The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1918-12-12
LETTERS FROM SOLDIERS
From Can't. Robt. Spear.

Mr. z. n. Canine. superintendent of
schools. East Chicago. is in receipt OF
the following letter from DR.. Robert
Spear, now captain of the overseas
medical corps
DR.. Spear Is one of the pioneers in
medical practice in East Chicago and
has a large circle of friends who will
be glad to hear something about his
experiences just rior to the signing
of the armistice.
France. Nov 6. 1918.
Dear Mr.. Canine
Everyone is sitting around today
with his heart in his mouth fearing
the worst and hoping for the best
Our artillery outfit that is billetted
in the same mud hole with US. picked
up yesterdays communique on their
wireless. a Photograph saying that the
Huns had signed the armistice and
that the shooting would stop at p.
m. That and the knowledge that the
Austrians and others have been put
out Of action and that we have just
about reached the boche's only remain
ing railroad in France, makes US hope
full but the unreliableness of unoffi-
cial rumor makes US fearful
This is the day after election and
am anxious to know the results.
but 1t will be some time before we
at the front. will get that informa-
ton. imagine that the party in
power at present will be on the anx-
ious seat for some time. Teddy's ap-
peal will be somewhat popular at this
time because of the part his sons have
taken in the war. and. by the way.
we saw the son that is still over here.
He is a lieutenant colonel in an in
fantry outfit that was csmped across
the road from us.
think when 1 wrote you last It
was when we had come from the front
lines on the Vesle river. Well, since
that We have been on the go all the
time. except ten days that we were
billeted in houses. And except for
those ten days we have lived in filthy
mud in holes in the ground since the
18th of July. Those ten nights are
the only ones in which I have slept
out of my clothes. 1 have had a num-
Der of baths taken in cold water in
the creeks but have never had a real
good one at any time Last week we
marched three miles 10 a delousing
plant where we were supposed to be
purified with hot water and gasoline
and a new outfit Of clothing. All 1
need to say is that everyone has his
pets yet.
After leaving the Vesle front we
were swung around to the north of
scissors where the s2nd had to put
orcr a job on the Huns that the
French could not. 1t was one of the
three strong points of the Germans.
The town was Juvignay and then
across the Cmein des Danes to For
nay. 1t was another of those hills"
but the Yankees did the Job O. X
TIE cost Will be told later. From there
We were taken TO the villages and
were given a rest. Were then taken
to the west of the Mouse where we
hive been ever since. This sector is
said to be the most difficult in France.
Here we are not only the only Ameri-
can division but are in an American
army. We this time remained on the
front % days. You can scarcely mag
inc the feeling one has when word
comes that a change is to be made.
One hates to see the other fellows go
up against the terrible conditions. Still
the boys are so worn out that they
would let the others take the punish
ment without a murmur.
We were relieved by an organization
l stood on the road and saw them go
by on the way UP. They were a fine
looking lot of fellows. Better dressed