Oregon City enterprise. (Oregon City, Or.) 1891-194?, February 21, 1919, Page Page 4, Image 4

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    OREGON CITY ENTERPRISE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2 1 , 1919.
Page 4
OREGON CITY ENTERPRISE
PuMlahee' Every FrWay. ,
E. E. BROOIE, ElHor and Publisher.
Entered at ONn City. Oregoa. Poatetrtce as second-class MtW.
twbeamitlon Rat:
One ;w 1"
Rtjt Mentha '
Trial Subscription. Two Months
Subscribers wHJ fad th data of sptratloa tmpd on their papers fob
lewtr tblr Btat. If latt paymsat I a not credited, kindly notify us, and
the atattar will reeelvs aur attention,
Advertising Rate ou apotleation.
BOYS OVER HERE-OVER THERE
.............,M.,..,
Jamea Say, eon of Mr. and Mrs. Say
of WUsonvllle, and the third son of
this family to enter the service, was
at Camp Taylor when the armistice
was signed, and would have been giv
en a commission as. lieutenant soon,
but was returned to the University of
Oregon, where be has resumed his
studies. He is majoring in mathemat
lcs.
St Pi P3
Mitchell Story. Jack Richards and
Joseph Miller, all of this city, are on
the receiving ship at New York, and
expect to sail soon for France. Clyde
Montgomery, who is also on the same
ship, k expected to arrive in Oregon
City soon to spend a furlough with
bis parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Mont
gomery of West Linn. In a letter from
Joseph Miller to friends in Oregon
City a few days ago, he tells of Mit
chell Story being afflicted with lnflu
enaa, but in a mild form.
Pa Pa Pa
In a letter to Mr. and Mrs. George
Rlssberger of 1108 John Adams street,
tbeir son, Private John M. Rissberger
of Company B, 316 Field Signal Bat
talion, writes that he is stationed at
La Ferte, Bernard, France. He says:
"I have been under the doctor's
care for the last four days on account
of my ears, and have been assigned to
quarters.
"The training goes on just the same
whether the war is over or not To
morrow there is to be a division re
view at Nogent Rot Rou, France. This
battalion is going to that town by
tracks to attend or take part in it
They say that this review means
something, according to other divi
sions, for example: the 47th and 2"th,
five or six days after they were re
Viewed left for the United States. I
nope it is the same with us, although
there are rumors to the effect that
this division is going either to Ger
many rr Russia. Of course these rum
ors have died out of our minds, but
you never can tell. The orders are
changed over night or during dinner
hour.
"Just a few lines to Mary I hope
ehe passes into the next grade r.t
school this February, and trust she is
getting along nicely with her music.
Can she . play the selection "When
Johnny Comes Marching Home?"
"To George, Jacob and Matt How
does the world seem to you by now?
"Goodbye, and trusting that this will
be my last letter from France,
"Your son and brother,
iv , d "JOHN."
Pa Pa la -
Mrs. C. W. Richardson has receiv
ed the following brief letter from Pri
vate Henry Wilson, an Oregon City
boy, who is with the United States
Army, stationed at Liverpool, Eng
land: "Dear Friend:
'1 am dropping rou line to let
you know I am now In Liverpool,
where I have been for five weeks. 1
like this city fine, and it is as large
as St Louis or San Francisco, and is
very lively.
"On December 30 we were Honor
Guard for President Wilson at Man
chester, England, but didn't take part
in the parade the next day.
"I received my Christmas box from
Mrs. Beck today.
"Wishing you the best of luck and
health,
"Yours truly,
PRIVATE HENRY WILSON."
Pi Pa Pa
In a letter from Charles Richardson
to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. W
Richardson, the following comes from
Neuweid, Gsrmany, as the young man
is with the Army of Occupation:
'"Dear Mother and Dad:
"Just a few lines to let you know
that I am O. K. I am certainly tired
of this town, as there is nothing to
do, but will try to break the monoto
ny this evening by taking in a show.
"Mother, Darling, I don't think we
will be here much longer. I have the
'hunch.'
"We are still having lots of rain, and
I guesg that all it does in Germany
'is rain.
"So far I have not received my
Christmas box, but I suppose some ol
them have to go astray.
"Sergeant Kent Moody received
some Oregon City Enterprises today.
Ve sat right down and read them, too,
believe me.
