Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-06-19
HE LIKES THE SATISFIED N

DUSTRIOUS FRENCH PEOPLE
by Captain c. E. Buffers Division Quarter
master, 32nd Division A. E. F. in France,
Mr.and Mrs. Ray yergeront Dear Friends
Your letter reached yesterday and with a
big batch Of mail was thoroughly enjoyed.
For weeks | have planned day by day to
write TO the Round Prairie people and yet
my time has been so filed that it just seemed
1 could got find the time to write more than
a note. There is much 10 write about that
il seems a sin to just scratch a short letter
and say Somewhere in France" beautiful
weather, well, good bye. My thoughts are
often the Round Prairie people, the little
school house, the play gave the gatherings
at your home and She social d0ings in gen.
eral that will always have big place in my
happy remembrance. Every day your father
is in my thoughts | him working
away. writing at his desk working cut in
the shop visiting with the older crOnies or
as / often remember him sitting on a cult
water looking like a typical farmer out to
your place.
Well, in way, If 1 could have Fannie
over here this life would be quite eongenial-
Coming over as / did with a small advance
party, and the first Americans in the area
where were placed, gave me opportunity
to and visit parts of France as untouched
by the American soldier. The people were
in their natural environment. This lasted for
a month, and then with the influx of the Di-
vision l made the substance quarter
master, and have held the same position since.
My duties much to my liking, although
there is always lots of work and lots OF
planning TO keep everything moving smoothly.
The distribution of forage and ration IS on
an automatic daily basis. In the Olden days
ratiOns issued for longer or shorter
period of time as the commanding general
directed, but in order TO conserve food. and
that 10 waste may he due to the quick re-
moyal OF troops from one locality to another
the T&t131s axe sem out each DAY suthclent
for leys need. 1t makes a continual
chore =, right. There is such day Sun
day. several Gays ago We nj. cd from the
position We had occupied back of the lines to
within the lines and a combatant di-
vision working in the area Of operations, in
stead of the of advance. ! made tie
trip of over 100 miles IA auto and ha. mosi
delightful trim. France appeals 10 me. Every
little town has lie own history its own ar
chtecture, its ustpms, and there are
thousands of noeAs and corners that are al
ways deiiEat 20 me. Cogld yeu know VIVA
the Germans know and what We are not al
lowed to tell, you would be surprised nj our
position TIC way Maybe ! can do some
limiting that will help. Mountains are all
about US. The architecture is of theSwiss
chateau pattern. The family live with were
French before The 1879 war, and German al
ter the war. The fr"nt line trenches are
only a few Kilometres n where | SIT. The
towns both sides of he lines are never
shelled here, as they were all neighDaEs be-
fore the and 81 enmity With each
other because of the rule from above, and no.
because they personally wish il. These peO-
pie in the town live IA are related and inter
married TO those people over there. ihey
are not going to she'll the towns. The hTst
day troops went in the trenches the Boche
put up a big sign: Welcome S2nd Division.
They know are here. We have lao CDpor-
tunity to lois of the air hghting. Every
day we the Boehe planes being bombed
by the gUzls from side and hear the CUES
Whacsng away at planes on the other
side. There very large ea.iber guns
in this vicinity and they make hne racket
when they let loose. And yet it seems like no
was en-. The farmers are al cut in the
fields putting in theEr crops and getting ready
for the harvest that they or no one else can
know .(hey Will ever harvest, and yet why
not? NhO Of us ever knows whether we will
harvest the CROPS in life put in. Wen no
doubt some hungry people will harvest them.
and its well they may.
The climate Of this region is ideal. sunny
France seems truly 70 ct. Immense wisteria
the houses, trees and plants all II
bloom, cherries ripeaing, boys are in swim
ming French soldiers are getting up and Civ
ing vaudeville shows. Moving picture show
the other night, put on by the French. like
the French, and hope the day may come
when I can have Fannie over here TO see
these kindly disposed. care-fTee. easy-going,
happy people. Satisfied with what an Amer
lean would starye on We had some attached
10 us for a while and when they left had
to issue to them travel zatisns. some one
asked me what ! gave them and ! said, three
snails, a box Of bareback and q bottle OF
wine. In fact they almost live on bread and
wine and a little cheese. They never grUm-
bic and work in their slow, sure way that
think gets them farther than our hurry ner-
vOus method. They can load train Of cars
at least with a lot less yelling and noise than
Well, this is one long letter for me, and yet
it is not half said Now ! know you viii give
my best regads and love to all the folks back
at Round Prairie. ] started 10 mention them
but find they innumerabie that want
you to remember me 20 them ALL and re
member me TO your folks and all friends in