TIIE SUNDAY OREGOXIAX, rORTLAXD, FEBRUARY 3, 1918.
LETTERS AND STORIES FROM OREGON MEN TELL OF BIG WAR
Portland Youth Write of
Christmas Abroad.
Feast at Knar. Mmr Friendly
Taaa Taaaa af Kaalaad.
E. n. ROOT. 43 North East
renty-aeventh street, has re-
ceuM several letters from her on
Talcott. who ta "lom.wherfl In France
lla appears to be very well aatiafied
with tha condition of affatra and with
the treatment they ' receiving. Parts
? hia letters ir given here.
The first letter waa written Aucu.it
17. soon after Ihey arrived over there.
II writes: "Wa had a rather un
eventful trip over and the only excite
ment In the ihapa of a sub-fllver. waa
a barrel with a pole extending upward.
When sighted about five or six miles
away. It areatly resembled a submarine.
We will probably have a day In London
aoon. I think It will be Sunday and if
.it Is it will be a quiet trip. I under
stand that almost all establishments,
exreptlna; the reataurant. are closed on
that day. liut that will suit most of
u better any way. for It will live the
boys a chance to see a little of the
city."
Another letter was written from
'somewhere in Prance" on September
1. lie says: "Letters from home are
always welcome. Kvery time there Is
a shipment of mail, there Is a lot of
excitement and several disappointed
men.
"He all miss American I-ake. with
Its bathtns fai'iltties. It is not quite
aa convenient here. We have to be
very careful about ahal we rat and
what we drink, so there Is not much
danger of any of us contracting disease
from that source.
-This Is a very pretty country. There
are lota of frul- and flowers. The
rural scenery is very much like tli
at home. W have not seen much of
the lara-er cities, although I hope to
see ona In a few days. The people
hera are much more friendly and show
mora hospitality than those in Knarland.
They rive as fruit In small quantities
when wa happen to pass their homes.
Where w are ramped now. wa ara in
walking distance from a place where
w can vet anything to drink from
wipe to soda wa'er.
-We have been havinr delichtful
weather here lately, and it looks like
It will lapt for some time, although the
sjta-ht are quite cool."
The last letter was written on le
eember :: -It seemed very Mrs nit e for
me not to be home f'r I'hristmas.' he
write. "V. e all marie the beet of it
and htpe t. be home before next
hrltms. Yesterday was quite a day
here. Keveiile sounded i.3. an hour
and a half Uit than uul The band
played The Cane's All llrrc." while we
were dressing. We had a good dinner,
like the one e had ThankseivltiK. The
largest part of the mall has not ar
rived, so we still have something ta
look forward to. The Northwest Steel
Company sent a large box to seven of
os. which we appreciated. It contained
a pair of mittens, for each man. two
pairs of thick woolen aochs. pair of
rttlet. some tobacco and a lot of
llemhev" choeol.ile. The slide from
the auxiliary lias not arrived, but we
rtpert It klmiid any time."
U. S. Soldiers in France
Crave Music
es ' Panalar Taaea ta the
!!. la Wtaa Mrsitfl Appeal.
UMVKI'.SITV OF Ol:Ei!S. Eugene.
Krb. r (Special "If anyone
wants to .end anything to the soldiers.
I think music would be the most ap
preciated" Thla Is the message which
Ettiaheth Mewart. a librarian at the
T. M. . A. headquarters, with the
American Expeditionary Eorre. In
Paris, sends to the people of Oregon In
a letter Jut received on the campus.
"This morning there waa a secre
tary In from the field who said that
for about lii men thev had on-y one
old volume of hymns which had been
pwtped from another hnt: that one sol
dier had brought about eight song
ever with him. and IMS was all thev
bad bad for monthj." writes Miss
Stewart. They had played and sung
lh.:n until they were ail worn out. be
side everyone being tired of them.
"He wanted some new. popular songs,
something besides hymnals, which we
could supply, and he was going down
town to nee if he could buy any new
music. There is little to be had here.
of course and anyone who wants
to
spend a few dollars in buying
some
a lot.
popular sturr woum ne cnoioa
Two or three dollars would buy a
lot in
the t'nlted States. A
10-cenl store Is
a good place to buy.
"If you could get The Sunshine of
Tour Smile" There's a 1.0ns. Long
Trail.' 'Ijttie Gray Home In the West.'
A Perfect pay. etc.. they Ilka these as
well aa the popular ones Maybe your
rlnfe would like to take uo a collection.
If you will send It to me I will see that
It gets to the right plxce.
"I would buv It. but I can't get
those thlras here. Vou know how boys
love to sine. It Is their principal sol
ace here and evrry hut. no matter how
deep In tne mad. has a piano. They
like Instrumental music, too.
"Saturday there waa the oddest cou
ple of young feilowa In from a place
where the mud Is knee deep. They
looked so grubby, aa though their
bands bad not been clran f.v weeks.
