World War I Collection

[Imprinted: ALASKA ARIZONA CALIFORNIA IDAHO MONTANA NEVADA OREGON UTAH WASHINGTON

STANDARD FORMS BUREAU [centered] 277 PINE STREET [centered] TELEPHONE SUTTER 4560 [centered]

H. L. A. BATES SECRETARY-MANAGER

TRADE MARK STANDARD

SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.,]

May 3rd 1918

My dear old Snedward:

Just a few lines to let you know I have paid Adams & West for your uniform, so you wont have it on your mind. We were very glad last night to get your letter giving your address and to know that you are to stay for awhile at Kearny. I should imagine that with the tremendous proposed increase in the Army, some of you young officers would have to remain to coach them. We got a long letter from Nor last night. He has qualified as expert rifleman, and says he took 48 men to Olongapo and qualified all of them, the majority as experts!!

More letters came from Dick after you left. He seemed well & happy, but he thought I had not treated you well financially while you were in camp, as you were perpetually broke etc.

Mother not very well but will be all well in a day or so. Jos is as fine as silk and goes to the movies quite often. Jack & Ella well too. The Watermans are having their house painted, pearl grey, with a white roof. I think it is going to look very well. Lesley graduates I believe the end of next week. I don't know where they will send him but I see by the papers, that the plan is to have an intermediate school at Sacramento and another at Riverside where the cadets will be taught to fly and when they graduate from there, they will go to San Diego which is to be the place where all the final stunts are to be given. I suppose Mother will send you

framed for my bedroom -- and each of the boys must have one --- so I see where I shall have to send for more soon. [illegible] Im inclined to favor the one with the cap on --- simply because the whole position is so good --- erect and yet easy --- both the other expression is so bright & Cheerful & it is such a good likeness of you that its really hard to say which is [double underlined] the best --- I am glad you ordered both dear --- Aunt Eleanor likes the bare headed one best --- so you see they must both [underlined] be good ---

We also got a nice long letter from Nor today --- & Helen got a cable from him it said --- "Come on Helen, Along a pro" which being interpreted means --- I am headed to Alongapgo [ Olongapo ] --- so it is safe for [illegible] to start out here --- It does not

Imprinted Paper: ALASKA ARIZONA CALIFORNIA IDAHO MONTANA NEVADA OREGON UTAH WASHINGTON

H. L. A. BATES SECRETARY-MANAGER

STANDARD FORMS BUREAU 277 PINE STREET TELEPHONE SUTTER 4560

TRADE MARK STANDARD

SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., [handwritten:] Oct 9th 1918

My very dear old Snedward:

I got a fine long letter from you the other day, which took 8 days to go from where you mailed it, to Bordeaux. You wrote to all your brothers at the same time, and Dick sent his to us to read and keep. We read Jos & Les' before forwarding them on. The addresses of your brothers as of today are as follows:

Major N. C. Bates U.S.M.C. Alongapo [ Olongapo ], P.I.

Lieut. L. R. Bates A.S., M.A, RMA "Garden City"[crossed out] Aeronautical Supply Depot and Cocentration [Concentration] Camp Garden City, Long Island, New York

Lieut R. W. Bates U.S.N. c/o Bureau of Navigation Washington, D.C.

H. J. Bates c/o Western Rice Growers, Nelson, Butte Co., Cal.

From the foregoing you will note that Norman has moved from Cavite to Olongapo where he is in command. Dick writes that he is on special secret duty, and heads his letter U.S.S. ----------. That is why I give his address c/o Bureau of Navigation. On the 27th of Sept we got a wire from Les at Riverside that he was leaving on the 30th, or 1st Oct, so Mother and I went down that night on the Lark arriving at Riverside about 2 pm Sat. Old Les came in and stayed with us at the Mission Inn,

day & it was no real hardship only standing for hours at a stretch is wearisome ---

Mrs Durney was in night before last to see your new English photo & thinks it a speaking likeness as we all do. We nearly all prefer the one with the cap on -- It is such a natural easy position & you look as if you were in the act of speaking --- I am having a slight enlargement made of it to frame for your fathers birthday he wants one for his office - Webster is doing it I "hope it" [underlined] will be good --- Les writes that he was almost [underlined] at his destination --- & longing for California as usual. Nor is supposed to be nearly well now & going to Olongapo --- which is

pleased to receive it.

The picture the family had enlarged and colored of you for your Dad is a beauty. It is as lifelike and not a bit over done as so many are. If there was just a little noise to go with it I could easily believe you were there.

Last week I wired to Washington for transportation on the Nov. boat but as yet they have not deigned to answer so I'm waiting patiently to hear and then for one grand rush.

I hate to think of poor old Nor in Olongapo for it is simply deadly. In comparison Cavite was a very gay place. I'm just crazy to get back for his sake but I guess I'd be a little company -we could at least 'scrap' to