Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1919-01-08
ROGER LEWIS WRITES
INTERESTING LETTERS
Continued from page one).

moved back.
Great Monthairon lies in the Mouse
river valley and the Mouse flows by
my billet just across the street. The
hills on each side of the valley are i'm
mense and yet gently rolling. The
valley at this point is about IL miles
wide and we can see for miles in eth
er directions when we go up on the
hills.
We had sight seeing trip to the
| city of Verdun but I won't, attempt to
describe what we saw, on paper. al
so saw the battle front south of Ver-
dun and it is both a horrible and won
derful spectacle. The land was COW
cred by dense woods before the war
but now it is nothing but a mass of
shattered trees, trenches, dugouts,
barb-wire entanglements, and shell
holes. In one spot saw what had
once been town but there is just one
wall of some building left standing
and the rest Is leveled to the ground
l can't begin to give description on
paper, so won't try, but will save them
until l return. I don't know just
when that will be but the general
opinion is that it won't be long until
we start for home. Perhaps we will
get back by February LIST, and maybe
before or later. The sooner the bet
ter, is my sentiment.
Let me tell you what we had for
Thanksgiving dinner today. Fresh
boiled beef, mashed potatoes and
gravy, canned sweet corn, bread and
coffee. Then for a 'special" each
man got pack of Fatime cigarettes,
bar of sweet chocolate, some cookies
and hard candy and two pieces of gen.
uine Lowney's chocolates. This even
ing we made some French fried po-
tatoes in the billet that were mighty
good. Pretty fine for us don't you
think; considering the situation? I'll |
admit missed the usual Thanksgiv-
ing Dance at the Armory, but, by
George, I'll make up for it, once l get
home.
Lovingly,
ROC. |
P. S. Am enclosing a French flag
given to me at Diene the day the
Armistice was signed.
Dec. 5th, 1918.
Dear Dad +
Here it is the 5th of December and
presume the store is all dolled up
like new church, and Christmas
business has begun on a small scale.
sure wish l was there to help be-
cause l know you will need me to do
the engraving, if nothing more. Well,
| don't think it will be many months
before III be there but it won't be in
time for the big rush
l ann still in Grand Monthair, and
everything is going fine. We are not
working very hard these days, just
hauling rations from the railhead to
the Brigade outfits. We have our bill
ct fixed up in good shape so that we
are warm and dry even tho the wealth
er has been rainy~for ten days.
You have no doubt noticed that 1
write on X. of c. paper lately. We
have two K. G.. secretaries with the
outfit that are the best yet in the way
Of war activities" for the men. They
give out free of charge all the station
airy we want, all the gum and cigar
cites, condensed milk, and magazines.
Now and then they have chocolate
candy, Prince Albert tobacco and keep
our mess supplied with condensed
milk They are sure live ones and
mighty fine to talk to. One of them
knows ]. S. Jones and has bought an
Ingersoll at our store. They have
surely done US lot of good in a great
many ways.
By the way, in case you are ever
asked to give to the K. of C. war
work and feel able to give anything,
10 so. They are doing the best work
If any organization of its kind over
1ere. They give everything away in
stead of selling it and always have
cigarettes, stationary, gum and candy
December 6th.-Didn't have time to
inish this last night so will do so to-
light. had dandy trip after ra-
ions today. We went over to Verdun
or two truck loads of bread. l spent
! couple of hours looking over the
'ailway station and yard 1t is in
uins the same as all the rest of the
ity. I also saw and talked to girl
rom Marshalltown who was in Y. M.
:. A. stand in the depot. That's get
ing pretty close to home don't you
hink? The country around Verdun
$ surely beautiful too. This is the
econd or third time I've been over
he road in daylight, and I see things
hat missed on previous trips. The
and is of rolling nature and while
he hills are enormous piles of earth
hey are not steep. Once on top of one
f these hills we can see for miles up
nd down the Mouse river valley. How
yer, it's beauty is marred by the ruin
d towns and "shot up woods. In this
ocality shell fire has wrought great
cal of havoc. And where shells
idn't burst there are miles of trenches
nd barbwire entanglements.
ROGER.