"Mother, dear, don't worry about
me, I will be back with you soon.
"This town has population of
about 3,000, and Is about as lively as
New Era.
"Give my love to all.
"Your loving son,
"PRIVATE CHARLES RICHARDSON,
"Headquarters Troop, Third Army
CSorps, A. P. O. 754, France. A. E. F."
. .,- -...JSI fa' P
CM. Johnston of, 16th Company,
20th Engineers, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Jake Johnston of Portland, writes his
cousin, Miss Anna Rinearson of Glad
stone, as follows;
'Dear Cousin Anna: , , ; ,
"I received your letter of November
17 a week ago, and certainly enjoyed
reading It. It takes the letters from
home to cheer we fellows Up.
"Our company now is split up. Clar-
IOVVU
are stationed about 40 miles from the
headquarters, and are helping to fin
ish up sc. e work. I don't know just
hew much longer we will have to re
main here, but probably about two
months. Some say we will leave about
the first of February. We are won
deriug when we can leave for the best
country on earth. Believe me, it surely
Is the beet country without" a doubt,
for there isn't another country that
can come within a long way of the U. I
S. A.
"We see no wooden buildings In
France, All are built of stone with
tile roofs. Some of the houses have
the date when they were built I
remember one house in Castels with
the date of 1783 on it It didn't look
any different than the rest of the
buildings around it
"We don't see many horses in this
part of the country. Most of the work
done by mules or bullock teams
We see a good many little donkeys,
too.
"A short time ago I saw a French
man with all of his belongings on a
sort of a house affair on wheels, with
a donkey and a dog pulling it I would
have given almost anything to have
secured a picture of It but I was
away from camp and could not get
my kodak.
"I hear the supper call, so must
close."
)E& Pt
The body of the late Lowell Kent
who was drowned in New York har
bor a few weekB ago, has not yet been
found., He was a very popular youns
man and his many friends and rela
tives here are anxiously awaiting the
recovery of the body, and upon its
recovery it will be shipped to Ore
gon City for Interment
Pa P3 Ps
The death of Walter Kelly, son of,
Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Kelly, who.
died at Camp Meade, Maryland, Fri
day, due to pneumonia, has cast a
gloom over many of the camps where
the young mans friends are station
ed. Walter (Bud as he was familiarly
known here) waa one of the popular
boys enlisting in Oregon City. He was
well liked by the young men of his
company. The body is now on its way
to Oregon City, the home of the young
man, where burial is to take place.
Pa P Ei
Sergeant P. M. Rinearson, son of
Mr. and Mrs. P. M. Rinearson of
Gladstone, writes that he will leave
soon for the United States. He has
been stationed at Grand Pre, France,
with the Twenty-Seventh Engineers,
but when writing expected to leave
in a few days for the coast He is en
joying the best of health, and likes
France, but he will be glad to return
to his home in the United States.
fe Pa Pi
Otis Howard of Carus, who has been
in the navy for over a year, has re
ceived an hcnorable discharge, and
has returned to his home.
pi pa ie
John Say, son of Mr. and Mrs. Say
of Wilsonvlllej who is in the navy, is
on the U. S. S. Susquehanna. The
young man has had much experience
since entering the service, which he
will not soon forget The Sesque-
hanna was attacked three times by
submarines while he was aboard.
Pa Pa Pa
The following letter has been re
ceived by Mr. and Mrs. H. F. Rich
ards from their son Robert, who is
in France:
Jan. 21, 1919.
"Dear Mamma, Papa and all:
"Just had your letters of December
27 and SO. Was glad to hear from
horn1 again and that you are all well,
and that Charles is home again.
"Have just gotten over a very bad
cold, the first I had this winter.) 1
have done nothing at all for the past
eight days, but sit around the bar
racks and think of home.
"I have written to you every three
or four days and am glad you are
getting them all now. I can't help but
believe we will leave for the U. S. A.
in ten days or two weeks, as we have
done cur bit here and have been in
this camp long enough. Guess you
have read about this camp (Pononaz-
en). Some have the idea that we are
going to escort the President back as
we received him when he came here.