T'lty were In town for a musical show
rh.y are going to have for Christ
tnae. "Some show it Is going to be.'
they said. Where they are they haven t
even a hut and the I'nited Stales
seemed as heaven to them.
-The secretary this morning said
that the men sometimes sing for an
hour an. I a half before Martina; any
service, for they love If and have favo
rite after favorite eon g."
Oregon City Nurse Serving
Nation in France.
Mlaa AHev area aya Weaeded e4
dlera Have Every Care.
f 153 JUICK STOVE, of Orciroa City
XlX who 9 a aur la th Harvard
ttn't in Trmiet. has written a very
tnt"rttnic Ittrr to ore of her friend
la Brd. Or, In wbuA Fives
rler undrt.ndmc cf conditions a
they ttlt In th hospitals -over
there. and th thtn- rooet needed
at the present time.
"Wi d not bav many K"d Cross
articles here. she says. "Our sup
plies are furnUhrd by the Government,
nut the casualty rleartnc station has
ail of tho thing. They go to Ens
land, where tby wear the rculatlon
rlothe. supplied by Ihs hospital. So
o not bother about anv of tho thlnas.
Jf any of your friends ran knit, we
ronld qm any amount of mitts they
are like mitten, exrept that they do
rot rover the fingers. I aUo ran ut
stockinc or socka VV haven't any
for bed socks. Other thine whk-a
are .?ful are scarfs and larce hand
kerchiefs. Thy can b mad out of
an 'tuns;
-f coiipm.,w have thousands here
sad one can nevr have ennuch. but It
t at? to atve them soma tittla thine.
Tha boys ara we,! takrn care of. Our
wanta ara made of canvaa, each hsv-
Ing a rapacity of from to 0 beds.
Our unit cares for 100 men at a time.
We are a clearing; station, and patients
only slay here until they are well
enough to be shipped to Wighty. They
are taken from tha field to the C. C. S.
and brought down here by the train.
"Fractures and head cases arc the
only ones remaining with . us any
length of time. They are placed in
huts and are quite well cared for. The
boys who have to go bark to the lines
receive the most attention. We try
to give them some little thing. I five
them a box of cigarettes, matches, pair
of aocks. chocolate, gum. etc. They
have their knapsack, but can't carry
much.
"There are several units here, so
there are several thousand patients,
and with the It. A. M. C. tKoyal Army
Medical Corps), the medical officers and
nur.es we- have a city by ourselves.
"We are not near any city, and It
Is four or five milea to the nearest
town. There are no amusements ex
cept what we make for ourselves, but
we have Jolly times. We have danea,
play hockey, etc. There are Y. M. C. A.
buts for the patienta and a recreation
V
' af - .
4
Taleatt H. Real. Portland Boy.
Mao la la Kraaee With Railway
Ksalaeerm. Company K.
hut for the ones who are able to go.
"At first 1 did ward duty, which I
liked. Then I served for two months
in the operating theater. I am on ward
duty In the surgical ward of 48 beds.
We are very busy, and the patients are
quite 111. as they usually are after an
attack on the line. "We all work hard.
Thlnga finally quiet down and we
empty the wards, and wa do not have
much to do.
We do not let our work affect our
nerves, but one cannot help but get a
bit discouraged and wonder when It
will ever end. Sometimes we sonde:
If it ever will, and If we will ever be
hie to live to help.
"It seems hard to have our American
boys come over here. They never com
plain, and the sickest of tliem are Jolly.
"Our huts are quite copy, we have
nice rooms with a tiny stove. our
coal is issueq earn day. w e are not
In our rooms much, so we have enough
coal to keep ua warm. It gets very
cold here, as we are near the sea. But
we came prepared for that. Our food
i Is good, and we hava plenty. Sugar
Is very scarce. We have the aamc
things to eat all of the time, but we
do not mind that. The boys do not have
the variety that we do. but they fare
pretty well. (ccaslonally a box of
home-made rooktee or a box of candy
Is a treat for alt Small packages are
raster to send.
"I Just sent 10 patients to Blighty
and have received as many more. They
are all gas rases and are of a serious
Tiature "
Trench Life Is Not All Work,
Writes U. S. Soldier.
Rlehare . Canaan ays Time la
Koaad far !' Over There.""
ITH all of our work and worry.
we always have time to hava a
litt:o fun." writes Hlrhard F. Cannon,
who Is with tha United States Engi
neers "Somewhere In France. Tha
letter la unusually Interesting in s;lv
tns; the personnel of the company, tha
menu which wa served for Christmas
dinner and a general description of
condition.
Tsrts of It ara as follows:
"Mother, dear. w have Just finished
our Christmas dinner and say. mother.
It sure was some dinner I don't think
I will ever forget It aa Ions; aa I
live. Will send you tha menu and tha
personnel of our little party. Really,
no ona can Imaactna tha pleasure wa en
joyed from that meat If you people
could have stepped in and seen us at
the table you would hava put all worry
to the wind. We aura hava a Jolly
bunch: wa never siva each other a
chance to sret lonesome. X would hate
to leave this bunch.
