-OREGON UTY ENTERPRISE. FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 1919,
OREGON CITY ENTERPRISE
PwMteHesl I vary Friday,
t, t. iROME, tin- antf PwWIeher.
BMr4 at OmgM City. Oregon raawnea iUm Of.
ftnlew Katee:
r 1 '
tH Mais tin ..................
TrUl BubeerfrtJoa. Two Moataa 'rllL J
aheertlMra will Baa tha UU ( eiplretioa stain pea a taetr patera fol
lawtet tMtr aaJM. If last aaaest It ot credits, gladly aotlfy oa. and
dta saattet will receive aur atuatloa,
Advertising lUtaa oa appltcatloa.
BOYS OVER HERE
Interesting Facts
Gty Boys In The U. S.
Service
Mrs. H J. Bigger has received a
letter written December 10, showing
the appreciation ot a soldier in re
ceiving literature from the United
States. This was written by young
man, who was receiving medical treat
ment In a hospital at Bordeaux, and
the magatine was sent with others
to Prance.
The following Is the letter:
Bordeaux, December 10, 1918.
"Dear friend:
"Just to let you know that a copy
ot Leslie's, bearing your name, is be
in read in the Red Cross Hut at
Base 21 As' an ex-Oregonlan, from
Portland, your address attracted my
notice.
"Your magazine is doing its bit!"
"Sincerely,
"SERGEANT R. T. PATTON,
"Tank Corps, U. S. Army."
Pi Fa
In a letter from Luxemburg, Ger
many, written by Charles Richard
son to his mother, Mrs. C. W. Rich
ardson, dated Novemb?r 28, he says:
"My Darling Mother-.
"Just a few lines to let you know
that I am all O. .K. I just came off
guard about an hour ago. I received a
big bundle of papers from you yester
day. Maybe you think that Sergeant
Kent Moody and I didn't look them
over! Especially the Oregon City En
terprises. "Well, Mother, we spent Thanksgiv
ing in Luxemburg; Christmas in Ger
many, and I think we will spend St,
Patrick's day in the U. S .A., the best
placs in the world.
"Say, Mother, tell the girls that
worked for the Enterprise Patriotic
fund that I thank them very much for
what they done for the boys of Clacka
mas county. Never received my green
back but I know they sent It. Probab
ly it was sank, but we know they
worked hard for us, and tell them we
sure appreciated it. .
"Give everybody in dear old Oregon
City my best regards."
to Ba
Private J. M. RIssberger, son of Mr
and Mrs. .Rissberger, of Eleventh and
John Adams streets, was heard from
Tuesday morning, and he is enjoying
the best of health in Belgium. He is
with Company B, 316 Field Signal
Battalion, A. P. 0. 776. He has been
in some of the big battles and has
many exciting experiences to relate
when he returns home.
When this young man enlisted he
was manager of the WesternUnion at
Vancouver, Wash., having learned the
telegraphic trade while in Oregon
City. He left Camp Lewis June 27.
and since that time has kept an inter
esting diary ot each day. This was
forwarded to his parents this week,
and from this the young man has seen
much of the world since leaving Camp
Lewis. Among the places he has been
stationed and passed through are Win
chester, England; Southampton, Eng
land; LaHavre, France; Odovol, Bon
nett, Sarcey, Vivincourt, where he
Blept In the woods; Auzville, Camou
flage, where he prepared for the big
drive In the Argonne forest The drive
started September 26 ,at 2 A. M., Juoy,
Nattancourt, Contrission, and passing
through Paris at 10 A. M., arriving in
Flverdinghe, Belgium, October 18, at 5
A. M, passing through Ypres, arriving
on October 20 at 5 P. M., at Oostniew
kerke, and leaving there October 25
at 12:30. Den App was reached at 2
P. M., where he remained -jntil Octo
ber 28. Other places passing through
were Iseghem, Oastrosebecke, Aude
narde, where he was stationed when
the newg of the armistice being signed
was heard; Michelbeke, Elene, Dick
elvenne, Deuterg em Roulero, Elver
dunghe and Rousburgge. At the latter
place he wrote the letter dated Decem
ber 8.
S3 f5 S3
The Women's Patriotic Edition of
the Morning Enterprise has just re
ceived the following letter from Pri
vate Clarence Morrell, thanking the
young women for the dollar greenback
and the letter sent to him In France.
