Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-01-07
OUR c0UNIRY'S SERVICE

SeTSt. Z. Barron johnson, -1euAea'
tachment, 80 Pioneer Infantry, A. T.. I.
Some1 here IT. France,
October 18th, 1918.
Dear Mother:
This is a beautiful day. warm and
sunny: SO warm that 1 have been out
without my coat. a stunt i have not
done before this time. and have been
comfortable. for the last few weeks. 1t
is quiet today except for the rumble OF
trucks, and an occasional explosion OF
anti-aircract shell. One would for these
few hours before evening hardly believe
himself to be in the war zone. but by
nightfall the roar Of artillery would
soon convince him, that It was war, no
celebration up there. and then he might
hear Jerry" fly-over. If it is clear
night We can tell a German plane from
ours and hear the "ash-canS' (bombs)
burst, as the Boche let them slip from
his machine. Generally there is plenty
Of reminders that peace terms have not
yet been arranged. We heard this fore
noon that Austria had made an uncon-
ditional surrender Vt surely listened
WELL but the news has rot yet been
confirmed. We hope it is so. but shall
not credit it until we see it printed Off
cially. nevertheless peace terms. and
rumors of peace are in way the begin
ming Of the end.
Our dear friends the Isoche and
his allies are nearly all in. but stiii
holding to the last ray Of hope in their
horizon. 1t must be a dark future fo-
them beyond this, for the masses who
have fought for so poor a cause. led OF
blndly by falsehoods, no matter no"
thin they may seem to US, SO long they
have been told and educated to believe
til I'm. that they were trlths and were
worth the fighting for and to uphold.
Slowly after so long suffering they are
becoming enlightened but only after L
bitter losing struggle. the cause OF
which they will always be blamed. II
only the few who have SO craftily led
these people, could be made to suffer
the consequences il would be different
but it is never so, they 20 seemingly UNI
scratched and the masses bear the bur
dens Truly the Kaiser must see his
reign coming to a close and with him
will finish the reign OF a family, or fam
lilies, which for generations have ruled
with nothing in view but their own sell
fish motives. 1t viii be fitting but :,
clear climax to autocracy.
There IS an old saying, there is no
great loss without some small gain.
In brief time l have seen enough OF
what my country is doing to make right
the existing wrongs, that I am proui
to say l was born in the L. S. and that
] can and do wear its uniform. l he
lieTe that I am only one of many. for
! will wager that every hoy who has
been over here and seen the wori, of the
L. S. must feel as do, that he will re-
turn better citizen.
1t is little can tell you here Ivy let
ter. We are proud Of our country and
our cause. and we'll We may be.
A little about myself and our present
situation. We are nicely (as possioe)
located about :. kilometer from the
RUNS Of what was once quaint little
french village. Except for apart Of
the church tower which still stands, t
is just heap Of rock where houses
Gee stood. Houses in France are built
Of stone as timber is scarce
Our dugout. say our because the
DR.. Lieutenant Brunson and myself oc-
cnpy one Of these holes in the ground.
Here is our home. a room, about 15xS
feet. part OF this room is fixed IN for
small infrmary on the end 1t is bet
ter than tent, and with the aid of 4
small stove We keep very comfort a BILE.
Rats and mice are our friends and they
call often. Before we got busy and
stopped up holes they ran rio. every
night. We have managed to stop the
rats. but the mice still make their
mighty calls. and before I go to sleep I
feel them Jump upon my bunk and run
about me. If they tarr: long usually
invite them off by II slight kick. / do
not mind the mice. but tho rats they
We my number. for they are quad
rupeds in size and look quite for1n:d-
able, and more numerous than soldiers.
Yesterday l took 4 trip Of about -
kioS from here, where some OF our
force is located. There was three of
our detachment With them. It 1t one of
the few towns in this section OF the
country TO escape tie ravages of he
war. On my way back l stopped over
night with Sergt. Anderson in his town
continuing my trip here after good
nights rest. Personally I am enjoying
the best of health. am trying to take
GOOD care OF myself.
We have received our heavy under
wear. socks and gloves am using
them all. they feel good in the after
moons and evenings. I bought me a nice
rair of high boots eor winter. ! intend
to keep my health if possible.
Today is one of the many in the ia
nous rainy season Of France. 1t Is
dark and cloudy and rainy by spells,
and the mud. just mud. runs down the
roads. But all this is not dampening
our spirits at ALL
The Old war is pretty near "finish,''
as the Frenchman says. with Austria
and Turkey down and out it will be
easy sailing. and believe me. if the Ger
mans fail to sign the armistce over
which they are now ruibbling. the old
ship is going TO sail right through Ger
many to Berlin.
l believe the pearly gates are closed
to them, if rot they should be.
Marshall Foch is on this front TODAY
where he met the German representa-
tives yesterday. presenting them with
the allies and the United States terms
wished. l hear today that they came
back to him twice qubblng over some
minor points and that the second time
the Marshall stood firm. as the first.
and told them he would give them until