Norwich bulletin., 1919-03-06

SOLDIERS AND SAILORS |
Private Earle L. Sparks in Battalion
Orchestra.
The following interesting letter was
received at The Bulletin Office Mon
day from Earle L. Sparks, son of Mrs.
Albert A Sparks, Of Norwich:
Weitersburg on the Rhine,
Germany. Feb. 5, 10.
Quite a little snow fell during last
night. Today is cold, but not as cold
as it is in the Rose" I'll bet a nickel!
Undoubtedly you have read Of the
prominent part athletics and enter
tainment are playing il the life of the
| fnen in France and Germany. Cham
pionship football games are being
played near here this month to decide
| who are to be the titleholders for the
Third Army, Corps and Third Army.
Nearly every organization in France
and Germany is putting on a show of
some kind. This week at the ''Y''
here there is something doing every
! night Monday night was movies,
last night Tuesday,. the 9Th, marines
put on fine show. Tonight / believe
| the 5th Marines entertain US. I don't
know what is on for Thursday, Friday
afternoon there is a band and Satur-
| DAY evening the sanitary train per-
| forms. I think it takes about three
weeks to cover the divisional area and
| then either a new show is produced
or other divisions are covered.
The name of the 9Th NJ. G. BattaI-
ion show is The Dainty, Delightful,
| Dashing, Dancing, Sprightly Sayings,
| Snappy Songs. Clean, Clever, Catchy
| Comedy Ministries, 5th M. G. BIZ, I'd
| Division.
Our first performance was put on
| last Monday night at Hansen, 20 kiIo-
t metres az IL miles) from here, where
| the marines are located. Last night
We were at Bendorf and entertained
| the 18th +, A. and part OF the 9th U.
| S. INF. Tonight we go TO Vallender,
where the 23rd U. S. Inf. is billeted.
| There are Y of US in the show and we
are excused from drill. We rehearsed
| all last week the same hours as the
| battalion drilled, from $50 to 11.30 a.
m, and from lis to 3.15 .. III. We
travel in large army trucks. The or
| chestra consists of two mandolins, two
| guitars, two Violins and yours truly
| at the piano. The acts consist of:
| Ministries, selection. orchestra; en-
semble, Are You From Dixie, Aloha
| Cei Darktown Shutters Ball; jokes,
n Everything: jokes, jig, Jokes, Pray
| For the Lights to Go Out; jokes; Lit
tie Grey Home in the West, solo;
| jokes; D. S. c. Quartatte; jokes;
| You're in Style When You're Wear
| ing Smile; jokes; Good Morning Mr.
Zip, Zip. Zip: So Long Comrades;
curtain.
Intermissfon.
| Selection, orchestra; trio, two man
| dolins and guitar; cake walk; sleight
! CT hand; ventriloquist; cake walk and
| Hula Hula; In the CAMBRIDGE Bust
less, Jew and soldier; solo, I'm Sorry
| 1 Made You Cry, quartette; solo, The
Sunshine Of Your Smile, quartette;
| curtain.
Are there any other boys from Nor
v-ich with the Army of Occupation
| III Germany? Received a letter from
| Private Fred Church the other day,
hut he's in France with Co. c, 312th
| +. Sig. Ell. Each division has its own
| insignia which Is painted on the
i trucks, etc. and is worn by the Off
| Gers and men on the left arm just be-
| low the seam Of shoulder and sleeve.
| ~ serves as a distinguishing mark for
divisions and the officers and men al
50 take pride in wearing it. The in
| sigma of the famous I'd Div. (Persh-
| iHg's Shock Troops is a five pointed
star with an American Indians head
superimposed in the center of the star
| ColorS, white star; Indian head, fea-
| theirs black, face red. The home of
the ID Division is at Syracuse. y. Y,
| although the enlisted men are from
every state in the Union. The I'd Di-
vision stopped the Germans at Cha
teau Thierry and PLAYED prominent
part in the drives at scissors, st. Mi
hiel, Champagne and battle Of The Ar
COME The ID is composed of the 9Th
and 9Th Marine- (the only division in
the a. z. 2. having marines in it, the
Gth and 23d L. S. Inf, the 18th 18TH
18th Field Artillery. the 18th jth, 9Th
NJ. G. Battalion, the I'd Ammunition
Train, the I'd Engineers. Signal Corps,
/ supply companies. field hospitals etc.
A general, in speaking to this battaI-
ion a while ago said that the Sd Army
Corps as part of the Array Of Occu-
patton would probably remain here
till May or June. 1t seems g long time
hut the month Of, January passed
quickly enough. Three-day passes are
being given now to Newred. where
the Sd Brigade Headquarters is 10
1 Gated and names are in for seven day
passes Ehich will soon be issued TO
England, Belgium France and Italy.
We are well clothed and are being
well fed. a new mess hill has been
| 'uliL 4OI our use, tIl5 Hell III 20. ID
Clipped in eight marks apiece to buy
: dishes for the tables. which makes ii
a great deal better than lining up for
=, chow with mess kits.
! It is six years since I've been in
Norwich as I left there in December,
! 1872
We are billeted in houses 4ad have
warm rooms and electricity for light
ing purposes. Was down to the o.
) derly room this morning and sieL--
: the pay roll for January. This after
, noon at I o'clock viii take nice hot
shower bath at the battalion bath
house. The battalion went 10 the di-
V.sionaI range with machine guns al
Newied this morning and will be gone
= al day.
, Must close now as it's time for din
> rer Trust this win find you in good
: he~tt'o -. ii leaves me splendid.
l Sincerely,
! pvl. EARLE L. SPARKS,
e Co. B. 5th N. G. Battalion, American
? E. T.. A. P. Q. No. 10.
NORWICH TOWN