Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1917-12-20
Somewhere in France


a few extracts of interest.
Somewhere in France
Dear Folks: Am writing a letter
that [ hope will be mailed in the U.
S. We are giving some mail to one
of the ships boys and he is going to
mail them when he gets back.
| wrote a long letter on my way
over describing everything, but at that
time [ didn't know the regulations.
The other night | was down censoring
mail myself, and as soon as [ saw how
it was worked | knew I had to write
some more letters.
The only thing is that l hope you
are not worrying, for we are having a
great time. The officers were allowed
to go ashore and of course we set out
to take in the town. First we tried
to send a cable, but nothing doing.
Then you ought to see us shopping
The order has come out for US to wear
"Sam Brown" belts Qike the English
and French officers wear). We stopped
in a little store and started to talk and
try to get what we wanted. We all
have little books with French and
English. For example, you wanted a
belt, look up the word in the book:
English French Pronunciation
Belt lie centurion lie se-turO
We are picking up a great deal, but
you would laugh yourself sick some
times.
They brought twelve of us men over
that weren't assigned, SO we are 60
ing to stay in town. The colonel
told us that we might stay here all
winter. If so, I claim it will be pretty
soft for us. If you could only see US
for awhile you would never worry |
hope I make that plain to you be-
cause we are having such good time
and don't want to spoil yours for you
Cornwall leaves some time today
They go right up to the line. We were
iOllying him a good deal when we
found out we were to stay here and
I told him when he got out in the mud
to think of us in town, or rather city.
L
normal circumstances and see this
country, it's customs, people, etc. For
instance you walk down an alley (the
streets are aWfully narrow paved
with cobblestones and you think a
horse is right behind you and when
you look around it's only couple OF
boys with wooden shoes.
Marines Police City
The place is policed by marines.
Those fellows sure have reputation.
Everybody is afraid of them, and if
there is any trouble, say in wine
shop, the proprietor goes out and
brings a marine, and believe me they
clean things up They sure have
their hands full, though.
November 6, 1917: Just got up from
a most tiresome two-hour job of cen
soring outgoing mail. [ don't know
now whether l am capable of writing
decent letter or not after reading
some of those flights of fancy of the
lOvelOrn.
Got my check yesterday and had it
cashed today. We certainly have a
great time with the money. The
French franc equals about Is cents;
their sou about 1 cent and their cen
time about one-fifth Of one cent. Talk
about a wad. Today I had my check
cashed and got 1896 francs SO cen
times. Have to have money belt
to carry it around.
Cornwall left today for somewhere
about twenty miles behind the front.
We stay here until ordered further
We may stay here all winter. Are
attached to base hospital No. 1O1.
Send my mail there for present, base
hospital No. 101, A e. F., via New
York
This is sure some burg. You ought
to see us go shopping and talk French.
We each have a French dictionary