Baxter Springs news., 1919-01-10
sOLDIERs' LETTERS


The following was received by Earl
MattOx from an old friend, Ferris
Hossen, who enlisted from Hooker
vile, on the same day that Irwin
Hooker left for camp;
France, Dec. 4, 1918.
Dear Friend Earl:
Yours Of Nov. IS received yester-
day asking for some Of my exper-
fences and scenery on my trip, SO will
start out from the first move in the
States. Left from Camp Funston,
Kas., for Dodge July 10; left Dodge
Iowa, Aug. z, arrived at Camp Mills,
N. Y, Aug. II, where we were equip
ped with all o. D. stuff; were loaded
on ship Scotiane on Aug. Is and
sailed Aug. 16; were 1871 days on the
water. That was some trip; landed
Aug. 20 in Liverpool; there / was very
much disappointed on the city as /
expected to see a swell port, but moth
ing very great to see there.
We were then taken of the ship
and into a train and rode all night
and landed in Stony Castle Camp,
Eng, the 10th for a few days rest;
left there again for South Hampton
where we crossed the English Chan
mel; landed in Cherburg, France, a.
m, Sept. 1st, and from there to some
French camp; landed there Sept. End
was there till the 4th when we took
the train again and rode two days and
one night in box cars and landed at
small town by the name Of Pouil-
lenay Sept. 9Th; stayed there till
Sept. 14th when we left again with
the same accommodations and land
ed at Champey Sept. ID where we
were drilled on extended order drill
till Oct. IA when we. were taken to
Romagany near the BelfOrt front and
stayed one day when in we went Oct
16 and stayed till the night Of the
10th when we were moved back To
Fulleim about Y Of o mile back Of
the front trench. There Is where we
had q little experience with FFitE'i
artillery; there we were In reserve
but it was French sector and o quiet
one so we were not really in q live
place.
We left again for Romagney Oct
27 on foot where we stayed till Oct
80 when we started on foot for Chaux
distance Of "a miles, arriving OCT
Slst All Of our marches up until
then were always made by night. We
stayed there until Nov. 10 when we
were loaded on the train for the Metz
front were unloaded at q R. R. head
near the city Of TOpl and marched 70
a camp at Francevilie, where we
stayed till Nov. 20 when we started
again by day light and walked to
Homblipcourt in two days; Dec. 1st
we were loaded in motor trucks and
taken here to LetEle lie Grand, \ dis
tance of about go miles In all.
/ saw several airplanes shot down
while on the front at Fullein; they
were fighting in the air all the time
besides the artillery shrapnel drop
ing at very short distance at times,
making great holes in the ground.
Well, Earl, I'm glad that fought
for my citizen papers as hard as l
did 50 ] got to come as this is sure
a great trip WITH all ifs ups and
downs would not have missed it for
anything. Here is piece / got hold
of that thought struck the home
stayers pretty good:
To the Home Stayers
YSu say he can't stand the army.
The life is toe rough for him;
Do you think that he is better
Than any other mothers Tom eF
Jim?
You raised him up like a girl
He don't smoke or drink is your
bEag,
If all the rest Of the boys were like
him
What would become Of our Flag1
You say let the rOughnecks do the
fighting
They are used to the beans and the
slums,
I'm glad I'm classed with the rough
necks,
Who would fight for the Red, White
and blue.
You say his girls couldn't stand 1t,
To see him march of with the rest,
Don't you think that she would have
been glad If he had went,
When she feels the hot breath of
the Germans on her breast