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LOVE TO ALE INQUIRING FRIENDSFrance, Nov. IS, 1918. Mrs. Phyllis Bunch.42 Irwin Street, Dayton. Ohio.Dear Auntie: iI know you think 1 have forirottei you; but I have not. I am line and candy; trust ali are likewise.I uni having a greet VOP - O Jar unlt;. really like England*, but don't car. for France. I was in England about three weeks, and I liked it line. 1 just heard of Cecil. He was only one mile ani a half from me; but 1 was in such a rush that I just couldn't get over. I am having a wonderful experience. I have been to the front several times. I am living in a dug-out that used to be a German officer s dugout, and it is swell. It lias electric lights, but,they are not connected, so we just use candles, as all the fellows are like myself, afraid of electricity.It is cement, and we have good beds. For a while we suffered very much, but now it is extra good. We have our own mess, four of us. We are nut here on special duty with the major, and we hnve hot biscuits, steak, and everything; so we are faring good now.I remember one night especially, when we were traveling. We were very much surprised when we arrive.! in one of our camps at midnight and had to put our tents up in the rhin and we slept, or tried to sleep, in the mud and water. But after all, we art blessed, and I am thankful to be living. There are as many that are not living, and when I ride through the country and see so many* graves, it makes me feel good to think I am one among the living, told • en again il makes me sad.I travel from seventy-five to a hundred kilometers every day. That way I am seeing lots of France I can speak a little French, very near enough to carry a good conversation, and that is a big help.Well, I shall tell you of a litlle inci dent that I saw, aud you may know how well blessed you people in the States are. While up in a little town In extreme northern France, 1 saw • some French people the Germans had held as prisoners for three years. The. were in a pitiful condition. They wen old and young, and there were two young girls only fourteen years old who had been mistreated by some dirty Germans. .Oh, it was such a pit iful sight! Ijhave an Iron heart, but that sure did soften it up. Excuse the expression, Auntie; but it is the fact. How glad I am the Germans have not any of my friends prisoners. I mean people of the States. And you speak of hard times. The little hard time In the fitatCH can in no way equal these over here among these people. Well, I had to sec something to cheer me up, so I went to see Percy See and his outfit. They were engineers, so we walked back in the woods, and we saw two colored men with wire, around a German's leg dragging him to his grave or hole. And they were Whistling the funeral march.gillie Lee is with me; he ia fine. Ceeil is O. K. Roscoe is fine.Haven't heard from Herman Vivens. ?et-I may beat this letter home, as the fighting is all over.I will close. I am,Your devoted nephew, Sergeant Arnold H. Jones, Hdqrs. C. P. 0-. 832 Pioneer Inf., A. E1. Forces, France.
Newspaper Details
The Dayton Forum
Dayton, Ohio, US
Fri, Dec 27, 1918
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Gina S.
USA 17 Jan 2025
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