text: ok<v(f net untfuv t(u:m- <n hie tjcmi condemn «)U five qemn darn of tfu cun, end in the itumunq 'We uuTC 'itmcmtcv them Following is an interesting letter received by Mr. Joseph Haas, of 'Vincnhester avenue, from his son,, Joseph, Jr., now in France,: Aurav, Franco, Nov. 22, 1018. Dear Father: Through the courtesy of the official part of the A. C. and the very gratifying peace conditions, the censor on this particular letter known as Dads Christmas letter from his boy has been lifted and has given us a chance to limber up our writing finger, and memory of the foregoing few months we have gone through, needless to say which has been quite strenuous and beset with hardships more or less with all who have come across the seas to this foreign land to take part in this great world’s. Many will never come back to and, so dear to them or will they be writing their father this Christmas letter, but am sure their fathers will find consolation in the fact that they were the real heroes of this war and gave all they could willingly. Am not going to detail as much as I would, as I believe I could write a fair sized book but will try to give you a few outline in the past career here in France, concerning the censor will not allow to discuss or write certain subjects necessarily there will be quite a bit of news for me to tell when I get back home, which I am looking forward to no matter how long distant it may be if God will be so good to me, as continued the good fortune he has already given me this awful war which has all brought sadness to many a heart and home. I left New York as you no doubt know about June 10th. We were all packed to leave the rest camp at Hong Island but was stopped a few days afterwards, learned that eleven boats had been sunk off the American coast, and took it for a good reason why we were held, the following Sunday we were loaded on the large boat at Hoboken and remained there the whole day and about ten o'clock that morning we were moving out to sea. Toward the midnight hour our boat stopped quite a spoil and remained there for a period of three hours, there being much signaling by lights, led us to believe there was trouble and no doubt there was something in sight in the way of submarines, which as you will know were to be expected at most any minute at that time. Anyway, daylight found us well out at sea. The weather was very warm when we left the states but was rather cold after getting out a piece. We were on a large ship that the Germans had a prize for the submarine-crew that would sink her. The crew told us danger was to be expected but we were not borrowing any trouble and I enjoyed my first trip as if it were all for pleasure. But one has to come across on a soldier’s transport to know the terrible inconvenience owing to great numbers aboard and the great problems of feeding us and the total exterminating of lights at night. It might not seem right but the most strenuous hours of my past experience was on that boat. About three or four days out the guns on Our boat started and the alarm for the rafts were given, which caused no little anxiety and excitement aboard. We heard there was something floating that didn’t look good to the gunners, which was seen to be hit. What those shots did no one knows, but don’t think they were fired for nothing. Shots were repeated a day or so later. I, myself, being on guard in a compartment down below, and it was with difficulty I helped avoid panic and excitement. I could have stood anything like that but the Lord was good to me and I was none the worse for the exposure, which was very bad. From there we were moved to Tours in box cars which took two days and one night, and no one can imagine without riding a long distance in these freak box cars what it is, especially when overcrowded and the weather is cold. Arriving at Tours, we were taken to a camp just outside the city, by the name of Camp Beochembeau, and there we got rested up for a few days as we were very much in need of it. Was quite interesting going around the city in the evenings, this place being the largest and best place was billeted since being in France. Was at this place about one week and during that time run across three home town boys, the only ones I have seen from home since being here. At the end of the week our orders came for our fellows to be sent to different telegraph barracks and twenty some, of us were to leave for Thiw, a long distance, it being not far from the border of Spain. We were to join the 416th battalion which was building a telegraph line. Was more than gratified to know Nick was to go in the same hunch, also satisfied to know we were not to go right up to the front. We had a most enjoyable trip down to Thiw, speaking of getting lost, as we had to change cars three times, and as we were just over, not a one of us could speak French. So it was with the greatest difficulty that we found our place at Thivet. To-day night we arrived at our place, which was met by some of the 416 friends, who we were very much attached to even from the start. CHUNGER DRAWS THE MAP Russia A food map of Europe today shows not a single country in which the future does not hold threat of serious difficulties and only a small part which is not rapidly approaching the famine point. With the exception of the Ukraine only those countries which have maintained marine commerce have sufficient food supplies to meet actual needs until next harvest, and even in the Ukraine, with stores accumulated on the farms, there is famine in the large