Mohave County miner., 1918-02-09
BAKERSFIELD BOY RELATES EXPERIENCES
 IN THE WAR ZONE

1 A Bakersfield boy writes to The Californian from lover there": Censored by W. E. Baxter, It. M. R. O
 ! Somewhere in France, Dec. 2, 1917. ''Mr Alfred Harrell.
 Dear Friend:
 Perhaps you won't remember me now; don't expect you to. It is only natural in the course of events and the everyday grind that few would remember, or little care that three such persons as Harry w. Burges, Harlan M. Major and Howard w. Hart, ever really existed and had walked the streets of old Bakersfield many a time. But it will be recalled by our more intimate friends that we left Bakersfield the Fist of June, 1917, to join our company GO. A, 1st Cali fornia Engineers), then mobilizing in Sacramento, for immediate service in the gigantic history making struggle now waging in Europe. Few thought at that time we would ever get any nearer France than some training camp in California. Well, we've been bound, more or less, for over there ever since, until at last, some weeks ago, we reached our goal and thus realized our long cherished hope to set foot on French soil
 "Our feet are on, and to a certain extent in it most of the time now, inasmuch as this country, like all oth- CTS, has a disagreeable habit of get ting muddy in this particular season of tne year. 1t has rained almost in- cessantly since Company D hit France i've are known as Co. D, 2nd Bat. .117th engineers. Rainbow div.) Quite moniker, isn't it? We have been equipped with hip boots now. It is a good thing, else l fear we would have all grown web feet. Believe me, this country is all right for those who are natives here, and like it, but I'll al- ways say that Columbus had the right hunch when he started out looking for America. It would please me very much to relate some of our interesting experiences ,but alas, censorship for bids. The latest interesting experi- ence I personally have had was the capture, single handed, of large and ponderous case of the humps. l was quite a catch if I do say it myself, and I feel quite puffed up over it. By the way, if any of your friends have any old copies of local papers that they have no use for, just remind them that we would be very glad indeed to get them over here. The only news we ever hear from home is what we read Tn an occasional Fresno paper. There IS another Bakersfield man in our com pany, a'Corporal Higgins, from the oil fields district, making a total of five including Capt. A. N. Barton, who is now regimental, or post adJutant. There was a clipping from the edi- torial of an eastern paper of note sent to one of the boys in our company which caused no little comment and feeling. It said in part that the ma iority of the men composing the reg ular" and volunteer" branches of the army are soldiers of fortune who had no job to give up and who joined the army as an adventure. The national army is composed of learned men of position who have given up their all at a time when they are needed. They after all are the real patriots! I ask you what. do you think of jour nalism of this stripe? Do you think that is fair to US, all of whom gave up our work and friends, not because we had to but because we saw our dutv and did it. The enclosed poem which submit for your approval, was written by a young man in our com pany, and was inspired by the afore- mentioned editorial.
 Best regards and a Happy New Year.
 Sincerely your friend,
 "CORPORAL HOWARD w. HART,
 GO. D, 117th Engineers, Annex Forces"
 Corporal Hart is an Arizona boy, being the grandson of Mrs. Lucy Buckley, and was born in Kingman. The parents of the young man remov- ed to California some years ago and are now residing in the south part of that state.