e JEonnt iAifu
fOL. XLI
MOUJfl AIRY, JfOR.TR CAROLINA, THURSDAY. DBCEMBRR 19, 1918.
MO. H
LETTERS OF INTEREST
FROM OUR SOLDIERS
Latter from UmI. Vun llaynea to
hU atater. Miae Elhrl Hirim, ML
Airy, M. C.
France, Nov. 13, 1911.
Dear RMl
I hav» ju«t completed on* of the
mot interesting trip* of my whole ex
perience ovar hara. I left Pari* laat
weak hy rail and (mat to England
thence to London and (lew l>a> k to
Pana ucroaa the English channel.
While flying ovar tha channel I wor*
a life preserver in raae my motor
ahould stop and I should he forced to
light in the water. It wax a very clear
day and before I atarted acroaa I
climbed very high to enable me to gat
atarted in the right direction. Com
ing over there were mat y ship* and
ateamera under me. They looked I ilea
toya—at one place I could nee Kng
land. France and Belgium at the same
time. Had to light for two days on
account of rain. By the way juat aa
I waa landing in France they had
heard the good news of peace, ao they
were celebrating, ahooting gun*, can
none, rocketa, etc., and raising auch a
commotion I thought they were shoot
ing at me thinking I waa a Boche, but
soon they stopped till I had time to
land.
Arrived here just outside of Pari* ,
yesterday. Went into Paris last night (
and you bet they were celebrating
peace. The girl* were fusing every
American they came across. The
■>i am ware crowded with people sing
ing, dancing, drinking—sure some
t «tM night.
k It la a great feeling to know that
our miaaion has been accomplished
that we can return feeling that we've
'done our bit.
The wings enclosed were my first
"Brevet." They have flown all over
France and over the lines. I can
fly every ship that is used at the front,
in ted have flown most every type.
Perhaps some day will do the "loop the
loop", Em merman turn" etc. for you
all The good luck card is from a
girlie friend in Paris.
Very glad to receive your letters.
Letter from Septus Lewis to hi*
sister Mrs. W. F. I.amlx it. of Brim.
France, Nov. 3rd, 19.9.
Dear sister:
I will answer your letter junt re
ceived date Sept. 29. Well I will
never forget the date as that is the
■day the big drive began. If y >u
could have seen me that day you
would have addressed you.- letter to
St. Peter or somewhere else, for you
would never thought of me getting it.
But I have told you in a letter prev
iously written of tne 29th inat, and
also the 3th of Oct. Well the t»th
found us lined up ready to go over
the top at th; break of di»w.-., so off
we g* and the Boche begins with his
wkishaagn, as we call his light artil
lery and machine guns. Well things
looked blue but we could look behind
and see thousai ds of boys coming for
ward and you know you have got
something behind you and the Boche
knows it too, for he begins to get
busy. Some light to th* last, nme
come with hands up calling Kamerad,
others retreat. W*lt in the evening
of the 9th we were near our objective'
whan we cam* near a town. Some of
the buildings were on Are. There
came an order down to my Lieut, to
•end a patrol in this town so h* call
«d mm te take the first platoon and
go through the town. Well I thought
1 was getting enough of this town
work a* T was a country lad. I was
<juit* content to stay out of the** j
towns. Bat I could only -alute and.,
yee sir, and go. I got my men well
scattered before we got there for 1
kindly xuspicioned something. Wall
I think Ike Back* knew what was (
coming for whan *r hit the town the
whishangs lie*reii to fall everywhere.
It looked impossible to go through
there, hut I had man that would go
with ma any whara. Ho wa want
through. The shelling wan no had
tha Lieut, nent a runner to me und
gave me ordem to bring the men hack.
When I got hark and rhecked up all
of my man were present except the
I.ieut'n orderly who wa* killed. He
said, "Well Lewi* t didn't aim for you
to go to Berlin with your patrol", ho
wa dug in for the night and got a re
lief the next morninig and went out.
We thought we were going to get
a good rent then, no wa got hack a
few miles behind the line; and pitched
tent* for the night ard next day
moved to a village just a short dlst
ance away. There were good bads
and chairs and everything was quite
comfortable, but to our surprise ord
ers came the second day to move to
the front.