"Our bunch ara all sixes the tallest
Is feet 5 Inches tall; tha smallest
S feet 1 inch. There are nine of us all
told. Vou can lmavlna ma walkintr
down the street with the tall fellow.
A1 the French people look out of the
windows and think it Is a (crest joke;
but you know I always cause amuse
ment for the people wherever I fo.
A bunch of us went down to the
villa last mcht for supper. When
we came home 1 (tot ready for bed and
when I went to fret into b-d first I col
lided wtfh a stovepipe, three boards,
psper baes. macs lines and other ar
ticles too numerous to mention. The
' little fellow. Joe. found near'y the same
' things in his bed. lie trot a candle and
I lit It so ha could ret the thlntrs out of
j bed. A'l of a sudden someone let a
! ptllow fly and out went the candle. By
. th time he cot tha candle lit a rain his
blankets and mattress had disappeared
so that is the may It goes. With all
our work and worry we always find
time for a I:ttla fun.
"Oh, yes: tnt mom In I had a sad
thine happen while pet tin out of my
bunk. I caucht my pants on the cor
ner of the bunk and tha sad story is
that thev are In the tailor shop now
"Tell th little Captain that I am al
ways thinkln of htm and mben I see
the little French children runnln
around I think how well off he Is.
Have him write mo a letter, as I will
ha arlad to hear how ha is ettlnr alonr
la school. AIo te:i him to be a ood
boy and work hard, for he will have
to do his brother's shara of the work
at home.
"How ara grandma and tha re?t of
the folks making It? Giva them all my
love.-
Menu for Christmas dinner: Roast
turkey, walnut dressing, brown gravy.
creamed potatoes, war bread and but
ter, French pastry, blackberry Jam, ap
ple cake, cheese, apples, fies. assorted
nuts, cocoa, Peter's milk chocolate. Pall
All Cigarette.
Tha fo'lowinr were at tha dinner:
!e win laeidl. Kdward T. I.irht. Jack
I .e becker. Joseph Brooke. Clarence A.
r'rali. Forrest iStansbiiry. Albert ft.
Potts. Arthur Lynch. John R Hosley,
leeander Com nines. lUcbard F. Cannon,
Kmc at aUucaa,
'Central Powers Literally
Starving Now."
Or. Charlea V. Moore. Formerly of
Taia City, faya Kgga Worth 40e Ex.
GERMANY and Austria literally are
starving and in Austria today eggs
are 40 cents apiece, according to word
Just received from Dr. Charles U. Moore,
formerly a practicing physician in the
Cor be it building, now doing Red Cross
work in Italy.
Under date of December 20, Dr.
Moore writes from Milan, Italy:
On November 14. two doctors and seven
other ffced i'rues workers wvn svnt down
io uome rmro farts In answer to the csli
of AJMjor Murphy after the big German drive
In the re k ion of Venice. After a day in
Home, a air. Chandler snd myself were sent
to Milan, in the province Of Ixtmbardy, in
Northern Italy.
JUllan Is the "New York" of Italy. There
are more than ft.OuO.OoO In habitats In thla
province of Leomoardy one-seventh of the
population of all Italy, and. of course, we
have our full share of refugees. For I
while Ibry arrived at the rate of 10,000 I
day.
The enthusiasm with which the Ameri
can Consul and the American colony re
reived us w as most eratliyin. These
Northern Italians are like Americans In
their speed and enerey. Jn tour days we
had a canteen ready, capable of feeding
3iH twice dtuly.
Last week 1 opened our refute home (hos
pital of x beds. Our patients axe women
and children, of whom five are tiny In
fants, and I am praying for American
nurses.
rart of my work has been Inspection and
Investlsjatlon of the needs In surrounding"
til tea and towns. At B reset u, I found that
for Ji days they had fed dally at the
station thousands of refiiKes. Many are
riaaed by their calamity and by their clone
quarters, shut up in a boxcar fur several
days, and are unable to speak or move
until roueed from their stupor. One day
there were four children found dead in
one car upon ita betiis opened. One poor
mother m irh twtna a day old was com
pelled to leave her home In flight before
the advancing German hosts.
In Como I found K50 refugees housed In
an old silk factory most of them old men
and women unable to leave their beds.
These consist of straw ticks placed on Inch
boards and supported by saw horses eight
Inches high.
I find one of the greatest needs of these
poor refugees, aside from food and shelter.
Is shoes. Many hundreds are practically
barefooted. But as the American Red Crons,
well ss the Italian government, has
put certsln funds at our dtnpopjaL. we are
able. In some measure, to meet this cry
ing need.
