Here’s to say that I am still enjoying your Christmas presents and those
of our kind friends. It is mighty good to eat the nuts and “rocks” that
make me think of the home pantry. The only thing lacking is a great
glass of milk. The money, too, came just in time. Not all of it came,
but I have checks Nos. 7506, 7504, 7505, 7488, 7499, which will be good
insurance against hard times for many a month, I hope. All my mail had
been sent to my next address by the Personnel Department, and was
returned by special request. The Personnel Department will continue to
be my address until further notice.
You asked what the Lafayette escadrille is. It is the continuation of
the small group of American flyers who originally went into the French
service in the early part of the war. Its signal service was made the
basis of romantic interest and used to bind the feeling of friendship
between France and America. The interest caused other Americans to seek
admission in such numbers that a new division of the French Foreign
Legion called the Lafayette Flying Corps, and, later, the
Franco-American Flying Corps was formed. It was for selected Americans.
The original Lafayette Flying Corps, a group of ten men, continued
distinct. It was the Franco-American Flying Corps that I joined. Many
men please to let the public believe that they are members of the
Lafayette Flying Corps, and so profit by its valor. It is because of
this that it is essential to keep one’s position clear.
As to my letter which was so widely published—I am sorry that my name
was attached. I find there is a distinct repulsion at seeing my name in
print in connection with such an expression as “quiet valor.” The letter
described a milestone in my life, but in the world of aviation and the
war at large such an incident is no more than a blow-out in an
automobile race. To people not acquainted with aviation, it would be
very interesting, indeed, but the name would not add much to its
interest. The editor’s comment was encouraging, but that he should think
of the book which was recommended to all their reporters, is not so
extraordinary; nor does it mean that my letter was on a level with it.
It would be a great pleasure to me if I could turn my letter writing to
actual advantage, but to do so in the first person, with name attached,
is something I am not ready for. You spoke of all good things going into
the _Post_. Did you mean the _Saturday Evening Post_? If it were
possible to get an article in the _Saturday Evening Post_, I could
aspire to that. I know that it is a pretty big thing, but every number
has an article in it written by a night-shift reporter who got out to
some aviation school over Sunday. What I have in mind for the _Post_ is
an article, not on aviation, which is already over-written, but on the
intimate side of the French people, our allies.
On this I want your advice and help if it proves possible. Everybody
agrees that the United States waited too long before entering the war,
but I always felt that it did right in waiting until the people were
ready. However, having waited too long, it cannot take its full part
except in that part of the war which remains. I do not believe that that
fulfills its duty. As France has been the field of devastation it is to
France that further aid should be given in completing the duty of the
country. This could best be done in aiding her to recover after the war.
This has all been thought of and acted upon to some extent in the
States.
One method suggested and perhaps carried out was that American towns
should act as godmothers to French towns ruined in the battle front.
This method is thoroughly practical if rightly carried out, and contains
a touch of the romantic which would probably appeal to the public mind
enough to interest it. It has been long since I left the States as far
as the changes which have taken place are concerned. I suspect that the
attitude has changed from “Help France to beat the Germans” to “Help the
United States to beat the Germans.” The result would be that where the
godmother movement would have received hearty support earlier, it might
now fail. It is of this I want you to tell me, if possible. Would the
people, by the right method of approach, be willing to adopt a French
town and subscribe quite liberally to its rebuilding, and does the
government permit such donations?
The United States is athrob with the scale of its task and the
enthusiasm of its attack. It pats itself on the shoulder that a liberty
loan of two or three billion dollars should be oversubscribed. Though
one heard very little about it in street conversation in French towns
and Paris, the French oversubscribed a two billion liberty loan after
three years and a half of this war. This speaks for itself.
But to return to the godmother movement. I have been asked by the family
Duval if such a thing were possible and if I might be able to find the
ways and means of doing it. The town is one in which their family is
interested and they wish to take the responsibility of looking out for
its welfare after the war. I have not talked with the people who are
directly interested and in charge of detailed information concerning it.
I shall see them in Paris in a few days and may withhold this letter
till then.
I am going to write to Dr. Gordon, Mr. Davies, and Professor Lawrence to
find their opinion on the possibility of raising such a godmother fund.
Professor Lawrence spoke of the possibility of architectural societies
sending representatives to engineer the building of such towns. My
letters to these people will be brief, written from the position of one
speaking for friends here who wish to know possibilities.
Just a glance at the possibilities will show you the cause of my
interest. I am interested in France, and if I could spend a year of my
life in doing some such service, it would be no more than I believe any
American owes. I might even take charge of the rebuilding of the town.
It would benefit France, as you can see. It would benefit America in
making stronger the feeling of love between herself and France. It would
gratify the Duvals, who have been so kind to me. As for me, it would
give me permanent access to the best that France can offer; an
opportunity of architectural study and practice are among other things.
Tell me what you think of it.