Our first Serirt. hail gone to the
officer* training school so the captain
iwni for me to come to headquarter*
and I wan to act first Sergt,, ho off for
the front.
Clyde Shelton of the old Mt. Air;
company was appointed Sergt. in
chance of the first platoon. So on
the 17th we were to go over and pay
the Boche another viait and we cave
him a very warm time for we had the
Australians behind us with the artil
lery and believe ma they are on their
job. Thar kept the artillery up with
us and thing* went on nicely. In the
evening we were meeting ratlier hard
resistance but by night the Boone was
moving as fast as he could. He hail
hoped to get the night al'ead of us but
we got on to his plant and at dark
we went over and when morning came
we were right at hta heels.
Again at the usual hour we went
forward that day. All day we we.-e
fighting at cloae. range and it wna a'
warm time, you bet, but the boys
don't teem to care for they take
everything easy. Just to show you
they don't care, on this last evening
we were juat under a little riae in
the Held and to our left wna a large
turnippatch. While we wire waiting
on the trench mortar battery to get
ready some of the boys would go for
turnips and Jerry kept a good look
oat on his turnips. Every time we
would get near the patch they would
tire with three inch guns and machine
guns at them. So it was rather diffi
cult to go but tliey only laughed at
each other. Well as I have told you
enough war stories I will try to touch
something else.
This being Sunday, we have just
returned from church, had a irood
scrvcc. We are all quite well and ;.n
the bAt of spirits. I think the war
ia 01 ly a matter of days now. I hard
ly think it wll last until Christmas.
So rive my love to mother and the
rest. I thnk I will soon be home. I
think a quiet life will be all right for
me.
P. S. —I am gettng the Mount Airy
News and enjoy it very much.
Letter from Corp. John T. Hancock
to hia father J. T. Hancock of Rock
fee*. N. C.
France, Nov. 24, 1918.
My dear old Father:
No doubt you have seen in the pa
pen that Nov. 24 was to be a day that
all soldiers were to writ* to their
fathers, so it is called "Dad's Xmaa
day letter"—you remember we had
"mother's day" last May when we all
» rota our mothers, so I guess they de
Hied to have "Dad's" day to keep htm
froas getting jealous, ha! Anyway it
give* me pleasure to write you today
for they have given us privilege that
heretofore we haven't had raacernla#
what we writ*.
Well it la a moat beautiful morning;
la pretty cold but Use air faela no freak
and good, the treea and graaa are aa
white with froet aa if it had iwow*4.
The wind hardly ever blow* here *•
you know vlmt froeta we have thea*
■till lonjf n'ifhta. Seem* like the
night* are longer here than they are
over in the Xlatea.
Walt pap, I'll try and tall you him
thing oI my trip for this ftrst time.
I only stayed in ('.amp Merritt two
ilays and mghta, than we boarded a
train and want to Hoboken, N. J. Had
to march about a mila to the dock*
whara the Monster Transport wan ly
ing waiting for har load of man. Thera
wax no <-heerin*, nor no crying, every
thing quiet a* we paused along, Anally
wo rime to the gang plank*. Well
I'd heard ull kinds of tales about what
the hi yn would do when they go there,
for I'd heard that waa the hoardent
thing a soldier had to contend with
wan to walk up that gang plank. I
confess I wan a little bit nervous, but
I believe it waa from joy, for I know
I wa» real proud to go aboard that
vessel, and every other man seemed
to be in the same spirit. Our Ft.
Morgan bunch was the first to load on.
went on hoard Sept .24 about 11:30
A. M. Well they continued to come
on board until iihe waa loaded. Don't
know for sure how many we had on
our vessel but about 3,600. I was in
line going to supper—I heard a whis
tle blast and felt the ship quivering
from the vibration of her engines—
we were off! I never felt prouder in
my life. I hurriedly at my supper
and went up or the top deck and a
prettier sight I never witnessed in my
life. We had cleared the docks and
were steaming oat down the river.
