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ON ACTIVE SERVICE
WITH THE
AMERICAN EXPERITIONARY FORCE

AMERICAN
Y.M.C.A.

July 23 1918

Some Where in France

Dear Mother.

Just a few line [sic] to let you know I am in the best of health and enjoying the rights of france.
The country is very pretty but they still use the old time ways. Was quite surprised to see oxens 
pulling wagons and walking in the fields. They have very good crops here and the womens [sic] doing 
the most of the work. street cars are all run by women also saw young ladeis[sic] firing railroad 
engines. it looks very queer to us American soldiers to see womens [sic] doing this work. but still 
they seem satisfied. The war is going way good for the french and americans and the people are 
begining [sic] to see the bright side of it. The camp we are in has a large number of gunman [sic] 
prisoners and they would rather stay here than go back to their country. We moved to another camp 
arriving here this morning. We sure had some time getting trains as I am the only one in our company 
that speaks french. and you know how I speak it but never the less I made them under stand [sic] me 
partly by

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talking and partly by using my hands the french [sic] trams are the same as you have often told me 
they were in Italy with side doors. And very small engines but at that they make very good time. We 
are well treated by the french [sic] people. They think well of the American boys and seem to thing 
[sic] the war wont [sic] last mutch [sic] longer. so lets [sic] hope it dont [sic] I must close

hoping to hear from home soon

love to all

A.P. Rotter   Mack,

443. Eng. Truck Co. B. E.M.J.S.

A.E.F. France via new york

"Lexington Mo

"Aug, 21, 1918

"Dear sir

"Please publish this letter in the Kirksville Daily express. The Kirksville people like to hear his news. He is a business man of Kirksville, Mo.

"Signed Mrs Elizabeth Rotta"