"It has rained here the last two days and these dugouts
are a hell of a place when it rains. We are working nights and
sleeping in the day time. Do you get the Stars and Stripes?
"I guess you know about as much about the war as we
do if you take the daily papers. About all we know is what goes
on in our sector. I had one shell light close to my dugout,
but it did no damage, as I heard it coming and was inside. We
have had a little touch of gas, but we always have to keep our
gas-masks in the alert position and one can smell it when it
comes. When were in the front line, they dropped a 'coal bucket'
close to our kitchen and it tore a few caves, that was all. They
throw lots of shells that do not explode; they call them 'duds.'
One hit within three feet of two of my men and did no damage.
"I lost my bedding-roll with all my clothing except
what I had with me. They carry the bedding-rolls on the wagons
when
we move, and it may have been thrown off at the wrong place.
I will have to get another one when we get out of here, if I
don't find the one I lost.
"I have to censor the mail of the men in my platoon;
there are fifty-eight in all, and when they get hard up for paper
they
keep me busy. I hope those Huns get tired of this thing before
winter sets in. I guess they are catching hell along the line
from what I hear.
"Send my mail directly to Company A, 9th Infantry."