Mexico weekly ledger., 1919-02-13
LETTERS FROM OUR
SOLDIER BOYS
WRITES FROM NAVY.

John Riggs, of Cameron, Mo-, VINO
is a brother of Mrs. Charles f. Green
of this city, is now a wireless operator
in the U. S. Navy. He is but nineteen
years Of age, and has been overseas
| since last June. At the time Of young
| Riggs graduation from Harvard in
wireless, he was one of three to pass
! the radio examination out of a class
Of POS men, and he made the highest
grade of the three.
Mrs. Green has received the follow
ing interesting letter from her broth
err, from Cardiff, Wales.
Dear Sister and Family
Cardiff, Wales, Jan. 1 ,1919.-I re-
ceived your letter of December 18th
this afternoon, along with the pictures
of Paul, and certainly it made it seem
like a Happy New Year.
We spent Christmas in the same
place we sepnt the glorious Fourth,
Rochefort, France. The last time we
were there was in August, and since
then the place has changed quite a bit.
There is now an American Y. NJ. C.
A.. and the ships were all American.
On that trip we encountered the
worst storm we have ever been in.
Waves were breaking over the boat
deck, and all the lifeboats on the star
board side were smashed. We came
through the storm all right, however,
and missed a floating mine less than
ten feet, so guess we can consider our
selves lucky. That was one time when
it would have been nice to be back n
Missouri.
Some of the new fellows on board got
very seasick, and had six meals (three
down and three up) a day Guess
| will never be seasick again, as that
was the toughest weather we even had,
and it did not phase me.
| am afraid l shall have to finish ny
four years out in the Navy, as they in
tend keeping all radio men in the ser
vice on account of the shortage in that
rating. 1t is the naval reserves that
have the best chance of going back
to civilian life.
We left Newcastle-on-Tyne Dec
ember LIST, and arrived in st. Malo the
fourth. Anchored at night on account
of mine fields and floating mines in the
North sea. st. Malo is a French re-
creation camp for American soldiers,
and is quite a lively place. tt has a
wall around it, also seevral forts. In
olden days it is said to have been
one of the most important cities in
France, although it is only about ten
thousand in population.
Wouldn't it be great for Paul if
someday he can see the things I am
seeing? As soon as that young man
is big enough to kick out his W shoes
his 'gob" uncle is going to send him
a real sea-going sailor suit.
We have been to a good many
places, and have seer a great many
things; but if I could get back to Mis-
souri, tout suite" it would be all right
with me. At Newcastle there were no
American sailors, consequently we
were somewhat of a novelty or cur
as we were at Belfast, Ireland.
When we go to Ireland again, I am
going to send you some Irish linen.
Will send you some Cluny pieces, also.
Yes, Sister, l am having some won
experiences, but the one exper-
fence / have never had and want most
of all is to be "homeward bound" I
now have a chance at a f~ifteen-day
furlough, which means a trip to Lon
don and perhaps Paris, but am almost
afraid to take it, as it might cut down
the length of the furlough I will rate
when | get back to Gods country.
| guess every sailor in foreign ser
vice is in the same fix | am about
Christmas boxes-so l, like the rest