Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1917-08-16


posed to have Getting up exercises at
dls, but ! have always been seasick
from Sis to $3.50 every morning, SO
nave been unable to get up on deck.
We can SO without our o~vercoats to.
day for the first time and as you will
hear from me before you get this
letter l may ~ well say we are APP
Proaching the danger zone.
think per mission will be given to
sleep or deck tonight. Pretty good
place to sleep-I tried it the day of the
storm. We had a miniature storm
Wednesday and the decks were awash
with spray. took it in the face for
q long time and enjoyed it thorough
". like storms when the Lightning
is not present.
Have been in tie ~dispensary every
day giving TYPHOID injections and do
ing dressings. One of the coal passers
was stuck in the giblets by a Hun.
The rest OF the ''biack gang" said
they were going to throw the .wop"
overheard but suppose they were try
ing to scare him.
ENGLAND.-We arrived in LIVERPOOL
Sunday night in a fog and landed the
following morning; we marched down
to the station and on to a train. Seven
of US were put in a compartment and
found them very comfortable. They
have queer little trains but they make
good time.
The scenery of course was new and
very interesting. Every available
inch of ground under cultivation. The
fields being marked off with hedges.
Nothing is unkempt here but seems
so we'll taken care of, ever though the
men are all at the front. We saw
numbers of women working in the
fields, SO l suppose they are respon-
sible.
The green!grass looked mighty good:
my friend, Ok, said he would
like to bite it. All the trees were in
bloom, too, and a small stone cottage
in among "a bunch of trees in blossom
looked mighty pretty.
suppose we went north of Liver
pool about fifty miles to Blackpool, 4
sea coast town and pleasure resort.
We were met by a band playing the
Star Spapgled Banner and marched
through a cheering crowd to our
quarters, which are boarding houses
and very comfortable.
The town is wide open to us and /
am really amazed at our reception.
Every one likes to stop and talk to us
about everything-~the girls as we'll az
the men; there are some goodlooking
ones here, too.
There are many soldiers and l can
say that we look better in our uni
forms than they, but maybe it's be-
cause Pm not accustomed TO them.
AAOAV oAC icN LhSA WIZ are uDt III
uniform, and there are many cripples.
1t is awful to see the poor young fell
lows handicapped for life. No one
seems to complain, though, and all are
confident Of Ultimate victory.
We e no sugar over here, nor any
American cigarettes or tobacco. The
tobacco is as high as a cats back, too.
The prices are SO out of proportion,
but l want to buy everything l see.
English money is not hard to learn,
but was confused yesterday.
We got here on a holiday; that is
the reason / did not cable ooner but
suppose you had the news of our ar
rival before that.
This sea air is wonderful; there are
piers to walk out on and get plenty OF
it. Darkness does not come on until
10 O'Clock, but we have to be in py
$3.50. That is $50 by the sun, for they
have a daylight saving hour here.
We are drilling two hours every
morning and two in the afternoon.
The rest of the time we have to our-
selves but we are too tired to do much
as we drill on the beach and it is
rather hard walking. We stay here
five or six days and then real work.
Now we are sure just having a good
time and enjoying ourselvesimmense-
ly. The contrast between the ship
and the town is very striking, SO we
appreciate our treatment here ac-
cordingly. All lights are dim here
now and the streets are practically
nil, to protect against "Zeps" Very
little light is needed though--the sun
goes down so late.
30th.--This morning we marched
down to the Arras trenches Gan ex-
hibition) and an officer in charg 9 ex-
planned everything. We saw how gas
attacks are launched and combatted,
also had a chance to try the effect Of
the tear gas; it certainly hurts the
eyes. In the afternoon We saw the
"Tommies" do stretcher drill and it
10 pretty hard work.
Tomorrow we have muster and
draw our first pay. We must be spick
and span for that occasion.
Taking everything as a whole Eng
land seems to be q pretty fine place.
Our girls are better looking and have
nicer teeth. The men are all at the