The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-01-15
THE, WAR is OVER
And the Boys Want to Come Home
Right Now.
Saint Bin. France Dec

| Saint. Bin, France, Dec. 19.
Dear Mr.. 0steen: =: X z,
Will you please do me a small IA
vor and publish the enclosed letter in
The Item, If1.you ewill> publist1., this
letter you will not only do me a
great favor, but thousands Of other
soldiers, and it will be highly appre-
ciated by every man in this army 1t
will only take small space in your pa
per and it IS not meant for a knock
to the army or army officers, it is only
plain facts and feelings of thousands
of soldiers. that I hear speak every
day. This is my letter to the public:
We boys that are in 316th Field
Artillery, as well as boys in other di-
visions, are wanting to return home.
We understand that we are to De
kept over here for some time yet, an.l
I'VE can not: see: why it is necessary to
keep us over here.
= We came into the army for the du-
ration Of the war and the war is over.
We have done our bit-yes we have
given our "all," and we are proud to
have been IN such a position as to
come to France and fight for our
country, but the war is over and why
not bring US home? Why keep us
over here drilling and tramping
around in the rain and mud? In the
place where we eat and sleep the
rain almost pours in, and it has rain
ed almost steady where I. am. for the
last three weeks and the mud IS
mighty deep. Why keep Us here to
sleep cold and drill in the rain If tile
war is over? It is only making many
of our boys sick and it's mighty hard
for a fellow to get sick and die after
the war is over. We boys have made
as great a sacrifice as any other
country in the world. We have our
loved ones at home and would give
anything to get back to them.
/ don't know man that kicked Oh
his hardships over here as long as the
war lasted, every man took his share
and did his part like the true Amor
can he was expected to be.
There are few men over here
that want to remain here, but those
men are of high positions and are
few at that They can. bring their
loved ones, such as their wives ard
daughters over here, and If Course
they will be happy and contented. to
stay, and 80 would we. but how caniwe
do a thing like that? Take the ev-
ery-day soldier who really fought
with a gun to win this war. He gets
s33 month and sixty per cent Of
them have to pay their premiums OF
ten thousand dollars insurance and
allotment going home; too. What
has he left after. that? Not enough
.ta haraly buy paper: to write to his
loved ones, Or a candle to see oy A
little pad like q school kid would use
costs four francs and seventy five
centimes,e or about ninetyzthree cents
in United States money, and candle
about fourteen cents each, and how
long does one last?
We know that we wil1..haye to stay
over here for long time, unless the
people back there help TO get US home
Don't they realize that:we have'moth.
ers. and. sweethsa ~ts and wives, just
the sarne as they have and that we
are longing to get back to them just
as bad as they are Just~because we
do not hold as high-a position as
they 90 is not any sign that we can't
love our dear ones as much as they
do and want to be with them. -
II you people want us back as pad
as we want to come back, you VIII
have to; do something to help Us.
= We ask you ito help suss and not
leave us over here 7to die from sick
ness on account of drilling and
marching around in the rain and
mud. We were glad to come over
here and fight for you, and now il
you mothers are glad that your boy
is still alive, then try and bring him
home. If you happen to be one OF
the unfortunate ones. to. have mace
the supreme sacrifice by giving yenr
senato your country. Just try to make
some other mother glad by helping
to get their sons home. We all want
to come back and as soon as, we can
possibly get back. so help US If you
viii, and if the time should ever
come again we will everyone be ready
to do our bit again. Just remember
that the war is over and we are hu-
man.
- Sincerely,
Julius I. Phelps.
316 Field Artillery, Headquarters Co
American Elk. Forces, France.