We have been very highly compliment
ed on everything we have done since
we have been here, even by Gen. Per
shing. It makes me awful homesick to
think of Charles being home, but I
think I'll be there by March 1, and 1
am fortunate if I get back by then
tor some of them will have to stay
here for several months, but I hope
that I am not among them. The
Eighth and the 319th Engineers are
the only parts of the Eighth Division
over here. The 12th, 13th and 62d In
fantry regiments of the Eighth Divi
sion were turned back three days at
sea just a day or two behind us. You
know there are four Infantry regi
ments to a division.
"Well, I have written about all 1
know, but will write again soon. Hop
ing to hear from soon, I am
"Your loving son,
nrvnimT w mr-WAimft
Co. B, 8th Inf., A. P. O., 716, A. E. F."
W-jRJfciUu ;J
Jim) a vX
' '
'Company SI, stationed at Fort IUtss,
Texas, a brother of Private Albert I.
Todd of Company It, 110 Infantry, A,
B. F., France, is slowly recovering
from an operation for appendicitis.
The operation was performed January
I, Corporal S. E. Todd has been In
the service two and one-half years,
graduating about a year ago from a
mechanical school at Fort Sam Hous
ton, Texas. He Is the second son of
Mrs. Vertle M. Todd of West Linn
Private Albeit I. Todd Is the eldest
son. The latte. was one of the Ore
gon City boys who left for Camp Lew
Is, June 24, and later went to Camp
Kearney, California. From there he
went to New York and then to France
arriving In France about August 6.
pa fca Pa
L. Ferguson has received several
letters recently from his son. Mechan
ic Oliver Ferguson of Battery D, First
Aircraft Battalion. Among those writ
tea was one dated November 22, 191S,
when he says:
"Just a line or two to let you know
that I am alive and well. I am not
quite so busy as I have been for the
past month, but still have quite a bit
to do.
My hand Is all O. K. again, but I
have a bum neck, and this la doing
fine now. I had a chunk of steel re
moved from my left eye this morn
ing, and am O. K.
"It Is almost as bad as war times
here today blowing up mines and am
munition by tons; makes the earth
fairly tremble. No machine guns or
rifles popping off though. Seems fun
ny not to be on the alert for Hun
planes all the time.
"I do not know If we will ever get
home or not. bat we all nave hopes
of It anyway."
The second letter is as follows:
Dec. 28. 191S.
"Dear Dad:
"Just a line to say hello, and to
thank you many, many times for the
Christmas presents. Everything came
through In fine shape.
"Say, dad, by the way, we are excit
ed over the fact that we are moving
In a few days. Of course, we don't
know if its to Germany or America,
but God knows. I hope it is America.
"I am not going to tell you any
news in this letter, as I have groat
hopes of seeing you before very long.
"This has been a hell of a war,
dad, but I have heard but very few
American boys are complaining, and
I have never heard a murmur out ot
an enlisted man. Of course, we "guys'
that are classed as 'only the regu
lars', don't expect much of a sendoff
when we come home, but that's all
right, we have done all we could for
good old U. S. A., and we will do It
over again If It Is asked of us.
"Well, dad, old pal, don't forget to
write, and give my regards to all my
friends and enemies, and don't for-
get to tell John Velockis hello for
me.
"I am as ever your son,
"MECHANIC OLIVER FERGUSON,
25th Battalion, First AnU-Aircraft
Sector, A. E. F., France."
Pa Si Pa
The Auxiliary of Company F, 18th
Engineers, Railway company, sent the
young men of the engineer company a
gift for Christmas of a purse that was
greatly appreciated by the young men.
The following letter was sent to the
auxiliary by Private Alfred Bigger,
son of Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Bigger of
this city: 1
France, Jan. 8, 1919.
"Oregon City Auxiliary of Co. F,
"Eighteenth Engineers, Railway Co.,
Oregon City, Oregon.
"Dear Friends:
"Your envelope containing a Christ
mas card and money order for $3.00
came into my possession yesterday.
My thankful feeling is beyond my Eng
lish vocabulary to express myself in
a manner that the occasion requires
Well, we will put it this way com
monly thanks and thanks many
times.
"The people are so kind at home
trying to do something in kindness
for their lads over here. It is hard to
think of any way that we might
repay for their grateful deeds. Well,
you know that we accomplished
what we were required to do. Further
more, we offered ourselves to the
county willingly, but the ones at home
had a bigger task than we had. If it
wasn't for those at home, who kept
us supplied, we could never have t'ac
ed the task, so the fighters did not
do it all
"Well, hoping to return one of these
days, I am going to thank you once
and with cheery wishes, I remain,
"Sincerely,
"PRIVATE ALFRED BIGGER.'
