The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1918-12-24
LETTERS FROM SOLDIERS
From Lieut.. F. E. keenan,.

triumphant. France. Nov. "a, 1918.
Dear John:
Hope you will excuse my long de-
lay in writing. HERE'S my alibi; that
big bundle OF papers you mailed me
lay around this office over ak weeks,
and as I was in the city of Anglers
(about seventy-five miles from here)
on detached service I did not receive
them until my return four days ago.
However. Ill try to write interest
ingly this time to atone for my un-
whiting delay.
1t was worth all the .hardships
have undergone just TO be clad in an
American uniform on the day OF the
signature OF the armistice. The shops.
offices. factories and schools were
closed and the people thronged the
streets clad in their best shouting
endlessly. "vive la France" and "Vive
l. Amerique" Nothing was too good
for the Americans. they entertained
them in every conceivable way. eat
ing. drinking and making merry IN
| til the early hours of the morning
| of November IL. The city was veri-
! table carnival OF gay flags and bunt-
| ing and ribbons. the colors of the
| Americans sharing equally the public
favor with the French, while the Eng
| lish, italian and Belgian colors were
also in evidence. A grand parade was
! held about nine p. m. and was one OF
/ the most picturesque spectacles 1 have
| ever seen 1t was illuminated by Jap
anese lanterns and paper of which
! blended the colors of the Allies and
the United States. Then came count
\ less soldiers and the new French
Glass OF 1920 who are in training
two years ahead OF their time An
American band dispensed such gay
classics (?) as Hail! Hail! the Gang
| All Here." and "There'l Be Hot
| Time in the Old Town Tonight
And in this connection I will add that
there wAsl The stirring strains of
the national hymns of the Allies and
the states were played and sung be-
fore the Hotel de Ville" Getty Hall)
and the Place de la Republique tpub-
lie square). This French put grea'
fervor into their rendition of The
Msrseillsise" and not TO be outdone
the Americans sang THE Star-Span-
sled Banner" with all their spirit the
surprising end of the war adding tc
the feeling especially in view OF the
abject surrender of the Hun This
war was a repetition OF the old adag'
Came Out Like q Lion and Returned
Like a Lamb" the Boche being th'
party referred to above And the pro
German element IN America must Ger
tainiy feel the reverse English too
GOOD! And the eroaking pacihsts an'
those who feared that UNFRAMED
America" could not wailop their mum
her in Huns. got the surprise OF thei
iellvfsh lives Since last July IN
, Americans have pushed on, defeatint
, the picked divisions of the Hun. rol
ling him back, Selling prisoners mu
, nition Of war and supplies and in gen
oral giving the Hun the most sever
? heating of his life. And the incentiV
q and the daunt1ess spirit OF the Ameri
cans gave impetus to the Englisn an
! French. IL stimulated the Italian an
a Ralrian and when all hands unite
1 in the colossal offensive under uni
; fed command. the Boche ana ms CO
0 horts drew in their horns oleate
: ..IIannerad" like a lost sheep ana DO"
e cd their heads and knee before hu
! manitv And having given the great
Z esr aid in turning the tide. at cos
e that was considerably greater IN mon
$ ev and less ia lives thIn was shtic'
Z mated America will soon return nom
e BIO the good old United States TO hE
- neacefullv. Gone forever will be tn
t busaboo that our men are not soloiel
9 Of the first class. that they eahho
= lawn the new methods Of hshtlns /
$50 10 compete with the great Pc"
v ard rome forever the Japanes
I. scare He'll, the laps couldn't hoi
d our = year against our present 4eoO
: 600.
8 was tickled to death by the show
Il 10 that East Chicago made in tn
Il an Liberty Loan drive. / burst I'M
print writing a letter to waiter =
Y. Ruev over the great work he accom-
plished with his committees IN putin
US over the top" FIRST OF an u
!. - the United states. East Oh
100 made wonderful record. II
= creasing it's quota over million do
- At the fourth issue over the TIM