centers of population. Belgium and northern France, as well as Serbia, appear on the hunger map distinct from the rest of Europe because they stand in a different relation from the other nations to the people of the United States. America has for four years maintained the small war rations of Belgium and northern France and is already making special efforts to care for their increased after-the-war needs, which, with those of Serbia, must be included in this plan, are urgent in the extreme and must have immediate relief. The grandeur of the Belgian nation for the help America has extended during the war constitutes the strongest appeal for us to continue our work there. The great German seat of government, the little nation's first thought was to express her gratitude to the Commission for Relief in Belgium for preserving the lives of millions of her citizens. Germany, on the other hand, need not figure in such a map for Americans because there is no present indication that we shall be called on at all to take thought for the food needs of Germany. Germany probably can care for her own food problem if she is given access to shipping and is enabled to distribute food to the cities with dense populations, which are the trouble centers. England, France, the Netherlands and Portugal, all of which have been maintained from American supplies, have sufficient food to meet immediate needs, but their future presents serious difficulties. The same is true of Spain and the northern neutral countries—Norway, Sweden and Denmark—whose efforts have been open and who have been able to draw to some degree upon foreign supplies. Most of Russia is already in the throes of famine, and 40,000,000 people are beyond the possibility of help. Before she has reached her spring thousands of them inevitably must die. Bohemia, Serbia, Romania, and Montenegro have already reached the famine point and are suffering a heavy toll of death. The Armenian population is failing each week as hunger takes its toll, and in Greece, Albania, and Romania so serious are the food shortages that famine is near. Although starvation is not yet imminent, Italy, Switzerland, Bulgaria, and Turkey are in the throes of serious stragglers. In order to fulfill America's pledge in world relief, we will have to export every ton of food which can be handled through our ports. This means at the very least a minimum of 20,000,000 tons compared with 6,000,000 tons pre-war exports and 11,820,000 tons exported last year, when we were bound by the ties of war to the European allies. If we fail to lighten the black spots on the hunger map or if we allow any portions to become darker, the very peace for which we fought and bled will be threatened. Revolt and anarchy inevitably follow famine. Should the hope happen, we will see in other parts of Europe a repetition of the Russian debacle and our fight for world peace. Rushed for Time? Want to Buy Him Something He Will Appreciate and Use? Then come to this store, for here you will find everything that men and boys wear, with just hundreds of handsome, useful gifts that will please. Any one of the items listed below will do, yet there are many others that a visit will discover. We have just received today 100 dozen of beautiful neckwear and no finer line can be seen than that which we are showing. An endless number of attractive patterns, with very few duplicates. Finely made, latest in styles—wonderful values. 50c to $2.00 Smoking Jackets, House Coats Bath Robes A complete line of the useful and very serviceable gifts. They are of double faced cloths, edges, pockets, and cuffs. Bound with cord and some have frog fastenings, all neat colors, to be had at $5.00 to $10.00 GLOVES All the desired kinds, knit, washable, silk, mocha, kid. In tans and grays. $1.50 up SWEATERS All sizes for men and boys, in all plain colors and some stripe effects. $1.50 to $10.00 MEN’S HOSE Silk, fiber and silk, all the wanted shades and sizes. Some special attractions for Christmas buying. ...Just Suggestions... SHIRTS, fancy silk and percale. INITIAL HANDKERCHIEFS, fine linen. SUIT CASES and HAND BAGS, PAJAMAS, BELTS, UMBRELLAS, SILK MUFFLERS, COMBINATION SETS, SHOES, HATS, CAPS and JEWELRY. Thompson & Thompson The home of Hart Schaffner & Marx and Griffon Brand Clothes There was nothing to do but camp 30 wo pitched our pup tents, and during any month and a half there slept in then all the time. The climate at that place is very much like our California, it being cool and breezy in the summer and not so much difference in the winter. You mist remember we were quite near Spain and also a long way off from the front. It was an old fashioned town and was quite odd to us at last but since we have almost learned to be at home in such places. The line we were building towards the Fourth of July was nearing completion, and on that day the French had quite a celebration in which we took part. Nick was in another company but was located about twenty miles distance from me, so saw him once in a while. We all liked the officers and men both of the thirty and if was with the greatest regrets we were separated from them a couple months ago. Anyway, after finishing that job an order came to our major that he had been picked For an important job in the vicinity of Chateau Thierry, the well known part of the war, the driving back of the enemy being the starting point of the Americans' achievements. So we were given gas masks and underwent a stiff examination in the U. S. mask. We were taken on hikes, and after one