New Britain herald., 1917-09-24
PlainVil1e News FIRST LOCAL BOY ARRIVES IN FRANCE James Usher Writes to His Father
 from BreSt TELLS OF TRIP ACROSS

Local People Visit Aver Cancon-
 ncnt and Tell of Scenes There Bremen Have Outing.
 1 To James Usher. son of MT. and Mrs. R. c Usher goes the distinction of being the first man from Plain- vile to reach France since war was l declared between this country. In a letter received a few days ago and some of the experiences encountered on the trip overseas.
 Like his father. who enlisted and fought in the Civil war when he was but sixteen years of age and marched With Sherman from Atlanta to the sea, James is imbued with the same spirit and patriotism. Although he was past draft age and prOba bly, would not have been conscripted, when call was sent forth for vol l unteers he immediately responded. The sea appealed to him and he pre- sented himself at the recruiting sta | tion in New Haven and was accepted as one of the first members of the so-called mosquito fleet.
 That was in May. Shortly after he received his orders to report for ac- tive service. After several months training he was assigned to the con- verted yacht,--, one of the first boats of it's kind to make the perilous trip overseas. Enroute to France he touched New York, Newport, St. l Johns, Newfoundland and the Azores. The letter describing the trip fol- l lows:
 Dear Father:-
 Will write to you mostly and you
 can pass the word around if anyone l is interested.
 Am over at last but had a long
 trip you can bet. Was sick two diff 1 ferent times. We made the trip in 1 relays, stopping four times for three 1 or four days to coal and supplies. Covered about $500 miles and plenty
 of rough weather, once in while a
 bright day to dry clothes and lay on 1 deck to sun ourselves. We are lucky 1 in having the finest captain in the l fleet. Young but cool and clever also. 1 kindhearted and clean. He spent 1 twenty-four hours on the bridge, wet l to the skin, with no sleep and only 1 eating a sandwich or drinking a cup l of coffee to sustain him during the 1 worst, storm we had. Have to spend 1 five hours out of every twelve up | there with the officers on watch, so l was With him and the quartermaster l during the worst of it when we took 1 in the most water over our decks. Nearly swamped the tiremen standing g
 in the water up to their knees and
 water almost reaching the fires. II
 was no joke and many gave up hope
 but I did not fear having so much
 faith in The Old Man" as they call
 the captains or shippers of our ships.
 This is an interesting town here l (supposedly speaking of Brest,) part l of it very old and part of it new. The
 old fort dating before Christ. '"The Y. M. c. A. where I am writ l ing this is certainly one of a series 1 of great institutions. Almost every l port they have these Y. M. c. A. $ 1 where the sailors can go to change 1 their money, sleep if they wish, eat
 and most of all get a good bath. write home and be directed to any l place they are looking for. The men
 in charge are very kind. Believe me 1 if I ever give to charity they will
 get my money. Probably fifty sailors
 here now and in some places there
 are hundred coming and going. l Was patrol guard yesterday and 1 had to stay on shore until all the 1 sailors were sent out to the boats l leaving after eleven. They sent me l out to tell the chief boatswain in 1 charge of the landings. The different l ships and three men to patrol the 1 streets and see that the sailors do not l do any damage and chase them back l to the ships on time. As there are 1 many boats here there are a large l number on shore. We carry regular 1 police clubs and belts and leggins l with white hats so we can be recog- l nized.
 Saw American news for the first 1 time in month last night and, also
 news of the front and was glad to 1 see that the allies are winning. 1 ''The American sailors like the 1 French much better than the Eng fish, whom they call lime juicers
 Last night one of the 'lime- juic- l ers'' spat on an American uniform 1 and the French as well as the Ameri- l cans jumped in and beat him up. l "There are many German prisoners l here as well as some Turks whom | have seen They receive fine treat l jpf1,