Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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MR. AND MRS. J. S. COCHRAN RECEIVE A REAL LETTER FROM SOLDIER NEPHEW Witnesses Army Theatrical of "Star' Cast?Eulogizes Spirit of Our Troops. Grows Eloquent. Tells of American Crucified and Damns the CruCifiers. Has a Circulating Letter of His Own. Below is printed a letter from Sergeant Bill Hannon, a Charlotte, N. C., boy, written to his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Jas* S. Cochran. He went over last September, w}th the Rainbow Division, having enlisted from Connecticut. For interesting reading, the letter is a "corker." "Somewhere Else in France." July 12, 1918. Dear Aunt Clara and Uncle Jim: Your very interesting letter received today, and tonight upon my return (from where?) I found one from Aunt Clara dated May 26th, while yours was June 16th. Tonight just as I was beginning to write to you, my assistant asked me to go with him over to the next town, to witness the 26th Division Theatrical ,composed of talent collected from the different units in our Division. Mr. Rottman is interlocutor, and is a former movie star, and there are other names in the program that are familiar. I enclose the program. I would like to retain it to help my collection of papei souvenirs but I might lost my trunk then I'd be out, so I'll let you have . ?. .ti'tto vr>n ? crond idea of ?V, V nu. J o just how we take the war. Our division gets in a gang of replacements every day but they take it as a matter of fact, and never miss a chance to enjoy.;themselves. This is a good show, better than lots that I have paid to see, with exception of the seats. They hold it back behind the lines for troops going and coming from the first lines, but as our little arena of war has been moved to the most important part of all, they come right up here where the reservefc<are stationed and hold it in Qj>en nlfr or barns,, as they find. N We realize full well, that the peof {He good old U. SfX are with .. . Ufi ifU# .?b. , -v 'vX, up to awi afterthe 9th inning, and let me tell you?these boys cer here, whether they went or were sent?are going to back up the confidence you folks place in us. They face the storm of shells, the $re of machine guns, and endure the pains from mustard gas buns, with a determination, that to me, is ?_ m tVir.ce> tranches. muy max y ciuuo ? w._~_ , vie with the stench of dead, muddy irith the blood of both friend and enemy?-they sleep, eat and fight? fight for those a thome who love us, ' and who think we ace mighty enough to free the earth from the vilest pestilence humanity has ever known, to stamp out a race of men who say, 'God takes no account of women," the sins they have committed against the flower of France, the bloody lash they have laid upon the daughters of elgium. Will our boys tire of killing? No! by the grace of Go, No! It is is their duty to destroy such an animal unto the last breath, and we will be home soon, and it's going to be?Via Berlin. WANTS | v WANTED.?To rent 4 or 5 room cottage. Address C. W. H., care this office. WANTED:?A clerk in a . General Merchandise store. Apply to the AMOS B. MORSE CO. 8-9-4t L. NELSON, Abbeville, S. C. Wanted Wanted Junk of all kind Rags, Rubber, Bag* | and Iron. 5-7-tf. uMwion t/\ nrDTADc nuiiLc. iv/ 1/l.U i UI\J. Having been called into the service, and expecting to leave home shortly, it is necessary for me to close all my business affairs. Those persons who are indebted to me are therefore earnestly requested to make settlement with me for all amounts owing at once, as otherwise my business affairs will be left with no pn$ to look after the flame. 9-6-dt J. C HILL, M. D. &'} -;: * ' When Uncle Sam first put his ' boys in the lines, as the story goes a raid was made upon a German ' front line trench, it amounted tc i nothing?only an exchange of shots < ?in returning one of our boys got 1 lost from the bunch, he was captur- ] ed by an enemy patrol. Next morn- j ing the observer saw standing high \ above the German trench a cross i with our man crucified thereon, just \ as Christ was crucified. Every nerve j in their systems grew tense, (French ] and English do not play base ball, ] Americans do). Our boys loaded < to the teeth as one may say, and < backed up by a team that could hurl grenades as far as they could ] a baseball, rushed like so many wild < cats over the top, through the much < damaged barbed wire, they brought i back the body of their comrade, and < left the enemies trench filled with | dead. e That is an old trick of the Boche, ^ with new animals, they knew that f the opposing party will come over x in frenzy, which is