About half of my time Is spent at our
refuge home, the other half at purchasing
supplies and supervising a warehouse for
the American Ked Cross for Italy. 1 hope
that the permanent commission for Italy
may choose Milan as the headquarters and
put a large personnel here, as this Is the
center of activities en account of this prov
ince being the Industrial and economic cen
ter of Italy.
Clothing Is cheaper here than In the
t'nlted Ptates. Food Is plentiful and reason
able In price. We usually have meat In
some form twice a day. There are two
meatless days a week, but I didn't know
It until told, as liver, kidneys, brains, fish
and bacon are not meat. Butter, though.
Is very scarce: In fact, have had it only
one since coming to Italy. Sugar, too. is
conserved very carefully.
Whea one considers how Germany and
Austria are literally starving. It i-mi Italy
has no food shortage at all. In Austria
eggs are 4 cents apiece now. Italy's
greatest need Is fuel: two armfuls of wood
cost Ho most people do wlrhout heat,
though the climate is very similar to that
of Portland.
The best news from America Is that Con
gress has declared war on Austria. The
Italians are highly pleased. It means much
to Itslv In morale.
Packages Sent Soldiers Not
Received, Says Officer.
Captala Carrier Declsrea Gifts
Lswally Iisappear Fa Route.
PORTTjANT. Vancouver Barracks,
Fort Btevens and Astoria friends of
Captain W. P. Currier, United States
Army, now with the Quartermaster Pe-
partnient In London, will be interested
to read a recent letter from him. fn
dor date of December 16 he writes from
London:
"Dear Friends. It seems st ran are. no
doubt. I have not given you a word.
but 1 have not bad an opportunity.
This ts not an Idle dream and not the
usual casual remark to cover one's
procrastination. Weeks seem but days
to me and my mind cannot fathom the
lapse of time.
"Christmas is almost on top of us,
but 1 hardly know It nor will it seem
like Christmas to me. Judging from
several New York papers 1 have read
It may not be like past Christmas to
you. There are changes with you too.
Count yourself happy, though, and
blessed. Indeed, that you are with your
wives and children in your own homes.
I want you to get that fact in your
minds and which would be the best
Christmas to millions of us who have
It not. Vou. who taste the apices of
Arabia and think not of the effort
which brings them forth are indeed to
be pitied. Many a home in America
will be broken as not before with
some absent, never to return. Some of
the rest of you will thoughtlessly kick
and complain and bemoan the fact of
some inconvenience and lump it on our
Uncle's shoulders, forgetting the in
comparable blessings' which are denied
Uncle's boys at the front or at home
You will get this after Christmas, but
PA9CO YOUTH, A MEMBER OF
BATTERY A. MHO DIED 131
FRANCE JAVLARV lift.
C'larrare K. aaatrdt.
PASCO. Wash, Feb. !. (Spe
cial.) Tha Paaco Rd Cross now
haa two arold stars on Its service
fla. which signify the death of
two of Pasco's soldier boys, O. A.
8torment and Clarence H. San
stedt. Htormcnt who was In the
Nary, died In a New York hospi
tal and his body was brouKht to
Pasco for burial. Sanstedt, a mem
ber of Battery A. remitted at
Walla Walla, died on January 20
In France, the cause of his death
helna: pneumonia. His parents.
Mr. and Mra. J. E. Sanftedt. are
old resldenta of Pasco, the fam
ily beinir well known to nearly
everyone In the city. Both boys
enlisted In the service, being ea
ger to serve their country.
- . . .." v,- !
reflect on what some are saying- to
you. Watch for the Bolo and Boloiam
I trust you know what that is from
your daily papers. You have some
insidious pro-Germans around you.
"This la my address: Care of Chief
Quartermaster. American Embassy
London. I wish again to thank you
for those cigarettes. They were ample
for the trip across the continent-and
ocean. They are unobtainable here.
and are considered luxuries. Sugar,
butter, tea. coffee and matches are
scarce. But please do not send me
anything, because I do not believe
will receive it. My experience and
others' is that whatever is sent by our
friends at home is conveniently gath
ered in by some one on the way. I
have no news I am allowed to write.
I am well and in pood spirits. Regards.
"Yours sincerely,
-WILaLIAM A. CURRIER.'
Soldiers in France .Grateful
for Tobacco.
Willi ana H. Lttlell Writes Express
ing Appreciation of Tae Oregon
lan Fa ad.
THAT tha soldiers are deeply grate
ful for the tobacco which is sent
them is shown In a letter from "Some
where in France" from 'William H. Lit-
tell, who received some tobacco through
The Ore gon Ian tobacco fund. It was
written to J. W. Bones, of Carlton, Or.
"I take the pleasure of writing you
a few lines to thank you for the tobacco
which I received with your name in the
package. There is nothing as good to
a soldier as tobacco from the States,
for that is one thing which is hard to
get In France and what you get here
is very poor grade.
"There was a time when the whole
battery waa without any for two weeks,
and when we did get it, you never saw
such a happy lot of men as we were.