The letter is as follows:
"Somewhere in France
December 6, 1918
"Dear Friends:
"Just a few lines to let you know
that I have received the money sent
me. I wish to give my thanks to the
tour young women for working so
hard to benefit the boys over there.
"I am now stationed a few miles
from Montireau, France, and have
been In Paris and in Fountalnblew,
where I have had the pleasure to go
through Napoleon's castle, and it Is
sure great, but tonight I am in my lit
tle dugout
"I was at one time very close to
the fighting line, but as 'Fritz' retreat
ed so fast that I am now very far,
but still It is very hard tor us boys
to entertain ourselves.
"We have all played the game, and
as the war Is so near over, we are
glad, but we are still In to the finish
"Instead of taking a poor little Eng
lish maid out to tea, as you have sug
gested that might suit my fancy, I am
afraid that this little eagle note is
going In my souvenir bag, like all the
other boys are doing, and if possible I
will get a German helmet
. "9 there Is not much excitement
- OVER THERE
About Oregon
here now, will say goodbye, and with
my best regards to all, I am
"Yours sincerely,
"PRIVATE CLARENCE G. MORRELL
"U. S. Air Service, U. S. Army,
373 Aero Squadron."
(Morrell is a well known Willamette
boy, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry
Morrell, of that place).
fcl fcl JE
Joseph Goxesky, of this city, has
just received a brief letter from Stan
ley Gotesky, with the Bakery Com
pany, 344 U. S. Army, P. O. 712 and
at the time of writing was at Issur
tille, France. He says:
"Dear Brother Joe:
"I have received your letter of No
vember 19, and was glad to hear from
you. I am feeling good and getting
along fine.
"Do you ever hear from Anthony?
I have heard from him only once since
he came over here, that was in Sep
tember. "W do not know when we are com
ing uorae; but it is not very soon, as
far as we know.
"It looks like we will have to stay
a couple ot months here.
"TtU Mother not to worry, because
we are in a good place tor the win
ter. s
"I hope everything is O. K. at home.
"Your brother,
"STANLEY,
Anthony mentioned in the letter
above, Is a brother of Stanley, and
who has not been heard from for a
number of months. He was in the Ma
rine Corps, and was in the thickest of
the fight when last heard from. The
family has taken the matter up with
the government, and hope to hear
of the young man's safety.
- to to to
Mr. and Mrs. .C. W. Bagby have just
received a letter from her son, Rody
Bagby, who is at present stationed at
Camp Merritt, N. J and the letter is
in part as follows:
'Dear Mamma and Papa:
"I have received everything O. K
and also your letter.
"I don't think it will be long before
I get home. The boys are coming In
here by the thousands from France,
and you should see them and then
you would realize what war is. One
cannot realize it until you see it for
yourself. There are cripples of all
kinds, some having legs blown off, and
eyes out and everything else that is
possible to happen to a person. It
Is just terrible. Believe me, they are
sure glad to get back. All they talk
about is the Salvation Army and the
Red Cross. They "think they are the
best things In the world. The Salva
tion Army women made coffee and
doughnuts and took these to the boys
in the trenches. They say 'God bless
the Red Cross; God bless the Salva
tion Army.'
' I sent you a box for Christmas, and
suppose you have received it by this
time.
"It is raining here to 'beat the
band.
"Well, as it is getting late, will
close for tonight.
v ith lots of love and wishing yo-j
a Merry Christmas and a Happy Now
Year,
"Your loving son,
"RODY,
"Thirteenth Infantry, Hdq. Co.,
Camp Merritt, N. J."
to to M
Dr. L. L. Pickens has just received a
card from Sergeant Chester G. Stryk-
er of the Artillery, written at Lussac
De Libourne, Cironde, France, and is
as follows:
'Dear Doctor:
"I have thought of you many times
over here, and wondered how you
would like to have seen this country
with me. I will tell you a lot of it
when I come bacx.
"The people here wear wooden
shoes, live in stone houses, cook over
fireplaces and drink nothing but wine
"It rains here but not like it does
in Oregon. The roads all over the
country cannot be beaten.
"There are some Interesting ruins
near our town, and some date back as
far as 700 A. D.
