The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1918-01-18
E. c. BOOTH STILL ACTIVE
ON THE WESTERN FRONT
Says the Allies Are. Steadily Push
ing Fritz" Observation-Disclosures
War May End This Year

E. C. Booth, at one time employed
on the Echo, but now somewhere in
France, where he has been for the
past two years, is still alive, or at
least he was just before Christmas:
The following is letter written
to his son, Craig Booth.
Somewhere in the Mud on the
Western Front
My Dear Boy
Faith, and it's meself that's de-
lighted to hear from me old college
chum, at last, even if its only few
lines about a Canadian sergeant,
who says:-"Give them He'll" Sure
and we're giving 'em that every
minute and a bigger dose each time.
But these Germans are a tough lot
and seem capable of swallowing an
awful lot of hell.
Your note reached me a few days
ago and relieved me of some anx-
iety, as / had heard nothing from
home for more than twice the usual
period of time. Then last night
got a post, two Echo's and a paper
of the "real tobacco chew" which
mother must have mailed some time
ago. . =-.ra-
l was shifted from our main camp
some weeks ago and am now quar-
.
tered in a dugout about the size of
large dog house. My only com
panion at night, is a young lrishman
about six feet tall, whose. brains
quit developing when he was a small
boy. I have met great, many
people afflicted in the same way
but this is bad case indeed. When
am trying to pass the time in
reading, he is trying to entertain me
with the story of his life, or read
ing some of his letters to me, or
relating his present troubles all of
which are about as interesting as a
rainy day. Even after we go to
bed and the candles are blown out
he keeps on chattering till | have to
bawl him out. He was in the hos
pital for some time, until about
three weeks ago-I hope he swings
the lead" strong enough to go back
very soon. Swinging the Lead is
slang for making the doctors think
one is too i'll to be safe outside the
hospital.
We've had three days of beauti-
full sunshine lately but it was too
good to last-and now its mist and
mud again. with the probability Of
rain tomorrow.
Before you get this, Santa Claus
will have been around. to see you
kids once more and I hope he leaves
you something nice. You must
write at once and tell me all about
it, also about yourself and the
school and big sister and little sis
ter. I'm sure you have been good
boy, for mother has never said any
thing to the contrary. Be careful
and don't get hurt in any way and
look after the girls. Whenever you
90 up to the ranch, be sure and fol-
low the road; never go by the trail
over the dam. I've always .been
afraid of that route for you chill
dren.
During the summer, | was hoping
that this scrap would be over so as
to allow me to be back home with
you before spring. In fact | made
few bets that the fighting would
end by Christmas, but the situation
has changed trifle and / expect to
lose the bets.
The Germans have received a LOT
of encouragement the past two
months, but they are not Christian
scientists and cannot make encour-
Eagement take the place of grub tc
fill their empty bellies, so don't LEI
anyone persuade you into thinking
the war will last very many months
longer. You'll sure see your dad
sometime next summer.
My candle is about gone, so mus
close now, with love to all, DaC
E. C. Booth, 258434-No. Co.
Sth C. r. T. -B.E.F., France.