The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1919-01-31

From far-off Germany, where
many Kentuckians are temporarily
detained in the service of Uncle Sam,
in the American Army Of Occupa-
ton, comes the following letter from
Jimmie (Tobe) Ellis. Young Ellis
was reported as having been killed
in action in the same battle which
snuffed out the life of another Paris
boy, Jimmie Cain. A copy of the
Stars and Stripes, the official publ
cation of the American Expedition
airy Forces in France, was received
by business man in this city, hav-
ing on its margin a pencilled nota-
ton to the effect that Jimmie Cain
and lobe Ellis had both been killed
in battle. There was nothing to in
dictate the identity of the sender.
Jimmie Gains death was reported
later, but Ellis letter to his aunt
disclaimed any intention of passing
over the Great Divide. The letter
follows:
Germany, Dec. 16, 1918.
Dear Aunty:-I guess you had
begun to think / wasn't in the land
of the living, but the fact is that 1
haven't had a chance to write for a
long time. We have been marching
for the last three weeks, but are at
the end Of our journey now. We are
ON the River Rhine, at Honningen,
not far from Coblenz. We crossed
the River Rhine on Friday, Deem
Der IS, after marching from France
across Belgium, Luxembourg, and
across Germany to the Rhine.
II saw lots of pretty scenery and
some of the old ruined castles on the
Rhine. They raise lots of grapes in
the valley of the Rhine. Everything
is awfully high. The people couldn't
have stood the war much longer.
IAN old German told me yesterday
that the people of Germany were go
ing to have a president in January,
and that Germany was destined to
eventually become republic, as soon
as the people could get it into their
brains that there was no such thing
as the divine rights of kings. He
also told me that Germany had lost
two million Of men killed on the bat
tlefelds and in other ways, and that
reliable figures showed that a total
of over two and one-half millions
of men had been wounded and put
practically out Of commission in the
service between the ages OF seven,
teen and forty-nine.
Have you heard from Witt lately?
| guess he will be home soon or at
least long before / am, but hope to
be home in a few months anyway.
I'VE are in good barracks, with
baths and electric lights. 1t is
quite a change for us after living
on the battlefront in the trenches
for seven months. have been in
all the big battles and in the big
drives the American Expeditionary
Forces have made since the battle of
Chateau Thierry, and came through
safe and sound. But there were lots
of times when thought my time had
come to die, and when / thought my
next step would probably be my
last.
We'll. there is so very little to
tell now that ] will have to slose.
Please write and tell me all the
news. You can't realize how much
long newsy letter is appre-
ciated by a fellow away from home
like / am. With love, i am
~ JIMMIE.
Private James A. Ellis,
Battery B., 18th Field Artillery.
American Expeditionary Forces"
Ia an interview with Corneliu:
sf3uddie) James, OF Paris, Mr.. Robt
S. Porter, local correspondent OF tnt
Louisville Courter-Journal and the
Lexington Daily Leader, gleanet
from the intrepid young Partisan
the following facts relative to TN
sinking of the u. s. transport Gov