Putnam patriot., 1918-04-19

The following letter comes right from the first line trenches from Ser gean Alfred Gilbo. MT Gilbo was formely watchmake in the store of George Shaw.
 No doubt you would like to know what have been up against, so Pil do my best to tell you
 We left where we were and are now where we are. On our travels saw many interesting sights. wouldn't have believed it had l not seen it myself, the results of this long war. The cities and towns that were once beautiful and prosperous are now almost completely destroyed, nothing but mass of ruins remain ing Some towns look like big rock pile. Most of the houses being built of stone, after bombardment of several days you can imagine what the result would be. Valuable forest woods and fields are destroyed by the big shells. The tree tops are cut off or the trees knocked over. l have never seen a tree but what was hit by shell. The fields and meadows are full of shell holes from the size of a wash tub to the size of cellar hole.
 We kept hiking along in the mud quite disgusted, thinking of what had already happened and of what we would probably have to go through in action ourselves, as we knew well we were headed for the front A fellow will kind of dread it at first tat least I know l did) but after he thinks of the Bosche being to blame for so much suffering and ruination the old Yankee spirit is aroused and he plugs along anxious and eager to get into action and help to end the awful, un- called for war, and let the poor peo- pie over here, that have seen so much suffering, know that kind and civil ized people still exist
 "The French farmers will be una ble to cultivate for several years. Many unexploded shells and ammu- hilton will have to be removed by men of experience first.
 T had the surprise of my life when I reached my destination. couldn't t see any barracks, tents or shanties and still the men ahead of me kept disappearing 1 soon found out what was going on as l walked up to a hole in the ground and entered. We were in a large cave, quite clean and com fortable, and safe from the enemy, al though a few of the rat family made their home with us. They are good sized ones and not bit fussy whether they walk on our faces or not.
 Daytime is bad time to be wan dering about, for if one of old Fritz 8 aeroplanes happens to see you he is liable to drop a few bombs or a big shell is liable to appear on the scene. and if it connects it's goodbye.
 "I have had my initiation under fire and then some. The first time went into it Home Sweet Home loom ed up pretty big and how l wished r was there. All of the good and bad I ever did passed through my mind and the more I'd think the more bad I'd find. So l stopped thinking and with the rest of the boys began to re- cover from the sudden spray of shrap- nel and began making remarks. Soon all the boys were laughing and joking about it. That sounds strange, but it's a fact The gamest bunch you ever saw.
 That is not the only siege experi- ence. have been doing my hitch in the front line trenches for some little tine Believe me, that's the place for sensations. I guess I've told you of the mud, but in trenches it's awful and sometimes we can't pull our feet out and kick one foot and then the other to keep warm It makes such noise We hardly dare to because Fritz might hear and take few pot shost at us. If one gets hit here it is out of luck Of course we are ready to return anything that starts.
 'The sound of a gun can be heard most all the time so there are very few dull moments. We do lot of swapping of lead but we are more i generous than the Huns for we put in a few for good measure. Life is very uncertain around here at the front There are some pretty close calls while walking along some trail. Moth ing exciting going on near you and