Could sea hundreds of ships of all
ataaa and, in Itm meantime It bad been"
cloudy, but iuat then the sun came out
and we stood there watching for new
things, and the clouds or fog seemed
to rise like removing a veil from some
thing and there were the tall sky
scraper* of New York glistening in
'he sun-light. It sure was a beauti
ful thing to witness. After about 30
minutes ride we passed the Statue of
Liberty, something I had longed to
see. There wr.s a faint cheer, a shout
and then everything was silent for
wo heard the whistle for "everybody
on deck". Of course most of us were
already there, but we had to be aa
quiet as possible, for it was a drill,
something we all hated, but was for
our own benefit. It was teaching us
how to get on deck and to the life
boats in case wo were struck and had
to abandon the ship. As soon as we
were dismissed I beat from decks
down and went to bed. I never slept
lietter in my life than I did that night.
Well I could write a big book of the
happenings coming over but haven't
stationery enough, ha! Anyway I got
sick, what I mean S-I-C-K, two daVs
out. It lasted me for about 24 hours.
I hail a severe headache, the grippe,
and I think the Spanish flu, from the
way I felt, for I sure felt bum moat of
the way over. I went into the hos
pital once and asked for something
for my rold. They run something up
my nose and down my throat, gave me'
a good spraying with something -any <
way 1 didn't go back anymore, but we
all got a spray in the nose and mouth 1
every day to prevent the flu.
The sixth night out we got rammed
by another ship. Well of count nat
urally ai»«t every one thongfcl we
were struck by • torpedo. So the
alarm *» given "everybody on deck
nui*k." Well we had been having
then* drill* every A. M. about day
break *o I thought it wu a drill call.
You Me I wa« sleeping *o sound that
I did not feel the shock at all.
We were suppoaed to aleep with our
clothe* on, also life Jacket, belt with
canteen full of water, but 1 had my
shoee off (they were hurting my feet)
life jacket and belt. *o by the time I
got these on I waa the last one I think
oat <tt our appartment, except the man
punching ua along half asleep. I
I
looked at my wrtat watch, it waa
about three o'elaak ta the raorniag
with no light*.
PiaaJlv I got on the top de'k and
rverjrbedy waa lined up waiting for
orrim. Of eauraa there wasn't much
of a line for they ware parked in there
ilka sardines, bat when the cold v»iad
hit me full ia the face ! fait some bet
tar, ea ( began ta aak what waa tha
troable and grumbling about getting
ua up there ao aoen for drill, bat I
didn't ask many i|uaetiona for over be
hind noma big boxee lay none blank
eta that Kome of the boy* had hem
sleeping on up on the deck, ao me and
another big fellow lay down oa these
blanket* and went to aleep. I mad*
<>ut pretty well for a few minute* until
»ome iifllrrr made ua gal up. Well he
.had been gone hut a minute when we
laid down again for I waa aick and
I gueaa had a fever. I remember
everything well but I didn't care for
anything so ( "flopped" again and
stayed there until the nun caaa up
then we were allowed to go bark and
eat breakfaat. After eating I began
to aak questions, they told me we had
been rammed and several fellows were
killed and several jumped overboard.
Well of course I couldn't hardly be
lieve it, but later found out it waa
true.
It wki ■ had looking hole it knock
ed in, but luckily it waa mostly above
the water line, *o they made it into
port O. K. without any further acci
dent.
We landed the 5th of Oct. at Brest,
Prance. It ia in the extreme north
western part of France. I was fad
ing fine by this time. The city sure
did look pretty from the ship where
we landed. We marched about three
miles to the camp. We all were about
wore out when we got there for we
were not uaa* to MitWas after being
ren were out to see as, little boys and
girls would run up and want to shake I
hands with us. I was fatigued al-1
most so I handed one little boy my
rifle, he took it and marched right
along behind me for Home ways, he I
sure looked proud too. The gun was 1
almost ae big as he was. Finally I
took it and thanked him. He smiled,
saluted and left me. The children in
France are exceedingly bright but
most of the poor little fellows look
dirty and ragged.
We stayed at Brest two days then
went to Anferes. That ia a pretty I
icood town of about SO,000 population.!
We were divided there and sent toj
different organizations, t was sent:
here in a trench mortar outitt, as re- ;
placement*. Moat of the boys who i
came here have been assigned to bat- ,
teries. We are now at Vitrey. It is,
a small place but in a pretty country.!
We are in the eastern part of France. |
it is about 70 miles to the front, or
where it was when we came here. It
isn't but about 75 or 100 miles to
Switzerland from here, so you see I!
am quite a distance from home.
