Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-12-16


posed to salute. Before the party
broke up the bands INDUCED in Int
tie rivalry. First, the French band in
IA catchy French song and then our
own band with Over There, and So
on, each time the applause growing
louder, until finally our band played
Dixie and the Frenchmen quit L
was great. That is about as full a
description, mother. as | can give on
paper OF how spent what is going to
be, perhaps, one OF the greatest days
of history. certainly will never
forget it,"
Lieut. Pool Safe.
C. NJ. Pool has received letter
from his son, Lieut.. Ernest H. Pool o.
the American EXpeditiOnary Forces
Lieut.. Pool received his commission
as second lieutenant at the first or
ticers training camp at Fort Sheri
dan in 1917, sailed for France on Sept
= Of the same year and was assigned
to the TwentysiXth Infantry. The
regiment took an active part in tn,
Toul sector, and was in the battle
of Contigny, scissors. st Mihiel anC
the Meuse. Lieut. Pool at the time
of writing was in Paris, en- route bact
TO his regiment, after a two weeks
leave spent at Nice He has since
been promoted 10 the rank of frs
lieutenant His letter follows:
Adelphi Hotel Paris, Nov. Il, 1918
Dear Folks:
intended to write YOU another let
ter from Nice while was on leave
but there were so many things to Sc
and do that did not get around to il
| am on my way back to the regi
ment, and am staying overnight il
Paris. Four of us boys have bee,
travelling together, but tomorrow
morning We part, for they belong T.
other divisions other than the First
! am so happy to write YOU this let
ter now that the armistice is signet
and peace is certain. 1t has been {
| long and terrible struggle and tn,
boche, as | have often tod you h
would be has been beaten thoroughly
The terms we shall impose upon hin
cannot be too hard, and you woult
agree with me If you could see thu
wreck aVd ruin he has brougat upol
| his country and the millions Of live,
he has taken. ! am happy, too. t
| have gone through the real fightin.
that ! have with the First Diyisio.
| and to have come through it all with
out a scratch. 1t is simply miracu
| lOus, for | have seen my friends o.
! every side pay the extreme penalty
| have never been wounded, althougl
have had my clothes cut man.
times with fragments of shell
never told YOU about these exp,
riences before because | knew tina
it would only cause You undue worry
but now that it is over | am sprou
and | want you to feel the same.
| almost forgot to ten you that an
a first lieutenant now. Things hay
been slow in coming, but | apDet
ciate ii SO much more now, for fee
that by waiting have earned it
may have more good things to te
YOU about after | join the regimen
again, but | am not sure about then
because they happened while | W
away.
! | do not know where the regimen
is at present, but rather beiiey
chat it is not far from Germany an
will probably be sent across the lin
before long. | am anxious to nav
a look at Germany and see how tn
people feel to have soldiers in thei
country, At any rate, | shall let 30
know where | go, if it isn't pre-
hibited, and tell you about all sc,
, | will also be looking forward to th
time when the order comes te'iin
rs to take the boat for New Yorl
{ Surely it will be happy day
On my trip to Nice took a nan
Der Of pictures with the vest peck,
camera which belonged to Pete. Il
gave it to me to keep for him befor
he was killed. | have only a fe
prints so | can't send many but
have the films and will have sem
made of each and send them to yo,
1t is very hard to get photograph
/, work done over here. Am sendiL
with this letter just a couple | too
and some that one of the other fe
, lows took. | will take a lot of pi
/, lures from now on and keep them Z
souvenirs of the A. f. +.
; 1t is getting late and must clos
. for the night. Am anxious to &,
back and see Bush and the rest of I
, boys. Hap enjoyed my trip vel
, much and fo.i so much better for
/, win write again soon. Lovingly,
ERNEST.
p. S.--Sent you bottle of perfun
1 from. Nice. Hope you get it all RICH
A second letter received today fro
, Lieut. Pool says in part
) "YoI cannot imagine what Il
e't First Division has been throug
, and cannot begin to tell you abo
A 1t tonight. | have always refrain'
a from mentioning much about the WI
( heretofore, but now that the end h;
,, come | feel as though | should I'll
D best illustration that | can give
2 this. When I Joined l. COMPANY la