"The wine made here is the beet
in the world.
"Wishing you a Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year, and with best
regards,
"STRYKER."
Ba la to
Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Donovan have
recently received two letters from
their son, Private Harlan Donovan,
who is with the 337 Aero Squadron,
and stationed in France. A portion of
the letters is as follows:
"Dearest Mother and Father:
"I wrote about that description of
the camp. It was printed in the New
York Herald on November 7, 1918, and
I am sending the copy of which I
wrote and told you I had lost, but as
luck would have It, I have found it
"I am going to try and get a pass
to Metz, the town that used to send
out airplanes to bomb h 1 out ot us
We were bombed only twice, but the
'bloody blighters', as the English call
them, used to keep us awake until
after 12 o'clock, and then we would
have to get up at 5 o'clock. We had to
get out of bed a couple of nights, as
would hear the motor of the Boche
machine, and then all aboard tor the
trench.
"German souvenirs are plentiful
but I don't think that w will be able
to take any home. ! had a Roche
gas mask, but I gave It away. They
are greasy old things, and no telling
what kind ot gonna are in them.
"So you want to know what kind of
work I am doing. I am working in the
shipping room of the supply of the
First air depot I am not doing much
ot anything since the war has ceased,
but we sure did work to put the kais
er out ot commission at one time.
"This depot is the advance supply
tor the American Expeditionary forc
es, that is tor the air service.
"Our squadron holds down the best
jobs in camp. There are two or three
good men on the flying field and about
SO chauffeurs; one man in the mall
service and about four in the con
struction. That is all, except those in
the supply. We have about sixteen
men over here. There are eleven men
working in the shipping room. When
ever we have any hard work, we get
Boche prisoners- to do the work. Ve
had a motor overhauling and a ma
chine shop here. We donated about
40 men to both, so you see that our
squadron was sure composed of some
good men.
"Helped to build some hangars be
fore I went to work in the supply de
partment "Probably the next time you hear
from me will be when I arrive in New
York. I hope so, at least, but you
can never tell. That isn't saying that
I am coming home now, but that I
hope so at least"
In a letter written on November
23, he writes the following:
"Dear Mother and Dad:
"As censorship regulations have
somewhat ceased, I will try and tell
you where we are located. We are
near the front in the Lunevllle sector
or were rather near at one time about
25 miles back In the little town ot
Colanbey Lee Belles in the section ot
France known as Neurthe et Moselle,
right back ot Nancy.
"The camp Is situated about a quar
ter ot a mile out ot camp and we us
ually went into town every night We
did at one time experience several air
raids, but never a plane or a person
was touched by the bombs.
"I will tell you a little of the route
we traveled over. We left Halifax,
Canada, about three days after the
exploslan on December 10, and arrived
in Liverpool on the night ot the 24th,
and disembarked on Christmas day.
From there we went to Southampton
and remained at a rest camp. From
there we went to LaHavre, France,
this being on New Year's day. Then
we travelled to St Maxient where we
were quartered in the old cathedral,
which quartered Napoleon In his great
reign. From there we went to Romor
rantln, when we left February 1, 1918,
and landed in this camp February 6,
at which place we have since resided,
and which we hope to leave soon.
"Hoping to see you all soon,
"Your loving son,
"HARLAN."
RECEIVES DISCHARGE
U.S.
Captain W. E. Hempstead, who has
been in the service, returned to Glad
stone, and will resume his medical pro
fession, and has leased office rooms In
the Barclay building over the Jones
drug store.
Captain Hempstead entered the ser
vice 17 months ago, and at that time
was coroner and a prominent physi
cian of this city. He received the com
mission of lieutenant, and soon after
c-r.tering the service was promoted to a
captaincy. He was first Btationed at
Vancouver Barracks, Wash., then
transferred to Fort Stevens, Oregon,
after which he was sent to Ft. Canby,
Wash., and Fort Columbia, Wash.
After being stationed at Fort Colum
bia, he was later transferred to Camp
Merritt, N. J., and remaining there
for several months, he was sent back
to Fort Stevens, where he was as
signed for duty. It was before being
transferred to Camp Merritt, N. J., and
while stationed at T'ort Stevens he
was promoted to a captaincy.
Captain Hempstead says he Is glad
to be back in Oregon City.
