The sun., 1918-10-27
Soldiers Letter Tells
of Greetings Every
where and Others
Write of the Huns
Dastardly Tricks

We left the British rest camp at $3.50
in the morning after a very crowded
night of sixteen in tent and marched
back to town (about three hour march)
to entrain. | am afraid our English
cousins did not make much of hit with
the men, as some pretty sharp gibes were
being passed back and forth most of the
time We are too much alike, I guess, and
we are prone to overlook their good points
in laughing in rather nasty way at their
peeuharities When alone we fight them
hard, but when banded together we fight
well with them and they with US.
We we're very lucky on the train, as it
was composed Of all coaches. and We did
not encounter the $50 hommes or 8
eheveaux" type of ears, although | have
seen plenty of them. We had the regular
compartment cars, six TO 4 compartment,
which with our luggage made it very
crowded, especially at night, and as we
were on the train two nights we were
mighty glad to land here. After trying
many different schemes of sleeping we all
decided sitting up was the best way.
Received Warm Welcome.
The first night here do not remember
going to bed, but believe me, | sure went.
We received a warm welcome all along
the line, although, of course, the sight of
American soldiers is a common one now.
The trip was very slow but was most in
teresting throughout. France is beauti-
full and the people are lovely. 1t is in
deed an honor to serve such country if
that alone was our only reason for being
over here, and the gratitude of the French
is beyond words We were fed on the trip
on the English ration, which does not
compare with ours, with the exception of
their jam, which is excellent.
We arrived here about noon of the
third day and were met by all the village,
all the school children with American flags
and flowers and the Mayor heading the
reception committee This is little vii
lage of about fifteen or sixteen hundred
people, and must be fully that many
years old 1t is the most interesting and
picturesque place l have ever been in, and
it has been delight wandering around
the winding streets and alleys. The dirt
is something awful, but you soon come
to overlook that and see only the rest.
We have had the whole command out
policing, however, and the little place IS
quite looking up.
Personally am quartered in an old
inn run by an old couple who get in the
way all the time doing things for you.
l don't dare leave anything around my
room, as everything is so carefully picked
up and put away that it is impossible to
find it again. I have wonderful corner
room, bright and cheerful and spotless,
with an old fashioned four poster from
the middle of which you can hardly look
over the edge We have the officers mess
started, 50 we are very well off indeed.
Eager to Do Anything to Help.
The keeper Of the inn is an old army
man, and they have lost an only son in the
present war; so anything they can do for
the army, and especially for the Ameri-
cans, gives them the greatest pleasure.
They do not fully appreciate the reason
why we are here; but we are fighting for
France, and that is enough for them and
all they want to know.
The men are having the times Of their
lives, and it is a very common sight during
off hours to see great six footer with a
little French girl of eight or ten summers
perched on one knee and "short cut to
French" in one hand struggling to twist
his Western cowboy tongue around some
Of the French words, much to the amuse-
ment and delight of this "teacher" and
numerous onlookers, who are always offer
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