CEHBates_JanFeb1919_030b

see Edward it is not all roses being the father
of a family. I think the non receipt of mail
by you and the others overseas is an outrageous
scandal. There are complaints in Congress and
in the daily papers about it. One woman here
has had 20 letters returned to her which she
wrote her son. Every one is marked "wounded.
In hospital." If the army front office knew
he was wounded and in hospital, why did
they not forward them. There is no excuse, and
the answer is "inefficiency." You have not received
any letters since you were transferred from
the 26th. Surely the records of the 26th show
you were transferred to the 32nd. If we enjoy
your letters so much, how much more necessary
it is that you should hear from home. I hope
that we shall never go into another war. If we
had to fight it alone we would get licked
through the bungling of those in authority. We
have the brave men but they would be sacrificed.

We have had no rain for a long time, and
unless it pours for days we shall have a
worse year for lack of water around the Bay.

Kink is well and happy and wants to know
when you will come back! I have no news
and am swamped with work, so au revoir
mon cher fils. God bless you dear old boy

always your loving father
HLA Bates