Evening journal., 1918-09-14
WALTER G. DAVIS Is
PROMOTED TO SERGEANT

Walter c. Davis, Jr.. an assistant
foreman in The Evening Journal com
posing room before he was called to
the colors, has been promoted TO ser
seant. He Is now at the non-commis-
stoned officers school at Camp Green
leaf, Fort Oglethorpe, Ca Sergeant
Davis went to the medical departments
camp at Fort 0glethorpe when he left
Wilmington Many Of the men who
went with that contingent have been in
France several months.
William II. Dawson Of Cheswold has
received the following interesting let
ter from his son, Thomas Dawson, who
is a member OF the 303d Ammunition
Train in France.
"Somewhere In France Aug. IS, 1918.
Dear Dad. am still here In camp.
Have just returned from Bee Hunt or
rather honey hunt. Sunday is our day
in camp, and we usually go somewhere
II not on pass to the city we go
blackberrying or sight seeing through
camp and the range. A week ago /
discovered bee tree and with a couple
OF fellows went back In the afternoon
10 get some honey. I knew it was
there for I had my head within is In
ches OF the hole aud could smell It..
For protection I had a gas mask over
my face. It covers about half the
face and has two eye pieces TO see
through. A mouth piece Is put into the
mouth TO breathe through and pair OF
pincers grip the nose to keep you from
breathing through It.
The BOYS wrapped a Red Cross bell
met and muffler over my eek and ears
and with a stocking on either hand l
went up TO the tree. The bees were
quite angry and soon routed me. They.
stung right through the wool helmet
and the stocking was no protection for
hic hands. They fixed me up with
more that afternoon, but could not
get my hand in the hole with all the
wrapping so l had 10 retreat without
the honey and with a few stngs. None
OF TIlem hurt afterwards but one got
me over the eye and as a result it
swelled and closed entirely.
"Of course ] got jibed little for
trying TO rob the bees OF their honey
and It msde me an the more deter
mined 10 get some honey, so yesterday
afternoon and this morning we return
ed with an axe and got all there was.
They wasn't mad at all a week ago TO
what they were when I began cutting
with the axe II seemed all the bees in
the world was there. 7 could hardly
see for them. They routed me again, !
but / got fixed up better and went back
and filled my bucket.
Getting rid Of the bees after ] got
the honey was the worst trouble. They
would follow me for a quarter OF al
mile. I'd roll through the weeds and
a rye field. rush through the holly
bushes like an OK in fly time and beat
at them with ferns and finally would
drive them Off hat ] could remove
the mask and breathe naturally. Some
might think this was too much to so
through for a little honey, but the
fun and excitement was worth the
trouble"
Il tell YOU when there are bees buz-
ling on and around you by the thOus-
ands and you are not sure that they
can't get 10 a vital spot IL is a bit
ticklish. Yesterday and today had
a pair OF skin gloves. But that hand
that held the spoon and went down In
the hollow was stung dozens Of times
right through the glove. Their sting
ers. however. remained in the glove and
as only the points reached the hand It
IS not swelling very fast. Twenty-Five
or thirty stingers could be counted in
the right glove after / came from the
tree. The other fellows say they would I
surely like 10 have a picture Of me with I
the mask on and the bees buzzing /
around.
"The honey, / forgot to state, when 4
"a. ..f h. nff~n oil
6 pounds. This VIII help us a lOt as
the OuarterInasters Canteen is at pres
ent out Of al Jams and fruit ETC., and
the too, IS out OF sweet stuffs. I I.
surely would like TO have the pleasure
OF tying the Kaiser to o bee tree and
then stir the bees with a stick. They
would surely torture him, but even so.
IT cannot be any more II as much as
our boys and the Allies are suffering
When they get dose OF his devilish
gas. or course we only know Of the
gas by Instructions and hear saw. Thev {
don't drop any around here. but ibev
tell us 1t Is terrible. ! must say Flnis
now and get ready for retreat. Am we'll
and feeling fine. Write often. Alvavs \
glad TO near from you. As ever
TOM
"Nour boy is doing splendid work
and you will some day be very proud /
of his record over there writes his I
captain Of Private Edward II. Cranston.
IN censoring a letter from the soldier |
10 his parents. Mr. and Mrs. l.. II. |
Cranston, No 902 West Tenth street.
Private CganstOn, who is with Field
= Hospital, Company 3, First Division, A.
Z. r.. France. writes:
Il was on a trip the other day and
saw some beautiful country I was over
some ground that The Germans held in
1871, but it is growing up and YOU
would not know that they had ever
been there. The Red Cross is doing
a lot Of good everywhere they go.
II hope you are not worrying ever
me. for am making out One, get three
good meals day and plenty OF sleep.
The germ Is gradually coming out Of
Germany"