The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-01-10

School: , It seems years and years ago since I saw you last, on that happy day. when I was privileged to stand be- fore you and tell you something of the life in the American Air Service. What wonderful things have transpir- led since that day, way back in the nist of the past year. What wonder fful days of achievement what won derful days of history have passed since then-glorious days for the Al lied Armies and the Armies of the American Expeditionary Forces. and glorious days for you folks back home who have stood so valiantly behind us, cheering us on and sacrificing and working to supply US with our needs. And now after years of terrible fight ing and bloodshed. after years of un- told suffering and sacrifice, after cold dark days when the enemy press ed us on every side. there dawns ahead of us a glorious peace, For it was but a few days ago, when after months of telling blows by our great leader, Marshal Foch, blows hammer ed at the very yitals of the enemies communications. there came to us the wonderful news of the armistice. And right has triumphed over might. and democracy and the right of small na- tions to live has triumphed over the Sbase materialistic German philosophy. tEAnd now we wait for that glorious peace that will send us back to you.
 But l wander in my enthusiasm from the purpose of my letter. for l want to tell you Of some of the things ,fhat I have been privileged to see; Some of the experiences that I have IHived through: some stories of the bat stle front and of the life in France and S1taly.
 left you sometime in May 10 com 'piete my training as q bomber and inavigation officer in Love Field, GTexas. After some weeks of hard Tfrraining there, I received order in June to proceed immedia tely over @Seas. The trip across the Atlantic was i.snost interesting and eventful AL iffhough conveyed most of the way over Fby American destroyers nevertheless, r two Hun submarines broke through our defense, just before reaching for eign shores. and nearly sunk one of our transports, but our destroyers for all the world like angry hornets drop lsped depth bor1bs over the subs. and 4 we escaped without a loss What yhappened to the submarines only the German Admiralty can tell, but most of us felt that there was probably one less agent of destruction in Von T1rpitz's fleet.
 Being an aviator. ] could readily understand why they put me on duty four hours a day in the crows nest. but my worst task was 10 sit on the floor six hours during the night, {y, guard a company of colored soldiers, Yes, they were scared. sometimes ex- tremeIy scared. but all honors to our colored boys who have been putting ! up such a wonderful fight In the trenches that the BocTes learned to avoid them like poison
 We arrived in France. glorious France, France of the blue skies and beautiful country the quaint little hanilets and homes, not a France bled white with four years of war as some have told you, but throbblng busily with never ending purpose in view to win the war and to stand by the brave Poilus at the front
 had a few days free to myself to study and visit many interesting places; St- Maixante. Brest, BIois Or leans and Mort. Such quaint little towns and cities, such interesting cus- . toms and traditions. The people in the smaller towns in Brittany live much the same as two hundred years ago,-wooden shoes, quaint white hats and tall silk hats, dog carts, cobble- stone streets. red tile roofed cottages, homespun clothes and crooked mar row roads. These paint for me the ever interesting picture of what one is impressed by in the small rural towns. They goatherd still drives his goats through the streets of the town playing peculiar pipe, and the good folks come out of their houses with cups and pitchers in hand to get the sweet milk fresh from the goat. And the French people, l love them all, self sacrificing. kind, sympa hetic. welcoming the American soldiers with open arms as the deliverers of France Yes, they are wonderful, and you may be sure that bond of fellowship and love has grown up between the Amer ican and French people that time can never erase. From the youngest street urchin, who asks us for cigarettes on the streets to the oldest French peas ant who calls "Bonjour" and "Vive rAmerique" to us as we pass by. they
 
 "doughboys."
 But I must proceed. I was ordered to complete my training and then to proceed to the front Now an Amer ican made Curtis plane is about as much like the French Spad, Nieuport and Bregnet Gs black Is like white so having mastered at least some knowledge of battle planes, I pro- ceeded to Choisy-le Roi for the train ing and then 10 the front For 2 while I was with the 1st Day Bonn. bardment Group. then the First Pur- suant Group and again with the 20 Day Observation Squadrons Many and varied were my experiences there Unfortunately, l crashed in a Breg net (day bomber) one day and wa! laid up for quite 8 few weeks as z result.
 Here in these Aero Squadrons ar. the best of American flyers; Eddie Rickenba an ace with twenty 7 four Boche 10 his credit; Bob Ewins with nineteen enemy planes; Majol ThaW and the rest of the American aces of whom you have heard.
 I have been all along the from from the Nosges to the Channel. have visited Chateau Thierry Rheims verdun, Soissons. Nancy, St. MihieI and been into the trenches at vari ous points along the line.
 The devastation along the from cannot be described; whole towns and cities just completely destroyed: srnaI