I!
RAIDED BY THIEVES
Burglars early Monday morning
broke into the office of the Williams
Transfer company and the Hub Bar
ber shop on Main street, entering the
buildings from the rear. Officers found
a chisel which had been left by the
robbers. At the Williams Transfer
company's offices nothing was taken
as far as can be learned, but the safe,
which is always kept unlocked, was
found locked this morning, and it is
thought that the burglars tried the
combination, thinking that the safe
was locked.
W. F. Schooley, who has desk room
in the Williams office, had his desk
broken open, and the contents were
scattered over the floor, but only a
flashlight, which was In the desk at
the time, was missing. The robbers
took the light, but left another one,
of inferior quality, in its place. Noth
ing was taken at the Hub barger shop.
Chief of Police Woodward is working
on the case.
DEMURRER OVERRULED
The demurrer in the divorce suit ot
Margaret M. Shlnner vs Edward Shin
ners was overruled and given until
January 8 to file answer .
WEELKY SOLDIER LETTER
O. E. Freytag. ot Qladttoue, is in
receipt of a very Interesting letter
from his son, Sergeant Clayton E.
Freytag, ot Company F, 116th Engi
neers, written In Prance November
24, 1918,. The young man is now In
the United States, and will soon ar
rive here to spend a few weeks with
his father.
The letter Is as follows:
Angers, France, Nov. 24. 1918
"Dear Father:
"Today is called 'Father's Day, so
here goes, and as the lid is off, etc.,
will try and tell some ot my experi
ences since leaving the United States.
"Our experiences have been many
and varied. We have traveled in many
different ways from Pullman sleepers
to a small box car marked on each
side 8 horames, 40 cheteaux (8 men or
40 horses) a very cold and unpleasant
means of travel, especially In winter
time.
"We left New York November 26,
1917, and were 14 days on the sea.
where we spent a never-to-be-forgotten
Thanksgiving day. My, but the sea
was rough, and our boat pitched and
jumped around like cork. Stood watch
in a place called the forward crow's
nest', which is located on the forward
mast, and Is 75 feet above the deck.
and Is reached by climbing the rigging
as far as the cross tree and from there
straight up the mast to the crow's
. It waa no ton nor an easy job
going up the mast with the boat do
ing all sorts of capers. The waves at
times broke against the side ot the
boat and would soak us to the skin
70 feet above decks. We were on the
ship Tenedores, not a large boat but
quite seaworthy.
"After 14 days ot rough riding we
finally came to anchor in the bay at
St. Naraide and docked early the next
morning. We were not allowed off the
boat until the afternoon of the 17th
day from New York, when we first
touched French soli.
"We moved into bllMs the same
day. My how It was raining. We stay
ed here nine days and a very wet,
cold, hungry nine days it was. Here
we lost 147 members of our company
who were sent to the Second Engi
neers, who were then on the front. It
was a cold, wet and very blue day
when our old members and friends
left us. We all felt blue and discour
aged just at this time you may be
sure. Finally orders rame for us to
break camp and move somewhere,
where we didn't know.
"On the 14th of December, we left
St Nazaire, got aboard ot some box
cars. (8 horses and 40 men) and start
on the coldest ride I ever took any
where. After about 36 hours' travel,
we arrived at a place called La Cour
tine, in the state of Creuse, which is
in the south central part ot France.
Here the snow was about knee deep
and ha thermometer at tero or low
er. Here we moved Into very good
barracks, were well fed, In fact, were
quite comfortable as tar as that goes,
had stoves in our rooms, etc., so were
not so bad off. Here we spent our
first Xmas In France, where I'll
spend my next one, I don't know. We
stayed here about a month and then
moved to Seller sur Cher, which is
in the very northern part of the state
of Indre. Here we were billeted in a
large barn, but were quite comfort
cold, almost like spring.
"We stayed at Sellers sur Cher until
the 6th day of February, when, we
moved again, this time to Angers, ar
riving there the 6th of February.
Have been here ever since.
Here In Angers we have fought the
only battle of its kind in the Ameri
can Expeditionary Forces, and the
longest lasting from the first of March
or earlier, forgotten exact date, until
now and It isn't finished yet as far
as I know.