Pa Pa ta
Private Albert Todd has written the
following from Homecourt, France
January 5:
"Dear Mother:
"I will now answer your and Orien's
letters recently received. Was glad
to hear from home once more
"Don't you worry about the Christ-
man package. I was on my way back
to my company Christmas. I will al
ways remember that Christmas. I ate
dinner with the Red Cross at Toul that
day,
"I am doing military police duty
iow for a few days, but do not ex
pect to be here long, in fact, I will ex
pect to be on my way home before
long.
"I certainly would like to get that
dollar bill tor a keepsake, but I have
n't received it yet I travel too fast for
my mall to catch up with me. Your
letter of November 18, followed me
from the hospital.
"I returned to my company Janu
ary 1.
"With love from your son.
"ALBERT I. TODD,
Co. H, 110 Inf., A. E. F., France."
(The dollar referred to in the above
letter was from the Staff of the Wo
men's Patriotic Edition of the Morn
ing Enterprise. Private Todd was No.
65 on the list of young men to whom
the dollar and the letter, were sent
and it is hoped by the staff that the
letter will jeaQh..JblB3,hete. hasall.
"ir these renews' story is true, tnis
WEELKY SOLDIER LETTER
ill i . im i ... II ii ii II i i imi ii mi n
Mtes Alice Moor Is In receipt ot
the following letter twin her brother,
Lieutenant Carl Moore, with the 167th
Fluid Artillery, In Germany. The Iwt
ter was dated December 23. HUS, mid
Is as follows:
Neuemibs, Germany,
Deo. 33. 1918.
"My dear Alice: , '
"Received your letter today that
was written November IS, and as usu
al am glad to hear from yox My mall
seems to moot with disaster some
way. Ituve written plenty of letters
home to let you know I was still In
the 'game. Have received very few.
"Well, we are at our destination
and somewhat contented to stay for
awhile in the place. It Is a resort
one of the famous watering' places.
The well-known Anotllmtrls Mtnerul
water comes from this particular spot,
but we haven't bothered drinking It
much. Just bathe In It every day and
drink the good old Rhine wine by the
quart. This Is healthier than the water
here.
"It's pretty tough to so through for
six months of the kind of stuff we did,
then hike 150 miles and then when
we felt worse to suddenly put us Into
a big hotel with all these ceremonies
(long since forgotten), Somehow 1
feel like I was on a vacation and that
I will be going back to dugouts, cel
lars, pup tents, old shucks, barns,
cooties, hard tack, etc.
"Well, It's a great mid fitting end
ing. This ts a place that people spend
thousands of dollars to come to stay a
few weeks, and It is all ours. All the
note's of the towns, snd there are
many, are taken over by the Ameri
cans. t
"We hear plenty of rumors as to
when w shall go home, but there Is
nothing official as yet. Rather doubt
ful If we start before peace Is signed
at the earliest. Being so well located
and comfortable, I believe I would pre.
fer waiting right here tor a couple of
months for this moving in the winter
time Is fierce. Will lie quite con
tented to be back by spring or early
summer. Now that everything Is over,
am getting anxious to get buck to
work again. It will mean about five
years out of our lives, but it was
well spent.
"I had some close calls, especially
on the Chateau-Thierry front last July
and early August. I was with the ar
tillery then, and know what real war
fare Is. In one place I lived In a lit
tle hole in the ground just big enough
to lie In, and about a foot deep. We
dug them under shell fire, and squir
rels or badgers never had anything on
us. It all seemed like a big game.
There was more fun In It than one
could Imagine. One fellow close to me
was sitting on the edge of his fox
hole, as tiiey are called, when he
heard a shell coming (they are very
pleasant about announcing their ar
rival by a few seconds), made a dive
for his hole In the ground, but the
shell was a little too fast for him,
and exploded nearby, and sent a big
piece of dirt his way, catching him
just as he was getting ready to dive
and turned him compeltely over, but
did not hurt him in the least. Such
things seem very funny at the time,
especially when we see the sheepish
look on the victim's face.
"I was in a farm house with my aid
station and for five days and nights
shells and gas shells broke constantly
In a circle around me, and only one
hit the building, which was a big one,
and of course it didn't happen to be
my room.