It was given to us by the Red Cross
Society, which la composed of very fine
people. They ara doing all they can to
help the eo Idler and we think a lot of
them.
"We hava hardtack, which Is pretty
hard to eat until you ara used to it, and
then It la pretty good. It haa been very
muddy here until about two weeka ago.
and then it began to snow and it has
snowed ever since and la eo cold that
you can hear the enow grind under
your feet. This Is a very poor letter,
but I wanted you to know how very
grateful I am to you."
Eugene Boy Escapes Death
Twice in Year.
Art bar Carlaow Wrltea of Experi
ences In Lnlted States Service.
EUGENE, Or., Feb. 2. (Special.)
Arthur A. Carlson, since he entered
the service of the United States as a
marine in November, 191S, has twice
narrowly escaped death, but in a letter
to a friend he states: "To tell the truth
I wouldn't have traded my last year's
experience for anything; on earth."
Carlson writes that he has been
trying the flyinir famr" and that on
New Year's day, 1916, while in training
at Mare Island, his machine landed in
heap on the old fair grounds (near
San Francisco) and was demolished. He
escaped injury with the exception of a
few minor bruises.
Carlson tella of a trip from Panama
to San Diego, during which he accom
panied Lieutenant Hawthorne, who cov
ered the entire distance by flying along
the Mexican coast line, watting from
time to time for a torpedo-boat" to get
supplies of oil, gasoline and food.
"Arriving at San Diego, Lieutenant
Hawthorne came down with tropical
fever and died." Carlson states. "I was
then transfered to the naval magazine
at Mare Island, which blew up July 9,
killing six people ami injuring 50 oth-
ers. The building I was in was knocked
to kindling wood, killing Chief Ounner
McKenxey. his wife and two girls. I
escaped with a few bruises and powder
burns."
Carlson, who entered the service
from Cugene, Is now with the Kighth
Regiment. IT. S. M. C, at Fort Crockett,
Galveston. Tex.
American Soldiers Are Well
Treated in Camp.
Corporal Myera Wrltea to Ease the
Minds of Motaera and Slaters.
r
N a letter which was written to the
city editor of The Oregonian recent
ly from Camp Merritt, New Jersey,
Samuel J. Myers, a corporal in .the
Headquarters Company, Field Artillery,
says that he wants mothers, sisters
and friends of the boys who are in serv
ice to cheer up and not worry, because
the boys are receiving the best of
treatment and there is nothing to
worry about.
"Our boys are being treated better
than ever before." he says. They get
better pay and are more respected by
the people than ever before. They
never had the pleasures of the Y. M.
C. A. in previous wars, who furnish
all of the reading and writing materials
and good music They did not have
the Red Crops Society to furnish them
with nice warm caps, sweaters, gloves,
socks and so forth. They give us in
vitations out for dinner on Sundays
and holidays.
I have never been treated as well in
my life as I have- been since I joined
the Oregon cavalry in Portland, Or. I
am a native of the Middle West, but
Intend to make Oregon my home when
the war is over. I have relatives and
many friends in Oregon.
I want to go to France with the
rest of our boys, so I hope that this
letter will help to cheer all of those
who have relatives and friends in the
service who are going to serve in this
country and abroad."
Eugene Lad Writes From
Yangtze River, China.
Trouble In the Air." Saya Andy
O'Farreil, In Letter.
EUGENE. Or., Feb. S. (Special.)
Unrest In China is arrowing and an
other Boxer uprising is feared, accord-
ng to a letter received here from Andy
O'Farreil, radio operator on the U. S. S.
Monocacy. on duty in the Yangtze Riv
er, 700 miles above Shanghai. O'Far-
rell's letter is addressed to his father,
James O'Farreil, of Eugene, and was
written December 13.
"Now they are expecting trouble
here," O'Farreil writes. "They were ex
pecting a fight last night, but nothing
happened. They think there will be
another Boxer uprising. If there Is, I
guess it will be the last of China. There
are hundreds of soldiers who have de
serted and people of the lower class
getting together, and they expect an at
tack on the foreign settlement, and a
lot of looting and stealing. The Chi
nese merchants are closing their stores
and moving away. Something la going
to happen pretty soon. Some of the
rebels fired on ona of our ships and
wounded three sailors."
O'Farreil, who attended school In Eu
gene, before entering the Navy, is now
In the Orient for the second time. He
statea that the only trouble with serv
ice over there is that they don't sea the
paymaster for months at a time.
Appreciation of Y. M. C. A.
Work Expressed.
Sunday Oregonlan'a Arrival la Camp
Described by Soldier In Camp.
M1
RS. F. L. ALEXANDER recently re
ceived a letter from her son,
Walter B. Hopgood, who is in Camp
Meade, Md. He is with the 23d Regi
ment of the United States Engineers.
He says:
"There are men in this regiment from
every walk of life, men who have given
up everything they held dear because
they felt" it their duty to do so, and it
Is their duty and mine as well as any
other fellow 8. There are quite a num
ber of married men and I And that they
are a very cheerful lot, although they
cannot help being lonely for their
wives and children.
