The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-09-05
Sgt. George Z. Cllley A. f. +. Writes
to His Mother In Harmony

Sgt. George +. Cilley A. f. +. Writes
to His Mother In Harmony
Sergt George E. Cilley formerly OF
Harmony, Maine, enlisted in the 10th
Co. 9Th Regiment U. s. Marines from
Detroit, Mich, where he was working
for the Dodge Motor Co, within ten
days after the declaration of war or
Germany by the United States and af-
ter training awhile on the southern
coast, was sent across to the home Oi
Lafayette and Rochambeau, where he
is still in training, and seems to en-
joy it.
As his mother had not heard from
him since January 10 until recently
and as Corporal George H Alley and
a companion of Detroit, Mich. were
reported killed during an engagement
February II while on a few days fur
Tough, she feared it might be an error
in the name and her son was a cor
poral at that time, therefore it was
an immense relief to the family to re-
ceiye a letter telling them that he
was all o. X.
He writes as follows:
Somewhere in France
Dear Mother
How time does fly. 1t don't
seem very long since | wrote, but it
has been over two weeks | am o.
X and hope this will find you all the
same We have moved to a little
colder climate, There was about six
inches of snow here when we arrived
and was quite cold but is warmer now
and the snow Is all gone. We are in
new buildings and it is pretty nice.
but the mud is getting bad. | haven t
received any mail this month but am
in hopes to soon and 1t ought to be
quite a bunch
What do you think of this French
writing paper? Some class, eh? Well,
guess we are in for the rainy season,
which they say begins in February.
There must be a lot of snow over
there and real cold. but the winter
will be about over when you get this
| hope you have received the allot-
ment of my wages for November and
December by now.
| would like to have a pair of woods
mans rubbers they have at home, but
they wouldn't let me wear them here
| wish you would send me a pair OF
arch supporters as mine are nearly
gone and | don't think | can find any
here and there are lot of the boys
feet giving out on them.
January 10
Your last letter came over more
quickly than any of the others. We
have had a month of nice weather
and think it is getting too late to have
much more cold weather. | am feel
ing fine and enjoying myself more
than you are over there | think and
conditions are not as bad as some oi
the reports that come from here, and
| there are very few men lost in battle
compared to the number on the west
ern front. so don't worry any about
me for | am all right. Have taker
out $4,000 insurance and would like
to keep it after the war If | can as
it only costs about $3.50 per month
Received the sweater and it came il
handy but we have plenty of stock
ings and by the time they would get
here it will be hot weather.
| would like to be home for supper
| tonight, but can wait and when | Dc
get there l will make up for the time
| | have lost Well, mother, | have
some more news for you, l have beer
made a Sergeant. but have not receiv
ed my warrant yet, but expect 1t in {
few days | suppose grandfather will
feel glad for he said he would like Il
see me a Sergeant and he liked to tel
me stories about when he was Ser
geant.
February II.
This is an awful place for mud and
as it has been raining for few days
| there is mud. and more mud Guess
you have had a hard old winter al
| home. Ell? Some OF the boys have
had letters from home telling how
high everything is over there and how
some people are freezing to death in
their homes, but we have not suffered
any
don't see what Mrs. c. has tc
worry about, for If they expect the
Government to protect them, they
must expect to help and do their part
in times like these. | have heard
how the people despise the slackers
Thank God. I am not one l had
rather die a thousand deaths than be
! called Stacker.
There certainly will be a lot of boys
over here by Spring We have beer
lucky to get them over here without
losing more. Suppose you saw where
the Germans sunk one transport, bu
it was just luck on their part and the!
will have to go some to get any more
| of us.
Have received three bundles Of pa
pers from home and enjoyed them. Thu
New York Herald and Chicago Tribune
have a printing office in Paris so vi
get the war news very promptly bu
like to hear from home the best
Will close and write again soon.
! With love to all. as ever
SERGT GEORGE E. CILLEY,
18th Co. Regt.. U. S Marines
A f. F France