Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1918-10-02
NEPHEW IN AERO WORK
County Representative Cum
derson's Relative Writes
Interesting Letter From
France and the War.

the News by Oscar Gunderson to
publish the following extracts
from letter which his nephew
writes him from France. The
letter was dated the 9th of Sep
tember and possibly by this
time this air scout has been in
the thick of the severe fighting
on the front. He saws:
104 Aero Squadron,
American Z. Forces,
Septemb Der 6, 1918
| have been over here for six
months now. Just recently we moved
up to the front, although | have done
no work over the front as vet am
driving a two place machine | sit
in the front seat and the observer in
rear seat. We are in an Observation
Group and do various kinds of recon
naissance work We do artillery
spotting, Photographic work, in antry
laisson, and long distance recOnnaIs-
sance work think | am in about
as interesting work as one could pos
sibly get into AS you can surmise,
it is entirely different from anything
| have ever done before or anything
for which have been trained 1t is
wonderfully fascinating to he in the
air ana with these modern m chimes
it is becoming mparalively safe.
The next most dangerous period
outside of actual work over the front,
is during the time when one is learn
ing. This is because such little faults
or mistakes can in this game he fatal
for once you lose control or do some
thing wrong gravity acts on you.
| have gotten along nicely thus far,
although | took all the time | could
in earning and have played the
game conservatively all the time. 1t
i as easy to do this as it is to be
reckless and makes one just as good
fier in the end.
| have met a number OF Wisconsin
men over here in the service. Just
the day wa leaving for this place l
met two classmates of mine and here
one of the observers is d 1913 man.
1t is unfortunate that few Germans
back there should have given the
state such bad reputation. Also, it
almost makes me cry to think OF La
Follett spoiling his good record by
mis- miserable performance at the time
we were getting into the war.
Some Of those Germans back there
ought to be driven out of the country.
they left Germany because they had
no chance of getting ahead and why
they should not be loyal Americans is
more than | can understand. Mama
writes me about some of our old
neighbors. In their case l do not
think it is any connection they may
have with german propaganda but it
is simply their ignorance.
This is a picturesque country and
in many ways | like it. Some of the
places l have seen have been very
primitive especially in the way of
personal sanitation. In the larger
cities the sanitary sy stem seems to
be fairly moderu but out ON the farms
it is terrible. The house and barn
are usually near together and in the
farm yard is usually manure pile, a
well and cess pool. Also they seem
to keep their houses closed tight at
night for fear that they might get a
breath of cold air. Most Of the
houses in the country are made of
stone.
Almost every city has a large
church and some of them date back
to the 18th and 18th century. | was
in Tours for time and there were
three very old cathedrals there in
which there was stained glass 600 and
700 years old, Also in that section
there are a great many chateux, relics
of feudal days. They are beautiful
and have wonderful surroundings.
This has been rather rambling
letter. Write me again if you can
find time and give my best regards to
the family.
Sincerely yours,
Roy
Address me thus:
Lit. J l.. Johnson,
4