just bait for their c machine guns, but our grenades put j *em over so far and so fast that they thought it was a hail storm. \ When Uncle Sam called "Wake up, i your country needs you", many a man said, "I'm not mad with the s Germans," or "I don't want to fight" t and they disbelieved the stories of z the German frightfulness, but uncle t Jim, I have seen the evidence with m^ own eyes, I have seen the young ( girls that were dragged down in t shame. A m.other being roughly used by an enemy in the presence of her small child, the child rushed upon the Hun, hammering at him with his little fists?the Hun did j what the enclosed picture (that I received in a book of cartoons) shows, saying, now will you be good, j and on and on. I could tell you so many things that you would feel as we do?"Its a privilege to fight, even unto death for. Uncle Sam and those who love us, and never a sac?#i*? milf do T i nnce. must owjj xva wuiguv ?w must put my light out, old Fritz is trying for the range now. Good night. Will talk more pleasant tomorrow. " ^ July 13.?After listening to our * batteries hammer at the Boche positions for an hour or more and also * to the rats, who were on a rampage around my bunk last night, I went * t osleep. I have a nice bunk, sleep c next to my desk, and under the * watchful eye of an alarm clock, * which blows reveille too soon to * please, but after I down a few ser- 1 vice stripes (Bacon) and can a few 1 flags (Hot cakes), I am as happy as - i--i- 4nr dinner. as I 1 tt ltliii) auu a v-uv*j aw* % w., ? __ had to stop for the train. I have to c look it over every morning, though * for the past two or three weeks I 1 have had it pretty soft. * Have just finished dinner?Vir- s ginia ham, French cabbage, carrots 1 and tomatoes. Suffering for a varie- ? ty is an unknown quantity. The on- s ly system that Uncle Sam hasn't perfected to the satisfaction of the r entire enlisted personel of his mon- j strous army-, is the allotments, and ; I think soon that they will have that t a nnmnrf?V)pnsivfi and dlXLCU U V WW A I VV M v?r- ? ? unifrom scale, whereas every man j will only allot so much, and then j they might send out a bulletin gen- j eral that will explain the things of ( interest to the ordinary mind, in- ( stead of one of those legally worded affairs that only a Philadelphia law- j yer could analize. The average en- ( listed man feels that the reason why j of/> Imvp not beeni t aUVMUWIMVf WW<) ?*-? . ? promptly cared for and charges < made, were just to make jobs in Washington for wealthy slackers, j though I feel positive that the real j cause of so many mixups was in the } many companies, on account of the ( clerks being unable to dissect the i tables that must have been formed, j on the Georgetown football field, orj ( in the professor's study. 11 Our system of rationing the div- 1 isions along with enough attachments which equal another division 1 at times, is next to perfect The! t clothing game with us is in the Eng- t lish stage of experiment, and so far i has proved satisfactory. Of course rnothinc new is hard at first and I some of the outfits think I'm lying S when I tell them I do not carry a t stock any more. Just as the rations i are issued the forage is issued, daily. We keep at least a 24 hour reserve r on hand, with an extra meal at each t unit in case of a wrecked ,or delayed train. The first chance I had or ( going to church, three months after landing, was given me on account Df the train being delayed 20 hours. The last Sunday I worked while in the Vosges, we loaded 32 cars for a special train, making our initial entry to the well known trenches at Soissons. I stayed behind, .shipped iway all unnecessary property and took my men through the country to a little rest area east of Paris and ;hen took a train up to the front to ioin the bunch. Soissons is a very lice town?then?two days after I eft?the Huns shelled the town and Iropped a Bizzy Bertha in the winlow of my warehouse. I have a little circulating library :or the benefit of the other fellows, >nly 12 or 15 books, but it increases very day, as some of the boys turn n a book they have received, and its iasy for me to carry them with my general freight. I also keep a lock>r filled with cigarettes for their lse. I never smoke myself, but someiow or other I get a bunch of pleafelre looking out for them, and it >nly costs the time it takes packing ind unpacking. Guess I'll say quits now or you vill never have wind enough to finsh the letter. Your verses were very fine, the entiment expressed is the sentiment hat every American should voice, ind back up. Would like to hear it o music. Remember us in your prayers, and Jod being our helper "we'll fight he good fight." - - J l 1 !