Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1918-04-11
N M N N N ~ m
WHAT is HAPPENING IN
CAMP AND FIELD.
Reality An the Trenches.
n ~ ~ n - n n J

permission 10 ten We are III '"N
trenches. Although we cannot tell
when we came, still we know we are
here and you will. too. We have
had enough trench warfare in months
past that we now feel at home, and
are full of zeal and fighting spirit.
We cannot tell of the real exciting
and dangerous times, but perhaps II
IS enough to say that we have seen
fight and had shells burst above u.s.
and all around us, and bullets close
but so far | have been lucky. But
we get our revenge for we IN turn
givee Fritz "hell" in all kinds or
packages, so when he misses US we
can laugh and say. No, Fritz, not
this time" We have received mail
in the trenches before this but
couldn't mention the trenches in our
letters
Tonight is beautiful but few
nights like this go by in peace" To
see all this boxed up hell turned
loose makes one wonder If those
stars are your enemies or your
friends. You think the gods Of evil
DAYS has turned loose. Then again
amid flare of rockets and burst Of
shells and rifle fire, cast your eyes
to the sky and through thick with
stars you realize that the dead are
even thicker than the stars above
you. my Cod" you would say
"To kill these, these best people OF
France, England and the allies But
that isn't all of it. Think of the poor
women and children being shelled
and gassed. God! Us soldiers can
pull through, but if everyone in
America could face this war face to
face they would realize our place
was over here three and one-half
years ago. God pity the coward who
refuses to leave and fight for his
father, his mother and sisters, broth
ers and babies Mad? l wish ! could
get hold of onyone who refuses to go,
and chase him over the top of mo
Mans Land. And if the Germans
didn't kill him, l would. We have
been in "hell' before but you people
don't know how often. America is in
the war. Why? To demand justice
and protection for Who? For all ma
tions including the greatest OF us ALL
America. For we were not safe no
more than France. We ought to thank
God we can fight this war in France
and not wage war in America where
orr mothers and sisters would be sub
iect to slaughter and assault by the
Huns. Where babies are killed by
gas because they cannot wear gas
masks. Where homes are destroyed.
Yes, war costs. put how much more
if we were having property destroy
ed. The Hun is fighting any way ne
can to win. Why not as quoted Of
ten from Shakespeare, America cry
DESTROY and kill the Hun until
peace is sure anu udHHOu pO nv 49,"
cries hold, enough"
M "a INN
Camp Joseph e. Johnston, jack
sonville, Florida, April 2-Edltor
Reflector: The Huns have been put
ting on a great show for the last few
DAYS with lots of fireworks, glittering
swords and interspersed with consid-
trable verbal ammunition. But they
are halted and ] think their glorious
pageant will be turned to a tragedy
believe now that France is to DC
their Waterloo with Pershing and
Foch acting as wellington and Bluch-
or and with Old Kaiser Bill in the
role of The Little Corsican. Here
tofore was convinced that the ev'
envy was going to hold the ground
they had and keep losses in the
minimum. The faact that they
started an offensive looks a little like
trouble at home. so they are giving
the people a little of their old sooth
ing syrup in the form of another
big show.
we have rigid orders here not t.
divulge any facts concerning trooI
movements or how many men are II
camp or coming into camp o.
whether there are many going out
and this under penalty of court-mar
tial so l am quite restricted. How
ever. 1 can say that our compan!
has been fully equipped for oversees
service. Each of us has two WOO
uniforms wool socks, wool under
clothing. overcoat, wool shelter tent
and full packs. We will be issue'
reyoIyers instead of rifles. We don
,,nou, xet inst what our duties viii