Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-01-25
OUR BOYS
OUR COunTRY'S SERVICE
In the Arsonns

Inc 1OliowlnG llnes, descriptive OF tHo
sort OF work done by the Americans in
France during the last months Of tbs
war. were sent to the New York Times
BY Maj. Gen. j., F. Bell. They were re-
guished officer, formerly in the :7ta
division. but since promoted out Of H..
but he does not know who wrote tnem
a } ;aa in the main that was dripping
No swift advance, with a breaking
through,
But dreary drive and a killing push
Into the sweep of a deadly 1re
From machine-gun nests in the clothed
brush,
Through bloody mud and mass Of
wire.
A slogging bunch in grip with Fate,
Where life was span from breath
Where every foot meant missing mate
And every yard held the smell OF
No gallant dash to an open goal,
But a sodden tramp through the
Through dawns as stark as a >broken
Through nights as black as the mouth
of hell
A slosging bunch through the endless
Where the line, iron-g,tted. held its
advance.
With it's share Of graves out the mattel
train
That moved along through the woods
OF France.
With moments pause where mate
By fallen pal who had paid his debt.
Where the battered boche knew the
flash OF steel
A slogging burc., with job to do: :,
No sudden leap with its cheering thrill,
But a grimmer work with a reIder nue..
The following letter has been received
by Mrs. Rozilla Peacock of Bennett
street, Augusta, from her son. john
Allen. Company 4. lo5d Infantry:
France, Dec. Is, 1913.
Dear Mother:-Will write you few
lines to let you know l am we'll and
feeling fine and hope this letter finds
you the same. ] received Your letter
YOU wrote Nov - and was very glad
to get it. l am back to my company.
now. Came back the day before Christ
mas. The President spent Christmas
with this division. We are in little
town named Epinant. not very lar
from Chaumont. We are drilling in tn.
forenoon and have the afternoon to
clean up in. The first snow l saw this
winter was the same cay ! came back
to the company and then there was no.
enough to cover the ground IN soot
shape Down in Fichy where l was IN
the hospital It was nice and warm
most all of the time. 1t was some place.
hot springs and mineral water. We
could have baths every day if we want
ed to-. was there when the armistice
was signed and the people almost wen-
wild. We had some celebration.
1t is raining h I'd here tonight. / sup
pose there is a lot of snow in oil New
England by this time. l haven't re-
ceived the tox yet but ] am looking for
it any day now. While was in The
hospita, they sent all my mail TO Tours,
our mail headquarters are there. iow
is Wesley? Tell him the old man that
lives in the house where we are biiieteh
butchered pig today and wish You
could see how they butcher here. They
take straw and build up fire and burn
the hair off of them and that leaves
he back to work for him by spring. We
are only waiting for our turn TO come 70
walk over the gang plank and then We
will all he happy, ha, ha. How is the
FLU back there" Has it taken many
people away I know. ! hope not any,
way. Well. ! am sitting in front of an
old-fashioned fire place with nice hot
fire toastins my shns. Don't worry
about the scars on my face for they are
all healed up Q. X. Thanksgiving din
ner had turkey, pumpkin pie. cranber-
ry sauce 1t was real Thanksgiving din
rer. Fo- Christmas We had baked ham,
and mashed potatoes and gravy. 1t
makes i good dinner.
Your loving son,
John Allen.
Company n. lC3d l.. S. Infantry