-l? jjove ana uesi wisneo airtayo. Yours, Bill Hannon. 1st Sergt. Q. M. C. JEUT. DEVLIN SENDS INTERESTING LETTER iflust Depend on Y. M. C. A. for Coca Cola. Sees Negro Unit Returning from Front Line Treacher?Their Captain a Whopper? French Girls Doing Their Beat to Win War. Rake Hay and Work. Is Coming Home All Right, With Several Gold Service Stripes, The following letter is from Lieut f. Roddy Devlin, to ,his sister, Mrs. j i. R. Plaxco: ' ' France, July 17, 1918, i )ear Agnes:' Just a short letter to let you know hat I have at last reached a place to :all home.. For. the first time I've 4-1*a waov on/) coon fVia fla?H nf I 1CCIZ.U Vliy A V(*l MliU ?vvt* VMV MWWM -v.. | he enemy guns. In fact we can tear them from here, though at is luiet now on the sector in front of is (American.) Wish I had you here to help me earn French, Since the Americans :ame here the native's have learned Snglish pretty well, and we don't lave much trouble. We learn a litle French every day and I think I'll loon be able to speak it. I can tran?ate it now well enough to get the tense, but I can't get it when it$ poken. % We are having a few days rest low?work will begin Monday. I Vtimlr Hia /iaiiha nrill laaf nnln fnnv FlilllZV Hit ^VUIOW TT1I1 1MOV VillJ AVVt* veeks. Don't know what we will do hen. We are well fixed up here, I beieve better han we've been since ,'ve been in the army. It is right lot and we will have to work in our :oats and are not allowed to wear :otton clothes. I wish you could see the country /ve seen on this trip. In this country ;he flowers are beauiful. The land s rich, gardens and crops fine. Beau;iful poppies grow wild everywhere, ;he grain fields are red with them. I have a pass to go up to?, very lear the front, for 2 days. Am gong up tomorrow. The Germans lave fought several hard battles to :apture it, and have shelled it time md again, but have never got into t. We want to see the real effects >f the scrap. It was a big city once, )ut I hear most of the people have eft or been killed. Since starting this letter, I have leard 15 or 20 shots fifed aver on ;he battle line. They are very dis ;inct. A negro unit has just come n, returning from the trenches, rheir captain (negro) was a "whop>er," about 6 '6, and weight about !75. They are a husky looning junch and I'd hate to meet them n a bayonet fight The boys from one of the camps lear home (over 100 mi.) are in the renches now. Quick work, isn't it? lmpw \$rhen most of those :amps came over. The girls over here are doing their best to win the war. I've seer Maud Mullers raking meadows sweet with hay, and I've seen other feminine patriots building houses and ships, firing R. R. engines, and doing nearly everything else a man can do. I saw pictures in my youth of a woman and a dog pulling a cart. I never thought I'd see it. The W. A. A. C'c, (Wacks, they are called) dressed in their pretty uniforms, are doing great work in France. I believe they are all from England. B. and I talked to a couple of pretty ones in the rest camps All the girls seem strong for us. The thing I envy most over here is the gold service stripes given for each six months of foreign service. Have seen lots of soldier wearing . one and a few with two. I want one worse than anyhing I've ever seen. They are beauties. T'm Tirooinnry fVia Qom Rrnnrno holf. and the little overseas soft cap, creased in the center you know. Around the top of the crown it has our colors, a red and blue cord, and pin our rank insignia on the left front, and I'm sure you'd be crazy about it. Just learnfed today thatj we can send personal photoes home; so I'm going to have some snapshots made to send back. The "Y" is still a great friend ofi ours. There are three buildings here and they sell us the only solft drinka we have been able to buy since leaving the states. Their lemonade is like water in an oasis to me, for all I've seen before was wine, beer and whiskey. The boys can L .y any thing they want, and they "gol to it" when they first get here. After hat, they are a bit more moderated These people haven't found out yet that water is good to drink, and seemingly very few have discovered its fitness for bathing purposes. You would have laughed at your brother's, perplexity a few days ago. The. train stopped at a good sized town for mess, and with several friends I rushed into the buffet and I x. r ? I said in my best lingo, "qonniz-moi du cafe au lajt" I was right proud A /? I 4\ ? y . u of tqy jj^rf^rmance till the, garcon began to talfc with mouth and hands, A V * 4. ; f -s*w t % shooting about 10 meters of French befor^ I, caught Epiy breath. I