"The life of a recruit is not as easy
as some may think. We are put through
Walter B. Hopgood, Portland
Man. Who la With Lnlted States
Engineers.
i daily routine of drilling and are
earning- all of the things in general
that go to make a good soldier.
'It is not all work, of course, we
have the evenings to ourselves and of
course it is spent in different ways.
Sometimes we play games or sit around
and exchange bits of gossip from home,
for there are several boys here from
Oregon and we always tell each other
things that we hear from the old home
town. We have to be In bed at 10
o'clock and I think that I have almost
caught up on all the sleep I ever lost
when I was free to stay out as long as
cared to.
"And, mother, I cannot close without
saying a good word for the Y. M. C. A.
It is a source of pleasure and comfort
to all of the boys and it surely is a
comfort to know that it will be with
us wherever we go. On top of your
Christmas gift was the front page of
The Sunday Oregonian, the most famil
iar thing I have seen since arriving
here. After .1 read it I gave it to an
other Oregonian, and before long there
were a bunch of the Oregon boys gath
ered. It afforded us a lot of pleasure.
Won't you please send me the Sunday
edition once in a while?"
Oregon and O. A. C Boys
Fraternize in France.
Friendly Rivalry Exists aa Old
Tlmea Are Recounted at Front.
EUGENE
ly sch
E. Feb. 2. (Special.) Friend-
school rivalry between Oregon
and Oregon Agricultural College stu
dents is playing its part with Oregon
boys in France, according to a letter
received here from Clark Thompson,
a former student of the University
who is serving with the Marines.
"I am the only University of Oregon
man in this regiment, and I often long
for some one to talk old times with,"
Clark writes. "There is an old O. A. C.
man next door to my tent. I got hold
of the iron woman standing on the
Kappa Sig lawn, and of course I
showed it to him. His face was a
study. I 'kidded' him extensively until
Thanksgiving, after which I main
tained discreet silence.
"I wish some of your Red Cross
subscribers could have seen us opening
Christmas packages you made possible.
Y'ou might not think that a grown-up
man wouuld go crazy over a writing
tablet, some gum, stick candy, tobacco,
a pencil, and a few other little things.
but when those packages were given
out. not a man was absent, and the
proverbial kid with a red wagon had
nothing on us when we opened them."
Red Cross Packages More
Than Welcomed.
Former Oregon "I' Student. Xow
V. S. Marine, Saya Men Like "Kids."
u
NIVERS1TY OF OREGON, Eugene,
indication of the appreciation with
which Red Cross and other packages
are received by the boys in the service
is given by Clark Thompson, a student
in the university last year, in a letter
to friends on the campus. Thompson
is with the 112th Company. Eighth Reg
iment, U. S. Marines, and at the time
the letter was written was expecting to
go across any day.
"I wish some of you Red Cross sub
scribers could have seen us opening the
Christmas packages you made possi
ble." he wrote.
"You might not think that a grown
man would go crazy over a writing
tablet, some gum, stick candy, tobacco,
a pencil and a few other little things,
but when those packages were given
out not a man was absent, but the
proverbial kid with a red wagon had
nothing on us when we opened the
packages."
Y.M.CA. Huts Win Warm
Praise From Soldier Boys.
Hood River Tooth Deaerlbea Life at
San Diego Naval Training School.
HOOD RIVER. Or., Feb. 2. (Spe
cial.) Even in sunny California, where
the enlisted man may spend his leave
on a hike in the open air and where
the demand for recreation huts is not
so great as at cantonments where the
weather Is frigid, the Y. M. C. A. huts
bring warm praise from soldier and
sailor boys. In a letter home, Walter
Niehans, formerly a mechanic in the
Hood River garage, who is now at the
San Diego Naval Training School, states
that the boys findnhe Y. M. C. A. huts
very convenient.
In his letter Sir. Niehans tells of the
quarantine that the men have to ex
perience on arrival.
Ths first thin- they do,", he says.
t ' "5- - It
: ' I
"is to put you in the detention camp,
which, as you might say, is divided off
into pens, with high wire fences around
them. We have to remain here for
21 days, in order that it may be deter
mined if any contagious diseases have
been brought in. Y'ou are also vac
cinated and inoculated against ty
phoid. -These inoculations make a good
many of the boys sick for a "time.
"The pens are called compounds.
Each is equipped with a light tent
which accommodates six men. We
are not supposed to go outside the
fences for 21 days, but sometimes we
all went out for a little drill. When
the 21 days were up we all went down
to the barracks. Most of the old
buildings have been utilized. The bar
racks are arranged as one large room
Posts are set up at intervals and four
by six girders strung along these posts
about six feet from the floor. On these
we string our hammocks. It is very.
comical to see the boys get into ham
mocks on the first night, but we soon
become accustomed to them and are
now sleeping fine.
