The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1917-11-01
ter was our shelter (dog) tents, and


the rain gave them good test for it
did rain. Here we stopped couple
of days and then proceeded on our
journey. Chicago was viewed from
the train and other large cities, and
our only liberty we had was at Roch-
ester, N. Y, but only for about 80
minutes, but we made use of it, for
we certainly did lot of scouting IN
that length OF time.
A few days later we sailed from a
U. s. port for Europe and while on
the sea not very many fed the fish,
las It was very nice and calm, and the
weather was fine.
While on the trip saw several in
teresting sights that l can't mention,
but will say l saw the '''''
Every wave that broke and along
side the ship for distance Of so to
100 feet twas just almost like :
This may sound kind Of fishy but yet
It's true. -
Well, after . number of days we
landed somewhere in England where
we were camped for few days for
q rest. and believe me" II was a
welcome one, for all were in need OF
1t. While there had the pleasure
of visiting the great city Of London.
but only for a short time as my time
was limited. yet saw quite q num-
ber of sights, such as the House of
Parliament, London Bridge, the Tow
er. subways, etc., and fairly good
drink of beer, which l suppose you
know very little about. but have
heard Of 1t.
In America they have the "bar
tender" but in England 1t is a fair
lady, known as the "bar maid"
After leaving England we started
to venture farther into Europe and
started out into the which
was very ss"ss =, very few
of the boys refused not to get sick
and it made things bad for all. was
included in this sick bunch for it was
the worst We had on our trip.
On the--we landed in France,
all glad to set foot on land once
more and to know that we had set
foot on soil that we had longed and
looked for, SO we went into quarters
for a rest and soon left for differ
ent locality.
Though the part Of Franch thru
which we travelled (by train) looked
very nice and grain looked good. at
glance person could see that Ia
Dor was short and things could stand
more care.
Teh country looked nice aud yst|
things seemed to be in progress more
than we would think for, and besides
there are other countries that are
worse off than France--places that
have seen for myself.
After a short trip on the cars we
came to stop and unloaded our
worthy belongings and marched to
an encampment where we are at pres
ent, and proceeded to rest for a while.
This vicinity is vry much like Ore
gon, both the Valley and Eastern
Oregon. Rain and sunshine and at
present the days are warm and the
nights are cool. The past week or ten
days 1t has been very warm and oc-
casionally has the appearance of rain
In the sky.
Here the main industry seems to be
grape raising as the vineyards are in
all directions and the manufacturing
of wine is with the grapes. There
fore wine is plentiful to drink as ev-
erybody drinks 1t, from the child up
to the older persons. We say that
1t FLOWS as free as water" which it
almost does.
In the States it would not be al
lowed, but here it's common occur
ance almost every hour in the day to
see youngster going up the street
towards home with a bottle of win,
In one hand and loaf of bread in the
other, also women as we'll. Here,
wine is the national drink while in
America it is water. Wine Is sold
here in every place from the small
fruit stand to the largest department
stores, SO you see 1t can be bought al
most any place and can be bought for
l franc quart (19 cents in U. S.
money! where the same wine would
cost about $3.50 to $3.50 per quart.
Champagne, the best, can be bought
for francs per quart, (about 73c
U. s. money! where in the States 1t
would cost at least IS per quart and
up.
Up to the present time / have not
been able to visit Paris but when the
opportunity comes l shall not miss it,
for the pleasure will be too great to
pass up, but have visited quite few
Of the smaller places in this vicinity
and there are some that are worth
the time spent to see them.
Well, as this is about all that
have to say for this time, will Close,
and hoping to hear from you soon
will bid you goodnight, Tin French
bon-wee) and hoping to return to
the States in the near future, with
best regards to all friends, remain,
Yours truly,
w. M. McALISTER,
Co. e, 18th Engineers Rail-
way, U. s. Army, P. o. No.
7O5. Via New York, A. e. F.