William Reinders Writes His Parents from Somewhere in France.

Mr. and Mrs. W. P. Reinders have just received the following letter from
their son William, who is on duty on the battle front in France

Somewhere in France
September, 1918

Dear Folks:-
It has been ten days since I wrote you last but I could not help it. We have moved a lot since then. I am now in a dugout near the front line in trenches. Am with several other fellows. We keep up telephone connections from here. It is now 2:30 in the morning. The other boys are all asleep and it is my turn to be on duty. I thought it a good time to write. Fritz is quiet just now and if he stays that way awhile I can finish this letter.

I came in here on my birthday, so if you were wondering back home what I was doing on that day, I am telling you now. I was anything but enjoying the celebration that Fritz and Uncle Sam took pains to give me [rest of line
faded]. Fritz gets such a funny notion some times that he delights in seeing how close he can come to our humble abode with all of the different caliber guns he has over here.

We do not lack for amusement. Several of the boys had their shirts off today reading the news from home. I wish I had mine off right now, as I feel one walking up my back wearing hob nail shoes.

We are all well. We are feeling fine. We get plenty to eat. We eat with the French, and you can't beat the French cooks. The French soldiers are the best pals. I think they are the finest kind of fellows. I can "compre" a whole lot of their lingo already.

Say, but how good some American candy would taste just now. I haven't had any since leaving home and the French have none at present. I must light a new candle soon. We are OK so long as we can get candles. I am surely glad I brought lots of paper with me. It seems foolish always to be carrying such stuff as paper around on my back from place to place but it comes in mighty handy down here.

What is going on in the good old U.S.A. any way? Where is my brother now? Is he still at Camp Dodge?

This is a great life and, as one fellow said, if I ever get out of this, I'll sign a contract with anybody never to leave the U.S.A. again.

But you don't mind it when you get used to it. It's all a matter of course. The Americans as a rule, take it quite cool on coming up to the fighting lines. I was cool, I know, so cool I was shaky. To make matters worse, "Heine" behaved very badly on the first night I came. I wish we could write fully. A fellow could write a history down here while working his trick. It is just like a railway telegraph job, so many on, so many off.

Well, I must close. I hope you are all well and happy. Remember me to all and especially to J. P. R., Uncle John, Aunt Mamie, etc. Also Rev. J. J. N. Write often. Love to all.

Your son,
WILLIAM,
Co. C, 6th Field Sig. B'n.
A.E.F. via New York