"Will write more later.
"Hoping your Christmas was) a
merry one,
"With love,
"CARL."
Pa' Pi Pi
The following letter has been re
ceived by Mr. and Mrs. .W. C. Green
from their son. Private W. Clyde
Green, who is iu France with the 369
Aero Squadron:
DInard, France,
January 8, 1919.
"Dearest Mother and Dad:
"I am writing this from the Hotel
La Provence in Dinard. I am on my
seven days' leave, now, and surely
have enjoyed it much bo far. I left
camp December 30, and went to Paris,
where I put In 21 hours, and certanly
got to see a lot of It In the time 1
was there.
"Our leave center Is situated up on
the northern coast of France, and It
surely Is a very beautiful spot. We
just came In yesterday, and have been
on the go continually since then.
"The Y. M. C. A. and the govern
ment is surely giving us lots of enter
tainments during our stay. We are
housed In a very nice hotel, and the
eats are very good also. We expert to
take quite a number of trips around
"Well, I have just returned from the
Y. M. C. A., where we were delight
fully entertained by four American
girls (The Liberty Four) and thought
I would drop you a few lines before
crawling Into my bottomless French
bed.
"You can't Imagine how the fellows
went wild at the appearance of a real
Yankee girl tonight, I tell you there
Is no comparison 'with them. The
French girl may be very attractive
and all that, but give me Miss Ameri
can every time.
"Well, I am feeling fine and dandy,
but hate to think that in a day or two
we will leave for our army camp,
"We were unable to secure tickets
for the large Y. M. C. A. sightseeing
bus so we hired a taxi to follow it
wherever it went, and thus got In on
the trip. We first went to the Palais
ot Justice, where we saw the Saint
Chappelle, an old chapel connecting
with the Palais. This was very ancient
and had some very beautiful works of
art in it. Then the Palais of Justice,
where all the courts of France were,
was extraordinarily beautiful, hav
ing rooms costing immense fortunes.
I saw where the spies were tried and
sentenced to be shot in this war, and
the supreme court room was wonder
rD mtii io uuiftiimn " " "
ted church. Here we saw wonderful
things, such as different kinds of arch
ItoeliUre, altars, carvings and the
handsome, world noted rose colored
window. From there we wont to ihe
Pantheon do I.a Gurrti, which was a
bountiful painting of the different tut
tlotw (allies) in the war. This large
painting covered a wall nlmul 30 or
it) feet high and about 1000 feet
long. It wua painted by 16 of France's
bent artists, and showed each nation
aa It entered the wsr. It Is
the hotel men grouped In It. It Is
the most life-like picture 1 hate ever
mien, and I cannot begin to describe
It to you or thai postals will not show
you either,
"From here wo saw the Eiffel Tow
er. Then we saw the Chumps Elyssoa
to the Place dj Concorde where all
the captured Herman guns were lined
up for blocks and blocks, We saw the
church of St. Genevieve, which con
tafnect many wonderful carvings In
stone and wxiod. The Interior of the
church Is most wonderful to see. We
then roamed about In Paris on foot
taking In a movie show and nix tit see
ing. "It was surely worth a lot to us,
to make this visit to Paris.
"We left Paris In the evening for St.
Malo out on the Garde Invalid. We
were sorry that wo were unable to
remain louger, but we wore anxious
to go to St Malo also.
"I sent you a package of touvonlra
today, so be on the lookout for It.
"Your loving sou,
"CLYDE"
P
Mrs. M. Glo of 1419 Washington
street. Is In receipt of two Interesting
letters from her son. Corporal Fred
A. Glo, of Company E, 411 Telegraph
Battalion, Signal Corps, In France.
One of the letters Is dated January
15 and the other January 19. He tells
of a trip he had taken during his sev-en-days'
furlough when he saw many
sights In Paris, among those the noted
painting 1000 feet In length showing
the battlefield and the allien.
The first letter follows:
' I am going on a seven days' pass
over to a place near Italy. It takes
three days to make the trip each way,
for we do not travel at night We
travel by train. There are four of us
going on the trip. One of the fellows
to make the trip Is Hen Solborg of
Spokane, the young man I used to
chum around with In Mouterey, Cali
fornia, after I entered the service, and
while In training there.
