The Ordway new era., 1918-12-06
FROM JOHN HOPKINS
FRANCE

John Hopkins sent several letters
home during last month to his moth
er. Mrs. j. G. Hopkins, and sister,
Mrs. F. r. Warren. Extracts from
these letters give some interesting
things. He says:
I'VE have surely been busy here
sending them over to the dutch, and
believe me we have sent them bunch
they will remember" Speaking of
his officers he says: "Our sergeant
major is the same as a buck private
in action, and he was an old army
man before this war started. Our
captain got shot while examining a
machine gun. He was shot in the
head Just above the right eye, but he
is going to get alright. Our officers
are all fine fellows and good to us.
You told me what to do II got
"cooties" but the dope is a great deal
harder to get than the "cooties" and
here on the front a fellow does fine
to get bar of chocolate and pack
age of cigarettes month. About
the only thing fellow can get handy
is Hun and mach me gun bullets.
"cootie" yet, but the mice and rats
are fierce. There is plenty of noise
and don't know what we will do
when we get out of here, for 1t won't
seem natural unless there is a big
gun banging away. Everything may
be quiet for a few minutes then the
big guns will break soose and of all
the noise-it can't be equaled any
where else or by anything else.
November 6-Everything was quiet
last night, just a gun boombing now
and then on our side. The Huns
never sent over any all night but
they are putting over some now. A
fellow seldom notices them unless
they land pretty close to him. and
their high explosives are about all
that does any damage. They say here
that there are four reasons for not
worrying about them.
First-1f they go over there is no
need to worry.
Second-If they fall short there is
no need to worry.
Third-If they don't explode there
is no need to worry.
Fourth-If they hit a fellow there
is no need to worry.
We only laugh when they pass us
and sing hello Jerry" and II they
happen not to go OFF we say, Thanks,
Uncle Dudley" for that Is what they
call those that do not explode. I
think 1t is about all Off with Germany.
of peace talk here but every time we
go to talking peace here comes a
Jerry" and zip, bang. and the war
is on again. The Huns sent over
quite number last night and some
OF them were rather close-just a
trifie too close to be comfortable.
They are nice little things, those
"Jerrys." and they only make hole
large enough to bury a wagon and
team of horses. We got a couple OF
New Eras. September 13. and 90,
and believe me we were surely glad
to get them. We had not had a one
OF them for about two months, (lost
in action 1 suppose.) We
have had only few nice days since
we came on the from and believe me
these dreary. rainy days get on a
fellows nerve, but we all expect to
be home soon and SO we should
worry.
November 10 am o. K, and still
able to kick. We have been doing
some pretty noisy fighting lately. The
Huns have been doing lots of shoot
ing but have not done much harm,
but they have got rather close at
times. but 1t looks like their little
game is about over with. and believe
me, there will be lots OF happy boys
- ~ 10. me- dlrpianeS are
busy this afternoon. There is a
boch plane over head now. and they
are shooting at 1t with anti-aircraft,
but plane is different thing to
hit when 1t is about five hundred to
thousand yards away in the air
and travelling at the rate of 100 miles
an hour. It is pretty sight to see
the shells burst around one, and a
fellow has to get under cover or he
is liable to connect up with some of
the shells or shrapnels. We have
seen some fine airplane fights and
also some balloons burnt up lately.
FROM ESSTHER KEUJ.Ey