I was just about to drop. They are as torturous a thing as one would like to wear, sometimes you think your lungs will burst, as at times you get very little air and the band that is around your head hin ders the circulation of blood greatly. We all were bound to stand the test. 30 we could go along and so cork one passed. We had a very long trip before us as we were quite near Spain and no doubt you know where Chatteau Thierry is. The farthest point is, and where our boys held them and later drove them back, it being the first drive that counted that the Americans made, and where many of our boys fell. As I said before, we were to build a communication line between Paris and Château Thierry. Well, we arrived up there on Sunday, July 14th and that is the time the fighting was just starting right. Undemand we were running lines and were not on the firing line, but were in range of their guns all the time we were up there, and liable to airplane raids at any time. Our company and headquarters was camped in pup tents and the rumble of the guns at night being so near the ground we could hear the rumble to better advantage. Every night was the 4th of July up there, the skyrockets which our armies used for night signals were going up incessantly. There was much danger of the water in our vicinity being poisoned and great care was exercised at all times in that matter. We saw all kinds of troops movements, and although we were not shouldering guns in the charge, we were liable to be bumped off at most any time. Paris was fifty-two kilometres from us and they were shooting over us into there so you see how easy it would have been to drop a shot in our camp at any time. When the plans used to come over is when I was the most. A uneasy, at one time, especially there were a bunch of bombing machines right over us and believe me I was finding a hole, but they went on without bothering us, but a few nights afterwards, the village just below us was badly shelled. Our fellows did some real fighting up there and many a one fell never to get up again. It was the Americans who held them back and saved Paris which they would surely have but they kept going back, back steadily until you see now what has taken place, but they were driven out of France, not coaxed, and we were doing our part to the American army. The infantry went ahead so fast it was with great difficulty the artillery could keep up with them, and caused more than one fatality by not doing so. The Boch planes were very bad too doing much damage but they went back nevertheless. Didn't see any home town boys as I know their division was not up at that line, the Rainbow surely did their part in that battle, one of the greatest battles of the war, when the world hung in the balance. Well, there was times when things didn’t look very healthy up there, and one little shall drop could have wiped our little bunch out in one sweep, but our tent camp was more or less camouflaged in what was once an apple orchard. Many a night I went to sleep and the gun sounds rocking me to sleep, and the rockets in the distance serving as lights, you know we had 4th of July celebrations up there most every night. One soon gets used to that, but it was more than miserable when we had a solid week of rain, and could hardly find a dry place to sleep, our tents were soaked through as well as our tickets and blankets, them the days we earned our money and made us long for our beds so far away at home. One line we started on after the army was stopped and we know well now why it was, as the army wasn't staying in that locality long. On that job the whole bunch would take gas masks along every time and the ride in trucks before starting to work would sometimes be about twenty or twenty-five miles. Had the pleasure of going into Paris a couple times, altogether as I was up looking the Eiffel tower over, by the way is the tallest structure in the world and is sure a wonderful structure. Evidently the Germans were trying to hit the tower that day with the Big Berlin long range gun, as two fell very uncomfortable close to where I was, but the next time I went in there was no shots at all, and if you remember reading about them capturing the big guns, this was about two weeks before that time. When we would ride in there on the trucks, the people surely gave us a hand everywhere we went, as they realized if no one else did the important part the American boys took in saving their city from the Huns. It was while riding out of that city that I first saw our great General Pershing. Well, we were up there about two months, and all my letters headed zone of advance was written from that region. We were then moved near the coast where we have been building the present line. After about one month's work, the 116th was called to operate a line between Paris and St. Nazaire and all fellows who had been transferred into that State were transferred to the 312th Field Signal Corps, which had just a short time from then had come across. Have got along alright with them, but the weather condition was something awful all the way, we having worked day after day in the rain and mud, and in a place by the name of Auray in Brittany. It is a pretty place and like it, we are well here. The people are quaint in their fashions, and are real old times, but are very nice to us. Since the armistice has been signed, we have been having lots of good times. Yesterday had my picture taken with some of the boys and a couple of French soldiers, and some French Canadians on page four. 