"It will be about the first of Feb
r.iary before we return to camp, and
I wouldn't be surprised If we don't
start for tho boat from there,
and not come back here. I am packing
all of my junk; so they ran take It
along in case they do leave.
"Well, the government pays all ex
penses, such as eats, railroad fare and
the hotel bill, so I think I can have a
pretty fair time, but will take some
extra money along, In case there will
be any extra expense.
"Will close now, and write of the
trip when I reach my destination.
"FRED."
P31 P3 PS
, Alxles-Hains, France
Jan. 19, 1919.
"Dear Mother:
"Well, here I am In Alx-les-Halns.
Arrived here this morning and will
b here for eight days. It took Sol
berg and I four days to make the
trip, as we had to lay over In two
places on the way down. Was In Par
is one day nnd two nights, and say,
It was hard to leave there, for It Is
the best city I have ever boon In to
have a good time.
"Wo spent most of the first even
ing in walking around the streets,
looking Into the windows at the won
derful display of goods. They have the
most up-to-date clothes and all the
late sty'es in the large stores.
"Some of the most wonderful paint
lngs of the war are also seen-there.
One painting especially Impressed
me. This was of the war, when It
showed 2000 men. They are the heroes
of the war. Some of these whom are
(load, and some are still alive. The
picture has 300 square yards of can
vas In It.
"We spent the day looking over the
city and riding on the sub-way. At
ni;;ht we took In the Casino theatre.
and this was certainly some show.
There were over 200 French girls ap
pearing in the acts, who danced and
sang. We took two young ladles with
us who are sisters, having mot them
while at Versailles last July while we
were stationed there, but who are now
residing In Paris. These are the nicest
girls I have met elnce I have been In
France, and they are employed as
inllllnors. The show was out at 11:30
o'clock, and Instead of waiting
to partake of a dinner after the show
as it is so late when they close we
decided to partake of the dinner be
fore the show. We surely had some
feed, and thoroughly enjoyed It.
"It was while we were In Paris we
partook of some ot our meals at the
headquarters of the Red Cross, and
say, the Red Cross members make a
fellow feel likes he was In his own
home. Dinner and supper only cost.
15 cents and breakfast only cost 10
cents at the Red Cross headquarters
All these meals were good, too, Meals
at the restaurants and cafes cost
from $1 to $2.
"I don't remember of ever having a
better time in my life before than
those two days.
"Well, we had to leave Paris, for
soldiers are not allowed to remain
there for but twelve hours between
trains. The next pace we visited was
Lyons. It is the second largest city
In France, We only stayed there over
night, so we did not see much of the
city.
"They have the finest railroad sys
tern in France that I havo ever seen
We got on any train we felt like, and
rode until we got ready to get off, and
only saw the conductor once during
the entire trip. Then he charged us
"This place Is up In the mountains,
and there Is snow on (ho hills around
hero, and thi weather Is pretty cold
"The Y, M. C. A. Is putting ou all
the amusements for the men who are
on leave. Beadle having shows, many
other amusements are allowed sol
diers. x"Our expenses are all paid by the
United States while we are here. We
have a good room, good beds, with
one man to the lied. We gel three
meals a day, and there Is a good bath
bouse here, where we rail enjoy min
eral baths. This place Is up In the Alps
mountains, and the scenery around
here I sniost wonderful.
"The city Ik tho place whore Harry
Thaw lost a fortune In gambling, but
there Is no gambling here now.
"Well, mother, this trip t one of
a life time. We got to see places that
people of America spend thousands of
dollars to see, and It doesn't cost us
a cent. Well, we earned It, when wo
were chasing tho Huns out of France,
so I am not ashamed to take It free.
I am sorry you are not here to see
It, so I am going to do the next best
thing I know, and that Is to bring
home post cards ot all the places
where I have been nnd explain them
to you,
"The French people havo gone mad
over President Wilson. They are
street here In Alx lea-Hulas after him
today.
"I don't know how much longer
wo will be over here, but It looks as
If we won't leave before March or
April. ,
"The experience I havo hud since
naming all the streets and large build
ings, bridges, and In fuot, there Is
something In every town named after
our president, They named the main
June 29. 1917, Is worth thousands or
dollars to me.
" Dvar mother. I must close now,
I am going to send this lettor through
the French mall. It will be the first
letter I have sent that way and I do
hope It reachee you O. K.
"All the love In the world to you.
dear mother.
