Mohave County miner and our mineral wealth., 1919-02-08
FRANK WALTERS WRITES
 FROM TOURS, FRANCE

Tap Duncan received the following letter from Frank Walters sent from Tours, France:
 MY DEAR TAP:
 I had the inspiration to write you a letter last night and I got as far as writing a heading, and then a nice old lady came in, and I tried to talk Farley Vous to the bird, and by the time I got through saying Good Evening" to her, it was time for taps. I had to double time it over to the barracks, and get these complicated army clothes off in a hurry before lights out. I don't l don't know what it was that I was going to say, and to tell the truth I don't know what am going to say now, but here goes.
 We had an awful time going over the top at the battle of Combien.
 Our detachment got in too late for payday and haven't stayed long enough at any one place to get any recent mail from the States, so we are all broke. Payday will be in about week now, and I say we will have some sort of time. We get two months pay at once, and when this is translated into terms of Francs, why you have to have jackass to help pack it off. The French have big copper coin they call "dix centimes," and it's worth about a cent and half. 1 am going to bring back all I can pack to use for poker chips.
 The major assured us the other night that we would all be home before October 1, so of course we feel all perked up and ready to go from here.
 I haven't been around here at all so I can't tell you a thing about the blamed place, but I'm going to begin Sunday to take in all the places of interest, so when the opportunity pre- sents itself, I can spread the bull about the ancient City of Tours, France.
 There was midnight mass at the Cathedral of Tours, Christmas Eve, and I got a late pass, intending to go, but while we were waiting around over in the barracks, 1 got into an argument, and didn't go.
 They checked up our equipment to- day, for as the commander said yes terday, we want to be fully equipped, and ready when the order comes for use to go home. take it from that we won't be here very long, which is as it should be, for I'm frank about saying I don't think much of this country. It may be alright for frogs, but it's no place for fellow that was raised in a dry country. Wish you were here to put in a week or so. There are sure some great stunts to pull off.
 I don't think the French had any stoves before the Americans came, for in all the barrack buildings, that is the permanent French buildings that we are using here, there are no chimneys or stove pipe holes. The Americans have put up stoves, and stuck the pipe out of the windows.
 We'll, I'll be darned if I know what to say now, except "So Long,"
 Give my very best regards to all the folks, and give my greetings to MT. Bacon, and tell him that one of these days I'll write him letter and tell him how much I don't know. No, on second thought won't do that, it's entirely too large an undertaking, but anyhow I'll tell him something. Believe me, I'd a dam sight rather tell it to him than write it.
 We'll Tap, here goes nothing across the briny.
 Yours most sincerely, . FRANK. Add, Pvt. S. F. Walters,
 War Risk Section, s. o. S.
 A. P. O. 717.
 Am. Ex. Forces.
 France. 
 It shows why the Germans had to