haven't the least idea what he said, but it must have been that their milk was 'non e8t," for he brought the coffee at last without the "lait", also minus sugar. You know that' I never could drink it so, but on this trip it was delightful. Am glad to say we have splendid cafe "au lait et au sucre" here. Well, I've made this a right long letter, and 111 ask that you send it around to the other sisters and friends. My address at present and while at this school is, 16th M. G. Battalion, American P. 0. No. 703, Via New York. I may not be here long enough to get letters you write after getting this, but they will be forwarded to me. So please write and have the others to do likewise ,for I haven't had a leter now in a month, and no prospects of getting any for another one. I'm enclosing a letter from King George of England, which was handed each of us as we came down the gang plank. Put it in my trunk mVion \mn frhrnuch nassincr it | around, as I want to keep it for a souvenir. Don't worry about me, for I'm coming back whole when we have helped to end this awful scrap. With lots of love to you and all the folks. Lovingly, Roddey. ANOTHER LETTER FROM CHAS. HAIGLER, JR. Was Omitted in Last Issue Because of Lack of Space. Incloses Cartoon of Sammy Dropping Beans in Haste to Get Mail. Says It's True to Life. "On Active Service With the Ameri| can Expeditionary Forces." July 8, 1918. Dear Mary and aJl, I have intended answering your letter for several days, but it looks as though something has always prevented. Well, of course it's useless to express appreciation and say that they were greatly enjoyed, but I will enclose clipping to show the one "real noise" in the army life, i The word in black-face type even comes before "chow" as you will i notice the guy with the "overseas cap" has putaside the "mess-kit and beans" and started for "mail call" or the letter from home. Well, this is only a cartoon but its really too true to real life. Know you are having a fine vacation. We are still getting along as nicely as could be expected, we generally get Sundays off duty and can go to Romorautin or walk through the country to some other town. I and a "comerade" walked to Clabris, a town a little beyond Gierves and about five miles from here, on yes terday afternoon. Of course we had to stop and "parle-vous Francais" with the Madamoiselles, so that accounts for my. not writing home as usual on Sunday. Anyway we spent a very plaesant afternoon and this: is the only way we have of seeing France and of learning the French language. Sure wish a party could be arranged so all of you could "come over' and see the many interesting things in this country for I guess we are now in a section of France that is the most historical place in the world. A while back when I was in Blois I saw the river and place where the march of the "North Gauls' and Barbarians were naitea ana aeieatea nunareas 01 years ago. We are also only a few miles from Orleans, where Joan of Arc lived and I was in the little "prayer room" or chapel where the flag that she led the army with was blest by the priest. One can hard1' realize that these old rock houses ^.ve stood the weather for centuries and still be in such good condition. If I were just up on French history and could speak and understand the languages a little I could certainly enjoy it. I understand that we get a seven days leave of absence each four months in the service. Of course only a few could go from one squadron at a time and since they would be given this privilege according to* rank we privates aa?m a w A?niV?1tr r% AAiinl a wuuiu tuuic loab, jtuooiui; a t,vu)iie of months late, but I bet we would have just as "large a time" as anyone when we did get to go. This is just "squadron talk" so I don't know how much truth there is to it, but I guess I had better start saving "francs," so as to have "beacpup francs" if. the time ever arrives. Tell Dpd if I should happen to get such a chance, to go some place and was lucky enough to get the Y. M. C. A. to cash a small check on him, not to forget to place the proper 0. K. on it I have no idea that I'll ever get to run around much or will need any extra "monaie" but I write this "in case". Well, it's about dark, so guess I'll have to stop for tonight Possibly Pll have some news or something to write about next time anyway, and not have to just write down anything I think of as I've had to do tonight. We haven't received anything but second class mail now for about a week so am in hopes of a| letter or so tomorrow, i ictuvcu several copies of The Press and Banner this week and that looked a little like home. Well, bye bye. Hope every body is