"Will try to tell a little of our work,
how it was done, etc. We have a train
ing section of which I was a member.
From and through this training sec
tion all work is carried on. I was con
sidered an expert in infantry drill
(close and extended order, common
ly ca'led Bquads east and west). It
was my work to train the men who
came through our camp In Infantry
drill and discipline. I was not alone In
this work as there were others
In this and other lines of work, in
fact, there were 300 or more members
in this training section.
"We would receive a bunch of re
placement men from some camp in
the United States about once a month
These men would be attached to the
different lettered companies for ra
tions, etc. Our work would then go
something like this: We would get A
Company in the morning for Inf. C
and E orders in the afternoon D. and
E. or the same thing, which, when
the periods for our instruction were
over would be a day's work for us,
"The next day would be the same
only D Company in the morning and
C and F Company in the afternoon
This would go on day after day, week
after week. Our work was quite thor
ough. Had to be, because we very sel
dom saw the same men over four or
five times when they would be Bent
to some English regiment up on the
front. These men were all green re
emits when they first arrived in our
camp, and when they left were a very
well trained soldier.
"Now for the town of Angers itself:
It is a city of about (80,000 before the
war) 13,000 and is situated on the
river Maine. Angers has many old
places famous in the early history of
France. I have visited many of these
places and they are very interesting
and beautiful. This city has one of the
oldest and most famous chateaux in
France, also several old and famous
cathedrals, very rich in old paintings
and other works of art of historical
value.
"There are several very pretty
villages near town that can be reach
ed by trolley. One of these places is
Pont de Ce, which is located on a
branch of Loire river, about six kilo
meters from Angers, Pont de Ce is-
famous In the early history of France.
"The weather In general here la fine
Not real cold at any time, nor very
hot in the summer and not very wet
in fact very little ruin, about 20 Inch
es average per year. Really aa Ideal
climate to live lu. I really like this
part of France tine, but France U
France and not the Uultod Statea of
America.
"I have been In other places besides
Anger. Have been in Tours, Samur,
Orleans, Nancy, Paris, Versailles, Ie
Mans, Rennes, St. Malo and many
other small towns too numerous to
mention, but In all travels I never
got nearer the front than Paris at
any time,
"Some of the boys went to the front
as convoy to troops going to some
regiment up on the front After de
livering these men to the regiment to
which they were sent the boys re
turned to Angers with some great
stories to tell. ,
"We, except Co. F, are not doing
very much now except Infantry drill.
Co. F is a school for 8. D. 8. candi
dates, who are trying tor a commis
sion, and it Is our job to teach them
all we know about army work. As la
to be expected we are making good at
our work. Co. F has the best officer
and non-com's In the 116th Engineers,
bar none. Sounds like I'm blowing my
own horn, but I'm not. Our Hdq. says
so, so guess It muat be true.
"The 10th of December of this year
will be the end of our first year in
France, and how much longer we will
stay It Is hard to say, so will close
now.
"W Ith love to all and wishing you all
a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year,
I am,
"SOT. CLAYTON R. FREYTAG.
"Co. F. 116th Eng., Amer. E. F..
"France."
h I1 to
The following letter has been re
ceived by the Women's Patriotic Edi
tion of the Morning Enterprise from
Elbert Charman, who Is on the Stars
and Stripes, the official paper of the
American Expeditionary Forces:
Blols, France,
Dec. 9, 1918.
Patriotic Edition Committee,
Oregon City, Ore.,
"My dear Friends:
"It Is with sincere thanks that I
acknowledge your newsy letter of Oct
31st and the souvenir of the home
country which it contained. I am sure
that I shall spend the greenback very
carefully, for it represents to me tho
wholehearted, enthusiastic support
which we over here have always re
ceived from our home people. I read
the patriotic edition with a great deal
ot pleasure, as did a whole billet full
of artillerymen with whom I was
quartered at the tlme I received it.
None of them came from Oregon City
or even from Oregon, but you would
be surprised at the way the boys grab
anything which printed in English.
Thus It Is not exceptional to find
som0 former Chlcagoan or New York
er perusing with consuming interest
the locals from a Miami, Florida,
weekly or other small town paper.
