Took 19 days to cross the Atlantic, but required "a little ducking," which he can tell about on his return. The blue envelope (not present) means the letter will not be censored, each soldier gets one per week. Does not need anything sent: his promotion to PFC means a raise of three dollars per month over buck private. Riding side door pullmans (box cars). Reads that old men have had to register for the draft, but feels his brother does not have to worry "as you will never have to go very far just stay where you are and make those guns for us and think we can put a stop to this war soon. I think you would make some soldier after you took a few twenty mile hikes with a sixty pound pack on your back..." The army on this side is drilled better and better: "a good clean set of men which means a whole lot over here. you know there is not any such thing over here as national army, everybody belongs to the U.S. Army." Has begun running a truck, which is a better position than corporal. Some Hamp boys have been sent home, and deserve it having been under gas attack: "that is the worst thing we have to contend with worse than bullet or shell..." Knights of Columbus are doing a wonderful job.
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