I haven't -een Paris, we went south j
of Paris, came through Tours, came
through Rheims also. I have been
here since Oct. 19th and like this place
o. k. We had a dandy feed thia morn- |
ing. French fried potatoes, sweet'
com, hot biscuits, jam and batter. We
are going to have beef steak for din
ner.
Well pa, there is lots of thinr* I
could tell you that might interest you
that I've done since I rame here, but
have not the space, don't think I can
tret all thin in an envelope now. Any
way the war ia over. I've never had
to ko to the front and know your ^
prayer* »!*<> mama** have been ans
wered, for I know you never wanted
me to have to fo to the front, if it
could be po*nble for me not to. But
we mint take our hata off to the brave
boy* who have been in the trenches
for over a year. We must al«o »ym
pathiie with the father* and mother*
who have had their torn killed 'n hat
tie. for you know they loved them as
food aa you love your Ma, bat I would
have rivea my life, and will yet if nec
eeaary for My country- But of coma
! mb thankful ami Happy tho war la
ow mm I em MM ratura how to
Ull tho utory of my idrtntiira to you
faco to faco. Ho don't worry about
mo, for I am fooling flna now aad
tkoro la nothing to hiixior mo froai
boot hoing at homo If I cm juot koop
my liaatfk.
Moat rloM. giro my lovo to all tho
family. Haro'« hoping you will have
a Merry Xmaa and happy Now Yaar.
SCRIP OF FRENCH
NOW WORTHLESS.
Monty luucd by Citiaa Occu
pied by Garawm UmIim.
Pari*, Dee. 7.— France faeee a itu
pemlou* financial problem.
(low '-an ihe nation redeem the hun
dred* of million, franc* of worthlee*
pa par xrrtp in tha retwitrinted regie nj ?
Town* (vacualad by tha Hum are
pannilaaa. They gave all their money
to pay the fine* levied by tha f«er
m<\r.s. Dan..if the Htui occupation
rich Mid poor alike uaad apecially i»
*ued ncript aa a medium of exchange.
Now they have been libe-atad. Mid
their paper money Un't worth tha
paper it i* printed on.
The liberation of Lille, the largest
French city wre*ted fr<m the Hun*
focnaed atf i.on on Cto financial
problem.
The people of Lille alone luive 1r>0.
000,00 franc* of the worthlaa* scrip.
That i* neary $70,000,000.
Financial expert* eetimate that tha
total of municipal paper money, la
sued during the emergency of Hun
occupation in all tha town* of tha
repatriated region*, ngyragataa more
than half of a baiMan fatnr*.
In the caae of Lille scrip of every
denomination was issued. Paper hil* j
of aa low aa 10 centime* (two rent*
ware issued. The Hun* took away
all the real money.
Huna Carried Off fiavenaeat Note*.
Thia situation ha* exiatad four year*
The municipal authorities printed
the spacial currency aa a neeeasary
medium of exchange, Ihaiieraam
finally evacuated thee tty. Then they
threw all the acrip back on the in-1
habitant* and took away evjry Bank,
of France note (goverment currency)
in Ub
"Moat of the storekeeper* and the
other inhabitant* have all their wealth
in thia scrip", said M. Leon Godert,
municipal councilor of Lille, in a
summary of the lituation to Frenah
authorities.
"A native of Lille cannot even take'
• train because the railway will refuae J
hia paper money.
"Storekeeper* who have uaed up
their stock of mercandia: cannot re
new them.
"Industrial concern* that have Bold
their product* and have been paid
in local money can no longer buy
fresh supplies of raw material.
"No Paris merchant can dream of
shipping merchandise to the liberated
regions. He knows that the only
thing he can be paid inare worthless
paper billa.
"The matter ia being investigated
by 16 misaiona aent to Lille. But no,
solution has been reached.
"It ia imperative that French money
with buying power be sent to Delib
erated regions. Thuy need it badly. !
Hundreds of thousands of francs
must be provided and apportioned
somehow
"The municipal scrip tnust be plated
aside for the present. Later a way
muHt be found to redeem it. Other
wiae the people of Lite and other in
vaded eitiea will have to bear the en-,
tire burden of the finea levied upon
them by the Germane."
Temporary relief from financial
stress has been given Lille after the \
method of relief given refgeea re-'
tunungto France from German bon-1
dag* through Evian, a town on the
Swiss border.
