Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1918-01-08
IDAHO TROOPS.
CHARTERED IN
SEAPORT TOWN
Letter From lieutenant
Regain Tells of First Ten
Days in France for Engi-
neers of Old Regiment.
American Military Police on
Duty and Streets Filled
With United States Sol
diers and Bluejackets-
Praise for Y. M. c.. A.

Following on tho heels of two letters
written.Ly Lieut.. John NJ, Regan, one
at sea and the other the day after the
first contingent of the old Second Ida
no landed in France. came another to
his parents, Mr.. sand Mrs. Tim Regain
of this city, which, written about 10
days after the lieutenant wrote of the
safe arrival of the boys, was evidently
not dispatched until the earlier letters
were sent. Lieut.. r. gan explains the
mail delay and his observations will
-eassure all Idaho parents having
boys in France
Lieut.. Rcgans latest letter is most
interesting as it gives sacps o.
the experiences of the Idaho boys on
'orcgn soil. 1t follows:
I'm France, Dee. 10. 19l7.-Dcar
Folks | am afraid both YOU at home
and we here are going to b. greatly
disappointed with the mail situation.
Some say we will be lucky if we get
our first mail in co days and oar let
tiers home viii be subject to many de-
lays Bat W. must accept il as it is,
for | feel sure that everything possible
Is being done to remedy the situation.
but there is such Il demand upon every
sort of transportation facility that the
mail must suffer with the rest. A
good idea is for you to number your
letters to me so | can keep track of
what letters l have coming. | was
mighty disappointed at not being able
to cable and the letters written on the
boat have not gone yet We are not
entirely straight ned out as yet on the
censoring matter, but l. think by the
inc this is finished we will know the
system.
,l,I,. Il ,,I,n 4
found the barracks here very COM
Portable. The first night was rather
cool hut since then 1t has been fine
The sun is shining through a window
ION my paper as | write and as the
door opens and shuts l get glimpses
of green. cultivated fields and gardens
and the typical French roof-tops and
towers in he distance of this seaport
own.
EXCELLENT TREATMENT.
Il have been fortunate in getting to
town both yesterday and day before.
for no enlisted men are allowed there
and only officers with passes, but /
had to ctraighten out our company fl
nances. In the branch of the Banque
de France we received excellent treat
ment. but they are slower than all get
out, only two young men and the rest
girls and old men. We took a letter
of credit for most of our company
fund and had the rest changed into
French money. ! had only 800 of my
personal money and my pay check
changed into French currency and will
keep the rest in American money Tho
Banque de France has branches all
over France and wherever we are sent
we will be near some branch.
Il find my little knowledge of
French is very useful and l am taking
advantage of every opportunity to talk
with shopkeepers, laundresses. bar
bers, etc, and l keep a small diction-
airy and conversation book with me at
all times. The hours l spent on ifNat
Standpoint and on the boat were well
spent and already haze paid for them
selves. l wish i had Wills knowI-
edge and aptitude for French. / can
just about get by as it Is but If / have
the luck to be thrown in contact with
French people l believe / will gradu-
ally get some facility. Don't think
from what l have said that / speak
French. | know a few words and
piece them together so that generally !
can be understood.
LIKES THE CHAPLAIN.
Day before yesterday | went down
with the chaplain. who is very fine
fellow. very broad and very fair. and
who will do anything in his power to
secure priests for confession and mass.
Yesterday Harry and went down and
later met Major Olson and couple