The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-05-02

arations are going on here to swing
a mighty blow, and the Hun will soon
see. his finish-a great work is being
done, and the western troops received
quite a compliment by being selected
for the early service here" writes Ma
jor F. S. Henry, former North Dakota
land commissioner, now in command
of the First battalion Of the Fighting
First in the American sector OF the
allied front in France. ,
Major Henrys letter, written April
"A, and which came through in re-
markably short time, follows:
Have a few minutes to spare so just
a word to hay Hello and how do you
do, hope vel and happy, how's the war
board in your office, are they still how
ering around the maps and prophesy-
ing what each army is going to do and
what will happen on the next move,
and can you guess when we will push
the enemy 'back"--say-let me tell
you something, when we do it, it will
be knockout, and we are all anx-
iously waiting for the time to smash
the Boche with such mighty force that
he will never, no never, be heard from
il another generatiOn......
Weather on the whole since we ar
rived in Sunny France has been rot
ten with a big "R"-chilly, damp, pen.
etrating cold. However, this is OF
course not true of the entire repub-
lie, and l don't mean to say that we
have not had a few good days, for
we have, and when we get them, why
say, they are dandy and truly sunny
and beautiful!
have worn heavier clothes and am
still wearing them than I ever did in
the glorious climate of North Dakota,
but now that spring. has arrived, we
are all patiently waiting for the op-
portunity to shed them. Flowers are
commencing to show up, fruit trees
are blooming, farm work is being ia
ken care of and the fields are being
worked by old men, women and chill
dren. Every French family has a
garden and good ones, so there is
plenty of vegetables in the family
basement the year around-very thrift
ty people and the women handle the
pocketbook here like they do in every
other place. ~
French Keep on Smiling.
The French people have been very
pleasant with American soldiers and
the courtesy shown by all Of them can
we'll be initiated, they keep smiling,
confident and feel sure Of victory, all
of us manage to Parlez Vous Francois
a little so get along very well.
Ioung boys are the same old kids
here as the world over, al boiler and
whistle at the Y. M. G. A. shows or
any other entertainment like they do
in any other respectable city and al
ways bother the same old people, but
let me whisper to you, it did seem
kinder good to hear them do the same
old stunt in the same old way in this
country.
The Y. M. C. A. is doing very fine
work. They manage to be always near
the troops and the people back home
have reason to be thankful they are
with the army, and let me tell you
don't forget the Salvation Army, who
are also doing splendid work wherev>
er they are and helping make the lie
of the soldier more comfortable. Il en-
close and editorial cut from the Stars
and Stripes, a paper published in
Paris by the Army
An Old French Town.
The present station of my battalion
is near an old town, built l suppose
long before America was discovered,
streets running in all directions, hous-
es and stores or shops all Joined to.
gether, made out Of cement, cement
blocks and stone. Theer is an old
tower here the natives say was built
by the Romans in the year 900, (no
one as yet has denied this). We can
stand on hill near our location and
see six of these little towns within
a radius of five miles and they all look
about alike, all have their chapels'
church and bells which ring out the
hour and half hour and on Sunday
or Saints day, the bells have great
time, which is indeed pleasant to hear.
This little town of ours has a river
right through the place, banks
all walled, here and there steps for
the people to walk down to get water
or to do. their. family, washing. Farm.