At Evian every person holding local
town scrip is given 200 francs a month 1
to live on. A peasant with a few I
franca ia municipal scrip gets the.
saate relief, for the present, ae a one
time rich man holding hundreds of
thousands of francs of the emergency
currency.
Tm Hun B«i>g Fed
out of Hi* Own Syocfc
Amsterdam.—The British authori
ties in t harf* of the octuptUon in the
Uermun tone aififncd to U>* Bnttsh
Army have ortiereii all Gtrmu mm
to rats* their hats to British oArars,
■ceordinc to an oflrial announcement
in Berths
Tbajr mast do tiailariy whan tho
Bntiah national anlhoM ia ><x>«. tho
PRESIDENT VISITS
THE FRENCH CAPITAL
Cam* Mr. Wilson m
RcprrwnUthr* o4 l(Uu
Drewie^ upee Europ«
Pan*, Dm. It-Tklt ii a greater
night in Paris than ajmistic. i.ight.
The rity is abiaae with ilium mauona;
the bouUvurrl* are th-onged with
crowds, dancing and ringing tnd
throwmr confetti. Tha Ptare da La
Concorde has l>een turned into a irrtmt
dancing pavilliefl where American nol
dtam ar» favorite partner*. Ameri
ca it the dominating word liere to
ni|hl.
PresuitM and Mr*. Wilson made
their entry iato Pari* thin morning
greeted by wellnigh half tile popula
tion not only of the city hut of tha
surrounding district*. They were at
tended by President Poincaira. "'rem
ier riemem-aeti and other* amonf the
moat eminent ft cure* of Franca.
Flower* were dropped around their
carriage; airplane* winded ovehead;
gun* nounded. Rut observer* were
impre**ed with something more than
the magnitude and lieauty of the ra
ception by tome quality of warmth
that made it different from the visita
to Paris recently made by the sover
eign* of the allied nations.
The imagination and interest of
France has been atirrad by the Presi
dent of the United States as no other
loader beyond the border*. All class
in and parties in this country have
united to pay honor to the United
State* through its President. They
greet him as the representative of
ideal* now dawning upon Europe.
"In the eye* of the immense crowds
welcoming him." saya the -e«ii uAcial
Tamps, "President Wileon
m «Ji *aHp i »
torn which permitted the war to be
won and also the force which will
canctify peace."
Thirty-nix thousand soldier*, the
flower of the French army, lined tha
avenue* from Dauphine (rate to tha
Murat mansion, which during their
stay in Paris will he the home of tha
President and hie wife. Alpine rhaus
seus and Souavez fresh from the bat
Mefleld* of Champagne and Colonial
troops from whose uniforms the mud
of the Somme had only a few days ago
bean removed, occupied the post of
honor. They gently but firmly kept
order amongst tha enormous crowd*
which ever pressed mrward in eager
ness to have a cloeor look at tha
guests of France.
President Poincaire's luncheon a*
Elysee palace at 1 o'clock was attend
ed by 200 guests. The presidential
party arrived at 12:45, passed through
the lines of the 11th Alpine chaus
seurs who acted as ■ guard of honor
in the court.
The President of France and Mme.
Poincare met their guests and Pres
ident Poincare giving his arm to Mrs.
Wilson and President Wilson to Mme.
Poincare they proceeded to the draw
ing room where tha guests were as
sembled. Then in accordance with tha
Frenoh custom, Mr. Poincare present
ed the men and Mme. Poincare pre
sented the ladies to President and
Mrs. Wilson.
Tha tables, sat in the form of a
horseshoe, ware decorated with red
and white rasas and large bunches at
parma violets. The two Presidents
were seated side by aide with M»a.
Poincare on President Wilson's right
ind Mrs. Wilson on President Poin
L-are's left. M. Lou bet. a former Praa
tdent of France, was to the left of
Mrs. Wilson.
On th« table in front of the Pre«i
ient n> a mirror on which reeted *
thip of bltM and white rkilet* with
two littl* American flip as the mart
lead*. Tit* other taMt dacorationn u»
■lu.led two airplane*, aim made at
riobti.
TV fotiti included the Pi i aidaate
it the senate and ckaahw, Premier
an and the anihth ef Fi —< «