Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1919-01-23
/ &c " NJ U Dear Father:

Dear Father:
Today is fathers day and l will try
and write you good long letter. We
just got in this town about two hours
ago.
We have fine place to- stay in a
large hall in the rear Of cafe-or
what we would call saloon. They
sell beer, wine and champagne in this
building.
The people here are very obliging.
Herman Paske and were just out and
bought some apples. Everything IS
awfully high priced here.
AS we are allowed to write any
thing we want to today, will tell you
something Of my travels.
I got aboard the ship July q and
landed in Liverpool, England, August
IL. We took the train and went to
South Hampton, England, where we
stayed two nights, then got aboard
ship and crossed the English channel
and landed at Cherbourg, France. We
stopped there two days and went by
train to place called Rians. was
there ten days and was transferred
into this company. / Joined this com
pany alta place Chatenois, France, on
August %. We stayed there about
ten days and drilled, then started to-
ward st. Mihiel. The night Of the 11th
of September we marched from un-
til 1 o'clock in the morning to the
firing line Of st Mihiel, and the big
drive opened up. | was on that front
about a month and then went to the
Argonne forests. Was there about
ten days and moved to the Verdun Sec
tor. We were there about two weeks
before the big drive started that was
the last drive of the war.
was on the firing line So days and
was under shell fire all the time. One
night while was on guard a piece OF
shrapnel struck me on the back, but
the force had been stopped by some
limbs Of a tree and it never hurt me
a bit.
This was an awful war. You can
not imagine how it was unless you
were here. We certainly went through
hardships, too. We only got two meals
one time for nearly three daye> when
we were at the front, but, after all,
I think it was a mans duty to come
over and fight for the U. S.
Just think! The people here can,
only buy one-half pound of meat
week for each person, and sugar Is
marks, or $1.25 American money,
pound The wages here now are
about So a day, and if one would buy
one full meal it would cost him $3.50,
so will take the old United States
for me in preference to any foreign
country. We are in the third army
corps and AID division, better known
as the Rainbow division.
We were in Belgium day before yes
terday in a city called Arlon, and
lady told us that on August II, 1914,
the Germans lined up 129 men and
women against wall and shot them,
and cut the hands and ears off OF 9TH
ers. The civilians hid lot Of their
stuff between the walls of the houses.
We are on our way to Germany
proper This country is away ahead
of France in every way. | am in the
best of health and hope you folks are
the same 1t is cold here, and the
ground is frozen hard. don't know
just when l will be home, but you
will probably see by the paper when
the Rainbow division starts. think
it will be a month or two yet anyway.
Herman Paske and | are together
The people speak German here, and
he can, so we get along fine.
The other night he and and three
other fellows bought some fresh pork
and got lady to cook it for US, and
some potatoes. It cost us about $1.50
apiece, but it was fine.
Now be sure and write. Next Thurs
day is Thanksgiving. / do not know
whether we will get turkey or not.
From your son, with love.
PRIVATE HERBERT F. FAIR.
Co. A. 148th M. G. Bn.
D n No 715