"The conclusion of the armistice
since your letter was written has
given us all hopes ot an early re
turn home. We are all proud of the
war record at home and abroad of
our home state, and, it is unnecessary
to add, are all anxious to get back
to the greater Oregon which we will
undoubtedly find. I know this because
many of the Third Oregon (162nd Inf.)
boys are at Contres, twelve miles
south of Idols, and whenever I have
seen any ot them since Nov. 11th,
their first question has been, "When
are we going home?" So make prepar
ations for a heavy run on ham and
eggs and sirloins, apple pies and nut
sundaes or a serious shortage of such
like will be In order. With an allur
ing picture of home and the home
folks In our minds we are marking
time and toasting "Dor Tag." The
Day which w"l be entirely different
from the one the Germans had In
mind when they UBed that expres
sion.
"Again expressing my appreciation
of your thoughtful remembrance and
the patriotic support which It repre
sents, "Cordially yours,
"ELBERT B. CHARMAN."
Representing "Stars and Stripes",
A. P. O., 726, American E. F France
(Charman is the son ot T. L. Char
man of this city.)
to to to
Isaac Austin has received the fol
lowing letter from his son, Charley
Austin, of Company B, 30!)th Infantry,
77th Division, written In France on
Father's Day:
Bordeaux .France, Nov. 24, 1918
"Dead Dad:
"As this Is father's day, I will drop
you a few linos to let you know that I
am still alive and feeling tine, but I
am still at the hospital waiting for the
time to come when I will be shipped
out. As the D. B. and C go before
the A class it is hard to tell when the
A class, which I am in will go, but
I don't think it will be very long, as
they want to vacate this hospital as
soon as possible. We boys in the A
class were expecting tobe sent back
to our companies, but the latest news
Is that we will be sent back to the
states as casuals, so it that is true, I
don't think we will be here very much
longer. The only thing I regret is
that I wasn't with my company when
the armistice was signed. The com'
pany was at the front at that time. '
"We had orders to roll our packs
early Saturday morning and be ready
to move at any minute. Well, I was as
sick as a dog, but I stayed there and
drilled until Monday night, and no or
ders came to move so when the sick
call sounded I fell into line with 22
others out of the company. There
were three of us tagged for the hos
pital. Well, we started out to the main
road to get into an ambuance. We
had about a mile to walk. There we
took the ambulance and rode for about
fifteen miles to a field hospital. We
remained there over night, and took
a train to where I am now. I don't
know how fur that trip was, but It
took ui from Monday night to Satur
day night to inuke It, so I guess we
just about made a trip across Fiance.
"We left the Argonne Forest, which
Is way up In Northern France, and
we are now In the southern part of
France, about six mlloa from the
coast.
"Today I saw about 200 German
prisoners lined, up answering aa their
names wore called. They are send
ing thorn home, and they sure looked
husky and well. All wore great big.
fat fellows and every mother's son ot
them had a brand new navy blue suit
of overalls, jumper and a new blan
ket That's a good dual different than
tho way they have been sending the
Nrltsh prsoners home, isn't it T
"Tell mother, I have met several
boys from her old state Ketitucky,
"Well, In regard to the war. There
were days when we wore advancing
on tho 1 1. ins that the air was so ti of
bullets that one could almost see
them, but generally we went ahead
until we got them. The whls ot the
big shells and the hum of the bursting
shrapnel would almost sing a man to
sleep it it hud not been such a dan
gerous soon, but every flying pi wo
that hits a man, either means death
or a life-long wound.
"Gee, I wish you folks could see
the battle field of Argonne Forest.
It Is literally a mass of barbed wire
and entanglements as well as shell
holes. The tret were uprooted and
blown to pieces like so many stacks
of straw.
"I will tell you more of the war and
whut I have seen when I return
homo.
"Yoor loving son,
"CHARLEY AUSTIN,
"Company 11, 305th Infantry,
77th Division. France."
tea fe& ks
The following letter has been re
ceived by H. J. Bigger from his son.
Private Alfred Bigger, of Company II,
18th Engineers Railway Company,
written on iNovembir $, 1918, on
Father's Day:
I .a llochelle, France.
Nov. 24, 191 S.
"My dear Father:
"Well, I will write a few lines, con
cerning my welfure, etc. This place
where we now are la about three miles
from this mentioned city, working
on a large plant for the ansembllng of
railway cars. It Is some project enor
mous iracRs, a very lurge power
plant, and several lurgo barracks,
each one holding COO men, which are
the most substantial of their kind con
structed by the Americans in France.
