The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-05
SMOKES IN Van OF
MARCH OYER RHINE
Jubilant Soldiers Write Of
Joys Of Tobacco in Days
Of Victory.
PRAISE ALL ALONG LINE
Busy Week Ahead for Many
Who Are Eager to Add
to Fund.

Smoking the cigarettes and pipe to-
bacco OF TIE Sun Tobacco Fund, the
American soldiers marched into Ger
many. Their returned cards, dated be-
tween the sth OF December, when they
entered Metz. and the 18th. express
their jubllation. first, for the tobacco
and second, for the assurance that the
homo folk are as Interested in their
welfare now as they were during the
most exciting periods OF the war.
In many instances the soldiers tell
how they have been buoyed up by this
thought, put in practical form, the
smokes. They were blue and disguised
with the continuous rain and mud their
billets were very often hard barn floors /:
they were discouraged and homesick
until-until the smokes reached them.
Then that silver lining we have all
heard about turned an edge toward them
from the clouds, the rain wasn't unen-
durable, even the barn floors seemed
less hard and inconsistencies vanished
as the kinda ar thoughts of love and pro-
lection advanced.
The soldiers now have time to write
more than the conventional card,
which formerly was all they could send
over. Now they take genuine satsfac-
ton In giving details OF their where
abouts and the things which make up
their lives
And II this is n satisfaction to them
il Is more so to THE Sun Tobacco Fund.
There isn't a detail too small for the
fund TO take an interest in when II
concerns the soldiers, and its donors
WA to -
respondence.
Some pltiable letters still continue to
arrive from the army hospitals. but
they are so because OF conditions and
not from any complaints put into them
by the wounded men. On the contrary,
the letters from the boys who have lost
arms and legs are among the gayest
that come back Quite a number OF
them breathe a desire to get well and
join their comrades in the Rhine zone.
but there are others whose sole wish IS
20 be able to put 1t over the doctors
and get a quick leave to sail Tor home.
Brave Spirit shown.
The spirit generally shown In the let
ters is iightheartedness. As soon a.
they know that they are going into the
enemy country, although they were
longing 70 turn their face toward Brest
and Bordeaux as being ports of debar-
katior for home. they forget their lorx-
!ngs and begin to take in the-new sights
and new conditions with a rare ability
10 gain enjoyment out Of them. All the1,
complain of. and II "a not really com
plant Is that now there are many days
when they nave nothing TO do,
Such DAYS THE SrN Tobacco Fund
and its donors have tried 70 prenare for
by sending over 10 them the paraces On
the army for ennui and restlessness.
That is tobacco. And as soon as a
hatch o< II reaches this big body Of mil
itarv police or A section Of II the soldiers
break on. In words OF gratitude.
Vera Maxwell. whose name aprea-ei
frequently in THE SuN fund stories he
cause Of the frequency Of her donations
has a recent card from Sergeant Paul r
Rietz Of COMPANY C, Thirtieth Inton-
try. II am on nv way t, GERMANY. he
writes "and we shall smoke the cira-
rettes I'm Trance and Germany Gee hu,
they came in good for one Of the ;h,ngs
a.. +a,k.-sa -. -. 49,, -. -, - .