OF the expeditionary forces.
While our troops go over the top
the forestry engineers labor at top
speed to furnish one OF the most I'M
portant sinews OF war. planks ana
beams for the manifold purposes OF
the battle line.
Meanwhile, they. regaie themselves
with bicycle rides, American cigar
cites and trips to the seacoast and
to French rcad-houses.
The letter dated February IS, fol
lows:
No News From Home.
'T am very well and comfortable
and hope you are all the same.
'I am still without any letters or
papers from home or the States, but
! am very anxious for some from
home the most.
I'VE are in. the southwestern part
of France, near the sea coast, and
within 100 miles Of one of the very
largest cities Of France. If you can
think OF how a boat gets to Baltimore
from the sea you can get q good idea
or how we are situated.
l.. T. Al e
full. The days are quite mild and the
nights quite cold.
YESTERDAY (Sundsy) I went and
hired q wheel with a friend and we
had them all day. II only cost us
francs each We travelled all day
from place to place.
s'The roads are very fine and al
most all the people have wheel for
their house.
I'VE had breakfast along the road
to the sea coast and dinner at the sea
coast We stopped at the house of
an old Frenchman and woman at the
The sea coast is about one and one
half hours from our camp.
THE county is very near all for
ests; pine and cork oak. from which
corks are made.
1--WE stopped along the roadside and
visited some French roadhouses and
had a very pleasant time.
Met other companies OF foresters,
and they have a fine opinion of this
company, both for men and officers,
and our band.
Have Small Mills.
''The mills Of other companies are
working, but they have small mills.
Cut about 4 carload a day. Our
mill, when Il will be done-and It will
be done very shortly-will cut about
20. 900 feet, or a little more, in one
shift. It is one Of the largest that
Americans will operate.
Tam going to work in the mill. but |
at present we are building a logging |
railway through the woods. My Job |
on this railway IS persuading a muck |
stick, which can handle quite lively |
now. (Muck-stick Is a shovel)
The town we visit most is about |
two miles from camp, and has about |
. thousand population. OF course,
you know all the-(deleted). There |
In q funny grocery store here, like |
what you saw in Russia Also quite |
few saloons (wine shops).
Believe me. our wine home in the |
cellar is a hundred times better than |
their old sour wine We are not al
lowed TO drink strong wine or liquors /
at all They also run eating places in |
the same room; cook in large FIRE
places mostly, but some have stoves.
Things are all o. K. here, and tn, /
boys quite happy. Just got a gift |
tobacco from the States-two packs
OF cigarettes. two bags OF Bull Dur.
ham, can Lucky Strike.
Best love to you all and Martha |
and Leon and Abbie.
Your loving son.
"RUBE"