This Is a small project compared with
some' we have worked on since our ar-
rlvul over here. One can not realize
the extent of the work ihe forces have
done in the last 16 months. And the
material that has been shipped here.
Is beyond estimate. I would like to
get hold of a photo of the Job that
mado the Eighteenth famous. The
HasKons dock, started in October, 1917,
and finished in April, 1918. This was
built by weetern mon and western
built ships were discharging freight
there. Ships constructed by Skinner
Eddy of Seattle.
"We put In 12 months of our service
around Bordeaux and the other three
In this section.
"Bordeaux section seems more like
home to us, and being the first troops
to arrive In that district, arid we made
a good Impression with the French
there. The name of the Eighteenth will
long be remembered by these people.
We are considered the head of the 8,
O. 8. of the A.E .F. and we deserve
a little credit.
" "We hate to see the winters come on
but summers are very well spent. But
last winter being our first to spend
here We had to become acclimated.
This one wont be so bard to take, al
though hard enough.
'Well, I'm going to close with the
wishing of returning homo, and hope
your health and happiness rest at the
highest degree. I urn In the best of
health, and prepared to face any con
ditions and tests I am put to.
'From your loving son,
"PRIVATE ALFRED BIGGER,
"Co. B, ISth Engrs, Ry A. E. F
France."
m to to '
Rev. and MrH. W. T. Mllllken and
family have, received the following
letter from Frank Mllllken, who Is In
Fruncc:
Lussac de Libourno,
December 4th, 1918
"Dear Folks:
1 am still In the same place In
France, uiul um In the very bOHt of
health. Horn's hoping that this letter
finds you the same. Have received
nine letters In tho last two days, and
as today Is really mail day I guess I'll
get a few more. Surely seems good to
get word from homo, believe me. Now
that the war is over I suppose we
will bo going home before many
moons, and I'll tell you I've Been Just
enough of the old countries to know
how to really appreciate the United
States.
"While In England I did not get to
Birmingham, and when we go back I
shall be too anxious to get home to
go to see the relatives there. It would
surely be great, Mother, to go to see
tho home where you were born, but
I shall forego the pleasure until I
can ride on something more luxurious
than transport or box cars "Hommes
40, chevaux, 8'. Those are French
words which I will never forget any.
way.
"While in England I visited Bristol
and Southampton. Have also been In
Rouen, Havre, Le Mans, Bordeaux,
and many other French towns. Have
gathered up quite a collection of
souvenirs to take home, coins of al
most every country in Europe, also a
pair of wooden shoes for Pansy. They
were made by Monsieur Gourrinat,
who lives across the Btreet from "as,
and Is a very good friend of mine.
"When I get back I think I will be
able to parlez vous Francais pretty
well.
"When we came across it was on an
old English freighter, the Jason. One
of our fellows figured out a puzzle
which hag worked out all right.
, J is for July, the month we left
home.
AIs for August, when we left the
U. 8.
8 -Is for September, the month, we
reached France.
O Is for October, when entered
camp In France.
N Is for ihe dose of fighting
November.
'Had k note from John liny! since
the fighting closed, and old "Hllm"
has route through nil right. Ha ex
pects to be home by Christmas. Prob
ably will got there before (Kel
logg) and I do.
"I want to tell you how the French
bury their dead, who can't continue
to pay the ground rent. They bury
them by the month until the rent
money runs out, whether It be two
months or ten years, then they dig
them up and throw them Into a stock
ado about a quarter of a block long
and wide. When a fellow first looks
over this and sees the skeletons, many
of them with the flesh only half rot-
tod off, It sure gives him a sickening
fooling, and he begins to wonder If
France Is truly civilised. Then It be
lt lbs to dawn upon him why "Bpanlnh
Flu" and kindred contagious dlseaaee
are so prevalent. Home of (he nuU
even crawled over the fence, took r'ld
teeth for souvenirs, and were showing
thorn around the mesa hall while the
fellows were eating. Then they have a
big tomb where they bury the French
soldiers until the odor leaves them,
when they are thrown Into the stock-
ado. judge that cremation must be
against thnlr religion.