, "Your loving son,
"FRED,"
m Pi pa
A letter has been received by J. Ii.
Hitter, prominent resident of Aurora,
Kouto 2, from his son, Corporal Frank
Rlttor, with the Fourth Engineers, In
the Army of Ocupatlon In Germany,
The young man la well known In the
southern part of Clackamas county,
and In other sections of the county.
He was born and reared in this county,
attended the Canby high school and
volunteered his service in the Culled
States Army lit April, 1917. After
training In Vancouver, Wash,, and In
North Carolina, he crossed over to
France In May, 1918, He was at the
front In the big drive July 18, where
so many ot our brave boys tell, and
he was one who went over tho top,
and was again on his way to the frout
when the armistice was signed. Ho
then started on the long march along
the Rhine Into Germany.
The following la the letter:
Edlger, Germany,
January 1, 1919.
"Dear Dad:
"I was very glad to receive your
welcome letter this afternoon, and
that everyone Is feeling well and get
ting along alright
"As It Is New Year's day and no
work, I will answer your letter right
away.
"Our work has been the main road
three or four hoars a day until after
the holidays.
This Is about the best place
we have struck In Germany. Wo have
two fairly comfortable rooms. There
are six boys and myself together.
"As you probably already know this
town Is on the bunks of the Mosolo
river. The hills, which slope abruptly
down to the stream, are covered with
vineyards. We think that raising
grapes here Is rather a hard life, as
all tne work Is done by band, and at
this time of year, we see thu people
packing fertilizer up these bit's In big
baskets on their backs.
The people in the small villages
seem to havo plenty to eat. Of course
some things are scarce, such as fats,
and ceroals. The one thing they have
plenty of is beer and wine hero. There
ure several stores here selling a few
things that haven't been used during
the war.
"Some of the people hero say that
tho people on the other side of the
Rhine are having trouble themsolves
The election for a now form of govern
ment will start the ninth of this
month. Peace ought to bo signod, and
wo on our way home before spring
or summer If things go all right, but
If the rioting doesn't stop, we might
have to go to Berlin.
"The country of Germany Is some
what similar to Franco, and Is rather
artificially preserved. All the forests
are idantod- in rows. There Is quite a
bit of spruce and ouk, also a bit of
beuch and pine, but thero Is very lit
tle fir. It can be noticed that every
thing has been planted and built from
a military base.
Although rather thickly populated
there Is quite a bit of wild game In
these parts. There are small rod doer,
wua nogs anu a iow pnoasants or
game birds. Some of the boys in oui
company got one or two of the former
with a rifle. I have seen several deor
whon on the road.
"You may know that I got a small
promotion a few months ago. My pay
Is now $40, and after my Insurance
and allotment Is taken out I receive
$14.40 por month. We will draw our
pay for this month soon, as the money
Is here, but as money isn't much use
here, we are not In a hurry,
"I am feeling fine. The work is not
hard; the chow is good, and our quar
ters are always fair and above all
things the war is won and over, mak
ing the time shorter for our home
coming.
"Will close, hoping this finds every
one feeling fine and getting along all
right, will close with love to all.
' "Your affectionate son,
"FRANK."
)(1fAiT. Hedges has received the fol
IUhIri'Si who U In France; , m
January T, 111
"Dear Father:
"Your card, wtitluu Jjoceiabsr Ith
reached me today, It was the first
word from the States that t huve re
ceived for several awkn, with the ex
ception of your last letter, There
ecm to bo some hold up In ( mail
us there has been very Itttls some la
for anyone lately,
"The ciiinp Is a inlKbty lonesome
place now. There are only esost 40 ot
us left hero to take care ot shipping
the equipment and closing up, Thu
others (about 1200) left for Us port
of dubarluttlou on Tuesday morning,
January 2, They are probably on the
way across now. At present I m lak
Ing care of tho detachment mst and
helping with some of the other work.
Us a case of everyone taking a baud
with a small detachment ltk tills
Since th main body left, fcave
been living ratlmr well. We ho mov
ed Into one of tho officers' burrauks
and are eating ut the old officers'
mess, They left a fair slxed minis
fund, which tiiukoM It poeslblo to have
a good ninny things that are tot la
eluded in the Issue ration,
"We expect to b through hsrs and
ready to leave In sbout five weeks
hut we do not know whether it will be
for the States or another camp for
further duty on this side, I sincerely
hope It Is tho former. Now that the
war Is over I am anxious to ret.ira
home. Although 1 havo experienced no
particular, hardships comparatively
since my enlistment, still ont l de
prived ot a great many of tbs pleasur
able things of life - chiefly fretdom
of action and personal tndepeaseaee.
