Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-12-13
CH|1TENDEN COUNT
WTNOOSKI.

interest to the people of this village
and vicinity who have friends in the
101st ammunition train, of which Mr..
Stanley is captain.
Judge Henry Conlin,
Winooski, VT:
My Dear Friend:
"Just had nice visit with Con-
gresham Dale of Vermont. He ar
rived in camp last evening and was
the guest OF Capt. H. NJ. Howe. in the
officers quarters. Had breakfast and
luncheon with us to-day and left in the
afternoon by auto to the nearest town
to take train for Paris. He was very
much impressed with the camp and
met most of the Vermont officers in the
ammunition train. He also visited the
American training camp near the front
line trenches, as we'll as those back of
us. Will not tire you with any story
of our trip over; suffice to say that 1t
was a very tedious journey and a long
one, and everybody was mighty glad
when land was sighted. With the ex-
ception Of a case Of mumps all the men
of my company are in the best of
health. Although 1t Is considered the
rainy season. we have had a week with
out rain. Previous to that 1t was rain
day and night until we were just wal
lowing in mud. Most Of the troops
here are supplied with rubber hip boots
and the ammunition train expect an is
sue very shortly. Men are getting
good rations, all the items except fresh
beef comes from the States. The men
are quartered in large cement barracks.
have iron beds with mattresses and
plenty of blankets. Each squad room
is equipped with small iron stoves and
hot IA 20 h,,rp
The only drawback Is they have to use
candles for light, as electricity is not
supplied in the barracks. The officers
quarters. however, are supplied with
electric lights. as they are much small
Ter than the barracks and the current
is supplied from a small dynamo set
up in the camp and operated by SOL
diers. Another plant has been
Installed in the lower part Of the camp
and supplies the current for few So
called street lamps located in various
parts Of the camp. Outside Of this area
one has to use hand flashlights. Our
camp is city by itself. from the "city
hail." or the administration building down
to the smallest detail. We have no street
cars, or taxi cabs, however. and the
only way to get anywhere is by "shoe
leather express The men are kept
busy on details on all kinds Of work
about the camp and have very little
time to themselves until after supper
When these men get home they will bt
experts at all trades, for they are called
upon to do great variety Of work. The,
are all in the pink Of condition and 70,
do not hear growl from any Of them
They all agree that there is no plac,
like the U. s. A.. and the Winooski boy.
say that the little village on the Onion
would look pretty good to them righ
now, judging from the letters they write
home. The company commander has t
censor all mail from his organization
The great cry Is for tobacco and reading
matter. We have received but one mai
since we arrived in camp nearly a month
ago. That was received on November 10
and the way those men rushed for thu
mail orderly was like school children after
candy That Is one reason that / woult
like to get the CHEEKY club girls inter
ested in the boys and have them writ,
letters and cards to them, as they die
while on border service last summer
Julian Allard has a roster Of the company
There are a number Of small village!
adjoining the camp and the men walk t.
these after retreat nights. Nearly ever,
house has a sign over the door "Caf'
Cidre," but the men have tired Of cider
the novelty has worn off. The troops
drew two months pay November II. Thu
weather here Is very mild. resembling
May or early September in Vermont.
Had a very light frost in the low land
about three weeks ago. and have had blu
one foggy morning. a big contrast to tn
last camp we were in at home when man,
a morning I have broken the ice in tn
| h,,1 bat oh rho foo x6at ~
settle down over the camp at w. ant
remain cold and damp until after min
o'clock the next morning was very dis
agreeable. None Of that here. The mel
have worn their overcoats very little here
except on guard at night. There are man
things Of interest here but we are no
permitted to write about them. There ar
several Y. M. c. A. stores here. resembling
camp exchanges at home where severa
articles can be bought at times. although
the great trouble is to get goods. They dis
tributed writing paper. but their facilitie
for handling the men are nothing lik
the service we had at F. r. A. The cheap
est cigar you can buy Is a small black on
that costs 80 centimes or 16 cents Ameri
can money. A package of Uneeda biscuit
costs 30 confines or 10 cents. A SINAI
package Of hard cookies about dozen Il
package 70 centimes or IA cents. Oak
chocolate, mostly the cooking variety. 1
about all the candy one can get. The com
missary sales store had a small supply o
| tobacco and candy but It did not last long
The place Is closed now waiting for NOR
| stock. Many staple articles can be bough
In the nearby towns. Gillette razor blade
500 packages for Ave francs. which l
about IS cents. For convenience nearl
every one calls a franc. 20 cents. or fv
francs 500. All the enlisted men are re
ceiving 20 per cent. increase in their pa
=, for foreign service. A common expressio,
among the men now is that the private Il
the American army receives about tn
same pay as French lieutenant.
"All the troops here are In sectiona
huts. officers included. which Is muc]
more satisfactory than canvas. The Off
| GERS of each company. that is the captain
| and two lieutenants have a room abou
15-foot square. a stove, electric lights, iro,
cots. mattresses and their own beddinI
| rolls. and they proceed to make them
selves comfortable. Shelves are put ur
wash stands built. and other little ar
rangements made from scraps of lumbe
picked up here and there. and in shor
time they have a very cosy little home
| Floors are scrubbed once a week and
sign on the door. Wipe your feet greet
the would be visitor before he crosses tn
threshold. The officers of the train woul
| like to have some some Of the bushes
people remember them with calenda
for the new year. It IL all guess now. an
many amusing disputes have arisen owe
the days Of the week.
1.-THE only drawback is the mail quei
ton. It 10 80 irregular and what hurt
the oflicers most 10 to be present when tn