DIY History | Transcribe | World War I Diaries and Letters | Conger Reynolds newspaper clippings, 1916-1919 | 1918-03-12 Clipping: ""Letters From Our Soldiers"" by Conger Reynolds

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Conger Reynolds newspaper clippings, 1916-1919

1918-03-12 Clipping: ""Letters From Our Soldiers"" by Conger Reynolds

LETTERS FROM OUR SOLDIERS
March 12, 1918
My dear Earl:
War is hell.  I say this just after returning from a twelve mile motor ride through this picture garden country to an old chateau and back.  I had gone out there with another officer to negotiate a lease of the place for use by the Army as headquarters for distinguished visitors who come over to see what we are doing.
You see I have become a sort of army diplomat.  Yesterday I was sent by automobile to headquarters of the American correspondents in France to join for the time being the staff of young officers who represent the General Staff in looking after the correspondents and all other persons who insist on having a look at the war without getting into it.  There are four other officers here, but as they have been fairly hard pressed it looks as if I should immediately get into some of the most interesting work they do, such, for instance, as the conducting of parties up to the front.  It is even possible that I may get to spend some time out at that wonderful chateau, keeping congressmen and W. C. T. U. people and others in good disposition.
At lunch today I met Floyd Gibbons.  He is surely a hard-boiled boy---but very clever as a newspaper man.  Irving Cobb was at the table next to us, and sat with us over the coffee to tell us some funny stories.  The high lights of the A. P., U. P., and various large newspapers are all here, and it looks as if they would have to make my acquaintance whether they want to or not.  One of the little things I am to do is to read their dispatches---some of them---and say what has to be deleted.
Life has not always been so luxurious for me.  Just after I arrived at G. H. Q. I was sent to a special school.  There eight lieutenants lived in a cold barracks room that was built for accommodation of four French non-coms.  For three weeks we had no heat, mighty little water, and the most ordinary sort of food.  It rained constantly; there was not a thing in the town to do in our spare moments; and life was dreary all around.
After that I was back at headquarters a week---very pleasantly situated---while I completed the preparation for active intelligence work.  There followed three or four days, during which two departments were battling for possession of me.  I started in one which is engaged in a most interesting and important part of the service of gathering information upon which the army bases its operations.  But the other department finally won me.  I didn't take part in the battle myself because either job looked so good that I didn't care which they gave me.
The factor that swung the balance appears to be my having had experience in newspaper work and some knowledge of how the British and the French have been handling correspondents.  I am well pleased because I think everyone ought to be in the place for which previous experience best fits him.  It seems to me I am in that.  One of the fellows who preceded me here vows it is the best assignment in the army.  From what I have seen so far I can well believe he is right.  I am looking forward to my first chance to go up to the trenches where a lot of my friends are already beating the Boches.  Please say a little prayer, that the shells and gas may not get me.
Devotedly yours,
Conger.

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LETTERS FROM OUR SOLDIERS March 12, 1918 My dear Earl: War is hell. I say this just after returning from a twelve mile motor ride through this picture garden country to an old chateau and back. I had gone out there with another officer to negotiate a lease of the place for use by the Army as headquarters for distinguished visitors who come over to see what we are doing. You see I have become a sort of army diplomat. Yesterday I was sent by automobile to headquarters of the American correspondents in France to join for the time being the staff of young officers who represent the General Staff in looking after the correspondents and all other persons who insist on having a look at the war without getting into it. There are four other officers here, but as they have been fairly hard pressed it looks as if I should immediately get into some of the most interesting work they do, such, for instance, as the conducting of parties up to the front. It is even possible that I may get to spend some time out at that wonderful chateau, keeping congressmen and W. C. T. U. people and others in good disposition. At lunch today I met Floyd Gibbons. He is surely a hard-boiled boy---but very clever as a newspaper man. Irving Cobb was at the table next to us, and sat with us over the coffee to tell us some funny stories. The high lights of the A. P., U. P., and various large newspapers are all here, and it looks as if they would have to make my acquaintance whether they want to or not. One of the little things I am to do is to read their dispatches---some of them---and say what has to be deleted. Life has not always been so luxurious for me. Just after I arrived at G. H. Q. I was sent to a special school. There eight lieutenants lived in a cold barracks room that was built for accommodation of four French non-coms. For three weeks we had no heat, mighty little water, and the most ordinary sort of food. It rained constantly; there was not a thing in the town to do in our spare moments; and life was dreary all around. After that I was back at headquarters a week---very pleasantly situated---while I completed the preparation for active intelligence work. There followed three or four days, during which two departments were battling for possession of me. I started in one which is engaged in a most interesting and important part of the service of gathering information upon which the army bases its operations. But the other department finally won me. I didn't take part in the battle myself because either job looked so good that I didn't care which they gave me. The factor that swung the balance appears to be my having had experience in newspaper work and some knowledge of how the British and the French have been handling correspondents. I am well pleased because I think everyone ought to be in the place for which previous experience best fits him. It seems to me I am in that. One of the fellows who preceded me here vows it is the best assignment in the army. From what I have seen so far I can well believe he is right. I am looking forward to my first chance to go up to the trenches where a lot of my friends are already beating the Boches. Please say a little prayer, that the shells and gas may not get me. Devotedly yours, Conger.