"Ocasionally you will be awakened
in the dead of night by a heavy ttiod,
and you know that somebody has fallen
out of his hammock.
"We usually assemble on the plaza
to march up to our meals on the plaza.
Usually the band plays as we march
and most of the time while we are
eating. We get excellent eats and
everybody is feeling fine. The officers
are capable men and win our admira
tion. I am in the aviation branch and
am sure that I am going to like it
mightv well.
"We get liberty to go to town Wed
nesday and Saturday arternoons, oat
urdav evenings and most sll Sundays,
In company with such a fine bunch
of fellows, you may be sure I am
satisfied.'
Hood River Engineer Says
Soldiers Well Cared For.
Woodem Shoes, at 20 Cents a. Pair,
Are Light and Comfortable.
TTOOD RIVER, Or., Feb. 2. (Special.)
XJ. writing to nis motner, airs. J
W. Copper, Walter Copper, who, with
his brother, John, is a member of Com
pany F, 18th Engineers Regiment, sta
tioned somewhere in France, says the
expeditionary soldiers are being well
cared for. The Engineers, according
to the letter, are living in huts, each
about 30 by 85 feet in size and with 40
men to the hut.
"We have two stoves and plenty of
fuel," he writes. "And all of us are
provided with enough woolen Army
blankets to keep us comfortable. We
are all furnished with the best of
shoes, rubber boots and raincoats.
"Wooden shoes are worn by every
one here. They cost a rranc a pair,
or 20 cents of our money. If you'll
send me your measure I'll send you a
pair that will last you the rest of your
life. They are light and comfortable.
THOMISOX.
Hood River People Have
Two Sons in France.
Charles and Albert Gibbons Are
"Over There" After the Hons.
jjoor
OOD RIVER Or., Feb. 2. (Special.)
Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Gibbons, of
the Rockford orchard district on the
West Side, have two sons in armies
battling the Huns. Albert Gibbons
in France with a regiment of Ameri
can engineers, while his brother,
Charles, who enlisted before the
United States declared war, is with
Canadian regiment of engineers in
England.
The latter, who has been training
for more than a year in an "English
camp, in recent letters, declares that
his first sight of the Stars and Stripes,
borne by newly-landed American
troops on British soil, was one of the
most inspiring sights he has ever Eeen.
He states that air raids are frequent
On one week, according to his letters.
raiding planes visited "Blighty" every
night, although damage was neglible.
Toung Gibbons, eager to get to
France and in action, tried to be
transferred to one of the American en
gineers' regiments as it crossed Eng
land, but was unable to get favorable
action. Engaged in building aerdromes
for American flyers, he says he longs
again for Summer and anticipated ac
tion. ,
His latest letter to his parents fol
lows: "We are staying in billets in town at
private places, and the people are fine.
It is Just like a home for usT In the
family are just two, a lady and her
daughter. Two other engineers are
with me. We are having it pretty
nice. I think our division will be
broken and that we will go to France
in drafts in the Spring. Our officers
are to go next week, but others are
coming from the front to take their
places.
"I am very anxious to go to France,
but it doesn't help matters any, for
ws have to do as we are bidden. They
will send us over when they are ready
for us.
"We are close to Oxford, and we see
some great racing here. I saw a fox
chase yesterday. It was some sight."
FORMER PORTLAND POLICE
MAN NOW IN NAVY.
J. Lee Van Denaen.
J. Lee Van Deusen, who drove
a patrol wagon for 18 months on
Captain Circle's relief before
joining the United States Navy
last November, is now in train
in League Island Yard, accord
ing to a letter received from him
last week by Sergeant Ervin.
From Philadelphia, he says, he
will go to Columbia University
for rating as a machinist's mate
and expects eventually to enter
the "sub"-chaser service. He is
the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. J.
Van Deusen, of 628 Jefferson
street, this city, and is widely
known here.
1 1 i - -
' I V v f
Close Acquaintance With
Gas Shell Described.
Corporal Becker Inclines to Belief
Frtarhtrnlneaa . Ia Overated.
01
NE of the most recent letters froml
the scene of active service "ovetl
there" is from Corporal J. H. Becker
of D Company, 75th Battalion, Cana-
dians B. E. F., in London. Parts ot
the letter follow:
"1 suppose you are wondering what
whafi
, hos-1
in si
has happened when I mention the
pital. On my birthday we were
certain position on this side of N. M. Iu
which means 'No Man's Land,' and mrj
temporary domicile was a fair-sized
shell hole which had been carved outi
of the Flanders mud by one of the:
Hohenzollern 5.9's.
"We had been having a fair time oCl
it, considering conditions, and my mate
a Vancouver lad, and I were resting in)
the cavity, having a smoke and talking
about something that wasn't war either.
Fritz started in the evening to put
on his periodical hate 'strafe,' and this1
time he mingled a number of gas shellal
with his H. E., high explosives.