well. Chas. A. Haigler, 485 Aero Const Sqd. STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE ACTIVE Columbia, August 4.?The State Council of Defense has gone on record, by the adoption of resolutions at the bi-monthly meeting held here Thursday, as favoring a government financed cotton corporation; and recommendation has been made to President Wilson and Congress that cation be taken, through the formation of such a governmental agency, to fix a minimum price which the farmer may be guaranteed for his cotton. Another resolution adopted at this probably the most constructive meeting yet held by the Council of Defense, directed the * attention of the War Department and Congress to the labor shortage in South Carolina, which is aggravated by the fact that many women whpse husbands are in the military service have left fields where they have been accustomed to work in former i vears. and are subsisting on the j allowances remitted by the War Department. An appropriate * remedy to relieve this situation is asked for, since many women are living in idleness while the farm labor shortage I grows more acute. \ Two other resolutions, both state wide importance, were adopted. One of these deprecates the sale and use of fireworks during the period of the war and calls upon the municipalities to forbid either. The other urges membersof the county units to keep on the alert for slackers, for those who abuse the system of pay-* ing allotments, and for other irregularities. The Council of Defense appropriated $1,000 to Kelp finance the work of the State Illiteracy Commission. The executive committee of the Council of Defense has been enlarged by the addition of three members, who are Robert McDoughall of Columbia, W. A. Stucky of ishopville, and Horace L. Tilghman of Marion.THE FARM WATER SUPPLY. Clemson College. S. C.. Auirast.? During the relatively slack time of mid-summer many farmers will be considering the putting in of a farm water supply. Some farmers can take advantage of streams or 'lakes at higher level, flowing wells, the use of rams or wheels in streams but most farms must pump watei from wells with gasoline or electric ity. So there must be a choice betweei the elevated tank system, the pneu matic tank system, and the non-stor age system. A good system mu9 meet several requirements. First, it should be simple, comH pact, easy to operate. 'H| Second, it should be sufficient i size and quality to furnish'the max^R mum demand. ' Third, it should not be so locate^B as to disfigure the landscape, or bHj dangerous to life or property in ca^H of accident BV Fourth, it should be practically ii^H destructible and without delicaflH parts. MB Fifth, it should be tight, to ke^H out impurities. Sixth, it should areate the wate^H Seventh, it should have enou^H pressure for fair fire protection. Hj Eighth, it should be reasonabHI low in cost and l^gib in efficiency. B9 Many authorities believe that/ IK| high grade pneumatic system meets these requirements. taking a rest. jfl Mrs. G. a. Mil ford and Miss Gra^H Milford left Monday for AshevilflB where they will spend a week wi|H Miss Grace Jones. MB meeting of countydem^b cratVc executive commi*H tee to purge rolls. sb Notice is hereby given that meeting of. the county democra^H i t. n u RH execytive committee will be heM^H Abbeville C. H., S. Cm on the mo^H ing of August 15th. beginning EH 10 o'clock fpr the purpose of c^H recting and purging the rolls of MBu democratic clubs. All persons wh^HH names are improperly on thie r^KI will on proper complaint be stricl^HB therefrom and the names of who have been denied enrollm^HB ""11 Vvo if fnnnH entitled Hm YT 111 Ut UUUVU) I* *v such enrollment Any and all cflH| plaints will be considered. ParHffi having complaints to make will Km| pear in person or submit their cHffl plaints by affidavit WM. P. GREENE, 9H County ChairmaiHH Aug. 5th, 1918. 8-6-3t. Hj The! Confederate^H College MW No. 62 Broad Street, CHARLESTON, S. C. Boarding and Pay School f<SH| Girls. Begins its session October 1918. jn Historic Institution situat^^^H in a healty location. Advantages of City life, wi^^^H large College yard for ouHHB door sports. BBQ A WELL PLANNED COURS^^I of studies in a homelike a^HHj mosphere. A BUSINESS COURSE op^H| to Seniors, 'and Electi^HHH courses to Juniors and Se^MR iors. EHGC TWO UOmesuu otientc giving practical and thecH|^M etic knowledge of cookingHHg A well equipped Library. jH^B For Catalog and further flH formation, apply to the CflH| 8-13-lt. w-Sept 17. 666 cure* Headache*, Biliou^HGH Loaa of Appetite, foal breath^^^H that tired aching feeling dae tcjHjHR laria or Cold*. Ik remove* the cavm. HDR 7-16-lt ea. wk. 10 wks.