"I was surely glad to hear from the
Oregon City Patriotic Edition of the
Morning Enterprise, I tell you the hon
est to goodness American dollar that
they sent looked good to nie. I will
keep it until I get whore It will do
tho most good. Will not forget the
girls for remembering us chaps away
over here. It was mlghtly good of
them.
"Well, folks, I am going to close
for this time. Hope to bear from you
sum. Among those who hsv written
n was Mr. tatourctte, and my It
seemed good to hear from him! Olve
niy regards to everyone.
"Your loving son,
"FRANK W. MILLIKEN."
"P. 8 - Just heard we can write
anything now except to critic Ua the
Govornintnt. Who tho Ham Hill would
crltlii.e dear old 1'wie Hum?"
1 Kl
Dr. L. L. Pickens, of this city, la to
receipt of a most Interesting letter
from Corporal James K. l.awson,
whose home Is at McMlnnvllle, Yam
hill county, and well knowa In Ore
Ron City, a member of Company A.
127th Infantry, and in France. The
following Is the letter:
Oourdocoiirt, France, Nov. 29, 1911.
"Dour Dr. Pickens:
"I left the hospital on October 16,
und arrived at the company on the
22nd. It was then back to the lines
about eight kilometers for replace
iiirntH. I was terribly busy there grill
ing raw recruits to hit the front lines
In about two weeks, so did not have
time tp write letters. Well, now the
war Is ended and I am In a better ,
position to keep up my correspon
dence. "I might say that we were on the
front lines when the armistice was
signed and went Into effect. It waa
Indued very dramatic for us. We had
our pucks on (unaware of the armistice-)
ami ready to form our combat
groups when a nmnor came up and
delivered the good news to us. He ar
rived Just In tlmu to kot-p us from
going over the top. Maybe If we bad
gone over I would not bo hore to
night. Maybo many others of the boys
would have been In the same 'boat'
However, we wore saved, and I thank
od my 'lucky stars many times
since.
"Our division (Thirty-second) has
been honored In being one of the
chosen divisions to follow up the Huns
uh they evacuate th French territory.
We are colled tho Army of Occupa
tion. "When I loft tho division Novem
ber 19 (1 am away to school now) It
wan on the Luxemburg border, and
Iblrty flvo kilometers from tho city of
Luxemburg. Tho day I loft we entered
towns Hint wore Inhabited by the
French people. They wore 'bubbling'
over with Joy and enthusiasm and
thoy showod this by their actions.
Tlu-y shook our hands anil said 'Long
Llvo America'. Then they hud the
United Stttius und French flags
streaming from all windows and doors.
At ono town tho people had form
ed un arch over tho rond with United
States und French flags, und In the
center hung a sign rending 'Honor to
Our Liberators.' At another place a
woman brought out a big coffee pot
filled with coffee and sorvod us with
coffee as we pussod by. It certainly
mado us foel good nnd proud to be
wearing tho khaki when we received
such warm welcomes.
"I did not get very far on the
march (Luxemburg), when I was or
dered back to school a lluutenant,
sergeunt and myself from our com
pany. The sergeant Is taking up the
study of gas, the lieutenant and my
self taking up the various specialties
In the Infantry work. We hava finish
ed our first week or It, and for my
self, I like It very well. It Is holplng
me to brush up a little on my military
tactics. The course is for four weeks.
We will probably be through about
Docembor 22, Then we will rejoin the
division up on the Rhine, When we
will got home is a question to all of
uh. We hope very soon.
"This might be interesting to tell
you we have boon continually In the
lines since May 10th. We have been
at AlBuce-Lorralne, Chateau-Thierry,
SoIbboiis and Argonne Woods and the
Verdun fronts, so you can sea w have
been on some ot the fronts.
"You remember Mr. Johnson? He Is
a corporal now and with the old com
pany. We have planned to come back
to old U. 8. A. and home together.
"Sincerely yours,
"CORPORAL JAMES E. LAWSON,
"Company A, 127th Infantry,
A. P, O. 734, American Ex. Forces."
mm .... maai4 tUfmm -",vr wmm Ml
riiilll titn
Va'iiVa"ai,iiaiuiVlliMliim(iainillutNllllltllllliniliiiiiiiiiiHMiai