The weekly Alaska citizen., 1919-03-03
LIEUT.. WOODS
 LETTER IS OF
 MUCH INTEREST

ed a letter from his brother Frank. in which was related the circum- stance of his promotion to a second lieutenancy The letter is an ex- cellent one and gives interesting news of just what "Pix" has been doing since he left Fairbanks. That part is herewith produced:
 Vals.Les.Bain, France,
 Jan. 9th. 1919. Dear Dick:
 received your letter of Nov. l, 1918. a few days before left Langers. Surely was glad to hear from you. Frank Halls letter came also.
 Uncle Sam has been very good to me, Dick. in the last couple of weeks It. Col. Pike. of the army candidate school. gave me 8 certificate of eligi. bility last week. Which means that probably by the time you receive this letter l will be second lieuten- ant in the U. 8. infantry. Then to top that off l got 8 seven day leave to spend as pleased. left Langres a couple of days ago for this place. Travelled down the old Rhone river and thru the French Alps. Seeing mahy old historic castles, Roman walls and roads. The scenery is grand. A fellow can appreciate this country now that the strain of war is lifted.
 This place Is an old French resort. 1t was a second Monte Carlo before the war. There are many springs here. and the place is filled with in. teresting things to see. The Casino has been taken over by the Y. M. c. A who have made the place 8 para. disc for the war worn soldiers. The first night l got here they ushered me to a hotel and gave me a big room all to myslf. Dick it had 8 real bed in 1t, white sheets and covers, electric lights and everything. Say. if l didn't pound my ear. No reveille. No bugle calls. No retreat. No nothing to make fellow think he is still a soldier but my uniform. Oh, it's great. There are ninety of us in the hotel. Some of the boys who were wounded, but most of us successful candidates at the officers school. The dining room is a peach --real linen table clothes and silver service. The room has full length oil paintings all around. By golly, I have to pinch myself to see if l um only dreaming. And Uncle Sam is footing the bill, which is another plea sant feature about it. We are served French course dinners and have pretty madamoiselles to serve us. Last night l went up to a cha. teau for dinner, surely had a dandy dinIer. Perhaps l am saying too muca about my eating, but Dick, aft re laying nothing but bully beef and hard tack for SO long 1t is about all a fellow thinks about
 At the Casino there is dancing and shows evenings. a nine.piece orches- tra playing nearly all day. This afternoon l saw William Farnum in the Heart of a Lion." Seemed good , to see some real American girls even if they were in the movies.
 This morning had a bath-an honest to goodness bath. Had a couple of French men work on mo for an hour. l was twenty pounds lighter when I came out after get. ting all the fertile soil off me. There are SO many mineral springs around here that 6 fellow can get bath in nearly any colored soda water he pleases.
 have met men from every part of the U. s. Did tell you l saw Jack Barker in Langres last month His division arrived in France toe late to see any action. Jack was very disappointed. Met fellow used to play football with in Seat tie. He Is a second Louis. There are several other fellows that have heard where they were but have not run across them yet.
 Will probably have to SO into Ger many when l leave here. as my or der reads that am to report back to B Co. 311th M. G.. which is now in the army of occupation.
 This has surely been quite thu liveliest six months have ever ex perienced. Since l left Fairbanks have travelled nearly fifteen thou sand miles. (Seems to me l hav' mushed nearly ten thousand of them Was in the trenches three month