"One of these gas shells had tha'
audacity to enter our private quarters
without asking permission, and so be
fore Bill and I could adjust our res
pirators I had eaten a considerable
quantity of gas.
"The explosion of the shell Itself did
not hurt either of us. I felt no ill effect'
at the time and stuck it out until we!
were relieved, but when out on rest X.
found it had affected my throat and'
this, coupled with a skin affection and
a few gas blisters, sent me to the hos
pital. "It is my first hospital experience)
since coming to this country. I think!
I have experienced everything else.
Fritz's gas is not much to worry about)
here. I think he overestimates it. I
have been through his gas a number!
of times and our respirators are a per1
feet protection.
"It may interest you to know thatj
my home is at present in a barn. It ia
what we consider a very fine billet 4
we have lots of straw to sleep on and
a couple of blankets and a great-coatl
are sufficient to keep us warm. Wa
would much rather have a barn with'
straw than a hut of the Army barrack
pattern.
"The French people here are very
good to us the woman in the little
brick house that is tacked on to ona
end of the barn always has hot water
for us to shave and the people in tha
district are' generally very friendly,
more so than in some places I hava
seen.
"On the whole the French people are
very fine and we get along excellently
with them.
"We all know how the war is going
to finish Fritz is licked now, but it
is some job to convince him that he is.
"His air service is very active and
ours is just as good. One day I counted
53 planes in the air at one time, nearly
all ours, at the same time there were
21 observation balloons within sight.
Can you imagine that?
Sweeping statements have been
made about the decreasing morale of
his soldiers. I have noticed this. The
German soldier will not Btay and scrap
in the open, but he will hang on to the
death in a "pill box," wrich I have seen
with walls of cement 14 feet thick, but
one or two hand grenades fixes him if
one is lucky enough to get by his ma
chine gun fire.
1 have seen a great many prisoners
of all types some are sullen and do
not seem to care what becomes of them
and others are. very timid and glad to
do any work assigned to them.
'I have noticed a great many very
young recently and a large number
wear glasses. A number of wounded
prisoners were in the clearing station
where I landed- on my way to the hos
pital. t They were a much scared bunch
and appeared to think they were going
to be murdered. However, they were
attended with as great care as our own
wounded.
Western Soldiers Make Hit,
Says Eugene Boy.
Clyde Crosby Wrltea From His Sta
tion at Santiago, Cuba,
EUGENE, Or., Feb. 2. (Special.)
Western boys are making a hit as
soldiers wherever they go, according to
a letter written by Clyde Crosby, now
stationed with the marines at Santiago,
Cuba, in a letter to his mother, Mrs. D.
R. Crosby, who has three boys in the
service. He states that many of tha
boys with his company are from tha
West. "I heard a civilian while I waa
in Virginia comment on the Third Ore
gon band that gave a concert in Rich
mond," he writes. "He praised tho
band very highly."
Crosby writes that he has visited th
old trem-hes and breastworks at Santi
ago which the Americans had to take
during the Spanish-American war. He
states that the boys used cocoanut
palm leaves for their Christmas deco
rations and that the day was hot, with
he sun burning down outside tha
mess tent.
Castle Rock Youth Writes
of Life "Over There."
Charles Carnlne Is Now Stationed;
With Marines In France.
CASTLE ROCK, Wash., Feb. 2.
(Special.) A letter received re
cently by Mrs. Charles Carnine from
her son, Thomas, who is with the Ma
rines in France, gives some interesting
facts about his trip across. He says
the voyage was delightful, no rough
weather being experienced. He says
land was sighted at about 8 o'clock in
the morning, and at the same time the
fleet retreated from a squad of sub
marines. Considerable firing was in
progress, the reports sounding like
an old-fashioned Fourth of July cele
bration. He says the French people
were delighted to see the United States
soldiers, and they received an enthusi
astic welcome.
He spoke of many little fatherless
urchins in the streets, begging for
pennies. He declared his quarters cr
comfortable and that he could not com
plain of the eats.
Canyon City Stockmen Frotest.
CANTON CITY, Or., Feb. 2. (Spe
cial.) Local stockmen, are preparing
a petition protesting against the re
cent ruling of the District Forestry Of
fice at Portland. They have sent out
notices to the effect that no stock will
be permitted to range on the National
forests until the loth of May. This is a
month and a half later than for previ
ous years and will be quite a hardship
and extra expense on the stockmen,
who will have to secure additional pas
ture while waiting for the Govern
ment grazing range to open.
District Convention Success.
CASTLE ROCK, Wash.. Feb. 2. (Spe
cial,) The district convention of the
W. W. C. M. Society of the Christian
Chureh held hera Tuesday and Wednes
day proved ta aa one of the best in
every respec. iy-nve delegates
were registered and tkara ware speak
ers from Seattle, Spokana, ninysann,
Vancouver, Centralia, Chehalls, Kefon
and Camas, besides those from Castle
Rock,