Putnam patriot., 1917-11-23
PRIVATE GEORGE 4. VAUGHAN, JR.,
 DESCRIBES TRIP TO FRANCE
First Landed h England But Is Now Chartered Near Front
The Mud Dirty ieow Stuff Sticks Like Glue and Is Terrible" e Vi
Other Soldiers Write aud Tell of the Army Life

now tn France. He left camp at Nj. nntie Sept. 25th;
 Sept. 2bth-We left Mantle today, crossing the border into Canada the 2eth and take my last opportunity to write you in the good old U. <. A.
 Sept 2sth--We are now on the water but cannot say where, nor name the ship. Have our regular drills and calls and good meals; better than in camp,
 Oct. srd-Having beautiful weather altho the mornings are foggy.
 Oct. 9th ilth--A very sad day this. A young man of Is years died of pneu- monia and according te the rules of the sea was buried this s. m. How badly his poor mother must feel when she gets the news. A hard storm and very rough sea prevails, but am rot sick, altho large part of the boys do not enjoy it.
 Oct tSth-Here we are across the water safe and sound. No chance to cable yet. Did not sight submarine and there were none in port. We took train upon arrival and were taken to a detention camp. All in England Is strange to us, but after 9 days at sea, land certainly was a welcome sight, Oct. 20th-Very disagreeaole westh' CT thus far, icloudy and raw, but we are to be here only few days, then on to France, so we do not mind 1t much. We are in a detention camp, being held here and examined for contagious or other diseases. Our long trip over softened us up, so that the first days seem harder and we feel the cold more. Had new drill this a. m. While marching we would get the order, ''scatter;b that is, all the men would spread out, so that in case of an aerial raid, they would be less liable to be hit. IL was very amusing to see them running in all directions. This is very large catnp. We are in tents while the English soldiers are in brick barracks. The food is fairly good al. y very pretty, all so different from home and amusing Co us. All soldiers ride for half.fsre on the railways. The nearest thing to n soda fountain Is the tea rooms where one can find tea and buns. It seems strange to receive no mail, it has now been a month without any. Sent you cable last night and surely hope you received 1t. It cost only 90 cents which is very reasonable.
 Oct. 2lst-Very little going on in camp, not much work as this is "rest camp" We shall probably leave for France this week. We all trust to, as it Is very cold here. The Y. NJ. c. A. do wonderful work, don't they? In this teut where l am writing are tables, books, stamps, etc. In the next one piano and room for entertainment. In third they run canteen, selling coffee, milk soda, buns, crackers, candy, shoe laces, papers, s,etc. They also have 2 branch of an English bank where one can exchange money, etc. There are numerous tables about where we can sit, eat, or play games and they run an information bureau. l wished 10 go to London to see the sights but our commanding officer will not allow us the time, but hope to get look nt Paris when we 20 10 France. Suppose you read all the news regard- ,.xs Il. .f .s going on than 1 do, as the English papers are censored. The English soldiers here treat us finely, the bands playing National airs and escort the soldiers to and from all trains.
 sunday afternoon after coffee and buns at the Y. M. C. A. l took walk. The country is very pretty, with green fields and little brick 'farmhouses and barns covered with ivy. The children are queer little tots, the little boys wearing long trousers. The roads are fine, old people as well as children rid- ing bicycles. We see few motors, 1 suppose due to the high price of gaso- line We sleep in bags filled with straw, as they afe warmer than cot beds ard in fact we are getting used 10 sleeping any old way. By reason Of the daylight saving plan, we eat din- ner when you are starting the day.
 No date-Am now in France near a typical French town and we are hous- ed in rude barracks which are much preferable 10 tents, altho we are not fully settled and the roofs leak badly. 1t hss rained hard since we arrived and the mud, dirty yellow stuff that sticks like glue, is terrible. We have hard work keeping our shoes clean. Have received no mall but hope to soon. Went Into the town last night and bought some real Erie cheese and crackers to go with 1t and 1t did taste good. The town has the usual cafes in the basements Of houses. Have much repsir work to do go will close for this time, writing more in my next.
 Private George A. Vaughan, IT,,
 Ambulance Co. No. 1. l0isG Sanitary Train,