La Junta tribune., 1917-08-30
FLYERS on WAY TO FRANCE
La Junta Boyx Of Flyer Squadron
Leave San AntOai0 for New
York-On Way to France


Aero Squadron. who has been To-
Gated At Camp Kelly, near San An
tonic, Texas. writes to the home
folks telling the story OF his trip
from Camp Kelly to New York City.
and 1t IL herewith presented In full.
Arthus McCune, son OF d. r. Nc
Cune. OF this city, who is . member
OF the same squadron. writes to his
father relating some OF his exper-
fences and observations on the trip.
and this letter Is also given. The
boys sailed from New York one day
last week and are now on the At
lantic ocean destined for somewhere
in France" The letter Of Robert
Belt il as follows:
We left San Antonio at p. m.
August 10th. via the Southern Pa
cific. We had Pullman cars-first
class. The lights were all stripped
for We travelled With absolute Sc
crecy. We arrived at Houston. Tex
as. At IL p. m. Our next stop was
Shreveport. La. at IL 4. m. on the
1lth. We drilled here two hours
and then went on through North
ern Louisiana. This is the celebrated
land OF Niger mammys and hoe
cakes. II is all Of what II is said to
be. This state, and in fact all the
southern states we went through.
until North Carolina. were all In
ruins. Houses. crops and everything
are falling to pieces and rotten.
There we're more nisgers than white
folks. The Mississ.ppi was our next
stop which We crossed At night on
4 ferry. They loaded our cars on It
and never disturbed us. The boys
were all cracking jokes at the scenes
we passed. One swore up and down
he saw q periscope. vicksburg was
just across the river In Mississippi.
We went around the south end OF
Island No. TO-" made famous In the
Civil War by Grants siege Of vicks-
burg. We then croesed Missiasippi
to Jackson and Meridian where We
changed TO the Seaboard Airline
Railway. Birningham. Ala. was the
next stop. We drilled there for
forty-five minutes and got another
shot In the arm. The people save %
. hearty welcome here and ne gave
them three cheers when our train
pulled out. Just inside the Georgia
line we stopped At . little place
called Cedartown and drilled and
got our usual welcome Of cheers.
We reached Atlanta, Georgia. the
night Of the third day and took on
water. ice and supplies for the cook
car.
We went through South Csroiins
at night and did not see much OF
II. 10 far the land has been heav-
iiy timbered and rather swampy but
n We went north. the timber de-
creased in si.e and quality and the
cotton fields grew more numerous.
Sings Of industry showed that North
Carolina vas the best Of the states
no far. On the morning OF the
fourth day we pulled into Monroe.
n. C., and drilled . while. We got
our best welcome here 10 far on the
road.
We then proceeded TO southern
Pines" n. C.. and here the people
psssed around cigars. candy and mag
asiues 10 US. One boy had n horny
toad with him attached TO a string.
which he let out Of the window onto
the station platform. He immediate
iv became the center Of attraction.
The people thought he was poison
Gus until a Texan picked him up
A we left this town man In the
Th,rty.fourth Squadron dropped a
letter off and thought no one saw
him. They got him and he u up
for court martial now.
Il was night when We passed
through Raleigh. We stage" '"'''
four hours as the cook car hnd n
broken draw bar. and had to b. re-.
psircd. We woke up In virginia and
tina, day I went on kitchen police
Al Richmond. Va. We drilled 'or
while and wen, on to A'essndns
where Mount Vernon u located
Crossing the pn,omae We arrived ~
washington In a rain storm. We saw
the monument and capitol ON 'h'
way re saw the Chesapeake BAY
Prom here 10 Jersey City we 'oo'
the Pennsylvania Lines.
Our nexs stop was baltimore ~"
We d,d not see much here - w
w>at through . tunnel 10 the depo'
rrom Richmond 10 washington ~
passsl through oil the famous p'a.e'
q ths Civil war-Pesersours. AZ
~.a4ar, nnup4 house and ftveIs ah'