The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1919-01-18

chine few over our camp one night
and saw our lights burning, so he
signaled but nobody answered. He
was on his way to bomb some Hun
place. but lost his way In the fog and
didn't know where he was. II some-
body had given an alarm when he was
above us We wou.ss have been gone.
His motor was on the bum also, so he
had to come down anyway, he did II
too with a crash, it's taken him only
three weeks 10 fix the machine.
When he landed he sprang out OF the
machine also the observer with their
revolvers drawn and ready to blow
up the machine in case they were in
Hun territory, but an American
guard greeted them so II was all o. k
But you ought to hear him tell how
close we were 10 sleep. There were
only twelve hundred and fifty pounds
of bombs on the rails ready to be
dropped.
That was the second time ma
chine did that The other landed
about five kllos from camp. That's
what we came near getting on account
OF some darn fool leaving their lights
burn against orders. Only got one
letter from you addressed to Toby
Hanna which you wrote on September
%. l think 1t won't be long before
our letters will go through without
being censored. The talk around
here is that we'll all be home by
New Years. Here's one boy that
hopes so.
Day before yesterday / received
Chicago Herald which you sent TO
Tobyhanna on Aug. IA. How's that
About three months behind time,
That's travelling some. II / had been
home you could have gone duck hunt
ing. but never mind, 1t won't be long
before / get back then you can have
rest
Have been planning my trip home
already Just how long I'd stay in
Chicago, and at home, then shoot
right up and settle down again.
Next time you write just I'll thd
pages, as the blank seem there's
something the matter. You can just
bet your boots that the coolies are
no joke. They haven't bothered me
as yet But don't know how long 1t
will be before they do.
Today had charge OF a crew OF
thirty men and two trucks to go up
and get two disabled tanks. 1t sure
was some job to pull them apart and
load on the trucks. We've got some
bunch OF tanks here now. both the
Whippets and the big females which
takes four men TO crank and carry
eleven men in all besides an officer
but give me the little ones for eff
fectiveness. The Argonne woods was
the hardest piece of lighting dond
over here, the most stubborn on both
sides.
Saw General Pershing also two
other generals last week. They were
inspecting our camp. Was laying on
my back fixing tank, and cussing at
tho Igrapch ,,,o, - dnin., tht,org Tho
air was just blue from what | said
about them in every possible way
when looked up and saw shoulder
with four stars on. shut up like a
clam and crawled further down SO
nobody could see me- and about half
an hour later pulled myself out Of
there. Everybody was laughing at the
way I shut up They then told me
who it was. and later got good
look at him myself
! Wish / had a camera along. There
are sure some swell pictures to take.
Nov. 10
Didn't finish last night. Fell to
sleep writing. Was dead tired. Was
moving more tanks today Had a
fellow crank the motor OF one or the
tanks when she back fired and broke
his arm. Tough luck.
Had big maneuver OF the both the
| big and little tanks this afternoon
Some fellows were betting that the
little ones couldn't go where the bis
ones did, but we showed them up by
going wherever they did and also do
ing II nearly twice as fast
Must quit now and get some needed
rest. | think this will get to you
about Christmas time. so best wishes
of the season. My thoughts are al
ways with you all. but will doubly be
| so on that day