The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1944-09-21
Gene Novel;
Likes Life
In France
Finds People More
Like Home Folks Than
Those in Italy.
SAYS THE POOR
ALWAYS HAVE TO PAY

Mrs. Adaire Brunette has received
letter from her brother, Sgt. Gene
NOVEL;, formerly with the medical
corps in Italy but now Somewhere
in France" Sgt. Novel; writes in
an interesting vein of conditions In
France. We quote his letter, in
part:
Somewhere in France
September 4, 1914
Dear Adaire:
| received two letters from you
today and was glad to hear from your
again. Our mail situation over here
has been quite irregular but that il
easy to understand. We are not used
to getting anywhere until things are
all set up like the States. This is q
little different and all rather new to
all of us. It is good to get out Of
Italy though. These people here are
altogether different than anyone
that we have run into overseas.
Most Of them are just like the ones
that we are used to assOciating with
at home All the Italians knew was
to try to see how much they could
get from US. They managed to get
plenty, | can assure you that. These
people over here seem to appreciate
the fact that they are going to be
able to stand on their own feet
again. 1t did not seem to make any
difference to those Italians. They
would be satisfied to be dominated
by any country that they thought
they could benefit by, Maybe they
have learned their lesson by now
though. | certainly hope so. They
had to learn the hard way. 1t is
always the poor people that have to
pay for someone elses mistake. The
big shots have nothing to worry
about, Thir pockets are always full
whichever way they go.
When we came up through the
country to where we are at now.
the people would line the roads and
shout and wave at us. When we
would stop they would bring fruits,
wine and vegetables for us and any
thing else that they had They have
been doing the same thing ever
since. One farmer brought us
whole cart load Of tomatoes and egg
plant, and would not accept cent
for any of it. Every day there are
people here with a basket Of grapes,
peaches, potatoes, onions, melons, or
wine to give us. They will stop in
the wards and give the patients any
thing that they have. There is al
ways crowd out here looking
around
We had bunch Of German pa
tients out here and they were
watching the doctors in surgery and
they couldn't figure out why we
were operating on them. Evidently
they thought that they should just
be left. Most of them figure that a
good German is dead one. They
would be if they had their way
These F. F. l. boys do not fool
around with them. As soon as they
are rounded up they march them
off to shoot them and that is the end
of them. | never believed much
about this underground that was
supposed to be working all Of the
time but it has proved itself since
we made our landings here They
have been a great help all of the
way around.
This is really nice country over
here. 1t reminds me somewhat Of
the country at home. There are nice
little homes or villas, whichever
you want to call them Nothing is
blasted up like the rest of the
country that we have seen. There is
beach and small resort just mile
or so from US here so we did
nothing else last night but have q
big dance with the French madame
seille. A good time was had by all
1t was the first dance that I have
been to in over a year. Managed to
be little stiff in few of my joints
this morning, from it. Not as young
as used to be. Spent a very quiet
birthday this year. Haven't been
feeling any too we'll for the past
week SO just worked and called il
day Would like to be in the States
for my next one but don't think
that there is chance Of it.