Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1918-05-14
Letter from Murray BigeIow,

Letter from Murray Bigelow.
Walter P. Maxim has received the fol
lowing letter from Murray N. Bigelow
who 10 in the ambulance service, and hai
recently gone across:
France, April 8, 1918.
Dear Father:
suppose you are wondering II am
still alive. Well, am very much alive,
and we'll % usual. Arrived short time
since In France, and it Is oil work here.
Every moment counts. At present We
are In Q so-called "rest camp" am
wondering what the work camp holds In
store for us.
The trip over was wonderful. We
were eight days at sea, and all that time
nobody knew where We were. The
weather was mild and fair most OF the
way, and much to my surprise ! was not
sessick. We slept In hammocks, and l
can not say enjoyed that part 30 much.
The discipline on the transports is very
strict, and We are drilled every day. l
have no weird tales to tell concerning
submarines. The "subs" knew enough
to let this boat alone. The only sub
marines were French submarines In the
harbor after We arrived.
We sighted land about 6 P. N. on the
eighth day, and just believe me when l
say that the land we saw was the best
looking land ever looked at.
Sunny France is surely we'll named.
When We were miles from land We GOULD
see green grass, and 1t surely was beau
tiful. The sail into the harbor was
wonderful. The houses are mostly made
of stucco,so they furnish picturesque
background.
The people We saw in the city seemed
poor and needy, but happy. They oil
seemed very happy to see American
soldiers, and the kids all know quite .
bit of English. About the time We land:
ed We were surrounded by q group Of
kids who wanted American tobacco, and
they we're willing to pay as high as ten
cents for one cigarette. 1t seems that
the French tobacco is very poor.
The way things are now we are to stay
at this camp only few days. There is
no place to train here, and We must put
in q month or more training before We
can be OF any practical use to the army.
Where We are to train I don't know.
We simply are ready for action when the
call comes, and like all American soldiers
are eager to do our bit and finish up the
old war. Don't forget that you people
at home are a. much at war as the men
In the front line trench. We must have
your backing to the end.
We get enough to eat. 1t is mostly
canned, but good. Conservation is prac.
ticed here, and the man who 10 wasteful
is sure In for trouble. Every can Of meat
must be carefully opened and all the
meat taken out. The waste tins look
much different here than in Allentown.
Absolutely nothing wasted.
What surprised us most of all 10 the
lack of modern engineering feats here.
The railways are poorly constructed, and
the cars are 80 small that one could
almost lift them off the tracks, and the
engines are toys beside the "Norway
dummy" The American engineers
surely will play big part in the winning
of this war. The big motor trucks are
as thick as bees here, and this makes up
for the lack of railway facilities.
About the money here. Well, so far
have not been able to worry about that,
because left the good old q. 8. A. with
six cents In my trousers, and that fell
ont of my pocket the fret night 10 my
ham mock on the boat; and ! had just
about as much chance Of seeing that six
cents again az Kaiser Bill has of going
to heaven. Our pay Is overdue now. but
I don't expect any pay for some time.
There is not Q man sick In our old
section 6O8. We led the old contingent
out of Allentown, and our sergeant was
the fret man on the old boat, and We are
going to make 606 long remembered ~
the good old section from the Pine Tree
State.
Water in France Is ss scarce as the
proverbial hens teeth. Bathing facili.
ties are absolutely poor. They allow
twenty -four men to bathe at ono time,
and the water 10 turned on just two
minutes. II you get all soap and then
the water is turned of, you are simply
1t 10 case Of promptness
and speed.
Everything in camp is in absolute
order, and the rules are strict and are
enforced. We are not allowed out OF
camp at any time.
I am writing this letter In tho Y. N.
G. A. It Is up stairs In one OF the bar
racks. 1t is not elaborate at ell, but .
great convenience to the soldiers.
At present We are sleeping In bar
racks. Bunks of double tier, two men
on the lower and one man above. We
have ticks, and I suppose there are
sticks In the ticks" "Cooties" 30 far
are strangers-but they say they are easy
to get acquainted with. They like to be
lifelong friends.
Don't worry about me at all. We are
all little soft now, though fast getting
into shape, but carry our roll OF forty
five pounds on our backs, and then carry
our barrsck bags Of some seventy pounds
on our shoulders. felt like flea car.
ryiug loaf of bread the first time I
tried that.
Well, father, don't forget that letters
are as precious as gold dollars. So
WRITE.
Love to all,
MnpRAv