One's every uiovemeut practically In
dictated and controlled by ordsrs from
others.
"Tho weather continue bsil. tt has
been ruining almost steadily fur over
two months and lately we have had
storms blowing In from tbs eceua at
regular Intervals, 1 iiiunot rsmsiaber
of having experience,! such an unin
terrupted period of rainy ther,
even Is Oregon.
"You have not tmmiioiied rotelvlng
the views of Nice and Monts Carlo
which I mailed shortly after I siit
Dwlght the packet of stumps I kope
they were not lost us 1 will no, be
able to obtain any more now,
"I hope to get another farlosga We
foro leaving France. My second ne
Is duo at tho end of thu month. I urn
anxious to see Paris for I wi tier
fur only a short tltim whes I went
thro.igh on my lat'tr.
"You ran continue to address me as
before. We will be hero for seme time
Bud when we leave our mail win fol
low us.
"Iaivb to all.
"JOB."
"Hgt. Jos ('. Hedge, tn. Jess 4
Mont., A. K, F France."
Pa Pi p
A letter has been received by Mrs.
A. Goxesky r this city, from her son.
Sergeant Anthony J. Gnieeky, of the
Ninety-sixth Company. Sixth Regl
ment. Unlld States Marines. The
young man was thought to have bi en
among the casualties for some time.
the family not having heard from him
for some time until Just a few weeks
ago, this having been the first word
received since the armistice was sign
ed, This was d.ie to the young man
being In Germany and had no station
ery where he w located,
. Hlgelbach, Germany,
November IS, 1111.
'Dear Mother:
"Just dropping you a few lines t
lot you know that I am well. This la
Thanksgiving day, and I can be thank-
mi that the war is near the end.
"I am sorry I could not write on
oftener, but we are on the go all of
tho time and I knew that If I were
killed or wounded you would have
been notified by telearanh. which
would be quicker than by lettor.
I wont ovor tho top on November
1, In tho big drlvo north of Verdun.
France, and we kept the Germans on
the run for ton days until tlio armis
tice was declared, then wo took up
tho march and marched tliro.igli s
part of Franco, Belgium und Luxem
burg. We are at tho border of Gor
many right now, and we expect to
march to tho rlvor Rhine soon.
"Wo are not doing any fcht!n
rlcht now, but are following tho Gor-
niaiis out of tho Invaded territory, and
soe that they get out. We aro riant
at tholr hools, Wo are in Luxemburg,
and they are In Gormnny. Wo can mm
thorn just across the border now while
wo are marching through Helium
and Luxemburg. Wo were clven a wnl.
come by tho people, who were glad
to soe the Germans chased from their
homes. All the villages wore In ruins.
The Germans had blown the homes off
tho earth, nnd when wo camo through,
tho peop'e wore so glad that thoy
were crying. I'p near tlio Fronch bor
der the Germans had taken all their
cuttle and food with thorn, and left
the people almost starved, The people
In Luxemburg wore not troatod llku
that bocauso thoy talk tho Gorman
language. Very few have horses, ana
thoy havo to use their cows for till
ing tho land, and transportation.
"We had quite a hard time, but
nothing compared to theeo people.
"It sure makes a fellow glad that
lie wont over tho top to make the
world a decent place to live in. A
good many of our boys roll In those
battles, but we never lost our nerve
and kopt right on, I had a good many
narrow escapes, but I was novor hit
"I have not hoard from brother
Mike (Stanley), but suppose he is safe
behind the lines. The supply compan
ies do not got in much danger for
they are in the rear of the reserves.
The men that risk their lives are the
ones that go over the top, and a good
many In the rear lines tell how hard
"y ngni wnon thoy are
about five or ten miles away. The
people in the States think they are
doing something when they buy liber
ty bonds, but Just let them think about
tho boys that go over the top and
face the German guns. Just think of
the nerve it takes when you can see
your comrade got killed or wound
ed right before your eyes, then yon
take bis place. That is whaj put the.
"-III." "